The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • US warns its citizens to avoid major hotels in Nigeria 

    US warns its citizens to avoid major hotels in Nigeria 

    The United States of America has warned its citizens to avoid major hotels in Nigeria.

    The warning which is the first in recent times warned of elevated threats to major hotels in the country.

    The US warning is termed emergency information for American citizens, dated November 3.

    It urged all US citizens to be vigilant and be alert of their surroundings.

    It also warned them to keep a low profile, and review the travel advisory for Nigeria before checking into any hotel.

    Read Also: Crash: I’m in good spirits, says Minister of Power, Adelabu

    The notice reads, “The US Government is aware of credible information that there is an elevated threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities.

    The advisory said the Nigerian security agencies are working to counter the threat.

    “Nigerian security services are working diligently to counter the threat,” it stated.

    The notice also provided the addresses and telephone numbers of the US embassy in Abuja and consulate in Lagos should any US citizen require help.”

  • Inadequate funding hampering social welfare for vulnerable Nigerians

    Inadequate funding hampering social welfare for vulnerable Nigerians

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu said on Friday that inadequate funding for critical justice and social welfare institutions was hampering their ability to effectively carry out their mandates thereby compromising the welfare of most citizens, especially the vulnerable ones.

    Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme and European Union, on the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme  Phase 2, said adequate funding is the lifeblood of any institution, especially those that are responsible for upholding the rule of law and ensuring the welfare of citizens.

    He commended the RoLAC Programme’s commitment to ensuring proper funding for these institutions and enhancing access to rights and justice for women, children, and vulnerable persons in Nigeria.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    He informed his guests that rights based legislations enacted by the National Assembly include Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Discrimination Against Persons Prohibition Act, saying that these legislations were born out of the need to ensure justice, equality, and protection of the most vulnerable citizens in our society.

     He assured of budgetary decisions that would prioritize the funding of these institutions and proper oversight to guarantee that rights-based legislations are implemented, while pledging the support of the National Assembly and strategic collaboration, adding that it can lead to a more just society where the rights of all citizens are upheld and justice is accessible to everyone.

  • Experts harp on transforming education through collaboration

    Experts harp on transforming education through collaboration

    The 5th Annual African Edu-Tech Conference which was held recently marked a significant milestone in the world of education and technology. Themed: ‘Leveraging Collaboration and Partnership for EdTech Growth in Africa,’ the event, jointly collaborated by Education First Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of education in Africa.

    The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers and moderators such as Prof. Bahsir Galadanci, National Coordinator, Digital Resource Centre, UBEC; Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education, Ghana; Mr. Nwachukwu John, Head, Private and Corporate Business, Remita Payment Service; Carol Banks, Founder & Director, CB Health for Africa, Nairobi, who shared their insights and expertise on the topic.

    Read Also: Crash: I’m in good spirits, says Minister of Power, Adelabu

    Moses Imayi, Project Director/CEO of Edufirst.ng, remarked, “The African Edu-Tech Conference has grown to become a pivotal platform for fostering innovation and collaboration in the education technology sector in Africa. This year’s theme, ‘Leveraging Collaboration and Partnership for EdTech Growth in Africa, resonates deeply with our mission, and it’s inspiring to see how various stakeholders are coming together to transform education through technology.”

  • Bank, service provider partner to lift agent banking

    Bank, service provider partner to lift agent banking

    Payment Service Bank (PSB) has entered into a partnership with XCHANGEBOX, to deliver agent banking solutions to rural, small, and medium-sized enterprises via PAYREP.

    The signing ceremony of the partnership took place at 9PSB head office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The collaboration is aimed at facilitating the co-creation of products that will help to revolutionize customers’ payment experiences in Nigeria, with the goal to further deepen financial inclusion and bridge the gap between the banked and the unbanked/underbanked.

    Through this partnership, the PAYREP Agency Platform will be used to provide tailor-made services to its agents, SMEs, merchants, and customers.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    The Chief Executive Officer of 9 Payment Service Bank, Branka Mracajac reiterated the bank’s commitment to financial inclusion during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies.

    She said this strategic partnership will further deepen payment solutions. With the partnership, 9PSB and XCHANGEBOX can now offer more financially inclusive products and services by leveraging on its agent networks to reach small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), merchants, and customers.

  • Operation Safe Haven busts local armoury

    Operation Safe Haven busts local armoury

    Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in charge of peace and security in Plateau State and parts of Kaduna State have busted an illegal gun manufacturing site in Vom, Jos South Local Government of Plateau State.

    The troop recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the local arms factory and armoury.

    Categories of arms and ammunition recovered from the armoury include six AK 47 rifles, three skeleton AK 47 rifles, 1 local pistol, 11 rifle bodies, Seven bridge blocks, four magazines, 210 springs, seven rifle butts, and 8 rifle muzzles.

