The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • PDP chieftain remanded for raping minor

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital has remanded a popular chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state one Ohaeri in Afara prison located in Umuahia North LGA.

    Ohaeri was said to have been remanded for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl, one Miss Uloaku Onyekwere, an indigene of Umuana Ndume Ibeku in Umuahia North local government area of the state.

    The accused in the charge was said to have on the Wednesday, 18th day of September 2019 at Ndume in Umuahia North magisterial District unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the victim, an offence punishable under section 32(2) of the Abia state Child’s Right Law, 2006.”

    Information has it that the victim, while narrating the incident, told the court that she was at home with her brother Chimaobi and another relation Chigoziri of the same age, when Ohaeri called them to help him sweep his house and compound.

    She stated that while they were sweeping the house, Ohaeri gave Chigoziri N500 to buy bread him while Chimaobi was outside.

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    Continuing, she said that while she was still sweeping one of the rooms, Ohaeri came into the room and grabbed her from the back, removing her pant and forced himself on her.

    She said her scream made her brother Chimaobi rush into the house who later called her father before the matter was reported to Word Bank Police Divisional Headquarters, Umuahia where she was examined by a medical doctor.

    During questioning, the elder brother to the victim, Chimaobi Onyekwere, 12, who saw the PDP chieftain forcing himself on his sister, said he was outside when he heard his sister screaming.

    “I rushed inside the house and I saw brother on top of my sister before I ran to call my father,” he said.

    Father of the victim, Mr. Onyekwere Nmeregini, a tricycle driver, called for justice for her daughter.
    He said when he confronted Ohaeri, he denied the allegation and threatened to deal with him for falsely accusing him.

  • ASUP threatens strike over FG failed promises

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to down tool over unfulfilled promises of the Federal government to their various demands.

    The body issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address its numerous agitations or risk indefinite withdrawal of its services nationwide.

    Rising from its 96th National Executives Council meeting on Thursday at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, the union urged its organs and chapters to commence mobilization for the proposed strike towards rescuing the sector from imminent collapse.

    President of the union, Usman Dutse, who read out the 6-point communique, titled, “Renewed Threats to the survival of polytechnic education in Nigeria, the position of the ASUP”, regretted government’s refusal to respond to its several correspondences.

    He maintained that only an efficiently run educational system would deliver Nigeria’s quest for a knowledge driven economy.

    The communique partly read, “Our union has been in constant engagements with the Nigerian government in different scales with significant outcomes.

    “However, recent events in the sector have reawakened our consciousness to our strategic position in the sector and our responsibility to ensure it does not collapse in deed.”

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    Dutse enumerated the areas of concern to include attempt to forcefully enroll its members into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), non-implementation of Federal Polytechnics Act 2019 Amendment, as well as continued victimisation of union officers.

    He said, “The committee set up to renegotiate our agreement with the government since 2015 is yet to respond to our charter of demands submitted 10months ago and Government has refused all entreaties to reconvene the renegotiation.

    “Our union has been complaining that insertions that undermine global best practices in tertiary education have been forced into the scheme of service currently at the final stages of the review process.

    “Critical aspects of the signed Memorandum of Settlement (MOS) signed between our union and the government is yet to be implemented since 2017, including non-release of the NEEDS assessment funds to polytechnics nor release of revitalization fund for the sector.”

  • Man bags six months jail term for stealing phone

    Osagie Otabor, Bénin

    A 23-year old man, Silas Ainyiga, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment for stealing one Itel P33 phone worth N23, 000 belonging to one Elijah Ogugua Maduka.

    Silas was said to have committed the offence on September 20, 2019.

    He pleaded guilty to the one count charge of stealing preferred against him.

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, said the offence contravened section 390(9) of the Criminal Code law, Cap 48 vol II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 now applicable in Edo State.

    Read Also: Two businessmen in court for allegedly stealing 1,500 empty Crates of Trophy Beer

    Presiding Magistrate, Ivie Akhere, found the accused guilty on the charge.

