The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • IYC hails Diri for infrastructural development

    IYC hails Diri for infrastructural development

    Umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, has hailed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for his achievements in the last three years.

    It described him as a symbol of hope for the youth and the people of Ijaw nation.

    IYC said despite the challenges facing governance and the governed, Diri had shown capacity in sustainable peace, equitable infrastructural projects and youths’ empowerment.

    Speaking in Yenagoa yesterday, IYC spokesman Ebilade Ekerefe said the policy of inclusion through the training and passing out of youths as members of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps (BSCSC), was a step in the right direction.

    He said the development would assist security agencies in intelligence gathering that would enhance protection of lives and property.

    Ekerefe described as commendable, the inauguration of Bayelsa Health Insurance Administrative Building completed by the Diri administration.

    He noted that with the opening of the world-class building by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the people would have access to quick and affordable health care.

    Ekerefe said: “We have also witnessed that the Diri administration has built a psychiatric hospital and rehabilitation centre at Ogbia and upgraded the School of Nursing, School of Midwifery Science at Tombia to a collegial system.

    “We believe that no society can grow and become productive when the health care system is not prioritised by the government. Seeing the Diri administration leading in this direction gives the people hope.”

    “On infrastructure, we commend the governor for his continuity agenda by completing the projects conceived by his predecessor, most especially the transport terminal, the Sagbama-Ekeremor road and the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma road. These projects are historic. They will put the state on a path of development.

    “As a group, we are proud of Governor Diri on his disposition towards the Ijaw national interest. We shall continue to partner his administration for a more prosperous and developed Ijaw nation we all clamour for.”

  • Okowa condoles with slain security aides’ families

    Okowa condoles with slain security aides’ families

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday visited and condoled with the families of police officers killed by gunmen in Anambra State.

    The deceased are Inspectors Lucky Aleh, Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh, who were attached to Explosives Ordinances Disposal Unit, Government House, Asaba.

    They were reportedly ambushed and killed by gunmen at the weekend at a spot on Ihiala-Orlu road in Anambra State, while on their way to Umuahia, Abia State, on official duty.

    Okowa commiserated with the families and wives, Mrs. Nwamaka Aleh and Mrs. Juliet Obuh of Agbor Obi and Orogodo in Agbor, Ika South Local Government.

    He also condoled with another wife, Mrs. Onyeisi Nwadiokwu and the Nwadiokwu family of Owa Ekei, Ika North-East Local Government on the loss.

    The governor prayed for the bereaved families and asked them to take solace that the deceased died in active service for the nation.

    He said the government would continue to identify with them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was accompanied on the visit by the member representing Ika Federal Constituency, Mr. Victor Nwokolo.

    Also the member representing Ika South in the House of Assembly, Mr. Festus Okoh; his Ika North East counterpart, Mr. Anthony Elekeokwuri; Commissioner for Works, Mr. Noel Omodon and his Information counterpart, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, were on the entourage.

  • NYSC: we won’t allow posting of corps members to volatile areas

    NYSC: we won’t allow posting of corps members to volatile areas

    National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State at the weekend said it would not allow corps member to be posted to insecurity prone areas during the forthcoming general election.

    State Coordinator Mrs. Ekene Iruma spoke during the Batch ‘A’ Stream ‘1’ cultural carnival at the Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government.

    She said management had written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), indicating flashpoints where it would not want corps members to be deployed in, without assurance of their security and welfare.

    Iruma said: “The security and welfare of corps members are very important to us. We won’t want them to be posted to violent and flashpoint areas without security assurance from INEC.

    “In the letter we wrote to INEC, we want them to take cognisance of those areas and expect them to tell us how corps members will be protected, to ensure their welfare and security are not endangered during the elections.”

    She said the carnival offered the corps members the opportunity to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage and to educate them on implications of culture and tradition.

    “Most of our youths don’t even know their values and culture. We do this to promote our culture so that they can know the significance and gains of having them,” she said.

    The Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Don Onyenji, urged corps members to accept their postings in good faith and not to insist on the so-called juicy areas or organisations.

    “Our people are hospitable and are eagerly waiting for you. While they assist you, on your part, you need to commit yourselves to making a change in your host communities.

    “Good impression lasts for a long time. Try to blend with your community and be friendly to them because a friend you meet during your service may be of great substance to your life in future,” he said.

  • Rivers Govt approves N70.3b for rural road projects

    Rivers Govt approves N70.3b for rural road projects

    Rivers State Executive Council has approved N70.25billion for the construction and dualisation of two critical road projects to connect rural communities and ease movement to Port Harcourt, the capital.

    The council at a meeting presided over by Governor Nyesom Wike, at the Government House, yesterday, granted the approval.

