The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Cleric seeks special pay for military, police

    Blind cleric and General Overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Orioke Alaseyori, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prophet Moses Kasali, has advised the Federal Government to prepare special salaries for security agents to encourage them to end insecurity in Nigeria.

    The cleric said: “Adequate compensations should be given to security men fighting at the warfronts if the Federal Government cannot come up with special salary package for the security formations which Nigerians believe is the best option.”

    Kasali warned the Federal Government and Southwest governors against trivialising the alarm raised by Afenifere that the region was under the siege of herdsmen, but they should begin an aggressive mobilisation of all groups, including traditional rulers and security groups like the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and vigilance groups, to be on the alert to ward off imminent breakdown of law and order.

    Read Also: Monarch to Army chief: call your men to order

    The cleric added: “The highway robbery in the Southeest, particularly along Aramoko-Efon-Iwaraja, Akure-Ado road, Owo-Ikare road, Ilesa-Akure road, Omuo-Abuja road should be stopped. Lagos-Ibadan axis too is not safe, so the Federal Government must do something about it.

    “Wherever you go in the Southeest, the fear now has been that people are no longer safe because of suspected herdsmen, who are daily killing the people or abduct them.”

  • ‘Those fighting Akpabio will fail’

    Associates of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio have warned his opponents against making unfounded and unguided statements against the former Senate Minority Leader.

    The associates, who fingered members of the Ibom Integrity and Servant Leadership Culture Group Initiative for alleged plots to stop Akpabio’s ministerial appointment, warned that all evil plots against him would fail.

    They urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deal with those engaging in activities inimical to the growth of the party in Akwa Ibom.

    A statement by Cyril Gabriel Essien and Comrade Emmanuel Amama accused the group of “hatred for the APC and acting a script to see it fail”.

    Read Also: Witnesses: INEC cancelled Akpabio’s results

    The statement reads: “One can only see that the members of this self-acclaimed integrity group hate the party to its marrow. To a discerning mind, they and their cohorts have grumbled for a long time, and have now exposed themselves as those who worked against the interest of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.

    “We pray they come out in the open wherever they are hiding; let them expose themselves as the Akwa Ibom chapter of the group has done.

    “They are opposition members in APC garments. If the opposition had won the presidential election, one would not be surprised to see them being offered a ministerial slot.

    “We know that the party will follow the recent Zamfara example for those discovered to be agents of antiparty activities. They should be brought to book.”

  • Mount Shiloh praying band clocks 60

    The 60th anniversary of the Mount Shiloh Praying Band of the Holy Cherubim and Seraphim (INC.), a member of United Aladura churches, begins today with a Praise Night. It will continue on Sunday with a remembrance service. The anniversary thanksgiving service will hold tomorrow, June 29, the exact day the church was founded 60 years ago.

    Read Also: C&S not a bread and butter church, says Prophet Alao

    The host, Baba Aladura H.B Philips said God will take his people to Rehoboth, which is the theme of the anniversary, taken from Genesis 26:22.

    Preacher of the day is Superior Evangelist S.O Banjo (National President, United Aladura Churches).

  • Six things you probably didn’t know about new NNPC GMD

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Mele Kyari as the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    A statement by the spokesperson of NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, said President Buhari also appointed seven new Chief Operating Officers to work with Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari.

    Kyari who hails from Borno State succeeds the incumbent GMD, Maikanti Baru, who is due for retirement from the NNPC in July.

    Here are six things you probably don’t know about the incoming NNPC GMD, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari;

    1.         Kolo Kyari is going to become the 19th Group Managing Director of the national oil company since the inception of the organization. This is according to the statement issued by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu.

    2.         He bagged his Bachelor of Science in Geology and Earth Science from the University of Maiduguri in 1987.

    3.         He was a former Nigeria’s national representative to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as he led the OPEC’s economic commission board which was in charge of reviewing the global oil markets.

    4. Prior to his appointment at the OPEC, Kyari was a group general manager for crude oil division, which shows that he had been in the downstream sector for some time.

