The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nobody denied Obi visa – Aide

    The Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi, has not been denied visa by any embassy in Nigeria. This was disclosed in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem.

    Obienyem, reacting to the news circulating on social media, said the irony of the falsehood was that Obi was presently in the USA on the invitation of highly-placed officials who were supposed to have denied him the said visa.

    Read Also: Peter Obi and the verdict of history

    “Obi is a good brand such that organisations and countries are satisfied to associate with him because he has proven to be a highly responsible person/politician.  Those peddling the rumour are the same people that are exasperated by the honour coming his way and are desperately trying to associate his name with one crime or untoward action not purely out of hate, but out of the desire to prove that he is after all human and can sin a little. Regrettably for them, Obi will not be caught in the web of their wickedness and intrigues because he is simply living his life without pretences,” Obienyem said.

  • NAF destroys Boko Haram’s command control centre in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Command and Control Centre in Dusula, on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

    The ATF carried out the operation through Operation GREEN SWEEP III which aimed to target some identified terrorists’ positions in Borno.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said yesterday in a statement in Abuja that the operation was conducted on Friday.

    Daramola said this was sequel to a renewed offensive aimed at further eliminating remnants of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province Terrorists (BHT/ISWAP) in the North-East of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa, kills scores of insurgents

    His words: “The operation was executed after series of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions led to the identification of the Command Centre with its solar panels, communications equipment and other facilities.

    “The three Alpha Jets dispatched by the ATF engaged the location in multiple passes, recording accurate hits on the target area. The structures housing the Command Centre were completely destroyed by the strikes while several of the terrorists were neutralised.

    “The few surviving terrorists, who were seen attempting to flee the area, were taken.”

    Daramola said the NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its operations against the terrorists in the North-East.

  • Security: Miyetti Allah bans herders without family in Southeast from grazing

    The Northern Leaders, Livestock and Perishable Goods Market traders and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria rose from a meeting on Saturday and resolved to ban herdsmen whose families are not living in the Southeast, from grazing their cattle in the zone.

    They also announced the shutting down of four livestock and perishable goods’ markets in Enugu State between Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15 to enable them embark on the sensitisation tour of the markets and 14 Fulani settlements in the state.

    The Southeast Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, who briefed newsmen on the decisions of the Northern leaders after the meeting, said it was part of their efforts to stem the rate of crime and criminality among their members.

    He said: “Part of the things we are doing to checkmate insecurity in Enugu and other parts of Southeast is that anybody who is not living with his family here will no longer be allowed to graze with their cattle.

    Read Also: Insecurity: We all must work for peace by our actions, inactions – Gowon

    “You cannot just come with your cow and graze after you destroy peoples’ farms or do something wrong, you will run overnight and leave us with the problem.

    “Anybody who wants to live in Enugu State or in the Southeast should be here with his family so that there is no way you will run overnight and leave your family.

    “This is what is done in other states in the north. If you are not with your family, there is no how you can come here so that you will not come and destroy our peace and go.”

    He added: “during the sensitisation exercise all livestock and perishable goods market will be closed down, either in cattle markets, Fulani settlements, or wherever they exist throughout Enugu State.”

    He said a 14-man committee had been constituted for the programme for the purpose of identifying all their members and weed out infiltrators.

    They regretted the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Rev. Fr. Paul Offu of St. James The Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area and condoled with the Catholic Community, his immediate family and the people of the state.

    They offered to join hands with the police, the military and other security agencies in ensuring maximum security in our neighborhood.

  • Hackers fail in attempt to compromise Osinbajo’s Twitter handle account

    Hackers have reportedly failed in a bid to compromise the Twitter account of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande,   said yesterday.

    “Yesterday (Friday) there were failed external attempts to gain unauthorized access to the Vice President’s Twitter Account,” Laolu said on his own Twitter account.

    “Since, we have been in contact with Twitter, securing the account, and forestalling a re-occurrence, the VP will continue to actively communicate with our citizens.”

