The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Group enrols 202 kids in school

    To assist the government in reducing the number of children who are out of school, a volunteer youth group, Slum to School Project (S2S), has enrolled 202 primary schools in Makoko, Lagos.

    The initiative which started as a Community Development Service of a former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Otto Orondaam, has in the last eight months, enrolled a total of 320 orphans and vulnerable children in Makoko in the educational scholarship scheme.

    Otto said he embarked on the project out of the need to help reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.

    He said there are millions of less privileged children who are not in school due to no fault of theirs.

    “Education is the greatest legacy a nation can give its children. It creates thirst for better alternatives, improves choice and greater opportunity for a nation and her people as well as reduces the twin burden of poverty and disease.

    “However, there are still millions of unaccounted Nigerian children of school age that are currently roaming the streets due to persistent psychosocial factors, economic challenges, cultural orientations and astounding defiance of guardians.

    “As a result of these social challenges, our project is designed with an innovative approach geared towards mobilising the efforts of government, private sector and other development agencies towards securing educational opportunities for children in disadvantaged families and communities.

    “So we have received support from the government and private individuals who have donated money towards the project. We hope to extend to other communities across the country and our plan is not just to enrol but to see our beneficiaries through school.

    “It has not been easy and we are aware it won’t be an easy task because most of us have spent our time, money, energy to ensure that we assist you in achieving a bright future. It is not about the ceremony or party. The whole essence is not to come here and eat or drink but to ensure that as you are given your school kits, you stay in school,” Otto said.

    “Parents are expected to never keep their children and wards away from school and to encourage them to do their homework. Also, as parents, we expect you to engage in meetings and discussions with teachers in order to help improve your child.

    He said to avoid issues of mismanagement of funds; S2S has ensured that all the money paid towards the project does not get to either of its members.

    “We are in partnership with Bethesda Child Support Agency to ensure that our donors pay through their account and from there to the various schools. So, we do not have access to the money, and all those who have volunteered to be part of the project are not paid.

    “So far, I have gotten over 200 volunteers and it gives me joy to see that we have other young people across the country who have agreed to dedicate their finances, time, energy, among others, to give a brighter future to the under-privileged ones.”

    Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Incubator Africa Limited, Alero Aiyida-Otobo, a development agency, said the initiative was a revolution in the country, even as she disclosed that her organization, under the education reform team, has adopted 20 of the children to train them through primary school.

    She said: “It is a major event because it has the answers and solutions to out of school children. As you already know, Nigeria has between 8-10 million out of school children, the highest number in the world.

    “The government has been trying to deal with this issue but having a group of young persons, who on their own volunteered to raise funds and enroll these children in schools.

    I think they deserve to be commended and honoured because this is a histry making event. I want to use this opportunity to encourage young people across Nigeria to emulate what S2S is doing so that this problem can be addressed.”

    Head of Baales, Makoko, Chief Francis Agoyon, commended S2S for coming to their community to enlighten them on the need as well as sponsor their children to school.

    “Since he started with us eight months ago, he has done a marvelous work, which is a surprise to all of us because it has never happened since the existence of Makoko.

    “Otto brought everybody together and told us that education is the first step to civilisation. He said if we want our children to become doctors, professors, teachers, we must allow them go to school.

    “Before, our people did not see the need of education, but he taught us the benefits of education and why we must allow our children to go to school.

    “We pray that God will empower him more and we also promise that we shall not disappoint him. Our children will go to school and be great people as he desires them to be.

  • Senate rejects fresh N9b for VP’s residence

    Senate rejects fresh N9b for VP’s residence

    The Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday opposed the release of additional N9 billion for Vice President Namadi Sambo’s official residence now under construction.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, who spoke while on oversight visit to the site of the project said such a huge sum was uncalled for especially at a time when most Nigerians cannot afford three square meals.

    The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Adamu Ismail had told the lawmakers that the project was awarded in 2009 at the cost of N7billion.

    He added that the additional N9 billion was needed to provide furniture, fencing, two additional protocol guest houses, a banquet hall and other security gadgets.

    Ismail said the new proposal was not included in the original scope of work being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.

    Smart said: “The National Assembly is not going to appropriate additional N9 billion for the project especially at a period in this country where people cannot get “three square meal. “

    “The N9 billion is far more than the original cost of the project,” he added.

    Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Domingo Obende, however asked the Executive Secretary to submit the additional scope of work for which the fund is required to the committee for proper scrutiny.

    Ismail told the lawmakers that the proposed N9 billion has been slashed to about N6 billion by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).

    He said: “We have worked out the details and passed to BPP for consideration.

    “They (BPP) have sent it back to us with their observation.

    “We requested for N9 billion but now it came to about N6 billion.”

    Adeyemi said the N14 billion is indefensible in view of present realities.

    He said: “Now you are asking us to approve a total sum of about N14 billion and this is just the Vice President’s residence.

    “N14 billion to me is huge for the Vice President’s house.

