The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 20,000 people drown in Europe each year – WHO

    20,000 people drown in Europe each year – WHO

    On the eve of World Drowning Prevention Day, the European Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the urgency of raising awareness on drowning.

    As a public health issue, this has killed an estimated 20,000 people annually in the European region.

    “Most of us rarely, if ever, think about drowning as a public health hazard with significant impact.’’

    Hans Henri P. Kluge said this in a statement on Monday.

    The recent capsizing of the Adriana, a fishing vessel carrying migrants in the waters between Greece and Italy, added hundreds of victims to this toll in June.

    “In that one single catastrophe, more than 600 people huddled in desperation and drowned together; most bodies will never be recovered,’’ he noted.

    According to the WHO, the majority of victims tragically drowned alone in varied circumstances, from unsupervised pools to deadly rip currents.

    Europe is home to the world’s heaviest alcohol drinkers per capita, and this also adds to the crisis.

    “Alcohol is causally associated with 26 per cent of all drowning deaths in the European region,’’ Kluge said.

    The migration crisis further aggravated the issue.

    According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), about 34,000 people have been drowned in the course of migration since 2014, Kluge said.

    He said this while underscoring the urgency to act.

    “This represents 60 per cent of all migration-associated deaths recorded, and of these, almost four out of five have occurred in the Mediterranean and the English Channel.

    The director said both were within the WHO European Region.

    Read Also: Elisabeth Piner : Meet woman who dresses Wimbledon champions

    Globally, at least 236,000 people lose their lives from drowning each year, according to the WHO.

    “This, however, accounts only for unintentional drownings.

    “The true toll, excluding deaths from other related causes, is underestimated by 30 to 50 percent,’’ Kluge said.

    As the World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25 approaches, Kluge called for urgent action to address the problem.

    “We should ensure that our collective focus on drowning will no longer be based on the latest mass casualty disaster.

    “But on how the loss of each and every life to drowning could have been prevented in the first place,’’ he said.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Channel reduced cost of governance to education, group urges

    Channel reduced cost of governance to education, group urges

    • By, Omolara Akintoye

    Federal and State governments have been urged to cut down cost of governance and channel it to education thereby improving the standard of education in the Country.

    This, among others, was the submission at a Symposium titled “Will Student Loans Increase Access to Public Higher Education in Nigeria” and organised by Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and held at Ogba, Lagos.

     The Executive Director, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi stated that while the policy on the surface, promises to increase access to public higher education by providing indigent students with interest-free tuition loans, there exist barriers to those at the low ebb to assess the proposed student loan.

    Akinbode argued that the student loan scheme if allowed to stand, would further marginalize vulnerable groups, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

     Giving an overview of the Students Loan Act, the Policy/Research Officer, CAPPA, Zikora Ibeh described it as war on education. “The Act was hurriedly drafted without considering the present reality. We reject the Act and urge government to discard it,” Ibeh said. 

     Ibeh also recommended higher funding for education and ensuring greater accountability and efficient utilization of TETFUND and other intervention programme of the government.

    Read Also: Nsirim unveils de gratia centre for nedia rights and education in Port Harcourt

    Student Loans Scheme, according to the Zonal Coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Professor Adelaja Odukoya is a failure of governance. 

     “Poor funding of education is so bad, as I speak we lose lecturers in University of Lagos (Unilag) every week. There are many faculties or Depts that don’t even have up to 5 lecturers, our universities are in shambles,” Odukoya lamented. 

     “The Scheme is a scam as we have seen the collapse of other similar schemes in the past such as the Students Loan Board of Nigeria Education Bank. From that time till now, corruption has gotten to an unprecedented level” theDeputy Chairman, Joint Action Front (JAF), Jude Achike said. 

  • Feminists build consensus, canvass more inclusive society

    Feminists build consensus, canvass more inclusive society

    • By, Omolara Akintoye 

    In an efforts to address gender gap and promote equitable development as well as fairness in the nation’s democracy, among others, feminists, a women’s group, is canvassing for consensual and a more inclusive society. 

    These among others were the submission at two-day Feminists Womanifesto 2023 Retreat, a coalition of women-centred organisations in partnership with the MacAuthur Foundation, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, (WARDC) and Gender Technical Unit (GTU).

    Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, said accountability should be the basis of what democracy is all about because it is anchored on governance and rule of law which states that no man or woman is above the law.

    Country Director, Ford Foundation West Africa, Funke Baruwa, also noted that the time was ripe for women to begin a constructive push.

