The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘Engage youths to curb security challenges’

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday advised that youths should be engaged to help curb the security challenges in the country.

    He spoke in Abuja at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP), Teen Career Conference with the theme: “Nurturing your talent, developing your character.”

    Fayemi said: “we must get the youths busy. The young ones that are here now are not going to be involved in any criminal enterprise. We have a duty as leaders to nurture aright.

    “We must also provide avenue for youths to unleash that youthful energy positively because it is there, you cannot run away from it, rather than enable them to resort to criminal activities that will not really elevate their personalities. I think that is what the church and our spiritual institutions have been good at. But we need to take it beyond that to societal institutions to play their own role in character building, in learning, in nurturing their talent, in ensuring that they become leaders of today, because the future is right here with us,” he said.

    The governor urged youths to always be hard working and learn to avoid gratification no matter the situation. “Define what yours values are. Learn to delay gratification. Change will not come if you wait for some other time.”

    Read Also: Fayemi set to secure bond to defray outstanding gratuities

    A popular comedian and media personality, Dr. Helen Paul, also advised youths at the conference to be focused in life and shun bad friends.

    She said: “learn to control your emotions. Shun bad friends; do not allow inferior complex to take over you. Always say great things to yourself. You must keep learning on whatever you are doing to achieve more positive result. Do not allow people talk down on you. Do not allow circumstance to change you.”

    The chairman of Thisday Newspapers editorial board, Olusegun Adeniyi, said the essence of the conference is to teach the teenagers to take responsibility for their future, have their imagination fired through interaction with accomplished professionals in the society, make them realise that no matter the odds, they can reach their goals and get them to understand that God still intervenes in the affairs of men.

    Adeniyi, who is the head of the teen’s church, said: “I try to inspire as many as I can. It is like a calling to me. I started this idea about bringing successful people in the society who can talk to them and tell them stories about their own lives. We are very particular about the people we bring. We started four years ago. The key issue for us this year is character development. We registered 780 youths,” he said.

  • Cabinet: APC women leader hails Sanwo-Olu

    Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has lauded Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for including 12 women in his 38 cabinet nominees.

    She spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on yesterday following Friday’s completion of the screening of the nominees by the 16-man ad hoc committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Okoya-Thomas, a former member of the House of Representatives, said that the state would be better with the gesture.

    “I am happy the leadership of the party has at least identified the quality ones among us. With 12 women out of 38 screened nominees, we are moving up.

    “Lagos is a city of excellence; we set the pace for others to follow.

    Read Also: Who is who in Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet-nominees?

    “So, if Lagos is putting 12 women of 38 cabinet nominees, I think the government has done very well.

    “Also, there are other positions that are envisaged will be given to some more women that worked hard during the campaigns that put our governor in place,” she said.

    According to the women leader, names of women are coming out much more than it used to be.

    Okoya-Thomas said that the governor had fulfilled his promise to give the position of the Secretary to the State Government to women.

    “With all these appointments coming up for women, the governor is true to his words. He is one person that one should believe in and trust,” she said.

    On the capability of women to deliver and affect the system positively, Okoya-Thomas said that women were better trusted with positions of authority.

    “You will be surprised about what these nominees will do. We are not leaving them.

    “We are going to be interfacing with them regularly to ensure that they are only to do what they have been appointed to do.

    “So, this particular set of women are not going to let the state down by creating problems. You will be amazed what they will do,” the former lawmaker said.

    She also commended the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party for believing in women and their empowerment.

    “So, we have leaders that are gender-sensitive and that is what I will say about Tinubu. He has recognised the efforts of women in the society,” Okoya-Thomas said.

    According to NAN, the Commissioner and Special Adviser nominees, comprising of 12 women and 26 men, were screened in two batches by the committee, headed by Mr Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip of the House.

    The 12 women nominees are

    1. Mrs Yetunde Arobieke,
    2. Mrs Lola Akande,
    3. Mrs Solape Hammond,
    4. Mrs Shulamite Adebolu,
    5. Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka,
    6. Princess Aderemi Adebowale
    7. Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe.
    8. Mrs Bolaji Dada,
    9. Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf,
    10. Mrs Folashade Adefisayo,
    11. Mrs Ponnle Ajibola,
    12. Ms Ruth Olusanya.

