The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • How Diasporans can benefits at Rayfield Gardens City Estate

    How Diasporans can benefits at Rayfield Gardens City Estate

    Fendini Homes, developer of Rayfied Gardens City Estate, Ibadan has told intending property owners in Diaspora the benefits of subscribing to the housing project.

    He said the estate, located at Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala GRA Ibadan, is opened to all intending property owners in the Diaspora, adding that they can buy or invest in the ongoing off-plan offer, or subscribe into the Sub-Developer’s scheme of the project.

    A statement by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fedini Homes, Prince Laja Adeoye, noted that intending owners can invest in mileage for their desired home types, be it Bungalow, Duplex, Terraces or they can even take up units in project and development them. 

    The statement stated that one of the advantages of keying directly into the project from wherever subscribers are all over the world is they can monitor the progress of their projects online-real time, without anyone, or contractor shortchanging them. 

    According to the statement: “Real Estate has evolved with technology in place, it is the safest and most secured investment for anyone at every point in time now, the world is now a global village, where technology has made it possible to know what is going on anywhere around the world, not minding the distance or being physically absent.”

    “Those who wants to subscribe to the project can contact their company directly via information available on their website. 

    “A simple Google search for Rayfield Gardens City Estate can show you the project progress and updates, and that way, you can get to know how to key into the project without stress, we have our subscribers form on the website, that can be downloaded and scanned to our company via email and with that, the transaction can kick off.

    “When you go to places like Lagos, you’ll see Estates and Mini Cities like Banana Island, Victoria Gardens City and etc, also when you come to Ibadan, Rayfield Gardens City Estate will also give you the look and feel of such A Class Estate, where subscribers can enjoy mouth watering modern infrastructures in their beautiful homes.”

    Read Also: Realtor: provide infrastructure in underserved estates

    “We painstakingly designed a functional Estate where our roads are paved, while some are pure concrete roads, meaning that whenever you are in the Estate, you will enjoy a smooth ride without any potholes.”

    “We have also started to Install our Street lights, which are 100% Solar (Renewable Energy). Meaning that at every point, there will always be light in the Estate.”

    “Not only that, the entire Estate is green, meaning that carbon emissions will be tending towards Zero, which improves living conditions of the residents.”

    “The Estate is going to be manned by professional security operatives in addition to the use of technology such as 24/7 surveillance cameras, treated and piped water to all homes.”

    “There is no better time to subscribe or invest than now, because our focus is to develop an A Class Real Estate in Ibadan so that those who desire it can enjoy smart homes, technology, beautiful, secured environment and world class Infrastructures.”

  • Senator Adeola’s aide killed in Lagos

    Senator Adeola’s aide killed in Lagos

    A senior aide of Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) Mr. Adeniyi Sanni has been killed in a yet-to-be clearly ascertained circumstance in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos, it has been learnt.

    The media adviser to Senator Adeola, Chief Kayode Odunaro, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement reads in part: “Information available to the bereaved Senator in Abuja indicates that Mr. Sanni was stopped at a checking point around Berger Area of Lagos on his way to his home at Isheri by security agents.

    “He was asked to provide the documents of the car he was driving, which he did through his wife who sent all the documents to his phone WhatsApp

    “. It was gathered that the wife called a while later and the late Mr. Sanni told him they are still checking the vehicle’s paper. 

    Read Also: Ogun West: Senator Adeola relected

    “His apprehensive wife later called on Mr. Sanni’s associates to say he could no longer reach her husband on phone necessitating the mobilization of a search party.

    “She was later called by passersby through the Next of Kin phone number on her husband’s driver’s license that the body of Mr. Sanni was dumped around Toyota Bus Stop in Oshodi with gunshot wound.

    “Senator Adeola who is involved in the ongoing miniterial screening at the Senate is shocked beyond words and devastated by the news of this sad incident, as Mr. Sanni was his close aide for over two decades. The Nigeria Police Force are investigating the killing.”

  • JUST IN: #ENDSARS protester, Bosun Tijani, apologises over past derogatory tweets

    JUST IN: #ENDSARS protester, Bosun Tijani, apologises over past derogatory tweets

    A ministerial nominee from Ogun State and #ENDSARS protester, Dr Bosun Tijani, on Saturday, apologised to the Senate and Nigerians over past derogatory tweets.