    She sentenced Silas to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.

  • Timely warnings by NIMET has saved many lives, says Wase

    By Tony Akowe, Abuja

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Ahmed Idris Wase has said that the alerts and information of possible flood dished our regularly by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has saved the lives of several Nigerians.

    Wase who spoke when he received the management of the agency said such prompt warnings and other meteorological services would have caused devastative effect on Nigerians without NIMET.

    He said in the past, Nigerians have suffered a lot for lack of information with regards to the flooding and other disasters, adding that the country have moved forward from where it use to be largely due to the contribution of NIMET.

    He charged the agency to do more, while assuring them of the National Assembly’s readiness to support them in delivering best services to the country.

    Director General, Prof. Sani Mashi lamented the agency’s lack of observation stations where they are expected to collect data for at least 9,300 station across Nigeria, adding that Nigeria with 9,330 square kilometres requires one station for every one hundred kilometres to be able to collect date accurately.

    Read Also: Agenda for Gbajabiamila, Wase

    He disclosed that the country currently has less than 200 stations, which he said are not enough, saying the implication means Nigerian is greatly under observed.

    He lamented lack of funds as the greatest challenge facing the agency, urging National Assembly to come to their aid.

    Mashi assured the Deputy Speaker that NIMET will continue to do its best to provide meteorological services to Nigerians despite the challenges being face by the agency.

  • Buhari endorses stiffer penalties for violators of broadcasting codes

    By Agency Reporter

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the review of the National Broadcasting Code and extant broadcasting laws to reflect stiffer penalties for violators of broadcasting regulations.

    The President has also endorsed the implementation of reforms to end all forms of monopoly detrimental to the actualisation of the immense potential of the broadcast industry.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Reform Implementation Committee.

    Specifically, the minister said that the President approved the upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5 million for breaches
    relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency

    He said the Preaident also approved that wilful repeat of infractions on three occasions after levying fine on a station should attract suspension of license.

    The minister said Buhari also approved the upgrade of breach of political comments relating to hate speeches and divisive comments to ”Class A” offence in the Broadcasting Code.

    Other approvals by the President according to the miniater are: “Ammendment of the NBC Act to enable NBC license WebTv and radio stations, including foreign broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria

    “Recruitment of more monitoring staff for the NBC. At the moment, there are only about 200 Staff monitoring about 1,000 radio and television stations.

    “Deployment of adequate monitoring equipment and technologies for the NBC and enhancement of welfare packages of NBC staff to avoid their compromise in the line of duty’.

    The Preaident, according to the minister, said that the reviewed code must also ensure the Independence of the NBC from political interference in the exercise of its regulatory powers, particularly with respect to the
    issuance and withdrawal of broadcasting license.

    Mohammed said the decisions were sequel to the deliberations at the Federal Executive
    Council (FEC) of March 27, on the unprofessional and unethical conduct of some broadcast stations, especially before and during the last general elections.

    ” The President directed me to institute an inquiry into the conduct of the stations and
    report back to the Council

    “Consequently, I inaugurated a five-member committee on Wednesday, April 10th 2019 with the following terms of reference:

    “To find out to what extent the NBC was able to effectively carry out its regulatory role before and during the 2019 general elections.

    ” Recommend measures that could strengthen the NBC’s regulatory role and make it more effective.

    “The committee submitted its report on April 24th 2019, with 26 recommendations, and I subsequently forwarded the report to Mr.
    President, who has since approved them,” he said.

    The minister, therefore charged the reform implementation committee to carry out a
    thorough job that will re-position the NBC as a effective and efficient regulator.

    ‘We are now at the implementation stage, hence I have appointed seven ‘wise’ men and woman to design the framework for the
    implementation,” he said.

    The minister said that the terms of reference of the committee included the implementation of the recommendations of the committee on the NBC reforms as approved by the President.

    He said the committee should immediately commence work on all statutory, legal and regulatory framework for further legislative action on the review of the NBC Act by the National Assembly.

