The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 11 die in incinerated vehicles on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    11 die in incinerated vehicles on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    Eleven persons lost their lives to a multiple auto crash near Isara Bridge, Ogere, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday night.

    Seven other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the inferno that resulted from the accident.

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Ahmed Umar, confirmed the figures of the accident victims to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abeokuta.

    Umar stated that the accident, which occurred at 10.35 p.m. involved two Mazda buses and a car and was caused by excessive speeding.

    Read Also: 5 die, nine injured in Lagos-Ibadan road crash

    He added that the affected vehicles and the dead were burnt beyond identification and recognition.

    Six of the seven injured persons were taken to a hospital at Ogere for treatment, while the seventh person was taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan, also in Ogun for treatment.

    Umaru said the injured are five male adults, one female adult and a male child.

    “Motorists are advised to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations and also cooperate with traffic managers,’’ he admonished. (NAN)

  • I never asked Christians to buy guns – Pastor Adeboye

    I never asked Christians to buy guns – Pastor Adeboye

    Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) says he never asked Christians to buy guns for self-protection.

    “I never asked Christians to go and buy guns. Samson in the Bible did not fight with guns,’’ the renowned cleric said on Sunday at the monthly thanksgiving live television programme of the church.

    The clarification came against media reports that the general overseer said it was now “fire-for-fire’’ for any attack on Christians.

    “Don’t buy guns. You don’t want to kill anybody. We just must make sure that unwanted visitors don’t come to our churches, so don’t go and buy guns,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Defend yourselves against attackers, Adeboye tells Christians

    At the July Holy Ghost Service, on July 2, Pastor Adeboye had urged members of the church not to be afraid to attend church programmes because of terrorists attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State.

    Terrorists attacked Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on June 5, killed more than 40 worshippers and injured many others.

    Adeboye urged Christians to rise to the occasion and call the bluff of the devil. (NAN

  • Abuja flood: Erring developers to fund demolition of own buildings

    Abuja flood: Erring developers to fund demolition of own buildings

    Developers found guilty of violating the land use of any area in Abuja, may have to start paying for the cost of demolishing their own properties, as the Administration has threatened to begin implementation of environmental laws which stipulates financial penalties on offenders.

    The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, (AMMC), Tpl. Shuaibu Umar, who disclosed this while briefing reporters at the weekend, said the measure has become necessary following the numerous abuse of building regulations as well as town planning violations.

    Umar, who also blamed erring developers for the rate of flooding witnessed in Abuja in recent times, said most of the flood disasters in recorded in Abuja results from buildings erected on flood plains.

    The FCT has in recent times been inundated with reports of flooding around Lokogoma, Trademore Estate, Lugbe, among another communities, with number of lives and property lost to flash flooding.

    The AMMC coordinator, while answering questions from reporters, said when implemented, the development will save government huge cost of logistics and also serve as deterrent to recalcitrant developers.

    In his words: “We have a provision in the Urban and Regional Planning Law as well as provisions in the environmental law that establish the Abuja Environmental Protection Board which allows for prosecution of developers that violate building requirements and regulations.

    Read Also: Illegal mechanic shops demolished in Abuja

    “The law empowers us to enforce, demolish and prosecute. The law also allows us to charge erring developers to reimburse the authority all the expenses spent during that demolition.

    “So we are going to commence implementation this law. Any developer found guilty of violating land use of any area, we demolish, prosecute and make sure he reimburse our enforcement. In a situation where public infrastructure like bridges or roads are destroyed, we will also charge the developer to pay for whatever he may have destroyed in the course of violation of our regulation.”

    On the pace of demolitions across the territory in recent times, the coordinator maintained that government can not afford to sit back and watch people putting their lives and that of others at risk.

    Umar said: “we are not demolishing because we want to, we are demolishing because we have to protect people’s lives. If people do not value their lives, we have the responsibility to protect it for them.”

    He maintained that the FCT Administration, through its relevant agencies, has played its part in ensuring that the city’s land use are adhered to in all neighbourhood.

