The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Tension in Ile-Ife, Modakeke as two reportedly die

    Tension in Ile-Ife, Modakeke as two reportedly die

    By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

    There was tension in Ile-Ife and Modakeke on Tuesday as two people were reportedly killed in the Alapata area of the two communities.

    The Nation gathered the two deceased were living in Modakeke.

    It was learnt youths from Modakeke discovered the corpses and alleged they were killed by Ile-Ife indigenes.

    The discovery of the corpses sparked tension in the two communities.

    A resident of Ile-Ife, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Following the discovery of the corpses of the two people that were killed, there was tension in Ile-Ife because Modakeke youths have been moving around angrily.”

    Spokesperson of Modakeke Progressive Union, Venerable Debo Babalola, confirmed he heard about the incident to The Nation.

    He however noted details of the incident were not yet known to him.

    Spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said: “We don’t have details of the incident. We are working around the matter.”

  • BREAKING: Manchester City win EPL as Man Utd lose to Leicester

    BREAKING: Manchester City win EPL as Man Utd lose to Leicester

    Manchester City have won a third Premier League title in four years after closest challengers Manchester United were beaten by Leicester City.

    Pep Guardiola’s side are now 10 points ahead of second-placed United, who have just three games remaining.

    It is the seventh time City have finished top of the English football pyramid and the fifth in nine years.

    Manager Guardiola, 50, has now won eight domestic trophies since arriving in Manchester in 2016.

    City had the chance to wrap up the title themselves on Saturday, but suffered a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Etihad Stadium.

    However, Leicester completed the job for them with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

    It is City’s second trophy in a little over two weeks after they beat Tottenham to claim the Carabao Cup and they are also in their first Champions League final after beating Paris St-Germain in midweek.

    Since being taken over by the Abu Dhabi Group in September 2008, City have won 12 cups and this is the third time they have clinched a league and EFL Cup double. BBC

  • 2023: PDP tasks INEC on electronic transmission of results

    2023: PDP tasks INEC on electronic transmission of results

    By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on electronic transmission of results from polling units in the 2023 general elections.

    In a statement on Tuesday by spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the electoral body would have no excuse not to use the electronic direct transmission of results in the 2023 general elections and other coming polls.

    The party said its position is predicated on INEC’s announcement of its readiness to conduct online (electronic) registration of voters for future elections in the country.

    The PDP noted that since INEC is now in the position to deploy technology to conduct online registration of voters, which entails electronic transmission of voters’ data to its central server, the commission can also deploy electronic transmission of results directly from the polling unit to its central server.

    The statement reads: “Our party calls the attention of the commission to the fact that it no longer has any excuse not to employ the direct transmission of results from polling units, which will ensure credible elections by eliminating manipulations, alterations, switching and disappearance of election results during manual collation processes.

    “The PDP insists that if INEC can use the electronic platform for registration of voters it could as well deploys the same technology for electronic transmission of results in future elections including the 2023 general elections.

    “Our party however urges INEC to ensure that the online registration of voters is credible, transparent and not open to the manipulations of desperate politicians, particularly in the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

    The PDP also called on the leadership of the APC in the National Assembly to know that it has no further pretext to continue to sit on the Electoral Act amendment bill and frustrate genuine effort to ensure credible, free and fair elections in the country.

    The main opposition party accused the APC-led administration as well as the APC leadership in the National Assembly of using every available means to frustrate the electronic transmission of results, saying that they have realised that there is no way their party can win in a transparent, free and fair election at any level in the country.

    “We therefore urge Nigerians to intensify their efforts in the collective quest to rescue our country from misrule by adding their voices to the demand by our party for electronic transmission of results in future elections and particularly, the 2023 general elections”, the party said.

  • Osun shuts mosque indefinitely over leadership crisis

    Osun shuts mosque indefinitely over leadership crisis

    By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

    The Osun State Government on Tuesday shut down Inisha Town Central Mosque in Odo-Otin Local Government Area over crisis surrounding installation of a new Imam.

    The government banned all activities and central congregation at the mosque for Eid prayers.

    The Nation reports a traditional chief, Eesa of Inisha, Chief Enoch Ajiboso, slumped and died on December 20, 2020 at the palace while settling a dispute between two parties contending to be the Chief Imam of the community.

    A statement by the Osun State Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Adeyanju Binuyo, noted the decision was reached following inability of the Muslim Community of the town to peacefully install a new Imam for the mosque.

    “Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, as part of efforts to ensure the security of lives and properties in that axis of the State, directed that the Central Mosque be shut indefinitely to forestall further religious or communal crisis. Already the Mosque has recorded the death of two Imams in quick succession.