  • Obasanjo: Food import restriction must be backed by right policy

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described lack of access to finance as one of the fundamental challenges militating against the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.

    He spoke in Lagos as a special guest of honour at a public forum organised by the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA).

    The former president who spoke on ‘Agric business and food security: The role of credit,’ said “Agriculture is the way to go and must be the centerpiece of our economy. But lack of credit is seriously hurting the sector.”

    Recalling his own experience as a farmer, he said: “One thing that I know is that I’m a debtor. To succeed as a farmer, you need funds. You either accumulate credit or you go to the bank and borrow. You need funds for development. You need funds for agriculture.”

    He added: “Agriculture business is very important because food is essential for our daily existence. You can’t have food unless you have agric business.

    Read Also: How Oyegun earned my confidence, by Obasanjo

    “Not enough attention is being done to grow agriculture because it is not a very viable or vibrant money-making thing like oil and gas, trading. But agriculture is one thing we have to take very seriously. So you have to put money in it.”

    He said government was not doing enough to grow the sector.

    His words: “The government has always seen agriculture as a project and once there is a little problem government leaves it. Agriculture must be taken as a business. It must not be taken in silos.

    “We must work together. All hands must be on the deck. We are all stakeholders in agric business. If you are not a farmer, processor, produce merchant, at least you are a consumer. So we all must work for the success of agric business.”

    Citing the efforts of his own administration to boost agriculture, he said: “Between 2005-2007, we were able to boost cocoa output from 150,000 metric tonnes per annum to 400,000. We did the same thing with cassava from 30million tonnes to 50million metric tonnes.

    “All that was done successfully because we took them commodity by commodity; we met with all the stakeholders within the sector whether the farmers, researchers, marketers, processors, we met every quarter within a space of five years and we achieved quite a lot.”

    While reiterating the immense benefits of agriculture, Obasanjo said unlike other sectors, agriculture has the potential to employ more.

    “We invested about $20billion in the liquefied natural gas sector and it could only employ 250 people at a go. But if you invest just $1billion in agriculture you can employ millions of people. Therefore to succeed in agriculture, we need to put in place short, medium and long term planning.”

    The high-point of the occasion was the presentation of an award on the erstwhile president as life honourable patron of the ICA by the Registrar and CEO, Prof Chris Onalo.

  • Insecurity: Miyetti Allah begins tour of Fulani settlements in Enugu

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says it has begun the sensitisation of its members in the 14 Fulani settlements in Enugu State, with a view  to checking  infiltrators.

    The South-East Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu yesterday that the sensitisation tour had also taken them to the cattle and perishable good markets in the state.

    He said that it had become necessary for the Fulani community to be sensitive to their environment in order not to jeopardise their peaceful co-existence with members of their host communities.

    He said that the incidences of the past few months in some parts of the state informed their resolve to be more security conscious and report strange happenings around them to security agencies.

    “Everybody is happy with the step we have taken. This is to show that we are not happy with what is happening in the state. We are seriously worried,” he said.

    Read Also: Adeniran canvasses repentance to tackle insecurity

    Siddiki said that members of the Fulani community in the state had been appreciative of the move by MACBAN which was aimed at ensuring that the situation did not get out of hand.

    “We have so far visited four out of the 14 Fulani settlements in Enugu. We have also gone to all the cattle and perishable goods markets in the state.

    “We have sensitised our members on the need to ensure peaceful coexistence with members of their host communities. We need to respect them and their culture,” he said.

    He said that members of the Fulani community in the state had become more mindful of their immediate environment and were ready to expose infiltrators whenever they were noticed in their midst.

    “We will not allow infiltrators to destroy the good relationship we have built and maintained with our hosts over the years.

    “We have told our people to voice out anytime they notice something strange around them.

    “They should report such to any Fulani leader who will, in turn, report to the appropriate quarters or security agencies,” he said.

    Siddiki said that the sensitisation tour would continue in the coming days.

    The sensitisation followed the recent killings of two Catholic priests, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu and Rev. Fr. Clement Ugwu by gunmen in the state.