    Speaking after the meeting, Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo, said the contracts were for the reconstruction and dualisation of the Emohua-Abalama-Tema junction road, and extension of dualisation of Ahoada to Omoku Road.

    He said: “The executive council ratified the contracts award for the reconstruction and dualisation of Emohua to Abalama to Tema junction road. This road is 15.24 kilometres long and will be a dual carriageway with streetlights and it is estimated to cost N21.26billion.

    “In the same vein, the State Executive Council has also ratified the award of the extension of the dualisation of Ahoada to Omoku road from Ogbo-Ukordu road junction to Omoku and this is going to cost N48.998billion.

    “This is a 25.4 kilometre dual carriageway with 7.6 meters lane on each lane and also with streetlights. Both projects will be taken simultaneously, meaning they will run concurrently.”

    The commissioner said the contracts were awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC with 18-month completion period.

    He said: “Both projects are estimated at N70.25billion and the payment structure will be such that it will be tied to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through an irrevocable standing payment order.

    “So an irrevocable standing payment order of N4b amount will be made for 18 months. In 17 months N68b would have been paid and by the 18 months the balance of N2.285b will be paid.”

    Alabo also said that the state government was considering the possibility of extending Emohua-Abalama-Tema road to Ogbakiri community.

    He said already the feasibility study was ongoing between his ministry and Julius Berger Nigeria PLC  and were determined to bring the cost implication before the Executive Council of the state government.

    The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, said that council also ratified the Public, Private Partnership arrangements that were secured for an effective management of the radiotherapy unit of the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, and the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt.

    He said: So, at this Executive Council Meeting of today, 12th of February 2023, the ratification was given for both facilities; the Mother and Child Hospital, to be managed by the Global Health Managers and a conglomerate of other companies, as well as the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.”

    Commissioner for Education Prof. Chinedu Mmom said council gave approval for the procurement of 1,442,000 textbooks, classics and encyclopedia that would be distributed to public-owned primary, nursery, junior and senior secondary schools in the states free of charge.

    Mmom said the Rivers State Executive Council approved the requests sent to it by the Chief of Naval Staff and had ceded to the Nigerian Navy the Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School , Ebubu, in Eleme Local Government for use as Naval Training School.

  • Orbih’s faction boycotts Edo North PDP senatorial rally

    Orbih’s faction boycotts Edo North PDP senatorial rally

    • To support APC candidates

    Members of the Chief Dan Orbih-led majority in Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were missing at the recent Edo North senatorial rally of the party, which took place in Auchi.

    This was as a result of the PDP being divided against itself in Edo State. The absence of the faction shows there seems to be no end to the crisis two weeks to the general election. This has made the governor’s faction to be frantic and panicking, as they face defeat.

    Although there were calls for reconciliation after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Obaseki- led faction, members of Orbih-led faction have vowed not to join in the reconciliation. This, our source, said was reached in a meeting called by some of the leaders of the faction, which was held a couple of days ago in Benin.

    Reacting to the absence of the PDP faction from the rally, a stakeholder of the party, who preferred anonymity, said the doors of reconciliation had been foreclosed and that they would  mostly work with All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state to teach Obaseki a political lesson.

    He added that the governor could not be trusted, so there was never a time they considered reconciliation.

    “We have foreclosed any crook and cranny deceitful reconciliation that will be used for selfish interest. We have been on this crisis since 2020, why now? The reality of the impending doom is steering at their faces. They should face it. We cannot be deceived again. APC, even as the major opposition party in the state is friendlier to us, and most of us are going to work with the party’s candidates to win. Edo North is already in the kitty. We have our people working in Edo Central to make sure these people don’t win. And if you remove Hon. Ogbiede-Ihama from the Edo South, what is left is lifeless. Even the Labour Party will do better than PDP there. The defeat of PDP in Edo State will be too overwhelming to be able to contemplate with.”

    Efforts to reach Orbih at press time proved abortive.

  • Oyo capable of feeding Nigeria, says agency

    Oyo capable of feeding Nigeria, says agency

    The Human and Environmental Development Agency (HEDA) Resource Centre has said Oyo State has a capacity to provide food for Nigerians, with the available agricultural resources.

    It added that the state, despite its capacity, only produced 20 per cent of it.

    Speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme on the downscale of the 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), in conjunction with the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), held in Ibadan, HEDA Executive Secretary Suleiman Arigbabu said Oyo is one of the powerful states when it comes to agriculture, but cannot produce up to 20 per cent of its capacity.

    The programme, attended by environmental experts, civil society groups, farmers, the media, etc, was aimed at enlightening the people on the climate prediction, with food security and sustainable development.

