The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Onaiyekan: Mark heads FG’s delegation to Vatican

    Onaiyekan: Mark heads FG’s delegation to Vatican

    …Team to visit Suntai in Germany

    Senate President David Mark is to lead the Federal Government’s delegation to the consecration of Archbishop John Onaiyekan as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

    The ceremony is to be performed by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Saturday.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, said other delegates would include the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe and the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

    Others are the Minister of State for FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide and the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Archbishop Onaiyekan’s elevation to the College of Cardinals was announced by the Vatican on October 24.

    According to the statement, Jonathan has also asked members of the delegation to stop over in Hanover, Germany on their way back to visit Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba, who is being treated there following injuries he sustained in a recent plane crash.

    The delegation, scheduled to leave Abuja on Friday, is due back on Sunday.

     

  • ‘Nigerian pilgrims in Israel safe’

    ‘Nigerian pilgrims in Israel safe’

    Nigerian pilgrims in Israel are well protected and safe in spite of the recent crisis between Israel and Hamas, said the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mr. John-Kennedy Opara.

    Opara, who said this, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, insisted that the 2012 pilgrimage was on course.

    The executive secretary said the NCPC had no plans to suspend the ongoing exercise, stressing that the commission was in touch with authorities in Israel and Egypt on the safety of Nigerian pilgrims.

    He, however, added that the commission had suspended the movement of Nigerian pilgrims to Sinai in Egypt and other sites in the Palestinian areas.

    Opara said the decision to suspend movements was based on reports received from the ground handlers in Israel and security operatives in the affected areas.

    “I want to state clearly today that Nigerian pilgrims in Israel are safe; we are in constant touch with security operatives in Israel and Egypt on the situation over there.

    “There is no cause for alarm, we are monitoring the situation; what we have done is to approve the suspension of movements to the Sinai area and other sites in Palestinian areas,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the NCPC chief as saying on Friday.

    Opara assured Nigerians that the security of pilgrims in Israel was paramount to the commission and other stakeholders in the sector.

    He said that the 2012 exercise would proceed as planned and that the commission would maintain its schedule for the pilgrimage.

     

  • Uduaghan presents 2013 budget proposal

    Uduaghan presents 2013 budget proposal

    Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Friday, presented a budget proposal of N398.31 billion for the 2013 fiscal year.

    The budget comprises N145.94 billion or 36.64 per cent for recurrent expenditure and N252.37 billion or 63.36 per cent for capital expenditure.

    The 2013 budget proposal shows a decrease of N38.9 billion or 8.9 per cent when compared to the 2012 approved budget of N437.21 billion.

    The main sources of funds for the 2013 budget are internally generated revenue of N61, 440,624,172 or 15.43 per cent while statutory allocation is N198, 513,285,148 representing 49.84 per cent.

    VAT receipts amounted to N11, 441,860,370 or 2.87 per cent, while other receipts total N126, 921,344,146 amounting 31.86 per cent.

    The total recurrent expenditure estimates for 2013 is N145.94 billion and this is made up of personnel costs of N57.66 billion or 39.79 per cent and overhead costs of N49.20 billion or 33.71 per cent.

    The Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges has a proposed sum ofN39.07 billion or26.78 per cent. On the whole, the recurrent proposal for 2013 is lower by N34.90 billion or 19.30 per cent when compare with the sum of N180.84 billion approved for 2012.

     

  • QPR sacks Hughes

    QPR sacks Hughes

    Queens Park Rangers on Friday sacked manager Mark Hughes after 10 months in charge with the club bottom of the Premier League.

    “The circumstances we find ourselves in have left the board of directors with very little choice but to make a change.

    “The board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible,” BBC quoted the club as saying in a statement.

    Assistant manager Mark Bowen and Coach Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge against Manchester United on Saturday.

    The club said it would make “a further announcement in due course”, with former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp favourite to take charge at Loftus Road.

    Hughes’s final match in charge was a home defeat by fellow strugglers Southampton.

    “This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the board of directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days,” the statement added.

    “The board of directors wishes to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his 10 months in charge.

    “Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time.”

    The Hoops only managed to preserve their Premier League status on the final day of last season and, despite a massive overhaul during the summer, Hughes’s team had continued to struggle.

     

  • Nigeria, India to sign bilateral tourism agreement

    Nigeria, India to sign bilateral tourism agreement

    The Deputy Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Mr. Satya Panda, said on Friday that there was a plan by the country to establish a bilateral tourism agreement with Nigeria.

    Panda made this known in a telephone chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

    He said that historically, Nigeria and India had excellent bilateral trade relationships, adding that both nations should work together to strengthen ties in the tourism sector.

    “Both countries have similar experiences in the past and the synergy that has been there for a very long time should be continued.

    “We will work with our Nigerian friends so that the bilateral trade ties are not only sustained but expanded further to tourism,’’ NAN quoted him as saying.

    Panda said that the move was part of efforts by India to improve trade relations with the developing countries.

    He said the bilateral tourism agreement would enable visitors to invest and tap from India’s tourism potential.

    He explained that Nigeria, among other countries, was fast becoming a good tourism destination in Africa.

    Panda advised the Federal Government to ensure a safe environment for foreign investors to harness the Nigeria’s vast tourism potential.

     

  • Robbers kill teacher in Ogun

    A gang of suspected armed robbers on Wednesday night unleashed terror on the residents of lwesi in ljebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State and killed a school teacher.

    The teacher, identified as Mr. Sikiru Odufowokan, was shot dead.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that Odufowokan was shot when the robbers discovered that he was watching them through his window.

