The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Corruption weakens economy, says ICPC chairman

    Prof. Bolaji Owansanoye, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), said on Friday that corruption has the capacity of weakening the economy and dampening investors’ confidence.

    Owansanoye was delivering a keynote address at a one-day conference on “Governance, Leadership and Ethics: How to Build a Thriving Economy’’ in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the Integrity Organisation, with support from MacArthur Foundation and ActionAid.

    Owansanoye said that the task of building the economy was a collective one.

    “The task of building the economy lies in our hands, it does not only involve those few people who have the reins of governance in Nigeria, but is a collective task,’’ Owansanoye said.

    The ICPC chairman noted that building a strong economy and lifting the nation out of economic depression required strong and ethically minded individuals.

    According to him, corrupt people and bad governance have a devastating effect on the economy.

    He, however, urged Nigerians to rise up and challenge the position of corrupt individuals in the country.

    Read Also: Alleged N2.5b NBC fraud: Ex-Minister Lai Mohammed to appear as witness, says ICPC

    The professor noted that the country required adequate judicial and ethical structures to woo investors.

    “For our economy to grow, investors are key, without putting adequate structures in place, investors will continue to avoid coming to Nigeria,’’ Owansanoye said.

    He noted that although philosophers differ in their definition of corruption, the vice has had devastating effects in the private and public sectors of the nation.

    “In the private sector, it can devastate a company and its share holders and cause investors financial losses.

    “In the past in the public sector, corruption led to increase in the cost of governance, aggravated poverty and prevented the delivery of government projects and the gains of democracy,’’ Owansanoye said.

    He said that leaders should be seen to have the ability to promote integrity and be guided by ethical principles, while he frowned against the culture of silence in the face of corruption and crime.

    “The synergy required in the fight against corruption is collective, We must break the culture of silence that permeates our society.

    “We all have a duty to report crime,’’ Owansanoye said. (NAN)

  • FG phases out old version of yellow card on July 1

    The Federal Government has announced its plan to phase out old version of Yellow Card and replace it with new e-Yellow Card with effect from July 1.

    The information is in a statement by Mrs Boade Akinola, the Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health.

    She stated that the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Abdulaziz Mashi, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja.

    Yellow Card is the proof of vaccination against yellow fever, which is a requirement for international travelers from risk countries like Nigeria and as evidence that the carrier is vaccinated against the disease.

    Mashi said that the new card would contain enhanced security features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the yellow card portal.

    According to him, the introduction of the new e-Yellow Card is to address the issue of fake cards which hitherto constituted a source of national embarrassment.

    Read Also: Court convicts photographer for yellow card forgery

    He said that with effect from July 1, the new e-Yellow Card would be the only valid documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

    He added that yellow fever was a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and may cause fatal illness but it was a vaccine preventable disease.

    He said that Nigeria and some other countries were endemic for yellow fever, as such, travellers to endemic countries were at risk of exposure to infection by the yellow fever virus; hence the mandatory vaccination against the disease.

    The permanent secretary said World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that all international travellers, aged nine months and above and are visiting Nigeria, must be vaccinated against yellow fever.

    He added that additional measures were adopted at points of entry for the prevention and control of yellow fever, which involved mandatory requirement of evidence of vaccination against Yellow fever on arrival into Nigeria.

    He noted that some countries also require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever as a condition for entry.

    Mashi said that from July 1, travellers arriving Nigeria without proof of yellow fever vaccination would be vaccinated at points of entry and issued the card, after payment.

    He enjoined the public to cooperate with the ministry through Port Health Services Division, to prevent and control cross-border transmission of yellow fever by taking the vaccination and obtaining the e-Yellow Card.

    He said Nigeria was part of the global coalition and movement to eliminate yellow fever epidemic by 2026.

    (NAN)

  • Suspected fake insurance agents face N39.5m fraud charge

    Two suspected fake insurance agents, Daniel Udeze and Smith Obume, who allegedly swindled a lady of N39.5 million, were on Friday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The defendants, who are both 24 years’ old, are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on fraud and impersonation.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Friday Mameh, told the court that the defendants conspired with others still at large and committed the alleged offences sometime in April, at Coker Road, Ilupeju area of Lagos.

    Mameh said that the duo presented themselves as agents of one Axa Mansard Insurance Plc and another company, Doheney Recruitment services, and defrauded the complainant, Chioma Obi of N39.5 million.

