The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Lagos monarch builds maternity

    Lagos monarch builds maternity

    Oziegbe Okoeki

     

    THE monarch of lba kingdom in Lagos State, the Oniba-Ekun, Oba Adeshina Raji Ashade, Ilufemiloye 1, has reiterated his commitment to the socio-economic development and well-being of his people.

    He spoke at the foundation laying of an ultra-modern maternity at lba, which he sponsored. Oba Ashade said the well-being of the indigenes is paramount in his heart.

    He said when completed, the maternity would be handed over to the government, adding that it would complement the only public health care centre in the area, to ensure residents enjoyed affordable and quality health care services.

    Read Also: 10 oxygen centres coming in Lagos

    The traditional ruler said plans were underway to facilitate the building of a modern market, a secondary school, as well as attracting commercial banks to lba.

    Oba Ashade advised his subjects and residents to support him in attracting development to the area. He said they should desist from anything that could threaten security.

    A former commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the area, Oluwatoyin Surau, hailed the monarch, saying in less than a month of ascending the throne, he had proved that he cherished the development of lba.

     

  • Law firm petitions Lagos CP over Oworonsoki ‘land grab’

    Law firm petitions Lagos CP over Oworonsoki ‘land grab’

     Tajudeen Adebanjo

     

    NIMBLE Solicitors in Lagos is seeking the help of the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, to quell alleged intimidation, harassment and attempted land grab at Oworonsoki Residential Scheme by a chief in the community.

    The piece of land at Block 6 Plot 19, the firm said, belongs to its client, DBSPS Ltd.

    In a petition by its principal partner, Tijani Opeyemi, the firm alleged that the chief forcibly took possession of its client’s property at Oworonsoki, and deployed thugs and miscreants to harass the lawful owners.

    The land, the firm said, was bought from someone who purchased it from the Lagos State Government.

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    “The said piece of land is part of a Lagos State Government Scheme and never belonged to any individual or family but the state government…,” Opeyemi said.

    He said on December 17, his client was alerted that the said chief had begun to erect a fence on the land and placed thugs on it to fend off any person who interfered or attempted to stop the workers.

    The matter, he said, was lodged at the Oworonsoki Divisional Police Station after attempts to enter the property were denied.

    Opeyemi said: “Impressively, the Divisional Police Officer interceded in the matter and directed all parties to submit their documents and claims to the property latest by December 24. While we promptly complied by submitting ours, the said chief refused to show up at the station and to date neither tendered any document nor gave any legal reason why he should enter our client’s property to take possession.”

     

     

     

  • Lagos market sensitises traders on sanitation

    Lagos market sensitises traders on sanitation

    Our Reporter

     

    THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL, Ladipo International Market, Mr. Jude Nwankwo, has stressed the need for cleanliness in markets in Lagos State.

    He spoke when he led the executives of the market on a cleaning exercise and awareness of the multimillion naira auto market.

    Nwankwo, who went round the market to ensure that members kept it clean, said their objective is to do regular cleaning of the market, noting that cleanliness is next to godliness.

    He said the association held the exercise on the second Friday of every month from morning till noon until the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and #EndSARS protests led to its suspension.

    ‘’Now we are back,’’ he said.

    Nwankwo thanked God that despite the spike in the number of deaths arising from the pandemic in the state, no one died from the disease in the market.

     

     

     

  • Security bans use of motorcycles in Benue

    Security bans use of motorcycles in Benue

     Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

     

    WORRIED by the worsening security conditions in Ukum and Katsina-Ala local governments of Benue State, the Security Council has banned the use of motorcycles, popular called Okada, till further notice.

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services, Mr. Matthew Uyina, said the council also banned the use of tricycles (keke).

    The statement mandated  security operatives to arrest defaulters and impound their motorcycles.

    The council approved  revenue collection point at the head bridge in Katsina-Ala and warned that no other revenue point is allowed in the local government.

    It directed officials of the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) to wear customised jackets and identity cards.

    Other measures taken by the council to tackle upsurge in crimes in the local governments include directives to security agents to dismantle illegal revenue collection points and makeshift shops.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill three policemen in Benue

    Loitering at Katsina-Ala head bridge has been prohibited.

    The council also prohibited  loading and offloading of vehicles at Takum junction and Katsina-Ala head bridge.

    Last week, gunmen killed three policemen and two others in Katsina-Ala Local Government.

    On Sunday, suspected local militia killed a family of three and torched houses at Nagu village in Katsina-Ala Local Government.

     

     

  • Family of murdered boat driver sues JTF  

    Family of murdered boat driver sues JTF  

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    THE family of a murdered boat driver, Bolouzimo Tulagha, of Agudama/Epetiama community in Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa State, has dragged the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Delta Safe (ODS), to a judicial panel, over alleged extra-judicial killing.

