The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • ‘Nigeria needs $10bn to address infrastructural deficits’

    ‘Nigeria needs $10bn to address infrastructural deficits’

    Nigeria needs about 10 billion dollars annually over the next 10 years to address its infrastructural deficits, the Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, said.

    He said this on Monday in Abuja while briefing State House Correspondents after a meeting of the Supervisory Board of the DMO at the State House.

    He said that a developing nation like Nigeria would record faster economic growth if there was a consistent flow of investment and loans to address developmental challenges.

    “As you know, Nigeria has huge infrastructural deficits and experts have estimated that it requires a minimum of 10 billion dollars (about N1.5 trillion) inflow per annum to close its infrastructural deficits over the next 10 years.

    “Government is finding ways of making sure that we maximise our internal revenue for the purpose of funding our various needs, including infrastructure.

    “That is why you can see that there has been a lot of improvement over the last two years in revenue collections from various sources, including the Customs and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, among others,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Dr. Nwankwo as saying on the issue.

    The DMO boss, who noted that the nation’s debt profile was N6.3 trillion for domestic debt and 6.29 billion dollars for external debt, however, stressed that the debt profile was sustainable.

    “There is nothing wrong in borrowing and incurring debts as long as the funds are judiciously and prudently used to finance projects that would be beneficial to the people, while measures are taken to reduce waste.

    “Government is trying to ensure that we manage our internal revenue and also take measures to reduce waste.

    “Nigeria’s public debt will continue to be sustainable but everything should be done to ensure that the (government’s) transformation programme is on course,” the DMO boss said.

     

     

     

  • Berlusconi’s accountant ‘kidnapped’

    Berlusconi’s accountant ‘kidnapped’

    Police in Italy have arrested six people accused of kidnapping the accountant of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and attempting to extort money.

    Giuseppe Spinelli and his wife were held hostage for 11 hours at their home last month, police in Milan said.

    The armed intruders are said to have asked for 35m euros (£28m; $44m) in exchange for documents they said could help Mr. Berlusconi in a legal case.

    BBC says Mr. Spinelli was forced to call Mr. Berlusconi, who then called his lawyer.

    The intruders left after speaking to the lawyer, a news conference was told.

    Police said they had arrested three Italians and three Albanians on suspicion of kidnapping and extortion. Three had forced their way into Mr. Spinelli’s apartment and the other three were accomplices, they added.

    However, Italian media said many questions surrounding the episode remained unanswered.

    The hostage-takers are said to have told Mr. Spinelli that the documents could overturn a 2011 court ruling that had forced one of Mr. Berlusconi’s companies to pay compensation to a rival media firm.

    The authorities were not informed about the kidnapping until more than 24 hours later, although police did not explain why.

    The news conference was told that no money had been handed over. Police said they had used closed circuit TV footage to track down the extortionists.

    Mr. Berlusconi has faced a number of legal cases over the years, mostly involving his business activities.

    Last month he was convicted of tax fraud, although his lawyers say he will appeal the verdict.

     

  • We want action and not talk, ANPP tells Jonathan

    We want action and not talk, ANPP tells Jonathan

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party on Monday advised President Goodluck Jonathan to take action on major policies in his administration instead of talking.

    It said Nigerians are fed up with the president’s “much talk which has not yielded any reasonable result.”

    The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Emma Eneukwu, accused Jonathan of not tackling corruption frontally.

    The statement reads:

    “The All Nigeria Peoples Party viewed last Sunday’s presidential media chat, where President Goodluck Jonathan sought to engage the Nigerian citizens with regard to his work. Bearing in mind that the session was designed to candidly present the President’s progress, ideas and plans as the head of the Federal Republic with the utmost frankness and simplicity, our great party believes that President Jonathan only succeeded in obfuscating the minds of Nigerians.

    “For starters, when asked about the ongoing constitution amendment, the President declined to take any position on the myriad of issues being raised for amendment in the constitution, with the self-serving explanation that it would be in the best interest of Nigerians to suggest areas in the constitution to be amended. However, we believe that it is the sign of a leader with ideas and direction to have a clear-cut legislative agenda, as a signature of his policy philosophy.

    “Secondly, when he was reminded about his campaign promise of reducing poverty, President Jonathan quickly charged in to tell Nigerians that he never promised to reduce poverty, but rather told the populace when he was campaigning for their votes that he wanted to ‘‘create wealth’’. This is a clear political equivocation which is patently illiterate at best and self-indicting at worst. Nigerians are now left to wonder who Mr. President had set out to empower all along. This is because, for sure, creating wealth might actually be a metaphor for putting more money into the hands of his already rich party members and cronies, while leaving the poor of the nation in the hands of chance.