    He said that the defendants defrauded the complainant through a GTB bank account  No. 0154207679 with the name Zyfeso Enterprises.

    Read Also: Woman arraigned for assaulting neighbour over loud music

    “The defendants hacked into the two companies’ sites, pretended that they can employ the complainant, used the companies’ names to swindle the unsuspecting complainant,” Mameh said.

    The alleged offences contravene Sections 287, 314, 380 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mrs A. M. Davies, granted them bail in the sum of N4 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

    She ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until July 9 for mention.

    (NAN)

  • AFCON 2019: Mali vs Tunisia: match ends in a 1-1 draw

    Mali vs Tunisia ended 1-1 at the Suez Stadium at the Africa Cup of Nations Group E clash on Friday, June 28.

    The Eagles were the first to get a goal in the 60th minute after Wajdi Kechrida played a corner kick which was pushed into the net by the Tunisian goal keeper, Mouez Hassen. The Carthage Eagles got an equalising goal from a free kick which deflected and went straight in the net.

    This result keeps the Eagles of Mali on top of the group with 4points.

    Also Read: Mali expel player from 2019 AFCON

     

    Details shortly…..

  • Give priority to Ijaw job seekers, IYC urges NNPC

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has appealed to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) give priority to qualified Ijaw persons in the ongoing recruitment exercise of the corporation.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, the IYC Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, warned against hijacking the employment announced recently by NNPC.

    Kemepado said it would amount to injustice and unfairness for the Ijaw people, who suffer pains of oil exploration and exploitation, to be marginalised in the ongoing process.

    He said: “Recently you may have discovered that NNPC made a publication for qualified people to apply for various positions in NNPC and applications were made around the nation and as Ijaws as qualified and competent as we are, most of us also applied to be given those jobs.

    “But sad information reaching us is that the Presidency has hijacked the process of recruitment and that our people, the Ijaw people are being sidelined and we find that very offensive for many reasons.

    “One of the reasons is that we cannot continue to dwell in a nation where they come around the Niger Delta especially in the Ijaw territory drill the oil, take the oil and sustain this country called Nigeria and leave us here in the Niger Delta with the associated diseases such as leukemia and the degraded environment but when there is opportunity for employment, our people are always sidelined, marginalised and not considered at all. We find that very offensive”.

    Read Also: Crisis rocks Ijaw Youths Council in Bayelsa

    Describing the situation as intolerable, Kemepado appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the new General Managing Director of NNPC to look into the issue and consider qualified Ijaw for the existing job opportunities.

    “We appeal to the Presidency and the new GMD to look into this issue and ensure that ijaw people who applied for those positions, whom we know are qualified for these positions should be considered and not sidelined by one list from the Presidency.

    “If that really happens we will take it as an insult. From the inception of this government, we have been provoked many times. The time the presidency came to this Niger Delta it promised us that companies would relocate to the Niger Delta. We did not see that happen. But we frown at this one and we are calling on the presidency to have a rethink and do what is right”.

    Kemepado said the IYC also heard that following the appointment of the new NDDC boss, the corporation would be restructured and called on the Federal Government to considered Ijaw people during the process.

    He said Ijaw people had been trained in the oil sector through various interventionist programmes from the Amnesty Office, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other scholarship schemes sponsored by the government.

    “They are qualified with local and foreign certificates. So nobody can doubt the competence of the Ijaw people. Therefore, the country should not continue to provoke this region. As Ijaw youth council in conjunction with the elders, we have done our beat to keep the peace in this region.

    “Let us make it abundantly clear here that the peace that present Muhammadu Buhari has enjoyed for the past four years and the peace that unfortunately he is enjoying that has resulted to the continuous flow of oil is not as a result of what this government is doing for the people of the Niger Delta.

    “It is only as a result of our resolve as a people to keep the peace here with the hope that in situation like this, our people will not continue to be sidelined and I don’t want the presidency to push its luck too far and further provoke our people.

    “This country cannot afford the provocation of this region and we also do not intend to request for anything more than equity and anything more than justice. We know that there are other issues like the Maritime University Bill that is still waiting on the President’s table to sign. We call on him to sign it.

