The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Boko Haram: France, allies warned over path with insurgents to undermine Nigeria

    Save Humanity Advocacy Center (SHAC) has warned France to desist from its unholy union with members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram to undermine the entity called Nigeria.

     

    The group was reacting to a recent report by New York Times, which claimed the insurgents bought some sophisticated weapons from France.

     

     

    Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar,

    Executive Secretary of SHAC warned France and any country it may be using as proxy to prop up Boko Haram by using them as conduit to deliver arms and military gear to the terrorists to stop.

     

    The group further urged the international community to ask France the pertinent questions before it becomes too late.

     

    His speecb below.

     

    Gentlemen of the press, you must have noticed the report that said Boko Haram insurgents have acquired sophisticated drones.

     

    The reported hardware are presently capable of reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and spying missions. It is a matter of time before they escalate to using drones that are capable of carrying out attacks.

     

    We find expedient to believe the report because it was widely syndicated by western owned media, which are known to run propaganda for Boko Haram in the past.

     

    Their report of the drones acquisition came about the same time that there were reports from locals that the terrorists have started sporting new weapons in recent weeks.

     

    In the past, the source of the weapons air-dropped to Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast of Nigeria has been established as patently French. It is something that has attracted outcry  from the Save Humanity Advocacy Group in the past with the concern echoed by other individuals and organizations that became aware of the French treachery.

     

    Let it be noted that in spite of the overwhelming evidence that indicted France it has not done anything meaningful to address its complicity in the distribution of instrument of death to terrorists for use against Nigerians. Even the arrest of French trainers among the terrorists has not moved French to own up to its negative role in the axis neither has it taught it to halt it subversive activities against Nigeria.

     

    When this French involvement in arming Boko Haram was raised in the past France will sidestep the issues by sponsoring international NGOs and some media circuits to demonized the Nigerian authorities, especially the military and particularly the Nigerian Army. It is this practice that has again surfaced as the running commentary about the military being incapable of fighting the terrorists or that Boko Haram members have the upper hand over the Nigerian state.

     

    The timing of the report about Boko Haram now possessing drones and even newer firearms curiously coincides with the announcement of a $1 billion regional effort aimed at combating terrorism in the West African Sub-region. These kind of reports coinciding with announcement of regional efforts have been pivotal to the demise of such efforts at fighting Boko Haram in the past.

     

    The stories we are now reading means we will be seeing a repeat of previous patterns – Boko Haram will attempt hitting soft targets and occasional military targets that will not dare try now that there are Super Camps. These will then be followed by lopsided media campaigns that will first cast Boko Haram as the superior force and later present insurgents as victims of human rights abuses.

     

    We are challenging France to tell the world who is responsible for arming Boko Haram in the past. The answer to this question of who supplied past weapons will signpost who to hold responsible now that the terrorists are getting drones that could strike any city of the world.

     

    For this reason, we are imploring the world to ask France the pertinent questions before it becomes too late. Whether by default or by accident, it is a matter of time before Boko Haram tests the weapons France is arming them with on other nations, possibly in the west. Hopefully, by that time the world would not be in a quandary over who to hold accountable for such disaster should it unfold.

     

    We use this opportunity to warn France and any country it may be using as proxy to prop up Boko Haram by using them as conduit to deliver arms and military gear to the terrorists. There are international instruments at the disposal of Nigeria to address the rascality being put up by those undermining Nigeria’s war against terrorism.

     

    On its part, the Nigerian military must repeat the device blows it had dealt terrorists in the Northeast in the past. Eliminating the new threat posed by Boko Haram is crucial to the safety of citizens in Borno and other places.  It must punish the terrorists with the same intensity that had made it impossible for them to overrun the country as planned by the countries secretly supporting them. It must continue with its strategy of Super Camps since this appears to be what has rattled the sponsors of Boko Haram to both increase weapons supply to the terrorists and to re-open the media front in the war.

     

    The member states that have committed to the new funds to combat Boko Haram must break free of colonial loyalties, after all, no nation should continue tying itself to the apron strings of a nation that once postured as their conqueror. They should stand firm to the terms of the fund and make sure that all countries in the region make the place unconducive for terrorists and terrorist activities.

     

  • Man in court for allegedly stealing 33 cartons of beer

    A 25-year-old man, Peter Odeh, on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly breaking into his employer’s warehouse and stealing 33 cartons of beer worth N100, 000.

    Odeh is facing a two-count charge of breaking and entry and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Sept. 8 at 12:45 a.m. at No. 39, Alhaji Amoo St. in Ojota, near Lagos.

    Ihiegie said that Odeh unlawfully entered the warehouse of his employer, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Chime, with intent to commit felony.