  • Lack of infrastructure: Institutions laud TETfund, call for more intervention

    The intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, otherwise known as TETfund, may have provided sucour to most tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Our correspondents, Okodili Ndidi, Owerri, Nwanosike Onu, Awka, Bolaji Ogundele, Warri, Chris Oji, Enugu, Kolade Adeyemi, Kano, and Damisi Ojo, Akure who visited some tertiary institutions in the country, report that although a few of the projects have been abandoned, work is ongoing on most of the projects.

    In FUTO, two projects are stalled

    At the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), two major projects were abandoned by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) after the university has fulfilled all requirements and awarded the contracts in line with the provisions of TETfund.

    The abandoned projects are the Research and Technology Park and the Pilot Plant Development Building for the Department of Food Science Technology.

    According to the Acting Head Procurement, Callistus Esogwa, work stopped on the projects after TETfund failed to release the first tranche of funds.

    According to him, “we complied with all the requirements, did the proposal and got the approval of TETfund for the projects and subsequently awarded the contracts and the contractors mobilised to site with their personal funds but after waiting for TETfund to release funds to no avail, the contractors abandoned the job while we wait for the release of funds”.

    Also speaking on the issue, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Eze, said the construction of the Research and Technology Park was approved by TETfund under Bogoro Suleiman as the Executive Secretary of TETfund but was abandoned after he left office.

    Lamenting the abandonment of the Research Park, the Vice Chancellor explained that, “the project was conceived to stand on a tripod, which is the university, the industry and the government. At the park, we make our inventions, the business community comes to see what we have and the government sponsors our inventions. It is the first of its kind in the country.

    “It was conceived when Suleiman Elias Bogoro was the Executive Secretary of TETfund; we did the proposal and got the approval and awarded the contract; the contractors mobilised to site but the funds were not released and midway, Suleiman left office and was replaced by Aliyu Na’iya and the project was abandoned after we did everything to access the funds to no avail. But we are hopeful that work will soon resume as Bogoro has returned as TETfund Executive Secretary,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘Amend TETFund Act to benefit private institutions’

    No abandoned TETFUND projects in Anambra

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, otherwise known as TETfund, established by the federal government in 1986, is working perfectly in the tertiary institutions in Anambra State.

    At the Federal Polytechnic Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area, the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, in Orumba South Local Government Area and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) Awka, there is no abandoned projects.

    However, most of the TETfund projects in these establishments in the state are ongoing, while some had been completed.

    At the Federal Polytechnic Oko, about four of such projects are still in progress, according to the Public Relation’s Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu.

    Onuchukwu, described TETfund as the greatest source of development of higher education in Nigeria.

    He said its intervention cuts across infrastructure and other facilities, such as grants for research, office equipment, conferences, among others.

    The PRO, counted some of the completed TETfund projects in the institution as the auditorium and virtual library, adding that the school does not have any abandoned project from TETfund.

    For Mr. Sam Otti, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of FCE Technical, Umunze, the only problem the institution had was getting the take-off grant from the federal government.

    He said the non-release of this take-off grant affected development in critical infrastructure required in the college.

    According to Otti, “In FCE(T) Umunze, TETFund completed several building projects, such as the College Micro-Teaching Laboratory, 3-floor computer based test building 1, 3-floor computer based test building 2, virtual library, Dr. Alex Ekwueme Auditorium, Entrepreneurship Centre, College Ceremonial Quadrangle, rehabilitation of the College Library, Academic Staff Office Buildings, and so many other completed projects.”

    He said TETFund’s interventions also brought about a tremendous improvement in the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of infrastructure.

    “This huge investment in infrastructure has yielded the expected results for both staff and students.”

    For Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Director, Information and Communication, Unizik, the story was the same. He commended TETfund for its interventions in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    Ojukwu said the last time he checked, all intervention projects from TETfund in his institution were ongoing, adding that Nnamdi Azikiwe University does not talk about abandoned projects.

    “Our institution is forward ever, backward never and that is why students are rushing to the place to have the taste of the pudding,” Ojukwu said.