    Read Also: Why Buhari removed Baru as NNPC GMD

    5.         He began his career at the Nigerian Geological Survey Society as a field geologist from 1988 to 1991 before he became a seismic data geophysicist and IDSL, a subsidiary of the NNPC.

    6.         In 1998, he was in National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and then became the Abuja operations manager of the same organization. He became the head of the production contracts department between 2007 and 2009. In 2016, he was the supervisor of production sharing contract for the NNPC.

  • Community protests encroachment on land

    Twelve persons were arrested yesterday in Abba and Ukpo, Prince Arthur Eze’s Community in Anambra State, following a land dispute between the two communities.

    Of the number, three are women.

    The land dispute has lasted 44 years.

    Abba community had planned a peaceful demonstration on the Onitsha/Awka expressway to protest the alleged takeover of their land by Ukpo.

    The Supreme Court, in January, told the communities to return to the High Court to begin the case afresh following missing court documents relating to previous rulings.

    As early as 6am yesterday, hundreds of stern-looking policemen had blocked the expressway and the road leading to Abba, while women were stopped from doing their businesses in the market.

    The teargas canisters that landed inside the Community Secondary School forced pupils to join the protest.

    Vehicular movement was hindered for several hours, forcing motorists to use alternative roads.

    A community leader in Abba, Mr. Obinna Chukwuma, regretted the development, describing it as unfortunate. He added that their decision to embark on a peaceful demonstration was to let the world know what they were passing through over their land.

    He said: “Abba is a peaceful community but it is under siege. We have been living in harmony with our neighbours, but all of a sudden, a money bag from our neighbouring community, Ukpo, decided to take over our land by force.

    “Anybody approaching this community from Awka would see the signpost with the inscription, ‘welcome to Abba’.

    Read Also: Two killed as Adamawa community protests motorcycle ban

    “That is our boundary with Ukpo, and they know it very well. When they built their local government headquarters, they built it on their land. When they built a police station, they built it on their land. They also plan to build a market called Eke Agu Ukpo on their land. So they know where their land is located.

    “But unfortunately, they have come into our own land to mount a banner with the inscription ‘welcome to Ukpo junction, Dunukofia local government. In other words, they erected their sign post in another local government because Abba is in Njikoka council and not Dunukofia.

    “That is why the people are protesting. We don’t have arms, we are not fighting anybody. We just want the world to know what is happening.

    “It is unfortunate that someone who feels he has money is using it to intimidate us. Look at policemen firing teargas on innocent people, and women chased away from the market.

    “Last week, the security operatives blocked our community with 12 hilux vans. Today, there are more than 500 policemen and over 20 hilux vehicles, including anti-bomb vehicles, just to mount a signpost on our land, even when Boko Haram is driving people out of their homes in some parts of the country.

    “We will let the world know what is happening in our community…”

    The protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano to intervene in the interest of peace and harmony.

    Police spokesman could not be reached for comments. But a senior officer, who pleaded for anonymity, said the command would not allow anybody or group cause mayhem.

  • FAAN hails Uguwanyi on airport security

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has hailed Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for fulfilling his promise to address the challenges which hitherto threatened the safety of travellers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    FAAN Managing Director Capt. Hamisu Yadudu spoke during an inspection of the airport and environs to ascertain the level of compliance by the state and other relevant institutions to the request by FAAN.

    He said FAAN was satisfied with the interventions, such as the relocation of the Orie Emene market, abattoir, and dismantling of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Radio/TV Mast.

    Yadudu hinted that the issue of relocating the N-Power Free Trade Zone, adjacent to the airport’s runway, had been resolved with the management of the establishment, which was confirmed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Emeka Eneh, during the inspection.

    Read Also: Ugwuanyi, Ubosi declare assets

    He said after a negotiation “the required land that FAAN wants to protect is secured. We are happy with that, and N-Power Free Trade Zone. We are also happy that with the remaining land, they can still go ahead with their initiative and develop the land”.

