The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Fire destroys soap factory in Anambra

    Fire destroys soap factory in Anambra

    Fire has destroyed a soap factory and plastic dumping ground at Amanato Street, Ugwuagba Obosi in Idemili Northampton Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Chief Fire Officer, Anambra State Fire Service, Mr Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident in Onitsha.

    According to Chiketa, the Anambra Fire Service received a distress call at 01:40 a. m., about a fire outbreak in a mini-soap factory and plastic waste ground at Amanato Street.

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    “The state firefighters and a fire truck were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident.

    “They fought and contained the fire, and prevented it from hitting a four- storey building,” he said.

    He said the cause of the fire was still unknown and no life was lost.

    He said the firemen departed the scene of the fire at 03:40 a. m.

    He advised people to take precautions to prevent fire incidents.

  • Eid el-Adha: Bauchi residents lament hike in ram prices

    Eid el-Adha: Bauchi residents lament hike in ram prices

    Some residents in Bauchi State have expressed concern over the hike in ram and sheep prices ahead of the Eid el-Adha celebration.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prices have skyrocketed by over 100 per cent in the past two weeks amid low demand for the animals.

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    A NAN check at Kasuwan Shanu and Railway livestock markets in Bauchi metropolis showed that traders were making lull businesses.

  • Akure arrests: EFCC denies brutalising 127 students, profiles suspects

    Akure arrests: EFCC denies brutalising 127 students, profiles suspects

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday denied the use of force on the 127 students arrested in two clubs in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    It said no canister of teargas or whips were deployed to inflict injuries on suspects.

    It also confirmed the detention of a manager of a club.

    It said it was the manager of the club, who confessed to the crime and directed the removal of the CCTV device.

    It said the CCTV device was removed at the instance of the operatives of the commission to preserve the footage for further analysis.

    Read Also:German Country Director begs Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

    But the commission said it will subject the  trending video on the alleged assault of suspects to forensic analysis to establish its falsehood or otherwise.

    It, however, said the profiling of the suspects has started and those culpable will face trial.

    The EFCC made the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale.

    The statement said: “Arising from the misinformation and distortion of facts about the arrest of 127 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday,  June 8, 2024, it becomes imperative to clearly present  the true facts of the operation.”

  • Trafficked girls to return home next week, says Dabiri-Erewa

    Trafficked girls to return home next week, says Dabiri-Erewa

    The 10 girls trafficked to Ghana are expected to return to Nigeria next week, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said.

    Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also said the girls were safe.

    In a statement, the Director of Media and Public Relations,  NIDCOM.  Abdur-Rahman Balogun, quoted Mrs Dabiri-Erewa as expressing concern that more girls were still being trafficked.

    The statement reads: “Following the arrest of the suspect who is now in security custody, the trafficked 10 girls, (eight from Imo State , two from Plateau State) are in safe hands.

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    “Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) again thanked Chief Callistus, Ghana BoT Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, for the safe custody of the trafficked girls, and ensuring they are well taken care of.

    “She expressed concern that while these girls are being rescued , more are probably still being trafficked ,noting  that traffickers need to be arrested , named and shamed.

    “The girls are expected to return to Nigeria next week and will be handed over to NAPTIP, the agency in charge of trafficking.

    The documentation filled by the girls indicated that they were being sent to Ghana to work as “sales girls.“

  • Two ex-convicts, other kidnap- suspects held in Abuja

    Two ex-convicts, other kidnap- suspects held in Abuja

    Two ex-convicts were among four suspected kidnappers arrested by the operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command over the weekend.

    The suspects were nabbed by the FCT Police in synergy with the special forces of Guards Brigade and Department of State Service (DSS), hunters, in a continued effort against criminality in the Territory.

    According to a statement yesterday, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said men of the FCT Police Command, acting on credible intelligence, stormed some identified kidnapper’s camps at Gidan Dogo and Kweti Forest, Kaduna State, bordering FCT, trailed and arrested the four suspects, whose names were withheld, but their ages put at between 20 and 35 years.

    Adeh said: “The suspects freely confessed to being members of a notorious bandit syndicate with the name ‘Mai One Million’, responsible for a series of kidnappings and other heinous crimes in FCT and its environs.”

    She said the operation resulted in a shootout between the bandits and the security operatives; a development that forced the suspects to scamper to safety and victims rescued, adding: “The illegally erected structures by the kidnappers in all the patrolled camps, were all decimated.”

    Read Also:Police kill three bandits in Katsina, rescue kidnap victims

    Adeh said the rescued victims have since been reunited with their families and loved ones.

    The Commissioner of Police (CP) FCT, Benneth Igweh, commended the efforts of the security operatives in the fight against criminality in the nation’s capital, and reiterates the Command’s commitment to ensuring the security and safety of the residents of FCT.

  • Troops kill IPOB men, bandits in Abia, Kaduna

    Troops kill IPOB men, bandits in Abia, Kaduna

    Soldiers attached to the Operation Udo Kakilled six terrorists following a raid on the camp of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Igboro Forest, Arochukwu Local Government of Abia State on Saturday.

