The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 3 die in Lagos boat mishap, 2 missing

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority says three people have been confirmed dead while two others are still missing in a boat accident that occurred at Irewe community in Ojo, near Lagos late on Tuesday.

    The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, who made the disclosure in a statement, said that 13 people were rescued in the incident.

    “At about 6:10 p.m, Aug. 13, two passenger speed boats had a head-on collision along the creek in Ojo local Govt Area of Lagos State.

    “There were 10 passengers in a boat coming from Ojo jetty and eight passengers in another coming from Irewe community when the incident occurred.

    Read Also: Lagos boat mishap: All bodies recovered, handed over to relatives – LASWA

    “Eighteen passengers in total were involved with 13 rescued alive with three fatalities and two still missing–an adult and a child.

    “Search and rescue operation is ongoing by relevant state agencies and the local community who were the first responders.

    “Preliminary investigations by LASWA and LASEMA revealed that the incident was caused, due to reckless driving and over-speeding on the part of boat captains as one of them wasn’t in his right of way.”

    The LASWA boss said that further investigations would be carried out by the authority and that those found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.

    He advised waterways users to always adhere to safety rules and regulations to avert untoward incidents. (NAN)

  • Cross River partners Zenith Bank to boost agricultural value chain policy

    The efforts of Governor Ben Ayade to industrialise Cross River State through its agricultural value chain policy got a major boost with the announcement of a partnership between the state government and Zenith Bank.

    This followed a visit by the management of the bank led by its Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu to the various agricultural-processing factories located at the Ayade Industrial Park in Calabar.

    Speaking to newsmen after touring the factories, Onyeagwu said Ayade deserves commendation for his foresight, initiative and determination to create an economy for the state through industrialization.

    According to him: “The essence of all of these factories is what we have been talking about in this country.

    “What I have seen here are factories that are not just integrated but are also properly linked with the ecosystem.”

    He said beyond partnering with the state to deepen the agricultural value chain efforts of the government, his bank is willing to also provide advisory support services to the government.

    Read Also: Cross River to recover N700m debt from cocoa farmers

    “When the projects grow and get into incubation level, we could start looking at providing and supporting the government with advisory services to diversify and expand the ownership and move it to private sector that would manage it,” he said.

    On economic impact of the Ayade industrialisation policy, the Zenith bank boss expressed optimism the projects would create jobs, put food on the table and help raise the people’s standard of living.

    “It would help change the economic narrative of Cross River and Nigeria as a country. I think Governor Ayade deserves commendation,” Onyeagwu stated

    While expressing his joy at the collaboration between his state and the bank, Governor Ayade used the occasion to disclose he had signed a contractual deal with John Del of USA via Tata to supply the state with equipment for land clearing and soil preparation in furtherance of his Agro- Industrialisation drive.

  • Buhari greets Nasir Dantiye at 70

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday felicitated with historian and administrator, Dr Nasir Dantiye on his 70th birthday.

    In a statement by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, he saluted the courage, loyalty and dedication of the scholar in pursuing the collective vision of a better Nigeria.

    The President joined family, friends, professional colleagues and political associates in celebrating the milestone with Dantiye.

    He commended his dedication to research in the university and active participation in politics to translate brilliant ideas into reality that would improve the livelihood of many Nigerians.

    Read Also: Buhari to Nigerians: I’ll fight for the poor, underprivileged

    President Buhari affirmed that the scholar played a major role in instituting the progressive ideas that attracted the formation of the All Progressives Congress, starting with the Congress for Progressive Change.

    He also extolled Dantiye’s unusual virtue of identifying with the opposition party then, despite many uncertainties during elections.

    The President prayed that the almighty God would grant Dantiye, as he turns a septuagenarian, good health, strength and more wisdom to serve the nation.(NAN)

  • I’m working tirelessly to end Jukun, Tiv crisis – Gov. Ishaku

    Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku said on Tuesday that he was working tirelessly with his Benue counterpart Samuel Ortom to end the crisis between the Tiv and Jukun in the border area of the states.

