The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Allow only legitimate goods to leave the country – Igbo traders appeal to Buhari

    By Chris Oji, Enugu

    Traders under the aegis of the South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to allow only legitimate goods from our markets to leave the country.

    SEAMATA, which is umbrella union of traders of South-East extraction doing business across states of the federation made the appeal in an open letter addressed and issued to Buhari on Tuesday, which was made available to reporters in Enugu.

    The letter was duly and jointly signed by President-General of SEAMATA, Chief Gozie Akudolu, and its Secretary-General, Mr Alex Okwudili.

    It noted that the prices of local food items had sky-rocketed beyond the reach of the average citizens.

    It also revealed that the very low business patronage of both industries and the line of distributive chain would soon result to the laying-off of workers in all sectors.

    The letter reads in parts: ‘ Your Excellency Sir, trading activities has totally collapsed in the country as customers from our neighbouring countries no longer come because those that came still have their very legitimate goods lying at the borders ‘.

    The prices of local food items had sky-rocketed beyond the reach of the average citizens.

    Even the price of local rice has jumped from N7,500 in August to N17,000 for a 50 kilograms bag presently. This implies that even the new minimum wage of the civil servant cannot buy two bags of local rice.

    Our local industries are not faring better as products from such industries like building materials, electric cables, locally-manufactured biscuits and confectioneries, plastic products, local fabrics and textiles, cooking utensils, locally-made toilet soaps and detergents as well as lubricants bought by our foreign customers are all lying at the borders.

    This sudden rise in the price of goods especially staple foods is a response to the economic laws of demand in relation to supply. Once demand out numbers supply, the price must increase.

    We know from our trading experience that the prices of other commodities like motor and motorcycle spare parts, toiletries, provision and other food and sundry items shall soonest witness price hikes.

    Read Also: Partial border closure remains-Customs

    Your Excellency Sir, this precarious situation is more worrisome, as the huge financial burden of our children’s school fees at various levels and other domestic financial demands from parents are on the increase.

    ” The very low business patronage of both industries and the line of distributive chain shall soon result to the laying-off of workers in all sectors. ”

    ” It said that In the light of the foregoing, the association most sincerely and respectfully appeal to the president to graciously consider re-opening the borders and “allow only legitimate goods from our markets to leave the country”.

    We appeal to the President to look in the direction of the poor masses that are having hunger and starvation boldly starring them in the face considering that this situation is compounded by the flooding that had swept most of the farmlands with agricultural products.

    We also appeal to Mr President to put in place, as a matter of urgency, measures to checkmate these difficulties and return our fast growing economy back on track.

    We believe and trust the capacity and will-power of Mr President to alleviate the suffering of the masses and the hunger in the land.

    We thank you so very much in anticipation of your prompt and urgent action Your Excellency,’’ it added.

  • Six modular refineries to commence operations – FG

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    The Federal government has disclosed that 6 modular refineries it licensed would soon commence operations in the country in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to grow local content in the Niger Delta region.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Edobor Iyamu, has said this at a Dialogue on Critically Appraising Mechanisms Used To Transfer Benefits of Resource Extraction to the Niger Delta Region in Uyo on Tuesday.

    Iyamu said Buhari is determined to ensure that the people of the Niger Delta benefit from the opportunities that accrue from oil exploration in their area.

    ”The federal government had kept it’s word by ensuring that the refineries were not only given licenses but also encouraged to begin production.

    ”The present federal government has put conducive environment for investors to open modular refineries in the country”, he said.

    According to him, government has approved zero duties to investors on modular refinery equipment.

    “Let us not forget that in previous administration, 35 modular licenses were issued nobody did anything about it.

    “The licenses were issued and people just put the license in their suitcases, why because they were benefiting from the era of petroleum subcidy.

    “I was going to say also that because of the policy of this government which is zero duties, it’s has encouraged a lot of investors into the space

    ‘So, today as I said we have six modular refineries, and I have been there myself not talking about things I read or saw from newspapers.

