The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Police disagree on casualty figures in Katsina attack

    A REPORT that 48 villagers were abducted in the aftermath of bandits’ attack on Wurma community, Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State was dismissed on Wednesday by the State Police Command.

    Police spokesman Isa Gambo in a statement last night appealed to reporters to await further clarifications on the matter from the command, reiterating the earlier statement that the casualty figure stood at 15, until further investigation by the command proves otherwise

    He said: “Let’s work together to rid Katsina of banditry and other crimes. Don’t hesitate to get across for any clearance and update on the security situation in Katsina.

    ‘’I don’t know where you get your figures from, but this is what security men on ground have in their hands officially.’’

    Read Also: Police rescue 10 women abducted in Katsina

    Some reports in the social media circle in Katsina have even quoted up to 100 casualty figure, while others claim 45 to 50.”

    The Nation recalled that some bandits  attacked the village on Tuesday morning, rustled unspecified number of domestic animals and abducted about 15 women.

    According to the command, a team of ‘’Operation Puff Adder’’ led by the DPO Kurfi chased the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun duel, which resulted in the rescue of 10 women.

    The report further had it that the hoodlums escaped into the rough Rugu forest, while search parties have been dispatched to the surrounding bush to rescue others.

  • How to address $9b UK judgment debt crisis, by Ozekhome

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has given the Federal Government a hint on how to address the trouble created by the recent $9 billion judgment given against the country by a British court.

    Ozekhome, who faulted the current approach by the government, suggested the urgent engagement of brilliant British lawyers to make a case for the country.

    In a statement yesterday, the popular lawyer noted that the amount stated in the judgment is over N3.2 trillion.

    He averred that if the order by the UK court was executed, “it will simply cripple Nigeria, whose entire 2019 budget, which was signed into law in June, is N8.92 trillion only”.

    Ozekhome added: “The judgement creditors will not seek Nigeria’s permission to go after her foreign assets. They will not politely ask Nigeria to ‘surrender’ her assets. No.

    “They will simply use the available, tested and trusted legal option of garnishee proceedings, attach and fiefe (confiscate) all available and known Nigerian bank accounts, assets, monies, properties, among others, wherever they find them in the UK and in any part of the world.

    “It is not a matter given to puerile lachrymal effusion, chest-beating, adventurous swashbuckling and grandstanding. It is a matter of cold law and facts.

    Read Also: $9.6b judgment debt: Contract designed to fail-AGF, Finance Minister, CBN Governor

    “Let the Federal Government hire experienced legal hands in the UK immediately to stem this impending disaster that will eclipse all of us, without exception.

    “The current foreign reserve of Nigeria is about a mere $47.62 billion, with China having the highest foreign reserves in the world, to the tune of $3.6 trillion…

    “The best option thus open to the Federal Government to halt the looming disaster of attaching her foreign assets to the tune of $9 billion is to immediately appeal the judgment and ask the court for stay of execution.

    “To allow execution of the judgment will plunge Nigeria’s already battered, pilfered and mismanaged economy into irreversible doldrums and recession of unimaginable proportions.”

  • Kidnapped ABU students regain freedom

    The Kaduna State Police Command said last night that the three final year Law students from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, kidnapped on the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Tuesday evening, have been released.

    The students were kidnapped with four other travellers on the highway when about 20 gun bearing kidnappers blocked the highway.

    Spokesman Yakubu Sabo confirmed the development last night, saying the students have been reunited with their families.

    He said they were the last set of abductees in the kidnappers’ custody before they were released.

    Seven persons, including the three final year Law students, were abducted on the highway on Tuesday around 6pm.

    An unconfirmed report has it that the kidnappers killed three other persons during the operation.

    A video that has gone viral on the social media shows security men in the convoy of former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo firing gunshots to disperse the kidnappers.

    Read Also: Police disagree on casualty figures in Katsina attack

    A commercial driver, Ibrahim Ahmed, told The Nation: “I escaped the attack because the convoy of one former governor, which I was driving behind, arrived the scene during the operation. The guards then fired shots and dispersed the kidnappers, but they abducted many people.

    “They blocked the expressway and fired at the vehicles passing before the former governor arrived. They kidnapped people during the operation and took them into a forest.

    “I saw three people on the floor. I think were already dead because they did not move.

    “I narrowly escaped being kidnapped too. In fact, if I had overtaken the convoy as some of my passengers had requested, we would have probably been kidnapped too.”

