The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Jonathan to pilgrims: Avoid criminal activities

    Jonathan to pilgrims: Avoid criminal activities

    President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Nigerians going on pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece to avoid criminal activities

    Jonathan urged the pilgrims to devote all their time to praying for the nation, her leaders and Nigerians.

    President Jonathan, who was represented by the Senate President, David Mark, made the plea at the flag-off ceremony for the October/December pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece in Abuja at the weekend.

    He enjoined the pilgrims “to remain good ambassadors of Nigeria.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, quoted Jonathan as saying “in addition to exemplary conduct and high sense of patriotism, let there be no single incidence of absconding during the pilgrimage.

    “While in the Holy land, devote all the time to pray for Nigeria, her leaders and Nigerians. I urge you to say special prayers for the unity, peace, love, security and progress of our nation.

    “Our country is facing challenges from political, economic to security. We need a true exodus from these challenges in order to sincerely work towards the unity, stability and progress of our nation.

    “The current challenges call for collective and proper management by every Nigerian. I have no doubt we will overcome our present challenges; witness the strengthening of our co-existence and deepen our democracy, if you sincerely pray while on this holy pilgrimage.”

     

     

  • UNICEF to Nigeria: Sanitation determines children’s survival

    Nigeria needs to proactively address sanitation issues for it to be a key world economic player, the UNICEF has said.

    The body added that a country’s sanitation level determines the survival rate of its children.

    The UNICEF’s Chief Water Sanitation and Hygiene Officer, Mr. Kanan Nadar, said this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    Nadar said that UNICEF’s main role was to ensure that countries achieved appreciably significant sanitation status that would advance the good health of children worldwide.

    According to him, UNICEF’s particular interest in Nigeria was due to its pivotal role in Africa not only as the most populous country on the continent but also as an emerging economic force.

    “Good health begins with good sanitation and hygiene. Where a home is filthy and dirty, the child easily contacts diseases that could be avoided.

    “UNICEF support is more comprehensive, it is much more than sanitation. We look at other issues like water supply, water safety, and the monitoring system at the state and local government levels.”

    He said that UNICEF would not relent in its efforts to support and sensitise communities on Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach “because it is one approach that could be easily adopted.”

    NAN reports that CLTS is an innovative methodology for mobilising communities to completely eliminate open defecation.

    It focuses on behavioural change and raises awareness on the risks and dangers of open defecation.

    “In terms of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) support, UNICEF is keen to support basically all the states and this support is continuous.

    “So, we use our own regular resources and we also get the support of major donors like the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union.

    “They have been major supporters of sanitation matters,” Nadar said and urged that all hands must be on deck on the issue of sanitation as donor agencies would only assist willing governments.

     

  • FG investigates cholera outbreak in Plateau

    FG investigates cholera outbreak in Plateau

    The Federal Ministry of Health is to begin investigation into the suspected outbreak cholera in Namu village in the Qua’pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, an official of the ministry has said.

    The Chief Consultant Epidemiologist in the ministry, Dr. Akin Oyemakinde, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja that the investigation would determine the kind of intervention to be deployed to the community.

    “The ministry is already aware of the outbreak of cholera in Plateau and has sent some team of experts to carry out proper investigation.

    “After the investigation, we will have a comprehensive detail of the situation and the necessary interventions deployed to the areas.’’

    Oyemakinde assured that the ministry was on top of the situation and would ensure that it curtailed the spread of the disease.

    It will be recalled that an Epidemiologist in Plateau, Dr. Raymond Yuryit, had confirmed the death of eight people with 61 others hospitalised since the outbreak of the epidemic in the state.

    Yuryit said those hospitalised had been diagnosed with the disease and admitted in various health centres.

    He attributed the outbreak to overcrowding, dirty environment and consumption of unhygienic food and water.

     

  • Nigeria’s housing deficit huge – Sambo

    Nigeria’s housing deficit huge – Sambo

    The Vice President Namadi Sambo on Monday described housing deficit in the country as huge and needed a complete overhaul.

    He asked the supervising Minister of Lands, Housing and Rural Development, Arch.Musa Sada, to initiate a new roadmap for affordable housing and upgrading of slums.

    Sambo disclosed that the Federal Government cannot solely provide adequate resources needed to rapidly transform the sector, adding that there was need for active engagement of all relevant stakeholders.

    He spoke at the National Housing and Slum Summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Rural Development in Abuja.

    The vice president said funding the sector required holistic approach as well as effective policies and strategies to address the situation in a comprehensive manner.

    Sambo said, “While the human settlements sector requires a quick turn-around, the resources required to ensure its rapid transformation cannot be solely provided by the government. This explains the paradigm shift in the policy thrust of housing provision in favour of more effective participation of the private sector.

    “The housing deficit remains huge. It will only be gradually reduced over a period of time through the active engagement of key stakeholders.”

    He tasked the ministry in partnership with other stakeholders to develop cities which would be able to satisfy the nation’s housing need.

    Sambo suggested that affordable housing could be provided by creating dynamic policies in the National Housing Policy, National Urban Development Policy, the Revised National Building Code as well as the National Integrated Infrastructural Master Plan.

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Portugal draws Sweden

    World Cup playoffs: Portugal draws Sweden

    …  France tackles Ukraine

    The draw for the European play-offs took place at the home of FIFA in Zurich on Monday afternoon as the eight nations that remain in the race for a ticket for the 2014 World Cup found out their opponents and four enticing ties await next month.

    Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates face a tough task to make it to Brazil as they were paired with the Swedish team led by PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    France will meet Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine in another key playoff tie.

    Finally, Euro 2004 winners Greece take on Romania, while surprise package Iceland faces Croatia.