    “Thirdly, The President tried to evade the question of his government’s lack of ‘‘enforcement’’ in the fight against corruption. But when he was forced to give an answer with specific reference to the Siemens and Halliburton cases, narrated that it was difficult for an incumbent government to fight the corruption carried over from a previous administration. We wonder whether he was trying to say that previous governments had vacated the State House with all the paraphernalia and powers of law enforcement and relevant documents needed to know what is the reality concerning these and many other clear cases of corrupt practices at the highest level.

    “We believe that the international community that rated us abysmally low in the fight against corruption had already seen the insincerity of the present government in tackling corruption head-on. In fact, the foreign firms indicted in the corruption saga had been punished in their own countries, while this Peoples Democratic Party’s government tries to sweep everything under the carpet in order not to rock their gravy train of ‘‘chop I chop’’. We in the ANPP believe that President Goodluck Jonathan needs more than a media chat to communicate to the disillusioned masses his government’s vaunted vision, progress and plans. Action speaks louder than word.”

     

  • Mark urges Nigerians to embrace ‘time culture’

    Mark urges Nigerians to embrace ‘time culture’

     

    Senate President, David Mark on Monday advised Nigerians, particularly public officers to embrace the culture of time to enhance their productivity.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he gave the advice in Abuja during the public presentation of a book, titled: “Legislative Drafting in Plain English’’, written by the Director, Legal Services, National Assembly, Mr. Daniel Adam,

    Mark, who was the Special Guest, said that time culture if imbibed would uplift the nation to the greatest height.

    In his speech, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said that the book would help the public to understand the legal terms used in law making.

    Tambuwal commended the author and described him as “a keen advocate of the use of plain English in making the legal document easy to ready.”

    The author said the book would contribute to the development of legislative drafting in Nigeria and other commonwealth countries.

     

     

  • Fashola, lawmakers condemn Hamzat’s murder

    Fashola, lawmakers condemn Hamzat’s murder

    Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday described the killing of former Chairman, Ikeja Local Government, Mr. Toyin Hamzat, as “unfortunate and heart-rending.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Hamzat, also a former Special Adviser on Health to Fashola, was reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen at about 9:00p.m on Sunday in Sagamu, Ogun State.

    The deceased hailed from Ijebu-Ayepe in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said Hamzat`s death was a personal loss to him and the people of the state.

    He said, “It was a supreme irony that the life of Hamzat, who had done so much for Lagos State and the nation, could come to such a violent end.”

    While condoling with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the people of Ogun State, Fashola said that Hamzat`s altruism and generosity would be greatly missed by members of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

    Also, some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday condemned the murder of the former council chairman.

    Speaking at the plenary session of the house, Mr. Taiwo Kolawole, Deputy Speaker, described late Hamzat as a great man who worked assiduously for the development of Lagos State.

    “The state has lost a great potential and an astute politician,” Kolawole said.

    Mr. Razaq Balogun (ACN-Surulere II) said, “the late Hamzat contributed to the development of the state and he was one of the council chairmen that had no skeleton in their cupboards.”

     

  • Buhari, Babangida, Abdulsalami, extol Saraki’s virtues

    Buhari, Babangida, Abdulsalami, extol Saraki’s virtues

    Former Nigerian leaders, Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari and Abdulsalami Abubakar were in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday to commiserate with the family of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki.

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, Scribe of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Senator Lawal Shuiabu and a one- time chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Yusuf Ali had earlier condoled with the bereaved family.

    Buhari, who had earlier visited the Ilofa road home of the late politician, said his death was not only a loss to Kwara State but to the country as a whole.

    “I don’t have the accurate vocabulary to quantify this loss. All I can say is for God to grant him eternal rest,” Buhari added.

    Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari accompanied Buhari.

    Babangida, who spoke in Hausa language said: “Saraki’s death is not a loss to the people of Ilorin alone but to Nigerians at large.”

    He has touched so many lives. In fact, I’m a beneficiary of the late Saraki’s humour, he tried so much.”

    General Babangida in company of Abubakar and the former secretary to the federal government, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, urged Nigerian leaders to be associated with good deeds.

    “Saraki came to this life and we saw what he did. People talked about his deeds and it is my belief that with these testimonies, God will grant him eternal rest,” the former military president said.

     

  • FG to support innovation – Jonathan

    FG to support innovation – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday that the Federal Government was working toward entrenching a system that would be the bedrock of innovations for the total transformation of the education sector.

    The President said this at the opening of the National Education Innovations Exhibition in Abuja.

    Represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, Jonathan said that “in working towards the total transformation of the Nigerian system that is responsive to the needs of our society, one key thing that must be in our minds is that of entrenching a system that is bedrock of innovation.”

    “In doing this, we must understand that innovation is not something that we start teaching our children, rather, it is an approach towards thinking differently that must be encouraged and ultimately nurtured.”

