The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Mandela Day: Obaseki harps on good governance to engender social justice

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called on political leaders to work towards delivering good governance and set up institutions to engender social justice for the betterment of society.

    The governor made the call in commemoration of the Nelson Mandela International Day, marked on July 18, each year by the United Nations.

    In line with the 2019 theme of the commemoration, “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day,” he urged political leaders to use the Nelson Mandela International Day to reflect and implement policies aimed at addressing issues that deprive people the opportunity for decent, equitable living.

    According to him, “As we commemorate the International Nelson Mandela Day, it is pertinent to note that the actions and inactions of political leaders contribute to issues relating to global health, security, food security, climate change, infrastructural deficit, amongst others. That a number of developing countries have been unable to lift millions out of poverty is a testament to the fact that we have not addressed key issues of social justice.

    Read Also: 20 memorable quotes of Nelson Mandela

    “As the world celebrates the legacies of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, political leaders in developing countries can do more for their people if they take actions to enhance the wellbeing of majority of the people. Just as the great Mandela, we can achieve more for our people if we are selfless in ensuring equitable distribution of the state’s resources to foster peaceful living.”

    According to the United Nations, “Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity – as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.”

    The organisation urged everyone to mark Nelson Mandela International Day “by making a difference in their communities as everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better. Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.”

  • Alleged assault: Court fixes Aug. 20 for Sen. Abbo’s trial

    A Zuba Chief Magistrates’ Court Abuja, on Monday fixed Aug. 20, for the trial of Sen. Elisha Abbo who allegedly assaulted a nursing woman in Abuja.
    The offence that bordered on criminal force and assault which is contrary to section 263 and 264 of penal code.

    The Magistrate, Abdullahi Ilelah, also ordered the prosecution counsel, to supply the defendant’s counsel with all the materials he intends to rely on in to defend his client.

    Ilelah adjourned the case until Aug. 20 for hearing.

    Earlier, the prosecution counsel, told the court that Abbo was arraigned on July 8, based on preliminary investigation.

    Idachaba told the court that he received the case file late and the video that has gone viral is an electronically generated video which needed to be properly investigated.

    He prayed the court to grant him an adjournment to complete investigation in the matter and to enable him serve the defendant counsel all the materials he intend to rely on.

    Read Also: Senate panel seeks more time to investigate Sen. Abbo

    He cited Sections 350 (2) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015 adding that it is mandatory for the prosecution to serve the defendant counsel with all the prove of evidence before a trail commence.

    He prayed the court to grant him date to open his case against the defendant and to enable him comply with the order 350(2) of ACJA 2015.

    Mr. Adegbite Adeniyi, Counsel to the Senator Abbo did not oppose the oral application made by the prosecution counsel.

    Adeniyi, prayed the prosecution to serve him with all the evidence which he intend to rely on before the adjourn date.

    Sen. Abbo who represents Adamawa North senatorial Zone was docked on July 8 for allegedly assaulting a nursing mother, one Warmate Osimibibra

    The police alleged that the Senator committed the offence on May 11 at Pleasure Chest Shop FA 45 Located at Bannex Plaze Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II Abuja.

    He also alleged that Abbo slapped the complainant severally on her face and forcefully dragging her shirt without provocation.

    (NAN)

  • Teacher arraigned for caning student in Lagos

    Dare Olaleye, a 33-year-old secondary school teacher in Lagos was on Monday arraigned at an Ogba Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly caning a 16-year-old Senior Secondary School student and badly injured his right eye.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olaleye, a resident of No. 22, Kokumo St., Counting Bus Stop, Ogba, Lagos pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault.

    According to the prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, the teacher committed the offence on March 29 between 11a.m. and 1p.m. at Camp David Academy located at No. 7, Bodunrin Caulcrick Close, Ogba, Lagos.

    “The teacher was on duty supervising examinations at the school and had requested that the SS1 and SS2 students leave the hall before the commencement of their examination.

