CASE ONE: A young lady was in tears when she couldn’t withdraw a desperately needed twenty thousand naira with her ATM card. The till said she had only one thousand naira left in her account.

The lesson here is that parents, especially mothers, have to be careful about who they invite into their homes, or send their young children out to

BEFORE putting together the responses to our write-up on shoddy products and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, we decided to find out from some people on the streets, notably the young and literate, what they think of the performance of the organization.

The subject has been thrashed so many times by the media, yet, no government so far, has been able to eliminate or even reduce the problem. It’s encouraging that many citizens still feel concerned enough about it to write in to express their views. Some readers can swear by the efficacy of using handcart boys in the disposal of our waste; especially in small towns where the local government council is not involved in collecting refuse.

WHEN President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2006 decided to cede the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, there were criticisms from different parts of the country especially from Cross River State where the displaced Nigerians in Bakassi were to be relocated.

IT was a bundle of joy which she would not mind to get even though it is labourious and tedious to have. She was indeed happy, happy that before losing hope, she not only had a child of her own but two lovely babies.

That portion is always filled with water during the rainy season, and the potholes have deepened these past years. Every year, the story is the same. FERMA which is responsible for maintaining federal roads goes there to patch up the road with sand. This is washed away and the potholes become death-traps. It’s by the grace of God that there are still people alive in this country. Our government continues to fail us.

Pastor Stephen, Port Harcourt. ‘Sister Helen, all the friends I discussed this issue of the sex of a baby with, over here in Owerri, told me that the sex of their child is of great importance to them. They prefer the male child. One of them even said that he wouldn’t mind if he doesn’t have a female child. I agree with him. I would like a female child, but I will not be distressed if God doesn’t give me one.

I suggest that there should be a help-line that consumers can call for advice at their local S.O.N. when they have complaints about products. If the manufacturer is on their list, S.O.N should be able to investigate the complaints, and then advise and caution.

Lucky knows how anxious I am about being early for appointments, and yet he chooses to report for duty as late as he can. I’m not taking it any more.” “Darling, but he’s a good driver who used to be punctual. It’s the rainy season and the floods which make him report late.”