The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • We’ve depleted bandits activities in Northwest, says GOC

    The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Army, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki, has said operation “Harbin Kunama III” initiative has made landmark breakthrough by the tremendous achievements it recorded against armed banditry in the forests across the four states.

    Operation “Harbin Kunama III” initiative is focusing on the Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states axis to combat the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of bandits.

    Briefing reporters on the operation’s feat over time, General Otiki said the 8 Division had significantly depleted to the lowest level the menace of insecurity within Sokoto State, its area of responsibility in the Northwest.

    He attributed the feat to the vigour and renewed efforts by the Army Headquarters, increased collaboration with other security agencies and in the area of joint border patrols.

    “The dynamics of the operation has assumed a new dimension, which resulted in more collaboration, thereby yielding positive results, culminating in several encounters and defeat of bandits groups in Sokoto and Katsina states,” General Otiki said.

    Read Also: Banditry: Masari commends Nigerian Army for taming attacks

    He explained that the division was also fast-tracking a synergy in collaboration with “Operation Hadarin Daji” to serve as blocking forces against fleeing bandits from Zamfara State to other neighbouring states within the axis.

    Otiki added that “the troops made a remarkable breakthrough by arresting some suspected bandits, informants and logistics suppliers”, who were further transferred to the police for investigations and proper actions.

    Stating that a sizeable number of weapons were recovered as well as bandits’ motorcycles destroyed by the troops during operations, General Otiki promised that the division would keep fostering greater understanding with traditional, religious institutions and state authorities toward enhancing the security of the populace.

    He hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai for his guidance and prompt response to their requirements.

    Accordingly, he expressed appreciation to the untiring cooperation and resilient efforts of other security agencies, including vigilante groups and local hunters for their support to the Army.

    Otiki also appealed to all law abiding citizens to continue to volunteer with timely information to security agencies for prompt actions in the discharge of their professional and constitutional roles.

  • Consumers laud new Chivita Ice Tea pack

    Consumers have hailed the new Chivita Ice Tea’s package as “modern, aspirational and trendy”.

    For Tomiwa Adeleke, a Lagos based lawyer, the rebrand of Chivita Ice Tea is an innovative strategy that connects with consumers because of the pack’s unique imageries which is visually attractive and differentiating from competing brands.

    He said: “I drink Chivita Ice Tea very often whenever the need for refreshment arises. For me, its great taste and unique blend of natural tea leaves and real fruits, as well as health benefits, makes it a preferred choice for rejuvenation and refreshment. The brighter and bolder rebranded product pack was a pleasant surprise to me and is triggering positive product enquiries from my friends who are excited about its renewed appeal.”

    Agatha Eromosele, a mother of four and nurse in the Lagos General Hospital said the new look Chivita Ice Tea is a welcome development.

    Read Also: Consumers seek power sector privatisation review

    “There is no ambiguity as the new design means the product announces itself from afar on the shelf. It’s refreshing benefits are well captured by the persuasive imageries and content on the new product pack. As a health conscious consumer, I love the exciting blend of premium natural tea leave extracts with real fruits, which makes it a natural choice for me and others who care about their health,” she said.

    Marketing Director of Chi Limited Probal Bhattacharya said it was pleasing to see consumers resonate with the product’s fresh visual identity, which keys it into the Chivita Masterbrand.

    “The new design also reinforces its promise of rejuvenation through more appealing elements that evoke its refreshingly natural goodness. The objective for re-branding Chivita Ice Tea was to communicate the brand’s core value of rejuvenation and natural refreshment with strategic imageries that are attractive and differentiating. We are excited about the response so far and look forward to growing consumer franchise and affinity with the new pack,” he said.

  • ‘Tell your followers to patronise LACVIS centres’

    The Lagos State government may soon begin to come down hard on any vehicles without road worthiness certificates, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

    Sanwo-Olu said it was part of moves to sanitize the transport sector and ensure that only fit vehicles are permitted on the roads.

    The governor addressed religious leaders, under the aegis of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Commission (NIREC), at the Inter-faith Safety Seminar organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs in conjunction with the Lagos State Computerized Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS) at the weekend.

    Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Taiwo Salaam, said the government’s determination to promote road safety informed the establishment of computerised vehicle inspection centres where vehicles are to be certified fit for the road.

    According to him, 10 such centres are already in place while four more would be inaugurated before the end of July.

    Sanwo-olu said the religious leaders were invited to LACVIS centre to see the facilities in place and to ensure that they help propagate the message of road worthy vehicles to their congregation and followers.