    “After entering the warehouse, the defendant stole 33 cartons of trophy beer, valued at N100, 000 from his employer who deals in sale of drinks.”

    The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under Section 287(7) and Section 310(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Read Also: ‘Man steals’ N1m goods

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287(7) stipulates a seven-year jail term for offenders while Section 310 stipulates three years imprisonment for offenders.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje, granted the defendant bail in the sum on N50, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until Oct. 8 for mention.

     

    (NAN)

  • Ogun Govt. to introduce toll-free phone lines for alert, feedback

    The Ogun Government on Thursday announced plans to launch toll-free telephone lines to enable residents of the state to make distress calls and also alert the government on issues that required urgent attention.

    Alhj. Shuaib Salisu, the Chief of Staff to Gov. Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this at a news conference in Abeokuta.

    He explained that the numbers would also provide a feedback mechanism on activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government as well as officials who might shirk in their responsibilities towards the people.

    Salisu explained that the numbers would soon be made available to members of the public adding that it would be free and swift in aiding solutions to problems that might occur anywhere in the state.

    He assured that the Dapo Abiodun – led administration would deliver on his promise to rehabilitate 236 primary schools and primary healthcare centres across the state.

    “Work is currently ongoing to rehabilitate a primary school and a primary healthcare centre in each of the 236 wards, adding that work was currently ongoing across the state.

    “In compliance with extant rules and procurement process, the schools are rolling out.

    Read Also: Challenges before Dapo Abiodun

    “I emphasise this again, we will do a minimum of one primary school in each of the 236 wards and the process has started.

    “Before the schools resume in the next two weeks, we will invite everyone to see the level of work being done.

    “The primary health care centres are also on course, we are bringing in equipments for the general hospital in Ijaye.

    ” The progress of work at state hospital, Ilaro, is also encouraging and we are currently out to employ resident doctors and other medical personnel for the state teaching hospital in Sagamu,” he said.(NAN)

  • 10 African leaders due at Mugabe funeral as row over burial continues

    Ten African leaders are expected to attend the funeral of former Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe, a government spokesman said on Thursday, as a row continued over where the former strongman should be buried.

    Mugabe’s body was returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday from Singapore, where he died at the age of 95.

    He had been seeking treatment there for an undisclosed illness since April.

    His funeral is due to be held on Saturday.

    South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi are among the African presidents, who have confirmed their attendance, presidential spokesman, George Charamba, said in a statement.

    Seven former presidents are also expected to attend.

    They are South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda and Namibia’s Sam Nujoma.

    The Zimbabwe government had said that Mugabe would then be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre, a hilltop shrine reserved for the country’s ruling elite.

    But family members want to honour Mugabe’s wish of being buried next to his mother in his rural home in Kutama, about 85 kilometres from the capital Harare.

    There is also disagreement over the burial date.

     

    Read Also: Mixed emotions as Mugabe dies at 95

     

    A meeting between Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mugabe’s widow on Friday failed to break the impasse.

    “We are in consultation with the government,’’ a spokesman for the Mugabe family, Leo Mugabe, said.

    “No burial arrangements yet.’’

    Mugabe was deposed in a 2017 coup after nearly four decades in power.

    Still revered by some for his fight against white domination as a former liberation fighter, he is widely despised by others who see him as responsible for destroying Zimbabwe’s economy and violently oppressing any opposition.

     

    (NAN)

  • Poverty, unwanted pregnancies keep 51 percent Adamawa children from school

    Fear of fees by poor parents has been identified as a leading reason why most children of school age in Adamawa State are not in schools.

    Only 49 percent of school-age children in Adamawa State are in school, according to a nongovernmental organisation, African Centre for leadership Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), which did a research of school enrolment in the state.

    The acting Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Monday Osasah, who made the disclosure in Yola during a training conference for education sector stakeholders towards raising school enrolment, especially for girls, said girls are particularly affected.

    This, she said, is because they suffer from a widespread impression that education for girls is a waste as they would sooner than later be married off.

    Osasah, who delivered lectures to community leaders during a two-day workshop in Yola on enhancing school enrolment, drew his conclusions from a research initiated by his NGO and published with funding from Malala Fund, with focus on three LGAs: Maiha, Song and Numan.

    Read Also: How poverty keeps girls out of school

    The report on the research, which our correspondent obtained, shows that while total population of persons of school age in the state in 2018 was 1,736,546; only 849,912 (49%) were enrolled in primary and secondary schools.

    The report shows that while the total population of females aged 5-19 in the state was 843,024, only 383,380 (45.5%) were in school, leaving 459,644 out of school.

    The research, which paid particular attention to girl-child education in the state, also listed fear of being captured by insurgents, early marriage, unwanted pregnancy and indifference to western education as other reasons for high number of out-of-school girls.