    Capt. Yadudu also frowned at those living “on the air field” near the airport, and requested the governor to take prompt action on the matter as usual, stressing that “the issue of illegal residents is very much of safety concern and risky”.

    Ugwuanyi, who promised the government’s prompt intervention, said his administration is fully committed to the safety of lives and property, as well as the progress of the Enugu international airport.

  • GCIOBA ’89 set holds reunion, dinner

    The 1989 set of Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA) will hold its 30th anniversary dinner and reunion between June 21 and 22 at the school ground in Ibadan.

    The new-look school gate, which was renovated by the ’89 set will be launched by the National President of GCIOBA and Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin.

    Read Also: Old students’ association to visit Oyetola on improving education standard

    A statement by the set president, ‘Segun Onayinka, said other activities lined up for the anniversary include an inspiration day, students’ and teachers’ award, Jumat and thanksgiving service, annual family day and dinner.

    Chairman of Ibadan chapter Femi Babalola will also grace the event.

  • Be father to all, Olatubosun urges Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has been admonished to be a father to all.

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House, Olajide Olatubosun, enjoined his colleagues across all political divides to support presiding officers to enable Nigerians reap dividends of good governance.

    Read Also: Lawan, Gbajabiamila restate commitment to electoral reforms

    In a statement yesterday, Olatubosun said: “I congratulate Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Idris Wase, the elections are over and I believe we are all winners. I also pledge my support and loyalty to the House leadership, and to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I was driven by a patriotic zeal and determination to inject fresh ideas into the House of Representatives and the country’s legislative business by leading a House that will prioritize the needs of our people, cooperate with the executive to deliver good governance, and help the President take our people to the Next Level of prosperity and abundance.

    “I call on the House leadership to be magnanimous in victory by carrying all lawmakers along irrespective of their political affiliation. As a dedicated and responsible party man, I join others to pledge my support to the leadership. I call on my colleagues to do same so that together we can move the country forward.”

  • Ugwuanyi, Ubosi declare assets

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, have declared their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    Lawmakers in the current and past dispensation have also complied with the directive.

    State Director of CCB Mrs. Lucy Ijetta stated this in an interview with reporters yesterday. She, however, said some exco members in previous administrations were yet to comply. These include seven ex-commissioners and five special advisers who served between 2015 and 2019.

    Read Also: Jubilation as Ugwuanyi settles Oruku, Umuode age-long dispute

    She warned that if they fail to regularize their assets declaration with the CCB by July ending, they would be prosecuted.

    According to her, 24 commissioners and 15 special advisers served in the last dispensation, but only 17 former commissioners and 10 special advisers had complied with the regularization rule.

    She added: “Among the 24 former commissioners, 17 have ended their tenures with us while 10 of the former special advisers had also done the same thing. The defaulters have until the end of July to do so, failure of which I will list their names as defaulters and forward to our head office for onward transmission to the CCB tribunal.”

  • ‘We don’t detain patients for not paying’

    The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) in Nnewi, Anambra State, has denied allegations that it detaining indigent patients.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, who made the clarification on Wednesday in Nnewi, said the hospital had no policy of detaining anybody over inability to pay bills.

    He explained that patients who delayed in payment were given some period of grace to pay. He also hinted that the hospital sometimes write off the bills of indigent patients.

    According to Igwegbe, some philanthropists pay occasional visits to the hospital, especially during festivities, to offset bills for indigent patients.

    Read Also: UCH oversubscribed, overwhelmed by patients — CMD

    He said: “We do not trap anybody. We offer services to our patients and they are expected to pay thereafter. We use our facilities, drugs, expertise and materials. At the end of the day, patients are expected to pay so we can replenish those things to treat others.

    “Sometimes we have patients who are very indigent and we write off their bills. But that is a great loss to the hospital because it affects our finances and running of the hospital. When you don’t replace your consumables, you run out of stock.”

    The CMD, however, hinted that medical services would soon begin at the hospital’s permanent site in between Nnewi and Oraifite.

    He said the movement became necessary to decongest the temporary site which the hospital had outgrown over the years.