    He said: “We brought you here, not only to see the facilities on ground, but also ensure that you help us tell your followers to patronise computerised centres and partner government to promote safety on the roads.”

    NIREC’s Co-Chairman and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Prof. Alexander Bamgbola praised the government for making traffic and transportation a major focus of the administration. He said the traffic congestion is already taking its toll as many people are already leaving the state for neighbouring southwestern states.

    He assured the governor of “real support” of NIREC leadership. “Our cooperation will be real because we are also affected by the traffic congestion in this state. We are not surprised that Sanwo-Olu is making the road priority, it is a response to our collective prayers.”

    Read Also: No pilgrim should elope, Sanwo-Olu warns

    The co-chairman and Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla said all Muslim bodies like their Christian brothers are united in collaborating with the Sanwo-olu administration in advancing the cause of good governance in Lagos.

    Abou-Nolla, who was represented by the Chief Imam of Epe, Sheikh Mohammed Shittu, said now that the government has identified with religious leaders as partners, “we are ready to support all its initiatives to achieve a better and liveable city of our dream”.

    VIS Director Hafeez Toriola said the government, since 2017, has started the establishment of computerised testing centres to reduce manual testing which has been the bane which impacts on traffic.

    He urged the clerics to appeal to their members and followers to take their vehicles to any of the centres close to them, adding that four new ones would be opened in Ojota, Olowu, Yaba, to bring the number of centres to 14.

    LACVIS Managing Director Prince Segun Obayendo said the computerised testing would address mechanical and electrical issues relating to vehicles on the roads.

    Obayendo who took the religious leaders on tour of the operations of the centre said what obtains at Ojodu is replicated in all the 14 stations, and the intention is for the government to have one in each of the 20 local governments.

    About 100 religious leaders, all members of NIREC from all the local governments in the state, attended the seminar.

  • 50 African-Americans in Benin on rediscovery mission

    Fifty African-American tourists have arrived at Benin City, Edo State, to trace their origin.

    The tourists, who from California, United States of America (USA), were entertained by the Benin Cultural Troupe and treated to delicious local African dishes, including palm oil soup (banga), blended vegetable (black) soup, owo soup, pounded yam and agidi (corncake) among others.

    Andy Ehanire, a representative of Jemi Alade, organisers of the tour, said the Americans were on a rediscovery visit to trace their route.

    “They are coming on a pilgrimage to rediscover the home of their ancestors from where they were taken away more than 400 years ago. It is an emotional visit.

    Read Also: Why our chopper landed on Benin-Ore expressway, by TAL

    “The tour was organised in part to show that these people share a common ancestral heritage with the Benin so that more African-Americans will be encouraged to visit Benin City and have a feel of the African culture and discover where their ancestors lived.

    “Benin is safe. We are civilised and friendly. The tourists will be taken round the city. They will visit the Oba Palace and the Palace of the Enogie of Ugoneki, where they will be given Benin names so they can add to their existing names.”

  • Rivers to sponsor UTME of indigenes and non-indigenes

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the government will henceforth pay the form fee of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for all indigenes and non-indigenes.

    This will start in 2020.

    Wike spoke on Thursday when Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Ish’aq Oloyede visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

    The governor said the government is committed to ensuring that indigent students are not denied the opportunity of sitting for the examination.

    He said: “From 2020, UTME forms for indigenes and non-indigenes will be paid for by the government. It is important for us to ensure that children of the less privileged don’t bear this burden. This offer is to ensure that no qualified candidate is denied the opportunity to write the UTME. For some parents, the fee is nothing, but there are families that cannot afford the fees.”

    The governor also announced the allocation of land at the Greater Port Harcourt City to JAMB for the construction of its Zonal Office.

    Read Also: JAMB withdraws UTME results of four candidates

    He allocated a block of offices to JAMB as its temporary office, following the dilapidation of the current office, and also donated an operational vehicle to the outfit.

    Prof. Oloyede praised Wike for his commitment to the development of education, especially his abolition of fees for secondary and primary schools. He appealed to governor to allocate a temporary office to JAMB for its daily operations as the current office was totally dilapidated.

    Oloyede added that in view of the number of candidates writing UTME in the state, JAMB requires land to build a mega computer based test centre. “There are only 12 computer based test centres in Rivers State. This number is grossly inadequate. We urge Your Excellency to allocate land for JAMB to build a mega computer based test centre for at least 500 candidates.

