The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Ex-militants allege rejection by oil firms

    Some Niger-Delta ex-militants under the Forum for Peace in the Niger Delta have said it was unacceptable for multi-national oil companies operating in the region to deny them employment opportunities.

    They said ex-militants who acquired skills and undergone various training programmes under the Presidential Amnesty Committee were being rejected by the oil firms.

    President of the forum, Pastor Reuben Wilson, who spoke at a forum in Benin City urged states and federal government to prevail on oil companies operating in the region to empower the youths to become self-reliant in their chosen profession.

    Pastor Wilson noted that employing the youths would help to stop them from engaging in crimes and other social vices.

    He said, ‘’When they returned with their certificates and apply for job, they were rejected by oil companies. The federal government should talk to these oil companies. The boys are very sound.”

    Senior Special Assistant to Edo State governor on Water ways Security, Robert Okubor, urged the youths to be good ambassadors of the country.

     

  • Oshiomhole dissolves cabinet

    Oshiomhole dissolves cabinet

     

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday dissolved the state executive council.

    At the valedictory session held in Benin City, where he dissolved the council, the governor commended the outgoing commissioners for their good performance in the last four years.

    He said, “Four years down the road, working together, arguing, debating, even sometimes disagreeing, we have provided a collective leadership to the people of Edo State. We have served them diligently with all our hearts.

    “You are the least paid commissioners in the country, but that did not dampen your morale to put in your best efforts. I want to thank you very much for what God has used you to do for me and your state. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made.

    “I thought it wise that having worked so hard, it is right to appreciate you.

    “On Sunday, I recognize it will be full time for the first tenure of this administration and when it is full time, no matter how interesting the game is, the referee must blow the whistle and end the game. The life of this council comes to an end on Sunday, not today, because that is when the end of the first tenure of this administration will come to an end, so you are still commissioners even after this statement till 11:59pm Sunday.”

    Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity and the free hand to serve the state.

    “The experience of working with the governor has been a school of leadership for us, which was defined by the highest level of congeniality. I doubt if there is any other executive council in any other state in the country that is comparable to the one we had here,” Obayuwana said.

     

  • We will stall Daniel’s trial – Judicial workers

    The resumed trial of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun State for alleged financial misappropriation, may be stalled by the ongoing strike by judicial workers in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had been on strike since October 31 to press home their demand for the implementation of a new salary structure for judicial staff.

    Daniel is currently facing a 28-count charge of alleged financial misappropriation and the case is expected to continue at the state High Court on Friday.

    The union had threatened to prevent judges and lawyers from entering the court.

    Mr. Samuel Adesanya, the President, Ogun State chapter of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria said in Abeokuta that union had appointed a task force to enforce compliance.

    “We will make sure that no trial comes up tomorrow; the strike will continue until our needs are met,” he said.

     

  • We did not marginalise the north – Oduah

    We did not marginalise the north – Oduah

    The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has denied allegations of marginalising the north.

    The minister was recently accused of denying landing right to some foreign airlines at the Malam aminu Kano International airport.

    Oduah, in a said a statement issued and signed by her Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, described the allegation as untrue.

    She explained that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and other countries granted right to some foreign airlines to land in Abuja, Lagos and Kano.

    “We make haste to state that the BASA between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) clearly grants and entitles these airlines to operate flights into Lagos, Abuja and Kano International Airports, “the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying in the statement.

    She said the airlines — Emirates, Etihad and Ethiopian Airways — were entitled to operate cargo services to the said destinations.

    “It is therefore, inconceivable that anyone, including the aviation minister will unilaterally deny them rights and privileges already conferred by the BASA, “ she added.

    The minister said the airlines had commenced operations into Lagos, adding that neither Emirates nor Etihad had indicated intention to commence operations at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

     

  • Turkish air strikes kill 13 militants

    Turkish air strikes kill 13 militants

    Turkish air force jets and attack helicopters pounded Kurdish militants along the border with Iraq on Thursday, killing 13, the local governor’s office and security sources said on Friday.

    The attack was launched after a drone identified a group of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants on the second day of operations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Hakkari, bordering Iraq and Iran, the Hakkari governor’s office said.

    Following a tip-off, one PKK fighter was also killed in a clash on the Habesti plateau on Thursday, the statement said.

    Reuters says one Turkish soldier was killed in subsequent clashes.

    There was an upsurge in PKK attacks in southeast Turkey during the summer, notably in the Hakkari region.

    Ankara has linked the increased violence to the chaos in neighboring Syria, accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of resuming support for the PKK and arming the militants.

    More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which launched its insurgency in 1984 with the aim of carving out a separate state in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey.

    The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union.

     

  • Senate probes police alleged arms supply to bandits

    Senate probes police alleged arms supply to bandits

    The Senate on Thursday mandated its joint committee on Police Affairs, Intelligence and National Security to investigate alleged supply of arms and ammunition to armed bandits by serving police officers.

    The upper chamber also asked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to as a matter of urgency, step up surveillance and effective policing of areas affected by recent armed banditry in Zamfara State.

    This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Recent banditry attack on Kabaru village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.”

    The motion sponsored by Senator Marafa Kabiru Garba chronicled armed robbery attacks in various parts of Zamfara State.

    Marafa in his lead debate said that he was alarmed by the armed banditry attack on Kabaru village on October 29.

    The Senator noted that he was further horrified that the attack was carried out by about 60 armed men resulting in the death of 18 villagers including the village head, Alhaji Maiyara.

    According to him, the earlier attack of Guru and Tungar Baure communities in August 2011 resulted in the death of many villagers.