    Some residents of the area told NAN that the suspected robbers disguised themselves as commercial motorcyclists to raid the town.

    An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Emmanuel, said Odufowokan was shot in the chest after the gang had forcibly gained access into his apartment.

    The ljebu Area Police Commander, Alhaji Usman Alabi, confirmed the incident but said that no arrest had been made.

     

  • Jonathan returns to Abuja

    Jonathan returns to Abuja

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday morning returned to Abuja after attending the D-8 Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan.

    The president, who left Abuja on Wednesday night, attended the opening session of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the D-8 on Thursday.

    He also participated in the activities of the Summit, as the outgoing Chairman of the organization.

    Jonathan later handed over the chairmanship of the organisation to the host, President Azif Zardari, who chaired the meeting of the summit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the summit deliberated on the theme “Democratic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity’’ and endorsed the D-8 Charter and the D-8 Global Vision.

    NAN recalls that Jonathan took over the leadership of the body in April 2010 when Nigeria hosted its 7th bi-annual summit.

    This is in line with the organisation’s statute.

    On the sidelines of the summit, the president held bilateral meetings with the leaders of some member countries and also met with the Nigerian communities in Pakistan.

    The D-8 was established in 1997 in Istanbul, Turkey, to promote development cooperation among member countries.

    The members are Nigeria, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Iran.

     

  • Mexico’s President seeks to change country’s name

    Mexico’s President seeks to change country’s name

    Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent a bill to congress to change the official name of the country.

    The BBC reports that the current name, the United States of Mexico, was adopted in 1824 and was intended to emulate its northern neighbour.

    President Calderon wants to change it to just Mexico, as the country is known the world over.

    Mr. Calderon, who leaves office on December 1, said Mexico no longer needed to copy any foreign power.

    “The name of our country no longer needs to emulate that of other nations,” Mr. Calderon told a news conference.

    “Forgive me for the expression, but Mexico’s name is Mexico.”

    The name United States of Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) was brought in after independence from Spain.

    It is used mostly on official documents, money and other government material.

    Mr. Calderon first suggested the name change as a congressman in 2003, but the bill did not make it to a vote.

    The BBC says if the reaction on Twitter is anything to go by few Mexicans see this as a serious issue.

    Suggestions flooded in for a new name for Mexico, many of them mocking Mr. Calderon, such as “Fraud-land” in reference to widespread corruption.

    The constitutional reform Mr. Calderon proposes needs to be approved by both houses of Congress and a majority of Mexico’s 31 state legislatures.

    Coming with just a week to go before Mr. Calderon leaves office, the president’s critics see this as a symbolic gesture.

    Mr. Calderon will hand over to president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

     

  • Firm provides affordable homes for workers

    Kingdom Realties Limited, an indigenous firm, has offered to develop estates owned by employees of cooperative societies across the country on an interest-free mortgage plan.

    The company said it took the decision in order to help reduce the housing deficit in the country and also gave assurances that beneficiaries of the unique opportunity would be able to move into their properties within just three months of project commencement.

    Disclosing this in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Richard Uwagie, said after meeting with cooperative heads across the country at various fora on creative ways of providing affordable homes for co-operative members, the company decided to proffer this unique strategic solution to the challenge of housing faced by most junior staff of establishments across the country.

    “Most co-operatives have acquired landed properties which have been allocated to their members, what members need now is not another land but a decent home on the property, unfortunately most members cannot afford the lump sum to build on their allotted lands,” he said.

    He explained that these members who are now land owners cannot afford borrowing because banks would not lend them all the funds needed or the interest payable is usually too heavy for their salaries to carry.

    He also pointed out that the few who would have loved to go for loan facility against all odds are endlessly awaiting the proper land documentations which are usually a slow process, hence may not get the requested facility because banks will request for complete land documentation.

    According to him: “Employees’ cooperative members will welcome any structure put in place that will provide a roof over their heads now and repay from their salaries conveniently for as long as their salaries can carry.

    “To this end, Kingdom Realities Ltd has put a structure in place that will help every member own a home they can move into within three months of contract approval. And the home owners can pay interest-free over a period of up to 15 years .Where every member will contribute between 25-45 per cent equity and even nothing and pay instalment over 15 years of as low as N12, 950k/month,”he said .

  • We’ll assist Nigeria to develop aviation industry – British Airways

    We’ll assist Nigeria to develop aviation industry – British Airways

    The Chief Executive Officer of British Airways (BA), Mr. Keith Williams, said the company will partner the Federal Government to ensure its Transformation Agenda succeeds especially in the aviation sector.

    Williams stated this on Thursday while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He described Nigeria as an important market for British Airways, saying the company had operated in Nigeria for 76 years.

    “The Transformation Programme has to grow the economy and British Airways is an airline that supports the growth of that economy through air travels.

    “So, as the Nigeria’s economy grows the British Airways will grow with Nigeria.

    “British Airways has served Nigeria now for 76 years and we get a great partnership with Nigeria which has been a long one and an important one and it will always continue to be an important one and the British Airways supports that,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the British Airways chief as saying to journalists.

    According to him, Nigeria has huge domestic and international markets for the growth of aviation industry and BA will explore the market for the general good of Nigeria and airline.

    “Nigeria is a huge important country with a huge population. It has got important trade flows and the airlines need to support those important trade flows either through Nigerian airlines or International airlines,” Williams said.

    He expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the aviation sector was being managed in Nigeria.

    He, however, said that Nigeria needed to build its domestic and regional aviation industry.

    Williams described the ongoing merger activities between world leading airlines as a welcome development for the global growth of the aviation industry.