    “You are the closest governor to JAMB. Rise and help us. Funding is no longer our problem. We retain N2 billion annually from our Internally Generated Revenue,” Oloyede said.

  • Communities protest oil firm’s breach of agreement

    The failure of Frontier Oil Ltd, operators of Seven Energy, in judiciously implementing the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is responsible for the current face-off between it and its host communities – Esit Eket and Ibeno – in Akwa Ibom State.

    Youths of the communities last week embarked on a street protest and barricaded the operational base of the oil firm for reneging on the MoU. According to them, the company underpaid two indigenes in its employ by paying them N70,000 monthly while their colleagues with the same job specifications were paid over N700,000 monthly.

    This disparity, according to the youths, compelled the affected workers to resign. They alleged that the firm, in an attempt to fill the vacant positions, employed non-indigenes without following the due process of placing advertorials in a newspaper.

    It was gathered that the youths have called for the sack of the newly employed persons and the General Manager Wole Adefila.

    The lawmaker representing the area in the House of Assembly, Usoro Akpanusoh, yesterday alleged that the firm defaulted in the implementation of the MoU it entered with the communities.

    He said the disparity was a breach of the MoU.

    According to him, having urged the irate youths to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue, the company should also uphold what was stated in the MoU.

    He said: “We want the oil company to comply with the demands of the communities. It is all about what they signed and not new agitations, after all, nobody forced them to sign.”

    Read Also: OML 25 protest: Shell seeks peace with host communities

    Asked what would happen if the frontier oil refuses to comply with the communities’ demands, Akpanusoh said “the community will ask them to leave”.

    But the Head of Government and Community Relations of Frontier oil Samuel Atara said that the crisis was because of misinformation and gap in the communication chain. He promised the company would try its best to resolve the crisis.

    He said: “Even in the mouth, you have the teeth, you have the tongue, there is bound to be friction. We are doing our best to resolve the issue. It was a stop gap issue; it’s a relief duty and so we called one of our body shop contractors to send personnel to fill a gap for us and the community took that as an employment. So it was just a kind of misinformation.

    “We needed to bring in just two persons for relief duty from our body shop contractor, so, the community insisted it was an employment that we didn’t pick people from their place, and we say sorry, the MD has cancelled that.”

    Atara hinted that the company had started discussions with the aggrieved youths to resolve the matter.

    “The managing director has apologised to them, and has promised that the company would revoke the “employment”. He has directed that they be given the slot; we are ready to do that as soon as possible. We have given them our corporate apologies and I can assure you that Frontier would do its utmost to resolve the issue amicably. We have opened discussions with them, we have already reached out to them and we are now asking them to provide us with those persons and we will employ.”

  • PANDEF: cattle colonies will worsen insecurity

    The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on the Federal Government to ditch plans to establish cattle colonies, otherwise known as ‘Ruga’ as it may worsen insecurity in the country.

    It also urged governors of the Niger Delta states to reject the programme, saying it tilts towards upsetting peace and security in the region.

    PANDEF, in a statement on Thursday, promised to fight the cause fully.

    The statement, signed by the National Secretary, Alfred Mulade, noted that such a move goes to corroborate hearsays that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government seeks to islamise the country.

    The statement reads: “Ruga settlements may heighten strife across the country. PANDEF strongly condemns the programme and hereby says there is no land anywhere in the Niger Delta for the establishment of such settlements for herdsmen.

    Read Also: Ruga settlement: Forum blasts Ortom, Ishaku over rejection of FG’s cattle ranching initiative

    “It is disturbing that in a democracy, the Federal Government would unilaterally decide the establishment of Ruga settlements or cattle colonies. It is necessary to note that the Land Use Act, enacted in 1978 to regulate land tenure and administration systems, and to ensure effective and equitable utilisation of land and land resources in the country, vests all urban land within a state in the governor, and all non-urban land in the local governments in which they are found.

    “PANDEF sees the gesture as disrespect to the rule of law with impunity and authoritarianism, which neither fits into the practice of Democracy, nor supports Mr. President’s recent recommendation of true federalism for Nigeria.

    “In fact, along with the re-submission of the Inland Waterways Bill, and the approval of a Radio frequency for establishment of Radio stations for herdsmen, there is only one inescapable conclusion, and that is, Nigeria is towing a catastrophic destiny.

    “We, therefore, urge governors of the Niger Delta states to collectively reject the programme as it is capable of undermining the prevailing relative peace and security in the region. PANDEF considers those behind this idea as enemies of the country, as the planned settlement could worsen the security situation.

