The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Keshi rues Moses ‘snub’ at Chelsea

    Keshi rues Moses ‘snub’ at Chelsea

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has expressed serious concerns over Victor Moses snub at his English Premier League club Chelsea.

    Moses has not been listed for Chelsea since the beginning of the new season and was also not part of the squad for Friday’s UEFA Super Cup clash against Bayern Munich.

    “I am worried about Moses situation at Chelsea,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com

    “I called him the other day to know what was wrong and sincerely the boy is also concerned. They had said he reported late to Chelsea after the South Africa game and that is not true because Moses confirmed to me that he did not miss any training session.”

    Keshi added: “I don’t know the plans of Jose Morinho but sincerely am worried at the continued lack of action for Moses. The boy wants to play, he loves to play and it hurts that he is not playing because we need him to be playing week in, week out.”

    In the meantime, West Bromwich Albion is the latest club to be linked with the unsettled Nigerian winger.

    Steve Clarke is considering a move to land Moses after saying WBA do not stand a chance to land Romelo Lukaku.

    The 2013 AFCON hero has been on the wanted list of several clubs namely Liverpool, Everton, West Ham Southampton and Hull City.

     

  • Mandela still in hospital – South African govt

    Mandela still in hospital – South African govt

    Reports that former South African President Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital are incorrect, South Africa’s presidency says.

    The BBC and other news outlets reported earlier that Mr. Mandela had returned to his Johannesburg home.

    The presidency said in a statement that Mr. Mandela was critical but stable but at times his condition became unstable prompting medical intervention.

    The 95-year-old was admitted with a recurring lung infection on June 8.

    The country’s first black president, Mr. Mandela is revered by many as the father of the nation.

    His prolonged hospital stay has caused concern both in South Africa and abroad.

    The infection is said to date back to a period of nearly three decades he spent in prison for anti-apartheid activity.

     

  • Gulder Ultimate Search hits TV stations

    The 10th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search is now on selected television stations across the country.

    The programme tagged: “The Unending Search” is aired on Saturdays and Sundays on African Independent Television (10:30pm), Africa Magic and Ebony Life on DSTV; Real Times and WAPTV on Star Times and ESBS (10pm).

    The showing began on August 17.

    The Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend and Life, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agu, said the programme features the reality TV show’s selection process, participants, memorable moments, evictions, the terrain of various locations, the tasks and winners on each season of GUS, amongst other elements.

    He said:”There is no better way to whet the appetite of viewers for the 10th anniversary edition than to revamp the elements of the previous nine seasons including the celebrity edition.”

    In commemoration of this year’s edition, the ‘Ultimate’ brand will reward viewers in the “Fans Edition.”

    However, viewers will have to watch episodes of “The Unending Search” documentary for possible clues.

    Consistent solving of the clues will earn a lucky viewer a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLX MT jeep and other prizes like Tablet Pcs, dual-sim Android phones, DSTV walkas, Gulder gift packs and recharge cards.

    The show which made its TV debut in 2004  has aired nine seasons and crowned nine champions.

     

     

  • Gunmen kill pregnant woman, eight others in Jos

    Gunmen on Thursday night killed a pregnant woman and eight others in renewed attacks on Jos communities.

    The attack took place shortly after the state government officials departed the city for a mini national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party taking place in Abuja.

    Several Plateau States delegates to the convention left the state capital on Thursday night.

    But others left the tin city for the convention venue on Friday morning.

    The Nation gathered that the unidentified gunmen attacked three villages between Thursday night and early hours of Friday, killing and maiming residents of the villages. Other attacks were carried out at 1 pm on Friday.

    Residents who escaped death by whisker confirmed that at least six people were killed in Bisichi village along Foron Road in Barkin Ladi Local government of area of the state.

    They said the gunmen numbering about 15 were armed with A K-47 rifles and cutlasses. Houses were also set ablaze during the attack.

     

     

  • Two policemen detained for misusing firearms in Oyo

    Two police officers attached to the Oyo state Police Command have been detained for misusing firearms in their possession.

    Some residents of the village reportedly approached the officers while providing security for a tanker suspected to be carrying fuel from the pipeline.

    The two police officers were also accused of aiding vandals at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s pipeline in the village.

    But speaking with The Nation in Ibadan on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, said the two police officers were detained because of their over-zealousness and misuse of firearms in their possession when the incident occurred.

    The PPRO said following the report in the dailies, the command went into full investigation to ascertain the involvement of the two officers in the alleged fuel theft.

    “At the end of our investigation, it was discovered that the officers were only carrying out their assigned duty, but this did not go down well with some of the villagers who saw the presence of policemen as a denial of their means of livelihood.

    “The tanker which they alleged was used to carry fuel is a water tanker belonging to Avian Farms and never used for fuel haulage. The tanker is here with us at the Eleyele police headquarters,” the state police spokesperson said.

     

     

  • NHIS to cover all Nigerians – Tambuwal

    NHIS to cover all Nigerians – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, pledged on Friday that the National Health Insurance Scheme would be extended to cover all Nigerians.

    Tambuwal made the pledge at the opening of the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and unveiling of the Face of Healthy Living in Nigeria in Sokoto.

