The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Sultan cautions on insecurity, violence

    Sultan cautions on insecurity, violence

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday in Sokoto warned Nigerians against fanning the embers of insecurity and violence in the country.

    The Sultan gave the warning when he hosted a 20-man delegation of the Kaduna-based Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria at a fast-breaking dinner.

    Abubakar noted that in time of crisis, the sons and daughters of the down-trodden Nigerians were always the victims of violence and mayhem.

    “These poor and vulnerable youths get killed or maimed while their colleagues in the wealthy and elitist families are often sent abroad for studies.

    “This is another form of injustice against the weak, indigent youths and it must be urgently stopped,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the forum.

    Speaking on 2015, the Sultan stressed the need to pray the country’s leaders “who will take us out of our present predicaments as a nation.”

    He said traditional rulers are not politicians but,” fathers and leaders in the political field…who would continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders to lead the nation to the promise land.”

    Abubakar commended members of the foundation, dedicated to peace building in the north and Nigeria generally, for doing a very patriotic job.

     

     

  • $450m needed to generate 20,000mw of electricity – Sambo

    $450m needed to generate 20,000mw of electricity – Sambo

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo said that Nigeria needs about 450 million dollars from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to expand its electricity generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts.

    A statement issued in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media, Malam Umar Sani, said that Sambo said this on Sunday when he received the President of the IDB, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, in Makkah.

    Sambo, who is in Saudia Arabia to perform this year’s lesser Hajj, expressed appreciation for the bank’s continued support to Nigeria.

    He stated that all the approvals granted by the bank over the years had been ratified by the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the vice-president urged the bank to consider the construction of a road linking Lagos to Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire.

    He also requested bank to extend its support to the Nigerian private sector, particularly in the areas of education, aviation and agriculture.

    Sambo called on the bank to partner with states in executing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in some priority projects.

     

     

  • Fashola’s father dies at 79

    Mr. Ademola Fashola, father of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, is dead.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor`s father died in the early hours of Monday at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.

    He was aged 79.

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, who was on lesser hajj with the governor in Saudi Arabia, confirmed the death to journalists in Ikeja via telephone.

    However, the state government has announced that the deceased would be interred at the Vault and Gardens on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Bush Alebioshu, a federal lawmaker representing, Shomolu/Kosofe constituency in the House of Representatives, has described the death as a big loss to the state.

    “It is a big loss to the state and its people. My condolences go to Governor Fashola and the entire Fashola family, and I pray for the peaceful repose of this great man, “he said.

     

     

     

     

  • NBTE withdraws Crown Poly’s accreditation

    The National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) has  withdrawn the  accreditation of all programmes offered by the Crown Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti for allegedly going against operational guidelines approved for it by the board.

    Head of Public Relations of the Board, Jacob Abang said in a statement made available to The Nation that the institution was found to have gone against the directive of the Federal Executive Council on the operation of outreach centres in parts of the country and offering programmes not approved by the board.
    Abang quoted a letter to the proprietor of the Polytechnic dated 2nd August, 2013 and signed by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Dr. Masa’udu A Kazaure mni, as saying that the withdrawal of accreditation of programmes in the Polytechnic, became necessary in view of the myriad of petitions received from organizations, government agencies and students on the conduct and operation of the polytechnic.
    He said that subsequent investigation by the Board also revealed that the polytechnic was operating in contravention of the Basic Minimum Academic Standards as prescribed by law and has been running ND and HND programmes in 30 centres across the country, particularly in Yenagoa, Kabba, Akure, Ondo and in various towns in Ekiti State.
    He also said that the board also discovered that the Polytechnic was running unapproved ND programmes in Urban and Regional Planning, Quantity Surveying and Public Administration and had submitted list of students for mobilization to NYSC in unapproved HND Computer Science and Electrical/Electronics Engineering programmes.
    The Board, Abang said  therefore directs the Polytechnic to stop all academic activities in all its illegal satellite/outreach study centres; close down the illegal campuses/centres; report these centres to the security agencies where appropriate to ensure that they do not propagate or relocate to other addresses.
    The board also directed the institution to publish a disclaimer of names and addresses of these illegal /satellite campuses in at least two national dailies for the information of the public, as well as ensure that the institution would not engage in any further collaboration or unapproved affiliation with any person/organization to run any programme again.
    Abang also quoted the Executive Secretary as saying that the board may only allow the institution to resume operation when it is satisfied that the institution has complied with approved standards in line with Part II, Section 15 and 16 of CAP ES LFN 2004.
    The Board advised the Directorate of NYSC to put mobilization of graduates of the Polytechnic on hold as well as advised the joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to stop admission into all ND programmes of the institution until further notice.