    Another driver, Samaila Rabiu, said three people were killed during the incident.

    He added: “A colleague, who escaped the attack, told us that three people, who tried to escape, were shot by the kidnappers.”

  • Fed Govt slashes visa fees for U.S. citizens

    The Federal Government has approved a reduction in visa charges payable by United States (U.S) citizens from $180 to $160.

    The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, explained on Wednesday that the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, had been directed to implement the decrease in the visa charges with effect from today.

    The development followed the new visa regime announced by the U.S Government on Tuesday.

    It said Nigerians applying for U.S visas would be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, with effect from August 29.

    The U.S Mission in Abuja had said the reciprocity fee would be charged, besides the non-immigrant visa application fee, also called the Machine Readable Visa fee, which all applicants pay.

    By the new policy, applicants are required to pay $110 for B1, B2, B1/B2; F1 and F2 while H1B and H4 visas attract $180. I visa applicants are to pay $210, while L1, L2 applicants will pay $303 and R1 and R2 $80.

    The Mission explained that both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.

    In a statement by its Director Press, Mohammed Manga, the ministry said a committee set up to conduct due diligence in line with the ministry’s extant policy on reciprocity of visa fees had engaged the U.S Embassy on the issue.

    Read Also: U.S. blames Fed Govt for changes in visa fees

    It added that the implementation of its recommendations was delayed due to “transition processes in the ministry at the policy level”.

    The statement said: “The committee had concluded its assignment and submitted a report. But the issuance of authorisation for its recommendations was delayed due to transition processes in the ministry at the policy level.

    “The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the decrease of visa charges payable by U.S citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the committee.

    “Accordingly, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s visa charges to U.S citizens with effect from August, 29.”

    Also, the U.S Embassy in Abuja has denied blocking appointment dates for visa interviews of Nigerians seeking to travel to that country.

    The Public Affairs Department of the Embassy stated this yesterday in response to a question by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    The embassy said: “There has been no block on visa interviews. There are interview appointment opportunities available.”

    NAN reports that a visa interview is intended for a more in-depth communication between the applicant and the representative of a diplomatic office.

    A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the U.S is expected to first obtain a visa, either a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence.

    Citizens of qualified countries may be also able to visit the U.S without a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme.

    NAN reports that on August 20, some social media platforms reported that Nigerians who had applied for U.S visa could not get an appointment for an interview, despite the payment of visa fees.

    According to the reports, after payment, once an applicant attempted to make an interview appointment, the applicant was informed through the U.S Embassy’s consultant website, CGI INC, that there were no available dates for visa appointments.

  • EFCC urges FBI cybercrimes suspects to surrender

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has advised the 80 Nigerians indicted in massive cybercrime cases been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America to come out of their hiding and clear their names before its (EFCC) operatives get to them.

    The commission which noted that it is in their own interest to come out assures that in no time, its operatives will arrest those of them within the shores of the country, adding that the operatives have begun a background check on the suspects.

    The Ibadan Zonal Head of the anti-graft agency, Mr Friday Ebelo gave the advice on Wednesday during a press conference at its Iyaganku, Ibadan zonal office.

    According to Ebelo, the zonal office of the agency has since the beginning of the year have arrested a total of 263 suspects for cybercrime related offences out of which 111 had been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.

    Additionally, he said the agency has recovered huge sums of money in local and foreign currencies aside from getting the nod of the courts to forfeit valuable items established to have been benefits of internet-related crimes, including landed properties, vehicles, laptops, phones and many others.

    Ebelo puts the recovered monies at N7,461,378, US$56,452; 400 Canadian Dollars, 65 Pounds and 2,400 Euros, noting that the EFCC is in constant collaboration with international organisations with a similar mandate, especially the FBI in efforts to curb internet crimes and illicit funds transfer.

    He further disclosed the arrest of one internet fraud kingpin, Ajayi Gbenga Festus, arrested in Ekiti state and alleged to be working with other cybercriminals abroad in what he described as highly sophisticated web of a conspiracy designed to illegally access accounts of individuals and organisations to defraud them of their money.

    He said Festus illicit transactions made through his Nigerian bank accounts amounting to N223million has been established, noting that the suspects serve as a conduit pipe through which proceeds of crime reach members of the syndicate.

    Describing the news of the 80 indicted Nigerians on the FBI cybercrime cases as shocking and embarrassing, Ebelo lamented that the agency cannot take its eyes off the cases as a result of the insignificant number in relations to the 200million population of the country.