    The research report recommends in-depth engagement of stakeholders to facilitate community action in favour of girl-child education, and critical interrogation of identified barriers by government and community stakeholders as some of the solutions to low school enrolment.

    Osasah, who fielded questions from newsmen during the conference for community and education leaders from Maiha, said similar train-the-trainer conference had been held for stakeholders in Numan and Song LGAs.

    The trainees, who are leaders with access to members of their communities, he said, would be expected to pass the education enrolment message to their people.

  • House of Reps set for agenda, reforms -Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) has said that the house is set to unveil its legislative agenda and reforms soon.

    Gbajabiamila made this known while receiving the Director-General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr Dasuki Arabi on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The parliamentarian said that the house would deal seriously with members of the executive that do not honour invitations to appear for public or investigative hearings.

    “We are going to launch our legislative agenda and reforms in the next two weeks.

    “There is a perennial problem this 9th house is going to deal with very seriously and it is the situation when the house summons a member of the executive and they do not show up.

    “It does not benefit anybody, the 9th house is going to use all constitutional powers to make sure that it becomes a thing of the past.

    “No democracy grows without a collaboration between the legislative and the executive arms of government.

    “We shall ensure that there shall be consequences when a public servant is summoned and does not show up,”he said.

    Gbajababiamila, who commended the agency for the reforms so far made, said that there were much more to be done.

    He said that with a proper collaboration with the National Assembly to give legal backing, the reforms would stand the test of time.

    The speaker urged the agency to collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitise the citizens to the reforms.

    Earlier, Arabi said that the aimed of the visit was to create a bridge between the executive and the legislative arms of government.

    He said that in line with the mandate of the agency, reforms made had been handed over to the house for legal framework.

    Arabi said that the public financial management reforms, centered around the improvement of handling public fund, has a 70 per cent implementation rate.

    He said creating enabling environment which ”is another area of reforms, had supported the anti corruption fight to a new height”.

    He said that the agency engages in research and impact assessment and produces policy brief to guide the government to improve on governance and service delivery in Nigeria.

     

    (NAN)

  • Tribunal: My victory renews hope for PDP, masses in Imo — Lawmaker

    Mr Frank Ugboma (PDP-Oguta State Constituency) says his victory at the Election Petitions Tribubal sitting in Owerri, Imo, has renewed hope for the party and common man in the state.

    The Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Owerri on Tuesday, dismissed the cases filed against Ugboma, contesting his victory at the Imo House of Assembly poll in the state.

    The PDP lawmaker and INEC were dragged to court by Mr Henry Ezediaro and Nwosu Gilbert Chigozie, House of Assembly candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) and All Progressives Congress (APC) respectively.

    The three-man panel presided over by Justice Roli Harriman, dismissed the case for lack of evidence, no grounds and lacking in merit.

    Ugboma said on in Wednesday in Lagos that it was a landmark judgment.

    “The judgment was delivered in the interest of justice and the masses. It was delivered fearlessly and gives hope to the common man.

    “It reflects the desires of the teeming people of Oguta State Constituency whose clamour for change was manifested at the polls.

    “It also shows that the PDP has come to stay in Imo.

    Read Also:  Ihedioha clinches Imo PDP guber ticket

    “That shows that in this country, there is still hope for the common man. That shows that in this country, all hope is not lost,” Ugboma said in a statement he made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Ugboma described the judgment as a victory for democracy, saying it was a victory for the people of the constituency, Imo and Nigeria.

    “As you all know, the election was revolutionary. It is voting against lawlessness. It is voting against executive arrogance and it is voting against a government that was running away from the norms of good governance.

    “If my opponents want to continue to be in combat business with God Almighty, we shall see the end,” he said.

    He, however, pledged accountability and transparency to his constituency and the state.

     

    (NAN)

  • EU donates N102m to tackle malnutrition in Sokoto, Zamfara

    The European Union (EU) is allocating an additional €300 000 (N102m) in humanitarian aid to provide life-saving treatment to undernourished children in Nigeria’s northwestern states of Sokoto and Zamfara.

    This was contained in a statement by Hilaire Avril, Regional Information Officer for North, West and Central Africa, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Avril said the funds would allow United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to provide undernourished children and their mothers with immediate nutrition treatment.

    She said mobile health teams would be sent out to strengthen the capacity of health facilities in delivering comprehensive basic health care services and supportive medical supervision.

    Read Also: European Union boosts immunization in Ogun

    “EU is stepping up its humanitarian assistance in Nigeria to help in addressing the child undernutrition emergency that the northwest region is facing.

