The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nigeria’s democracy has recorded many gains, says EU-SDGN

    Nigeria’s democracy has recorded many gains, says EU-SDGN

    EUROPEAN Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) cohort has hailed  Nigeria’s democracy, saying it has achieved alot since 1999.

    Pledging to work towards strengthening the country’s democracy and deepening its gains, EU-SDGN said Democracy Day serves to remind Nigerians of how far the country has come since June 12, 1993.

    The cohort noted the country’s democracy, although growing, had gain much.

    It acknowledged the growth in entrenching democratic values, promoting inclusivity, upholding good governance, human rights and the rule of law.

    EU-SDGN cohort called on stakeholders, including government, parties, civil society, and citizens to continue to uphold democratic principles and protect democratic gains.

    Through funding by European Union, EU-SDGN has reinforced democracy by supporting Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, Judiciary, parties, media, women, youth and persons with disabilities and civil organisations.

    Through its interventions, the programme provided technical assistance and capacity-building to strengthen democratic institutions, electoral processes, and civil society.

    Its partnerships have promoted transparency and accountability, while also increasing citizens’ engagement to ensure a vibrant participation.

    Members include: DAI Global, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa, National Peace Committee, SOS Children’s Villages, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Justice Development and Peace Initiative, and Justice, Development & Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC).

  • We’re fully opposed to same-sex marriage, says Anglican Church

    We’re fully opposed to same-sex marriage, says Anglican Church

    The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has said it is fully committed to its resistance to same-sex marriage.

    The church said such a practice is incompatibility with the scripture.

    The Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Godwin Robinson, stated this on Saturday while delivering the Bishop’s Charge at the ongoing third session of the eighth Synod of the Diocese.

    The Synod is being hosted by Mount Zion Anglican Church at Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

    Robinson, who enlightened the congregation on the global matter, also briefed the church on the outcome of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) held at Kigali in Rwanda from April 17 to 21.

    Read Also: Obi Cubana toasts wife on 15th traditional marriage anniversary

    According to him, the Church of Nigeria, which was part of the convention, took its stand against that of Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States, which support same-sex marriage.

    While Nigeria’s bloc, the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, comprising mainly churches from Africa and Asia oppose same-sex marriage, others, led by England and U.S.A, support it.

    “We do not regard the word of God as a relative truth. We stand on Resolution 1:10 of Lambeth 1998, which affirmed marriage as a lifelong union between a man and a woman, stating clearly that same-sex marriage is wrong.

    “Homosexual practices are incompatible with the scripture,” he said.

    The cleric said he and other delegates from Nigeria were at the Kigali Convention, which drew over 1,302 delegates from the 52 countries of the world and who spoke in one voice against such evil practices.

    “GAFCON promised to prioritise youth and children ministry and use discipleship to equip them for a lifetime of ministry, committed to demonstrate compassion of Christ through the many GAFCON Mercy Ministries, among others,” Robinson said.

  • Niger Delta ethnic nationalities back Akpabio for Senate President

    Niger Delta ethnic nationalities back Akpabio for Senate President

    Coalition of Registered Niger Delta Ethnic Associations has called on governors and senators from the oil-rich region, across all party lines, to back the ambition of Senator Godswill Akpabio to become the Senate president in the interest of a better Nigeria and the development of their region.

    The group, which represents all the Niger Delta ethnic groups in the 19 states of the North and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu for greater unity and prosperity for all.

    The coalition also said it’s common interest is to unite Nigerians from the grassroots via cultural exchange.

    Among its aims is to attract peace and infrastructural development to Niger Delta.

    In a statement in Abuja at the weekend, the group praised former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and other governors and Senators for their support to Senator Akpabio.

    In a communique issued at the end of its meeting, the Niger Delta group recalled the shining developmental strides of Senator Akpabio as a governor and his efforts in uniting and supporting various ethnic nationalities within Akwa Ibom State as well as his achievements as a minister.

    The communique stated that the meeting was organised and presided over by the Chairman of Ijaw Community Abuja/Northern Nigeria Alagba Ebifemowei, Chief Charles Emoghene, Isoko Residents Forum in Abuja and Ohochukwu Chinda, secretary of the coalition.

