The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • TUC accuses CBN of selling forex to moribund firms

    Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of selling foreign exchange to moribund companies through what it called man-know-man connection only to resell genuine companies.

    In a statement by its President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi and made available to The Nation in Abuja, the Congress challenged the apex bank to make public the list of companies applying for forex or face legal action.

    The labour body asked the apex bank to exercise caution in the implementation of its policies, pointing out that stakeholders must be adequately considered while taking critical decision on the economy as such unilateral decisions are capable of crippling economic activities.

    The statement reads: “the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) challenges the Central Bank of Nigeria to make public the list of companies applying for forex if its report as published in the dailies on the subject matter is anything to go by. It is disheartening to read the apex bank say it is going to reduce its forex to companies at this time. The question is, why punish functional companies?

    Read Also: TUC threatens strike over N30,000 minimum wage

    “As a stakeholder, we know there is a problem somewhere which the CBN cannot deny. There are many companies that have closed shop but have become dollar agents, using their man-know-man connection to access forex, only to re-sell.

    “These fictitious companies have to be removed from the list so the active ones can manage the little forex that is available. The list has to be released by the CBN, else we may be left with no option than to go to court.

    “If we import milk worth $1.2 billion yearly as claimed by the Ministry of Agriculture, what effort is the country making to reduce or probably end importation of dairies foods in the nearest future?

    “That is exactly how the civilised countries got to where they are today, not by mere rhetorics.

    “We wish our policy makers manage their private businesses same way they manage the nation’s economy! If we cannot plan to address our deficit in the shortest time possible then there is a problem.

    “The decision to end importation is a welcome development but there has to be public engagement, else the newly signed African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) will seriously affect the economy.”

  • 1,400 arrested at Moscow election protest

    Russian police arrested almost 1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow at the weekend to demand open elections, a monitor said, the biggest crackdown on a rally in the country in years.

    Some 3,500 people took part in the unauthorised protest on Saturday, according to official figures, after authorities blocked prominent opposition candidates from taking part in city elections.

    The meeting came a week after 22,000 took to the streets calling on authorities to reverse their decision ahead of the vote.

    Police used batons on protesters as they tried to gather outside city hall on Saturday, and AFP reporters at the scene saw demonstrators with injuries.

    The EU in a statement denounced the “disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters,” which it said undermined “the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly”.

    Amnesty International also condemned what it said was the use of excessive force by the police.

    Read Also: Troops arrest 17 bandits in Katsina, kill one

    After the rally last week investigators raided the homes and headquarters of a number of disqualified candidates. Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was jailed for 30 days for calling the fresh protest.

    Several would-be candidates were detained before or during the meeting on Saturday. Among them was Ilya Yashin, who called for another protest next weekend.

    OVD-Info, an organisation that monitors protests, reported Sunday that 1,373 people were detained.

    It said this was the highest number since mass demonstrations in 2012, when tens of thousands protested President Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister.

    The new protests come amid wider public anger over declining living standards that has hit Putin’s approval ratings.

    Elections to Moscow’s 45-seat legislative body, currently controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, are due to be held in September.

    While pro-Kremlin candidates enjoy the support of the state, independent candidates say they have been made to jump through countless hoops in order to get on the ballot for the city polls.

    Following pickets last week, including outside the local election commission building, investigators said they were launching a criminal probe into obstructing the work of election officials.

    If found guilty, organisers risk up to five years in prison.

  • Liverpool not envious of rivals’ spending, signings – Klopp

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he is not envious of the spending habits of rival sides, stating that his club are not in “fantasia land” with their budgets.

    The Reds have followed up their Champions League-winning campaign with a relatively frugal spend during the off-season, following record-breaking deals in 2018.

    While several of their rivals at home and abroad have splashed the cash since the transfer window opened, Klopp has often explained how the big-budget contracts awarded to stars such as Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson have eaten up a significant part of the fiscal pie, along with investment in their infrastructure.

    Some critics have pointed to Liverpool’s lack of transfer action as signs of prospective vulnerability, but their manager has assured fans that his faith remains paramount in his squad while admitting that he is sometimes bemused by the financial outlay of other major sides.

    “This year is not the end of Liverpool FC,” Klopp was quoted in The Telegraph.