    “I went there physically to inspect the modular refineries,” Iyamu said.

    Read Also: Federal Government urges court to order Innoson chairman’s arrest

    He enumerated that some of the policies set up by the government to encourage local content in the oil and gas sector to include strengthening the local content act.

    Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, member of the Nigeria Extractive Industries and Transparent Initiative Expert Advisory Panel said that various framework and mechanism to bring benefits to the region could not succeed if trust was not built through engagement between the government, oil companies and the communities.

    Ukiwo said that harmony could be created in the region and benefits derived if opportunities were created for people of the area to participate in the process of production.

    According to him, this will help to improve the economy of the communities.

    Dr Chris Onosode of Stakeholders Democratic Network, appealed to government and oil companies to work towards minimising the negative impact of oil exploration in the region.

    Programme Coordinator of the Nigeria Natural Resources Charter, Miss Tengi George-Ikoli advised people of the region to hold government accountable for how the oil and gas resources are managed to ensure that communities enjoy benefits from the resources.

  • WAZOBIA Radio apologises to Osinbajo, retracts story on N90b FIRS fraud

    By Oziegbe Okoeki

    Few weeks after Vanguard Newspapers apologised and retracted its story on the allegations by  Timi Frank regarding a N90B FIRS funding to Vice president Yemi Osinbajo for the 2019 elections, another media organization, a broadcast station has apologized to VP as well.
    Wazobia FM apologized to the Vice President, saying that it had since discovered, like other well-meaning individuals and organisations that the allegations were baseless, untrue and unsubstantiated.
    The station which also aired the report of the unfounded allegations through its popular programme titled: ”Dem Say Dem Say”, retracted the reports, saying ”We are sorry the Vice President.”
    The radio station apologised and tendered its unreserved apology to the Vice President, through the presenter of the programme, popularly known as Expensive James, saying that it erroneously joined the broadcast of fake news.
    It was gathered that the Vice-President, had ,through his solicitors, Osaror Ehogbami SAN and Femi Atoyebi SAN, wrote to the station that the report was meant to tarnish his hard-earned reputation built over the years, saying that Vice President Osinbajo had never been found wanting or linked to any act of corruption in his private or public offices.
    In a letter, the solicitors had said that for over four decades, the VP had been a distinguished scholar and legal practitioner and had risen through the ranks and files of his career. The lawyers added that the VP was Attorney General of Lagos State for 8 years and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2002 with unblemished records.
     The station, however, took a swipe on all the media who carried the report, saying evidence have proven that the report was fake news and a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Vice President.
    The station said: “Christian Association of Nigeria has said that the allegations are sponsored by those bent on tarnishing the image of the VP, he is not corrupt.
     “If our station has joined those tarnishing the VP’s image to carry out fake news on allegations of the N90 bn, we are sorry because, we don’t have any ulterior motive, especially for unfounded and unsubstantiated reports such as that.

    Read Also: N90b controversy: Lawyer says Osinbajo’s offer to waive immunity unconstitutional

    “We are very sorry Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, don’t be annoyed, because you are a Godly man,” it added.
    The presenter said that the station also looked forward to inviting Vice President Osinbajo to the station to tell his side of the story and expose the cabals said to be responsible for the dissemination of the fake news so that the world could hear from him directly.
    It would be recalled that the Vanguard Newspaper had also retracted the baseless story in its entirety, saying that the report lacks factual substances.
    In a statement  titled:”RETRACTION / APOLOGY to VP Yemi Osinbajo”, the Editor of the paper, Mr Eze Anaba, tendered apology to Vice President for the embarrassment caused by the report, saying that the newspaper holds the VP in high esteem.
    The statement read in part:”We tender our profound apology to  Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whom the story touches directly and the All Progressives Congress, A.P.C. for any inconvenience or embarrassment the publication has occasioned them. We hold Professor Osinbajo, S.A.N. in the highest esteem.”