    The police commissioner in the state, Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, on Friday paraded the suspected killers of the priests, whose names he gave as Ibrahim Adamu and Idris Tobe.

    Besides, the traditional ruler of Obom-Agbogugu, Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife were kidnapped on Aug. 3 on the Enugu-Port-Harcourt expressway.

  • Gunmen kill nine mourners at burial ceremony

    A funeral ceremony unexpectedly turned bloody yesterday in Benue State after 10 gunmen swooped on mourners, shooting indiscriminately.

    Nine persons laid dead by the time the shooting stopped in the early hours of the day in Tongov district of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

    Several others were wounded, eye witnesses said.

    The state police command immediately launched into an investigation of the incident.

    A stunned Police Commissioner Mukaddas Garba vowed to find the killers and bring them to book.

    He urged the public to come forward with information that could help the police in tracking the hoodlums.

    The incident occurred at the burial of one Tor Amaafu.

    Gunmen have repeatedly attacked Benue State for some time now killing and maiming people.

    Houses are also often set ablaze by the hoodlums.

    No one or group has so far taken responsibility for the attack.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill vigilance group leader in Rivers

    A similar attack by yet to be identified gunmen on mourners   in Nganzai district near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, about three weeks ago claimed no fewer than  65 lives.

    The victims were returning to Badu Kuluwu from nearby Goni Abachari village where they had attended funeral prayers for a relative when they came under gun attack.

    Local hunters and militia recovered the bodies after survivors returned to the village and alerted them.

    Unknown gunmen, in the early hours of Wednesday, August 14,also  attacked nine Catholic nuns of Sisters of Nativity Okwungaga, Ugbokolo in Okpokwu local government area of Benue state and snatched their 14-seater Toyota bus.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kate Anene attributed the deaths to the crises between Ikurav and Shitle ethnic groups.

  • Cabinet nominees: APC women leader hails Sanwo-Olu over inclusion of 12 women

    Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for including 12 women in his 38 cabinet nominees.

    She spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday following Friday’s completion of the screening of the nominees by the 16-man ad hoc committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Okoya-Thomas, a former member of the House of Representatives, said that the state would be better with the gesture.

    “I am happy the leadership of the party has at least identified the quality ones among us. With 12 women out of 38 screened nominees, we are moving up.

    “Lagos is a city of excellence; we set the pace for others to follow.

    “So, if Lagos is putting 12 women of 38 cabinet nominees, I think the government has done very well.

    “Also, there are other positions that are envisaged will be given to some more women that worked hard during the campaigns that put our governor in place,” she said.

    Read Also: Thumbs up for ‘Kabiru’ Sanwo-Olu and Kabiru Ahmed

    According to the women leader, names of women are coming out much more than it used to be.

    Okoya-Thomas said that the governor had fulfilled his promise to give the position of the Secretary to the State Government to women.

    “With all these appointments coming up for women, the governor is true to his words. He is one person that one should believe in and trust,’’ she said.

    On the capability of women to deliver and affect the system positively, Okoya-Thomas said that women were better trusted with positions of authority.

    “You will be surprised about what these nominees will do. We are not leaving them.

    “We are going to be interfacing with them regularly to ensure that they are only to do what they have been appointed to do.

    “So, this particular set of women are not going to let the state down by creating problems. You will be amazed what they will do,’’ the former lawmaker said.

    She also commended the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party for believing in women and their empowerment.

    “So, we have leaders that are gender-sensitive and that is what I will say about Tinubu. He has recognised the efforts of women in the society,’’ Okoya-Thomas said.

    NAN reports that the Commissioner and Special Adviser nominees, comprising of 12 women and 26 men, were screened in two batches by the committee, headed by Mr Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip of the House.

    The 12 women nominees are Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, Mrs Lola Akande, Mrs Solape Hammond, Mrs Shulamite Adebolu, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Princess Aderemi Adebowale and Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe.

    Others are Mrs Bolaji Dada, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Mrs Ponnle Ajibola, and Ms Ruth Olusanya. (NAN)

  • Six things you must avoid while charging your phone

    Many phone users tend to complain that their device’s batteries discharge quickly. They also typically blame the product manufacturer for this issue; however, the manufacturer isn’t always at fault. Here are some five mistakes that users typically make when charging their phones.

