The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Anxious passengers besiege DANA Air counters for refunds

    It was a mild drama on Monday morning at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as over hundreds of anxious passenger besieged the counters of DANA Airline to seek refunds of their air fares following the suspension of the airline’s operations by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The passengers arrived the MMA 2, as early as 6.30am ostensibly not aware of the NCAA’s suspension of DANA flights on Sunday.

    The passengers got to the airport for the supposed 7.05am flight only to be informed by ground personnel of DANA Air that their operations have been suspended by government.

    Most of the passengers, who had purchased their tickets online, brandished the electronic tickets they printed out from different mobile devices.

    Other passengers had previously paid for their tickets before Monday.

    Some of the passengers apparently in a bid to meet up with their appointments, started putting pressure on the airline officials to facilitate the refund of their flight tickets to enable them get seats on other airlines going to their destinations.

    Some of these passengers take the early flight to Abuja on Mondays.

    There was display of emotions as some passengers took on the DANA Air personnel on ground, who pleaded with them to exercise patience, as their refunds were being worked out.

     

  • Haruna scores again in Ukraine

    Haruna scores again in Ukraine

    Lukman Haruna continued his rich vein of goalscoring form on Sunday as he netted yet again in Dynamo Kyiv’s 9-1 victory over Metalurh Donetsk on Sunday.

    The midfielder scored a brilliant goal after 67 minutes following an intelligent pass from teammate, Jeremain Jens as the competition entered match day 12.

    Haruna’s goal which was Dynamo Kyiv’s sixth of the day helped the club thrashed Metalurh Donetsk comprehensively at the NSK Olimpijs’kyj (Kyiv), supersport.com reports.

    The former AS Monaco man had barely been on the pitch for 15 minutes before his strike as he replaced the Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Veloso after 54 minutes.

    Haruna, who scored in last week’s 1-1 draw at Vorskla, has now netted three league goals in 11 appearances for the club this season.

    His compatriot, Brown Ideye did not play in Sunday’s game following the red card he picked up in last week’s draw at Vorksla.

    ’s 9-1 victory over Metalurh Donetsk on Sunday.

    The midfielder scored a brilliant goal after 67 minutes following an intelligent pass from teammate, Jeremain Jens as the competition entered match day 12.

    Haruna’s goal which was Dynamo Kyiv’s sixth of the day helped the club thrashed Metalurh Donetsk comprehensively at the NSK Olimpijs’kyj (Kyiv), supersport.com reports.

    The former AS Monaco man had barely been on the pitch for 15 minutes before his strike as he replaced the Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Veloso after 54 minutes.

    Haruna, who scored in last week’s 1-1 draw at Vorskla, has now netted three league goals in 11 appearances for the club this season.

    His compatriot, Brown Ideye did not play in the game on Sunday following the red card he picked up in last week’s draw at Vorksla.

     

  • Fresh clashes in Egypt ‘kill’ 50

    At least 50 people have been killed and scores hurt in Egypt in clashes between police and supporters of the deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

    BBC says more than 200 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested in Cairo, where most of the deaths were reported.

    Supporters of Mr. Morsi marched in several cities, as the military-backed government marked the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

    Morsi supporters said he was deposed in a military coup in July.

    Hundreds of people had gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to celebrate the anniversary.

    Jets and Apache helicopters flew overhead in formation, as part of a grand display of military hardware by the government.

    The crowd cheered the flypasts, a number of people carrying portraits of defence chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Some want him to stand as Egypt’s next president.

     

  • Twins for beauty queen, Nike Osinowo

    Twins for beauty queen, Nike Osinowo

    Former beauty queen and Chief Executive of AOE Events & Entertainment Limited,  Adenike Oshinowo, 47, became a first time mother two weeks
    ago, when she delivered a set of twins with the help of a gestational carrier (surrogacy) in United States of America.

    Speaking on the development, the joyous new mum expressed happiness and gratitude to the Almighty, for making her a mother despite all
    odds.

    In her words: “I am overwhelmed and humbled by the depth of my love for my children. God has been most gracious to me. I am beyond happy.’

  • October 15 is Eid-el-Kabir

    October 15 has been declared as Eid-el-Kabir by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

    A statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday  by Prof. Sambo Wali, the Chairman of Sokoto Sultanate Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, said the announcement  followed the sighting of the crescent from across the country on Saturday.

    “This is sequel to the declaration of Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, as the first day of Zul-Hijja, 1434 AH, by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, ”  he stated.

  • Drama, as reptile scare Femi Kuti on wheel

    Drama, as reptile scare Femi Kuti on wheel

    A crowd gathered around the car of legendary Afrobeat King, Femi Kuti, at the weekend, as the disturbed musician sought help to locate a reptile that almost caused him an accident on the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.

    Narrating his ordeal, Kuti, who arrived late to the MUSON Center, where he was a guest artiste at the pre-event press briefing on the coming MUSON anniversary concert, described the experience as horrifying.

    He said the reptile; a lizard appeared all of a sudden, from the dashboard of the car, while he was at top speed, starring at him snappily before ducking away.