    “A situation where only a paltry six per cent of Nigeria’s population is covered by the NHIS should no longer stand.

    “Accordingly, the National Assembly would seek ways and means of extending the NHIS coverage to reach, especially the vulnerable groups within the society, in the current amendment process of the NHIS act.

    “We call upon the NMA for partnership so we can be availed of the benefits of professional expertise.

    “This call for informed professional input also stands for all other health-related legislations receiving attention at the National Assembly,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Tambuwal as saying at the forum.

    He commended the leadership of the association for its “unparalleled commitment to nation building and advancement of the health of Nigerians.”

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, lauded the association for keeping faith with the “Asaba declaration” of near zero tolerance to the issue of strikes in the health sector.

    “This was amply demonstrated when the NMA mobilised doctors and all other health workers who did not join the JOHESU strike to maintain services,” he noted.

     

  • APC’s emergence good for democracy – Lawan

    APC’s emergence good for democracy – Lawan

    The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Farouk Lawan, has said the emergence of the All Progressives Congress would force political parties to become ideologically inclined.

    The lawmaker said the nation’s democracy would be better for it as Nigerians would know the “real worth” of their political parties.

    Lawan, who spoke in Abuja during a National Assembly media interactive session, said with the advent of the new party, others would be forced to market their ideas.

    “The registration of new parties, though not new was good for our democracy. The coming together of some parties particularly, those hoping to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party in a more forceful manner, I think would add colour to politicking and democracy in this country.

    “Personally, I think we are likely to witness more excitement and this would give Nigerians the opportunity to determine the ‘real worth’ of each political party. This would also help the parties to market themselves on ideological basis,” he said.

     

  • Nigeria will remain proactive against terrorism – Jonathan

    Nigeria will remain proactive against terrorism – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said the Federal Government will keep on doing everything possible to further enhance security in all parts of the country.

    The President stated that several measures had been taken by his administration to secure the nation, stressing that these had resulted in a significant reduction in terrorist attacks in the country,

    He spoke while receiving the outgoing Representative of the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. David Mac Rae, at the State House, Abuja.

    Jonathan, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that his administration will remain very proactive in combating terrorism and insecurity.

    He said: “As a government, we are doing everything possible to improve our country on all fronts. We are consistently adapting our security architecture to deal with terrorism which has become a challenge to the whole world.”

    “Boko Haram is being progressively weakened but we are not resting on our oars. We will continue to do everything possible to achieve greater security for all who reside within our borders.”

    He also said his administration will continue to do its best to correct negative perceptions about the country, particularly the notion of widespread insecurity and corruption.

    The President welcomed declaration by the outgoing ambassador that he had recently traveled to the Niger Delta and some northern states and found people there going about their normal lives and businesses without fear.

    He urged him to assist in correcting current misconceptions about Nigeria by taking that positive message to the EU and the rest of the world.

     

     

  • NBA rejects calls for national conference

    NBA rejects calls for national conference

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday said Nigeria does not need to convene a sovereign national conference to address its problems.

    NBA President, Okechukwu Wali (SAN), at a press conference, said the country “does not need another gathering in Abuja.”

    He said rather than convening such a national conference, attention should be paid towards amending the Constitution on a piecemeal basis according to the needs of Nigerians.

    “Any modification to the Constitution can be done through the National Assembly. We recommend piecemeal amendment of the Constitution. We don’t think we need to create another gathering.

    “We do not call for a sovereign national conference, because are we going to get people elected to do that? We don’t think it’s necessary,” Wali said.

    In a communiqué read by Wali at the end of its Annual General Conference in Calabar, Cross River State, NBA, however, said the Constitution, as it currently operates, does not truly reflect the people’s yearnings and aspirations.

    It added that ordinary amendments to its provisions may not necessarily cure the fundamental flaws in it.

    “There is, therefore, a dire need for a people-oriented Constitution, which will be subjected to a national referendum and will be self-enforcing,” NBA said.

    The association called for the enactment of a law to regulate the granting of amnesty to repentant criminals.

    It said such important government policy should not be executed at the discretion of the President or the executive alone.

    “It is high time to legislate and enact laws on amnesty in Nigeria with a view to regulating its application,” NBA said.

    The NBA condemned the deplorable security situation in the country and “challenged” the Federal Government to review the strategy for fighting the menace of kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

     

     

     

  • 2015: Anglican Primate warns on crises

    The Anglican Primate of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has warned politicians against giving out wrong information to the media, to avoid crises in the nation.

    He said the mismanagement of information could lead to serious conflict.

    Okoh gave the advice at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) communicators’ conference held in Abuja on Friday.

    The theme of the conference is: “Optimum use of electronic media in the proclamation of the gospel and the furtherance of the Anglican Communion.”

    Okoh explained that with regard to the 2015 general election, information will float about in the nation’s political terrain, adding that issues that affect government are very sensitive and if handled properly will assist those in authority to govern the country and also help general public to relate with government.

    “My worry is that when conventions, rallies or elections are held, the way politicians will report back, especially those that did not make it or even those that won, will be different. People need to be careful because their interest is only to get you to support them. They are not actually interested in the real issues that concern the ordinary people,” he said.