    Read Also: Salah Move Alert: Liverpool budget £89million for Dembele

    “Next year there will be another transfer window. This team is really good and we have invested a lot in it. Now we have to work with that.

    “I can’t say anything about what other teams are doing. I don’t know how they do it. We have to pay bills. Sorry. Everybody has to pay bills; we have to pay bills.

    “We invested money in this team. Now it looks like we are not. But we are not in this fantasia land where you just get whatever you want. You cannot do it constantly.

    “It looks like there are four clubs in the world who can do it constantly. Madrid, Barcelona, (Man) City and PSG. Whatever they need, they do. You cannot compare that. That is the situation.

    “It is not a criticism. I know how people will take it, that I am jealous or whatever. I am not at all jealous.

    “There is no guarantee we won’t draw with Leicester on a snowy pitch because we make five new signings. There is no guarantee.

    “There will be average games – but that doesn’t mean we need different players. It only means we need a team that is ready that day. And that is what we have to do. We have to make sure.”

  • Troops arrest 17 bandits in Katsina, kill one

    Troops have arrested 17 bandits in Katsina and killed one of them during a clearance operation, the Nigerian Army announced on Sunday.

    A statement by Assistant Director Arny Public Relations, Lt Mohammed Isa Yahaya said the troops recovered arms and ammunition from the bandits.

    He added that the bandits have been terrorising Katsina communities and also engaged in cattle rustling in the area.

    Lt Yahaya said:”troops of HARBIN KUNAMA III have successfully conducted a joint operation with troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI and personnel of the Nigerian police to clear bandits and other reported cases of robbery, cattle rustling and kidnappings in Katsina state.

    “The clearance operation which is aimed at destroying all bandits’ camps in Katsina state has yielded tremendous results.

    “In the course of the operation, troops conducted a cordon and search exercise while acting on credible intelligence reports at YAR SANTA village in Kankara Local Government Area and its environ.

    Read Also: Troops kill five, arrest four bandits in Kaduna

    “At the peak of the exercise, one Mr Monday Chikwunka, 36 years old, an indigene of Delta state alongside sixteen (16) other bandits specialised in rustling cows, killing and kidnapping of citizens were intercepted.

    “Preliminary interrogation and confessional statements by the suspects revealed that the gang are responsible for most criminal activities in the State and its localities.

    “The ring leader (Monday Chikwunka) also served as medical aid of these criminals by providing medical assistance to the wounded bandits who sustained gun shot wounds and their families.

    ” He confessed treating the pregnant wife of the one of the most notorious bandit, DOGO NAHALLI who is still at large.

    “The suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and prosecution.

    “In a similar development, troops while on clearance operations, encountered a group of fleeing bandits and neutralized one of the criminals who tried to escape.

    “Many camps belonging to the bandits were destroyed.

    The following items were recovered from the scene:

    2× AK 47 rifle
    4× AK 47 Magazines and 10 rounds of 7.62 mm
    6× locally made Dane guns
    1× revolver pistol
    1× locally made revolver rifle
    20× handsets and
    2× motorcycles

    “The locals expressed optimism and appreciation while commending the efforts of Nigerian Army as well as other security agencies for ensuring the safety of lives and properties which enabled them continued with their routine activities including farming in the areas.

    ” Troops will continue to exploit by combing all hideouts of the bandits with the view to denying them freedom of action.”

  • Imo North: PDP candidate tackles Uwajumogu over inauguration

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 senatorial election in Imo North, Hon. Patrick Ndubueze, has vowed to reclaim his mandate from Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu.

    Uwajumogu was inaugurated on Friday as a member of the Ninth Senate following the issuance of Certificate of Return to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    After his swearing in by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Uwajumogu told reporters in Abuja that he clearly won the election and promised to serve his constituents better than he did in the Eight Senate.

    A statement by his campaign director general, Chief Greg Owuamalam, Ndubueze noted that INEC had been clear from the outset that the result sheets being paraded by Uwajumogu were “fake and forged and that there has not been any valid return made so far in the election.”

    Ndubueze also noted his petition at the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal is going on strongly and “we are upbeat that the Tribunal will do the needful.”