    He recalled that a similar armed banditry attack on Lingyado, Guru and Sammaje villages in September led to mass slaughter of over 25 villagers as well as the reported house to house raid in June of Dangulbi district by armed bandits resulting in the massacre of 27 people.

    He noted that the spate of the attacks apart from resulting in loss of lives have disrupted the economic activities and the livelihood of the communities in the surrounding villages and districts.

    Senator Sahabi Ya’u his contribution noted that what is happening in Zamfara State can only be described as barbaric, inhuman and unfortunate.

    Ya’u said that of more concern to him is the discovery that bandits are getting arms from serving police officers.

    He said, “The other day an armed robber that was caught confirmed that it is a serving police officer that supplied them with arms and ammunitions.

    “To confirm what the armed robber said, a call was made through him (the armed robber) to the said police officer to get some arms to the armed robber.

    “To the surprise of those who were there within minutes the police officer brought arms to the robber.”

     

  • Akiolu wants FG to grant soft loans to airline operators

    Akiolu wants FG to grant soft loans to airline operators

    Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I of Lagos, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to grant soft loans to airline operators, to enable them buy new aircraft.

    Akiolu made the appeal at an event to commemorate the commencement of domestic commercial flights by Med-View Airline, at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

    The event came as the airline also had its inaugural flight from Lagos to Abuja and Port-harcourt.

    According to Akiolu, travelling by air is the safest and fastest mode of transportation the world over.

    “Many people would want to patronise it when they know the airlines have new aircraft.’’

    He urged the government to assist the airlines to make this a reality.

    The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, who also spoke at the event, added that the “soft and low digit loans” being proposed for airline operators was for them to buy new aircraft.

    “They are expected to pay the loans back to the banks through the automated revenue collection points.

    “The banks would separate the deposit into aviation fuel money, parking and landing fees, and what would go to the aircraft manufacturers.

    “Through that, both the operators and the country would be credit worthy,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the NCAA chief as saying at the event.

    Demuren commended the management of Med-View for their patience and professionalism in the last 18 months.

     

  • No hidden agenda in Constitution amendment – Mark

    No hidden agenda in Constitution amendment – Mark

    President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Thursday allayed the fears and anxiety of Nigerians that the National Assembly has a preconceived idea on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

    Mark spoke when a delegation of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Chief Okey Wali (SAN) visited him in his office in Abuja.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in a statement quoted Mark as saying that the National Assembly has neither ulterior motive nor hidden agenda on the amendment.

    Mark said: “All we are interested in is to mobilize and get all Nigerians involved in the process of Constitution amendment. We have no particular agenda but that which majority of Nigerians desire.

    “I have heard people criticize my position on the discredibility of State creation. There is no part of Nigeria or geo-political zone in the country that has not requested for State. It is not a David Mark agenda. We shall weigh the scale and respond to the genuine desire of Nigerians.

    “This is democracy; everybody should be allowed to express him or herself in the process. What we shall oppose is a situation where a vocal minority would want to impose its views or position on the majority.”

    Senator Mark said all interest groups would have a say in the process, adding that the amendment would be guided by the dictates of the Constitution.

    “We shall not do anything outside the Constitution,” he said.

    He further stated that public hearings would be held in the 109 Senatorial Districts by the Senate, while the House of Representatives would visit the 360 Federal Constituencies to gather the views of Nigerians on the amendment.

    In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, told the NBA that the process of Constitution amendment does not require referendum but assured that no section would be denied input in the process.

    Also speaking, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) restated that the process of Constitution amendment would be all embracing so that no one or group would feel sidelined.

    He stressed that referendum as a process can only be accepted if the Constitution is amended to accommodate it.

     

  • ‘Nigeria has never bought a sniffer dog’

    ‘Nigeria has never bought a sniffer dog’

    The Director-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Femi Ajayi has disclosed that Nigeria has never purchased a sniffer dog in aid of security operations in the country.

    According to him, all the dogs being used by the agency in policing sea, land and airports were handouts from friendly countries, including the United States, Germany and South Africa.

    The NDLEA boss, who spoke at Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti at a five-day Annual Congress of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, lamented the gross underfunding of the agency.

    He said “we don’t even have up to 10 dogs in the NDLEA.”

    The congress, which attracted veterinary specialists/professionals across the country, carried the theme “Veterinarians in Agricultural Transformation and National Security.”

     

     

  • Why some people want me sacked – Alison-Madueke

    Why some people want me sacked – Alison-Madueke

    The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Maduekwe, has attributed the call for her sack to her insistence on doing things the right way.

    The minister argued that the few individuals calling for her sack were doing so because she has refused to continue the “business as usual” tradition in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

    Besides, she described those labelling her as corrupt and inefficient as people simply afraid of the ongoing reform in the sector.

    She also vowed that never again will the government allow the return of the age-long cartel in the country’s oil and gas sector.

    Madueke, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Thursday assured that the attack notwithstanding, she would continue to push for the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the oil and gas sector.

    She said those fighting the government in the media “were doing so because we have been able to frustrate their efforts in strangulating the economy through their devilish black market and questionable profiteering at the expense of the Nigeria people.”

    “I would not want to join issues with those criticising me because they are crying foul that through us Mr. President has broken the old order where things are done without coordination. What is hurting them is that we have put policies in place where they can no longer cheat the government and cause untold hardship for millions of Nigerians.”

    According to her, operators and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart need not be afraid of her leadership style, except those that have skeleton in their wardrobe and are scared of change and reforms.

    The minister, who commended the cordial relationship between her and top officials of the ministry including those of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Pricing and Marketing Company (PPMC), Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other parastatals of the ministry, explained it was the harmonious relationship that has brought about the high level successes recorded by government in the sector.