The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Flood forecasts

    Flood forecasts

    • We would know whether lessons had been learnt from last year’s experience when the rains start

    With the rains approaching, and last year’s disastrous floods fresh in the minds of many Nigerians, it is important to pay serious attention to the official flood forecasts for this year. The disturbing forecasts underline the need for urgent action to avoid a repeat of last year’s devastation and its consequences.    

    According to the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, “The forecasts for 2023 show that 178 local government areas (LGAs) in 32 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) fall within the high flood risk areas.”

    He said: “224 LGAs in 35 states, including FCT, fall within the moderate flood risk areas. The remaining 372 LGAs fall within the low flood risk areas.”

    The minister painted this concerning picture while presenting the Federal Government’s 2023 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) on February 17.  He listed the high flood risk states: Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.

    This year’s rains are expected to begin in April and end in November, he said, adding that the level of floods in the first category “is expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihood, livestock and infrastructure.”

    It is unclear if the concerned authorities across the country are adequately prepared for the predicted floods. Lack of preparation was an issue last year, as floods described as the worst since 2012 devastated many parts of the country. Reports said the floods affected 33 of Nigeria’s 36 states. Official figures indicated that the floods displaced more than two million people, killed more than 600 and injured more than 3,000.

    In addition, flooding destroyed vast agricultural land, disrupted fuel supplies, and caused food price increases. Also, it caused contamination of water sources that led to a cholera outbreak in the northeast of the country, which took more than 60 lives.   

    The Federal Government had blamed the disaster on unusually heavy rains and climate change, suggesting that the main contributory factors were beyond human control.  But that didn’t tell the whole story.

     The Federal Government’s non-completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State had aggravated the flooding. Nigerian authorities had an agreement with the Cameroonian government to build the dam in order to contain the overflows resulting from the recurrent release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

     The construction of the Lagdo Dam started in 1977 and was completed in 1982.  More than 40 years later, the Dasin Hausa Dam remains uncompleted.  The Federal Government should be blamed for such an inexcusable delay that worsened flooding in Kogi, Benue and other states in the northeast last year. The situation means that history may repeat itself this year.

    Other identified problems that exacerbated the flooding last year were arbitrary construction on natural flood plains and storm water paths, and poor drainage systems, which were compounded by weak enforcement of environmental regulations.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was reported saying “there was enough warning and information about the 2022 flood,” and alleged that local governments, states, and communities failed to act on the warnings.

    Also, last year, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, had stressed the need for every state to set up a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local emergency committees, and fund them adequately. In 2016, NEMA had said there were no emergency management agencies in 11 states. It is unclear if the situation has changed positively. 

    After last year’s devastating floods, the federal, state, and local governments should have worked towards improving flood control in the country before the next rains. Whether or not that happened will be known during the rainy season. Flood management is crucial because the rains come and go.

  • Ports’ concessioning

    Ports’ concessioning

    • Renewal should be based on financial muscle and technical capacity to deliver

    Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, obviously desired a new impetus to the on-going port reforms when he handed out some guidelines to companies seeking renewal of ports concessions. “The companies”, the minister told the executives of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), “must show satisfactory evidence of performance and meet key performance indicators and other obligations incumbent on them’”. Port reforms, he added, as if to remind them, were meant to achieve efficiency in ports operations, increase cargo traffic and improve revenue, hence these would count foremost in the renewal considerations.

    His charge to NSC was unequivocal: “Get the ports concession agreements that were signed in 2006, identify all key performance indicators for each terminal due for renewal. Look at their performance in terms of meeting these key KPIs, including development plans, cargo traffic, revenues and other obligations that were incumbent on them’”.

    Fair enough.

    However, with due respect to the minister, those guidelines would appear to be coming a bit late in the day. We have certainly been on this route long enough to wonder when things will begin to happen in a sector said to hold the key to unlocking the nation’s vast treasures. Before now, we have heard the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Patrick Asadu, expressing the view that the agreements, signed some 17 years ago were no longer tenable, particularly as he claimed that they were done in the personal interest of people that signed them. Even the president of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero, had at some point decried the lease agreements, which he insisted went against the law establishing the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, as the law does not allow for a lease agreement that is more than five years. Only last year, the NPA management was on record as bemoaning not just the decaying infrastructure at the entities but the inability of the operators to turn the situation around.