    Delta: Work on projects ongoing

    The institutions in Delta, both state and federal, have also been on the favoured side as they do not have abandoned and forgotten TETfund projects. For instance, two of the institutions reached: the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, and the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, say they do not have any abandoned TETfund projects on their campuses.

    In both cases, the institutions disclosed that they do not have abandoned TETfund projects; rather, TETfund-funded projects in their institutions are progressing as scheduled.

    Speaking of the projects in his institution, the Public Relations Officer of FUPRE, Mr. Boniface Onyedi, said “We do not have any abandoned TETfund project here at FUPRE; the ones we have, which are yet to be delivered, are moving forward without delay. You can go round to confirm by yourself”.

    Also describing the state of things on the DELSU campuses, spokesman of the institution, Mr. Freeborn Aganbi, said the only TETFund project in the institution is ongoing satisfactorily.

    “The Delta State University does not have any abandoned TETfund project; if anything, the project that is available is seriously ongoing. The current Vice Chancellor does not condone abandonment of projects. So as it concerns TETfund, the only one that I know is available here is not abandoned, but ongoing. Work is going on there,” Aganbi said.

    Enugu: Few abandoned TETFUND projects

    Apart from the administrative block at the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, (UNN), no other TETfund project was abandoned in the university.

    However, there are on-going projects which include: Department of Architecture Studio and Laboratory, Enugu Campus Faculty of Law Building, Enugu Campus

    Vocational Teacher Education Workshops and Classrooms, Nsukka Campus Construction of Cultural Centre for Institute of African Studies (IAS), Construction of Auditorium for Institute of African Studies (IAS)

    Construction of main building for Institute of African Studies (IAS); Construction of Bioprocess Physiology Building (Civic Works), Nsukka Campus.

    At the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), no abandoned TETfund project exists, as confirmed by the university’s head of Public Relations, Ossy Ugwuoti.

    Also at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, the Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, said TETfund projects in the institution have uplifted its infrastructure.

    According to her, the rest have not been touched in the past 35 years which led to the state government voting N810 million as intervention.

    BUK, KUST hail TETfund for execution of projects

    Citadels of higher learning, both federal and state universities across the country have continued to enjoy and benefit from the interventions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Among these institutions that have shown appreciation for the good work TETfund is doing, particularly in the area of construction and renovation of infrastructure, are Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, (KUST). Apart from testimonies of TETfund projects in the institutions by their authorities, a visit to the institutions by our reporter also confirmed this.

    Speaking on TETfund projects in BUK, the Acting Vice Chancellor, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Adamu Idris Tanko, noted that TETfund interventions in the BUK have tremendously upgraded the infrastructural outlook of the university.

    According to him, “Bayero University, Kano, has benefited on a number of intervention projects from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the last few years, especially from the year 2015 to date when more than 30 different projects were funded and fully completed by the agency in our university.

    “As at this moment, the university accessed all funds allocated to it for both physical and infrastructural development, as well as manpower training for both academics and non-teaching staff as well. The university has no case of any abandoned project funded by the TETfund or any other agency or benefactor. This was as a result of an excellent policy adopted by the management of the university in ensuring proper utilisation of all funds received from intervention body and strict compliance with the guidelines attached to such projects.

    On his part, the Vice Chancellor of KUST, Prof. Shehu Musa, speaking on the issue of abandoned projects, told The Nation  that, “as far as the institution is concerned, we have no single abandoned projects, in which TETFund is embarking upon right now. The only two projects, which are on-going by TETfund presently cannot be said to have been abandoned because workers are on site as l am talking to you. The only thing now is to appreciate the good and quality work TETfund is doing in KUST. With the enormous support we are getting from them, our university is wearing a new look. We wish to thank the current Executive Secretary of TETfund, Prof. Bagoro Suleiman, for what he did for the institution during his first tenure. Now that he his back, we hope to further enjoy his support in his second tenure,” he said.