    Read Also: Lagos plans to upgrade 21 secondary schools’ libraries

    “The defendant alleged that the complainant, Daniel Agboola an SS1 student, had hit him while leaving the hall and Olaleye canned the student as punishment.

    “While the teacher was caning Agboola, the cane hit him in his right eye, leading to a serious injury which required surgery,” Emuerhi said.

    According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Following the teacher’s arraignment, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Sule-Amzat granted the teacher bail in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until Oct. 21, for mention.

    (NAN)

  • Lagos High Courts begin annual vacation

    The High Courts in Lagos have commenced the annual long vacation from July 22 to Sept. 10, according to a notice issued by Mrs D. T. Olatokun, the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State Judiciary.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Acting Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, approved the annual vacation pursuant to Order 49 Rule 4(D) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules 2019.

    According to the notice, pasted conspicuously within the premises of the Lagos and Igbosere High Courts, the Criminal Division of the High Court may sit during the duration of the vacation.

    “Where a judge of a criminal division is on vacation, a vacation judge may be assigned to deal with all pending criminal cases in court.

    “Notwithstanding the long vacation, any cause or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of vacation (except on a Sunday or public holiday).

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court refuses request to review Zamfara judgment

    “Where such cause or matter is urgent, a judge, will at the consent of all parties concerned, agree to hear it.

    “Any application for an urgent hearing may be made by summons in chambers before the vacation judge, or the judge before whom the substantive case is pending, ‘’ the notice explained.

    NAN reports that four judges have each been assigned to adjudicate proceedings at the Ikeja Division and the Lagos Division of the High Court during the duration of the vacation.

    At the Ikeja Division, Justice G. A. Safari will be sitting from July 22 to Aug. 2; Justice B. A. Oke-Lawal, from Aug. 5 to Aug. 16; Justice H. O. Oshodi, from Aug. 19 to Aug. 30 and Justice A. O. Soladoye from Sept. 2 to Sept. 10.

    While at the Lagos Division, Justice L. A. Okunnu will sit from July 22 to Aug. 2; Justice O. O. Ogunjobi, from Aug. 5 to Aug. 16; Justice M. O. Emeya, from Aug. 19 to Aug. 30 and Justice K. A. Jose from Sept. 2 to Sept. 10.

    According to the notice, the 2019/2020 session commences on Sept. 11, and the new legal year services will hold on Sept. 22. (NAN)

  • UPDATED: Buhari tasks Siemens, others on 11,000 megawatts by 2023

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday challenged Siemens, distribution and transmission companies and the electricity distribution company of Nigeria to work hard to achieve 7,000 mega watts by 2021 and additional 11,000 mega watts by 2023 and overall grid capacity to 25,000 megawatts.

    He gave the charge when the Federal Government of Nigeria signed electricity road map agreement with German-based Siemens at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The deal is the product of a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on August 31, 2018.

    Buhari reaffirmed his commitment to development of the Mambilla hydro electric and various solar projects in the country.

    Buhari said “Our goal is simply to deliver electricity to Nigerian businesses and homes. My challenge to Siemens, our partner investors in the Distribution Companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Electricity Regulator is to work hard to achieve 7,000 megawatts of reliable power supply by 2021 and 11,000 megawatts by 2023 – in phases 1 and 2 respectively.

    Read Also: FG, Siemens to sign electricity deal Monday

    “After these transmission and distribution system bottlenecks have been fixed, we will seek – in the third and final phase – to drive generation capacity and overall grid capacity to 25,000 megawatts.

    “With our strong commitment to the development of Mambilla Hydroelectric and the various solar projects under development across the country, the long-term power generation capacity will ensure adequate energy mix and sustainability in the appropriate balance between urban and rural electrification.

    “Our intention is to ensure that our cooperation is structured under a Government-to-Government framework. No middlemen will be involved, so that we can achieve value for money for Nigerians.

    “We also insist that all products be manufactured to high quality German and European standards and competitively priced.