    Media Aide to the Taraba governor, Mr Bala Abu, said this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) following allegations by Tiv Youth Council (TYC) that the governor and Gen. Theophilus Danjuma were fuelling the crisis.

    NAN reports that the TYC had on Sunday at a news conference accused Gov. Ishaku and TY Danjuma of inciting Jukun militia to attack Tiv people in the state.

    The Tiv/Jukun crisis which erupted from Kente, a border town of Benue and Taraba had led to the loss of many lives including women and children in the last three months.

    The TYC President Mr Mike Msuaan, had during the conference called on security agencies to investigate the governor and the former Chief of Army Staff for their alleged roles in the crisis.

    According to him, the Tiv nation cannot continue to be cannon fodder for the unity of the country.

    Msuaan added: “These worrisome developments have further exacerbated the humanitarian challenge in the nation as we now have to grapple with an even burgeoning number of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    “The recent rape, maiming and killing of helpless Tiv students and workers of the Federal University Wukari is indeed one too many, deserving thorough investigation by the security agencies and enduring solutions to entrench peace.

    “It is quite surprising that despite several attempts to extend the olive branch and make the warring parties embrace peace, the efforts have all fallen through midway with no tangible results,” Msuaan said.

    But Abu while refuting the allegation exonerated the governor and Gen. Danjuma (rtd) from the crisis.

    Read Also: Jukun-Tiv crisis: Workers, students relocate to Benue from Wukari

    He explained that Gov. Ishaku and Gov. Ortom had adopted various methods including meeting with stakeholders from both tribes to ensure peace returned in the area.

    “It is a grave allegation to say that someone in the status of Gov. Darius Ishaku and Gen. TY Danjuma will be sponsoring crisis.

    “The truth is that there is history to the crisis between the two ethnic groups (Jukun and Tiv).

    “I have visited the crisis area with the governor on five different occasions within two years that I have worked with him and our purpose of going there was to interface with the people living in that area.

    “The governor and his Benue counterpart met with stakeholders in that area and all these meetings were targeted at bringing about peaceful coexistence among the people living there.

    “So, what will the governor or Gen. Danjuma benefit from the killing of Tiv people and besides the killing is not one sided.

    “The two sides are killing each other, so why are Tiv youths accusing the governor for the crisis.

    “Apart from the meeting by the two governors, the deputy governors have also met about six times; all these meetings were about finding peace; so, why the allegation that someone is arming the other people.

    “I think the people making this allegation are the people who do not want the crisis to end otherwise both governors are doing so much to bring peace to the area.

    “This allegation is false and it cannot stand. It is intended to smear the governor and Gen. Danjuma.

    “There is no such thing involving these personalities and they are concerned about what is happening at the bother between the two states.

    “They have nothing to gain arming one side to fight the other; it is unfair for them to undermine all the peace efforts and blame the government,” he said.

    The governor’s media aide noted that the recent crisis was caused by fight between two men from Jukun and Tiv who were quarrelling over a female friend.

    He wondered why such issue should warrant killing of innocent people in spite all peace agreement reached by both parties.

    “The people most desire peace just like the governors have done; this is the only way to achieve peace.

    “On behalf of the governor, the warring parties should sheath their swords.

    “This was part of the governor’s Sallah message on Sunday. He appealed to the people in the name of God to sheath their swords and embrace peace; these were the governor’s message, I am only reechoing it.” (NAN)

  • Buhari to Nigerians: I’ll fight for the poor, underprivileged

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he will use his second term in office to improve the lives of Nigerians by paying closer attention to the poor and the underprivileged in the society.

    A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in Abuja on Tuesday said Buhari made his feelings known when he addressed leaders of various communities from five Local Government Areas of Daura Emirate.

    The affected leaders were at the private residence of the president in Daura, Katsina state, as part of Eid El-Kabir celebration.