    The minister tasked the committee to immediately establish and publicise a new sanctioning, fines and penalty regime that is in line with international best practice,.

    He said the new penalty regime would also help to promote professionalism and serve as a deterrent to erring practitioners against misconduct, especially hate speech, violence and spread of fake news.

    Mohammed tasked the committee to establish and publish a new regulation for the licensing of Web and Internet broadcasters/International broadcasters in Nigeria.

    He said the committee should immediately assess and propose equipment, materials and training needed to make the NBC a modern and well-positioned regulator

    ‘ The committee should liaise with relevant agencies to ensure the provision of the
    manpower needs of the Commission to enable it function optimally

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    “It should work out the modalities for a competitive and reasonable salaries, wages and other welfare needs of the staff of the Commission

    “Establish necessary protocols for the establishment or appointment of professionals or technocrats (non-partisan personality) to run the agency, and appointment into the board of the NBC”

    The minister also directed the committee to end all forms of monopoly detrimental to the actualization of the immense potential of the broadcast industry.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister gave the committee chaired by Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, Director of Monitoring of the NBC, six weeks to submit its report.

    Other members of the committee are, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, Acting Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON),

    Mr Agbo Ndubuisi, Board Member, NBC and Mr J.K. Ehicheoya, Director, Legal Services in the Ministry.

    Others are, Hajia Binta Bello, Secretary, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria Mr. Ibrahim Jimoh, Director of Administration, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and Mr. Joe Mutah, Chief Press Secretary to the minister who will serve as the Secretary.

  • FG, CRCC sign $3.9b Itakpe-Abuja railway agreement

    By Faith Yahaya, Abuja

    The federal government has signed a $3.9 billion agreement with a Chinese firm for the construction of railway from Itakpe to Abuja and construction of seaport in Warri.

    The agreement, which is Public Private Partnership (PPP), will have Nigeria cover 15 percent of the entire cost of the project while China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) will cover 10 percent.

    The remaining 75 percent, according to the federal government, will be borrowed by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

    To repay the 75 percent loan, the Federal government revealed that the rail would be managed by the CRCC for 30 years after which it would be handed over to the federal government.

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotini Amaechi explained that the government decided to opt for PPP agreement so as to reduce the debt from loans borrowed.

    He disclosed these in Abuja on Thursday during the signing of PPP railway agreement for Abuja- Lokoja rail project and construction of Warri seaport between the federal government and a delegation from CRCC led by its Vice President, Wang Wenzhong

    Amaechi said: “The signing ceremony that we have today is the first PPP railway agreement for Abuja- Itakpe or Abuja-Baru-Itakpe and Lokoja and it is between Nigeria and CRCC. The agreement is to be 15% Nigeria equity and 10percent CRCC equity and then we will borrow 75 percent as SPV from the Chinese bank.

    “We will give them sovereign guarantee and they will give us performance bond that protects our sovereign guarantee. When they finish construction, they will manage for 30 years. When they recover their money, the ownership of the asset will revert back to the government of Nigeria. The 15 percent covered by us will be paid gradually.

    “The entire railway for now in Nigeria is constructed 100 by CRCC. I think that the good working relationship we have had with CRCC is the reason we have not been able to engage other companies.”

    On transfer of technology and knowledge, the Minister said there was need for the Chinese firm to engage Nigerian engineers and contractors.

    He said: “We need you to work with us to develop the knowledge of Nigerians and that is why we emphasized on the universities we are asking you to build. We are expecting that not only will you build, you will provide us with lecturers until we can train our own lecturers.

    “Literally, all the railway activities in Nigeria are handled by Chinese firm. The Abuja-Kaduna that is completed was done by CCECC, and the Lagos Ibadan that is nearing completion is also handled by the Chinese.”

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    Giving update on the Lagos-Ibadan rail, Amaechi said: “I hope they (CCECC) will be able to complete the project before the deadline. We need you to complete it quickly and we have told you that by February, legally by law, the contract signed would have expired. I hope you will complete before that time so that we can commence commercial activities.”