    “If you are talking of N10 billion that would be understandable.

    “The reality is that N14 billion is indefensible and that is our submission.

    “In Nigeria there are still many people with empty stomach.

    “So we have to look at budgeting in relation to the needs of the people.”

     

     

     

  • Suleja bombing: ‘Suspects wanted to produce 200 explosives’

    Suleja bombing: ‘Suspects wanted to produce 200 explosives’

    An Army Officer told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that the bomb components seized from four suspects of the Suleja bombing could produce 200 explosives.

    The officer, a prosecution witness, whose name was not given for security reasons, revealed this when crossed examined in the case filed by the State Security Service against the six people that are allegedly involved in the Suleja/Madalla bomb attack.

    He had on December 5 in his evidence-in-chief testified that Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, Mohammed Ali and Musa Adam were arrested on July 28, 2011 at Gumel Junction, Kachia in Kaduna with the items.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Umar Ibrahim and Shuaibu Abubakar, were also standing trial for alleged multiple bombings and killings in Suleja and Madalla both in Niger.

    When asked how he concluded that the items were components for making explosives, the officer explained that the materials were subjected to expert scrutiny.

    He further said that “as an army officer exposed to proper training I could tell from my experience and exposure on warfare that the items are for IEDs.”

    Countering, Mr. Emeka Okoro, Counsel to the accused persons claimed that the items were not complete explosives at the point of his clients’ arrest.

    The officer further countered Okoro’s submission that the suspects were quarry workers who used similar explosives to blast rocks, as according to him, “the mission of the suspects was to cause mayhem.’’

     

     

  • Appeal court throws out Airhiavbere’s appeals

    Appeal court throws out Airhiavbere’s appeals

    Two appeals filed by Major-General Charles Airhiavbere against two rulings of the lower tribunal were on Thursday thrown out for lack of merit by the Court of Appeal.

    Airhiavbere, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, is challenging the outcome of the election based on alleged malpractices.

    He is also challenging the academic qualification of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The lower tribunal headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrusa had ruled that Airhiavbere could not call additional 17 additional witnesses not listed among the 31 witnesses in the main petition.

    Justice Ambrusa also struck out some paragraphs in Airhiavbere’s reply to Governor Oshiomhole’s submission to the petition.

    Delivering judgment on whether Airhiavbere could all additional witnesses, the three-man panel headed by Justice George Shoremi held that failure by the petitioner to list the witnesses alongside the main petition “added poverty to the petition.”

    The court said the complaint of lack of fair hearing by the petitioner was faulty and lacking in merit.

    It therefore upheld the ruling of the lower tribunal.

    Giving a second judgment, the court held that issues raised by Airhiavbere in his reply were new and fresh issues not contained in the main petition.

    The court ruled that bringing in such issues would take the respondents by surprise and would not give them time to respond.

     

  • Jonathan assures NNMA of support

    Jonathan assures NNMA of support

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Federal Government is in process of establishing Nigeria National Merit Award Poly Group and a complementary National Research and Development Fund.

    The purpose, according to the president is to encourage technological research essential for socio-economic development of the country.

    Jonathan, who spoke on Thursdayat the presentation of the 2012 Nigerian National Order of Merit Award to Prof. Samuel Ohaegbulam (medicine) and Prof. Emmanuel Yoloye (humanities) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja also assured the NNMA of Federal Government continuous support.

    According to the president, the administration is committed to fully supporting the NMMA and its activities.

    He also challenged other tiers of government to support them, noting that NNMA will do better if other tiers of government and private sector also actively encourage the body.

    The president, who was responding to the request made by NNMA, said actions are already in place for the establishment of the National Research and Development Fund.

     

  • Minister faults Nigeria’s TI ranking

    Minister faults Nigeria’s TI ranking

    The Federal Government has watered down the country’s corruption rating by Transparency International.

    The country was ranked 35th on the recent global corruption index.

    The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said both the TI report and a recent Gallup Poll that also showed that Nigeria is among the most corrupt nations globally were products of interactions with Nigerians and synopsis of negative media reports.

    Maku, who was responding to questions from State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the rating does not actually reflect the true pictures of things in the country.

    He noted that what most of the rating institutions rely on are people’s perceptions of the country, especially Nigerians and what they get from the media.

    This he said does not take into recognition the efforts of the present administration to deal with the issue of corruption.

    He stressed that the government systematic and institutional approaches are gradually yielding results.

    The minister cited the recent government efforts at arresting the fraud in the fuel subsidy management which has led to prosecution of some suspects.

    Equally, he said the pension scam investigation and prosecution of some government workers were indications of the administration’s readiness to address corruption in the country.

    “Government has continued to take decisive measures against defaulters in the fuel subsidy scam. There are so many issues involved in dealing with corruption. When you are systematic and deliberate reform goes deeper.