    “We call on the Federal Government to jettison its plan as it is an invitation to chaos.”

  • Ayade reappoints Ita as CPS

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has reappointed Christian Ita as his Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant on Media.

    Read Also: Ganduje reappoints Abba Anwar as CPS

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Aye Henshaw added that the governor approved the reappointment of Emmanuel E. Asikpo-Okon as the State Chief of Protocol.

    The appointments take effect immediately.

  • OML 25 protest: Shell seeks peace with host communities

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has called on the protesting people of its host communities of Belema, Offoin-Ama and Ngeje in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, to cooperate for a peaceful resolution of all issues to enable it resume safe operations.

    Its spokesman, Michael Adande, described Tuesday’s protest by Oil Mining Lease (OML) 25 as uncalled for.

    He said: “SPDC hopes for peaceful resolution of all issues to enable us resume safe operations of our Belema oil and gas facility. The country’s economy has been denied needed revenue these past two years that our facility has been shut down and illegally occupied by invaders.

    “We ask stakeholders to give the government mediation process the needed chance for a peaceful resolution.”

    The people, mostly women, of the host communities, have occupied Shell’s platform since August 2017, accusing SPDC of neglecting the host communities. They requested that the indigenous Belema oil firm should be allowed to operate the OML-25 for peace to reign in the coastal communities.

    To this end, the host communities have agreed on the procedures for the re-opening of the oil facility. The communities and Shell will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) on July 1. The MoU will be facilitated by the Rivers State government on their respective responsibilities in the final resolution of the conflict.

    This was the outcome of yesterday’s meeting between stakeholder communities of OML 25, SPDC, Service Commanders and officials of the Rivers State government, on the directive of Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Representative of the governor and Secretary to the State Government Tammy Danagogo directed the Solicitor-General to draft a MoU on the premise of the resolutions reached at the meeting. He said the MoU would be signed on July 1.

    Read Also: OML 25 crisis: Host communities criticise Wike’s intervention

    Danagogo outlined the four key resolutions reached during the meeting, which include:

    -SPDC should pay the agreed funds into an account. The Permanent Secretary, Community Affairs, has been mandated to ensure that the funds are transferred to the communities.

    – SPDC should be able to pay the available sum latest by Monday. Shell would pay N260 million and N75 million by Monday.

    – the communities should, within seven days of signing the resolution, vacate the facility.  Also within two weeks, Shell should pay the remaining part of N1.014 billion.

    Danagogo said the meeting resolved that SPDC would therefore obtain approval from NAPIMS to pay the money that accrued between 2009 and 2013.

    He added that within two weeks of signing the resolution, the government will set up a platform for Shell and Stakeholder Communities to renegotiate the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU).

    General Manager, External Relations of Shell Petroleum Development Company Igo Weli said the first set of funds to the stakeholder communities will be paid on Monday. He stressed that the outcome of the financial reconciliations will be paid within two weeks of signing the resolution.

    Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area Rowland Sekibo said the meeting had recorded a milestone with the agreements reached.

  • Gunmen demand N5m ransom on kidnapped driver

    Suspected gunmen, who abducted a bus driver, Felix Akinde, on Akure/Ikere road, have demanded N5 million ransom.

    Akinde was abducted on Tuesday at a bad portion of a road close to the NYSC farm in Iju/Ita Ogbulu in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo state.

    The driver, who was driving alone in his Toyota Privia space, from Ikere to Akure, the Ondo state capital, was seized by suspected gunmen around 5am.

    The gunmen abandoned his vehicle by the roadside.

    It was learnt that the abductors on Thursday established contact with the family and leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for the ransom.

    Sources said men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army in collaboration with other security agencies have launched a manhunt for the abductors in Iju forest.

    A relative of Akinde said the kidnappers contacted the families through their telephone lines.

    Read Also: Gov Dickson Classics: Nigeria Police athlete kidnapped

    He said: “The kidnappers contacted us and demanded N5 million before they will release him. They said that he (driver) is in the bush with them and would only free him when we are ready to cooperate on the ransom.

    “As I speak with you, they have already used two different telephone lines to contact us, demanding to know how much we have been able to raise.

    “The amount is too much for us, and I don’t know where they want us to see such huge fund but we are still begging them.”

    An executive member of NURTW in Ondo state said some funds were being raised with the families.

    “We are pleading them to spare the life our colleague and we have promised to raise some funds with the family in order to set him free,” he said.

    Ondo State Police Command Spokesman Femi Joseph said the officers of the command have already swung into action and would soon arrest the perpetrators.