    According to him, the city’s planner perfected a plan and made sure that: “lands on flood plains are never allocated but what we have today are recalcitrant developers that encroach on green areas. I can categorically say that almost all the areas presently threatened by flood are illegal development.

    “It’s not because we are not taking measures, because every time we notice an illegal development or infractions, our officers move in, stop work and mark such buildings and serve them demolition notices.”

  • FinTech operators account for 63% funding raised in 2021 – Association

    FinTech operators account for 63% funding raised in 2021 – Association

    The FinTech Association of Nigeria says Financial Technology (FinTech) operators accounted for 63 per cent of the 1.37 billion dollars funding raised in Nigeria in 2021.

    President of the association, Mr Ade Bajomo said this on Saturday in Lekki, Lagos, at a dinner held at the FinTech Platinum Awards ceremony.

    Bajomo noted that Nigeria had been well-positioned in Africa and in the global FinTech ecosystem.

    He said that Africa could currently boast of 10 unicorns out of which seven – Jumia, Fluttwerwave, Andela, Chipper Cash, Airtel Africa, OPay and Interswitch – are Nigerian.

    “In a similar light, Nigerian start-ups raised 1.37 billion dollars of the four billion dollars raised in Africa in 2021.

    “Of these, the FinTech space alone accounted for about 63 per cent of all total funding, compared with just 25 per cent in 2020.

    “The growing investor confidence in African FinTech reflects the continent’s huge potential due to deepening mobile and internet penetration, a youthful population, increasing consumer sophistication and income, amongst many other factors.

    “When you think about how far FinTech in Nigeria has come, you should thank the incredible entrepreneurs who envisioned, pioneered and executed strategic moves that have now crystallised into strong and growing companies,’’ Bajomo said.

    According to him, in spite of the enormous achievements, there is always the need to look back and appreciate how far the FinTech ecosystem has come in the country.

    He said FinTech in Nigeria raised about 600 million dollars in funding between 2014 and 2019, compared to more than one billion dollars raised in one year alone.

    Bajomo said that few years ago, real time payments and digital (quick) loans were almost impossible.

    He added that Nigeria is now home to about 250 FinTech companies, in spite of huge infrastructural, regulatory and financial challenges.

    Read Also: Using technology to counter fake news in the electoral process

    The association’s president said the trajectory was not set to slow down by any means as by 2025, Africa would be home to 1.5 billion people, most of who would have grown up with the internet.

    He said that the continent’s demographics would include a vast group of digitally-literate but under-banked customers, who could be tapped by home-grown and foreign FinTechs.

    Bajomo said the FinTech Platinum Awards was to create a world class award ceremony which would raise the standard of the top global awards within the sector.

    He said the association was strongly positioned to play strategic, critical and unbiased roles in creating an enabling environment for FinTech to continue to thrive in Nigeria.

    This, he explained, would be by providing leadership for FinTech ecosystem evolutions in the country and across the continent.

    The award for the “Female FinTech Trailblazer’’’ was worn by Ms Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-founder, PiggyVest, for starting something ground-breaking and at the same time, a strong force in the industry.

    The award for “Ground-breaking Achievement’’ went to Carbon Microfinance Bank, as one of the first organisations to do something innovative in their space, while adhering to ethical standards.

    The “Ecosystem Enabler’’ award was received by Banwo & Ighodalo Firm for providing significant resources and support for the Nigerian FinTech ecosystem.

    “Leadership Award’’ (organisation and individual categories) were awarded to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Mr Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director of Interswitch.

    This is for paving a pathway on how things should be done in the FinTech space and consistently raising the bar.

    Mr Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founder, Future Africa got the “Tech Advocacy’’ award for being at the forefront of pushing for increased technological advancement in the ecosystem.

    He got the award also for fostering opportunities, networks and inclusion to make it a reality. (NAN

  • Chieftain urges APC to ensure genuine reconciliation for victory in Oyo State

    Chieftain urges APC to ensure genuine reconciliation for victory in Oyo State

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Mr Akeem Agbaje, said on Sunday in Abuja that the party needed to ensure reconciliation of aggrieved members.