    Read Also: Edo Assembly crisis: Reps extend ultimatum to Obaseki

    He said: “The Hon. Patrick Ndubueze Campaign Office has been notified that INEC has issued Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu with a Certificate of Return for the Imo North Senatorial District and was actually sworn in as a Senator in the 9th Assembly yesterday (Friday).

    “While we note that this is a momentary setback to reclaiming our mandate which was stolen by the temporary holders of the certificate, we call on the entire people of Imo North Senatorial District to remain calm and go about their normal daily activities peacefully and lawfully as we shall not let anyone steal what was legitimately and freely given to their choice candidate, Hon. Patrick Ndubueze.”

    “We are confident that the Nigerian judiciary will not let such acts as have led us to this political imbroglio in the Senatorial District to go without severe consequences as INEC has been clear from the outset that the result sheets being paraded by the temporary certificate holders are fake and forged and that there has not been any valid return made so far in the election.

    “We wish to inform our people that our petition at the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal is going on strongly and we are upbeat that the Tribunal will do the needful.

    “We have also filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja to nullify the ruling of the Federal High Court which ordered INEC to issue the Certificate of Return to someone who did not win the election.

    “We shall also overcome at the Court of Appeal.

    “We must commend INEC for its forthright stand so far in this matter.

    “Despite all the shenanigans from the temporary certificate holders, the commission stood firm and insisted that its procedures were violated.

    “INEC issued the certificate in obedience to court order and not because the commission was intimidated by the motely crowd that came to protest at its headquarters or the threats issued at the protest.”

  • Pogba would improve Real Madrid, says brother

    Paul Pogba would strengthen Real Madrid if he makes the move from Manchester United, according to the midfielder’s brother.
    Zinedine Zidane wants to sign France star Pogba and with Gareth Bale reportedly set to complete a move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, it is claimed a bid for Pogba is imminent.

    The rumours come in the wake of Madrid’s humiliating 7-3 loss to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

    Pogba’s future at Old Trafford has been in doubt since his agent, Mino Raiola, confirmed the 26-year-old’s “willingness” to negotiate a transfer.

    And his brother Mathias, a professional footballer formerly of Partick Thistle in Scotland, thinks a move to the La Liga giants could make sense for both parties.

    “I feel my brother could help any team,” Mathias told AS.

    “If he plays for Madrid, he will help Madrid.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Real Madrid call off Gareth Bale’s move to China

    “I always want what’s the best for my brother. If he feels Real Madrid is the best club for him, he will come.”

    Guinea international Mathias, 28, completed his own move to Spain over the weekend, signing for fourth-tier Manchego Ciudad Real after a spell at Tours in France.

    However, the elder Pogba said: “I’m in Spain because I want to be and it has nothing to do with the possibility of my younger brother securing a move.

    “We can’t do anything about the rumours.”

    Fresh reports in the English media this weekend suggest Los Blancos could be about to bid £150m (€166m/$185m) for the 2018 World Cup winner, once Bale’s move away from the Spanish capital has been confirmed.

    Bale’s protracted exit from the Bernabeu would free up his wage bill, allowing Real officials to make their move for Pogba for what would be a Premier League record fee.

    The reported amount would eclipse the £145m (€161m/$179m) Barcelona paid Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho in January 2018, while landing United a healthy profit on the £89m (€99m/$110m) they paid Juventus for Pogba’s services three years ago.

    Were Pogba to arrive in Madrid, he would become the club’s sixth big name signing this summer alongside Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao.

    (Goal.com)

  • Court grants American accused of assaulting towing van driver bail

    An American, Breedlove Shawn, 52, who allegedly assaulted a towing van operator, Femi Banjoko, at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja last week has been granted bail by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    Shawn is standing trial on a three-count-charge bordering on assault and assault occasioning harm while Akintunde was facing a one-count charge of breach of peace before Magistrate, Mrs. T.A Ojo.

    The American was arraigned on Friday alongside an Uber driver, Adeyemo Akintunde for assault of the towing vehicle driver, Femi Banjoko, an employee of Billafary Towing Services Limited, an operator of Muritala Muhammed International Airport authority, after being caught parking in unrestricted area.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Read Also: Senator Ibrahim arraigned in court, granted bail

    Magistrate Ojo granted Shawn and Akintunde bail in the sum of N200, 000 each.