    The President said he was convinced that majority of Nigerians understand who he was and his mission, on account of which they returned him for a second term in office with larger margin of votes than  in 2015.

    “You know how much I laboured to get here. I ran three times in the past. The fourth time, God used technology to do it for me.

    ”The fifth time I ran (Feb. 23, 2019), I went to all the states of the federation. The turnout of crowds was overwhelming.

    Read Also: Buhari ‘ll take decisive actions on killing of three policemen, says Presidency

    “Truly, the people know and understand my mission. This is what the votes showed.

    “The administration will dwell on our campaign issues — security, economy and corruption. We will fight for the poor,” he said.

    He emphasised the important place of agriculture under his administration, promising to appoint a minister ”who is knowledgeable and will know how to promote interest and investment in the sector.”

    The president said: “I will appoint a minister who knows agriculture and its role in providing jobs and growing our economy. You have seen how we broke the fertiliser jinx in the country.

    ”We will do more to better the lots of our farmers. Agriculture is our strength.”

    President Buhari expressed delight with the changing attitude of young people to agriculture, with many earning respectable incomes, urging all of those without regular incomes to return to the farm.

    In his remarks, Malam Yusuf Mai’ Aduwa, one the leaders of the delegation, thanked Nigerians for giving the President a second mandate to lead the country, stressing that he would not let the country down.

    Mohammed Saleh, another community leader, said the communities under the Daura Emirate were grateful to the President for signing a bill to establish a Federal Polytechnic in Daura.

    He noted that this came after they had complained that the area needed a tertiary institution to encourage the youth to pursue higher education.

    In her remarks, Hajiya Talatu Nasir, a Permanent Secretary with the Katsina State Ministry of Information, said President Buhari’s government had empowered many women, with many already owning businesses like poultry and livestock farms.

    While offering special prayers for the President, the Daura community urged him to pursue the vision for a better Nigeria with the fear of God, courage to stand by the truth always, and mindful of the needs of the poor and underprivileged.

    (NAN)

  • PDP tasks Army, Police, DSS on abduction of party chair

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the hierarchy of the Army, Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to speak out on the abduction of its Okene Local Government Chairman, Musa Adelabu, by gunmen reportedly dressed in military fatigue.

    The party expressed grave concerned over the whereabouts of Adelabu who was abducted in his home on Saturday, with his abductors allegedly telling his family members that they were acting on “orders from above”.

    In a statement Tuesday in Abuja by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it’s unacceptable that the security agencies have kept mum over the abduction, even as his party and family have continued to demand for his release.

    Read Also: Taraba killings: Leaked memo deepens rift between Army, Police

    The statement said, “This situation has heightened apprehensions of high-level partisan conspiracy to use some compromised security operatives against the opposition in Kogi state, in a desperate bid to foist the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the failed Governor Yahaya Bello on the people of Kogi state.

    “Already, there is an ominous tension in Kogi state following intelligence reports filtering into the public domain that our LG Chairman is being tortured by his captors in a secret facility where his life is now in great danger.

    “Such provocative situation is capable of sparking off serious crisis in Kogi state, which location as gateway and convergence state, means a lot of dire consequences for our nation, in the event of any disturbances in the area.

    “It is therefore completely unacceptable that the security high command is not forthcoming with concrete statement or decisive action to secure his release despite calls by our party and the people of Kogi state.

    “The PDP therefore calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to address his parade and ensure the release of our Kogi PDP leader”.

  • Edo modular refinery to commence operation soon

    The Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, a project partly sponsored by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State and being developed by AIPCC Energy Limited at Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, will commence operation before the end of the year.

    The fabrication of 6,000 barrels per day (bpd) modular refinery has been completed and will be inspected by officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) before it will be shipped to Nigeria.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the project is part of the state government’s efforts to transform Edo from a civil service state to an investment and industrial enclave.

    He said the modular refinery project joins the growing list of ongoing legacy projects, which also includes the CCTEC Ossiomo Power Plant; the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park and the Benin River Port.