    Last year, NPA’s Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, gave the operators a six-month grace to fulfil all conditions for renewal or risk severe penalties – a period that has since expired. Nigerians can only wonder if anything has been done by the NPA since then to get things straightened out.

    The point is – there are already sufficient grounds on which the so-called agreements had become not only indefensible but quite frankly, anachronistic.

    As Nigerians very well know, the story of the concessioning, just like that of our ports system itself, has become another tragic story of failed dreams and misplaced expectations. If Nigerians expected better service outcomes post-concessioning, the turnout has been terribly disappointing. Aside falling miserably short in the area of facility development, the operators would appear to have stopped at the point of those promises made in their MoUs, hence the poor state of those facilities and, by extension, the below par service they render. The situation explains the continuing attraction to neighbouring ports by our importers.

    The issue at stake in the circumstance appears quite simple and straight-forward. To the extent that most of the current concessionaires have not, in the past 17 years, proven their mettle in terms of delivering the world-class services expected of them, the focus now should be about throwing the process open to more serious players that have both the financial muscle and the technical proficiency to deliver world-class services. And, while those among the current crop of players are free to apply, only a rule-based, truly competitive process can ensure that only those bringing values to the table are brought on board. The earlier the process is kicked off, the better it would be for the sector and the country as a whole.

  • Appeal Court Judge slumps, dies in chamber in Ondo

    Appeal Court Judge slumps, dies in chamber in Ondo

    Justice Lokulo Sodipe of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, has died.

    He was said to have slumped and died inside his chamber while preparing to attend a court session to deliver judgement

    Sources said it was his aide that saw him after waiting for several hours.

    The source said all efforts to revive him failed as he was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital

    Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch, Banjo Ayenakin, said “the news of the demise of Hon Justice Lokulo-Sodipe came to me as a rude shock. My lord was a quintessential judge, very intelligent and forthright.

    “I commiserate with his family and the President of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria.

    “The entire members of NBA Akure will surely miss his promptness, forthrightness and commitment to the development of Justice in Nigeria.

    Immediate past Chairman of the Akure branch of NBA, Rotimi Olorunfemi said,  “Just confirmed it (the judge’s death) is true. He collapsed in the office at Court of Appeal, Akure this (Monday) morning. He was rushed to the hospital but confirmed dead on arrival.”

  • Doctors declare two-day strike over police assault

    Doctors declare two-day strike over police assault

    The Nigeria Association of Government Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGMDP) at the General Hospital, Ilorin, have commenced two days strike over alleged assault on their colleague.

    Dr Ola Ahmed, chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), who spoke on behalf of the association, stated that the doctors were forced to down tools due to frequent threats to their lives.

    “After an emergency congress, the doctors have unanimously agreed that no doctor will work in the Hospital for 48 hours. We are tired of being a punching bag by the public,” he said.

    Ahmed stated that a sergeant attached to the mobile police unit attacked and assaulted one of the doctors at the general hospital.

    He explained that at around 5 pm on February 26, the doctor was assaulted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by a police sergeant who brought his sick wife for treatment.

    “The doctor conducted necessary tests and she was later discharged. The sergeant, however, came back to the hospital and attacked the doctor who examined his wife.

    “The sergeant alleged that the doctor did not seek his consent before examining his wife and that in his culture it is a taboo,” he said.

    Ahmed pointed out that the woman was not a minor but an adult, adding that there was a chaperone around before the test was conducted.

    He observed that the doctor sustained injury before he was rescued from the police officer.

    He however noted that the accused personnel had been arrested and presently detained by the Police.

    “It is terrible that this is happening to us. Our work load is much coupled with all the social issues including Naira and fuel scarcity.

    “We come to work as early as 7 a.m and go home late, and people we are trying to save are abusing and attacking doctors.

    “We have used all necessary means to enlighten the public through jingles, banners and talk shows on warning the public to desist from assaulting doctors.

    “Similar incident happened in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). If people are ready to take the law into their hands, we will not allow our doctors to die,” he said.

    Ahmed explained that they are not blaming the state government in any way, but merely safeguarding the lives of their members.

    Reacting to the development, Dr Bola Abdulkadir, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of General Hospital, Ilorin, said that management was aware of the incident and is doing all it can to de-escalate the situation.

    Abdulkadir also confirmed that the state government was aware of the attack and is doing all it can to ensure the safety of doctors.

