The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Air Force jets neutralise insurgents in Borno

    The Air Force said on Sunday that its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralised scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in air strikes at Yuwe “C” in Borno State.

    NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement on Sunday, said the operation was conducted on Saturday.

    Daramola explained that the air raid was executed in continuation of Operation Green Sweep III after credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports.

    Operation Green Sweep III targets some identified terrorists’ positions in Borno.

    Read Also: Air Force Jets strike Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa

    He said the HUMINT reports were also corroborated by series of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to establish that the settlement was being used as a hideout for the insurgents.

    “The ATF, therefore, detailed 2 Alpha Jets and an L-39ZA aircraft to attack the target area.

    “As the aircraft arrived overhead the target area, several BHTs were seen attempting to flee while many others concealed themselves in the structures and dense vegetation of the area.

    “The jets took turns attacking the target, scoring crucial hits on the hideout leading to the neutralisation of several BHT fighters,” he said.

    Daramola said The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.

  • Report: Rivers most violent state in Niger Delta

    Three hundred and forty conflict-related deaths were recorded in nine Niger Delta states in June and July, Niger Delta Conflict Tracker report, released by PIND Foundation’s Niger Delta Link, has said.

    The report showed that criminality (128) and gang/cult related (109) killings accounted for 237 deaths (or 68.2 per cent) during the period.

    Confirming the report, PIND Foundation’s Afeno Super Odomovo said the document was part of the monthly release by NDLink. It covers June and July.

    The report showed that Rivers State recorded the highest number of conflict fatalities (120), accounting for more than a third of conflict-related deaths in the nine states of Niger Delta, including Abia, Imo and Ondo.

    The state topped the criminality-and gang/cult violence killings chart with 61 persons dying in cult/gang violence, and 53 crime-related deaths in June and July.

    Flashpoint areas include Obio/Akpor council, with 37 killed; cult violence (23); as well as robbery, kidnap and other crimes (14).

    Read Also: Nine feared killed in Rivers communities

    The report noted that “conflict risk and lethal violence in Rivers State during this period were driven mainly by cult violence, kidnapping for ransom, violent protests, and Violence Affecting Women and Girls (VAWG).”

    Khana and Emuoha councils also stood out as hotbed for violence in Rivers by recording 34 and 17 deaths for June and July.

    Akwa Ibom is a distant second to Rivers, with 60 deaths. Cross border conflict resulted in 40 deaths, all in Mbo council, with communal conflicts in Itu council.

    Delta State, with 50 deaths, is third on the list. Fatalities resulted mainly from criminality (25), while communal clashes, including herdsmen versus farmers, and cult violence accounted for 11 deaths apiece.

    “Reported incidents during the month (in Delta) related mainly to communal conflict, and criminality, including kidnapping for ransom,” the report said.

    The lowest conflict-related deaths occurred in Abia State, where criminality and gang/cult violence claimed seven and two lives, of the nine deaths recorded.

    Other states where people died from conflicts are Ondo (31), Cross River (27), Edo (21), Bayelsa (20) and Imo (11).

    NDLink said on the report: “This monthly tracker is designed to update peace agents on patterns and trends in conflict, risk and violence in Niger Delta, as identified by PIND Foundation’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit’s (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek feedback and input for the response to mitigate areas of conflict.”

    It urged members to ensure trackers were comprehensive by contributing their knowledge and reporting any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU Early Warning System.

  • Ogun TRACE to motorists: avoid Lagos-Ibadan expressway if in hurry

    A traffic advisory issued by the Ogun State TRACE Corps has urged motorists who may be in a hurry to stay away from the Ojodu-Berger to Ogun River section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for now.

    This is due to the rehabilitation works beginning from today on the expressway, which might slow down traffic along the route.

    The repair, being handled by Julius Berger, is expected to last for four months.

    The statement signed by the TRACE spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi, urged motorists in a hurry to make use of alternative routes like the Iyana-Ipaja/Ota/Ifo/Abeokuta/Sagamu-Benin-Ore expressway; Victoria Island/Lekki/Epe/ijebu-Ode-Benin//Ore expressway or the Ikorodu/ Itoikin/ Ijebu-Ode-Benin/ Ore expressway.

    The advisory reads: “In view of the imminent closure of inbound Lagos traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for reconstruction and rehabilitation work on the 600km stretch of the corridor to be carried out from Berger (New Garage Bus Stop) – Ogun River (Kara Bridge), scheduled for Monday, September 2-Sunday, December 15 , the public, particularly the motoring public, is hereby apprised of the need to plan their journey, add more time to their travelling time and take necessary precaution.