    “This project will not be the solution to ALL our problems in the power sector. However, I am confident that it has the potential to address a significant amount of the challenges we have faced for decades.

    “It is our hope that as the power situation improves, we will improve investor confidence, create jobs, reduce the cost of doing business and encourage more economic growth in Nigeria.” he said

    He thanked the group for the roles being played towards dramatically improving the quality of Nigeria’s electricity supply.

    Fixing the power sector, he said, was a key priority for his administration.

    “We all know how critical electricity is to the development of any community or indeed any nation. And in Nigeria, whilst we are blessed to have significant natural gas, hydro and solar resources for power generation, we are still on the journey to achieving reliable, affordable and quality electricity supply necessary for economic growth, industrialization and poverty alleviation.” he said

    Noting that there have been many attempts at solving the electricity problem in Nigeria, he said that previous governments have explored State funded solutions through the ill prepared National Independent Power Projects.

    He also recalled that past governments explored installation of large emergency power projects.

    President Buhari said that past governments also embarked on partial privatization of the power generation and distribution sectors.

    These various interventions to solving the electricity problem, he said, have yielded an imbalance between the amount of power generated and the amount available for consumers.

    Despite over 13,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, Buhari noted that only an average of 4,000 megawatts reliably reaches consumers.

    He added “Now, we have an excellent opportunity to address this challenge.

    “This Government’s priority was to stabilise the power generation and gas supply sector through the Payment Assurance Facility, which led to a peak power supply of 5,222 MW. Nonetheless, the constraints remained at the transmission and distribution systems.

    “This is why I directed my team to ask Siemens and our Nigerian stakeholders to first focus on fixing the transmission and distribution infrastructure – especially around economic centres where jobs are created.

    “Whilst it was evident that more needed to be done to upgrade the sub-transmission and distribution system, our Government was initially reluctant to intervene as the distribution sector is already privatised.

    “I am therefore very pleased with the positive feedback from private sector owners of the distribution companies, who have all endorsed Government’s intervention to engage Siemens on this end-to-end plan to modernise the electricity grid.” he stated

    The Global Chief Executive Officer of Siemens, Joe Kaeser, said the road map will enable the country deliver the country’s capacity of power in the first phase of 7,000, second phase up to 11,000 and third phase 25,000 megawatts.

    “That will significantly enhance the country’s power supply and gets the country to the next industrial phase. We believe we will all very much benefit together, the people of Nigeria and of course Siemen as a company.

    “I’m very honured that we were able to sign this road map today in the presence of President and our partners. I will personally make sure that this will be the big success of Nigeria, Siemen and our partners in the country.”

    On the cost of the project and how long it will last, Kaeser said: “We have really talked about solutions and how it can bring power to the people literally, from generation to transmission and effective distribution. Yes, we have been talking money at this time because this about a long term partnership and is a road map which we are going to work all the way till 2025.

    “The first phase is suppose to be done by 2021, second phase till end 2023 and the final phase by 2025.”

    The Director General of Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, while fielding questions from State House Correspondents, described the partnership as credible.

    He said what has been done so far is the technical evaluation from both the transmission and distribution to know essentially what the gaps are in terms of the technical infrastructure to improve the transmission and distribution capacity.

    Okoh said the next phase is to do the detailed commercials and see costing of what the Siemen intervention will entail before they will agree on the financial frameworks to domicile the financial commitment within the books of the DISCOS.

    “If you look at the amount of losses that is being experienced in the entire power sector, there are huge. We are talking about double digits losses between 30 percent and in some DISCOS almost 70 percent ATC and C losses. So that is a strong signal that the way the market is currently structured is not sustainable and if we don’t improve the critical infrastructure in terms of the winning capacity of TCN and also the distribution capacity of the DISCOS, then this kind of situation will persist for a long time.

    “That is why we welcome this intervention and we believe that within the timelines that have been directed by Mr. President, we will be able to significantly improve power supply in the country.” he said

  • Lagos holds entrance exams into technical colleges on Wednesday

    The Lagos State Technical and Vocational Colleges will hold its entrance examination for the 2019 session on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at all the five centres in the state.