    According to the communique, “His (Akpabio) policies and footprints have endeared him to the hearts of Nigerians.

    “Senator Akpabio deserves to be supported by his colleagues as a desirable Nigerian and a team player for the common interest of one and indivisible Nigeria. He acts by example as a Leader connected to Nigerians regardless of ethnic and religious background.”

    The coalition appealed to the respective governors across the parties and their Senators to work as a team and in unity to elect a performing Senator that will improve the peaceful relationships between the various arms of government.

    The group congratulated elected senators from the Niger Delta and expressed it preparedness to host them in FCT to sustain the healthy relationship between the respective senators and their ethnic nationality associations in the Federal Capital Territory.

  • UPDATED: Betara, Gagdi withdraw from speakership race for Abbas

    UPDATED: Betara, Gagdi withdraw from speakership race for Abbas

    Two of the speakership aspirants Hon Aliyu Betara and Hon Yusuf Gagdi have withdrawn from the race for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

    They agreed to step down from race on Sunday after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu abd Vice President Kashim Shettima.

    The meeting was attended by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Niger Governor, Mohammed Bago who was also a member of the 9th Assembly.

    When contacted, an aide to Hon. Gagdi confirmer the incident. He said: “Have you seen the video making the round after a meeting with the President and the Vice President? That is the position for now. You can wrote your story along that line’.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s parley boosts Akpabio’s, Abbas’ chances

    The Tajudeen Abbas/Benjamin Kalu media campaign team announced Betara and Gagdi have stepped down from the race.

    The campaign team said: “It is worthy to note that Betara and Gagdi announced that they stepped down for Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas today, Sunday June 11, 2023 after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

    “As of Sunday June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones, and he is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House come Tuesday, June 13, 2023”.

    With the withdrawal of Betara and Gagdi from the race, only Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase, Sani Jaji and Sada Soli are left to slug it out with Abbas when the House is inaugurated on Tuesday.

  • JUST IN: Betara, Gagdi withdraw from speakership race for Abbas

    JUST IN: Betara, Gagdi withdraw from speakership race for Abbas

    Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi , two of the Speakership aspirants have stepped down for Tajudeen Abbas, the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They announced their withdrawal from the race after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday.

    Read Also: Fourth-term Rep Akinlade backs Abbas for Speaker

    The ruling party has nominated Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly respectively.

    Details Shortly…

  • Recycling alliance in symbolic ocean clean-up to mark world’s ocean day

    Recycling alliance in symbolic ocean clean-up to mark world’s ocean day

    Members of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, FBRA, have held a symbolic beach cleanup exercise to commemorate this year’s World Ocean Day. 

    Led by the current chair, Ziad Maalouf, the beach cleanup, which took place at Elegushi Beach, Lagos, was adopted as a springboard for encouraging more sustainable practices around the country’s ecosystem. 

    With member-companies gathered, the beach clean-up exercise engaged attendees in a series of activities to remove plastic debris and other pollutants from the environs.

    FBRA’s participation in the global commemoration models the company’s commitment to protecting and preserving the environment from post-consumer packaging material. In step with the alliance’s mission,  FBRA is placing priority on influencing the management of plastic waste and the environmental footprints of entities across the food and beverage industry.

    Speaking at the event, Maalouf, the chairman of the Alliance and Managing Director at SBC Nigeria, said: “the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step – and the journey to a green Nigeria starts with cleaning one spot. This beach clean-up event is in alignment with our commitment to environmental stewardship in Nigeria. Our environment holds the fabric of our society together, and our dependence on it is undeniable. We must move from a linear economy to a circular economy that protects and drives profit within the Nigerian economy. This involves creating investments for a sustainable future, working with local recyclers, and preserving the profit from those streams within the country.”

    One of FBRA’s key foci is to further the industry’s alignment with the NESREA operational guidelines for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as well as the United Nations’ sustainable development goals to address climate action, life on land, life below water, responsible consumption and production, and other pressing themes.

    Read Also: Bottling company affirms commitment to cleaner environment, recycling

    Since 2012, members of the FBRA have set ambitious goals to support the circular economy and enhance its recycling infrastructure. By actively participating in FBRA and other industry initiatives, members aim to lead by example and inspire collaborative action for a sustainable future.

