The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • PDP dissolves Kano Exco

    PDP dissolves Kano Exco

    Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday dissolved the executive committee of the Kano State chapter of the party and constituted a caretaker committee to run its affairs.

    The dissolution came shortly after the party’s leadership received Mohammed, son of the late head of state, General Sani Abacha back into the PDP.

    Alhaji Alhassan Kafayos was named chairman of the caretaker committee, while Mr. Andrew Musa was appointed secretary. They were immediately sworn-in by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom.

    The National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Abubakar Mustapha, who unveiled the committee, said other members of the committee would be appointed in Kano during the week.

    Speaking at the inauguration, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said the tenure of the dissolved exco had expired on August 15 and that there was need for a caretaker committee.

    According to him, the party observed the rules and provision of its constitution in setting up the caretaker committee.

    Tukur charged the committee members to ensure that they address grievances among members in Kano, with the view to addressing them.

    He charged them to ensure that the party wins the Kano governorship election in 2015.

    Abacha said he joined the PDP in 2010 and left the party to join the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) the same year.

    He again left the CPC in the same year 2010, owing to what he described as lack of internal democracy in the party.

     

  • FG introduces new Yellow card

    FG introduces new Yellow card

    The Federal Government has introduced a new International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis popularly called the “Yellow card” to replace the old card.

    Consequently, the old card ceases to be valid as from next month.

    The decision to introduce a new cardwas reached at the last the National Council on Health meeting in Abuja. It was one of the resolutions agreed for implementation at the meeting.

    The new card has an advanced security features that were lacking in the old ones.

    Besides, the new card will be produced centrally by the Federal Ministry of Health, while a transition period of six months would be allowed to withdraw the old cards after the introduction of the new one.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the official flag-off of the new card in Abuja on Monday.

    Explaining the rationale behind the introduction of the new card, the minister said, “The new one follow the issue that arose sometimes last year about Nigerians travelling to South Africa and we looked into the issue. We actually found out that part of the confusion is that years ago, the National Council on Health felt as a way of making it easy for Nigerians to obtain it, we should decentralize it and they permitted state governments, even private sector to print their Yellow Card and issue as well as the Federal Government.”

    He said the card would be available in primary health centres across the country.

     

     

  • Kidnapped Edo monarch yet to be released

    The Traditional ruler of Udo community, HRH Patrick Igbinudu, the Iyase N’ Udo, who was abducted last week  is yet to be released.

    Udo is in Ovia South West local government area of Edo State.

    HRH Igbinudu is the first traditional ruler to be abducted in the state.

    He was kidnapped by four armed men at his palace while playing draught with some of his chiefs.

    His son, Prince Osarense, said the abductors came in an Audi car and made them crawl in the mud.

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers opened negotiation on Saturday, demanding N100 million as ransom but later reduced it to N10 million.

     

     

     

     

  • Four killed in U.S Navy yard shooting

    At least four people have been killed in a mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, a naval installation in the United States capital, a Navy official has said.

    Police entered an office building in search of a gunman, after shots were fired at 08:20 local time (13:20 GMT), the U.S Navy said.

    BBC reports that a Washington police officer was among the injured. It remains unclear how many were hurt.

    Personnel at the yard were ordered to “shelter in place,” the Navy said.

    Capt. Ed Buclatin, director of public affairs at the Navy Installations Command at the Navy Yard, said on Twitter that four people were killed and eight injured.

    The U.S Navy said shots were reported fired at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters at the yard in south-east Washington DC.

    At least three people suffering “severe” gunshot wounds were brought to Washington Hospital Center by helicopter, said chief medical officer Janis Orlowski.

    A Washington DC Metropolitan Police officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs, a female civilian was shot in the head and hand, and another woman was being treated for a shoulder wound, she said.

    All three were in critical condition but their chances for survival were “very good,” Dr. Orlowski said.

     

     

  • Emergency rule succeeding – Ekweremadu

    Emergency rule succeeding – Ekweremadu

    The ongoing state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States has so far been a success story, the Speaker ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said.

    Ekweremadu stated while commending the Federal Government on the successful war against terrorism and insurgence in the country and other West African nations.

    A statement issued by his media Adviser, Uche Anicgukwu, said that Ekweremadu spoke at the opening of the 2013 Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Monday.

    It quoted Ekweremadu as saying that “the success of the subsisting state of emergency in some parts of the country has left no one in doubt that Nigeria does not have space or any iota of tolerance for terrorism and insurgency.

    “It has demonstrated that Nigeria has the might and firepower to sack the merchants of terror as well as the profound compassion to forgive those who truly repent and turn away from willful destruction of lives and property.”

    Ekweremadu, who is also the Deputy Senate President of the Senate added that Nigeria’s progress in the war against terrorism was particularly important to the sub-region given the country “strategic position as a key player in the integration project and indeed a pivot of political, social, and economic development in the sub-region.”

     

     

  • I was a very poor pupil in school – NAFDAC boss

    I was a very poor pupil in school – NAFDAC boss

    The Director –General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, said he was the one of the poorest pupils during his primary school days.

    He said his colleagues used to make fun of him because he could not afford good sleepers and uniform while in school.

    Orhii spoke at the 23rd plenary session of Unity Schools Old Boys Association, held at the Federal Government Girls College Gboko, Benue, at the weekend.