    Tijani made made the apology while being screened by the Senate for a ministerial position.

    Senators had in their questions asked Tijani whether he still stands by his past tweets one  of which directly impugned the image of the country and another one which referred to Senators as “morons.”

    Tijani said the tweets which were largely taken out of context were made during times of  tremendous frustration. 

    Read Also: Again, President picks men, woman of rich pedigree

    After intervention from the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Elisha Abbo and Senator Solomon Adeola, Tijani however apologised over the tweets after which the Senate asked him to “take a bow and go.”

    Details Shortly…

  • Senate urges Tinubu, ECOWAS leaders to resolve Niger impasse

    Senate urges Tinubu, ECOWAS leaders to resolve Niger impasse

    The Senate on Saturday called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to encourage other leaders of West Africa to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.

    This resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of the President’s letter seeking the Red Chambers’ support on the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) resolutions on the coup in Niger Republic.

    The Senate also condemned the coup in Niger Republic, adding that the President did not seek its approval to go to war in the West African country.

    It asked its leadership to engage with the President on how best to resolve the issues in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationships between Nigeriens and Nigerians.

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, red the resolutions of the Senate after its closed door session where it considered the President’s letter.

    Akpabio said: “On the resolution of ECOWAS on the political situation in Niger Republic resolves as follows:

    “The Senate condemns in totality the military coup that took place recently in the Republic of Niger.

    “The Senate commends President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS for their prompt response to the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Nigeria

    “The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu, by virtue of his correspondence had not asked for the approval of the parliament or the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters.

    “Rather, Mr President as the Commander-in-Chief had expressed a wish to respectively solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communication.

    Read Also: Tinubu writes Senate on ECOWAS’ plan against Niger

    “The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.

    “The National Assembly to the ECOWAS leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.

    “The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Comander-in-Chief on behalf of the Senate and the National Assembly on how best to resolve the issues in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationships between Nigeriens and Nigerians.

    “Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS Parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this impasse as soon as possible.”

  • Policeman shoots father of three dead in Rivers

    Policeman shoots father of three dead in Rivers

    An operative attached to the Police Mobile Force, 43 Squadron in Gombe State, has reportedly shot and killed a father of three near a popular bar in Elekahia, Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. 

    It was gathered that the incident occurred when the deceased identified as Olafuro Peterside took his family out for relaxation.

    The policeman, who was said to be in company with another from PMF 43-Squadron, Gombe, was on a special duty in Rivers. 

    Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident on Saturday morning. 

    But she said  the operatives shot into the air following the alarm raised by some residents that armed robbers were operating in the area adding that the deceased might have been a victim of stray bullet.

    Read Also: Family wants couple released from police custody

    Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said the two operatives at the scene of the incident had been arrested. 

    She said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the command for proper investigation. 

    She said: “Yes, the command is aware of the incident. From the information at my disposal, the man was with his family. 

    ” There was an incident of robbery in the area, so the policemen shot into the air in response to the alarm raised. So I think a stray bullet hit the man”.

    Decrying the unfortunate incident, she said the defaulting cop and his colleague were already undergoing interrogation.

  • A Beginner’s Guide to College Football

    A Beginner’s Guide to College Football

    Although soccer is by far the most popular sport in Nigeria – and in many other places worldwide – American football has also grown its fan base in recent years. The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of the sport and Nigerian fans follow their favorite teams each season.

    Not so many sports fans in this country know about college football though. It is only a university level of the game but it is big business in the States and the teams and players are as well known as NFL stars. The top sportsbooks have all the best NCAAF bets available, but if you are new to college football you should take a look at our beginners’ guide.

    A Sport in Its Own Right

    Most other big American sports have a minor league system that provides the major leagues – such as the NBA, NHL and MLB – with a young crop of players gaining the experience of playing at a higher standard. They are a little like the lower divisions of soccer around the world.

    But American Football has no such minor league. The second tier of the sport is essentially the college level. The best college players then move onto an NFL team when their time at university finishes. The teams and the conferences the teams play in are run like sports bodies though – and the money involved would dwarf many professional sports leagues around the world.

    Bowl Games

    You will have probably heard of the Super Bowl, even if you don’t know too much about American football. But you may not be aware that there are many other bowl games for college teams to compete in. The first was the Rose Bowl, back in 1902, and now there are over 40 bowl games each season.