    He promised that the EFCC would do everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that the interests of hardworking and law-abiding Nigerians are adequately protected, attributing the success achieved so far by the Zone to the exemplary leadership of the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    Ebelo said, “Nigerians are known to be creative, hardworking and intelligent. And this has been effectively proven by records of many groundbreaking achievements attributed to Nigerians within and outside the shores of the country. Many of these unusual feats were recorded in a foreign land, especially the United States of America and the Western world in general.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt joins forces with U.S. to track FBI 77 suspects

    “Yet, we cannot pretend to be oblivious of the nagging impact of the illicit activities of the few who have chosen to be the black sheep within the fold. Despite their seemingly insignificant population, their acts often rare a thick pall of gloom whenever and wherever they gain ‘success’.

    “But beyond the fuming anger and acute despondency that greet the development, our commission has rather seen a challenge that reinforces our resolve to never relent on our commitment to our constitutional mandate.

    “As a responsible organization, the EFCC will do everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that interests of hardworking and law-abiding Nigerians are adequately protected, and that they are not denied the fruit of their labour by the recalcitrant few.

    “We will also continue to work assiduously to ensure that those who engage in acts capable of tarnishing the good image of our country do not escape the cold hand of the law.

    “To achieve this, the commission is in constant collaboration with international organisations with a similar mandate as ours, especially the FBI, in efforts to curb internet crimes and illicit funds transfer. Our longstanding collaborative engagement with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies remain intact and yielding mutual benefits.

    “Our zone, in particular, has recorded huge success on account of this. This year alone, we have arrested a total of 263 suspects for cybercrime-related offences. 111 of them were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.

    “The zone has also recovered a huge sum of money in local and foreign currencies. We equally got the nod of the court to forfeit valuable items establish to have been benefits of internet-related crimes. These include landed properties, vehicles, laptops, phones and many others.

  • Buhari woos foreign investors with high profits

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday continued his efforts to attract more foreign investments into the country.
    He declared in Japan that Nigeria has very attractive investment opportunities with some of the highest Returns-on-Investment globally.
    Buhari made the remark while presenting Nigeria’s Statement at Plenary Session Three on “Public-Private Business Dialogue” at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).
    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, also said he looked forward to prospective investors making inroads in the following priority sectors in Nigeria: power and renewable energy, petrochemical and gas, maritime (shipping and ports), automobiles, mining, agribusiness, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, ICT and railway.
    Assuring potential investors of good returns as a result of ongoing reform measures taken by his administration, he added: “I have also established a Presidential Committee on Enabling Business Environment, which is made up of key Ministries and prominent businessmen to promote the Ease of Doing Business and make Nigeria more attractive and competitive for investment.”
    President Buhari said that his administration was “committed to removing all impediments to private sector participation in these sectors by creating policies that will ensure consistency, predictability and a level playing field for all.”
    Having identified power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime/shipping, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles among others, as “key drivers to the diversification” of the Nigerian economy as well as “priority areas that will drive our Economic Agenda,” the President said he looked forward to “welcoming prospective investors to Nigeria.”
    Reviewing Nigeria-Japan relations, President’s Buhari commended existing bonds of friendship and economic cooperation between both countries, describing the Asian country as “a strategic partner for our socio-economic development.”
    He disclosed Nigeria’s intention to “further encourage relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders” in both nations.
    The Nigerian leader expressed particular delight with the level of “discussions on the establishment of the Japan-Nigeria Business Facilitation Council, an initiative of the Japanese government, which would be launched on our return to Nigeria,” adding that, “I look forward to positive reports of increased trade and investment between Nigeria and Japan from these initiatives.”
    Describing the TICAD Forum as important to Nigeria in many respects, Buhari said it “coincides with the period when the country is faced with a number of challenges that affect our economy.”
    Noting that his administration “has put in place measures seeking to diversify the economy by developing agriculture, emphasising on manufacturing and addressing the energy and infrastructure deficit,” he expressed confidence that, “With these we shall be placing Nigeria on the path of rapid growth and sustainable development.”
    According to the Nigerian President, TICAD is also “coming at a time when our government is implementing home-grown and private sector-driven economic measures that are predicated on good governance, infrastructure and human capital development as well as, business climate reform.” The above domestic measures, he explained, informed his invitation to “the private sector to come and invest in Nigeria.”
    According to him, “Nigeria and indeed Africa, expect much from this Forum in terms of investment, considering the role of Foreign Direct Investment in all economies – developed and developing.”
    President Buhari also expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, “for his unwavering commitment to strengthen trade and investment between Japan and Africa through various initiatives, partnership and support of the Japanese Government.”
    He also wished TICAD7 “fruitful deliberations and hope that the conclusions reached will enhance access by African countries to international capital investment as well as boost Japan-Africa exchanges by developing new and strategic public and private sector alliances.”