    The Executive Secretary of the FBRA, Agharese Onaghise, who emphasised the importance of collaboration in tackling waste management and pollution, said: “Members of the FBRA have joined forces to address these issues as part of their extended producer responsibility. This event is aligned with the global theme of this year’s World Environment Day “Solutions for Plastic Pollution” as a driver to collectively address the menace of plastic pollution. We are excited to have 29 members of the FBRA from the food and beverage industry contributing to solve the issues that affect our environment and ourselves,  supporting the collection of the post-consumer waste. We must continue to encourage these practices, ensuring they become ingrained in our culture.”

    Member-companies represented at this year’s beach cleanup included SBC Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Breweries Plc, The LaCasera Company Plc, Nestle, Guinness Nigeria Plc, CHI Limited, UAC Foods, Nigerian Bottling Company, CWAY Foods, Prima Corporation Limited, International Breweries Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, and Tetrapak West Africa.

    The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) is a non-profit industry collaboration platform set up in 2018 by a Memorandum of Understanding with the objective to galvanise responsible players in the food and beverage industry to support and scale up post-consumer waste collection, buyback schemes and recycling programmes. The Alliance is poised to implement exemplary programmes, which will help preserve our environment, ignite innovation, create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for repurposing of packaging waste.

  • Open letter to Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umoh Eno

    Open letter to Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umoh Eno

    Sir: The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State Government House, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.

    Dear Pastor Umoh Eno, there is joy in my heart to welcome you to the seat of Government constituency, Akwa Ibom State and to bid farewell to the government of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, government.

    I will never cease to thank God, by whose grace you have become our leader. The joy in my heart is only to the extent that you will outperform your predecessor.

    But I have a short message for you. What we expect to see in Akwa Ibom State under your watch is no less than good governance, government of completed projects, pay gratuities to retired civil servants in the State. Project the name of the State by good governance.

    Read Also: Pastoralists’ group calls for creation of livestock ministry

    There are so many projects abandoned by the previous government of Akwa Ibom State. To mention but a few, Atan Ikot Okoro Road, General Hospital Ukanafun, abandoned academic block Ikot Osurua, Inyang Isong Road Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Ikono LG, International Worship Centre, Ibom Science Park, Urban Secondary School fencing and devotion Hall in Ikono LGA, Peacock Paint Factory, Eket Ibeno Road Dualization, Feyreps Cassava Mill Ibiono Ibom, Ikpanya Road, Ibiono Ibom LGA, road leading to Goretti Girls School Ikot Ekpene, Community Secondary School, Ikot Uso Ekong in Eket, Mexican Cow rearing farm, China Market Eket and many more.

    Please endeavour to complete these projects so that the fund invested in these projects will not be wasted because government is a continuum.

    Let the people whosover as a result of these uncompleted projects get relief.

    Cancel your dream project “the Happy Hour project” do not do happy hour in Akwa Ibom State. The reason is that as you are creating happy hour to people who drink, you are creating unhappy hour to people who do not drink, for people who drink but are not within the circumference where the drinking happens, it is unhappy hour for them also because they are not participating.

    The best happy hour is payment of bursary to students of tertiary institutions, payment of gratuity, improving on social amenities and infrastructure, good roads in Nsit Ubium, Oruk Anam, Ibiono Ibom, Ukanafun etc, free JAMB form, free WAEC fees to the people of Akwa Ibom State, etc.

    Project the name of God as a pastor that your are, never you abandon the title referencing you to God, for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his soul? – Mark 8 v 36. The world is watching, Akwa Ibom People are watching, Nigerians are watching, some people are praying for your fall to cast aspersion on the church. Becoming a governor is the greatest test on you to see how firm you can stand.

    Do not look back at people who never supported you, it is your good governance that will bridge the gap between friends and enemies.

    Please be very prudent on how you spend the resources of the State as this is very crucial, do not allow anyone to influence what you do, take only good advice, always be prepared for a day of reckoning. if our resources are missing we will hold you responsible. Pray for more critics to put you in check instead of sycophants. We pray that you succeed.

    Nkereuwem Anana Esq

  • Why I live a selfless life – Emmanuel Alonge

    Why I live a selfless life – Emmanuel Alonge

    For entrepreneur, Emmanuel Alonge, living a selfless life and being committed to sharing his resources with people has helped him to become a better person in life.