    Agbaje placed third at the Oyo governorship primary election contested by six aspirants in May. The election produced Sen. Teslim Folarin as the party’s standard bearer.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that genuine reconciliation was expedient for the APC to emerge victorious at the 2023 general elections.

    “A factionalized APC will find it difficult to win any of the elections in Oyo State in 2023. Fortunately we have time to heal wounds.

    “The national headquarters and the leadership in the Southwest can step in, bring everybody together, unite everybody genuinely and the party will regain power.

    “The candidates in Oyo State, the executive members that emerged at the primaries should be sincere in the reconciliation moves,’’ Agbaje, a lawyer said.

    He hinged the need for reconciliation on sharp practices at the governorship primary election, which he said were not in tandem with the progressive ideology of the party.

    Read Also: Osun 2022: It’s green light for APC in Ede says Oyetola as mammoth crowd declare support

    “Primary elections are conducted by the national headquarters of the party; if it did not initiate a credible process, it could not get a credible result.

    “It should have ensured that most popular party members emerged at primary elections.

    “The fact that APC is in opposition in Oyo State suggests that the party should be more transparent in the conduct of its primary elections,’’ he stressed.

    According to Agbaje, reconciliation is important, but can only be effective if done sincerely.

    “I am fully supportive of reconciliation but not deceptive reconciliation. The party must carry everybody along,’’ he advised.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for displaying a high sense of commitment to victory at the 2023 presidential election by ensuring that the most credible and most popular candidate emerged at the election.

    Agbaje described the process that produced Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as APC’s presidential flag bearer as worthy to be adopted by the party in all subsequent internal elections.

    (NAN)

  • Alaafin’s wife dies weeks after monarch’s demise

    Alaafin’s wife dies weeks after monarch’s demise

    Barely two months after the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, one of his wives, Olori Kafayat, has also died.

    It was gathered that Olori Kafayat, who was the mother of Prince Adebayo Adeyemi popularly known as D’Guv died on Friday night.

    Olori Kafayat Adeyemi in her life time, was one of the senior wives of the late monarch.

    READ ALSO: Late Alaafin’s wives show off new houses

    One of her son’s, Prince Adebayo is the chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Pensions Board.

    Details of her death were still sketchy as at the time of filing this report but the Director of Media and Publicity at the Alaafin Palace, Mr Bode Durojaye, however confirmed the news.

    Although, no official statement has been issued by the palace as at the time of filing this report, a palace source said the late Olori died in the United States of America.

  • Police to re-enforce ban on tinted vehicles, unauthorised sirens

    Police to re-enforce ban on tinted vehicles, unauthorised sirens

    The Bayelsa State Police Command has set up a special squad to re-enforce the ban on the use of non-factory fitted tinted vehicles, unauthorised sirens, amber lights and vehicles with covered plate-numbers.
    In a statement on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, the squad is to commence operation on 4th July, 2022.

    Butswat said the command had noted with dismay the resurgence of non-factory fitted tinted vehicles, unauthorized sirens, amber lights and vehicles with covered plate-numbers plying the roads of Yenagoa and its environs.
    He said intelligence at the disposal of the command also revealed that such vehicles were being used for committing henious crimes in the state.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria pledges commitment to reducing plastic pollution of the marine

    Butswat said: “As a proactive measure, the command has set up a special squad to impound vehicles with unauthorised sirens, amber lights, non-factory fitted tinted glasses and covered plate-numbers.
    “Owners of such vehicles are advised in their own interest to adhere to the extant laws guiding the use of such vehicles to avoid being arrested and their vehicles impounded.

    “The squad will commence operation on Monday, 4th July, 2022 with a clear mandate to arrest and impound vehicles with unauthorized sirens, amber lights, covered plate numbers and non-factory fitted tinted glasses.”

  • Wike returns to Rivers after Turkey’s vacation

    Wike returns to Rivers after Turkey’s vacation

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport after his vacation in Turkey amid turbulence in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Wike returned to the state on Saturday afternoon accompanied by his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, who also spent his vacation in Turkey.