    “We all know that the East-West road is unattended to. The Brass LNG is unattended to including other issues in the region. But now what is most pressing and most disrespectful to us is the issue of the NNPC and we want the presidency to include our people”.

    Also speaking IYC Chairman, Central Zone, Kennedy Olorogun, said the zine was bothered by the issue of employment ad appealed to the presidency to use the NNPC employment to make up for the neglect of the Ijaw.

    He said the youths had decided to embrace peace but warned against actions capable of provoking them into violence.

  • Ohanaeze youths sends draft bill for federation of S’East

    The Youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has submitted a proposal for a Draft Bill for the Federation of South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu states with Igbos in Delta and Rivers opting to join them.

    The National President of the group Arthur Obiora said the Draft bill has been sent to all state Houses of Assembly in the East for deliberation and passage.

    He noted that in view of the socio-political and structural conflicts in Nigeria it has become necessary for Nigeria to go back to regional system with a level of autonomy for the federating regions.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze youths dissociates self from calls for Buhari’s resignation

    “This will ensure faster development of the country and make rat race to control the centre less.”

    He hoped the bill would be passed and other parts of Nigeria do the same.

    The deputy spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide Chuks Ibegbu noted that there was nothing wrong with the Draft and it is better the issue is addressed for the future of Nigeria.

  • British Council gives Grace school award

    Grace Schools, Gbagada in Lagos has been awarded the British International School Award from September 2018 to August 2021.
    The award is based on the successful completion of an impact evaluation on the school’s international work to the British Council.
    The award comes for new accreditation for another 3 years by the council to Grace Schools.

    The International School Award rewards schools that have shown a commitment to embedding international awareness and understanding within their school.

    Schools are encouraged through British Council support in completing collaborative, curriculum-based work with a number of international partner schools, involvement of the wider community. It helps schools to learn of new ways to develop and embed international education in your school.
    The International School Award is available in 16 countries and is well-regarded by school inspection bodies and ministries of education globally.

    Read Also: Grace School presents scholarship to indigent pupils

    In a letter to Grace Schools from its office in Spring Gardens, UK, The International School Award team commend its for diligence in coordinating an impressive range of work which clearly distinguished the school.
    The ISA team says the work brings credit not only to the school but also the larger community. The ISA team lauded Grace Schools for attaining the great achievement and urged the school to continue in its excellent international activities.

    In the statement, the team commended Grace Schools for its commitment, creativity and innovation that made its International activities exemplary.

     With its outstanding success in the International work, The scheme kite mark, which is a key part of the Award, which is symbol of the British ISA would feature on all the school Literature, website and other branded collaterals of the school..

    The Director, Grace Schools, Mrs Tokunbo Edun, promised it will sustain the pedigree of excellence and innovation in all its ramifications. She said Grace Schools are synonymous with excellence and the British Council ISA further validates the focus of the school in remaining focused on creativity and qualitative learning experience for the students.

    Edun asserted further that Grace Schools have strong edge in superior service delivery and the schools have never waivered form developing holistic learning approach for the students. According to her, the schools also have a robust manpower development strategy which translates to  excellence for the school

    According to her: “The primary school arm was established in 1968 while the secondary arm commenced in 1994.We have been around for some time and this underscores our commitment to provide qualitative learning for all our students.
    “Our strong focus is to develop students who will compete favorably across the globe. We boast of an enabling and conducive environment, with world-class facilities for intellectual, academics, spiritual, moral and physical development of a child. We are poised to producing godly students who are the future leaders of our dear country, Nigeria.”

  • Mali expel player from 2019 AFCON

    Mali have expelled striker Adama Niane from their squad for indiscipline, the third player to be turned out by his team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    “Adama Niane was excluded from the Eagles group for non-respect,” said the team’s media officer Ibrahim Coulibaly.

    Reports said the 26-year-old Belgium-based player had slapped a team mate in an altercation over queuing.

    The decision came on the eve of Friday’s Group E match against Tunisia in Suez.

    Burundi had sent home 32-year-old midfielder Selemani Ndikumana for ill-discipline before their first game without offering any further details.

    On Wednesday Egypt sent Amr Warda packing for what the Egypt Football Association described as “disciplinary reasons”.

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: 10 Interesting facts about the Africa’s biggest football tournament

    Warda, who plays for Greek club Atromitos on loan from PAOK, has been widely accused of trolling women on social media.