  • Lets stop ethnic politics – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday called  for the end of politics centred on ethnicity in Nigeria

    He made the call while speaking at the reception held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in honour of Chief Tony Anenih, who marked 80 years birthday.

    Faulting inflammatory comments by certain individuals, he said that Nigeria needs more nationalistic politicians in the mold of Chief Anenih.

    According to him, Anenih has  enjoyed unrivaled reverence due to his nationalistic outlook.

    He said:  “We can learn from him because he has always been a nationalist.”

    “From him let’s learn to sing the song of unity and use our cleavages for good and not to promote dis-unity. Some provocative statements have come from elder statesmen who witnessed civil war. But Tony Anenih  has never made such statements, this explains why the hall is filled to capacity today”.

    Giving the vote of thanks, Anenih urged the past and current leaders in Nigeria to learn to forgive one another.

    He said: “The leaders are gathered here today and this is why we have ask ourselves why can’t  we forget the past and move forward. I must confess that I was thrilled that President Obasanjo came to the church.”

    “This is the kind of forgiveness leaders have to show for the country to move forward, ” Anehih  stated

    He also called for support to the present administration.

    “Abdulsalami Abubakar and IBB are here, they can give us peace. I believe that if all of us here put our hands behind him (President Jonathan) and genuinely advise him even our worst enemy Boko Haram will be afraid”.

    Many politicians, captains of industry and highly placed government functionaries attended the birthday celebration.

  • Drogba silences Arsenal again

    Drogba silences Arsenal again

    Didier Drogba returned to haunt Arsenal as the former Chelsea striker came off the bench to net a late double and win the Emirates Cup for Galatasaray.
    The Ivory Coast frontman — who left Chelsea after spearheading their 2012 Champions League final victory before a short stint with Shanghai Shenhua in China — converted a soft penalty on 78 minutes before  producing a crisp finish.
    The Turks secured their second victory of the weekend tournament, having fallen behind to Theo Walcott’s first-half curling effort.
    Arsenal, who are still chasing a deal for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, showed good form in patches, but again had no answer to the 35-year-old, who had been on Arsene Wenger’s radar as a youngster at Guingamp.
    Arsenal’s only summer signing Yaya Sanogo, a free transfer from Auxerre, was handed a start in attack, while Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla was back in action after extra time off following the Confederations Cup.
    Former Gunner Emmanuel Eboue captained Galatasaray. There was an early chance for France Under-21 striker Sanogo to become an instant cult hero when he collected a loose pass on the edge of the penalty area, but his angled shot was saved by Fernando Muslera.
    Arsenal, who came from 2-0 down to draw with Rafa Benitez’s Napoli Sunday , continued to press and had a penalty shout turned down after Aaron Ramsey tumbled. At 18 minutes, Walcott expertly took down a long ball from the Welshman into the Galatasaray box, but could then only flick it over the keeper and wide. Former Bolton forward Johan Elmander caused Arsenal some concern with his link-up play, but Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, making his first appearance of pre-season after injury, was not really tested.
    Arsenal took the lead five minutes before half-time when Walcott’s curling cross from the left bounced through the six-yard box and dropped into the far corner. Drogba was introduced for the second half — to some jeers from the home fans, who remembered him as so often
    Arsenal’s tormentor during his time with Chelsea Dutch international Wesley Sneijder also came on. Drogba was straight into the action, fashioning a chance when he turned Per Mertesacker just outside the Arsenal penalty area, but his shot was straight at Szczesny.
    The Gunners several expected substitutions, continued to look sharp, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looking to have been tripped in the penalty area before a downward header from Olivier Giroud was well saved.
    The Turks threatened also as Szczesny beat away a fierce drive from Sneijder, the former Inter Milan midfielder. Galatasaray were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes by referee Jon Moss when substitute Ignasi Miquel was adjudged to have pushed over Drogba, with contact looking minimal at best.

  • Martins scores again

    Nigeria international footballer can’t stop scoring goals despite being ignored by handlers of the Super Eagles.
    Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins was on target for Seattle Sounders as they recorded a 3-0 home win over FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer match on Sunday.
    The 28-year-old headed in a Mauro Rosales free-kick in the eighth minute, to open the scoring for the Sounders.
    Eddie Johnson added a second in the 22nd minute, and a stoppage time penalty from Brad Evans helped secure a club record 10th straight home win for the Sounders.
    Martins has so far scored seven goals in 11 starts (and three substitute appearances) for Seattle Sounders in the MLS this season.