    Arigbabu urged the government at all levels to invest more in the agency that provided meteorological advisories, saying lack of adequate funding, absence of enough weather stations and manpower were major reasons their predictions had not been as accurate as possible.

    Advising Oyo State Government to invest more in agricultural extension workers in rural areas, he urged farmers to take climate advisories before engaging in farm cultivation.

    Oyo State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Kakulu Florence, said the ministry signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NiMet to downscale yearly weather prediction to farmers, noting that Oyo was one of the pilot states benefitting from the programme.

    The NiMet Chief Meteorologist, Mr. James Adamu, who spoke about SCP, said what the agency produced every year was relevant for policy formulation, planning and decision-making by operators, stakeholders and individuals in private and public sectors.

    Hailing the government on the initiative, the Secretary of farmers in Oyo State, Mr. Adewumi Abass, said the innovation had always been helping them to have a clue on when rain was going to begin and stop every season, adding that this had been giving them the opportunity to prepare for farming every season.

  • Contractors arrested in Turkey as earthquake death toll passes 34,000

    Contractors arrested in Turkey as earthquake death toll passes 34,000

    • UN expects toll above 50,000

    Turkish officials have detained or issued arrest warrants for some 130 people allegedly involved in shoddy and illegal construction methods, as the earthquake death toll surpasses 34,000.

    Rescuers yesterday ay continued to pull a few survivors from the rubble, six days after twin earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria collapsed thousands of buildings.

    The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake has risen to 34,179 with figures expected to continue to grow as the odds of finding more survivors quickly fades.

    The death toll in Turkey has reached 29,605, Turkish Emergency Coordination Center SAKOM said Sunday.

    The confirmed death toll in Syria is 4,574 according to the Health Ministry of the Salvation Government governance authority.

    But, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths has said he expects the death toll to at least double, after he arrived in southern Turkey on Saturday to assess the quake’s damage.

    The focus is beginning turned to who was to blame for not better preparing people in the earthquake-prone region that includes an area of Syria that was already suffering from years of civil war.

    Even though Turkey has construction codes that meet current earthquake-engineering standards, they are rarely enforced resulting in thousands of building toppling down, crushing residents during the quakes.

    Warrants have been issued for the detention of 131 people suspected to being responsible for collapsed buildings, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said late on Saturday.

    Turkey’s justice minister has vowed to punish anyone responsible, and prosecutors have begun gathering samples of buildings for evidence on materials used in constructions.

    The quakes were powerful, but victims, experts and people across Turkey are blaming bad construction for multiplying the devastation.

    Authorities at Istanbul Airport yesterday detained two contractors who have been held responsible for the destruction of several buildings in Adiyaman, the private DHA news agency and other media outlets have reported.

    The pair were reportedly on their way to Georgia.

    One of the arrested contractors, Yavuz Karakus, told reporters: “My conscience is clear.  “I built 44 buildings. Four of them were demolished. I did everything according to the rules.”

    Two more people were arrested in the province of Gaziantep suspected of having cut down columns to make extra room in a building that collapsed, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.

    Another building contractor was detained by authorities on Friday at Istanbul airport before he could board a flight out of the country.

    He was the contractor of a luxury 12-story building in the historic city of Antakya, in Hatay province, the collapse of which left an untold number of dead. Turkey’s Justice Ministry has also announced the planned establishment of “Earthquake Crimes Investigation” bureaus.

  • Unidentified object shot down over Canada

    Unidentified object shot down over Canada

    Canadian Prime Minister yesterday confirmed he “ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace”.

    Trudeau, said he ordered a United States (U.S.) fighter jet to shoot down an “unidentified object” flying in Canadian airspace just a day after one was taken down over Alaska.

    North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad), the combined US-Canadian body which provides shared defence of airspace over the two nations, detected a cylindrical object flying at high altitude over Alaska on Friday evening before it crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday.

    Both Mr Trudeau and US President, Joe Biden, ordered the object to be shot down, after which Canadian and US jets were scrambled and a US jet hit it with a missile.

    Confirming the action on Twitter, Trudeau wrote: “I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. Norad Command shot down the object over the Yukon.

    “Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled, and a US F-22 successfully fired at the object.”

    He added that Canadian forces would now “recover and analyse the wreckage of the object” and thanked Norad for “keeping the watch over North America”.

    It is the third unidentified flying object F-22 fighter jets have taken out in airspace above the US and Canada over the course of seven days. At least one is believed to be a spy balloon from China but the other two have not been publicly identified.

    Canada’s defence minister, Anita Anand, said the object, flying at around 40,000 feet, had been shot down at 3.41pm local time approximately 100 miles from the Canada-US border in the central Yukon, the westernmost Canadian territory, and the Canadian armed forces and the royal Canadian mounted police were now recovering it.