  • Ambode defies Lagos Assembly, fails to appear before committee

    By Oziegbe Okoeki

    Immediate Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday failed again to appear before the House of Assembly ad-hoc Committee probing the activities of the last administration, especially the purchase of 820 buses for mass transit.

    The 16-man committee is chaired by Hon. Fatai Mojeed.

    Also absent was the immediate past Commissioners for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade and Special duties Oladejo Seye.

    They however wrote to be excused, claiming to be outside the country.

    The next option, according to Speaker Mudasiru Obasa when the matter appeared at plenary, is to send Ambode’s invitation publicly through newspaper publications.

    He vowed if the ex-governor fails to appear after then, the House would issue a warrant for his arrest.

    Proceedings from the sitting indicated that quite a lot of contracts and even major procurements were made by the last administration without following laid down rules and regulation with financial rules and regulations jettisoned.

    Most of the ex- commissioners stated the former Governor carried out major activities without their knowledge, claiming to be mere figureheads.

    Former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Olusegun Banjo revealed that the purchase of the 820 buses by Ambode “was not rooted through its ministry.”

    Banjo, who stated that he became commissioner in February 2018, said he followed the system he met on ground, which according to him was responsible for shady transactions on the buses that were procured.

    “The way the ministry is structured, it did not allow us to function well.

    “The N24 billion did not come to my ministry. We didn’t have a running system.

    “As a commissioner, I could not approve one naira. All the MDAs approached the Governor directly.”

    He pointed out that the way the operation went during the last administration, “a lot of things could be done without the knowledge of the commissioners. It was not transparent.”

    Read Also: Behold new Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

    Banjo confirmed that there was no provision for the purchase of the 820 buses in the 2018 and 2019 budgets, stating no VOC was issued from his office for the purchase.

    On unbudgeted funds, he said: “I don’t know what happens to unbudgeted funds when it comes because the ministry of finance does not inform my ministry, we don’t have a running system”.

    He however said that he would make available his handing over notes where he identified the lapses in the system and ways to address them.

    When the Accountant-General of the State, Mrs. Shukrat Umar was asked if the budget for the purchase of the buses was approved by the State Executive Council, she said: “The State Treasury Office acted on exco approval.

    “The buses were in line with Exco’s approval. I would not know whether the Paris Refund Club was discussed or not.”

    The Committee alleged the Imota rice mill, light-up Lagos project and procurement of LASEMA Rapid Response equipment and engagement of the consultants were done under shady circumstances as revealed by the heads of the MDAs during questioning.

    All the projects, including the Oshodi interchange, it was also discovered were never captured in the budget, the committee stated according to former Commissioners Toyin Suarau(Agriculture) and Wale Oluwo(Energy).

    It said Ambode defied laid down constitutional provisions, awarding contracts without open bidding.

  • Gunmen kill father, abduct two children in Abuja

    By: Gbenga Omokhunu and Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed Ayuba Chashe and abducted his two children at Yebu community in Kwali Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    The Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, confirmed the development to newsmen in Kwali on Tuesday.

    Chiya said that the incident happened at midnight on Monday when the gunmen attacked the community.

    The chairman condemned the attack on Yebu community that led to the death of the man and the abduction of his two children.

    He assured residents everything possible would be done to get the perpetrators to book and the children released from captivity safely.

    He commiserated with the affected family and assured that there was collaboration between security agencies to make sure that the kidnappers are apprehended.

    Read Also: Chief’s son arrested for ‘kidnapping’

    Chiya urged the community to cooperate with security agencies and report any suspicious movement to curb the menace in the area.

    When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah, said he was going to make findings and get back to our reporter.

    But he did not respond when our correspondent called twice.

  • I’m not living my best life- Don Jazzy

     Agency Reporter

     

    Marvin Record Label boss, Michael Ajereh, a.k.a Don Jazzy, on Tuesday said that he is not living the best of his life in Nigeria.

    Don Jazzy, who recently became the mouthpiece of Nigerians on Social Media made this statement as he decried on the state of the nation.

