The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Syrian cleric to lead opposition

    Syrian cleric to lead opposition

    A leading Damascus cleric who fled Syria has been chosen at a meeting in Qatar to head a new coalition to oppose President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

    Cleric Moaz al-Khatib, former Sunni Muslim imam of the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, is seen as a moderate person and suitable for the role, BBC reports.

    Earlier, Syrian opposition groups agreed a deal to bring together their disparate factions.

    The fractious opposition has been under pressure from the United States and other backers in the region to clinch a deal.

    Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib, who is 52, left Damascus for Cairo in July after several periods of detention by the Syrian authorities.

    As he signed the draft agreement that formed the opposition coalition with Syrian National Council head George Sabra, Mr. al-Khatib called on the international community to “fulfil its pledges”, the AFP news agency says.

    Last month he called for a political solution to save Syria from further destruction, arguing that negotiation would not “rescue the regime” but enable its departure with the least harm possible.

     

  • Clashes: Police arrest six in Jigawa

    The Jigawa Police Command has arrested six persons over the fierce clashes between the followers of Guri Local Government Chairman and a lawmaker, representing Guri/Kirikasama Federal Constituency on Sunday.

    The Guri Local Government Chairman is Alhaji Abdullahi Bulama, while the House of Representative member is Alhaji Adamu Hassan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that followers of the lawmaker and that of council chairman clashed during public hearing session on the review of the 1999 constitution on Saturday where vehicles belonging to the two political leaders were destroyed and many were injured.

    The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of the state, Malam Abdu Jinjiri, told NAN on Sunday that those arrested would help them in their investigations.

    Jinjiri said that after their investigation, whoever found wanting would be punished accordingly as the police would not allow any miscreant to disrupt the peace enjoyed in the state.

    NAN investigation revealed that constitution review congress on Saturday in Guri Local Government Area was hijacked by hoodlums resulting to the destruction of no fewer than four vehicles and injuring many.

     

  • Ex- Oyo Governor Lam Adesina dead, buried

    Ex- Oyo Governor Lam Adesina dead, buried

    Former Oyo State governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina is dead

    He died in the early hours of Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State and has been buried according to Muslim rites.

    The state government has declared seven days of mourning in honour of the Late Alhaji Adesina.

    President Goodluck Jonathan in his condolence message said Adesina  devoted his entire adult life to working for the progress of his people and the nation.
    He noted that Alhaji Adesina’s indefatigability in political struggles as well as his honesty, integrity, sincere commitment and dedication to the service of his people before and during his tenure as governor have ensured that he will be honoured and remembered by present and future generations as an exemplary leader who did his utmost best to improve the lives of his people.

     

     

  • Jonathan congratulates Archbishop of Canterbury

    Jonathan congratulates Archbishop of Canterbury

     

    President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Bishop of Durham, Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, on his appointment as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Head of the Anglican Communion worldwide.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in Abuja on Saturday.

    The statement noted that the message was contained in a congratulatory letter to the Archbishop.

    In the letter, the president said he was confident that with Welby’s “inspiring antecedents, he will achieve astounding success in the new assignment, given at a time of great challenges for the Anglican Church.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to express warm felicitations to you on your appointment as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

    “Your elevation to the position of headship of the Anglican Communion worldwide, at a time of great challenges for the international community and the Church of Christ, is evidently richly deserved.

    “I am confident that given your inspiring antecedents, you will make an astounding success of this divine assignment.

    “You can be assured of the prayers and steadfast support of my government and the body of Christ in Nigeria as you assume your exalted office,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the president as saying in the letter.

     

  • Wema Bank to reapply for national banking licence

    Wema Bank to reapply for national banking licence

    Wema Bank Nigeria Plc has concluded plans to reapply for national banking licence, its Managing Director, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, said.

    This is contained in a statement by the bank boss in Lagos on Saturday.

    The statement noted that the reapplication followed the bank’s proposed tier-one capital injection of N35 billion.

    Oloketuyi said plans were at advanced stages to conclude arrangements on the N35 billion tier-one capital raising exercise, which commenced a few months ago.

    “Already, there is a firm commitment of N15 billion by a core investor. We expect to begin the process of seeking regulatory approval as soon as all the necessary plans are finalised,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Wema Bank chief as saying in the statement.

    According to him, the capital injection will be completed by December 2012.

    He added that the capital injection would enable the bank to achieve optimal business results by driving volumes of businesses.

    He said that the bank had in 2010 applied for regional banking licence under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) new banking structure.

    He noted that the additional capital position would enable the bank to seek regulatory approval for National Banking licence to further take advantage of opportunities in other commercial hubs in the country.

    “Wema Bank expects to maintain robust liquidity and ensure efficiency in investments while attracting and retaining the best talents in the industry,’’ Oloketuyi stated.