    “We appeal to them that the management and the state government is doing everything possible to prevent such a situation again.

    “The Consultants will continue to care for patients, so there will be skeletal services that will be rendered,” he assured.

    The CMD commended the efforts and sacrifice of all health workers in ensuring they save lives of people in the hospital.

    NSCDC arrests 19 suspects for looting rice truck in Kano

    The Kano State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 19 suspects who allegedly looted a rice truck on Sunday in Kano.

    The Command Public Relations Officer, DSC Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi, said in a statement on Monday that the suspects attacked the truck along Kano-Zaria Road.

    He said that the truck with registration number UGG 532 XA was loaded with hundreds of 50kg bags of rice from Alhamsad Rice Mill, located in Sharada, Kano.

    Idris-Abdullahi added that the truck was heading to Zaria in Kaduna State when the hoodlums attacked it and looted the bags of rice.

    “On receiving the report, operatives of the NSCDC swiftly mobilised personnel to the scene, arrested the suspects and 29 bags of rice were recovered from them.

    “The driver of the truck and his assistants were rescued unhurt,” Idris-Abdullahi said.

    The command spokesman said that the suspects would be charged to court after conclusion of investigation.

  • Marwa hails NDLEA officers for good conduct in election

    Marwa hails NDLEA officers for good conduct in election

    The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has praised personnel of the anti-narcotics body for their good conduct, visibility and blocking access to illicit substances during the presidential and National Assembly elections at the weekend.

    The agency’s spokesman Femi Babafemi said this in a statement yesterday.

    Babafemi said the agency, as a member of the Inter-Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), had deployed almost 10,000 personnel across the country during the Saturday election with a Situation Room at its national headquarters in Abuja for a round-the-clock monitoring of the polls through field reports from officers and men spread nationwide.

    In his reaction to the preliminary reports collated across all the area, state and zonal commands of the agency, Marwa said he was satisfied with the professional conduct of NDLEA personnel deployed across the country.

    The NDLEA boss lauded the working synergy of the agency’s personnel with other security agencies and for ensuring that the electoral process was free from the influence of illicit substances.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that your recent offensive action operations leading to massive seizures of illicit drugs and the arrests of their criminal merchants across the country significantly contributed to the absence of free flow of psychoactive substances on our streets and communities during this critical time, especially with the recent destruction of over 400 tonnes of skunk warehoused in deep forests in a state for distribution across the country shortly before the elections.”

    “I’m also glad that you all were of good and professional conduct throughout this period, and I will urge you to maintain this during the next round of election on March 11,” he said.

    Marwa urged the NDLEA operatives to remain vigilant and intensify their offensive action across the country between now and the next election to ensure that the influence of illicit drugs is removed from the governorship and state assembly elections nationwide.

  • APGA chair, Soludo frustrated me, says presidential flag bearer

    APGA chair, Soludo frustrated me, says presidential flag bearer

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    The presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Peter Umeadi, has accused the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Victor Oye, and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of frustrating his ambition.

    Umeadi said he did not receive any form of support or encouragement from the duo, including funds, maintaining that his achievements throughout the electioneering period were by personal efforts.

    He said: “As I speak with you, nothing has ever come to me from the party; not one naira has been given to me as the candidate of the party by Soludo and Oye.

    “Whatever efforts and breakthroughs I recorded in this presidential election have been through personal and self-efforts.

    “I’m not asking for the state money. They are not supporting me either. If they are supporting and campaigning for me, people will help in funding my activities.”

    According to Umeadi, although he enjoyed support from local government chairmen of the party, they got disappointed for what he called the unfair treatment meted out to him by Soludo and Oye.

    “All you see in the national campaign flag is APGA all the way; vote for Senate, House of Representatives, and the President is skipped.

    “In other parties and under same circumstances, the party’s National and State Assembly contestants have their billboards and campaign posters with their presidential candidates. But none included me in their billboards and campaign posters because they were instructed not to work for me.

    “The party, from day one, particularly the governor, sidelined me. He has not even received me. I went to see him; my name was listed in the manifest; he knew I was coming. The Deputy Chief of Staff even called me the day I went to see the governor that my name was in the manifest. I went and stayed for three hours – 2 p.m to 5 p.m – to see the governor and he refused to see me.

    “I was humiliated because the security men and others around saw what happened. His party’s presidential candidate waited for three hours in his office without seeing him!