    Wike’s absence and his silence over how his party’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, mistreated him in the selection of his running mate for the 2023 election, had caused crisis in the PDP.

    READ ALSO: Shun grievances, work for APC in 2023, Amaechi directs supporters

    While Wike was in Turkey, his supporters in the PDP such as a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, gave an indication that they would not work for Atiku.

    The Rivers governor was said to have avoided emissaries sent by Atiku to Turkey to pacify him.

    Stakeholders in Rivers PDP were said to be waiting for Wike’s directive to know their next line of action.

    Wike’s return on Saturday also coincided with the coming home of his main political rival and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, to Rivers.

  • Shun grievances, work for APC in 2023, Amaechi directs supporters

    Shun grievances, work for APC in 2023, Amaechi directs supporters

    The immediate past Transport Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has directed his supporters in Rivers State to set aside their anger and work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

    Amaechi, a former governor of the state, spoke on Saturday, when thousands of APC supporters trooped out in Port Harcourt to give him grand reception after the Presidential primary election.

    The former minister, who came second at the primary poll, was received by party enthusiasts, who followed him from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, to the APC state secretariat in Port Harcourt.

    Amaechi, who vowed to stay in Rivers and ensure the victory of APC, appealed to his supporters to return to their various units and work for the APC in 2023.

    He said: “Please, in the contest for the presidency, we should know that we must go and vote for our party, no matter how angry you are, they have chosen, let’s go and vote for our party.

    “For the stories you hear about the people who are gossiping how they are having meetings in France, let this be your own France. Vote for your party, don’t be afraid, just go home and do your work.

    “Don’t be afraid, go home and work, that’s why I came, I came to thank you, I came to urge you to go home and work, let all of us be unit leaders, no more local government leaders, ward leaders.

    Read Also: APC support group pledges to mobilise for party candidates in 19 northern states

    “If you check in INEC, they are no longer announcing ward results, they are announcing unit results. So let go home and win our units and bring our units home.

    “Those days of meeting, writing results have all gone, we must praise INEC, praise the National Assembly for reducing the level of rigging, where people write results and INEC will just announce, now it is almost gone.”

    In his remarks, the state APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, assured supporters that the APC would be on the ballot in 2023.

    He said: “My mission here is three-fold, one to reassure you that we will be on the ballot, number two, that there is no court case that we will lose because God is on our side, number three, we have won already.

    “Why have we won? Because at the grassroots, we are number one, number two, on every ballot, we are number one, number three, we serve a God that is number one.”

  • FG assures the elderly, retirees of health insurance

    FG assures the elderly, retirees of health insurance

    The Federal Government has stated that while it is committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Nigerians, the provision of health insurance for the elderly and retirees remains a priority.

    Noting that one of the indicators for any civilization or nation is how well it takes care of the elders, it assured the elderly and retirees that the government is working towards the implementation of recommendations, strategies aimed at providing qualitative healthcare for them.

    The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known in Abuja at the formal presentation of the Ministerial Committee report on the provision of health insurance for retirees and elderly in Nigeria.

    He said: “The first step for us will be to see the report, and a committee will look through it and find out what needs to be distilled from there. There is no doubt that this is a very important document and a big step forward, not only for the elderly and the retirees, but for the whole country.

    Read Also: Nigeria pledges commitment to reducing plastic pollution of the marine

    “There is a saying that the mark of civilization depends on how well we care for the old and how well the strong can take care of the weak.

    “We must make sure that nobody is left behind – the young, old – are taken care of by those who are able. This is because those who are able today were not able when they were young and one day they will also not be able in the future.”

    While presenting the report, the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee, Mr. Linus Awute, said: “Our report lays emphasis on financial risk protection of the elderly. This is where the issue of funding comes in. We have researched and realise that no society can fund health care from only one source.

    “We are advocating for innovative multiple sources of funding. We have identified some sources that will bring about incremental funds landing under the principle of equity and justice. It is all about strong political will.”