    The Nigerian Army made this known on its X handle yesterday, saying that the operation was embarked upon to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on its troops in Aba last week.

    Also, some troops Operation Whirl Punch killed five bandits during a patrol in Dantarau, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and recovered arms and ammunition from them, just as the air component also hit bandits camps in Igabi Local Government of the state.

    In Abia, the army said during the intelligence-led operation, troops encountered improvised explosive devices along its axis of advance and one soldier sustained minor injury from the fragment.

    “The terrorists’ feeble firefights were adequately subdued with superior firepower that led to the neutralisation of six members of the criminal terrorists group while others escaped into adjoining bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds as blood stains were seen along their escape routes.

    “The gallant troops recovered three locally fabricated rocket-propelled grenade launchers, two locally fabricated artillery guns with tripods and bombs.

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    “Other items recovered include dane guns, Biafran flags as well as Toyota Tundra and Hilux vehicles that were burnt in situ. Also, all of their camps with different inscriptions were destroyed,”the statement read in part.

    It added that the Joint Task Force Operation Udo ka called on the people of Abia to continue to cooperate with security agencies by giving credible and timely information that will help to annihilate the criminals in the State and the whole of Southeast.

     It would be recalled that six soldiers were killed last week by the IPOB/ESN.

    The attack took place at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area adjourning Aba metropolis, where troops of Operation Udoka were deployed to enforce peace in the area and protect the citizens.

  • NDLEA intercepts shipment of 175, 000 bottles of Codeine from India

    NDLEA intercepts shipment of 175, 000 bottles of Codeine from India

    •Also U.S., UK-bound opioids in ladies’ hair

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted another consignment of 175,000 bottles of the codeine-based syrup imported from India at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known yesterday, pointed out this comes barely a week after another shipment of 175, 000 bottles of the same drug was seized at the same port.

    Babafemi said the two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 per cent examination.

    He said the latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250kg, was made last Friday during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service and other security agencies.

    Babafemi said the container marked HASU 4787890 from India was enroute C to C bonded Terminal in Enugu.

    The statement indicated that in the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on June 5 intercepted five various parcels of illicit drugs concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair going to the United States and United Kingdom.

    The statement reads: “Some of the seized drugs include 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine and other opioids. The drug consignments were seized at a courier firm in Lagos.

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    “In Kebbi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kalgo-Birnin Kebbi Road on Saturday, 8th June arrested a 32-year-old Nigerien, Hassan Mummuni with 4,000 pills of diazepam and 1.250kg cannabis, concealed in four pesticide tanks, while operatives in Gombe state same day arrested Ibrahim Abubakar (aka Alhajiji) at Herwagana, with 6,740 pills of tramadol and 20,000 tablets of diazepam.

    “Not less than 1,098 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a suspect, Onyekachi ThankGod Iwula, 42, following his arrest in a commercial bus at Aloma Junction, Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA, Benue State.

    “In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Ningi-Kano road on Wednesday, 5th June arrested a 20-year-old lady, Hasana Usman, with 25 blocks of cannabis sativa that weighed 28.2kg, while their counterparts in Yobe state nabbed Ali Mohammed, 42, along Kano-Potiskum road,  with 19,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a black sack and the suspect’s travelling bag.

    “In Oyo state, 57-year-old Oladimeji Samson was arrested in a commercial bus at the Ibadan end, of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 79 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing of 44.4kg and 48 grams of ecstasy, all concealed in the engine compartment under the driver’s seat of the bus.

    “Not less than 17,980 pills of tramadol and other opioids were seized from a suspect, Ali Isiaka Mohammed, 36, following his arrest at Ganaja village, Lokoja LGA, Kogi state, while the duo of Blessing Samuel, 35, and Unnanchi Mike, 34, were arrested with 804 bottles of codeine syrup at Narayi, Kaduna state. Also in Kaduna, Tijjani Umar, 37, and Yahaya Suleman, 35, were arrested with 33.9 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa at Lafiya area, Kudan Local Government Area of the state.”

  • ‘Customs can meet N2.3tr target through non-intrusive, physical inspections’

    ‘Customs can meet N2.3tr target through non-intrusive, physical inspections’

    The Apapa Command of the the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it can meet this year’s target of N2.3 trillion with the application of modern customs practices like non-intrusive inspection and physical examination.

    The Customs Area Controller for Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, stated this at the weekend in Lagos, according to a statement by the NCS headquarters in Abuja.

    Olumu said since trade facilitation and strategic interventions could affect revenue leakages, the command could hit the revenue target.

    In its first quarter breakdown for the accomplishment of the N2.3 trillion, the command timeline said it eyed N8.9 billion daily, N44 billion weekly, and N193 billion monthly.

    Olomu noted that the “adoption of non-intrusive inspection technology not only expedites cargo examination but also mitigates the risk of duty evasion, thereby safeguarding government revenue”.