    Goal.com reports that the first legs will be played on November 15, with the returns scheduled to take place four days later.

     

  • Three die in Egypt church attack

    Three people, including a girl aged eight, died when gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a wedding party outside a Coptic Christian church in Cairo, BBC reports.

    At least nine others were wounded in the attack in Giza, officials said.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

    Egypt’s Coptic Christian community has been targeted by some Islamists who accused the Church of backing the army’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in July.

    The unidentified attackers fired indiscriminately as people left the church.

    A man and a girl were killed outside the church and a woman died on her way to hospital.

    “We heard a very loud sound as if something was collapsing,” one eyewitness said.

    “I found a woman seated in a chair with lots of bullet wounds, covered in blood. Many other people had fallen around her, including a child,” he added.

    Coptic priest Thomas Daoud Ibrahim said he was inside the church when the gunfire erupted.

    “What happened is an insult to Egypt, and it’s not only directed against Coptic Christians. We are destroying our own country,” he said.

     

     

  • Emenike ends goals drought in Turkey

    Emenike ends goals drought in Turkey

    Emmanuel Emenike on Sunday ended his goals’ drought at Fenerbache when he grabbed the match winner at Erciyesspor .

    The Super Eagles striker headed in the winner with an assist from former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt with few seconds to end the game.

    “I am very happy with the goal. I also say thank you to the fans for the support. It is a very special week for me, getting goals for my national team and now for my club,” MTNFootball.com quoted Emenike as saying after the match.

    Emenike, a 77th minute substitute for Emre Belozoglu, has played seven games without a goal.

    He has come under the hammer in Turkey for not getting on the scoreboard since his big-money move from Russian club Spartak Moscow in the summer and finally came good when he struck in the 90th minute to earn his team 2-1 away win.

    Fenerbahce leads the table with 19 points from eight games.

     

  • First batch of Hajj Pilgrims arrive from Saudi Arabia

    The first batch of 805 pilgrims that performed the 2013 Hajj in Saudi Arabia arrived the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Ilorin Airport, aboard Med-View Airline on Sunday.

    A statement made available to aviation correspondents by Mr. Oyibotha Obuke, on behalf of the airline, said that a Med-View Boeing B747 aircraft with 507 pilgrims from Osun touched down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja at 9.00am.

    It added that 298 pilgrims from Ondo State also arrived the Ilorin Airport aboard the airline’s B767 aircraft at 5.30am.

    The statement said the airline was pleased with the safe arrival of the pilgrims after a successful pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

    It noted that the management of the airline would complete the transporting of the pilgrims allocated to it by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) in record time.

    The statement added that flights to arrive on Monday would transport the Ogun and Oyo States’ pilgrims.

    It quoted a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. M. B.O. Ibrahim – one of the pilgrims, as commending Med-View for its hitch-free Hajj operations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lawmaker urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to improve on facilities at the Hajj Camp, Murtala Muhammed Airport, to make it more conducive for pilgrims transiting through the terminal.

     

     

     

  • FRSC returns N.2m to families of accident victims

    The Fedderal Road Safety Corps, Ebonyi State Command has  handed over the sum of N215, 690 and other valuables it recovered at the scene of a ghastly motor accident in the state to the families of victims of  the fatal auto-crash.
    The accident occurred on September.14, 2013 in Ivo Local Government Area of the state at the Berger Junction along the Okigwe Afikpo Federal highway and involved a bulk Tanker and a Nissan Premiere car.
    Five  occupants of the car, two men and three women returning from a church convention, died on the spot while the tanker driver was handed over to the police for investigation.
    Mr Joseph Abuo, the Ivo Unit Commander of the Commission said that during the rescue of the victims, five GSM phones, a female handbag, a voice recorder and the money were recovered.
    “When we finished necessary talk with the Nigerian Police Ivo Division, the above mentioned items were handed over to the representatives of the victims’ families.
    “75% of road traffic accidents in the country are caused by human factors.That is why we advise road users to be very careful, obey traffic laws and remember that we are now approaching the yuletide period that is associated with rush.
    “Drivers in particular, should not engage in over speeding, wrongful overtaking, non-use of seat belts, drunk-driving etc.
    Representatives of the deceased families, Mr Sam Ede, thanked the FRSC command, police and neighbours for the recovered items and for returning them intact.
     “There are still good people in the country despite the views of people over the issue”

  • 4 killed, 14 injured in Ondo auto-crash

    A fatal auto crash that happened at Igbara Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday has claimed four lives while 14 others sustained injuries.

    Mr Joseph Ojerinde, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), in charge of field operations, state command, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Sunday.

    The officer said that the accident that happened at 6.30 p.m. was as a result of reckless driving by one of the drivers.

    He said that the auto crash involved a Mazda bus, with registration number Lagos KSF 706 XF carrying 18 passengers and a Honda Accord saloon car with number AA 239 GBH.

    “The two vehicles involved in the crash had a head-on collision.

    “The Honda car made a dangerous overtaking and consequently collided with the bus coming from the opposite direction.

    “We were told that the Honda Accord car dangerously overtook a vehicle and in the process, had a head-on collision with the Mazda bus coming from the other side,” Ojerinde stated.

    “Immediately, we were informed about the accident, our men moved promptly to the scene.’’

    Ojerinde, who said that four under-aged children were also involved in the accident, did not confirm their condition.

    NAN reports that the identities of the victims were not known as at the press time.

    However, Ojerinde said that the bodies of the dead had been deposited at the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

    According to him, the injured had been taken to the General Hospitals in Igbara- Oke and Ilara-Mokin, respectively for treatmen