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03/01/2024

Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing company ends operations, announces temporary redundancy

ANIEKAN UDONQUAK, City Press

Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM) company in Awa, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has ended its operations attributing the decision to "unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations."

The company which was reputed to be the largest syringe manufacturing venture in Africa was inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Though it had since stopped production many months ago, it finally announced the end of operations on December 31, 2022 saying it had "to implement temporary measures to ensure the long term sustainability of the company."

In a memo addressed to all the workers , a copy of which was made available City Press, it stated that all positions including "yours have been placed on temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024."

The statement titled “Temporary Redundancy - Service Not Needed Till Further Notice,’’ and addressed to all workers read in part, “We trust this message finds you in good health. It is with a heavy heart that we write to you today to communicate a challenging decision that Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing company limited has had to make due to unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations.

“After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our current business situation, we regret to inform you that we must implement temporary measures to ensure the long term sustainability of the company.

“Unfortunately, this includes placing all positions including yours on temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024.

“We want to emphasise that this decision is not a reflection of your individual performance or dedication to the company. The challenging business environment we find ourselves in has compelled us to take these difficult steps.

“Please return all company belongings in your custody.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these challenging times.”

In an interview with the Managing Director, Akin Oyediran in April last year, he had said the company had secured a credit facility of $1 million adding that it was due to the enabling environment the state government has been able to provide for the growth of the manufacturing sector.

Not only have we come into this environment, we are also growing, we are doing other products. The company would in addition to syringes, manufacture gloves, masks and infusion sets.

Our investors are investing one million dollars in the company because of the level playing field and the advantages provided by the state government.’’

22/02/2023

Christian Atsu: A Tribute

ANIEKAN UDONQUAK, CityPress Sports

Though an earthquake is a natural phenomenon that claims many lives when it occurs, the death of Christian Atsu, a Ghanaian football star in the Turkey quake is most devastating.

Atsu was found dead under the rubble of his home almost two weeks after the Turkey earthquake that has killed over 43,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

The 31 year old Ghanaian international was on the books of Turkish side, Hatayspor which he joined in September after a season with Saudi Arabian team Al-Raed and he scored the winning goal in a Super Lig match on 5 February.

Amidst the outpouring of tears and sorrows as well as the tributes and condolences from the Ghanaian government, his former clubs and colleagues and football fans across the world. this tragedy is a sad reminder of the gross underdevelopment of African football.

The poor management of African football is the singular reason African stars travel around the world in search of greener pastures in football.

Atsu unfortunately met his untimely death in the course of his search for a greener pasture and this is indirectly related to the inability of the African football administrators to develop the game that would attract viewership and would offer many footballers commensurate rewards that could keep them at home.

Atsu came to prominence in Portugal with FC Porto before moving to England where he joined Chelsea in 2013 and had several loan spells at clubs including Everton and Bournemouth.

An initial loan period at Newcastle in 2016, in which he helped the team win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, was made permanent in 2017.

Arguably, Atsu could have still been alive today if African football was up to scratch and was able to provide him a viable platform to hone and show his skills in and around the continent.

This tragedy should be a wake-up call on African football administrators to improve on the management of the game; it is well documented that corruption, ethnicity and favouritism are the bane of African football. These issues need to be addressed pointedly.

Africa should develop this beautiful game so that it would not need to lose any of its talismen in the manner that Christian Atsu died. Adieu Christian.

28/10/2022

Umana visits flooded community in Rivers, assures them of Federal Govt intervention

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Umana Okon Umana, on Thursday, visited Ihuike community in Ahoada local government area of Rivers State and assured affected persons of Federal Government's readiness to assist them.

Umana, who was in Rivers State on a working visit to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), directed that the damaged section of the East-West Road be repaired immediately to bring back normal life to the traumatised community.

The minister informed residents of the Ahoada community that the Federal Government felt their pain, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed relevant ministries and agencies to put up accelerated and concerted efforts by in order to bring succour to flooded communities in the region.

After a tour of the flooded community, the minister visited the head office of the NDDC where he addressed the management and staff of the commission on his vision for the region and the place of both the NDDC and the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs in achieving that vision.

He disclosed that his mission is to change the widely held perception of the NDDC as a failed agency into that of an institution that is pivotal to the development of the Niger Delta region, an institution that invests in the integration of the region through interstate transport infrastructure and other regional assets.

“It is in your hand to change that perception of failure.
The change is in your hand.”

The Minister charged staff of NDDC to act in a manner that will reinforce the new brand image of an upright organisation that respects due process.

Umana announced that the era of frivolous projects by which billions of naira were siphoned out of the commission was over, adding that that government has drawn a line against impunity in which one man could singlehandedly award a contract of N200 billion in the NDDC without following due process requirements.

He directed the acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, to properly brief him on all cases of contracts that did not follow due process, and equally carry out an earlier presidential directive that the commission should conduct a staff audit that would help to ascertain that it has the right caliber of staff properly deployed to ensure the achievement its mandate.

The minister warned that any attempt to undermine the conduct of the personnel audit would be sanctioned.

The minister also directed the acting managing director of the commission to prioritise staff welfare, deploying a situation in the past when non-essential expenditure on desilting was elevated above staff welfare.
He stressed that the era of impunity was over, and urged all staff in the commission to commit to a new day and a new era of professional work ethics and quality service delivery that truly adds value to the life of people in the Niger Delta.

06/10/2022

PHOTOS NEWS: The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu this evening returned to Nigeria after spending 12 days in London

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