    Traditionally, there was no playoff system to determine a national champion. College teams played in their conferences and attempted to qualify for a bowl game. The sports media and coaches would then rank the teams to award a championship. This was obviously not a satisfactory way of doing things and a playoff is now in place. The bowl games still attract huge interest though.

    Champions

    Although there is now a College Football Playoff to determine the national champion, there is still some controversy about the procedure. The regular season scores and bowl games still play a part, but a 13-member committee, made up of athletic directors and other college football experts, then picks the top four teams.

    Those four teams then play what is effectively two semifinal games to determine the two college teams that compete to become the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) national champion. This process has been in place since 2014, although it is to be expanded to 12 teams from 2024.

    Read Also: Niger state college of education wins first JAMB football tourney

    Teams of Note

    Before the system was streamlined to make it easier to determine a champion, there was sometimes more than one school that could claim the title. Prestigious universities like Princeton and Yale are the most successful in the history of college football. But these days there is a select group of teams, in what are called the Power Five Conferences, which can realistically challenge for the title.

    The Georgia Bulldogs are the reigning champions and have won the last two national championships. They will be favorites to win it again in 2023 but will face stern competition from a familiar set of rivals in Ohio State, Alabama and Michigan. These are all hugely successful universities that are well known for their sporting excellence.

    The Fans

    While many NFL fans cannot compete with the passion and commitment of soccer fans around the globe, college football fans definitely play their part in the game day experience. The biggest college teams regularly play in front of over 100,000 fans and entire cities are taken over by color-coordinated groups partying for hours before a game.

    The noise and passion has to be experienced to be believed and it is quite common for locals to be a fan of the big college team rather than a pro football one. Many states don’t have an NFL team anyway, so the college team becomes the focal point for sports. The fans are an integral part of what makes college football so popular.

  • Peter Obi decries GSK’s exit from Nigeria

    Peter Obi decries GSK’s exit from Nigeria

    Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate, Labour Party in the 2023 election, has decried the exit of the Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), from Nigeria after 51 years of operations.

    Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, made this known in his official tweets handle on Saturday morning in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Thursday, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, said in the coming months, it plans to exit Nigeria after 51 years of operation in Nigeria.

    Its Spokesperson, Omongiade Ehighebolo, said in a statement that the challenge in accessing currency  was affecting its ability to maintain a consistent supply of medicines and vaccines in the market.

    NAN reports that GSK has a manufacturing facility set up in Agbara, on over 25 hectares of land in Agbara.

    The company had directly employed  no fewer than 400 highly technical workers including  pharmacists, microbiologists, biochemists, chemists, dentists, doctors just to mention, and also employed over 1000 other staff.

    Obi said the company that indirectly provided jobs and business opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the nation, regretting that it was now leaving all these behind, and pushing more people back into unemployment.

    The LP standard bearer said that their reason for leaving portends a gloomy future for the country’s investment climate.

    He said: “Today, I was saddened to hear that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is exiting Nigeria after 51 years of operations.

    “Their reason for leaving Nigeria is even more disheartening, that they are no longer perceiving any future growth of the country, which will be anchored on productivity.”

    Read Also: GSK pays over N600m dividends amidst fear of exit from Nigeria

    He said it was painful that the country was at the point in the nation’s journey where multinationals were leaving the country and the local ones were closing down.

    Obi added that this was consequences of poor management of the economy, hence, millions were losing their jobs and the poverty index was worsening.

    He said these multinationals leaving the country, not only create jobs but create immeasurable training that contributed immensely to the human capital development.

    The LP standard bearer recalled his consistent position that “in turning the nation around, it must move the economy from consumption to production.

    According to him, part of which includes encouraging and supporting local and foreign investments, like GSK, in the country.

    Obi finally stressed the importance of creating an environment that creates and sustains multinationals to invest in the country was key to the dream of greatness.

    He said in the new Nigeria that they seek to create, the emphasis on production would encourage investors to stay and expand on its shores. (NAN)

  • AAU, JAMB, NUC launch action plan for accelerating academic excellence in higher education

    AAU, JAMB, NUC launch action plan for accelerating academic excellence in higher education

    Stakeholders in the education sector, including the West Africa Office of the Association of African Universities (AAU), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have launched a Framework of Action for Accelerating Academic Excellence (FAAAE) in the Nigerian higher education system. 