    “Security operatives have been deployed to the town to enforce the closure and ban on Eid Prayers. This directive will be in place until the reconciliatory process towards amicable resolution is concluded.

    “Members of the public are advised to be guided by this directive,” he ended.

  • BBNaija 6: Ebuka Obi Uchendu to return as host

    BBNaija 6: Ebuka Obi Uchendu to return as host

    By Gbenga Bada

    Media personality and BBNaija ex-housemate, Ebuka Obi Uchendu will return as host of Big Brother Naija season six.

    Ebuka revealed that he will return as the reality TV show’s host for the fifth time on his verified social media pages on Monday, May 10.

    He shared a picture of himself looking dapper in a suit with the caption, “Well, guess who’s returning as the host of the next season of #BBNaija. Let’s go again, guys!!!”

    The revelation came a few weeks after a Twitter user suggested that Frank Edoho should replace Obi-Uchendu as the show host.

    Read Also; BB Naija Season 5 to hold online audition

    The Twitter user had made a case for the established presenter, who hosted the popular TV game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, for 13 years.

    The tweet read, “Ebuka don eat small, make him allow another person chop! Frank Edoho as BBNaija host for this season won’t be a bad choice tho. Eviction night go choke gan!!!”

    The suggestion sparked a debate, which was finally laid to rest by Edoho via his official Twitter handle.

    He tweeted: “What did Ebuka do to deserve all this? Why would you want to change someone that has done a show successfully for only three years and have him replaced with one who did WWTBAM for 13 years? Leave Ebuka alone! Please.”

    Big Brother Naija, formerly known as Big Brother Nigeria, is a reality television series franchise owned by Endemol.

    The show began to air in Nigeria on March 5, 2006 and its first presenters were Olisa Adibua and Michelle Dede.

    After the first edition, the show was put on hold till January 22, 2017, when it resurfaced for a rebranding and second edition.

    Obi-Uchendu, who was a contestant in the maiden edition, became the host of the show and has hosted the show for five straight years.

    The popular reality TV show has topped previous seasons as its organisers, MultiChoice, announced a grand prize of N90m for the current season.

  • Academy moves to modernise engineering curriculum

    Academy moves to modernise engineering curriculum

    By Okwy Iroegbu­-Chikezie

    The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) has stressed the need for the modernisation of the country’s engineering academic curriculum for the profession to take its place of pride in the society. Its President, Alex Ogedegbe, made this submission during the academy’s first public lecture with the theme: “Strategic role of engineering in containing COVID-19 Pandemic.”

    He said the academy was passionate about the modernisation of the curriculum and was reaching out to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to look into the matter. He said the academy was poised to produce thought leadership papers for the development of engineering, promote innovation in industries and tertiary institutions, thorough research, design and fabrication, as well as competitions across broad areas of the country’s engineering needs, including linking such innovations with industry needs.

    Lagos State Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was the special guest of honour at the event, observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore, the relevance of biomedical engineers, computer and technology engineers, internet facility, adding that the state government has seen strong collaboration between the government and engineers in development of the state.

    “We have been able to increase our infrastructure capacity, building three brand new hospitals and International Infectious Disease Centre, to be able to respond to outbreak of diseases. The government is developing interest in the application of block chain technology in healthcare management,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    The guest lecturer, Prof  Babatunde Ogunnaike, from the University of Delaware, United States, emphasised that engineering profession was dedicated to translating scientific knowledge into useful solution to practice problems, adding that engineering must keep the society functioning at steady state as well as rise to the occasion to tackle novel problems when necessary.

    He listed engineering contributions to COVID-19 global response to include, understanding the pandemic through data acquisition, modeling, analysis and clarification, insisting that the profession also played a prominent role in slowing down the spread of the virus, testing and diagnostics and was unprecedented in rapid vaccine development, manufacture and distribution.

    Ogunnaike said good science and engineering was a necessary and indispensable component in any society but hasn’t been sufficient. He called for effective engagement with public policy makers and government at all levels, effective public information campaigns, clearer communication and better education about risk and uncertainty.

    According to him, effective engineering in the 21st Century must include tripartite components of technical feasibility, financial viability and societal desirability.

  • Sultan to Muslims: watch out for new moon tonight

    Sultan to Muslims: watch out for new moon tonight

    By Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to look out for the crescent (moon) of Shawwal, 1442 AH tonight.

    He gave the directive in a statement issued by NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu.