    From entertainment to real estate and other industries where Alonge has played over the years, his mantra has always been about adding value to lives and making efforts to support the people.

    According to the the man who is largely loved for his love and passion for the entertainment and showbiz industry, no life is a waste and no life is more important than the other, we just have to show equal and mutual love to all.

    Alonge who has thrived in real estate, hospitality and entertainment noted that one of the biggest lessons for him is that wealth creation without human capacity and development is a mere jamboree that is not sustainable.

    Read Also: Philanthropist offers N6m scholarships to students

    Alonge who is also a philanthropist said his passion for welfarism was borne out of his conviction that providing necessary support for people, particularly in the entertainment sector is something he has remained committed to.

    For me, my joy rests in seeing that people are happy and fruitfully engaged in what makes them happy. If we don’t get it right, many will go astray and becoming a menace” he added

    Alonge maintained that he not just been involved in helping people, be has been committed to using all his interests including entertainment and hospitality businesses to change and transform lives.

    In his words, “I look at our society and I realise that it would have been a lot better and beneficial if people could show more love and kindness to the man next door.”

  • Akande, Oyetola’s kinsmen express hope in Tinubu’s economy drive

    Akande, Oyetola’s kinsmen express hope in Tinubu’s economy drive

    The kinsmen of the first interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande have expressed hope in the new economy drive by President Bola Tinubu.

    This is just as kinsmen of the former governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola also commended the new president over the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Residents of Ila-Orangun led by Osun ex-Commissioner, Olawale Adebisi, thronged the residence of Akande to pray for the new president and applaud him for charting a new course for the country’s economy.

    Speaking with newsmen at Akande’s residence, Adebisi said: “We gather here this afternoon to join our father, Chief Adebisi Akande to celebrate President Tinubu. The emergence of Tinubu and Shettima is an answered prayer, it is special to us in Ila-Orangun because our father Chief Adebisi Akande is a key factor in the process of the emergence of the new President..”

    Read Also: Sambo, Binani, Oyegun, Kwankwaso, Akande commission El-Rufai’s projects

    Similarly, residents of Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State under the aegis of Iragbiji Youth Forum, Ajegunle Chapter expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s renewed hope mantra will be addressed all the challenges of the country when Nigerians backed him.

    The forum through its chairman, Chief Abdul-Kareem Abidoye held that some decisions may be hard on Nigerians but they will lead to economic gain.

    He added that “the birth of anything gainful is painful. Tinubu will make some decisions which may be tough but when enduring a little while, it will yield gain for us as individuals and nation.”

  • Ondo Poly lecturers declare indefinite strike over 13 months unpaid salaries

    Ondo Poly lecturers declare indefinite strike over 13 months unpaid salaries

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, have passed a resolution to begin industrial action to pursue their demands for payment of their outstanding 13 months’ salary arrears.

    They vowed they would not participate in the institution’s first semester examination which begins next week.

    Their resolution was reached after RUPIGO’s ASUP Congress was held last Thursday.

    A communiqué issued after the Congress and signed by the union’s Chairman, Comrade Arikawe Ade and Secretary, Comrade Fapetu Damilola said the lecturers would begin the indefinite strike action on June 13th June 2023.

    Read Also: Ondo Poly lecturers declare indefinite strike

    According to the communique, “We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 Months) salary arrears owned by the staff of the institution.

    “The Congress wishes to strongly emphasise that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union (ASUP),” the communiqué reads.

    Comrade Arikawe said lecturers in the institution were faced with challenges as a result of a backlog of unpaid salaries.

    He appealed to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to support the institution to clear the salary arrears.

    Comrade Arikawe noted that the hike in fuel prices has compounded the lecturers’ hardship.

    Arikawe added that, “reinstating of the former Chairman of the union Comrade Ijawoye Rafiu must be considered as his dismissal was based on union matter and not negligence.

    Recall that Comrade Ijawoye Rafiu and the current Chairman Comrade Arikawe Ade were dismissed from the service of the institution without  recourse to due process. Comrade Arikawe Ade had been recalled while Comrade Ijawoye Rafiu is left out.