    Read Also: Lagos-Ibadan expressway closes Sept. 2

    “From Monday, 2nd September 2, inbound traffic (movement) from Kara Bridge to Berger would be sealed off and diverted into the same carriageway along the expressway conveying traffic outbound Lagos, thereby making both inbound and outbound traffic to be accommodated on the same section of the expressway. Moreover, traffic will then be diverted back into the road going inward Lagos at Berger intersection linking River Valley Estate, where normal journey resumes inward Lagos.

    “Furthermore, outbound Lagos traffic would be divided into two lanes, both ways from the intersection linking Isheri/Olowora Kara Bridge, where the road diversion ends and normalcy resumes inward Sagamu.

    But, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Adedamola Kuti, said the project is still 40 per cent completed.

    Kuti, who spoke in Lagos, said the project, which began in 2013 and earlier scheduled to end in 2017, would now be completed by 2021/22, because the Muhammadu Buhari administration included some missing features.

    He listed the additional features to include underpasses, footbridges, flyovers, toll plazas and road expansion.

    Kuti said the additional features shifted the completion date.

    He added that the additional features made the completion level to still be at 40 per cent, which it recorded months ago.

    On the Ikorodu-Sagamu road, expected to serve as an alternative route as construction work progresses on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Kuti said the project was about 18 per cent completed.

    He, however, added that critical sections of the highway likely to cause gridlock had been stabilised.

  • Fed Govt to repair Third Mainland Bridge

    Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State Adedamola Kuti has said that traffic arrangements are underway to begin another phase of major repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge.

    Kuti, who spoke in Lagos on Sunday, said results of investigative tests on the bridge were ready and that contractor would move to site at the completion of the traffic management architecture.

    “Any moment from now, once I get our traffic plans approved, we may be announcing to the world again that we are now ready to fix Third Mainland Bridge, based on investigative tests we had last year.

    Read Also: Much ado about Third Mainland Bridge

    “Meanwhile, we have already completed the resurfacing and the markings, such that you can now drive on Third Mainland Bridge smoothly.

    “We are also going to repair some of the piles or pillars carrying the bridge; that is the next phase that we are doing. So work will soon begin on Third Mainland Bridge,” Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The Federal Controller of Works said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was committed to fixing bridges in Lagos.

    He said this was evident in the number of bridges that had been repaired in the state, with many more receiving attention.

  • Nigeria donates to Mozambique, Zimbabwe flood victims

    Relief materials for flood victims in Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been delivered by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) as part of its commitment to provide military aid to civil authority.

    A statement by the spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the materials were airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    According to him, they were donated by the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has completed the airlifting of relief materials to Mozambique and Zimbabwe to further assist victims of the April flooding.

    Read Also: Buhari approves release of N800m for flood control in Bauchi

    “The airlift missions, which were conducted for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), conveyed critical relief materials such as drugs, medical supplies and treated mosquito nets donated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to alleviate sufferings of the flood victims.

    “The airlift missions were executed by NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft, in furtherance of the NAF’s constitutional roles of projecting air power beyond the shores of the country as well as providing Military Aid to Civil Authority.

    “The C-130H airlifted 12,000kg (12 tonnes) of relief materials from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to the Maputo International Airport, Maputo, Mozambique on August 26, while 8,100kg (8 tonnes) of materials were delivered at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Harare, Zimbabwe on August 31. The items were handed over to Officials of the Nigeria High Commission in the countries for onward delivery to their host governments.

    “Prior to this, the NAF had, in May, conducted the first batch of the airlift missions for NEMA using an ATR-42 aircraft, in three sorties, to airlift 15,000kg (15 tonnes) of similar relief materials to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. In August 2017, the NAF had similarly airlifted 38,000kg of Federal Government-donated relief materials to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the aftermath of the devastating mudslides and floods that ravaged the country.”

  • Residents benefit from free health check

    Lagosians at the weekend benefited from free health check organised by Rotary Club of Omole-Golden District 9110.

    The event, held at the retail market in Ogba, Lagos, brought traders, artisans, students and others together to check blood sugar levels, blood pressure, malaria, and hepatitis B & C.

    They were also given free drugs.

    Club President Babajinmi Ajibola said the programme was sponsored by FBN Insurance to promote good health.

    Ajibola, the 16th president, said: “Rotary is a philanthropic club …Rotarians are committed to promoting good health, quality education and ensuring a better society.

    Read Also: Action health offers free medical outreach on youth day

    “What we are doing today is our little contribution to ensuring good health among Lagosians.”

    Another member, Ify Anyanti, said people need to check their blood pressure because hypertension is a silent killer.

    She educated beneficiaries on how to prevent breast cancer, saying if cancer was detected early, it could be prevented.