    “The president does not seat in court to imprison people. There are institutions set up to do that,” the Minister observed, advising journalists to follow up on institutional proceedings to get to the roots of matters and thereby unearth omissions and commissions, so that government will be able to track and act on such.

     

  • IOC strips four Athens 2004 medalists of titles

    IOC strips four Athens 2004 medalists of titles

    The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stripped four athletes who participated at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games of their medals.

    The global sports body said in a statement on its website on Thursday that the athletes were disqualified after further analysis of their stored samples resulted in adverse analytical findings.

    According to the statement, the athletes include Yuriy Bilonog of Ukraine, who placed first in the men’s shot put event and Russian Svetlana Krivelyova, who finished third in women’s shot put.

    The rest are Belarussian Ivan Tsikhan, who was runner-up in the men’s hammer throw and his compatriot, Iryna Yatchenko, who was third in the women’s discus throw.

    While Bilonog and Krivelvova were found guilty of using oxandrolone metabolite, Tsikhan and Yatchenko were discovered to have used methandienone metabolite.

    The executive board ordered the relevant National Olympic Committees in all four cases to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the medals and diplomas awarded to the athletes.

    It also announced that one case of this nature was still pending and it would soon release its decision on it.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IOC stores samples for eight years after each edition of the games.

    This is usually done for the samples to be re-tested, should more sophisticated detection methods become available or new substances are added to the list of banned substances.

    The IOC had recently, in close collaboration with the World Anti-Doping Agency, decided to further analyse a number of samples from the Athens Games.

    This followed a targeted testing, based on intelligence and new methods.

     

  • Minister scores Nigeria, Philippines trade relations low

    Minister scores Nigeria, Philippines trade relations low

    The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, on Thursday scored the trade relations between Nigeria and Philippines as “quite low.”

    The minister made the remark at the 2nd Nigeria-Philippines Joint Commission in Abuja.

    “In spite of the long standing relations between the two countries, the economic and trade relations have been quite low..

    “Whilst it is heartening to note that there have been an increasing number of Filipino companies conducting business in Nigeria, there is yet much to be done to improve our economic and trade relations,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying at the forum.

    Onwuliri, however, noted that the two countries had achieved “a desirable” record on their bilateral relations.

    She said that numerous Filipinos had been engaged as expatriate workers thereby contributing positively to the development of Nigeria.

    The minister also noted that some Nigerians were currently in the process of taking up jobs in the Philippines.

    Onwuliri described the Commission, which was being kick- started 27 years after its establishment, as significant adding that a new impetus will be introduced to broaden existing bilateral relations.

    “Nigeria and Philippines have several areas for mutually beneficial cooperation which will enhance the growth and development of our two countries,’’ she said.

    The minister listed the areas to include education, health, agriculture, water resources, immigration, culture and tourism, trade and commerce and Justice.

    She suggested that the collective desire and focus of the two countries should be to institute fruitful deliberations.

     

  • I’ll be fit for AFCON – Joel Obi

    I’ll be fit for AFCON – Joel Obi

    Inter Milan ace, Joel Obi, has assured he will be fully fit for next year’s African Cup of Nations after he recently had a relapse of a muscle injury.

    MTNFootball.com says Obi returned to action in October during Inter’s Europa Cup game against Azerbaijani champions Neftci PFK in Baku.

    However, the injury relapsed against Catania in an Italian Serie A fixture on October 21.

    His injury problems have raised concerns about his chances of making the Super Eagles squad to AFCON as he only played a minimal role in the qualifiers.

    “I’m happy I’m back in training, trying to get 100 per cent fit and be ready for both my club and Nigeria,” MTNFootball.com quoted Obi as saying on a radio interview programme on Thursday.

    “I will be fit for the Nations Cup. I still have more to give to Nigeria.”

    Obi said he expects the fans to back the Eagles at the tournament in South Africa.

    “We won’t disappoint them but we would need their support,” he said.

     

  • ‘Americans top list of visitors to Badagry Museum’

    ‘Americans top list of visitors to Badagry Museum’

    The Curator of Badagry Heritage Museum, Mr. Peter Olaide-Mesewaku, said the museum receives patronage mostly from American celebrities and students on excursion.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry on Wednesday that even though tourists from different countries patronised the museum, a greater number of tourists from the United States visited the museum.

    “15 per cent of foreigners that patronise the museum are Americans.

    “Evander Holyfield, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Marlon Jackson are among the celebrities who visited the museum recently,’’ he said.

    Olaide-Mesewaku noted that patronage at the museum was usually high during the first and second quarter of every year.

    “The patronage at the museum is seasonal; the big season starts during the months of February to July.

    “ Students of secondary and tertiary institutions visit the museum in this period when on excursion,’’ he said.

    Olaide-Mesewaku said the museum attracted foreigners because it was a repertoire of history on slave trade.

    “I believe that the foreigners who visit the museum do so because of the slave trade history and the monument it houses,’’ he said.

    He advised Nigerians to endeavour to visit museums to learn about their antecedents.