    Magistrate Ojo said the first defendant should provide two sureties as part of his bail conditions.

    Ojo said one of the sureties must have a means of livelihood in Nigeria, be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.

    The second defendant, Akintunde, is to provide one surety in like sum and who must be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Oluwabunmi Adeitan, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on July 24 at 1.30p.m at MMIA Ikeja, Lagos.

    She alleged that the Uber driver came to pick Shawn at the airport when he had an altercation with Banjoko and caused him grievous body injury.

    The case has been adjourned until August 26.

  • Ondo will get LCDAs soon, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at the weekend said his administration would in the next few months create Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    Akeredolu said the issue of LCDAs was germane to the people of the state and promised to consider it an important matter.

    The governor, who dropped the hint while receiving the report of the Committee on Creation of Local Council Development Areas, however, said the government would not create LCDAs which number would be more than necessary.

    According to him, the proposed LCDAs were meant to fast track development and bring government closer to the grassroots.

    He said his government was determined to make necessary moves that would accelerate all-round development of the people at the grassroots level.

    Read Also: Court resolves Ondo NULGE post-election crisis

    While appreciating members of the committee for a good job done, Akeredolu said he would subject the report to a thorough scrutiny before presenting it at the state executive council meeting for ratification.

    The governor said he was aware that the task the committee undertook was not the easiest anybody could do because of the seriousness the people attached to the issue of local government creation.

    “We will look into this and make sure that in few months, we create the LCDAs. It’s usual we still subject it to scrutiny before exco looks at it,” he said.

    Submitting the report, the chairman of the committee, Lanke Odogiyan, said his team received 94 memoranda requesting for 105 LCDAs.

    Odogiyan added that the committee sieved through the huge documents to remove the chaffs from the grains.

    Odogiyan said: “After collating the requests and dissecting them, we embarked on a statewide public hearing which afforded sponsors of memos the opportunity to defend and present their memos.”

    Describing the tour of the state by the committee as enlightening, Odogiyan said the committee resolved various age-long rivalries between some neighbouring communities which were not in good terms.

    The committee chairman said the interest of the people in the exercise manifested in the large number of memoranda submitted by them.

    He said the huge crowd that turned out where the committee had public hearing and the calibre of the dignitaries that attended was an eloquent testimony to the yearnings of the people of the state for good governance at the grassroots.

    He expressed hope that the governor’s decision to create LCDAs would address failure of governance at the grassroots.

    Akeredolu had on March 21, 2019 constituted the committee to take memoranda from communities seeking LCDAs.

  • Zamfara, AFREXIM Bank sign $1 billion MoU

    The Zamfara State Government and African Export Import Bank at the weekend signed $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of mining, agriculture, water resources and other areas.

    The MoU was signed in Abuja.

    President/Chairman, Board of Director, African Export Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, said the bank was happy to be part of the partnership towards unlocking the abundant opportunities in the state.

    He said “We had a very fruitful meeting with the delegation from Zamfara State led by the governor.

    “In AFREXIM BANK we are pleased that the leadership of Zamfara State has a clear vision. They have identified clearly the strengths of their state, the opportunities and what they need to unlock these opportunities.

    “They have decided to take their own destiny in their hands, which is actually the foundation of the federal structure that we operate in Nigeria, that states should do all they can to maximise the use of the resources they have for the benefit of their people, so that collectively, we can grow the economy of Nigeria to become more that it is today.

    “So we are proud to be in a very serious discussion with Zamfara State in various areas. We have discussed partnership covering solid minerals where Zamfara State has significant strength.

    “We are looking foreword to work with Zamfara State and our partners to further map the resources and monetise them as quickly as possible.” he said

    Read Also: Zamfara state university to gulp N10bn – Gov. Yari

    He went on “We also discussed Resources partnership in the area of Agriculture and Water to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities presented by the system in Zamfara State, not only to generate electricity but also for Agriculture, including production of …. for export and consumption locally.

    “We also discussed partnership to revive the cotton industry in Zamia State. There is no reason why Zamfara State cannot produce cotton as Republic of Benin which is now the largest producer of cotton in Africa.”