    A beneficiary, Mrs. Bola Adenekan, thanked the club for the programme.

    Mr.  John Okoronkwo said: “I have learnt a lot today. For instance, I never knew that men can also suffer from breast cancer until today after listening to a health talk by one of the Rotarians. I will pass the information to my wife, children, relations and others.”

  • Expert task FG on creative innovation in transport sector

    The Founder, National Association of Approved freight Forwarders, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has called on the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi to explore creative, innovative and digital thinking in shaping transportation policies and actions.

    Aniebonam said this during the 25th Convocation, Matriculation and 35th Year Anniversary at the Institute of Transport and Management Technology held recently in Badagry, Lagos

    The event tagged ‘Transport Sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product in Nigeria: Problems and Prospect’ had in attendance over hundred graduates from different academic programmes.

    He said that paradigm shift in innovative solutions to transportation problems and the need for increased contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria is imperative.

    “Integrated and coordinated multi-modal transportation are keys for sustainable transportation. Seamless inter-modality is a key vision for transportation mobility. Translating this vision into reality require standardized systems, coordinated and integrated different modes”, he said.

    Read Also: President to unveil Transportation varsity, rail factory in September, says Amaechi

    He asserted that for transport to contribute more to the country’s GDP, genuine policy commitment, tremendous and sustained effort will have to be invested in this sector.

    “Training and retraining of operators, compliance to vehicle weight limitations, operators’ managerial, technical and economic capacity should be improved”, he said.

    He also stressed that integrated approach to transport development policy should be adopted, taking all transport modes into consideration.

    Aniebonam posited further that the financing of transport infrastructure should be promoted with emphasis on innovative approach. Greater safety and security should be provided in all transport modes. Human institutional capacities should be strengthened and training institution rehabilitated

    “Government should consolidate the present attention reforms being given to the transport sector in view of its multiplier effect on the nations’ economic growth and development”, he said.

    Earlier in his speech, the Former Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Authority, Mr. John Patrick Egesi said that lack of manufacturing based has greatly affected the growth of our maritime, rail and road industry, adding that one had only to show how busy our rail, road, short-sea and high sea transport will be if things were improved.

    Egesi noted that what our country would have earned have been badly affected through the importation-substitution industry policies of various Nigeria governments that raises tariff or banned goods which eventually diverted to neigbouring port who earn the port duties that would have accrued to Nigerian port while the goods still find their way into the country with the connivance of official of government who enrich themselves in the process.

    The Rector of the institute, Dr. Lilian Chibor in her opening address said that the uniqueness of the convocation lies in the fact that the institute is celebrating its 35th year anniversary. “Thirty five years is no joke and this depicts that we are now matured and looking back we have achieved a lot having churned out over ten thousand graduates and we are still counting”.

    She added that in Nigeria, there are a lot of factors that contribute to gross domestic product, but without gainsaying Transport sector has contributed immensely though the government has not given it the right attention in terms of bad roads and the government is not using modern techniques.

  • Bayelsa primaries: Thugs attack PDP chiefs’ homes

    There was tension in Bayelsa State at the weekend after thugs allegedly loyal to an aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threw explosives into the homes of two party chieftains in Yenagoa and Brass Local Governments.

    The aspirant does not belong to Governor Seriake Dickson’s Restoration Caucus, it was learnt.

    The attack is creating panic ahead of tomorrow’s primaries.

    Party chieftains, whose homes were attacked, are Obuku Oforji (representing Yenagoa I) and the Executive Chairman of Brass, Victor Isaiah. Both houses were reportedly attacked on Saturday evening.

    There has been quarrel in PDP between the Restoration Caucus and others, especially after the ward and national congresses, to elect delegates for the primary. Some aspirants protested outcome of the delegates elections.

    It was learnt that the explosions were reported to the commissioner of Police and the state Director of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Yenagoa.

    Read Also: Bayelsa PDP primaries: Uncertainty over Dickson’s anointed aspirants

    Isaiah described the attack as unfortunate, saying the matter was promptly reported to the police and the DSS. He added that the DSS director and Police commissioner visited his home for confirmation.

    He said his younger brother, who witnessed the incident, said he saw and overheard three boys on the premises making suspicious calls to determine if people were in the house. A few minutes after the call, the explosion went off.

    Investigations have begun into the attack to identify the culprits. It was learnt security operatives would probe supporters who openly protested the party congresses.

    A PDP governorship candidate, Ndutimi Alaibe, has said he had no fundamental issues with Governor Dickson ahead of tomorrow’s primaries.

    Alaibe insisted there was nothing wrong with his relationship with the governor.