  • Lawmaker calls for revival of Sapele, other Ports

    A member of the House of Representatives, Chief Efe Afe, has called on the federal government to revive the Sapele Port as well as other ports across Nigeria.
    The lawmaker also warned that the current congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, Lagos may be exploited by neighbouring countries, thereby diverting the nation’s revenue.
    The first-timer House Representatives member on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who represents Sapele/Uvwie/Okpe federal constituency in Delta state, made the call in Warri.
    Afe, while stating that reactivating other ports will ensure such facilities do not rot and become wastes said, “the Federal Government spent huge sums of money to build the Sapele Port, so it will not be wise for them to allow such facilities to rot away while at the same time they are losing huge sums of revenue from the congestion going on in Lagos Ports.
    “We have been clamoring for the revival of Sapele Port for a very long time now. It all started when Hon Joyce Overah during the 6th Assembly of the House of Representatives moved a motion that the Sapele Port should be reactivated.
    “The House then resolved that the Sapele Port should be reactivated. They even sent Representatives to visit the port where the Shippers Council was also represented. But till date nothing has been done to reactivate the Sapele Port.”
    He stressed that reviving the Sapele, Warri, Koko and other ports in the country will not only decongest Lagos ports, but also create employment for the people and generate more revenue for the federal government.
    Urging the federal government to speed up the dredging of the Escravos Bar so as to allow bigger vessels enter the ports, Afe said, “the federal government needs to speed up the dredging of the Warri river and other rivers so that vessels can be coming to Warri, Sapele, Koko and Burutu Ports.
    “This will alleviate the suffering of businessmen in the South-South and South East region of the country. This will also lead to the creation of employment for our people and revenue generation to the federal and state governments”, he said.
    He disclosed that he has already drafted a motion, which is with House clerk to that effect urging  the presidency “to reactivate the Sapele Port alongside the Warri and Koko ports, and if possible, the Burutu port”.
    Assuring constituents that the dividends of democracy come to them, Afe urged Delta people to support the “government of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in the implementation of capital projects and policies”.

  • NPA generates over $45.2M from Delta ports

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Delta Ports, says it generated over $45.2 million within January and June 2019, a significant increase attributed to the improved security in the area.
    This was disclosed at a stakeholders forum presided over by chairman of the NPA board of directors, Mr. Emmanuel Adesoye, at the New Port, Warri in Delta state.
    In a briefing document made available to newsmen, the ports authorities stated that the rise in revenue when compared to 2018’s $35.39 million, a 28% increase, is also due to the dredging of the Escravos channel.
    The brief also revealed $2,904,377 debt was recovered within the same period, leaving the total revenue collected at the sum of $48,150,644.17.
    Speaking to journalists, the NPA chairman, Adesoye, whose visit was to assess the progress made by the port since November 2016, denied awareness of the sales of some of Delta Ports terminals.
    The brief had reported five out of the six terminals of Delta Ports to have been conceded at different dates to respective operators for a duration of 15 years for one, and 25 years each for the others.
    According to the chairman on sales of some terminals, “that was something we just found out today. It is something that was contemplated, I think maybe there was an error. I don’t think it is an issue that I want to talk about without knowing the full facts.
    However, he noted that the major challenge raised during the forum is the dredging of the channel within the port to allow bigger vessels go in, but declined to give a time frame for the needed development to take place, explaining that some technicalities may cause a prolongation.
    Expressing satisfaction that there has been no recorded security breach around the Warri environment in the past two years, he charged all stakeholders, including the leadership of the host communities to continue to work with security agencies to keep the peace.
    “The major challenge is the issue of dredging the channels, the inner ports in the terminal here which management has already taken action. In fact, they have called for the construction of these channels, so there is no cause for alarms. The reason I can’t give a time frame is you have the procurement cycle, sometimes you cannot determine it with any degree of accuracy.
    “My marching word is for them to continue to cooperate as they are doing. I am very impressed about the security situation here in Warri which is incredibly fantastic. I am really pleased because the last time we came the leadership of this community did say that they are going to make sure that there are no vandalism, no issues of security concerns raised in this place. They’ve lived true to their words and I am really impressed.
    “And that is why you can see the degree of improvement that has happened here. The number of ships that are coming have increased significantly and revenues have gone up.”
    On his part, the Delta Port manager, Mr. Simeon Okeke, stressed that the administration of President Muhammad Buhari is committed to “improving the rating of Nigeria with respect to the global index on the ease of doing business.”
    Emphasising the importance attached to Delta Ports by the board, he mentioned achievements thus far to include remedial dredging of the Escravos channel, replacement of critical buoys, repossession of trailer park/ ejection of illegal occupant, illumination of the entire port and rehabilitation of port facilities, among others.
    “Documentation and payment processes have been improved by the executive management through e-payment, e-SEN and Revenue Invoicing Management Systems (RIMS). Delta Ports Warri is fully on board as regards the implementation of these processes and this has improved our service delivery,” Okeke added.

