The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • U.S-based Nigerians seek probe of Boko Haram’s funding

    United States-based Nigerians are calling for a national and international probe that will uncover the sources of funding of Boko Haram, especially on how the group gets its deadly arms and weapons.

    In a chat with Empowered Newswire after addressing an international press conference in Washington DC, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, Dr. James Fadele, said it is now imperative for concerned governments, international agencies, global bodies and think tanks to carry out a probe on how the Boko Haram are able to get deadly weapons to carry out their mayhem in Nigeria.

    The CANAN leader spoke just as the association formed last month in New York launched its regional chapter in Maryland.

    The launching took place at an event in Jesus House DC, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was attended by members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Gospel Faith Missions, Jubilee Christian Church International and Christ Apostolic Church, among others.

    Speaking earlier at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Fadele, observed that “Boko Haram is sustained by the procurement of unbelievable amounts of heavy arms and weapons, clearly transported from country to country and certainly funded by some fat pockets.”

    He for a critical investigation into the likely backers of the sect within and outside Nigeria.

    “CANAN also frowned at the fact that while a number of top politicians have been linked with Boko Haram, a conclusive investigation and trial had not been carried out.

    “Only last week, it was reported that the Joint Task Force, announced that it has caught a Boko Haram commander in the house of a national politician in Borno State,” the CANAN leader said.

     

  • Eid el- Kabir: Tambuwal urges Nigerians to be law abiding

    Eid el- Kabir: Tambuwal urges Nigerians to be law abiding

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to be law abiding at all times and restore the virtues of good neighbourliness.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    Tambuwal said for Nigeria to make the necessary progress it desired, the citizenry at all levels must be their brother’s keepers and be more sensitive to the well-being of one another.

    According to him, all Nigerians must show commitment and readiness to make sacrifice toward the development of the nation.

    He said that making sacrifice for Nigeria had become imperative now more than ever before, considering the numerous challenges confronting the nation.

    The speaker added that while every nation on earth had peculiar challenges confronting its people, the determination to tackle those challenges at times sets some of them apart.

    “We must face our problems with more commitment, determination, unity of purpose and the best of intentions,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Speaker as saying in the statement.

    He enjoined Muslim faithful to use the occasion to reflect on their spiritual lives.

    “Let me use this opportunity to urge Nigerians, especially adherents of the Islamic faith, to use the occasion to reflect on our spiritual life as individuals and how we can contribute more meaningfully towards making Nigeria the great nation envisioned by its founding fathers,’’ Tambuwal counseled.

     

  • Jonathan orders probe of female pilgrims’ deportation

    Jonathan orders probe of female pilgrims’ deportation

    President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a thorough post mortem of some Nigerian female pilgrims deported from Mecca over the issue of male companions.

    Jonathan made this known on Thursday in his Eid-El-Kabir Message to Nigerians, which was made available to State House correspondents in Abuja.

    He said the essence of the probe was to ensure that Hajj airlift operations were never disrupted by such problems in future and Nigerian pilgrims not subjected to such traumatic experience again.

    The president extended warm greetings to Nigerians and Muslims in particular on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir festival.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he congratulated all Nigerians who successfully undertook the Hajj operations.

    Also on Thursday the president called on Nigerians to pray for the nation’s security agencies for divine enablement to overcome the present insecurity in the land.

    Jonathan spoke in Abuja at the 3rd National Prayer Breakfast organized by the National Assembly.

    The theme of the programme was: “Sacrifice with righteousness a necessary ingredient for national transformation.”

    The President, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, noted that insecurity is the greatest challenge confronting the nation today.

    He appealed to leaders to shun corruption and preach peace for the advancement of the country.

    He also urged Nigerians to pray God to change the heart of the country’s detractors.

     

  • Mark hails Onaiyekan’s elevation

    Mark hails Onaiyekan’s elevation

    President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Thursday expressed joy at the elevation of the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Dr. John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, to the rank of a Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

    In a congratulatory message to Onaiyekan in Abuja, he urged him to continue his crusade for peace to reign in Nigeria saying that “this elevation should spur him for greater services to God and humanity.”