    The Producer cum artiste made this known via his Twitter handle as he lamented on the situation of things in Nigeria even though he has the money to live a good life.

    The Mavin boss, who is currently in Berlin said he always felt he is not living the best of his life when he visit other countries.

    ” That’s the thing about us in Nigeria. Is it too much faith I will call it? Or we re just too…. I don’t know the word to use.

    “You will have money set and you will just be seeing people suffering and your money no go sweet you spend. Our standard of living in Naija is sad o ahhhh. It’s not fair.

    “No matter the amount of money you have, you will still ball mediocre balling in that Nigeria.

    ” Yeah, I am in Berlin. But I normally feel this way whenever I leave the country.No matter the country I go to, small or big, I just get ashamed for us,” he wrote.

    Don Jazzy is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur.

    He co-founded the now defunct record label ‘Mo’ Hits Record’ in 2004, but following the closure of the aforementioned record label, he set up Mavin Record on May 8, 2012.

    Read Also: More than entertainment

    He is known for his numerous production in the music industry and has also contributed greatly to entertainment industry.

    His immensely contribution has made the industry what it is today, making him an outstanding producer and singer in the industry.

    Meanwhile, some fans took too his Twitter page to react, below are their reaction:

    @blvck- Wit… said” Things will fall into place eventually”.

    @debo said ” But why ……???? I guess you are not in the country ATM

  • Sultan seeks prosecution of monarchs aiding bandits

    By Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

    Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar, has called for removal and prosecution of any traditional or religious leader aiding insecurity in any part of the country.

    He spoke on Tuesday during a town hall meeting on security challenges in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara state.

    Accordingly, the revered monarch said such leader should be prosecuted and jailed.

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and his Kebbi counterpart, Atiku Bagudu were at the event.

    Bagudu was represented by his deputy but Zamfara Governor Muhammad Bello Mutawalle was conspicuously absent at the meeting.

    Emirs from Zamfara and Kebbi states were also at the meeting organised by the Sultanate Council in collaboration with the Sokoto state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    The Sultan lamented some traditional leaders, including Emirs and District Heads were involved in banditry.

    According to him: “It is a thing of worry that traditional leaders are part of the unholy and nefarious activities.

    Read Also: Again, Senate decries banditry, kidnapping in Nigeria

    “They are core agents and custodians of our cultural and religious values. We will not take it. We will extend our support to governors for actions against anyone one found guilty.”

    Government, he said, should “not just remove them, prosecute and possibly jail any one established and found culpable as disciplinary measure to check excesses on general security situation fast affecting the nation.”

    Abubakar disclosed his readiness to rally support for governors with impacting programme that would end all forms of security threats and challenges.

    He supported dialogue with the bandits, saying “if such approach can be embraced by the US over Taliban, why won’t our governors employ same by reaching out to the perpetrators and persuade their conviction?”

  • Budget defence: Senate adjourns plenary till Oct. 29

    By Agency Reporter

    The Senate on Tuesday, adjourned plenary for two weeks to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in defence of their 2020 budget.

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan announced the adjournment during Tuesday’s plenary.

    Lawan said that the adjournment was to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the purpose of budget defence of the Appropriation Bill 2020.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President of the Senate had on Oct. 8, urged MDAs to appear before Committees of the Senate in October to defend their 2020 budget.

    According to Lawan, the exercise is supposed to last for two weeks.

    Read Also: 2020 budget: Entitlements of Obasanjo, IBB, Jonathan, entitlements to gulp N2.3 billion

    “And like we said before, for the sake of emphasis, all MDAs should take this opportunity to come forward to the various committees in the National Assembly to defend their budget within the two weeks.

    “This is the only window available. And for our committees, we wish you the best of outing.

    “We will be coming to the National Assembly those of us who are not members of the committees to give the moral support that is required,” he said.