    In line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the NCS, the Apapa Command has blocked several financial leakages to improve revenue generation.

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    Its basic tools have been the deployment of scanners and physical examinations that have resulted in the detection of duty evasion.

    Olumu noted that since people across the world are mostly reluctant to pay their taxes, they are usually compelled to do so by government agencies.

    The comptroller said the command had been responsible for ensuring appropriate payment of tax to the Federal Government.

    He added that the command always intervened to stop revenue leakages through appropriate interventions.

    Olumu said: “The command’s diligence in checking declarations and consignments using non-intrusive technology (scanning) and physical examinations has rattled non-compliant traders who resort to blackmail and other tactics to compromise or dampen the morale of officers.

    “However, the officers are loyal in carrying out their duties.

    “As the command raises queries on suspicious consignments, compliant traders have no reason to fear, as the command prioritises not just revenue generation but also trade facilitation.”

  • Hajj: Pilgrims to begin return journey to Nigeria June 22, says NAHCON

    Hajj: Pilgrims to begin return journey to Nigeria June 22, says NAHCON

    ‘120 flights conveyed pilgrims to holy land’

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, has said Nigerian pilgrims will start returning to the country as from June 22.

    Arabi said 120 flights took almost all pilgrims to the holy land in Saudi Arabia.

    The NAHCON boss, who expressed optimism about the success of this year’s hajji, said no pilgrim would be left behind before the deadline.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja on recent developments about the completion of the first phase of the Hajj operations for this year, he said: “Nobody thought there was going to be 2024 Hajji. I’m happy to say that Allah has not put us to shame.

    “We must give credit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the enabler; the Vice President, state governors, and other stakeholders.

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    “The pilgrimage also persevered and showed the determination to embark on the journey. They have made up their minds that they wanted to go at all costs. We are happy for the success so far.

    “Pilgrims will start returning to Nigeria as from June 22. One hundred and twenty flights have airlifted pilgrims to holy land as of today, June 9.

    “God helped us to do it, and it was successful. The persistence that we must get it right has been what is pushing us to do the right thing.

    “Before the deadline, 72 hours before the closure (for pilgrims to arrive in Saudi Arabia), all Nigerians would have been conveyed to the holy land by tomorrow morning (today).

    “We have done our best and we are living the rest to God. We pray it is going to be successful by the end of the exercise.

    “Close to 66,000 pilgrims are being catered for. There are bonds to be issued, but we are tackling them one after the other.”

    Commenting on those arrested in the holy land for certain offences, the NAHCON boss said the suspects were released hours after their arrest due to technical issues.

    He said: “Those arrested over there within hours we got them released.”

    On the controversy that ususally arose over feeding, Arabi said there was little misunderstanding, which had been resolved and that all was back to normal.

    He added: “Any service provider that is found wanting will be sent back home and penalised without delay.”

  • NITDA, NYSC target 30m Nigerian youths for digital literacy

    NITDA, NYSC target 30m Nigerian youths for digital literacy

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has launched a comprehensive digital literacy programme aimed at empowering 30 million Nigerian youths.

    The strategic partnership, which was formalised at the NYSC secretariat in Abuja, was designed to bridge the digital divide and empower the next generation to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

    The programme is expected to empower 30 million youths across the country and provide platforms for them to become digital entrepreneurs.

    The NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the programme would focus on providing practical training in key areas, such as software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital marketing.

    Abdullahi said 30 million Nigerian youths, including NYSC members, would benefit from the initiative as they would be fully equipped with skills necessary for the digital economy by 2027.

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    Speaking at the launch of the project at the weekend, Abdullahi emphasised the importance of digital literacy to the nation’s quest for economic diversification, noting that leveraging technology to enhance productivity and digital skills is the way to go.

    He said: “We have set up the team working with your (NYSC) team to explore how you can infuse technology into the NYSC process, experiment with emerging technologies, like block chain, to secure NYSC certificates, and build digital skills capacity among Corps members. Today, we are here on the bigger mission.”

    Abdullahi cited global research that predicted 85 million talent deficits by 2030, saying this could result in a loss of $8.5 trillion in annual value, if unaddressed.

    The NITDA boss noted that the programme would not only enhance employability but also drive innovation and economic growth in Nigeria.

    “We developed the National Digital Literacy Framework with an ambitious target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 with a mid-term target of 70 per cent by 2027.

    “The framework promotes universal access to digital literacy, skills development at various proficiency levels, and workforce readiness for future digital demands,” he said.

    Abdullahi gave detailed on the implementation plan, including training Corps members during their service year and using them as digital literacy ambassadors across Nigeria.

    “Our target is how we can leverage your platform to deepen that digital literacy.

    “The initiative will involve onboarding Corps members on digital platforms, providing continuous learning opportunities, and selecting ambassadors to teach digital skills in their communities.

    “We need to build a tailor-made solution that will address our challenges and harness indigenous talents to promote digital solutions, and this requires the collective efforts of the government, private sectors, and all stakeholders,” he added.