    “Others include nine piston assembly, five cartridge housing as well as one frilling machine and a hand filing machine.

    Spokesman of OPSH Capt. James Oya while parading the suspects said “The suspects will be charged to court immediately after investigations are concluded.”

    Capt Oya said, “We are here once again to provide you with an update on the recent arrests and discoveries made in relation to our operations leading to the discovery of illegal weapon manufacturing factory arrest of syndicates and recovery of a large cache of weapons.

    “Before I proceed, let me remind you of one of the critical observations made by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Maj Gen AE Abubakar when he assumed command. He observed that the ownership of illegal arms by individuals and groups as well as the proliferation of illegal local weapon manufacturing factories are the key catalyst to the crisis on the plateau and environs.

    Read Also: Crash: I’m in good spirits, says Minister of Power, Adelabu

    “Consequent upon this, the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TA Lagbaja while launching Operation HAKORIN DAMISA 4 on 11 July 2023 in Mangu Local Government Area, among others, charged the troops to ensure all illegal weapon manufacturing factories are discovered, mopped up and perpetrators arrested or neutralized.

    ‘As it stands today, troops have maintained an offensive posture, conducting several kinetic operations in the form of raid operations on criminal hideouts, rescue operations, cordon and search, stop and search as well as patrols amongst others. I am pleased to inform you that as a result of the ongoing operation, our troops have successfully made yet another significant breakthrough by making another arrest relating to an illegal weapon manufacturing syndicate. Two individuals have been apprehended, and a significant weapons manufacturing factory has been discovered and dismantled.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested individuals, Micheal Dung 33 years old, and Yusufu Pam 43-years-old were involved in the illegal production of different calibers of weapons locally fabricated in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State from where they sold to their customers in different parts of the country.”

    While speaking to reporters, the key suspect of the illegal weapons manufacturer, Michael Dung, said, ” I’ve been in the illegal gun production business for six years now. I have no licence. I have produced and sold 80 to 200 assorted types of guns at N80,000 and N200,000, adding that, nobody financed me. l  used a week to produce it.

  • Our relationship with Plateau govt has gone sour, JNI cries out

    Our relationship with Plateau govt has gone sour, JNI cries out

    The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Plateau State Branch, has raised the alarm about the strained relationships existing between the state government and the Muslim brothers in the state.

    It noted with dismay the way and manner in which the State Government is maltreating Muslims and disregarding their genuine concerns.

    The State Secretary of the JNI, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, and some executive members expressed their concerns during a press conference held Saturday at the boardroom of Jos Central Mosque.

    The group said the state government needs to also treat Muslims as citizens of the state.

    It will be recalled that on September 13th 2023, the group wrote a complaint/protest letter to the Plateau State Governor,  Caleb Mutfwang, complaining about the lopsided compilation of the list of 500 families being victims of the crisis in Riyom, Barikin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas in the recent past, following a N500m cash assistance brought by the wife of President, Senator Remi Tinubu.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    The letter further stated that “the JNI noted, with sadness, that the JNI as a critical stakeholder in the peace processes in the state was not invited.

    “We also note that the JNI had no input in the list of 500 victims of the crisis despite the fact that we have hundreds of Muslims killed, maimed, or displaced as a result of those series of crises.

    The JNI added that “this is truly disheartening and gives room for many speculative theories flying around that your government is not carrying everyone along,” the JNI said.

    It further said whereas, it hoped for clarification and possible amends where necessary, but to its dismay, there was no word from the state government apart from an unfortunate rebuttal of their clear and obvious complaint issued by the Plateau State Commissioner for Information.

     “While waiting to redress the imbalance and ensure that justice was done by including Muslim victims of the crisis that are found in all the local government areas to which the donation was intended for, the state government closed its ears to our genuine concern and it started the distribution of materials to the victims in Mangu Local Government Area with no single Muslim included,” the JNI claimed.

  • Katsina to develop another set of LGA projects in November, says commissioner

    Katsina to develop another set of LGA projects in November, says commissioner

    The Katsina State Government has announced plans to embark on the development of another set of 100 projects in the month of November, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Professor Badamasi Lawal Charanchi, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the recently concluded inspection of projects across the Local Government Areas of the state.

    He said over 100 projects had been inspected across the LGAs in the three Senatorial Zones of the state.

    The Commissioner also confirmed that the state Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda would this November approve another phase of projects for the LGAs, which according to him, may exceed the N1.8M approved for the first time.

    The Commissioner further disclosed that the projects so far conducted and inspected were satisfactory while commending the agility of the local Council’s Chairmen and charging them to ensure more prudence in the next project’s implementation.     