  • Kogi Poll: Non-indigenes in Kogi endorse Gov. Bello for second term

    By Agency Reporter

    A group of non-indigenes in Kogi, on Tuesday, assured Gov. Yahaya Bello of their full support in the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    Mr Kelvin Uzochukwu, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Indigenous Matters, who led the group, assured that the non-indigenes in the state were fully behind the governor, saying he had performed well to deserve a second term in office.

    ”We, the non- indigenes in Kogi State, have unanimously agreed to endorse you as our first front leader and our candidate to lead us to the promised land by Nov. 16,” he said.

    Uzochukwu noted that several meetings were held by the leaders of the non-indigenes in the state where they jointly resolved to endorse the candidacy of the governor for a second term.

    According to him, more than 13 communities of non-indigenes, including the Hausa, Isoko, Urhobo, Igbo, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Benue, Idoma, Tiv, Ijaw, Itshekiri, Yoruba and Fulani, among others, across the 21council areas of the state, had endorsed the governor.

    He noted that most of the non-indigenes were beneficiaries of the state government’s empowerment programmes such as award of scholarships and provision of grinding and sewing machines.

    The governor’s aide noted that almost all the members were already in possession of their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs), assuring that they would cast their votes for the governor.

    In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Edward Onoja, who received the letter of endorsement on behalf of the governor, thanked the group for the gesture, saying such an endorsement had never happened in the history of the state.

    Read Also: I’ll return as governor, says Yahaya Bello

    He said that the governor had been able to unite the people of Kogi, particularly members of other ethnic nationalities through various appointments under his government, adding that Bello was a listening leader.

    ”Nigeria is one and it is the only country that we have; home is home. The God that made us of different ethnic nationalities as a country never made mistake; He only wanted to tap into that advantages inherent in that diversity,” he said.

    The chief of staff stressed that the governor had exhibited the quality of a good leader by making him (Onoja), an Igala man, his number one confidant, against all odds.

    This, he said, had never happened in the history of the state, which he described as an epitome of one Nigeria.

    Onoja added that the governor had been able to bring about religious tolerance, security and peace, saying, “Bello has proven it in Kogi State.”

    He, therefore, urged the people to go back to their various communities and localities to mobilise support for the governor, saying, ”there are good qualities in this young man that we cannot afford to throw away.

  • Minister, Dettol advocate hand washing hygiene

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The Ministry of Water Resources has joined its voice with the Dettol brand to advocate for inculcation of the daily habit of hand washing for personal health and hygiene.

    The world’s leading antibacterial brand Dettol stated this on Tuesday during commemoration of Global Hand washing Day with the theme ‘Clean hands for all’.

    The Global Hand washing Day is an international advocacy dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding about the importance of washing hands with soap as an effective way of preventing diseases.
    Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, stressed the needs for Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, as a patriotic act.

    According to him: “We appreciate and support RB and Dettol for their relentless effort in fighting for better hygiene in Nigeria. We hope to build a greater level of awareness and achieve behavioural change amongst Nigerians, such that will lead to more hygienic practices and ultimately, a healthier population.
    “At federal level we have demonstrated the political will but federal government is not primarily the one that has the responsibility for providing water and sanitation for the people; it is essentially the responsibility of the state and local government.

    Read Also: Implement policies that will improve people’s mental health, FG tasked

    “We do intervene and complement their efforts. But that is not to say states should abdicate their responsibility and leave it to the federal government”.

    The Marketing Director RB West Africa, Syed Tanzim Rezwan, added: “Dettol understands the importance of good hygiene and sanitation in the lives of Nigerians.

    ”The Clean Naija Initiative was developed as an integrated multi-level campaign with the aim of creating awareness, education and driving behavioural change to achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.

    “RB Nigeria, through its Dettol brand, already has a number of programs committed to tackling some of these issues.

    ”They include: The School Hygiene Program, through which RB has educated over seven million children on proper hand hygiene habits over the past 7 years, and the New Mum’s Program, through which RB has educated over five million pregnant and new mothers on hygienic practices to protect them during the pre- and post- phases of their pregnancies”.