    “We must begin to push for consensus, build social capital for women and girls and we must stay united.

    Consensus she pointed out stems from unity. “When we continue to build synergy across as a strong block and push for women inclusion, them there’ll be positive changes,” Baruwa said. 

    According to UN CEDAW Committee Representative, Geneva, Esther Msheila-Eghojiamen, building consensus was imperative for the women’s movement to survive.

    While commending women for playing pivotal role in driving remarkable progress in various sectors, Country Director, Action Aid, Ene Obi, lament that women still face numerous challenges which must be addressed.

    She therefore give the following recommendations: Focus more on capacity building, sensitisation, campaigns, work on number of women, among others. 

    “Action Aid firmly believes in our power of collaboration and we urge all stakeholders present here today to rise up to this. One of the second strategies we need to employ is capacity building. A lot more resources need to go into capacity building, especially for women at the grassroots,” she noted.

    Read Also: Another view on failed feminists’ bills

    The Executive Director, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Hansatu Adegbite, also said: “We need to understand the principle of return on investment. People invest where they can get returns. We must also identify critical male allies that we should engage with. There’s also a need for brand building. Changing behaviour, understanding the need to collaborate and forming relationships.”

    Also, Prof. Joy Ezeilo of Women Aid Collective (WACOL) stressed that there was need for institutional mechanisms to combat gender inequality.

    In the words of the Founder Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR), Amina Oyagbola, building consensus between the private sector and women’s movement remains very key.

    “To achieve this, we must increase awareness because to create a change, you need to build a critical mass,” she advised.

    Women, according to Bukky Mbamalu of Yiaga Africa need to build alliances, support women in politics, be involved in grassroots politics and also get younger females involved.

  • Why I’m not on BBNaija All Stars show – Tacha

    Why I’m not on BBNaija All Stars show – Tacha

    Ex-Big Brother Naija Pepperdem housemate Tacha has revealed why she declined to be on the current all-star edition of the reality show which started yesterday.

    According to the radio host, having demanded an advance payment from the show body before gracing the screen, the organisers of the show refused to oblige to her criteria to appear on the show.

    Tacha stated this after former BBN housemate, Mike Edwards mentioned her as the ex-housemate he would have loved to see on the All Stars’ edition.

    Read Also: Tacha hits BBNaija organisers over ‘second chance’ All-stars show theme

    Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa had tweeted: “Who do you think should have been added to the all stars line up? What are your thoughts? #BBNaijaAllStars” to which Mike replied, “Tacha tacha tacha.”  

    Quoting Mike’s tweet, Tacha wrote, “Dem no won pay money nau! Price went up”.

  • Kanu warns against sit-at-home as South East stands still

    Kanu warns against sit-at-home as South East stands still

    Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has asked those behind enforcing sit-at-home in the Southeast region to stop the exercise.

    Kanu spoke through his lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in a video clip.

    According to Ozekhome, Kanu said he does not believe in the sit-at-home, insisting he could not be fighting for his people and at the same time shutting down their economy.

    He cited the effect of the sit-at-home exercise on the social, economic, cultural and political life of the people, lamenting that it has put the Igbo under psychological, psychical and mental stricture.

    ”As his lead counsel and lawyer, he has told me that he does not believe in Sit-at-home; he can not be fighting for his people and shutting down their economy. How do they feed? How will they train their children? Many a time, he cried to me in my presence that he wants to be released so that he can hold a world press conference and address the Igbo and Ala Igbo and the entire world to say, ”Don’t stay at home on Mondays, go about your normal duties, go to work; because the Bible tells us it is upon the labour of your hands, I will bless the fruits of your labour.

    “So, I am now re-echoing again and again what Nnamdi Kanu has told me, ”He does not believe in that sit-at-home on Mondays,” which cripples the social, economic, cultural and political life of the people, putting them under psychological, psychical and mental stricture and torture,” Kanu said through Ozekhome.

    Read Also: Court to DSS: grant Kanu access to doctors  

    Many Imo residents however remained indoors on Monday due to fear of the unknown.

    Our correspondent, who monitors the situation, reports that several institutions remain closed as few motorists were seen plying the roads.

    Many workers did not report to duty as a visit to the state secretariat revealed.

    Some streets in Owerri Metropolis were deserted as shops did not open for business activity.

    According to some residents sit-at-home on Mondays has now become a recurring issue which is affecting the people’s psyche.

