News

First penny black stamp could fetch up to £6m at auction

It was less than one square inch and cost just a penny but it launched a revolution in communications. Now the first “penny black”, the postal stamp bearing an image of Queen Victoria’s profile, is expected to fetch up to £6m when it is sold at auction.

The stamp was a runaway success when it went on sale in 1840, allowing people to send a letter weighing up to half an ounce to any destination in the country for a flat rate of one penny. Eventually more than 68m stamps were sold.

The stamp to be sold by Sotheby’s in December is a pristine impression from plate 1a – the first printed sheet – and is lettered A-1. It has been authenticated by the Royal Philatelic Society and the British Philatelic Association.

It is “unequivocally the most important piece of philatelic history to exist”, said Henry House, the head of Sotheby’s treasures sale. It is “bursting with history” and represents “the very dawn of social communication … allowing people to communicate from all levels of society and business to flourish.”

Until the penny black became valid on 6 May 1840, communications were complex and expensive, with the recipient usually required to pay. Sir Rowland Hill proposed a simple pre-paid postage system using a stamp.

The chosen design used an image of Queen Victoria based on a sketch of her aged 15. The same image remained on stamps for more than 60 years until her death in 1901.

The first penny back is attached to the Wallace document, dated 10 April 1840 and named after Robert Wallace, an MP who led a commission on postal reform.

It includes a proof of the Mulready stationery, pre-stamped letter sheets and envelopes that were offered as an alternative to adhesive stamps. The design, showing images of empire, was lampooned by the public and quickly withdrawn.

The Wallace document was acquired 10 years ago by Alan Holyoake, a British businessman and renowned philatelist. “Isn’t the stamp beautiful?” he said. “The design is a world icon, a design that our current Queen still uses.

“Prior to the introduction of cheap postage, it cost a fortune to send a letter – so unless you were privileged or wealthy, communication wasn’t really possible. Suddenly, the postage stamp just took off. It was the door to mass communication.”

Holyoake said he would be sad to see the penny black sold but was planning to use the proceeds to build another collection.

News

Tinubu condoles with NNPCL boss over daughter’s death

President Bola Tinubu has condoled the death of his daughter with the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Kolo Mele Kyari.

Kyari’s daughter, Fatima died Friday at the age of 25 after protracted illness.

The President sympathised with Kyari and the rest of the family on the irreparable and painful loss.

He prayed for the repose of the soul of Fatima and urged the Kyari family to stay strong at these trying times

News

Lagos sacks six LASTMA officials over misconduct

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has dismissed six of its officials based on the directive from the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC).

This follows the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board, which flagged the officers for serious misconduct and inefficiency.

The disciplinary actions were officially communicated to the affected officials at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

In a statement issued by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed that the Civil Service Commission had approved the board’s recommendations.

He emphasised that the disciplinary measures were in strict accordance with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

Bakare-Oki reassured the public that LASTMA is committed to improving its operations and urged Lagos residents to report both commendable acts and cases of misconduct by LASTMA officials, providing necessary evidence.

“This exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to rid the agency of errant officers. Another Personnel Management Board meeting will soon be held to review additional cases,” he said.

He also called on road users in Lagos to adhere to traffic laws, reminding them that violations would lead to penalties, including fines imposed by the Lagos Mobile Courts.

Highlighting the importance of compliance, Bakare-Oki noted that following traffic regulations is key to achieving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s “Greater Lagos” vision, with traffic management being a core pillar of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda.

Mmebers of the public were encouraged to report complaints through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) or the Walk-In Complaint Centre at their Oshodi headquarters.

Bakare-Oki reassured citizens that LASTMA is committed to addressing all complaints impartially while protecting the civil rights of motorists across the state.

News

Zulum opens houses for teachers in Buratai Secondary School in Tum

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday night, commissioned two projects constructed by his administration in Biu Local Government Area in the southern part of the state.

The projects include a housing estate for teachers in Buratai town and a new secondary school in Tum village.

The Buratai housing estate comprises 10 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows aimed at addressing the problem of housing deficit particularly as it affects teachers in Borno State.

Tum Day Secondary School, one of the 102 constructed by the Zulum administration is a co-educational senior secondary school attached with junior secondary and primary schools.

Performing the brief opening ceremony, Zulum assured that his administration is committed to improving the quality of healthcare service delivery and education in Borno State.

He said, “I want to assure you that this administration is committed to providing affordable quality health care delivery systems and, most importantly, education, which is the bedrock for any meaningful development. Without education, there will be no meaningful development.”

As a mark of appreciation for the numerous projects by the Zulum administration, Buratai community presented a plaque to the governor commending his integrity in governance.