The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘Why AbdulRazaq should be re-elected’

    ‘Why AbdulRazaq should be re-elected’

    Kwara Central senator-elect, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has urged members of his campaign team to work for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    He spoke at a meeting with members of his campaign committees in Ilorin.

    The team reviewed the intricacies and issues that confronted the party during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    They also examined areas of strength and weakness, The Nation learnt.

    On the front burner of the team’s discussion was the re-election of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the emergence of the party candidates vying for seats in the House of Assembly.

    Mustapha said the victory of the party in the forthcoming poll was non-negotiable.

    He said: “Governor AbdulRazaq has done well in the last four years. He has given each and everyone of you the confidence to campaign and canvass proudly. So, go out and spare no efforts. Let’s repeat the winning trick 100 per cent.”

    Mustapha advised the team to conduct themselves in the best possible manner throughout the election period.

    He added: “We have resolved to comport ourselves in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, in line with the provisions of the constitution and according to electoral guidelines.

    “After all, we are true democrats, progressive in our thoughts and deeds. As we won free, fair and credible elections on February 25, APC candidates will also emerge victorious in the state elections on Saturday.”

  • Church marks 55th Founder’s Day

    Church marks 55th Founder’s Day

    Activities  marking  the  55th Founder’s  Day   of  Melototah  Church   of  Zion  will begin today  at 5.30 pm.

    It will feature  seminars, lectures, prayer, deliverance, visit  to motherless babies’ homes with thanksgiving  on Sunday.

    Programme Co-ordinator,  Apostle  Lere  Julius  said: ’’This  year’s  edition promises to be eventful   as we  offer  prayers  to usher in  a new  government  through   the ballot. We   pray  for divine  wisdom  for our leaders  to pilot  affairs  of the country  and favour  for our members’’.

    The programme  takes  place  in  the  church auditorium, 18, Ikale  Street, Papa-Ajao,  Mushin. Time is 8. am  on Sunday.

  • UK govt defends law barring ‘illegal’ English channel migrants

    UK govt defends law barring ‘illegal’ English channel migrants

    The United Kingdom government said yesterday it was ready for legal challenges against a new law intended to stop migrants from reaching the country in small boats across the English Channel.

    Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed the government had “pushed the boundaries of international law” with its bill barring asylum claims by anyone who reaches the UK by unauthorised means.

    The controversial plans could mean the government detained asylum seekers entering the country across illegal routes and then deporting them “to their home country or a safe third country.”

    Critics have blasted the plans as unworkable, inhumane, and not legally feasible, pointing out they could only succeed if the UK withdrew from several international treaties.

    They also claimed there is a lack of safe and legal routes, which forces asylum seekers to cross the channel in this way.

    “If you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed,” Braverman told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday, as she introduced the government’s “Illegal Migration Bill.”

    The UK government says the new law, once approved by Parliament, will deter migrants and hamstring smuggling gangs who send desperate people on hazardous journeys across the busy waterway.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the law will “take back control” of UK borders — a central pledge of the successful but divisive campaign to take Britain out of the European Union.

    Braverman said those arriving by boat would be detained for up to 28 days and then deported, with exceptions only for children.

    Those medically unfit to fly and people at risk of serious harm will have limited grounds for appeal.

    She said there is a chance the “robust and novel” legislation breaches UK human rights laws, though added she was confident it is compatible with Britain’s “international obligations” under refugee and human rights conventions.

  • Obey laws of Cameroon, Consul General urges Nigerians in Bakassi

    Obey laws of Cameroon, Consul General urges Nigerians in Bakassi

    The Buea-based Consul General of Nigeria to the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, Ambassador Lawal Bappah, has urged the Nigerian population to respect the laws of Cameroon and live in harmony with their hosts.

    He was on a Consular tour of communities in Bakassi with a delegation of prominent Nigerians in Cameroon. 

    It was the first time the new Consul General was officially visiting the localities of Bakassi since taking over the office in Buea, the capital of the South West Region.

    The communities visited are Kombo Itindi, Idabato and Bekumu with over 30,000 Nigerians.

    Thousands of Nigerians came out to welcome the diplomat.

    Bappah urged the Cameroonian authorities to provide more protection for Nigerians.

    “This is a tour that gives the opportunity to interact with our compatriots, to see their worries and concerns.

    “I am personally impressed, particularly by the reception of the community officers, we are highly grateful,” he said.

    Bappah promised to work with Cameroon authorities towards resolving any issues.

    He advised the Nigerians to be law-abiding to the host country.