    “They did everything to play down and frustrate me from the race, but I was determined. I marched on, refused to be discouraged and frustrated.

    “They don’t want to project me, but they do not have any option. I am the face of APGA in Nigeria, whether they like it or not.”

    Also, APGA’s National Director of Operations for the Presidential Campaign Council, Elder Afam Enemokwu, accused the party’s leadership of abandoning Umeadi and other party faithful.

    In a telephone interview, Enemokwu, who doubles as Delta State APGA Chairman, alleged that the same treatment was being meted out to the party’s governorship candidate in his state.

    “Our presidential candidate, Prof. Peter Umeadi, is more qualified to win the election, because he has all it takes to be President of Nigeria. But we did not do what we are supposed to do before now due to lack of funds. This is the only problem we had in the presidential election.

    “No doubt, Prof. Umeadi actually shows in his personal capacity that he could do it. But the party and the governor, who was elected under APGA, has not shown him any support. In fact, the party’s leadership abandoned him and they are doing the same to our Delta State candidate,” he said.

    But Soludo, through his Chief Press Secretary Osagie Christian Aburime, denied the allegations.

    The governor’s aide described them as untrue.

    He said the governor had, at no time abandoned the party’s flag bearer, maintaining that he had supported him in all ramifications.

    “Don’t forget: the governor got his ticket under APGA. As the leader of the party, the onus lies on him to support the flag bearer, which he has done for Prof. Peter Umeadi,” Aburime said.

  • Poll: More soldiers in Lagos to prevent violence

    Poll: More soldiers in Lagos to prevent violence

    More soldiers and  Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were sighted in Lagos yesterday as tension rose over declaration of results of Saturday’s presidential election by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Their presence was more noticeable on Lagos Island where there were reports of attacks on traders at Balogun and Mandilas markets as well as Abibu Oki Street.

    Reports also filtered in about extortion of private motorists in Surulere, Ilaje and Victoria Garden City (VGC) near Ajah.

    Other areas with soldiers were Mushin, Ikeja, Ebute Meta, Oshodi,   Cele. and   Mile Two

    The Nation gathered the development also followed intelligence report that some people were planning mayhem across the state. The state had, three days before the presidential poll, witnessed presence of APCs and soldiers on strategic roads. 

    Yesterday evening, Police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin,  warned that attempt to wreak havoc on any part of  the state would be resisted.

      Hundeyin, in a Tweet, said: “Intelligence suggests some people have concluded plans to foment trouble and wreak havoc.

    “Kindly note that such attempts would be crushed. Our election security architecture has not been drawn down. Anarchy will not be allowed!. Residents should remain law-abiding and  be guided!.”

    On Balogun and Mandilas incidents, Hundeyin said: “The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday (Sunday) and today(Monday). Igbo traders this (today) morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops.

    “Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police were alerted.

    “The hoodlums fled on sighting police vans. Not one shop was vandalised. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was returned and officers remained on the ground.’’

    “Don’t fall for tribal bigotry. The complaint was Igbo were being attacked and robbed.

    “I investigated and found  Igbo traders were chased away by hoodlums over their insistence to open shops … despite an agreement by that shops would not open.”.  

    The Nation reporter who visited some parts of the metropolis observed that most business outlets were shut down.

  • 19 suspects held for looting rice truck in Kano

    19 suspects held for looting rice truck in Kano

    The Kano State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 19 suspects who allegedly looted a rice truck on Sunday in Kano.

    The Command’s spokesman, DSC Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi, said in a statement yesterday that the suspects attacked the truck along Kano-Zaria Road.

    He said that the truck with registration number UGG 532 XA was loaded with hundreds of 50kg bags of rice from Alhamsad Rice Mill, located in Sharada, Kano.

    Idris-Abdullahi added that the truck was heading to Zaria in Kaduna State when the hoodlums attacked it and looted the bags of rice.

    “On receiving the report, operatives of the NSCDC swiftly mobilised personnel to the scene, arrested the suspects and 29 bags of rice were recovered from them.

    “The driver of the truck and his assistants were rescued unhurt,” Idris-Abdullahi said.

    The command spokesman said that the suspects would be charged to court after conclusion of investigation.

  • Fraudsters steal octogenarian’s N1m burial cash

    Fraudsters steal octogenarian’s N1m burial cash

    An 85-year-old woman, Mrs. Fadele Bolaji Racheal, has cried out for justice over the stealing of over N1m from her account.