    This is coming on renewed commitment of the Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to invest more in technical and vocational education in order to ensure the creation of platform where youths would not only be armed with employable skills but would be given requisite education that would make them fit into the changing 21st century.

    Read Also: Entrance exam into Lagos model colleges begins

    The Sanwo-Olu administration said there is the need for new education infrastructure that would cultivate a learning environment that prepares the youth for new world that demands creativity, intuition and critical thinking.

    The government added that technology would be integrated into all school curriculum in the state as well as empowering the youth with much needed skills for the job of tomorrow.

    The entrance examination will hold at all the five colleges in Lagos state. Agidingbi, Adesoba, Epe, Ikotun and Ikorodu.
    Admission to anybody of these colleges are free.

  • Lawmaker to youths: Stop depending only on your certificates

    Mr Tunde Olatunji, the Chief Whip of Osun House of Assembly, has warned youths against depending on their certificates alone as guarantee to success in life.

    Olatunji said this while delivering a public lecture at Fountain University, Osogbo, on Monday.

    The lawmaker, who admonished youths not to depend solely on certificates obtained from tertiary institutions for their livelihood, also urged them to acquire problem solving skills for the future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law maker spoke on ” Scaling Up of Future of Work For Graduating Students of Nigerian Universities.”

    According to him, the emerging trend of the global human needs index driven by technology require individual problem solvers which transcends mere academic competence.

    Read Also: Soft skills are life skills

    He said that it included distinguishing skill to proffer solution.

    “Success is not essentially a function of background or certificates, but largely dependent on individual disposition demonstrated in acquisition of problem solving skills, focus, perseverance, tenacity and sincerity of purpose,”the lawmaker said.

    Olatunji(APC-Ife North) urged the youths, especially students, not to be limited to their individual course of study, but rather also look inward toward developing their skills.

    He said such skills were major impetus that would announce their impact and guarantee them sustainable living.

    “Understanding one’s purpose in life is cardinal to the mileage any one will attain in impacting on the world.

    ”Without such significant impact, one will just be lost in the crowd.

    “Those born in this generation with multifarious opportunities created by a globalised international community of Information Communication Technology (ICT) have no excuse whatsoever to fail,” Olatunji said.(NAN)

  • Kwara NMA seeks improved security

    The Kwara branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on government at all levels to intensify efforts at improving security of lives and properties.

    The Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr Kolade Solagbade, made the call at the 2019 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held  on Monday in Ilorin.

    Solagbade said the issue of national security had been a major concern and doctors were worst hit considering the nature of their work.

    The theme of the conference, which was ”National Security and the Medical Profession, ” focused on bringing into perspective the issue of national security as it affects medical practitioners.

    According to Solagbade, the event is an annual programme spanning the whole week.

    He added that the  medical and surgical outreach would be held for indigent patients on Tuesday before the scientific conference on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Just in: Buhari, NMA panel meet in Aso Rock

    “The outreach will hold in Kwara Central Senatorial District in Adewole ward of Kwara.

    ”Gov.  Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq will further demonstrate NMA’s support and readiness for collaboration and partnership toward healthcare improvement.

    `The governor has demonstrated his determination to revive the health sector from its moribund state.

    “We wish him well and assure him of our maximum support toward achieving successes for the people of Kwara.

    “We enjoin the governor to involve Kwara NMA , the body of all doctors working in the state, in the formulation of health policies to achieve greater success,” Solagberu said. (NAN)

  • Union confirms killing of Nigerian teenager in South Africa

    Nigerians mourn Mrs Obianuju Ndubuisi-Chukwu, a Nigerian Insurance chief, who was murdered in South Africa, the country again is grappling with the ruthless assassination of a teenager in that country.

    The latest killing brings to about 200 Nigerians killed in xenophobic attacks between 2016 and this year.

    South Africa is home to about 800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, according to unofficial records.