    Bappah inaugurated the newly-elected executive members of the Union of Nigerian Residents in Bakassi as an intermediary between the Nigerian Consul General and Cameroon authorities.

    During the Consular visit in Kombo, Bappah was received by Walaq Ishaq, the divisional officer for Bamosur Subdivision in a rousing reception.

    Mayor of Bamuso principality Samuel Mememe said: “For us to have a harmonious breakthrough in our administration, we need to accommodate the Nigeria population for us to succeed because they are the economic backbone.”

  • INEC, Police dismiss alleged plot to rig guber election in Kebbi

    INEC, Police dismiss alleged plot to rig guber election in Kebbi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Police in Kebbi State have dismissed alleged plans to connive with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to rig the Saturday election in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the PDP Governorship candidate, General Aminu Bande (retd), made the allegation at a news conference in Birnin Kebbi.

    NAN reports that the candidate had alleged that the INEC, in collaboration with the police, was conniving with the ruling party to conduct the forthcoming elections without using Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    He also insinuated that ballot papers would be given to the ruling party on the eve of election to be thumb printed for onward use on election day.

    The INEC in Kebbi State yesterday described all the allegations as mere fiction and figment of imagination by the opposition party.

    Speaking through the Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Rabi’u said the allegations were false, insisting that the use of BVAS had been captured as part of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “BVAS must be used in all elections in Nigeria henceforth and it will continue to be used untill a more improved technology is gotten. I am assuring you that there is no such thing and there will be no single polling unit across the state that will conduct election without BVAS.

    “Any attempt from any quarters or from any of our ad hoc staff to conduct election without BVAS, definitely, we shall prosecute him/her.

    “Anybody from outside who feels he can connive with any of our staff to do so, I am very sorry, we will not let that person go free; he/she must be prosecuted.”

    On allegation of issuing ballot papers to the ruling party on the eve of elections, Rabi’u said ballot papers were part of sensitive materials in the custody of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assuring that agents of all political parties and security agencies must be present before distribution of such materials.

    “All sensitive materials are in CBN for safe keep, before we go for it, we have to call the police and the political parties to go there together same day same time. INEC will not do anything without the security agencies and political party agents.

    “Autimatocally as an agent of a political party, you are an ambassador of that party, therefore, it’s your responsibility to oversee and ensure that the right thing is done. So, such a thing is not possible and we are not conniving with anybody to do any evil,” he assured.

    On his part, the Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Mr Ahmed Magaji-Kontagora, said the allegations were not true, adding that the police were a federal government agency and warned to be apolitical.

     The CP,  through the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Nafi’u Abubakar, said: “We were warned to be neutral in all elections, therefore, I don’t think any member of the force will involve in conniving with INEC or any other person to tamper with the election, this is not true.”

  • France brought to a standstill by anti-pension reform protests

    France brought to a standstill by anti-pension reform protests

    FRANCE came to a standstill yesterday when protesters marched nationwide during the latest round of strikes against a planned rise in the retirement age to 64.

    Unions described the protests as their biggest show of force against the deeply unpopular proposal from President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

    According to the AEF news agency, 63 per cent of French people oppose the government proposal.

    Refuse collectors, utility workers, train drivers and others took action to show their anger at the attack on their pension rights.

    More than 250 protests took place across France.

    In Paris, tens of thousands of people took to the streets and massive demonstrations were also reported in other major cities, including Marseille, Nice, Nantes and Lyon.

    French Democratic Confederation general secretary Laurent Berger said that the numbers of demonstrators nationwide was the greatest since the beginning of the protest movement in January.

    Philippe Martinez, who heads the left-wing General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union centre, told FranceInfo: “The goal is that the government withdraw its draft reform. Full stop.”

    Some unions have called for open-ended strikes in sectors such as refineries, oil depots and transport.

    Workers at Paris’s Gare de Nord railway station have already voted to continue the strike into on Wednesday.

    The CGT reported that all oil shipments in France were halted by strikes at the refineries of TotalEnergies, Esso-ExxonMobil and Petroineos groups.

    Lorry drivers have sporadically blocked major highways in go-slow actions.

    In Paris, refuse collectors have started an open-ended strike and blocked access to an incineration plant at Ivry-sur-Seine, near Paris, which is Europe’s biggest such facility.

    A fifth of flights were cancelled at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport and about a third of flights were scrapped at Orly airport.

    Trains to Germany and Spain came to a halt and those to and from Britain and Belgium were reduced by a third.

    Most high-speed and regional rail services were cancelled as well.