    Ondo hails TETFund

    In Ondo State, like others, the mandate of TETfund (Establishment Act 2011) includes managing, disbursing and monitoring Education Tax Fund for public tertiary institutions.

    TETfund projects in the federal government-owned Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, have remained strategic, solving problem of accommodation, inadequate offices, classrooms, lecture halls/theatre and laboratory.

    It has also helped in the provision of basic learning and teaching tools such as charts, laboratories equipment, electricity supply, furniture for offices, lecture halls, rehabilitation of old and existing structures in the college.

    According to the college’s spokesperson, Mrs. Oluseto Olaniyi, the institution established in 1963, but officially opened on May 22,I964 by the defunct Western Region Government of Nigeria with 93 students started enjoying TETfund intervention since 2008 and has the agency’s footprints in the infrastructural facilities scattering  within the college expansive premises.

    It solved problem of inadequate classrooms, lecture halls, and offices for staff.

    In 2008, TETfund constructed an academic office block with over N17m and was followed with the construction of School of Vocational and Technical Educational building in 2011 with the sum of N131, 500, 417, 30.

    From that time till now, various projects have been executed through TETfund in areas of laboratory equipment and furnishing of lecture halls and offices, ICT infrastructures, library development, electricity supply, publication of academic journals, staff training and development.

    Mrs. Olatoye said there was no abandoned TETfund project in the college except the ongoing ones which are being executed without delay from any quarters.

    She said that through TETfund, the college has received maximum benefits through which there was total transformation of the education-based institution.

    At the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), none of the TETfund projects was also abandoned. They were all completed and put to use for the benefit of the students and workers.

    FUTA’s spokesman, Adegbenro Adebanjo, however said details on the projects could only be adequately provided for by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. O. Fuwape, who was not around when our correspondent visited.

    Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) is another beneficiary of the TETfund projects. Lots of the projects have been successfully executed in the institution, ranging from structures, teaching equipment and others.

    One of the officials at the information unit of the university, Mr. Dupe Mike Balogun, however declined comment on the level of intervention by the agency, but a source said there was no abandoned TETfund project in the university.

  • Nigeria’ll come out great, march forward, overcomes its challenges- Adeboye

    THE General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has prophesied that Nigeria will come out great, march forward and overcome its numerous challenges.

    “There will be an end to emptiness, materially, spiritually and economically in Nigeria,” Adeboye also declared in his sermon at the 67 Holy Ghost Congress held at the Redemption Camp, KM 46, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.

    But he urged Nigerians to return to God.

    The weeklong event, which began on Monday, had the theme: “And God Said”.

    Speaking on the sub-topic: “And God Said, Let There be Light”, Adeboye said: “The plan of God for Nigeria is that when light comes to the nation, Nigeria will be great, it will progress and move forward.

    “There will be light, means let progress begin; when there was darkness in Egypt for three days, the Egyptians could not stand up for three days.

    Read Also: Faith is antidote for receiving God’s blessings, says Adeboye

    “Darkness stops progress; when you are surrounded with darkness, your progress will not be accelerated. Let there be light also means that there will be fullness and fruitfulness in Nigeria.”

    The cleric who took his text from Psalm 30, verse five, said that weeping could endure for a night, but that joy would come in the morning.

    “This means that Nigeria shall sorrow no more; it means all the forces in heaven will see that Nigeria and Nigerians will succeed; rain will fall on our land in the right season.

    “Nigerians will sow on good soil, many people have not succeeded because they have no one to help them, when God blesses you, you cannot be cursed by anyone,’’ he said.

    Adeboye, however, said that 86 children were delivered at the campground, comprising 45 boys, 41 girls.

  • Insecurity: We all must work for peace by our actions, inactions – Gowon

    FORMER Head of State and leader of the Nigeria Prays Movement, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has charged Nigerians to not only pray for peace but work for it through what they say and do.

    He said this as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, said he believes in the efficacy of prayers, noting that with prayers, Nigeria can work. He maintained that his victory as governor of the state is a testimony that sincere prayers to God get answered.