    Waiting for the Battery to reach low levels before charging

    Avoid waiting for your battery to reach a critically low level before charging. The effect of this on your phone battery is not immediate, but over time it begins to manifest and it eventually stresses out your phone battery (yes, batteries get stressed too) and shortens the battery life. Think of your battery as a human body, you really don’t need to wait until you’re about to die before you rest and eat to recharge yourself.

    Keeping your phone case on while charging

    Your phone typically emits heat when charging. To avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures, it’s advisable to remove the phone case while charging your phone so that the heat emitted from your phone while charging can escape. This way you can prevent your device from becoming hotter and potentially overheating when charging. Charging your battery at uncomfortable temperatures can permanently damage battery capacity.

    Read Also: How to make your bank reverse your money

    Charging your phone in the wrong places

    You should mind where you charge your phone, because not doing so can negatively affect your battery capacity. Phones have a temperature range they can function normally and charging your phone in a hot area can raise the temperature and stress the battery out. Also, charging your phone in especially low temperature areas, like in front of an air conditioner, can also cause problems for your battery that will eventually affect its optimum performance.

    Charging your phone overnight

    The least you’ll sleep throughout the night is most likely going to be between 5 to 8 hours, your smartphone battery typically only needs 2 to 3 hours to fully charge. Charging your phone overnight, constantly stresses your phone battery each night. Sooner than later, your phone is likely to have battery problems. In addition, the temperature rises when the battery is overcharged, so apart from shortening battery life, it can also threaten user’s safety in the event it quickly heats up and explodes. It’s better to charge your phone before you sleep and switch it off while sleeping to preserve the battery till the next day.

    Plugging whatever charger fits

    This especially applies to smartphones. Most smartphones use a micro USB for its chargers and for this reasons most people tend to switch and swap chargers since it fits into and works on their phones. However, this is not appropriate and in the long run it can negatively affect your phone battery. The fact that most smartphones have the same micro USB doesn’t mean all chargers and phones are compatible. Some chargers function differently and that difference can be detrimental to your device if care is not taken.

    Using cheap chargers

    You can find a number of manufacturers offering top-grade chargers. No wonder these chargers are cheaper than the original ones. However, there are some that don’t include any safety mechanism against overcharging and continuous fluctuations. Unfortunately, if there is an adapter failure, it can damage the battery as well as a phone. So, act smart and stick to the original charger.

  • How to totally get rid of rats anywhere

    RATS!!! How I hate them. I don’t know about you, but I detest every bit of those pesky little chucks of frustration and annoyance.

    I have once seen a rat bite through a bottle of oil. What manner of sorcery is that? Laugh all you want but I am going on a rat extermination mission. I join the Spanish to say No mas meaning no more. And this is how I am doing it:

    *Onions: Apparently, those irksome rodents do not like the pungent smell of onions. That is because its smell is odious to them. All that is needed is a slice of onion placed inside their hole or where they usually pass. From now on, I will add onions to my weapons of mass destruction, they come in handy.

    * Ammonia: Ammonia smells like the urine of a possible predator and so is very irritating to the rats. I will need two spoons of detergent, a quarter glass of water and two cups of ammonia.

    Then, I’ll mix all ingredients together and pour it in a spray bottle and spray it where rats frequently appear. Rats cannot stand the smell of ammonia and so it so chases them away.

    *Bay leaves: If you are joining me on the rat extermination mission, we can set a trap with leaves for them. They think bay leaf is food and so eat it with all joy.

    However, it kills them eventually as they are highly poisonous for them. For the ambush, all we need are some dried bay leaves. We’ll grind them and sprinkle them on the suspected area they come in through and get satisfactory results. This can be done every 5-7 days for best results.

    *Baking soda solution: Baking soda is known to keep rats away from the area they like to frequent. Mix 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar or powdered chocolate and 1 cup of baking soda together.

    Read Also: ‘Deal with rats in your environment’

    The sugar or chocolate will attract the rats and the baking soda will soon kill them after they have been consumed. Fill some jars with it to bait them and place them in suspected areas.