    Public transport and other services were disrupted in most French cities. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed, as was the Palace of Versailles, west of the capital.

    Paris train driver Xavier Bregail said: “We held strong demonstrations earlier, but it’s time to take the movement one step further.”

    Bregail voiced hope that the protests would turn into a broader movement against economic injustice.

    France’s eight main union confederation and five youth organisations were set to meet last night to decide on their next steps in defence of pension rights.

  • Ganduje pardons 12 inmates on death row

    Ganduje pardons 12 inmates on death row

    The Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has pardoned 12 inmates on death row.

    Some of the inmates had spent 25 years and were awaiting execution, before they got pardon from the governor.

    “Go and sin no more. Stay away from any act that will return you to prison,” the governor said.

    Governor Ganduje also mitigated the death sentence of six inmates to life imprisonment.

    A statement by the command spokesman, Musbahu Lawan Nassarawa, said the governor also pardoned four female inmates with long term sentences, based on their good behavior and industry  as recommended by the Correctional Authority.

    Ganduje gave N5,000 transport fare to each of the released inmates to enable them reunite with their families, Musbahu said.

    Chairman of the Prerogative of Mercy, Abdullahi Garba Rano, thanked Ganduje for using the power conferred on him by the Constitution to release the inmates with good behavior on the recommendation of the Advisory Council of Prerogative of Mercy.

    Kano State Controller of Corrections, Sulaiman Mohd Inuwa, commended the governor for decongesting the custodial center.

    Inuwa called on those released to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the society.

  • Masari inaugurates disbursement of N4.9bn grant to 188 schools

    Masari inaugurates disbursement of N4.9bn grant to 188 schools

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has inaugurated the disbursement of over N4.906 billion grant to about 188 Secondary Schools across the 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    In his remarks at the event yesterday at Abukur, Rimi LGA, the Governor said each of the schools would receive N26.1 million grant to support vulnerable students.

    He said that the grant, which was gotten through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project was part of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.

    Masari said: “From the inception of this administration in 2015, education has been receiving top priority by the state government.

    “This was due to the fact that the future of the state in particular, and that of the nation in general are determined by the level of education of the citizens.

    “In this regard, we will continue to provide an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning in elementary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state.”

    The governor said his administration was providing a conducive atmosphere for the enrollment of school-age children into schools to ensure that equal opportunity was given to all the indigenes of the state.

  • Ortom lifts ban on motorcycles in Sankera

    Ortom lifts ban on motorcycles in Sankera

    The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom  has directed the lifting of ban on motorcycles in the Sankera axis of the State.

    The lifting of the ban takes immediate effect.

    This directive is in consonance with the judgment of the High Court of Justice, Gboko which had set aside the order of the Benue State Security Council who banned the use of motorcycles in the Sankera axis of the state as a way of curtailing the rise of crime in the area.

    Governor Ortom maintained that as a government that believes in the rule of law and due process, his administration was bound to revert its action.

    The action of the Security Council followed the continued use of the motorcycles by criminals and bandits in the area to wreck havoc on their communities which led to the destruction of the rural economy, social and political life of the area.

  • Lalong inspects projects to be commissioned by Buhari

    Lalong inspects projects to be commissioned by Buhari

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has inspected some of the projects expected to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari soon.

    Lalong was at the British-American Flyover and Dualisation to Lamingo Junction Roundabout where he expressed happiness with the level of work and its quality.

    He commended the contractor for sustaining the tempo of work and urged him to ensure that the few aspects remaining are finalised in order to enable him give the President an official date for the commissioning.

    The Governor then proceeded to the Plateau State Specialists Hospital to inspect the remodeling of structures to accommodate the newly acquired ultra modern Hospital equipment which include Superstar MRI Machine, CT scanner, 4D Ultrasound Scanner and Digital X-Ray Machine among others.

    He was also at the High Court Headquarters Complex Jos to inspect the work where he was received by the Chief Judge, Justice David Mann and other Justices.

    He inspected the nine courtrooms, conference rooms, libraries, Judges Chambers, furnishings and associated services. He expressed delight that the Complex will be one of the best in Nigeria when commissioned.

    Lalong also visited the Plateau Multidoor Court House which is completed and ready for commissioning.

    The Governor was also at the NUJ Secretariat Complex Jos to inspect the remodelled facility which is completed and awaiting commissioning.

    He was received by the Plateau State NUJ Chairman Mr. Paul Jatau and other officials who expressed delight that the Governor has kept his promise to reconstruct the centre.