    The family, in a petition submitted before the Retired Justice Emmanuel Ogola-led panel, alleged that an operative of the ODS, identified as Abdul, of Otiotio Unit, shot Tulagha dead over an alleged suspicion of selling guns.

    Read Also: Zulum donates N180m, foodstuff to JTF

    According to the family, the deceased, aged 39, was shot dead on January 13, 2017 at Polako community waterside in Yenagoa Local Government during a military operation against suspected militants and gunrunners.

    While the ODS claimed that the operation that led to the killing of the boat driver was right and necessary, the bereaved family claimed that the boat driver was shot dead by the soldiers after surrendering by raising up his hands; and that he was innocent of the charges levelled against him.

    The family claimed in the petition that the killing of their son by the ODS operatives was against the officers’ rules of engagement, which the armed forces, including the ODS, are bound by law to comply with.

    Also filed before the panel was a case of police brutality by Mrs. Ebiemieme Ename against one Sergeant Fustina, over alleged use of police belt to injure one of her eyes during an argument in a market on November 12, 2014.

    According to the petition, Ebiemieme, who hails from Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa Local Government, accused Fustina of allegedly using the buckled side of her belt to injure her in the eye.

    The panel adjourned hearing of the petitions till January 7 and 8.

     

  • Security operatives kill nine bandits on Kaduna-Abuja highway 

    Security operatives kill nine bandits on Kaduna-Abuja highway 

     AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

     

    SECURITY operatives have killed nine bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The incident occurred on Monday night.

    Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops acted on intelligence that the bandits were attempting to cross over from the eastern part of the Kaduna-Abuja road to the western part with a large herd of rustled cattle.

    He said: “The government has been informed by the military securing the Kaduna-Abuja highway general area that troops neutralised nine bandits following a firefight late on Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday.

    “According to the operational feedback, troops acted on intelligence that the bandits were attempting to cross over from the eastern part of the Kaduna-Abuja road to the western part, with a large herd of rustled cattle.

    “The herders, whose cattle had been rustled from the eastern part of the route, alerted the military for action.

    “An ambush was successfully laid by the troops, as the bandits walked into the killing zone and were welcomed with a hail of bullets.

    “After the firefight, a search of the area yielded the following: one empty magazine, one set of complete Army camouflage, one set of desert boots, seven blankets, two Tecno phones, one caftan outfit and ropes for tying cattle.

    Read Also: Mob kills six bandits in two Kaduna LGAs

    “At first light this morning (yesterday morning), a further search revealed the body of one bandit, 16 dead cows and three wounded cows.

    “Seven more bandits died from gunshot wounds sustained in the ambush, as their bodies were mutilated.

    “Troops, as at the time of this update, were still conducting search patrols in the general area.

    “In a separate feedback, troops and police this morning (yesterday morning) foiled another attempt by bandits to cross the Kaduna-Abuja highway with rustled cattle, this time near the Greenfield University.

    “The troops, guided by some local volunteers, who showed them the direction of the bandits’ movement, engaged the criminals in a firefight. Sadly one of the local volunteers lost his life.

    “One bandit’s body was found with several rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

    “Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on receiving the feedback, congratulated the security agencies on the successful operations and urged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing offensives against bandits. He sent his condolences to the family of the volunteer who lost his life, and prayed for the repose of his soul.

     

  • Scores killed as jets attack Sambisa forest

    Scores killed as jets attack Sambisa forest

     Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

     

    BOKO Haram terrorists, suspected to be responsible for recent attacks in parts of Borno and Adamawa states, have been killed at the ‘S’ Region in the heart of the Sambisa forest.

    The air interdiction conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole was carried out after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions showed that the terrorists responsible for recent attacks in Borno and Adamawa states had originated from the location.

    A statement by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said: “Air interdiction missions being conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole have continued to deal decisive blows on terrorists in the Northeast.

    Read Also: Boko Haram abducts 30 travellers on Borno/Yobe highway

    “The latest of these was achieved on December 28 at the ‘S’ Region in the heart of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

    “The air strike, which was executed employing a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets, was carried out after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed that the terrorists responsible for recent attacks in the southern part of Borno and northern part of Adamawa states had originated from the location.

    “Accordingly, the NAF aircraft engaged the target area in successive passes, leading to the destruction of some of their structures and logistic stores, including a suspected anti-aircraft gun station, as the terrorists fired at the NAF aircraft. Several insurgents were also neutralised in the process.”

     

  • 476 Abuja health workers so far infected

    476 Abuja health workers so far infected

     Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

     

    NO fewer than 476 health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory staff, drivers and other auxiliary personnel, were infected with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since the first case was recorded in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was learnt on Tuesday.

    Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister Muhammed Bello, stated this in a statement.  Of the figure, he said four doctors succumbed to the disease, the latest being a female doctor.

    He also said despite the challenge of the virus in the FCT and Yuletide, all its hospitals are operating at full capacity, including emergencies for adults, children, delivery and maternity services, 24-hour theatre service and other services.