    Senator Mark, who is a devout Catholic, said “Onaiyekan remains a dependable, diligent and an unshakable soldier of Christ who stood to be counted when it matters.”

    “I am pleased that your hardwork, dedication and steadfastness had been recognized and rewarded.

    “I have implicit confidence that you will as always do Nigeria proud at the Vatican.

    “As a personal friend, my joy knew no bound on hearing your elevation. This is a blessing and a great honour to Nigeria.

    “I can only wish that you continue the good work that characterised your tenure as the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja diocese,” the Senate president said.

    He prayed that God in His infinite mercies grant the new Cardinal good health, wisdom and courage to continue the good work in the Lord’s Vineyard.

    Meanwhile, Senator Mark has congratulated Muslim faithful on the celebration of this year’s Eid el-Kabir.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, the Senate president urged them to remember the nation in prayers.

    He implored religious leaders to teach their followers on the right thing to do so that they do not deviate or depart from the truth.

    He noted that Nigeria is passing through trying times especially security challenges, a development he said requires that all men and women of goodwill rise up to tackle the menace.

     

     

     

  • Yobo may miss Nations Cup

    Yobo may miss Nations Cup

    Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, may miss next year’s African Cup of Nations as a result of a major knee injury, officials told MTNFootball.com.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that Yobo, who is set for his 90th international cap, has suffered a cruciate ligament knee injury, which could rule him out of action for at least six months.

    Yobo missed the decisive Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in Calabar earlier this month.

    He was replaced by Efe Ambrose due to injury in the first leg match played in September.

    The former Everton defender is also expected to miss his Turkish club’s UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday against AEL Limassol of Greece.

    “Yobo is nursing a very serious knee injury which may stop him from featuring at the Nations Cup. He has a cruciate ligament problem in the knee and such an injury could keep out a player for as long as six months,” a top source informed MTNFootball.com

    “The team officials are very much aware of this and have started working on several options in the team without Yobo,” the source added.

     

  • Nigeria, U.S. to promote tourism coexistence

    The Chief Executive of Partner Concept, a tourism Marketing and Consultant Firm in the United States, Mr. Paul Cohen, said America will collaborate with Nigeria on tourism development.

    Cohen made this known in Lagos on Wednesday at the just concluded 8th edition of “Akwaaba African Travel Market.’’

    He stressed the need for the two countries to work together to promote tourist centres in Nigeria and spur tourism relations between Nigeria and U.S.

    “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress; working together is success,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Cohen as saying at the event.

    Cohen said that Nigeria had tremendous tourism products offering natural beauty, wildlife, culture and history.

    “Its limited awareness and distribution in the U.S. had impeded the growth of Nigerian tourism market in the U.S.

    “ Nigeria travel and tourism industry suppliers need to understand the U.S trade and consumers and create the product that will meet the demand of U.S. consumers,’’ he said.

    He said that Africa was one of the fastest growing destination regions for U.S overseas travelers.

    “Most of the popular destinations in Africa are; South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Botswana.

    “Before American international travelers choose Nigeria, they have to choose Africa from among the world destination.

    “U.S. travelers tend to visit three countries in Africa per visit; Nigeria does not currently rank among the top five countries,’’ he said.

     

  • Syria to make ceasefire announcement

    Syria to make ceasefire announcement

    Syria’s government is expected to give its reaction to a ceasefire proposed for this weekend’s Eid al-Adha holiday by United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

    Mr. Brahimi announced on Wednesday that the Syrian government and most opposition groups would back the truce.

    But the Syrian foreign ministry said it was still studying the plan.

    Heavy fighting is reported to be continuing within Syria, where an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s government began in March 2011, BBC reports.

    Meanwhile, a new, expanded team of UN human rights investigators met in Geneva and said it had requested and expected to be granted a meeting with Mr. Assad.

    Carla del Ponte, a former UN prosecutor who recently joined the commission, said she would investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    “My principal task will be to continue the investigation… and to determine the high-ranking political and military figures [responsible for] these crimes,” she told reporters in Geneva.