    Wenzhong expressed hope that construction of Ibadan dry port would commence before the end of the year.
    He explained that the construction of the dry port would reduce the current gridlock witnessed in Apapa area of Lagos state.

    He said: “This year, our chairman visited Nigeria and met the president of Nigeria and discussed the Ibadan dry port. As requested, we submitted the Full Business Case (FBC). With your assistance, we hope that the concession operation agreement would be signed in a short time so we can start this project by the end of this year and reduce the gridlock in Apapa.

    CRCC also indicated interest to participate in the operation of Lagos-Ibadan rail line when completed. “We also wish to participate in operation of Lagos Ibadan railway project.”

  • NDDC: Group blasts Lori-Ogbebor, urges Senate to confirm new board

    By Osagie Otabor, Benin

    A socio-political group, the Benin Movement for Change, has decried Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor for calling on the Nigeria Senate not to confirm the appointment of Dr. Pius Odubu and Mr. Benard Okumagba as Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission respectively.

    It urged the Senate to take the comment Lori-Ogbebor comments as that of a busy body.

    National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Edogiawere Igbinosa, said both Dr. Dr. Odubu and Okumagba hail from oil producing areas of their respective states.

    Edogiawere who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City stated that Lori-Ogbebor may be an in-law to the Benins but that does not confer her the right or audacity to talk about who is qualified for federal appointment from Edo or Delta States.

    He urged the Senate not be swayed by the cries of busy bodies like Lori-Ogbebor.

    According to him, “We are taken aback by comments credited to one Rita Lori-Ogbebor asking the Senate not to confirm the nomination of our illustrious son, Dr. Pius Odubu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State.

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    “For the information of the public, Dr. Odubu is eminently qualified for the position of Chairman of the Board of the NDDC. He hails from Orhionmwon local government that housed the largest gas reserve in West Africa.

    “We, in Edo, are in support of the nomination and it is our turn to produce Chairman of the NDDC Board since it is down on rotational basis among the oil producing states.

    “The Senate should not be swayed by the cries of a busy body from Delta State. They should confirm the nomination of Dr. Odubu.

    “Edo people and other states are happy with Odubu because they know good days are here.”

  • Traffic congestion: Oyo impounds 50 trailers at Iwo-road

    By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

    In a move aimed at sanitizing Oyo state highways and ensuring free flow of traffic, the Chairman Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA), Dr. Akin Fagbemi on Thursday led men and officers of the agency to impound 50 vehicles at the popular Iwo-road, along Lagos-Ibadan highway in Ibadan North local government in Ibadan.

    Several heavy-duty vehicles were indiscriminately parked along the road, causing huge obstruction to free vehicular movement along the corridor and paralyzing economic activities around the area.

    The trailers were taken to the agency’s headquarters in the State secretariat at Agodi to free up traffic and allow for free human and materials movement within metropolis.

    While addressing the drivers of the impounded vehicles, the Chairman said the present administration in the state was not out to make life unbearable for the people but to do all within the ambit of the law to woo foreign Investors by creating enabling environment devoid of avoidable and perpetual traffic jams.

    He said, “You may recall that we recently announced the approval by the governor for immediate use of a 250-trucks capacity parking space at our Sanyo operational center. While frantic efforts are on to secure other parking spaces across the State, we implore all heavy duty vehicle operators to utilize the available park and desist from indiscriminate parking on the highways as this is highly inimical to other road users as well as the fact that it cripples economic activities within the State.

    Read also: Oyo transport union resolves crisis

    “This operation is not to witch-hunt anybody. We are aware of the technical implications of the continuous parking of this heavy-duty vehicles whose imposing weights far supersedes that of the designed load-carrying capacity of the highways thus destroying the roads by creating portholes at different sections of the highways.

    “We therefore enjoin all trailer operators within the State to cooperate with the State Government to achieve free flow of traffic across the 33 local government areas of the State.”