    She said it appeared to be “a small cylindrical object, smaller than the one that was downed off the coast of North Carolina.”

    General Wayne Eyre, chief of the defence staff, said the instructions given to the jets was “whoever had the first, best shot to take out the balloon had the go ahead.”

    Major Olivier Gallant, a Norad spokesman, said the military had now determined what it was but would not reveal details.

    Hours later, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it had closed some airspace in Montana after a “radar anomaly” was detected and fighter aircraft were sent to investigate.

    Norad said no object was identified that correlated to the radar information.

    Just a day earlier, White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, said an object roughly the size of a small car was shot out of the skies above a remote area of Alaska.

  • Sanwo-Olu pledges relief for Lekki residents

    Sanwo-Olu pledges relief for Lekki residents

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised relief in education, transport infrastructure, health care and the environment for residents and businesses across the Eti-Osa corridor.

    He made the pledge during an engagement with residents and stakeholders of Lekki, Etiosa, Ibeju Lekki and Epe yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was to discuss activities and plans of his administration for the community and the state.

    The governor said properties, businesses and tenants that may be affected once the building of the fourth mainland bridge starts will be fully compensated.

    He said the bridge must be built to bring modern development to the state.

    Sanwo-Olu also read “riot act” against noise pollution, lawlessness and other environmental degradation factors, endangering lives and properties in the axis.

    He said when rebuilding the Ilasan area for a better health and environment status befitting the area, nobody would be left out.

    “The slum, health hazards and way of life is not fit for Ilasan area and in feeling the plight of the residents of the area, we are committed to addressing what must be done to result in a win-win situation for residents and the environment.

    “Residents are advised to bring acts of lawlessness and bad behaviour along the corridor to the knowledge of government.

    “For the youth, once the leaders approve of an area for us, we will build a stadium, more primary schools and other important facilities in this axis.”

    “We are also committed to rebuilding the hospital at the Ibeju Lekki axis and also build a General Hospital at Ajah this year,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu reiterated his commitment to providing relief on the road transportation challenges experienced on the Lekki-Epe expressway.

    He said his administration would continue to build regional roads and ferry routes, to solve some of the issues.

    The governor, however, stressed that the promised coastal road was not forgotten and would be built after the regional roads were finished.

    “Also, the Jakande road would be rebuilt to address traffic situation and we shall also consider the beautification of the Lekki-Epe expressway,” he said.

    Mr. Gbemi Adelekan, Secretary, Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) and other residents highlighted several areas of concerns from 1004 to Epe.

    According to him, they include building of coastal road to address the traffic situation on the Lekki-Epe expressway, and regeneration of Ilasan Housing Estate.

    Other areas of concern, the residents pointed out, were the traffic situation at the Jakande junction, the flooding situation at Lafiaji, Orchid road, and others.

    “We also call for more primary and secondary schools across the Lekki corridor, more functional health care centres and a youth facility for more inclusiveness,” he said.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, reiterated the focus of the current administration to delivering critical infrastructure aimed at easing the lives and businesses of residents in the axis.

    According to her, eight roads would be upgraded in Ikoyi, and focus was on Ado-Badore road, Orchid to Ogombo road and up to Abraham Adesanya.

  • APC PCC coordinator gives 550 Osun students WAEC, UTME forms

    APC PCC coordinator gives 550 Osun students WAEC, UTME forms

    No fewer than 550 students have benefited from free forms of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination forms conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Osun State.

    The forms were procured by the Coordinator of Youth and Student Mobilisation for Tinubu/Shettima Campaign, Osun State, David Asalu and presented to 250 WAEC students, while 300 beneficiaries got UTME forms.

    Speaking during the official presentation of the forms at Karowosaye Multipurpose Hall, Ejigbo, Asalu said over 2,500 students had benefited from the kind gesture.

    He said students from four local governments in Osun West Senatorial District, which includes Ejigbo, Ede North, Ede South and Egbedore benefited from his personal contribution to the advancement of education in the area.

    Asalu said: “Over time, biting poverty and tightening economic conditions in the country have made many parents and guardians unable to finance their children and wards through higher education. The free WAEC and UTME forms are thus an approach to ensure that these brilliant children of indigent parents are not prevented from pursuing higher education because of their parents’ economic conditions.

    “While paying for WAEC and UTME registration does not wholly solve the tertiary education challenge of these students, I believe it is a good point to start. Once they make the grades necessary to secure admission, I am also committed to giving scholarships to those of them who perform excellently.”

    He said beneficiaries must ensure they did not take the opportunity for granted, enjoining them to face their studies and ensure they put in efforts in the pursuit of quality education.