  • Binani prays court to allow tribunal decide her petition before suspended REC’s prosecution

    Binani prays court to allow tribunal decide her petition before suspended REC’s prosecution

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last election in Adamawa, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru, on Monday, urged a Federal High Court, Abuja to allow the election petition tribunal sitting in the state to deliver its judgment before the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari, is prosecuted.

    Dahiru, also known as Binani, told Justice Donatus Okorowo, through her counsel, Chiesonu Okpoko, SAN, while adopting the processes filed in respect of her suit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Binani had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

    In the suit, the applicant sought the interpretation of Section 144 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and a preservative order seeking the maintenance of status quo by parties pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    Binani’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka, SAN, in the ex-parte motion earlier filed and granted by the court on July 10, drew the attention of the judge to the fact that a petition was before an Adamawa Election Petition Tribunal and would be dispensed with within 180 days in accordance with the law.

    But in the last adjourned date, the court, which did not extend the interim order, fixed today for hearing of the originating summons served on the defendants.

    Upon resumed hearing, Okpoko, who held the brief of Aondoaka, argued that the star witness to their client, Hudu Ari, was being harassed and prevented from giving evidence before the tribunal which if continued, would jeopardise the case of their client at the tribunal.

    The lawyer prayed the court to restrain the respondents from prosecuting Hari pending the determination of Binani’s petition at the tribunal.

    He based his argument on the grounds that prosecuting the suspended REC now, while Binani was still challenging INEC’s declaration of Ahmadu Fintiri of PDP as Adamawa governor after she had earlier been declared winner of the governorship poll, might create a likelihood of bias in the decision of the tribunal.

    Okpoko further submitted that the applicant was not saying that Ari should not be prosecuted but that INEC and others should wait until the tribunal gave its judgment within the180 days prescribed by law.

    He said the decision of INEC to.file the action against any person involved in Binani’s April 15 declaration as winner of the supplementary poll in the state when the tribunal was yet to determine the petition of their client,  would deprive her of Section 285(6) of the law which gives 180 days within which the petition filed on May 6 should be dispensed with.

    He said waiting for the tribunal’s decision would not prejudice parties in the suit.

    He then urged the court to halt the prosecution of Ari and uphold their argument.

    But counsel to INEC, Adebisi Adeniyi, who held brief for Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, disagreed with Okpoko’s submission.

    Adeniyi argued that the charge being preferred against the suspended REC was a bailable one that would allowed him to give his testimony before the tribunal.

    The lawyer said that Binani had not placed any thing before the court to show that Ari was listed as witness her petition.

    Besides, he argued that the applicant had not also shown to court whether the suspended REC had either been invited, arrested or charged.

    The lawyer, who said that the judges that would determine the election petition case were not robot, said they were judges that were properly trained, who were experienced and would be guided by law.

    Read Also: NDE collaborates with Binani, commissions projects

    According to him, there is no way the prosecution of the suspended REC will affect the plaintiff’s petition.

    He submitted that if Ari felt strongly about this argument, he was the rightful person to canvass such argument before a high court in the state and not Binani.

    Adeniyi, who challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter, said the suit ought to have been filed in the state.

    But disagreeing with Adeniyi, Okpoko argued  that all the respondents in Binani’s suit were Federal Government’s agencies, hence, the issue of court jurisdiction had no place.

    Justice Okorowo adjourned the matter until Oct. 13 for judgment.

    (NAN)

  • Ary Borges scores hat-trick as Brazil beat Panama

    Ary Borges scores hat-trick as Brazil beat Panama

    Ary Borges scored the first hat-trick of the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup as Brazil cruised to victory over Panama.

    The winger netted a double in the first half and set up Bia Zaneratto shortly after the interval with a backheel, before heading home the fourth goal.

    It means Brazil maintain their perfect record of winning all nine of their opening games at Women’s World Cups.

    They are well placed to qualify from Group F, after France were held by Jamaica.

    Both of Brazil’s goals in the opening 45 minutes came in similar fashion – perfectly clipped crosses from the left by Debinha, met by the head of Ary.

    Read Also: Brazil president dismisses Ancelotti as national coach

    The first header beat Panama keeper Yenith Bailey, while the second was kept out but tucked away by Ary on the rebound.

    Ary unselfishly gave up a chance to seal a hat-trick, laying off for team-mate Zaneratto to finish a superb team move into the roof of the net – but she completed her treble after 70 minutes by heading through Bailey’s legs.

    Panama – one of eight first-time contenders in 2023 – were completely outclassed, rarely able to escape their own half.