    This was unveiled at a seminar jointly hosted by the AAU West Africa Office and JAMB and attended by Vice-Chancellors, VICBHE Module 7 participants and other stakeholders in higher education in Nigeria. 

    The AAU Ambassador for Higher Education for West Africa and former NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, who convened the one-day seminar, underscored the importance of accelerating academic excellence to national and regional development. 

    Okebukola who is also the President of the Global University Network (GUNi-Africa), called for sustainable funding of higher education while also urging prudent and judicious utilisation of resources available by higher education authorities. 

    The seminar which was held virtually, was addressed by the Secretary-General of AAU, Professor Olusola Oyewole who was applauded for the giant strides AAU has made in the last two years.

    Also at the forum was the President of AAU, Professor Saeed Bakri Osman; Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Christorpher Maiyaki andnSecretary-General, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Yakubu Ochefu.

    Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, identified numerous barriers to academic excellence and proposed wide-ranging and sustainable strategies for building bridges across the barriers to advance academic excellence.

    Also, Okebukola noted that the event was a follow-up to the Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP) which held in Windhoek, Namibia from 4-7 July 2023.

    In the preamble to the Framework of Action which was adopted by the 256 participants who attended the seminar, participants applauded the impressive contributions of the immediate-past Executive Secretary NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed in the revitalisation of university education in Nigeria, now being actively pursued by his successor in office Christopher Maiyaki.

    The stakeholders further applauded the giant strides in promoting access to quality higher education in Nigeria by Professor Is-haq Oloyede through the sterling activities of JAMB.

    They noted the steady march towards academic excellence as demonstrated by improvements in the ranking of Nigerian universities in recent global ranking schemes

    They further noted that several challenges persist in the quest to achieve excellence in higher education including funding especially the management of available funds.

    The stakeholders affirmed that with improved resourcing of the system and significant improvement in the welfare of higher education staff, the pace towards academic excellence would be accelerated. 

    Read Also: Mmesoma: Reps panel hails JAMB for fighting malpractices

    They emphasised that government should not abdicate its responsibility to properly fund higher education in Nigeria. 

    They were determined to make the Nigerian university system a model in Africa that will showcase excellence in teaching and research as well as relevance in solving the myriad socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    Key elements of the Framework for Action include: “with improved resourcing of physical facilities and staff welfare, step up the drive to academic excellence especially through research and production of quality graduates to ensure the attainment of national development goals and the SDGs; 

    “Request all VCs to study the report of COREVIP 2023 and implement recommendations into actionable programmes in their universities; 

    “Effective and judicious use should be made of the resources that are currently available in the system; 

    “A scheme for getting all staff and students to have needed technology especially laptops for online delivery of the CCMAS should be instituted without delay;

    “Implement recommendations from COREVIP 2023 that are aimed at improving academic excellence in higher education in Nigeria; and (6) capacity development of staff and partnerships should be bridges we should construct to deliver excellence.”

  • Subsidy removal, floating of naira disruptive changes Nigeria must go through – Soludo

    Subsidy removal, floating of naira disruptive changes Nigeria must go through – Soludo

    The removal of subsidy and floating of the exchange rate are some of the disruptive changes Nigeria must go through, Anambra Governor Charles Soludo has said.

    The Governor said this at the commissioning of the take-off centre of the Solution Innovation District (SID) in Awka, the state capital. 

    Speaking in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, Soludo asked youths to look up to opportunities in “these ongoing disruptive changes.”

    He said: “The world may be going east or west, but Nigeria must go through necessary disruptive changes. The removal of subsidy and floating of exchange rate are just some of the changes. It’s quite auspicious that we are opening this district at this critical time.

    “Our greatest resource is our human capital, and we want to mine it to its infinite elasticity. Only those who can see tomorrow, who plan and work towards it can control the future. I asked our youths to look up to opportunities in these ongoing disruptive changes.

    “In a digital age, human capital appreciates with continuous usage. We must keep on innovating and acquiring multiple scalable skills to control the future. So, we want the youths and children of Anambra to be prepared for this future- invention, innovation, and technology.