    “Our funding will contribute to deliver the much-needed treatment for children and improve access to basic health care, timely help from the international community is essential to save children’s lives.” Avril said.

    According to him, 280,000 children under five years of age in Sokota and Zamfara states are estimated to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which is a life-threating condition.

    She noted that those states regularly face cholera, yellow fever and meningitis outbreaks, while malaria is endemic and measles is recurrent.

     

    (NAN)

  • lost 4 cows during an attack by a farmer – herder tells court

    Mr Idris Wada, a Chief Prosecution witness, on Wednesday told a Dutse Grade I Area Court in Abuja that he lost four cows when an angry farmer attacked him.

    The police charged a farmer, Samson Aku, 67, who resides at Friendship street, SCC road in Bwari,with mischief by killing or maiming an animal.

    Being led in evidence by Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Idowu Ojo, Wada said that the four cows died from injuries they sustained when the defendant used his cutlass on them.

    He explained that the each of the dead cows, cost N180,000.

    ”I sold two surviving cows at a give away price of N70,000, so that I will loose our completely.

    “I received a call from my son that a farmer who’s farm was close to where he was herding had attacked six of my cows.

     

    Read Also: Farmers, Oxfam, others want Nasarawa to create grazing reserves

     

    ”By the time I got there, four cows were dead and the remaining two were dying. I slaughter them immediately and called someone from the meat market to buy the meat,” he said..

    During cross-examination, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, the defence counsel argued that his client was not responsible for the death of the cows since the witness and his son, slaughtered the cows themselves.

    He also said that the witness was not being truthful since his testimony was based on what his son told him on phone.

    Suleiman said that the witness, must at least, show the court an evidence that proved that the four cows that died were killed by the defendant.

    After listening to the testimonies, the presiding judge, Mr Suleiman Mohammed, adjourned further hearing in the matter until Sept. 16.

     

    (NAN)

  • Safety stakeholders commend Dickson, Tiamiyu for LASEMA success

    Former Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Hakeem Dickson and General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency(LASEMA), Adeshina Tiamiyu, have been commended by Safety stakeholders across the country for their outstanding performances while in office.
    They spoke at a gathering by Health and Safety stakeholders to honour the two outstanding performers in the Lagos Safety/ Emergency agency.

    Friends and well-wishers showered praises on Dickson, former Surulere Local government chairman, for setting standard for agency.

     
    Dickson, who recently bowed out of Safety Commission, said: “I appreciate the Lagos State Government for the opportunity given to me to overseen the affairs of the Lagos State Safety Commission for the past two years and 11 months.

    “The initiative to create a Safety Commission that regulates the affairs of Health, Safety, Environment and well being must remain of top value and must continually be recognised.

     
    “I sincerely appreciate the organisers that came together to ensure this gathering is successful, as all resources that must have been put together cannot be ignored.
    “My passion for Health, Safety, Environment and Well being was established when I became the Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, I was groomed and tutored by every professional, Practitioners, my Staff, Conferences, Seminars and Training. It was a remarkable journey, and I must tell you, this is a career you do not retire from.”
     
    Tiamiyu also expressed gratitude to the state government and everybody that supported his administration.

    “It was a wonderful experience for me, and I must appreciate the fact that I have a wonderful and understanding boss behind me who believes in my ability and worked as a team.

    “I am really honoured by this gathering full of successful professionals from the Safety industry. I am proud of this successful team.
     
    “What I did in LASEMA was to provide the leadership quality, and allowed my team to do the work, so, today the glory is for everybody because I couldn’t have done it without them.
    Ex-Director of Exxon Mobile, Chief Kofi Sagoe, said: “Both of you are great achievers, the Lagos State government can never forget so soon, you have raised a bar and your performances will speak for you long time in the country.

    “I will like to thank you for taking the responsibility above what you think. Hakeem and his team, well done. We have to get emergency going, it safes life.”

    Chairman International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM Nigeria), Dr Eugene Itua recalled how he opposed the appointment of Dickson as Director General of Safety Commission.

     
    He said: “I was one of the people that endorsed Dickson rejection letter on his first appointment into the agency, but today, Dickson has proved to be an achiever through self-discipline, humility and a motive to learn.
     
    “This man has done a great job, he created a conducive atmosphere of welcoming everyone. He’s not just a leader but a visionary leader who always makes himself available to everybody as long as Safety is concern.”
     
    National chairman Nigeria Institute of Safety Engineers, Engr. Adeyemi Oyedepo, commended Dickson ” for his excellent performance in Lagos State.”

    Chief Executive Officer, Dangerous Good Management (DGM Nigeria) Dapo Omolade confessed that he drafted the Dickson letter of rejection when Dickson was appointed but he has since been proved wrong.