    *Peppermint essential oil: The beauty about this is that it has a beautiful smell. All we need to do is put some drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them in the suspected rat-prone areas.

    We will need to replace the cotton balls after 5-7 days depending on the quantity of oil we put on it. Alternatively, we can make use of citronella and castor oil or grow mint plants around the boundaries of our home.

    If you are still thinking twice about joining the rat extermination movement, I’ll leave you with this, Lassa fever is real.

  • Ohanaeze kicks over IPOB’s attack on Ekweremadu in Germany

    Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has kicked over the attack on the former Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) in Germany.

    It described the attack as shameful and disgraceful, calling on the German law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    A statement by Chief Nnia Nwodo, President General of Ohanaeze said: “The assault on Ekweremadu by Igbos in Germany, described as IPOB, is disappointing, grotesque and dangerous for Igbo solidarity.

    “This violent, rude, impertinent, divisive and discourteous style of IPOB or IPOB-instigated miscreants is damaging to our cause.

    “It strengthens the case of those who describe them as terrorists and weaken our case against the infringement of our fundamental human rights.

    “Ekweremadu negotiated the sureties and securities for Nnamdi Kanu’s release on bail.

    “He does not deserve this picketing and disgrace. A disgrace to him is a disgrace to Igbo race.

    “Whilst I condemn the attack on our revered son and leader, I call on the law enforcement agencies in Germany to bring to book the perpetrators of this despicable act. It is un-Igbo. It is disgraceful.”

  • 19-year-old Nigerian artist unveils Fela-inspired painting

    19 year-old Nigerian artist, Emediong Uduak Ikoko has unveiled a Fela-inspired painting to celebrate the strength of Nigerians.

    In May, her painting of music legend, ‘Lagbaja’ has become the first African work to be displayed at the Cyprus Modern Art Museum.

    Emediong is also the youngest artist and only African to have her work exhibited at the museum, which is the largest in the Mediterranean region.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emediong unveiled the painting at an auction of 17 of her artworks held in Abuja on Saturday.

    The painting titled ‘Bush Babies/Shuffering and Smiling’ is aptly named after a Fela Anikulapo-Kuti album with the same title.

    In 1980, musical activist and the father of Afrobeat, Fela chronicled the state of Nigeria and the resilience of the people in the award-winning album.

    Sharing the same sentiments as Fela, Emediong said she was inspired to paint the work because the phrase was still relevant in present day Nigeria.

    She said, “It represents the resilience of Nigerians. Despite the suffering, Nigerians find joy in music and arts. This painting to Nigerians and our strength as a people.”

    NAN reports that Emediong also unveiled a painting titled ‘Ekpe’ that featured a masquerade relative to Akwa Ibom, her home state which drew applause from the crowd.

    Also in the masquerade series was the painting of the ‘Ijele’ masquerade, generally regarded as the father of masquerades among the Igbo ethnic group.

    She also unveiled ‘Fourth Man in the Fire’ based on the biblical Nebuchadnezzar story, ‘Whistling Boy’ enacting the Nigerian folktale and ‘When the Gods Roam’ based on the ‘Eyo’ masquerade.

    Speaking earlier with NAN, Emediong said she draws her inspiration from music, experiences, stories and other creative people.

    She also urged the Nigerian government to pay attention to the creative industry as it is a platform to help the nation’s image.

    She advised creatives to continually search for opportunities that can push their works.

    Emediong said, “I feel that the government should pay more attention to the Nigerian creative space because there is so much talent that is hidden in this country.

    “The government and other stakeholders should actually pay more attention to the Nigerian creative scene. That push is all the scene needs.

    “Creatives should connect. You don’t know who you meet. You don’t know what you create with the people you meet. Everyone has where they are going to and coming from.

    “I feel that most creatives should learn how to create networks. They should reach out for opportunities as opportunities won’t come to meet you. You have to reach out to them,” she said.

    Also speaking, the chairman of the auction, Dr Solomon Arase, Former Inspector General of Police said that parents should encourage their children to pursue arts and skills.

    According to him, artistry and other careers in the creative industry can help curb insecurity as young people will be engaged and find lesser time to commit crime.

    He also called on the government to extend its focus to the creative industry by improving the opportunities available to young people in the industry. (NAN)