  • Omadefu emerges as Majority Leader of Nasarawa Assembly

    Omadefu emerges as Majority Leader of Nasarawa Assembly

    Mr Mohammed Omadefu (APC- Keana) on Monday emerged as the Majority Leader of the Nasarawa House of Assembly.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi (APC-Umaisha/Ugya) stated this when he unveiled the eight Principal Officers of the 7th Assembly in Lafia.

    Abdullahi said that the selection of the principal officers was done in consultation with stakeholders in the state.

    He said that Mr Danladi Jatau (APC- Kokona West) also emerged as the Deputy Majority Leader, while Mr Larry Ven Bawa (APC- Akwanga North) was elected as the Chief Whip.

    Abdullahi also named Mr Suleiman Azara (APC- Awe South) as the Deputy Chief Whip, while Mr Iliya Zhekaba (PDP- Obi 11), would serve as the Minority Leader.

    Read Also: Nasarawa assembly resolves crisis, elects Abdullahi Speaker

    He said that Mr Musa Abubakar (NNPP- Doma South) was elected as the Deputy Minority Leader, while Mr Solomon Akwashiki (SDP- Lafia Central) would serve as the Minority Whip.

    Abdullahi named and Mr Musa Gude (SDP-Uke/ Karsh) as the the Deputy Minority Whip and urged the principal officers to live above board while discharging their duties.

    The Speaker called on the people of the state to continue to support the administration of Gov. Abdullahi Sule to enable it deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    (NAN)

  • Germany put six past World Cup debutants Morocco

    Germany put six past World Cup debutants Morocco

    Germany began their Women’s World Cup campaign in style as captain Alexandra Popp scored twice to see off debutants Morocco in Melbourne.

    It was a comfortable victory for world number two side Germany, who are heavy favourites to top Group H.

    Striker Popp, who was ruled out of the Euro 2022 final through injury, made her mark with two clinical headers in the first half.

    Klara Buhl pounced on a rebound shortly after half-time to extend Germany’s lead, before Morocco’s Hanane Ait el Haj and Yasmin Mrabet poked into their own net on separate occasions.

    Germany continued to cause problems and completed the rout when substitute Lea Schuller added a sixth, firing it into an empty net after a swift counter-attack on the right.

    Read Also: Nigeria target cricket World Cup ticket in Tanzania

    It was a strong performance from Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side as they created numerous chances and looked sharp going forward, hitting the woodwork on two occasions and having a goal ruled out for offside.

    Despite missing key players Lena Oberdorf and Marina Hegering through injury, Germany maintained their impressive record in the group stages of the competition, losing only once in 25 matches.

    Morocco, one of eight teams making their World Cup debut this year, were dangerous in flashes, but they lacked the clinical touch that Germany’s Popp provided at the other end.

  • Ibori and UK court ruling

    Ibori and UK court ruling

    • By, Othuke Emmanuel

    Last week’s judgment by Judge David Tomlinson of the Southwark Crown Court, which ordered former Delta State Governor James Ibori to pay the sum of 101.5m pounds immediately or face an eight-year jail sentence, is meant to achieve one sole aim: cause a frenzy in the polity. However, the news soon faded out and failed to achieve the purpose for which it was intended.

    While many ignorant Nigerians, some who were not yet born when Ibori became governor in 1999 took to social media to hail the judgment and pour invectives on the man who has lived all his life defending the interests of the Niger Delta on the issue of resource control, other discerning Nigerians saw through the façade in the ruling.

    A cursory look at the order clearly shows Judge Tomlinson’s ulterior motive. He ruled that Ibori should pay the sum of 101.5m pounds “immediately” or be jailed for 8 years. While many undiscerning minds are focused on the amount ordered by the judge, supporters of Ibori including some civil society organisations who have no association with him have kicked against the ruling, saying the judge’s aim is to return Ibori to prison for a second term.

    What a ridiculous judgment! How did Judge Tomlinson and the prosecutors arrive at that sum? For someone who completed his tenure as governor over 16 years ago and has not held any public office since then till now, where Ibori will get 101.5m pounds to pay the fine? Even if they sell all his confiscated assets, will it amount to the sum he is asked to pay? The fine is nothing but ludicrous cum preposterous.