  • Keystone Bank empowers youths, business start-ups

    Fastest growing financial services provider, Keystone Bank Limited, has demonstrated its commitment towards the empowerment of MSMEs & youths in entrepreneurship by launching a capacity building Masterclass to empower entrepreneurs with the requisite skills for business growth.

    The maiden edition of the Masterclass tagged ‘Spark Up Your Brand’ held in Lagos recently.

    The training, which also aligns with the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives, was targeted at delivering top-of-mind value propositions to enable the entrepreneurs position their brands for profitability.

    Speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications of Keystone Bank, Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule said: “Unemployment persists because young people have been denied opportunities to grow their passions into thriving business ventures.

    “At Keystone Bank, we recognise that to have a healthy nation and a thriving economy, we must create a positive mind-set amongst the youths and provide them with the basic tools to start & grow their own businesses.

    “Therefore, the idea behind ‘Spark up your brand’ is to trigger a fresh approach to self-development and leverage business insights for growth.

    Read Also: Keystone Bank restrategises to drive growth

    “There are so many challenges associated with birthing a business in the country but by plugging into the ideas and experiences shared by experts in the industry at this Masterclass, the minds of the youth have been exposed to cutting edge information on how to recognize opportunities , start & build their  businesses.

    “Beyond the training, we also provide great support for youth businesses and hand hold them to nurture and grow the entrepreneurial ventures.”

    At the event, participants (startups) were taught on how to position their brands for business growth and investors.

    Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering convenient and reliable solutions to its customers.

  • Abiodun, Akpan, others crash out of table tennis men’s singles

    Bode Abiodun became the first Nigerian to bite the dust in the men’s singles event of table tennis at the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco.

    After the exit of Abiodun, Cecilia Akpan, Ajoke Ojomu, Fatimo Bello and Taiwo Matti also played their last matches at the multi-sports championship.

    Abiodun’s exit from the tournament was made possible by the superb performance of Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw who to avenged his quarterfinal loss to Aruna Quadri at the 2019 ITTF Africa Cup in Lagos a few days ago.

    From the start of the match, it was clear that Diaw knew what he wanted and he followed to the latter event when Abiodun was having an edge in most of the games.

    Abiodun was leading 8-3 in the first game, but Diaw won nine points to defeat the Nigerian 11-8.

    The same scenario panned out in the second game and the Senegalese capped it up. And without much ado, Diaw demystified Abiodun 4-0 to book a place in the last 16.

    Read Also: Okagbare: Why I didn’t protest my 100m disqualification

    Unlike Abiodun who could not win a set against the Senegalese, Akpan put up a good show against Cameroun’s Sarah Hanffou but her over-reliance on her shot cost her the tie. And Akpan was also humbled by the Cameroonian 4-1.

    Ojomu and Bello became their enemies in the encounters against their Algerian and Egyptian counterparts. Despite leading 3-1, Ojomu and Bello squandered their lead to surrender to their opponents at 4-3.

    Mati, the youngest member of the Nigerian team was taken through the basics of the game by veteran Egyptian star, Ahmed Saleh with a 4-0 bashing by the experienced opponent.

    But the likes of Aruna Quadri, Olajide Omotayo, Segun Toriola, Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike worked their way into the last 16 and quarterfinal rounds of men and women events.