    Read Also: Soludo’s wife to mothers: encourage your daughters on exclusive breastfeeding

    “We must focus on tomorrow. The old order is gone, so let’s not cry to bring it back. We are empowering and training our youths to control the future and become champions of the world.

    “Technology is our mantra and must become our culture. The insignificant number of criminals that cause nuisance in our society cannot define us.”

    The Governor, at the commissioning ceremony, congratulated the 20,000 Anambra youths who recently participated in the initial training programme of the SID’s ‘LevelUp Anambra’ for acquiring various digital skills that would increase their capacity and chances of competing in global spaces.

    The Governor stated that the SID was a sign of the state government’s commitment to developing Anambra youths, appreciating Microsoft and Wootlab Foundation for partnering with the State Government to make the programme a reality.

  • #EndMalariaInNigeria: 300 women benefit from mosquito control intervention in Delta

    #EndMalariaInNigeria: 300 women benefit from mosquito control intervention in Delta

    No fewer than 300 expectant and nursing mothers in Kwale community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State have benefited from a mosquito control intervention. The programme is meant to protect them from malaria. 

    The event, which was unveiled and still ongoing at the Ndokwa Local Government Secretariat Hall, was organised by End Malaria in Nigeria. 

    It’s in collaboration with Malaria Partners International (MPI), Rotary Club of Kwale ( New Dawn) and Hatch Pest Control and Environmental Services Limited.  

    Themed: “Attack Mosquito to Attack Mosquito” the intervention was to protect women from the malaria scourge which kills an average of 300,000 people annually in Nigeria alone. 

    Indoor residual spraying was carried out to protect the homes of the women from mosquitoes between three to six months. There was also a larviciding of drainages in the community of beneficiary 

    According to the Chairman, Obi Nzete, represented by the Supervisor for Health, Mrs Joyce Okonye, malaria is a huge challenge in the community and it needed a drastic solution to combat it. 

    The Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), under the Ministry of Environment, Dr Mohammed Yakubu, who was represented by the Deputy  Head of Department (HOD) of the Environmental Health Department of the local government, Mr Clement Okonye said there is a need for proper sanitation, cutting of weeds, not clogging drainages and construction of modern drainage so as not to provide breeding sites for mosquito. 

    The council chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Chairman, Comrade Ikechukwu Opone urged the community to always clean its drainage system to avoid breeding spaces for a mosquito to thrive. 

    The Immediate past President of the Rotary Club of Kwale, Juliet Onakpovhie said that the intervention came at the right time when malaria posed a huge burden in the Kwale community and it was because of expectant and nursing women that necessitated intervention. 

    Also, the President of the club Mr. Alexander Osademe said that the intervention was not new as there have been several interventions by the Club. 

    In his keynote address, Managing Director of Hatch Pest Control and Environmental Service Limited (HPCESL),  Francis Nwapa said that the campaign is aimed to redirect malaria elimination interventions from curative to preventive and quit cosmetic approach. 

    He said that If African countries such as Lesotho, Mauritius, Algeria Libya, Egypt, LA Reunion, Seychelles, Azerbaijan, Belize, Tajikistan and Tunisia have been declared malaria-free,  then Nigeria can put an end to the over 200, 000 deaths caused by malaria. 

    Nwapa explained that a country is granted malaria-free certification by World Health Organisation(WHO) when the country has proven that it has interrupted indigenous transmission of the disease for at least three consecutive years. 

    Read Also: Kebbi flags off free malaria drug distribution in Argungu

    He appealed to the federal, state, and local government authorities to mobilize the services of environmental health professionals for a national environmental health and water management plan that will address drainage and dams construction, and the construction of sanitary landfill among others.

    He said: “As a direct process of fighting mosquito in Nigeria government should invest in primary health care and improve remuneration for health workers, adequately fund Nigeria vaccine development laboratory, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, and also establish and adequately fund research centres in universities across the nation.”

    A beneficiary of the mosquito control intervention, Mrs Blessing Otuya thanked the organisers for helping to eliminate mosquitoes in her household and the community. 

    Another beneficiary, Ms Dorcas Alaha said the organisers have done a great job of making an effort to prevent mosquitoes in the community. 

    The event was anchored by a member of the End Malaria in Nigeria,  Mr Babatunde Oluajo.