    The sighting of the moon of Shawwal, according to Islamic tradition, ends Ramadan and ushers in Eid-al-Fitr.

    “If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Tuesday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would address the press to declare Wednesday, May 12, as the first day of Shawwal (Eid day).

    “If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Tuesday night, Thursday, May 13, automatically becomes the first of Shawwal, 1442 AH (Eid day),” he said.

    The Sultan encouraged the faithful to keep praying for peaceful co-existence in the country.

  • Serena doubtful for Tokyo Olympics

    Serena doubtful for Tokyo Olympics

    Agency Reporter 

    Serena Williams raised doubts over her participation at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, ahead of her return to the limelight this week at the Italian Open.

    The 39-year-old, still ranked eighth in the world, has been absent from the courts since her semi-final defeat by eventual champion Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open in Melbourne in February.

    Williams remains uncommitted about whether she will join up with Team USA in Japan this summer, especially if it means time away from her three-year-old daughter Olympia.

    “I haven’t spent 24 hours without her (Olympia) so that kind of answers the question itself,” said the American, who has won four Olympic gold medals, a record she shares with her sister Venus.

    “I haven’t really thought much about Tokyo, because it was supposed to be last year and now it’s this year, and then there is this pandemic and there is so much to think about.

    “Then there are the Grand Slams. It’s just a lot. So I have really been taking it one day at a time to a fault, and I definitely need to figure out my next moves.”

    Williams said she was  “ready” to get started again in Rome as preparation for the French Open which starts in Paris on May 24.

    “It’s good to start fresh but it’s also hard to start fresh,” she told a press conference yesterday.

    “I feel like I’m good. I’m in Rome. I’m going to have some good matches here hopefully and then I will be at another Grand Slam which always makes me excited. So I think either way I’ll be ready.”

    Williams has been stuck on 23 major trophies, one behind Australia’s Margaret Court, since winning the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant.

  • INEC to expand voting centres in Lagos

    INEC to expand voting centres in Lagos

    By Halimah Balogun and Toyosi Olufemi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will expand voters’ access to polling units by converting existing voting points and voting settlements into full polling units.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Sam Olumekun, said this during a stakeholders’ meeting at Alausa, Ikeja.

    Olumekun said where necessary, there will be relocation of existing ones to places where they are closer to and/or more accessible to voters.

    The commission, he said, will decongest existing polling units by reducing the number of voters per polling unit.

    “We want to improve the quality of access to electoral services provided to all Nigerian voters by the Commission, including better access at polling units for person with Disability (PWDs). We want to improve health and safety conditions at polling units during elections in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols. The steps will address the declining voters’ turnout at elections due to lack of access to polling units.

    Olumekun said the commission has approved the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide to commence on June 28.

    “For the exercise, the Commission will deploy a new technology known as INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) which allows online registration as an alternative method for those who have access to internet facilities to preregister, thereby, reducing the inconveniences on voters. However, they will appear physically for biometrics and facial capture at either State office or Local government office,” he said.

  • Pensioners to Sanwo-Olu: our members are dying

    Pensioners to Sanwo-Olu: our members are dying

    Agency Reporter 

    An appeal has gone to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to amend the contributory pension scheme in the state to stop untimely death of pensioners in the state.

    The Association of Retirees and PFA Pensioners made this known in a letter jointly signed by the Chairman, Mr Michael Omisande and the Secretary, Mr Johnson Olagbaye.

    The association in response to the May Day Address by the governor, drew his attention to the negative consequences of the contributory pension scheme which they said, “short-changing our members.”

    The association noted that under the old scheme, worker who retired as a Deputy Director, earned N200,000 monthly, while under the new scheme, the pension is N50,000.

    Also, an Assistant Director earned N160,000 under the old scheme while under the new contributory pension scheme, the take home is N45,000.

    The also association lamented the delay in payment of pension to their members.

    “Lagos retirees still wait for three years minimum before collecting their entitlements. This delay has caused untimely death, sickness, and financial embarrassment among others to our people.  By the time the gratuity is worked out, it is so meagre as compared to what is used to be despite our contribution to the scheme,” they said.

    The union appealed to the governor to ensure payment of backlogs of pensions to enable the pensioners take care of their health and other needs.

    “We expect that the new pension scheme should be able to put food on our tables, but reverse is the case.  We are not even talking about our medicals, children school fees and payment for electric bills among others,” they said.

    Describing Governor Sanwo-Olu as a worker-friendly administrator, the association hailed him for approving 10 hectares of land for workers’ Housing Schemes in his May Day Address.