    In no time, the search party increased around the Black Prado Jeep. Perhaps then, it dawned on the musician, how seriously he had painted the scenario. The crowd, including his colleague, Yinka Davies begun to get amused, and Kuti, tried to make a joke of the situation.

    “You know, it could have been a disaster if the lizard had run through my trousers, climbing to my private part. You can imagine how jumpy I could have reacted, trying to protect my manhood. Because, that to me is an important part of who I am, I can’t joke with it.” The crowd roared with laughter.

    “Evil people could be at work,” added the musician jocularly, still wondering how the lizard got into his car.

    After the event, the award-winning artiste would not drive his car until the lizard was fished out.

  • Presidency insists on meeting with aggrieved governors

    *Says it’s not aware of any demand for postponement

    Towards resolving the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Presidency said the meeting with the aggrieved governors earlier scheduled for Monday  will still hold.

    After the two sides last month resolved to sheath their swords, it was agreed to reconvene Monday in order to iron out all the disagreements.

    The National Chairman of the new PDP, Kawu Baraje, where the aggrieved governors now belong, last week issued a press statement seeking postponement of Monday’s  meeting as it coincided with the time most of the seven aggrieved governors would be out of the country on Muslim pilgrimage.

    But the Presidency last night said it was going ahead with the meeting billed for the First Lady’s Conference room at the Presidential Villa Monday  hoping that the aggrieved governors will still attend.

    It said that the Presidency was not officially notified of the decision of the aggrieved governors not to attend the meeting today besides the reports in the newspapers.

    Confirming the latest development yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak said that the Presidency would not act on media speculations.

    According to him, President Jonathan was ready to receive the governors on Monday  or any time.

    He said: “The meeting is supposed to hold tomorrow (today). Let’s wait for tomorrow before you begin to ask questions.”

    On the press statement that said that the aggrieved governors would not be available, he said: “That’s the report we are reading in the newspapers but the best thing is to wait for tomorrow whether the meeting will hold or not so that if the meeting doesn’t hold, you can call me (to find out) why hasn’t it held and if we have any reason to give, we can then give you.”

  • Airtel’s CEO named Credit Personality of the Year

    Airtel’s CEO named Credit Personality of the Year

    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has been named the Credit Personality of the Year, 2013.

     The award, which was conferred by the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), is aimed at celebrating outstanding professionals within the Industry.

     According to the award organizers, Ogunsanya was recognized for his role in improving the credit profession as well as strict adherence to the ethics of the credit management and its code of conduct.

     A citation read in his honour said the prestigious award is designed to further motivate him to continue exhibiting excellent performance in general credit management, credit operational policies and procedures, as well as capacity building of credit work force in organization.

     The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, ICA, Dr. Chris Onalo and Former Executive Director/Chief Credit Risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Andy Ojei presented the award to Ogunsanya at a colourful event held in Lagos at the weekend, Saturday, October 5th 2013.

     Earlier at the conference preceding the award ceremony, the Airtel CEO, delivered a paper titled Credit Management in Telecommunications.

    In his presentation, he identified effective credit management system as a critical factor for the growth of stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

     According to Ogunsanya, organisations within the ICT sector must put in place efficient credit risk management systems in order to avoid collapsed or severe financial problems.

     He added that poor credit management system could lead to reduced liquidity, increased costs of collections and credits, increased finance costs through extra borrowings and declined reputation of the company arising from failure to meet its obligations to its creditors, among other problems.

     The Airtel boss also noted that effectively managing credit and extending same to customers operating in the Telecommunications industry can help attract many more customers inclusive of those who normally would not be able to afford the products.

     The event, which was held at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, was attended by notable credit professionals including the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), Dr. Chris Onalo, Andy Ojei, Former Executive Director/Chief Credit Risk Officer, Zenith Bank, Adeniyi Akinlusi, MD/CEO Trustbond Mortgage Bank and Solanke Abimbola, Financial Controller, Airtel Nigeria

  • Taraba deputy governor survives accident

    The Deputy Governor of Taraba State was involved in a road accident along Gombe/Bauchi Road Sunday morning.

    He survived the accident.

    His Chief Press Secretary, Kefas Sule who confirmed the incident to The Nation said it was not a fatal mishap.
    “All of them came out”, he said.
    Sule said the accident occurred when the convoy of the emir of Bauchi ram into the convoy of the Taraba deputy governor.

  • Naked Kokori women protest military invasion, assault soldiers

    Dozens of naked Kokori women, on Sunday afternoon took to the streets to protest the siege on the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State community by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    Reports from the community indicated that the about 100 naked protesters were unhappy that their husbands have fled the community due to the military operation launched in the wake of the arrest of notorious criminal, Kelvin Oniarah.

    It was gathered that naked young and old protesters defied soldiers who were deployed to the community in the wake of Friday’s attack on the palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori 1, by armed youths suspected to be members of the notorious kidnap kingpin’s gang.

    A source from the community said, “The women number about 100, they are singing mourning songs about the fate of Kokori.”

    “They said the soldiers who prevented their husband from coming home should come and sleep with them and perform the duties of their husbands,” a source from the community told our reporter on telephone.

    The Commanding Officer of Sector 1 command of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Ifeanyi Otu, could not be reached for comment.