  • Mob prevented from burning Church in Abuja

    There was panic and confusion  in Karu and Nyanya suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday  as inhabitants  ran for their  life when when  angry mob besieged St. Mary Catholic Church in Karu, Abuja

    Our correspondent gathered that it took the combined intervention of the army and police to prevent the mob from setting the church ablaze.
    According to an eyewitness, the crisis started in the early morning  when an Hausa-speaking man in the area was prevented from parking his car too close to the church building, a measure reportedly put in place following attacks on places of worship by the Boko Haram sect especially in the northern part of the country.
    The eyewitness, a middle-aged man who does not want his name disclosed said the man reportedly resisted the police and soldiers guarding the church leading to an argument and his detention by the security personnel.
    Enraged by his detention and alleged manhandling by the officers, the man who is said to be Muslim subsequently mobilised an angry mob of mostly commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as ‘okada’ to burn the church.
    He said that members of the church who tried to leave in a hurry where stoned by the mob leading to the destruction of some vehicles left behind by the worshipers who left the premises in a hurry.
    The situation was also said to have been compounded by the sporadic shooting by security agents in a bid to disperse the mob.
    The miscreants were said to have blocked both sides of the road leading to Nyanya and Jikwoyi-Karshi resulting in traffic congestion that  lasted  about three hours on the road.
    “It was like a film, I was just praying that the people that are living  in that area are safe. We initially thought the man was trying to plant a bomb close to the Church. Because he was prevented from parking close to the Church building, he got annoyed and went to mobilise other people,” the eyewitness said.
    There were also insinuations that an Okada man was killws which according to sources is not true.
    However, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ms. Hyelhira Altine Daniel, who confirmed the incident, told our correspondent that there was no attempt to burn the church.
    According to her, the situation was brought under control by the combined team of soldiers and police, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Olubayode had since visited the scene to calm frayed nerves.
  • PDP committee visits ailing Taraba governor

    PDP committee visits ailing Taraba governor

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party Fact-finding Committee on the Taraba State Political Situation paid solidarity visit to Governor Danbaba Suntai in New York, United States, on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the committee, led by its Chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, visited the governor at a rehabilitation centre, where he is receiving treatment, following the injury he suffered in last year’s air mishap.

    Uzodinma was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the PDP National Chairman on INEC and Inter-party Affairs, Alhaji Shitu Mohammed, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Sen. Abubakar Gada and the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Habib Habu.

    “We are impressed with what we have seen and we thank God for that. We will take back home what we have seen and we will inform the leadership of the party.

    “We are impressed; we are also happy that the governor is recovering. We will still go back home and relate what we have seen.

    “We will also visit Taraba State. We will meet all stakeholders in Taraba State, we will also inform them of what we have seen and our party as a family will make sure that the party continues to grow from strength to strength,’’ he told NAN in an interview.

    Uzodinma commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for setting up the fact-finding committee.

    The consul-general also said the governor was recovering fast.

     

     

  • NEITI’s audit report, inaccurate, misleading – PPPRA

    NEITI’s audit report, inaccurate, misleading – PPPRA

    The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has dismissed the audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) which said the agency should remit N4.423 billion to the Federal Government.

    The Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that NEITI’s report “is steeped in inaccuracies and gross misrepresentation of facts.

    “The report has glaring potential to mislead the public and further cast aspersions on the activities of the PPPRA as a key administrator of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF),” Stanley stated

    On July 29, NEITI released its 2009-2011 audit report on the oil and gas sector, recommending that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from “over-recovery’’ collected to the Federation Account for the period in review.

    The report also ordered other establishments to refund various sums of money to the Federal Government.

    “The PPPRA wishes to state unequivocally that the statement credited to the NEITI chairman is misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.

    “We note with dismay, NEITI’s admission to the fact that it had no absolute control of its sources of data as they were derived information and data provided through its own independent auditors as well as companies doing business in the sector.

    “Such over-reliance on secondary data must have accounted for the glaringly flawed computations presented in the report,” the PPPRA chief told NAN.

    Stanley explained that the N4.423 billion “over-recovery” that the PPPRA was asked to remit, was not correct, noting that only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation still had an outstanding payment of about N3.98 billion to be paid into Central Bank of Nigeria’s account.