    The State government had about a week ago announced the approval of 250 trucks capacity parking space to decongest highways within the Ibadan metropolis as a response to prayers from business concerns in the city for government to find a lasting solution to the traffic menace

  • Oyo declares zero tolerance for potholes

    By Yinka Adenira, Ibadan

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state on Thursday declared zero tolerance for potholes on the roads across the state, giving a marching order to the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, (OYSROMA), to begin an immediate rehabilitation and fixing of damaged roads.

    The governor made the disclosure through the Chairman, OYSROMA, Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, after conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the various roads rehabilitation being carried out by the agency within Ibadan metropolis.

    According to the Chairman, “The state government is poised at reducing pot-holes on our roads to the barest minimum, hence the adoption of zero tolerance policy.

    “This will be carried out in all areas of the state to ease the burden of motorists and other road users that had to cope with the road conditions before the arrival of this administration.

    “The work will entail the bed roads which have to be rehabilitated and the recently constructed roads which must be well maintained,” he added.

    Read Also: Makinde revokes controversial Moniya-Iseyin road contract

    Akinlabi noted further that drainages are being de-silted and evacuated along with the road repairs in order to allow for free flow of water in the drains while preventing flooding of the roads.

    He therefore appealed to the people of the state to desist from dumping refuse in drainage while enjoining them to bear with the state government over the inconveniences they experienced as a result of the on-going rehabilitation work.

    “My appeal goes to the people of Oyo state to desist from dumping refuse in drainage as this may lead to flooding of the roads which may lead to eventual damage of our roads.

    “They should also try to bear with us as the ongoing rehabilitation works would hinder their free movement briefly. it is for the greater good.”

    The Chairman, who was accompanied by the General Manager of the agency, Engr. Modinat Oduola and some management staff, went on inspection of Mokola under bridge to UCH road; Dandaru – Secretariat- Government House- SUBEB and Sabo, Recreation- Onireke roads.

  • INEC deploys 26,000 ad hoc staff for Kogi, Bayelsa poll

    By Agency Reporter

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) says it has deployed 26,000 ad hoc staff for the Nov. 16, Kogi and Bayelsa governorship poll.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said this during a visit to the commission’s office at Koton-Karfe in Kogi on Thursday.

    “I want to tell you that for the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship poll, each of the 26,000 school staff that will work on Election Day is going to receive a letter of appointment.
    “That letter will among other things give a detailed breakdown of the allowance that each ad hoc staff is entitled to and a procedure for complain in case there are issues.

    “So, no ad hoc staff will go into election without knowing exactly what his entitlements are,” he said.
    Yakubu expressed satisfaction that non -sensitive materials had been delivered in most Local Government Areas (LGAs) ahead of the election.

    He said that the offices were only waiting for card readers and sensitive materials for the election.
    He urged the staff to ensure that they keep their eyes on the providers of transportation having signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ) to convey election materials.

    He said that the commission was committed to opening polling units at 8 a.m., and told the staff that there should be no excuses.
    “I can see from the arrangement you have made, I am confident that you will beat that target.
    “We don’t want Nigerians to wait for us, we want officials of the commission to wait for voters come on Election Day,” he said.

    Read Also: INEC to publish Bayelsa, Kogi voters’ registers on Monday

    Yakubu said adequate arrangements had been made with boats and canoe owners to transport election materials to communities along the river.
    The Chairman said INEC had discharged its obligation adding all money required for the election has been released.
    “We will keep our eyes open to ensure that all ad hoc staff are paid fully and promptly for the election and keep our eyes on the process too,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Mansur Suliaman ,INEC Electoral Officer, Koton-Karfe LGA said the area has a total of 53,590 registered voters ,11 registration areas ,67 polling units and 32 voting points.
    Suliaman said that immediately the commission released the time-table for the election, series of events were organised including security meetings.
    He said that 2745 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) were received,247 were issued and 2,498 were uncollected