    Ndubisi-Chukwu was the Deputy Director-General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and was killed on June 13 in her hotel room.

    The teenager, Chinonso Dennis Obiaju, 17, a Nigerian still in high school was shot dead in Johannesburg on Saturday.

    Read Also: Why Nigerian businesses are targets of xenophobic attacks

    The President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, who confirmed the killing to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the deceased student lived in Roodeprt, Johannesburg with his guardian.

    Olubajo told NAN on telephone that his guardian, Mr Mike Nsofor, disclosed that he was shot at about 6.30 p.m.

    “He went to buy from a shop with his friend and someone chased and opened fire on them, killing him,’’ he quoted the guardian as saying.

    He added that the family would be burying him in South Africa, noting that the union’s leaders in Johannesburg would be contacting him on developments.

    Olubajo said they were going to the Police on Monday to finalise on the registry and provision of his papers.

    “He was born here I learnt and the Mother is in the U.S.

    “I have spoken to Mike Nsofor to pass the Nigerian community’s condolences and call for justice to be served in this case as anybody who hunt down a young school boy couldn’t have any justifiable reasons,’’ Olubajo said.

    He implored the Federal Government to urgently protect Nigerians in the Diaspora.

    (NAN)

  • Iran detains 17 citizens accused of spying for the CIA

    Iran says it has detained 17 citizens accused of spying for the CIA, saying that some of them will be executed.

    The country’s intelligence ministry said it had broken up a spying ring consisting of Iranian who were lured by a chance to move to the US and work there, CNN reported on Monday.

    The suspects were “employed in sensitive and vital private sector centers in the economic, nuclear, infrastructural, military and cyber areas … where they collected classified information,” an Iranian intelligence official told state TV on Monday, according to Sky News .

    The intelligence official did not give his name, which Sky News said is unusual.
    The CIA has not yet responded to Iran’s announcement.

    The mission of the alleged spies had been to collect classified information “from substantial centers as well as intelligence/technical operations,” the intelligence ministry said in a document, cited by CNN.

    Iranian authorities arrested the alleged spies’ months ago, and many of them have been detained in prison since, according to Sky News and CNN reported.

    Some of the suspects have also been sentenced to death, though the unnamed intelligence official did not say how many, Sky News reported.

    Read Also: US to send troops to Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions

    Iran’s intelligence ministry said in a document, as cited by CNN: “Defendants serving their sentences in prison mentioning tempting promises of CIA officers including emigration to USA, a proper job in America, and money.”

    All 17 suspects have confessed to spying for the CIA, CNN said.

    Amnesty International reported last week, however, that Iranian authorities have a history of using solitary confinement and threats against family members to make people unsavory to the regime confess to crimes they didn’t commit.

    The ministry also appeared to suggest that Iranian authorities plan to retaliate against the CIA.
    It said, according to CNN: “Individuals who consciously and deliberately betrayed the country and refused to compensate for the losses have been handed over to the judiciary system.”

    “Others, who honestly cooperated with the security system and their remorsefulness have been proved, have been managed with intelligence direction against Americans,” the ministry added.

    Tehran’s announcement comes amid weeks of spiraling tensions with the West.

    There have been several maritime skirmishes on the Strait of Hormuz a narrow waterway to Iran’s south that’s crucial to global oil trade since mid-June.

    Iranian authorities seized two British-linked oil tankers in the strait last Friday, in what appears to be retaliation to the UK’s seizure of an Iranian oil tanker off the British territory of Gibraltar on July 4. Iran seized the British-flagged Stena Impero, and briefly detained another ship, the Mescar.

    US President Donald Trump last week also said a US warship had shot down an Iranian drone, though Tehran has repeatedly said this didn’t happen.

    Iran and the West remain at odds over the 2015 nuclear deal and crippling US sanctions. Tehran violated a 300 kg limit on enriched uranium earlier this month and has vowed to increase its stockpile.

    (NewsNow.co.uk )