    The NAFDAC boss, who was the chairman of the occasion expressed delight that 30 years after he left primary school, he was able to rally support from friends and associates to renovate and upgrade the school to a world class standard.

    He charged the old boys to visit their schools, saying it will go a long way to encourage the students.

     

     

  • Brazil 2014 ticket in our hands – B’ Faso coach

    Burkina Faso coach, Paul Put, said his team will do everything to beat Algeria to the 2014 FIFA World Cup ticket.

    The 2013 Africa Cup runners-up host Algeria in one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off first leg qualifying ties next month before flying to Algiers for the decisive second leg in November, MTNFottball.com reports.

    “It’s a balanced draw, facing a big football nation as Algeria,” Put said.

    Burkina Faso face three-time World Cup finalist Algeria who is hoping to qualify for a second successive finals after taking part in the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

    “We have to do our homework in preparing for the big game,” Put said.

    “Our players have been active in preparations and we hope to take it from there.”

    The Burkinabes are unbeaten in 2014 World Cup qualifying action in 2013 and enjoy a one hundred percent winning run both at home and away from the last four games.

    “We have a good opportunity to qualify for the World Cup for the first time,” Put said as Burkina Faso prepares to face Algeria for the first time in a World cup qualifier.

     

  • Three shortlisted for NLNG literature prize

    Three writers have been shortlisted for this year’s literature prize.

    The list was released following the approval by the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited.

    A statement issued by Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, for NLNG, said the announcement follows an initial shortlist of 11 which was released in August.

    The three shortlisted writers are – Tade Ipadeola (The Sahara Testaments), Amu Nnadi (through the window of a sandcastle) and Promise Ogochukwu (Wild Letters).

    According to the chairman of the Advisory Board, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, the eventual winner of the competition will be announced at a World Press Conference on 9th October 9.

    Poet and Lawyer, Ipadeola, lives in Ibadan, Nigeria, from where he writes and practices law. He has authored three volumes of poetry along with other published short stories and essays. He is the current President of PEN International, Nigeria Centre, an organization which promotes literature and advocates freedom of expression.

    Nnadi is the author of the fire within and pilgrim’s passage, two volumes of poetry well received in Nigeria. His debut volume of poetry, the fire within, won the maiden edition of ANA/NDDC Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry.

    Nnadi, who writes poetry without punctuation and capital letters and publishes without any personal data and name, lives in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and currently works at the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    Armed with a PhD in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan, Ogochukwu has published several literary works including novels, children’s literature, short stories, drama, poetry and essays.

    In 2005, Ogochukwu was on the shortlist of three for The Nigeria Prize for Literature with her volume of poetry, Naked Among These Hills.

    Ohochukwu lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where she is actively involved in various charity programmes and activities.

     

     

     

  • How pregnant passenger caused flight diversion to Spain – Arik Air

    How pregnant passenger caused flight diversion to Spain – Arik Air

    Arik Air on Monday explained how its pilot was forced to divert a London- bound aircraft carrying a pregnant woman to Palma Mallorca Airport, Spain.

    Arik Air flight W3 101, departed Lagos for London, Heathrow on Sunday, but was diverted due to the urgent medical attention required for a 12- week pregnant woman on board.

    According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Banji, the passenger reportedly developed severe pain during the course of the flight.

    He said, “Arik Air flight W3 101 which departed Lagos for London Heathrow on Sunday, September 15, 2013 diverted to Palma Mallorca Airport, Spain at 5:44pm due to urgent medical attention required for a 12-week pregnant woman on board.

    “The passenger reportedly developed severe pain during the course of the flight. The pain was later accompaigned by bleeding associated with a suspected miscarriage.”

    The passenger, who was initially attended to by a medical doctor on board the flight, was 12 weeks pregnant.

    She was later transferred to a hospital in Mallorca for further medical attention.

    The Arik flight later departed Mallorca at 8:00pm for London Heathrow.

    “This singular act further demonstrates that Arik Air is passionate about meeting individual needs of its guests and is ready to go the extra mile to ensure that safety is not compromised no matter the cost.

    “Excellent customer care is the core philosophy of Arik Air’s business. In the air and on the ground, online and on the telephone, guests can expect respect, courtesy, fairness and care from the airline at all times.

    “This particular guest did not indicate her pregnancy status to the airline’s Passenger Service Agents (PSA) at check-in and because her pregnancy was 12 weeks, the team didn’t notice her status,” the airline spokesman said.

     

     

  • Ex-Finbank chiefs ask court to dismiss theft charge

    Ex-Finbank chiefs ask court to dismiss theft charge

    A former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu and his co-defendants, on Monday asked a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to dismiss the N10.9 billion theft charge preferred against them.

    Nwosu and three former directors of the bank made the request in separate no-case submissions filed by their counsel.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwosu is standing trial alongside the trio of Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

    According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former bank chiefs are facing a 26-count charge of stealing to which they had pleaded not guilty.

    The EFCC had closed its case on June 28 after calling nine witnesses to testify against the bank chiefs.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the defendants’ counsel — Messers James Ocholi (SAN), Seyi Sowemimo (SAN) and Okorie Kalu — said they had filed no-case submissions.

    They told the court that they filed the applications because no prima-facie case had been established against the defendants to warrant them to open their defence.

    The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the applications, saying the prosecution had filed its counter-affidavit to the applications which had been served on the defendants.

    Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter till September 30 for hearing of the applications.