    According to the governor’s aide, “We are making progress on a number of projects aimed at transforming the state into an industrial hub. At the moment, work has reached advanced stage on the modular refinery project, which benefits from the governor’s smart investment acumen, through which he mobilised seed fund for the project.”

    Read Also: Fire razes 90 shops at popular Edo spare parts market

    Technical Director on the project, Mr. Tim Tian, said the refinery will get its feedstock (crude) from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company’s (NPDC) facility – oil mining lease (OML) 111, near Benin City.

    He added that when operational, the refinery will produce from its feedstock 50 per cent of diesel (500,000 liters), 25 per cent of naphta (300,000 liters) and 20 per cent of fuel oil (200,000) liters.

    Recall that the Edo State EXCO had approved the release of N700 million as redeemable preference shares (investment) in the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited.

    He added that the venture “will create legitimate employment opportunities thereby reducing poverty, provide job opportunities for teeming youths in the communities, facilitate the establishment of a fabrication yard as proposed by the promoters, and create basis for expertise, professionalism and further training in the oil and gas industry.”

    The take-off of the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company followed series of groundwork by the Obaseki-led administration that led to the setting up of Edo Investment Scheme Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to hold N2 billion investment funds in which the Ministry of Finance Incorporation  (MOFI) and the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) which are to hold shares of 20 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

    It would facilitate the state’s investment in various initiatives across the oil and gas sector; petroleum exploration, drilling and filling station, sales and supply of gas, agro-allied products, petroleum and petrochemical products and other related businesses.

  • Missing corps member’s whereabouts unknown

    Where is 25-year-old Cynthia Amarachi, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Osun State?

    What happened to her on March 15, after she left the state en route to Lagos for a weekend with her parents?

    These are the questions her mother, siblings and friends have been asking following her mysterious disappearance.

    Their agonies further worsened after visiting hospitals and mortuaries to find out whether she was involved in an accident.

    Her mother, a primary school teacher, Mrs. Constance Nwawike, said they have reported the incident to the police in Lagos and Osun states without success.

    She said at a point, the police tracked one of her phones to Ogun-Oyo forest where some suspects were arrested, but later freed, adding that her other phone was traced to Kano State.

    The woman, who said Amarachi, the only graduate they suffered to train, was a level headed and reserved woman, noted that they only knew about her disappearance about a week after March 15 when she was contacted by officials of the NYSC in Osun State that Amarachi was yet to return from Lagos.

    “Before then, we had been worried as we could not reach her on the phone.

    Read Also: Prominent Nigerians at receiving end of kidnapping

    ”On that fateful day, March 15, I called my daughter’s number, but it was switched off. I thought it was network problem. I did not call again.  On Monday, I called the number again, but no response. I continued for three days without a response. I then informed my husband.  All of us became worried.

    “Her younger sister even complained that she (Amarachi) didn’t call to wish her happy birthday. It has not been an easy period for us. We have visited churches and we were told she is still alive. I am just begging anyone who is holding her to please release her for us,” she said amid tears.

    Mrs. Nwawike said Amarachi’s friend, who notified the NYSC about her trip, said she boarded a commercial vehicle at Iwo Road en route to Lagos and they exchanged pleasantries, promising to inform them once she arrived her parents’ Ikorodu home.

    “But when they got no response and called several times without a response, her colleagues reportedly went on the social media to trace her parents, which eventually paid off,” she said.

    The woman said she received a call from her daughter’s service centre a week later that they were looking for her.

    “The state coordinator also called and reported that they did not see her after she travelled home. Shocked at the unfolding drama, I told them that she did not return to our home in Ikorodu. I made further enquiry, the coordinator said her friend, also a corps member, told them that she travelled to meet us in Lagos and since then, she had been calling her number without reply.