    He has been the subject of a previous complaint, filed with Egypt’s Attorney General, of harassing a fashion model on Instagram.

    Warda has since posted a video on Facebook in which he apologised.

    He apologised to his family, his team mates, to the EFA and to “anyone who is upset at me or anyone I have upset” as his team mates rallied around him.

    Among them was Mohamed Salah who said: “Women must be treated with the utmost respect.

    “But I also believe that many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn’t be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out.

    “We need to believe in second chances… we need to guide and educate. Shunning is not the answer.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • INEC to review MoU with NYSC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday revealed it is planning to review its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on the rules regarding the engagement of corps members as electoral adhoc staff.

    The Director General, The Electoral Institute, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris made this known in Abuja at the Policy Dialogue on “Dynamics of Delegation: Reforms In the Recruitment of Ad-hoc Election Personnel.”

    He said: “We (INEC) are going to review the MoU with the NYSC to ensure that the members on election duties are loyal and can be held accountable and punished for their actions.”

    According to him, the NYSC staff put the reputation of the commission at stake whenever they are on election duty, stressing that obedience to INEC core values, code and conduct is very important.

    He said the commission has its core value that anybody working for it being him an ad hoc or permanent staff has to comply with.

    Read Also: 2019 Elections: INEC promises automatic employment to ad-hoc NYSC members

    He said that the need to train the ad hoc staff and expose them to the core value of the commission has come expedient, for “them to do things the way INEC does its own things.”

    Continuing, he said: “When they (corpers) are on the field they are INEC. Whatever the ad hoc staff does it is INEC. Are they loyal to the commission?

    “We need to interrogate that. We really need to look into the MoU and see are there any mechanism where we can establish the issue of loyalty.

    “Can we make them accountable for their actions? Is there any way we can to something in the MoU where we can ensure that they are loyal and when they go wrong the commission can punish them.

    “There has to be something where we can hold them accountable to their own actions.”

    The commission, according to him, is also mulling administrative measures of dealing with malfeasance, especially a mechanism for punishment such as denial of discharge certificate and a repeat of the service year.

    Saa’d asked the panel: “Is there any way we can get NYSC to sanction them? Maybe in the MoU of getting the NYSC to extend the service year of that corper, that is a deterrent, for instance.

    “We can find a way of getting NYSC to say you repeat your service year or consider you not to have served for that year because you are disgrace to NYSC and disgrace to Nigeria.”

    He insisted on the need for reforms of the electoral policies for the improvement of the conduct of elections.

    The Lead Speaker, Prof. Shola Omotola, had observed that the allowances for the ad hoc staff were grossly inadequate.

    The don also cited the challenges of insecurity, late mobilization and training of staff as part of the characteristics of the 2019 general elections.

  • Woman arraigned for assaulting neighbour over loud music

    The police on Friday arraigned a 30-year-old woman, Ndigwe Adaorah, in a Life Camp Magistrates’ Court Abuja for allegedly assaulting her neighbour, during an argument over loud music.

    Adaorah, who resides at House 4 Plot 6, Goodness Avenue Pollo Estate Kubwa, Abuja, is charged with two counts of criminal trespass voluntarily causing grievous hurt with provocation and destruction of documents to prevent production of evidence.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Fedelis Ogbodo, told the court that Ms Madge Jime, of Plot 6 Goodness Avenue Pollo Estate Abuja reported the matter at the FCT Command on Feb. 27.

    Ogbodo alleged that the defendant, who claimed that the complainant was playing her car stereo too loud, trespassed into her car and switched off the engine.

    Read Also: Woman arraigned for allegedly posing as police officer

    He alleged that when the complainant tried to collect the car key from the defendant, she deliberately refused.

    ”The defendant then, got into her own car and sped off, in the process she inflicted grievous injuries on the complainant.

    ”The complainant fractured her leg and also had a tooth removed,” Ogbodo alleged.

    Ogbode said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 247, 348 and 166 of the Penal Code.

    However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Ubong Udosen, counsel to the defendant, made an oral application for bail, citing sections 35 (4) and 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

    Udosen also cited sections 58, 162 and 165 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    The Judge, Celestine Odo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of  N300,000 with one surety who must be a civil servant.

    Odo ordered that the surety reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The judge adjourned the case until July 22 for trial.

    (NAN)