    The two leaders spoke at the Government House, Osogbo, yesterday, during a courtesy visit on the governor by the leadership of the Nigeria Prays Movement, led by Gowon.

    Gowon, who described Oyetola’s victory as one ordained by God, commended the governor for taking deliberate step to maintain peace in the state. While urging Nigerians to work and pray for peace, the former leader maintained that peace is sine qua non to socioeconomic growth and development.

    He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians, saying peace and harmony could only be achieved in a refined society.

    “I am delighted and grateful to God for the opportunity to be here to pray for peace, unity, stability and progress of this country.

    Read Also: Tackle insecurity head-on, GOFAMINT leader tells FG

    “We are here to pray for the well-being of Nigerians and for the leadership of Nigeria from President Muhammadu Buhari to state governors, particularly those in the Southwest.

    “Our yearning for peace is very overwhelming, and as members of the movement, our role is to pray for the unity, peace and stability of our country. I had thought that after the civil war, we will not see any more crises. But what we have seen…it is unfortunate that after civil war, our nation has been battling with serial security challenges ranging from Boko Haram; kidnapping; banditry and lots more. If the security forces cannot do it, God has the power to change evil men to be good again, just like he did to Saul.

    “We have to be careful so that we don’t push ourselves into doing things that will make us hate ourselves. I must also commend the governor for the warm reception. I have never had such a wonderful welcome before,” Gowon said.

    Responding, Governor Oyetola attributed some challenges confronting the country to lack of faith in God, urging Nigerians to renew their faith. He also commended the former Head of State for displaying high sense of commitment to achieving a united country.

    “I feel highly honoured to receive our former Head of State in Osun as I consider this visit a great honour considering the fact that you are a man of integrity, a man of honour and a man of peace.”

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Prays Movement Team, accompanied by the governor and his wife, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, was also at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II.

    While receiving them, the Osogbo monarch maintained that Nigeria had remained as one today because of the efforts of Gowon.

    He described Gowon as one of the country’s best. He said, “His commitment to the unity of Nigeria was the reason his name ‘Gowon’ had been fondly rephrased as ‘Go on With One Nigeria.’ General Yakubu Gowon is the best and the luckiest of all the Nigerian leaders. Because he is a good manager, he has maintained himself well and remained healthy even in old age. He loves the country and is committed to our unity as a country.”

  • Zamfara fires Emir, district head over links to banditry

    The Zamfara State Government on Saturday sealed the fate of the suspended Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Cika Ibrahim and the district head of Kanoma, Alhaji Ahmed Kanoma, by sacking them from office.

    The duo had been suspended for allegedly being part of armed banditry in their respective domains on the strength of an investigation by a committee set up by the state government to investigate the allegations levelled against them.

    Read Also: 11 die in Zamfara road mishap

    The committee recommended that they be stripped of their positions after claiming that they were culpable.

    Deputy Governor Mahdi Aliyu Gusau said the two traditional rulers were found wanting.

    Consequently, the state government decided to remove them to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Ibrahim and Kanoma had been manhandled by their subjects last month at Kanoma town, while the residents also called for their removal when Governor Matawalle paid a condolence visit to the families of 32 persons killed by the bandits.

  • Tinubu greets Williams at 100

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated renowned chartered accountant, foremost entrepreneur and seasoned administrator, Chief Akintola Williams, as he turned 100 on August 9.

    He praised Akintola for his years of service to the accounting profession, to Nigeria, the African continent and humankind.

    In a statement by his Media Office by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said Williams excelled throughout his life, distinguishing himself in all walks of life.

    He said: “As first a chartered accountant and then a financial expert in Africa, he set the highest standard of professionalism and integrity.

    Read Also: Buhari to Williams: Nigeria ‘ll always be proud of you

    “His important contributions to our nation’s civil service, where he served as an assessment officer with the Inland Revenue, are well known and he is rightly celebrated for his achievements, many of which remain relevant to this day. Upon leaving the civil service in March 1952, he continued his story of unprecedented success establishing the first indigenous accounting firm in Africa, a company that, along with the other members of the big 4 firms, continues to dominate the accounting industry today.