    “I asked the man (NYSC state coordinator) to give me the corps member’s number. I talked to her and she said she had been trying to reach me.  I reported the case at Ikorodu Police Station. They said I should go to Ibadan because the lady made it known that she took Ibadan-Iwo Road and when she got a vehicle going to Ikorodu, they had a conversation. She told her that she had boarded a bus going to Ikorodu and her friend said she wished her safe trip. Since then, she had not seen or heard from her. I went to the school where she was serving in Osun State and the head teacher told me the same thing.

    “Since then, I have tried my best. We had gone as far as reporting to the anti-kidnapping squad and they told us that they had tracked her number to Kano. They later told me that they made some arrests and I asked how far, but the policemen keep ‘posting me’. Last week I called them, but they said that they would call me back, but they didn’t call me back.

    “I also reported the case at the Osun State Police Command. They invited me for an interview, but when I got there, they said I should connect them with the anti-kidnapping unit investigating the matter in Lagos, which I did, only for the police in Osun to say that they have been trying the number of their colleagues at the anti- kidnapping unit without success,” Mrs. Nwawike said.

  • RevolutionNow: Lawyer warns against bringing down Buhari’s govt

    A Benin lawyer and former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Edo State, Mr Eddy Osifo, has warned religious leaders, politicians and sponsors of RevolutionNow to desist from engaging in actions or comments that aims at bringing down President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    Osifo said sponsors of divisive actions and statements were getting it wrong on insecurity in the land, especially the killing of Nigerians by unknown gunmen, erroneously called herdsmen.

    In a statement, the lawyer said the people responsible for the killing of innocent Nigerians are Muslim sects of Boko Haram Harambe, Al-Qaeda and ISIS, who have also converted to gun-trotting herdsmen.

    Read Also: #RevolutionNow: Protest capable of causing uncontrollable crisis, says Uche Nwosu

    He said it was unfortunate that those he called opportunistic politicians and opponents of President Buhari have been deliberately heaping the blame of killings on the Fulani with a view to defeating President Buhari’s political purpose and work for his replacement.

    The statement said: “Nigerians should know that the various gangs of these sects are in our bushes, farms and towns, and they are well armed as well as ready to kill.

    “The earlier Nigerians take time to study the formation, nurture, growth and politics of these Muslim sects, the better for the good of the country.

    “If these sects have the opportunity to meet President Buhari and other religious movements, they would kill him first before eliminating the Christians.

    “As far these groups are concerned, the normal Muslim is not a believer. Nigerians should stop playing politics with herdsmen and religion so that we will be able to fight the common enemies who are on a mission of Islamisation.”

  • Fed Govt allocates N100b for research in tertiary institutions

    The Provost of Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo, Dr. Samuel Akintunde, has said the Federal Government had allocated N100 billion to boost research activities in tertiary institutions across the country.

    Dr. Akintunde spoke at a seminar, tagged: Proposal Writing, at the college.

    According to him, the money was earmarked by the Federal Government under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) and dedicated as National Research Fund (NRF) with the aims of boosting academic development and enhancing people’s skills in project proposal writing and research activities.

    He said: “The Federal Government is interested in boosting research activities in tertiary institutions and has joined the rest of the world to acknowledge the fact that you cannot improve your society without research.

    “So, a lot of money is now being pumped into research work. Over N100 billion has been earmarked by the Federal Government under TETfund as National Research Fund.”

    Read Also: Fed Govt to focus on youth empowerment

    The provost urged teaching and non-teaching staff of the college to constantly work for self-improvement through acquisition of more knowledge.

    He added that the college workers could use the opportunity provided by the funds for research from the Federal Government to improve their skills in research proposal writing.

    Akintunde hailed the Directorate of Gender and Sustainable Development Studies in the college for organising the seminar.

    The provost also thanked the presenter, Prof. Bridget Teboh, from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, the United States of America (U.S.A), for identifying with the college’s growth and development.

    Describing Prof. Teboh as erudite and international scholar, the college administrator expressed optimism that participants would benefit from her wealth of experience and become more knowledgeable in good proposal writing skills at the end of the seminar.