    The bank, he added, would ensure efficient customer service delivery and support key business areas of SME banking, retail and commercial banking to achieve superior returns to become the leading retail bank.

     

  • Sri Lanka’s jail death toll rises

    At least 27 people have died in clashes between inmates and guards at Sri Lanka’s Welikada prison in the capital Colombo, authorities told the BBC.

    The violence started when police commandos arrived at the prison to provide security whilst prison officers searched for illegal items.

    After some prisoners seized arms a gunfight erupted. Witnesses said guards fired on prisoners who tried to escape.

    Most of the casualties were inmates. Dozens were injured.

    Prison authorities say the situation is now under control, but a government minister said a search for escaped prisoners was under way.

    Prisoners’ families and friends have gathered by the jail in a state of panic, the BBC reports.

    Up to 4,000 inmates are held in the jail, which has seen violence before.

     

  • Jonathan commiserates with Harriman’s family

    President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the family of the renowned surveyor, industrialist, philanthropist and political leader, Chief Hope Harriman, who passed away earlier this week in the United States.

    President Jonathan, according to a statement signed by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati , noted that Chief Harriman lived an exemplary and fulfilled life.

    The President said the late Chief Harriman will always be remembered in his professional field of surveying and estate management where he built his practice into a glowing reference point for others and became in the process, a role model and mentor for younger Nigerians.

    He prayed that God Almighty will grant Harriman’s soul eternal rest.

     

     

  • Nigeria’s pension fund hits N2.9tr

    Nigeria’s pension fund hits N2.9tr

     

    The country’s pension fund has grown to N2.9 trillion in the last eight years, the Commissioner for Inspectorate in the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Dr. Musa Ibrahim, has disclosed.

    Speaking with reporters on Friday during a strategic meeting with managing directors of licensed pension operators in Calabar, Ibrahim said Nigeria’s pension fund has grown tremendously from 2004.

    He said by the end of this year it will increase to N3 trillion, which he said could be compared to the federal government budget of N4.9 trillion.

    Ibrahim hopes that in the next five years the pension scheme will build up funds that will surpass the federal government’s budget.

    He said the enormous resources are not supposed to cater for only retirement benefits of pensioners but also to boost the real sector of the economy.

    The Director- General of PENCOM, Mr. Muhammad Ahmed, said the strategic meeting between the commission and heads of licensed pension operators became necessary in order to take stock of what the contributory pension scheme has achieved over its eight years of implementation.

    He said that the forum is coming on the heels of the recent recapitalization by pension fund administrators as well as the public hearing on the administration of pensions by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service and Local Government Administration, which highlighted the need for more sensitization on the working of the scheme.

     

  • Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen on Friday attacked the Divisional Police Station in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and killed three policemen.

    The spokesman of the Joint Task Force security outfit in Yobe, Lt. Eli Lazarus, confirmed the killings in a statement in Damaturu.

    The statement said, “in the early hours of today, gunmen attacked the Divisional Police Station at Buni Yadi and three policemen were killed with some arms carted away.”

    He said the JTF drafted its personnel to the area to beef up security to forestall further attacks in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Fika, Gashua and Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Fika, Bade and Gujba local government councils, respectively, had in the week suffered attacks from gunmen.

     

  • Arik: NCAA assures on air safety

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that Nigerians should not entertain any fear about the security of flight operations in the country.

    The spokesman of the organisation, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said in Abuja that the advice became necessary following an incident on Friday morning involving an Arik Air flight from Abuja to Lagos.

    He said the flight was aborted on the runway due to a technical fault, just before take–off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Adurogboye gave assurance that the NCAA was on top of the situation.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria that the aircraft involved developed a fault as it was about to take-off from Abuja to Lagos.

    Adurogboye said it was the duty of NCAA to ensure that the passengers in the plane and other Nigerians “are taken to their destinations safely.’’

    “Our engineers are there on ground 24 hours to rectify any fault because safety is paramount to us.

    “Passengers are always in a hurry particularly in Nigeria; if a plane develops a fault, it must be certified alright before passengers can be allowed to continue on their journey.

    “Everywhere in the world, a plane has to be certified okay before it can be allowed to fly. Therefore, we urge passengers to always be patience when it is necessary,” he said.

    One of the passengers on board the Arik plane, who wants to remain anonymous, told NAN that the pilot noticed an electrical fault and taxi back to the terminal building.

    “The fault was supposedly fixed but we are still waiting for the NCAA to certify the plane okay to fly.

    “They said we may have to go to Lagos in another aircraft,’’ the passenger said.

    The Arik Airline Head of Communication, Mr. Ola Adebanji, told NAN that the company was trying to get in touch with its engineers in Abuja to know what exactly went wrong.