    He said: “There is nothing wrong with my relationship with Seriake Dickson. We do not have any fundamental issues. It is political time and people will be suspecting different things. He is the governor of our state and we will give him that respect. He is also a leader that we all adore. So, we will continue to give him that respect.”

    Alaibe said his team had put issues from the delegates congresses behind to focus on the primaries. He vowed to go full blast at the primaries and hope to win the party’s ticket.

    The aspirant, however, promised to support whoever won in a transparent contest, saying he was not a desperate politician.

    He described himself as an apostle of non-violence, saying he would never depend on people to make him governor through bloodshed.

    “We will face the primaries and we will go full blast. By the grace of God, we will win. The delegates elections are past, and I don’t want to comment on them. We have passed that stage.

    “I have been a contender for many years and I told you why I do that because I love this state. I am not a desperate politician against what some people think. I have stepped down for people at various times when people wanted to run amok with violence. I don’t have anything to gain for the blood of any Bayelsan to become a governor otherwise I won’t sleep well and that blood will be on me. And I have been a victim of such circumstances where I was attacked. So, I preach non-violence and I insist on non-violence with everybody working with me.

    “Do not carry guns to make me governor; I am not interested in that. I am interested in ensuring that we conduct a free, fair, transparent process that will enable a leader emerge. If a leader emerges from that, I don’t have any choice but to support such a leader.”

  • Youths ‘should seek’ vocational skills

    Youths in Ogun State have been advised to acquire vocational skills, irrespective of their level of education.

    Guest lecturer John Odueko gave the advice at the weekend during a programme, tagged international youth day, organised by Ogun East Senatorial Youth Coalition in Ijebu-Ode Local Government.

    Speaking on the theme: “Transforming Education Through Technical & Vocational skills Inclusion”, Odueko said this would make them independent, and turn them into employers.

    He noted that such youths with technical skills would be an asset to their communities and contribute to society’s development.

    Read Also: ‘Lagos will empower women, youths’

    “Technical and vocational skills make our youths responsible and independent because technical programmes contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation. It can also turn around the unemployment situation, empower the unskilled youths and give them better future and career prospects,” he said.

    Odueko added that vocational courses offer a fast-track education that promises job placement and growth in the workplace.

    A prominent politician in the state, Mr. Ladi Adebutu, urged the government to provide a platform where youths could develop their skills.

    Said he: “Our youths need enlightenment; they need people to teach them the way. I believe our youths are good and responsible; they want to make something good out of life. Hence, the need for partnership between the government and youths. The youth are not asking for too much, it is just that the government should play its roles.”

    President of Ogun East Senatorial Youth Coalition Oriyomi Olufemi, said to achieve greatness, youths in the senatorial district and the state must form a workable synergy to achieve collective goals.

  • ALGON’s president slams sack of Oyo council chiefs

    National President of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Mr Kolade David Alabi has promised to meet with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on the dissolution of council chairmen.

    Alabi spoke with the state’s chapter of the association in Ibadan.

    He urged members to unite in their quest for justice.

    Alabi noted that dissolution of elected council chairmen by new governors was unhealthy for democracy.

    “We need to make our institution work and eschew politics of bitterness. The dissolution of Oyo State local government chairmen by the governor of the state speaks no good of our democratic system.

    ‘’We ought to have moved our democracy beyond partisan pettiness. The occupiers of the seats at the council level are citizens of the state, irrespective of the party they belong to.

    Read Also: Local govts’ dissolution: Oyo ALGON urges governor to obey court order

    “It is time we make democracy more working in Nigeria. Democracy is endangered when the local government chairmen are dissolved illegally because the chairmen do not belong to the party of the state governor.

    “We will critically look into the local government administration law and come up with our stand on it, which will be equally presented to the Presidency and the National Assembly.”

    The ALGON president advised the leadership to be more constructive and peaceful in its approach and presentation towards actualising victory in and outside the court of law.

    He said the case of Ekiti State local government chairmen is a good example.

    “Their case was settled out of court and Governor Kayode Fayemi returned eight out of the 16 dissolved chairmen, which by God’s grace in earnest, others are expected to be returned. I assure you that we are strongly with you; we will do everything possible to support you, we will meet with your governor soon, and hopefully the situation will be corrected,” he said.

    ALGON’s National BOT Chairman Odunayo Ategbero hailed the chapter’s leadership for steps takenr.

    “We are satisfied with your steps; we won’t relent in our effort to making sure the local government autonomy is accomplished. With autonomy, tenure of council chairmen is certain,” Ategbero said.

    State’s ALGON Chairman Prince Abass Aleshinloye hailed the national leadership for its advice and support.