    Ogunleye said: “There has not been any other recorded fatality of health personnel over the last one week. It is important to mention that these fatalities did not in any way affect the quality of services rendered in hospitals and most certainly not to the point of rendering skeletal services.”

    He stated that the FCTA had since the beginning of the pandemic been in the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and remained as committed as ever in efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

    Ogunleye also said the FCTA had continued to place a lot of emphasis on testing and was the first sub-national tier to reach the testing target of one per cent of its population as recommended by the NCDC.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been drawn to a newspaper publication saying that FCT hospitals are presently rendering skeletal services due to the death of 20 medical doctors of COVID-19.

    “This figure which is very far from the truth was credited to Dr. Enemo Amadu, the President of the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association.

    “Dr. Amadu had since said that he was misquoted, as the 20 fatalities he gave was the national figure of doctors who died of the disease, cutting across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

    “It is still pertinent that the FCTA sets the records straight in view of the fact that public confidence in public health institutions is very essential in the face of the current public health emergency orchestrated by COVID-19.

    “While there had been incidences where COVID-19 positive patients had infected some medical personnel, these personnel and indeed the patients had been treated and discharged and the affected hospitals fully decontaminated.”

    Read Also: FEC okays N44.5b for FCT, roads and power projects

    Head, Media and Public Enlightenment of the FCT COVID-19 task force Comrade Ikharo Attah, who issued the two choices while monitoring compliance in some shopping malls and business premises across the city, advised them to abide by the rules.

    Ikharo warned that the FCTA would “not hesitate to shut down shopping malls, Maitama farmers’ market and business premises in the city that fail to comply with the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.

    “From what we observed, there is high compliance by costumers and visitors to these malls and business premises. Sadly, same cannot be said of the workers and operators of shops and other businesses in the malls.

    “A situation in which owners of shops and their workers believed that the guidelines and health protocols are for costumers and visitors is highly unacceptable. The health protocols are for all to observe.”

     

  • UK facing ‘catastrophe’ as hospitals near capacity

    UK facing ‘catastrophe’ as hospitals near capacity

    Our Reporter

     

    THERE are now more patients in hospitals in England with COVID-19 than there were during the last peak in April, it was learnt on Tuesday.

    The CEO of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), Simon Stevens, said healthcare workers are “back in the eye of the storm” and some hospitals’ intensive care units are close to capacity.

    “Many of us will have lost family, friends, colleagues and at a time of year when normally we would be celebrating, a lot of people are understandably feeling anxious, frustrated and tired,” Stevens said.

    More than 20,000 people are in hospital now being treated for COVID-19, 5,000 of them in London. Yesterday, a total of more than 53,000 cases were reported, a new daily record for the UK.

    Andrew Hayward, from the UK government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group warned on BBC radio: “I think we are entering a dangerous phase of the pandemic and we are going to need early, decisive national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February.

    “A 50 per cent increase in transmissibility means that the previous levels of restrictions that worked before won’t work now. So Tier 4 is necessary or even higher.”

    Read Also: COVID-19: FRSC threatens to close Rivers’ parks for disobeying rules

    Hayward added: “I think we are looking at a situation where we are moving into near-lockdown.”

    At an east London hospital, staff said some patients were spending up to six hours waiting in ambulances before being transferred to wards inside.

    At another hospital in southeast London, COVID-19 patients had to be moved to other hospitals due to concerns it was running out of pipes and infrastructure to deliver oxygen.

    As for reopening schools, Hayward said there have to be restrictions elsewhere in society to “pay for that”.

    “We need to more or less stay at home unless you really have to go out, combined with testing and isolation to carry us through the next few months while we get as many people as possible vaccinated.”

    The UK is now waiting for the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine to be approved by regulatory authorities, allowing the country to massively scale up its vaccination programme.

     

  • EU to buy extra 100 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

    EU to buy extra 100 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

    Our Reporter

     

    THE European Union (EU) will purchase an additional 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, officials said on Tuesday, as the bloc of 27 nations has launched its effort to vaccinate its 450 million-person population.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the new purchase on Twitter on Tuesday, which brings the EU’s total of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses to 300 million.

    “We decided to take an additional 100 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which is already being used to vaccinate people across the EU,” she said.

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    The EU’s purchase comes as some vaccine candidates that the bloc has invested in have experienced delays during its trials, leading it to rely on the 200 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that it originally purchased.

    Over the weekend, EU countries first began receiving the vaccine that drug regulators approved last week.

    In the first contract with the EU, Pfizer and BioNTech agreed to provide 200 million doses for $18.80 per dose, officials told Reuters last month. The deal for 100 million more doses had the same price per dose although a timeline is yet to be agreed upon, officials said.

    The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine became the first approved by Western drug regulators – first in the U.K. and the U.S. earlier this month, both of which have been administering the vaccine for a few weeks.