    Read Also: Crash: I’m in good spirits, says Minister of Power, Adelabu

    According to a report by The Nation, out of the LGAs inspected, only three LGAs have been identified with major and minor corrections on the conduct of their projects.

    The Commissioner said: “Projects so far inspected include: construction of roads, mosques, drainages, slaughterhouse, Islamiyya Schools, provision of portable drinking water, rehabilitation of Primary Healthcare Clinics as well as Secondary and primary schools.

    “Other projects inspected include repairs of electric transformers, fixing of electric polls, provision of Solar Powered Street Lights, connection of high and low tension electricity, provision of office accommodation for NSCDC and other viable projects.’’

    The projects according to the Commissioner were part of the campaign promises of the state Governor, while some were based on the needs of the communities in their respective areas.

    The Commissioner also spoke extensively on the efforts being made by Governor Dikko Radda on curbing insecurity disturbing the state, distribution of palliatives, recruitment of teachers, and other aspects that touch people’s lives.

  • NPC, UNICEF call for children’s digital birth registration

    NPC, UNICEF call for children’s digital birth registration

    The National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called on Nigerians to register the birth of their children for national planning and development.

    The ongoing birth registration is digital and free for children aged below 17 years, UNICEF said.

    “Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognised by the government,” UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, said.

    Farah spoke during a two-day media dialogue on birth registration, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, held at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.

    He explained that birth registration is a significant right that the Nigerian government has covenanted to accord her children.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    Quoting Article 7 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Farah added that every child has a right to a name and nationality.

    “However, despite these provisions, birth registration uptake in Nigeria has been less than optimal, depriving Nigerian children these basic rights recognised by both the UN and the Government of Nigeria.

    “If the births of eligible children are not registered, it makes them invisible as it deprives the Nigerian child a right to a

    formal identity.

    “Legally speaking, that child becomes invisible and does not exist,” the UNICEF chief said.

    He insisted that addressing the challenge of inadequate or lack of awareness of the importance of Birth Registration, and where caregivers and mothers can go to register the births of their children, is a very urgent public priority.”

  • Abiodun, Sanwo-Olu billed to attend Oke-Odan festival

    Abiodun, Sanwo-Olu billed to attend Oke-Odan festival

    The Oloke-Odan of Oke-Odan, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Oluwarotimi Fagbenro, has said that Oke-Odan Festival is put together to galvanise support to address the infrastructural deficit in the town.

    Oba Fagbenro, a retired medical director with the sate government has equally advised policy formulators to adopt the Community Development Associations (CDA) approach to drive national development.

    The monarch spoke on Saturday at the unveiling of the mascot and hoisting of the flag of the maiden Oke-Odan festival, to be held between November 26 and December 2.

    Dignitaries expected at the occasion include the governor of Ogun State and his Lagos State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Oba Fagbenro said; “The essence of this Oke-Odan Festival is to attract back home the great sons and daughters of this land to contribute their quota towards helping with our infrastructural development. We all can move mountains if we so agree and united in our pursuit of greater heights for our darling fatherland.

    Read Also: Crash: I’m in good spirits, says Minister of Power, Adelabu

    “My experience with the development plunge of this town in the past twenty years when the CDA held sway with the Council of Chiefs informs my advisory to the government to adopt CDA for development”.

    Alhaji Ali Ajibode, a former Commissioner in the State added that the reign of Oba Fagbenro has brought unprecedented development to the town.

    His words: “The current pace of development in this town under our referred monarch is progressive, to say the least. He mobilised all and sundry to build the Oke-Odan Grammar School, a Comprehensive health center is nearing completion and a court is being built.”

  • How we are addressing kidnapping, other crimes by LG chair

    How we are addressing kidnapping, other crimes by LG chair

    • Kick starts building of new snake hospital

    The Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State,  Christopher Manship Audu Wallat has attributed the ongoing projects in his Council Area to his commitment to addressing the insecurity menace that has plunged the LGA into a no-go area in the recent past since his assumption into office.

    He said the projects were in line with the directives of the Executive Governor of Plateau State Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang who earlier tasked them to initiate projects that are rural driven and equally community-based with direct impacts on the grassroots people.

    The TIC Chairman stated this after an inspection tour of all 14 ongoing projects cutting across renovations of PHCs and constructions of new healthcare facilities including a snake hospital in Qua’an Pan Local Government of the State.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    The TIC Chairman maintained that out of the 14 projects awarded, and works are ongoing, six of them are healthcare facilities to address the healthcare needs of the people.

    “You have seen it yourself, we’re building a befitting PHC in Pandam because Pandam is like a boundary. It is the face of Plateau from Nasarawa State and equally, this is a place where our farmers and fishermen are found because it is just within the river Benue belt.

    “The purpose of the ongoing PHC facility is to ensure that the environment is conducive for people coming from different locations to access medical services.”