    According to him, there is no reason why Zamfara State can not produce more cotton than the Burkina Fasso or Mali.

    He said that everything is in Zamfara State and history is also on their side.

    “We also discussed how to support Zamfara State with regards to Animal Husbandry and production of beef using modern facilities.

    “We are really proud of the success that the government of Zamfara state has achieved within a very short time in resolving the security situation. What that demonstrates is that good leadership at the state levels can help us deal with the security challenges that is currently plaguing many parts of the country.

    “Zamfara is a secured state, secured environment that can attract the kind of environment we are talking about.

    “So, altogether, the investments we have discussed which we prioritise based on the speed of having to get them done amounts to about $1 billion.

    “We will work very actively with our partners and the government to make sure that Zamfara State a shining example of what can be achieved if the government of the different states look inwards and leverage the resources they have for the betterment of their people and we believe that the commitment we have seen so far would lead to the results that all of us will be proud of.” he stated

    Zamfara Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, noted that the discussion was started barely two weeks ago in Dubai.

    “We started this discussion just about two weeks ago when we met with some AFREXIM BANK people in Dubai with the Managing Director of Heritage Bank for which he promised to deliver our message to the bank. Within that week, he contacted him and the AFREXIM BANK Presisent decided to come to Nigeria.

    “Zamfara State, as you are all aware, had so many issues before my emergence as the governor, for which reason and to limited time, just a month, God helped us to tackle some of these issues.

    “Today, we can call Zamfara State as a peaceful state in Nigeria. For your information, for the first time in four weeks, there has been no report of any incident like kidnapping, killing or killing of citizens.”

    He said that his administration is committed to making the state a full secured state.

    “We have started that by engaging the bandits in peace, which they have accepted to lay down their arms. As at today, Mr. President, we have secured the release of over 300 people that are under captivity. The securing of the release of these people was done without any commitment; no single kobo or ransom was paid to the bandits.

    “So we assure you that Zamfara State is safe for investors, they can come to the state. They can come to the state and the government is committed to making sure that everything is out in place to guarantee their security.

    “We thank you for the investment of about $1 billion which can cover manufacturing, power, infrastructure, mining and Agriculture. We assure you that we have all the potentials to utilise the said funds in order to move Zamfara State forward.” he said

  • Soldiers kill 5 bandits, rescue 2 kidnap victims in Kaduna

    Men of the Nigerian Army in Operation Thunder Strike and Operation Harbin Kunama III have killed five suspected bandits and arrested four others during two separate operations in Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Ezindu Idima, who disclosed this in a statement in Kaduna on Sunday, said the troops also rescued two kidnap victims.

    The Army spokesman said: “Troops of Operation Harbin Kunama III dislodged a bandits camp in Dagu village of Igabi local government on 24th July, 2019 following credible information and during the operation, two bandits were neutralised and one was apprehended while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “Troops also, rescued two kidnapped victims, Mallam Yakubu Hamidu and Alhaji Isa Saidu from the bandits den around Makarfi Farm junction in Igabi LGAsl on 25th July, 2019 where two motor cycles belonging to the criminals were also destroyed during an exchange of fire.”

    He noted that the residents of Dagu village had commended the Army for destroying the bandits’ hideouts who have been terrorising villages in the area.

    Read Also: Nigerian Army graduates 259 cadets in Jaji

    Similarly, in another operation conducted on 25th July, 2019 by troops of Operation Thunder Strike around Kubuso, Kuso and Kakumi general area in Chikun Local Government Area, Idima said, “Following the operation, three bandits were neutralised, three were arrested and two kidnapped victims were also freed.

    “Items recovered from the bandits include, one AK47 riffle, a single barrel rifle, one dane gun and 28 rounds of special ammunition, two motorcycles, one camouflage uniform, two ATM cards, a Techno Phone, one Airtel Sim card and empty cases of 5 x 7.62mm special ammunition.”

    He appeal to the general public to report anybody seen with gunshot wounds to the nearest security post for investigation and expressed the commendation of the GOC, Major General Faruk Yahaya to the troops for their efforts.

    He quoted the GOC to have charged the troops not to relent until the bandits are effectively annihilated.