    Fadele said she saved the money for her burial ceremony as she had no surviving child.

    Fadele spoke to journalists at the premises of the Ondo Magistrate Court where a man suspected to have stolen the money was arraigned by the Nigeria and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    She said she worked and retired as a civil servant in Oyo State but had to return home after the death of her only child.

    “I was saving the money for my feeding and also for my burial ceremony. I have no child and I do not want any relative to carry the burden of my funeral when I die. I am 85 years old and I do not know when I will die.

    Explaining how the money was stolen from her account in October 2022, Mrs Fadele said she received a call and the caller claimed to be from the bank.

    She said she responded to some questions and then over N1m was withdrawn from her account.

    Investigation revealed that the money was transferred to an Opay account belonging to one Emmanuel Nwankpa.

    Further investigation showed that it was the cell phone of Nwankpa that was used to call Mrs. Fadele.

    Nwankpa was arrested after his banking transactions were blocked.

    He was arraigned with fraudulent stealing but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    His lawyer, A. Y. Aloyu, told the court that his client was ready for an out-of-court settlement by Prosecuting Counsel, David Ebriku, informed the court that the suspect would be prosecuted even if he paid the money.

    Ebriku said it was an offence against the State.

    He said he would call three witnesses to testify in the case.

    Presiding Magistrate, T.N Aladejana granted the accused bail to the sum of N1m and two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case till March 16 for hearing.

  • Polls: Soldiers deployed in Lagos

    Polls: Soldiers deployed in Lagos

    • Traders close shops at Ladipo, Alaba, Oyingbo, others

    As Nigerians await the official announcement of result of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections, armed soldiers were yesterday seen across Lagos State to prevent outbreak of violence.

    Some of the soldiers and their armoured vehicles seen at Mushin, Ikeja, Ebute Meta, Oshodi and Cele, were said to have been deployed following intelligence report that some people were planning to unleash mayhem across the state.

    The Lagos Police Command, on Sunday evening, warned that attempts by anyone or group planning to wreak havoc in the state would be resisted.

    Spokesman for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a tweet, said: “Available intelligence suggests some people have concluded plans to foment trouble and wreak havoc. 

    “Kindly note that such attempts would be crushed decisively. Our election security architecture has not been drawn down. Anarchy will not be allowed! Remain law-abiding. Be guided!”

    Despite the warming, there were reports of pockets of violence at Balogun and Mandilas markets in Lagos Island between traders and hoodlums. 

    It was gathered that some traders that went to the market yesterday morning to open their shops for business were attacked by hoodlums who allegedly vandalised properties, and robbed victims.

    Reports also filtered in about alleged unrest at Surulere over assault on people and their properties by hoodlums around Abibu Oki Street.

    There were also claims of escalated violence at Ilaje and Victoria Garden City (VGC) areas of Lekki, with claims that vehicle owners were being extorted around 9am.

    Our Correspondent who visited certain parts of the metropolis observed that most business outlets were shut down.

    Most shops and transport companies around Okota to Iyana-Isolo were not opened for business, just as there were fewer vehicles and people on the road.

    Armed soldiers were also seen around Cele Under-bridge and at Mile Two checking vehicles and ensuring orderliness.

    At Ladipo area of Mushin, armed soldiers and armoured vehicles were strategically stationed to calm tension even though shops did not open for business.

    Dismissing reports of violence in different parts of the state, Hundeyin urged residents to shun fake news, adding that there was an isolated case in Lagos Island involving traders which was promptly brought under control.

    Tagging a post that alleged that people from a particular ethnic group were being attacked in Lagos Island, Hundeyin said: “This is fake news. The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday and today. Igbo traders this morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops. 

    “Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police was alerted. The police arrived promptly. 

    “The hoodlums fled upon sighting police patrol vans. Not one shop was vandalised. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was swiftly returned and officers remain on ground. 

    “I urge us not to fall for tribal bigotry. The complaint was that Igbos were being attacked and robbed. 

    “I investigated and found it true that Igbo traders were specifically being chased away by some hoodlums over the insistence of the traders to open shop today despite an agreement by all the traders that shops would not open yesterday and today. “@LagosPoliceNG would not condone that. Patrol teams from three different units were swiftly dispatched there. Our swift response prevented anyone from being attacked or robbed, as widely claimed.”