    Of course, it has been proven times without number that Ibori has been a wealthy man even before his emergence as Delta state governor in 1999. In a recent interview, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the state secretary (later chairman) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state when Ibori became governor in 1999 said “ We came together and said Ibori, you have to run for governor because he was the richest among us. He has more contacts. He was rich and he also has the reach. And so, we knew that none of us can stand the force. So, we all agreed here in Ibuzo here. All of us the young men, we said as far as we are concerned, he is going to be the governor. He brought his money. I am not an ingrate. Some people will be talking negatively about Ibori today because of ingratitude. None of us had money to go for election. He (Ibori) was the only man who has money, real money to go for the election. 99 percent of the money we spent was from Ibori.  I speak as the State Secretary of the party. Even the contacts we used and the electronic systems and all the equipment we used were in my cahmbers. All of them were done by Ibori”.

    This statement clearly punctured the claims of the UK government and other naysayers who claimed Ibori acquired his wealth by stealing the resources of Delta state as governor from 1999 to 2007.

    According to Ibori in a statement issued shortly after the ruling by Judge Tomlinson, “Since 2005 the British Prosecutors have investigated my assets worldwide, they have had a restraint order in place on most of those assets and they are well aware that the total monetary value of those assets is nowhere close to the sums that were the subject of today’s Order. Notwithstanding the fact that many of the assets are not and have never been owned by me – it seems that if you are my friend and you allowed me to spend some holiday time in your house, then by this order I now own your home and must ask you to sell it to satisfy the Order”.

    It is not surprising therefore that Ibori likened the ruling to estimated billing by NEPA, a situation where electricity companies give out outrageous guess bills to their customers even when electricity is not supplied to them and they expected them to pay

    After serving his term in prison, Ibori was due to be released on 20 December but instead, he was illegally held in immigration detention . Rather than release him, the Home Office made wanted him to be kept in prison for a longer period. It also made an application that Ibori should be electronically tagged and subjected to strict cur­few conditions. However, the ap­plication was rejected by Justice Juliet May who described the Home Sec­retary’s attempts to detain Ibori as “quite extraordinary. While condemning the actions of the Home Office and ordering Ibori to be immediately freed from prison, Mrs. Justice May said: “You don’t hold someone just because it is convenient to do so and without plans to deport them.”

    Upon his release, Ibori sued for damages for false imprisonment and breach of his rights and demanded 4,000 pounds in compensation. The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the home secretary had been “wrong throughout her dealings with Mr Ibori over the weeks leading to his release” and that he had been unlawfully detained. She then awarded a nominal damages of 1 pound against the Home Office. Ibori was vindicated. Rather than offering a profuse apiology for violating his rights, Judge Tomlinson is talking of another possible 8-year jail term. The question rational minds should ask is ‘why were they hell-bent on keeping him in prison after he has officially served his terms’? Why are they talking of another possible 8-year jail term now? Can you jail a man twice for the same offence? That amounts to double jeopardy!

    Consequent upon his release in 2016, Ibori has insisted that he was unfairly treated. In the current case, he has vowed to seek redress in higher courts in UK. That rights must be respected. Therefore, the issue of immediate payment or jail term cannot arise. The Supreme Court, not Judge Tomlinson will be the final arbiter in this case.

    The people of Niger Delta are watching the latest development with keen interests. They see Ibori as a genuine leader who has genuine love for his people and will protect their interests, no matter whose ox is gored. When the agents of the federal government attempted to arrest him in 2010, the people vehemently resisted it. In 2017 upon his return from the UK, a tumultuous crowd rolled out the drums to celebrate his return home. His return saw to the cessation of militancy activities in the Niger Delta region.

    Read Also: Ibori breaks silence on UK court order confiscating £101.5m

    From 1999, Ibori has been vocal in his quest for resource control and development in the Niger Delta. During the 2005 National Dialogue, he listed core demands of the Niger Deltans which include increased autonomy for the federating units, resource ownership and control local control of police and security and equitable representations at the national level. It was the struggle from leaders like Ibori on equitable representation that  made it possible for a Goodluck Jonathan from Bayelsa state in the South-South region to emerge as Nigeria’s vice president and later, president.

    In August 2019, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Ghana Branch described him “as a role model and champion of the resource control struggle which has given the Niger Delta improved allocations from the 13 percent derivation fund”.

    The Niger Deltans will not watch and allow one of their respected son and leader to be persecuted and taken away from them again. Therefore, after due consultation, they have given Ibori the backing to appeal the obnoxious judgment by Judge Tomlinson. That was why, in conclusion of his statement,  he boldly said “I know one thing for sure, that if I do not go to the Court of Appeal to contest this outrageous Order then my people will definitely say that I am a madman!”.

    Emmanuel, a human rights activist and public affairs analyst writes from Abuja