    “Chief Williams served the country in other capacities notably as Chairman of the Federal Income Tax Appeal Commission; Member, Coker Commission of inquiry into the Statutory Corporations of the former Western Region of Nigeria; Chairman, Lagos State Government Revenue Collection Panel, and Chairman, Public Service Review Panel set up to correct the anomalies of the Udoji Salary Review Commission (1975) among others.

    “His love for humanity and the arts radiated in the associations he belonged to such as the Metropolitan Club, Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), African Cancer Centre (ACC) and Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCE) to mention just a few”.

    Tinubu described the centenarian as a true Lagosian who was born, had his elementary education and founded his accounting firm in Lagos from where it spread to other parts of the world.

    The APC leader prayed for continued good health and God’s grace for Chief Williams and his entire extended family.

  • Killing of Ndibuisi-Chukwu, others: Buhari, SA leader plan talks

    SEQUEL to the spate of killings of Nigerians in South Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari will be meeting soon with his South African counterpart, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, with a view to thrashing out the issues.

    The meeting is scheduled for October, according to the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday.

    Shehu said his principal spoke by phone from his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, with Ramaphosa and  accepted an invitation to visit the country to further “consider recurrent issues concerning wellbeing of the Nigerian community in South Africa.”

    The planned discussion is also expected to focus on trade and investment between Africa’s two largest economies.

    In an earlier letter of invitation, the South African President said: “Your visit will provide an excellent opportunity for our sister countries to further consolidate and advance our strategic partnership and cooperation on matters of peace, security and socio-economic development in our continent.

    “We will discuss issues of mutual interest and concern in global governance.’’

    President Ramaphosa said the meeting will provide an opportunity to inaugurate a Bi-national commission for both countries to “effect the strategic decisions taken in 2016 to elevate it to the level of Heads of State.’’

    Many Nigerians are displeased with South Africa over the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.

    Read Also: Xenophobia Attacks: Nigerians abroad now live in palpable fear, says NGO

    Over 150 Nigerians are believed to have been killed in South Africa over the years, the most prominent being the suspected strangulation of the Deputy Director-General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Ndibuisi-Chukwu, in June.

    The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is the premier professional body in Nigeria.

    Mrs. Ndibuisi-Chukwu was on a business delegation to South Africa when she was found dead in her room at Emperor’s Palace Hotel and Convention Centre a few hours before  her return home.

    Autopsy report attributed her death to ‘unnatural cause.”

    The report sparked an uproar at home with the Senate asking  the South African government to investigate her  death and those of other Nigerians in that country

    The Senate also urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue travel alerts to Nigerians travelling to South Africa.

    Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who led the debate said earlier reports that she died of cardiac arrest had been countered by  the autopsy report released on June 20 by the South African Department of Home Affairs which indicated that the death was unnatural and suspected to be murder.

    “In a curious twist, the hotel allegedly was reluctant to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death. This is not the first time Nigerians have died in suspicious circumstances in South Africa,” he said.

    Another Nigerian – Benjamin Simeon- was killed  in South Africa penultimate week.

    Forty-three year old Simeon hailed from Okposi, Ebonyi State.

    The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa said the Taxi driver  was  shot by yet to be identified gunmen in the early hours of  Saturday, August  3 in Johannesburg.

    The spokesperson for the association, Mr.  Sunny-Wenike Douglas, said the victim was killed moment  after dropping off his clients in a part of the city.

    Douglas added that an investigating officer with the South Africa Police Service confirmed that a case of murder had been opened on the matter.

    He vowed that his association would follow up with the case to ensure that the killers were arrested and brought to justice.

    Students shutdown South Africa’s Shoprite in Ogun over Xenophobia

    The killings of Nigerians in South Africa have also provoked protests in major cities in the country against  South African firms in Nigeria including telecoms giant,MTN,  and Shoprite.