    She said the UN Security Council should refer the case to the International Criminal Court.

     

  • Report exposes corruption in Nigeria’s oil industry

    Report exposes corruption in Nigeria’s oil industry

    … Says ‘country loses billions in cut price deals’

    Nigeria lost out on tens of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues over the last decade from cut price deals struck between multinational oil companies and government officials, a confidential report seen by Reuters says.

    A team headed by the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu produced the 146-page study on an oil ministry request.

    It covers the year 2002 to the present.

    Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil exporter, shipping more than two million barrels per day (bpd), and is also home to the world’s ninth biggest gas reserves and one of its largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals.

    The report provides new details on Nigeria’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which has enriched its elite and provided the oil majors with hefty profits while two thirds of people live in poverty.

    The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke told Reuters on Tuesday she had received the report last month but that it was a draft and the government was still supposed to give input.

    The one seen by Reuters was labelled “Final Report.”

    The report concluded that oil majors Shell, Total and Eni made bumper profits from cut-price gas, while Nigerian oil ministers handed out licences at their own discretion.

    This, while not illegal, did not follow best practice of using open bids. Hundreds of millions of dollars in signature bonuses on those deals were also missing, it said.

    “We have not seen this report and are, therefore, unable to comment on the content, but we will study it if and when it is published,” a Shell spokesman said.

    The report alleges international oil traders sometimes buy crude without any formal contracts, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had short-changed the country’s treasury billions over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates.

    There was no suggestion that the oil majors or traders had done anything illegal, but the report highlighted a lack of transparency in their dealings in a nation rife with graft.

    “It is a draft,” Alison-Madueke said. “There will be some areas where the government … may have a slightly different opinion … (and) will put its point of view to the committee.”

    The minister said she expects the final report to be with President Goodluck Jonathan within two weeks.

     

  • Respect moratorium on death penalties, EU tells Nigeria

    Respect moratorium on death penalties, EU tells Nigeria

    The European Union on Wednesday called on Nigeria to respect existing moratorium on executions already put in place since 2006.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the Political Officer, Human Rights and Situations of Fragility Delegation of the EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Chadi Sidhom, the organization also urged Edo State to stay action on imminent execution of prisoners.

    The EU delegation, which issued the statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Nigeria, appealed to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole to allow all legal appeals to be carried out on the two pending cases of execution in the state.

    The statement reads: “The EU delegation urges the Nigerian authorities to respect the existing de facto moratorium on executions, in place since 2006.

    “The EU delegation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the information it has received concerning the reported imminent execution of two persons in Edo State.

    “The delegation calls on the Nigerian authorities and, in this case, the Governor of Edo State, to allow all legal appeals to be heard and to halt the execution of these two inmates.

    “It considers that such execution, if carried out, would represent a serious setback in Nigeria’s reputation and records in the field of human rights.

    “The delegation reiterates its calls on the Nigerian authorities to accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), aiming at the complete abolition of the death penalty.”

     

     

  • Nigeria can address its challenges – Maduekwe

    Nigeria can address its challenges – Maduekwe

    Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, on Wednesday raised hope that the crippling insecurity in the country can be addressed and resolved.

    Maduekwe stated this when he hosted the Nigerian delegation at the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Quebec City, Canada.

    He noted that with a vibrant parliament in the country that makes all voices to be heard, option for peaceful resolution of the country’s challenges remains bright and potent.

    He said the National Assembly is the most robust, the most visible and the most structured indication that democracy is not only surviving in Nigeria but will also transform the nation.

    He said, “I believe that the parliament raises hope, even our worst nightmares can be addressed and all voices will be heard and the option for peaceful resolution remains so valid and so potent.

    “You are the most robust, the most visible and the most structured indication that democracy is not only surviving in Nigeria but will also transform our nation.

    “In Nigeria, at a time we are facing and dealing with major challenges, challenges which in the words of our dear President are even bigger than challenges we faced during the civil war.

    “During the civil war, some rules were respected in the country and you knew where the adversary was.

    “But now we are faced with a situation that is a lot more complex.”