    He said that his administration would continue to encourage and support innovations by individuals and organisations in order to enhance progress in the society.

    The President added that in view of the challenges that the education sector faced, government had consistently improved budgetary allocations to the sector.

    “Between 2010 and 2012, allocations to the education sector at the federal level increased from N234 billion in 2010 to N409 billion in 2012,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the president as saying during the exhibition.

    He noted that government must be in a position to provide Nigerian youths with the opportunities and tools with which to enhance their skills and competencies in driving diverse sectors of the economy.

    “We must also take every step to ensure that outputs of our educational institutions as well as innovations are exploited for the full benefit of the society.

    “Government agencies must continue to encourage the commercialisation of innovations from individuals and institutions,” Jonathan noted.

    In her address, Rufa’i, who expressed concern that most innovations remained in the institutions, said if educational innovations were not put to use, it would be to the detriment of the country’s national objectives.

     

  • There is hope for Nigeria – Ribadu

    There is hope for Nigeria – Ribadu

    The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday assured Nigerians that there was hope for the country to overcome its multiple problems.

    He gave the assurance in Ilorin while speaking with journalists when he paid a condolence visit to Senator Bukola Saraki, on the death of his father Olusola Saraki.

    “I must say that there is hope for Nigeria to overcome its multiple challenges. Everybody is working tirelessly to revamp the country’s political, socio-economic and security problems,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Ribadu as saying during the visit.

    He called for concerted efforts and prayers by Nigerians for peace and tranquility in the country.

    “There is need for us all to rise up and ensure that security and other challenges facing the nation become things of the past.

    “It is through collective efforts that we can achieve this goal,” he said.

    On his committee report, Ribadu said that the report would be implemented in order to re-shape the oil industry.

    He said that the committee considered the interest of Nigerians and the nation while writing the report.

    He described late Saraki as a philanthropist whose passion was to ensure the well-being of his people.

    He urged the children of the deceased to emulate the good deeds of their father and uplift the welfare of their people.

    In a related development, Igbo residents in Ilorin, Kwara, would hold a special prayer session for the late Saraki on November 22.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the President-General, Igbo Community Association in Kwara, Sir. Truelove Njoku.

    The statement directed Igbos in the 16 local government areas of the state to close their shops between 6 a.m. till noon on November 22.

    “This is to enable us to stay at home and pray for the repose of the soul of this great and compassionate man, and as a mark of respect.

    “The late Saraki was a detribalised man and accommodated everybody in the state,” the statement said.

     

  • INEC to embark on constituency delimitation

    INEC to embark on constituency delimitation

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Monday in Abuja that the commission would soon embark on constituency delimitation.

    Declaring open a three- day workshop for information officers drawn from across the country, Jega said the exercise would precede the creation of new polling units before the 2015 elections.

    Jega said that because the exercise had been put on hold for long, INEC had to create additional polling booths during the 2011 general elections and some other elections at the state level, aimed at decongesting polling units.’’

    Represented by Dr. Chris Iyimoga, National Commissioner, Publicity, Jega said the constituency delimitation process, had become necessary because there had been demographic shift in some parts of the country, occasioned by issues such as religious crisis, natural disasters or population explosion.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that a similar exercise was conducted five years ago through which 120,000 polling booths were created for the conduct of the 2007 and 2011 general elections.

    Also in accordance with Section 73 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, INEC was empowered to review the constituencies after an interval of no less than 10 years.

    Jega said plans were in place by INEC to embark on sensitisation tour of the states to drum up support for the impending constituency delimitation.

     

  • ANPP is repositioning for 2015 elections – Onu

    ANPP is repositioning for 2015 elections – Onu

    The National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said on Monday that the party was being repositioned to win the 2015 general elections.

    Onu made this known to party faithful during an interactive meeting of Ebonyi chapter of the party at Uburu in Ohaozara Council Area of the state.

    He emphasised that the party had mobilised men and materials in preparation for the nation’s general elections slated for 2015.

    The chairman added that the party would do everything within the ambits of the electoral law to capture political power in the next general elections.

    He urged party loyalists not to lose hope but remain steadfast and committed to the cause of the great party.

    Onu said the party officials had been moving from one geo-political zone to the other canvassing for support and mobilising resources for the party against 2015.

    The ANPP national chairman advised the party supporters to be courageous, dogged and focused, assuring them that the party would sweep the polls in the next election.

    He said that the party was discussing with major opposition parties for a merger in order to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party.

    According to him, the party is desirous to entrench healthy political competition in the political arena that will lead to emergence of good leadership.

    He said that the ANPP was not against any political party, but maintained that the party was interested in good governance and welfare of Nigerians.

    “We are not against any political party. What we want is the protection of the best interest of the majority of our people,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Dr. Onu as saying at the forum.