The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Deported female pilgrims return to Saudi Arabia

    The 204 female pilgrims from Jigawa, who were earlier deported from Mecca for not having male guides (Muharam), have returned to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) covering the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, reports that the deportees flew into the kingdom via Jeddah International Airport aboard Kabo Airlines in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The female pilgrims, who were screened and cleared at the airport within a relatively short period, immediately headed for Mecca to perform their “Umrah’’, in line with the Hajj rites.

    Alhaji Mohammad Gumel, the spokesman for Jigawa Pilgrims Welfare Board, told NAN that the deportees were elated that they had the opportunity to perform this year’s pilgrimage despite the initial glitch.

    “We are happy and grateful to Almighty Allah that they have returned back to the kingdom to perform the Hajj rites alongside other Muslims.

    “All the deportees had their `Murharams’ but due to some mix-up, they were not paired on the same flight, leading to their deportation by the Saudi authorities back to Nigeria.

    “We are grateful for the intervention of the Federal Government as well as the Jigawa State Government in ensuring that the deportees were given the opportunity to perform their religious obligations,” Gumel said.

    One of the deportees, Maryam Zaka, told NAN that she was glad that she had another opportunity to partake in this year’s Hajj.

    She commended the Federal Government and the Jigawa State Government for their intervention which, she noted, enabled them to return to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

     

  • Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.3%

    Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.3%

    Nigeria’s consumer inflation fell for the third straight month in September, mainly due to a drop in the underlying “core” price growth that is closely watched by the central bank.

    Headline inflation eased to 11.3 percent year-on-year in September, down from 11.7 percent year-on-year in August and a 2012 peak of 12.9 percent in June, official statistics showed on Wednesday.

    Food inflation, the largest contributor to the headline index, rose slightly to 10.2 percent year-on-year in September, from 9.9 percent in August, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics numbers showed.

    But core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food, dropped to 13.1 percent year-on-year in September from 14.7 percent the previous month.

    “The moderation in the Core index was partially as a result of base effects, as the sharp rise in the index exhibited in September 2011 implies that the relative rise in September 2012 may be muted,” an NBS document said.

    Reuters says the CBN kept its base interest rate on hold at 12 percent last month for the sixth time in a row, citing the high rate of core inflation as one of the reasons for keeping monetary policy tight.

    However, the CBN has for months prioritised supporting the volatile naira currency and building up foreign exchange reserves, running a relatively tighter monetary policy as a result.

    “Assuming nothing else changes, inflation is likely to continue to decelerate in the months ahead as tight money supply has more of an impact,” said Razia Khan, Head of Africa Research at Standard Chartered.

    “(But) despite the steady deceleration in Nigerian inflation, we still see interest rates on hold for the time being,” Khan added.

     

  • JTF kiils 24 terrorists in Maiduguri

    JTF kiils 24 terrorists in Maiduguri

    The Joint Task Force on Operation Restore Order (ORO) said on Tuesday that it shot dead 24 suspected terrorists after repelling Monday night’s multiple attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, stated this in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Musa explained that the terrorists had made use of rocket propellers, grenade and Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) during the attacks.

    “Suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched attacks with rocket propellers, grenades and IEDs and gun fires at different locations in Maiduguri on Monday night.

    “The locations are Zannari, Lagos Street and Gwange General Area,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the JTF spokesman as saying in the statement.

    Musa explained that the terrorists made use of residential homes in launching the attacks at different times in the night.

    “They used civilian residences and homes as launch areas for the attacks at different times,” he said.

    Musa said that the attacks were all repelled by the JTF and no soldier or civilian was killed.

    “All the attacks were repelled, no soldier or civilian was killed.

    “24 suspected terrorists were killed,” he added.

     

  • Why I’m emotional about child, maternal mortality – Jonathan

    Why I’m emotional about child, maternal mortality – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has launched “save one million lives “programme.

    He explained that his personal experience was the reason for his desire to end child and maternal mortality in the country.

    This is even as the Norwegian government has agreed to commit the sum of $25 million to Nigeria’s “save one million lives” programme over the next five years.

    He spoke on Tuesday at the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving commodities for women and children; meeting of chairs, co-vice chairs, commissioners and ministers with national observers and launching of the “saving one million lives” programme at the Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja.

    According to the president, out of the nine children his mother had, seven died at infants with him and his elder sister being the only surviving kids.

    “On the issue of saving lives of women and children I’m passionate, because my mother had nine of us but seven died as infants with myself and the elder sister surviving. That I’m alive today is not because of any intervention but by God’s hand.”

    The President, who revealed that Nigeria has increased domestic funding, said the sum of $33.4 million has been committed for the procurement of the commodities for the next four years.

    He also said the sum of $500 million is being committed for reproductive health, while the government has also increase its commitment to the fight against eradication of polio and immunisation to the tune of $68 million.

    Besides, the president said the removal of user fees for contraceptives had increase demand rate to about 150 per cent.

    Jonathan, who commended development agents for the aid given to Nigeria to fight the devastating flood that has ravaged majority of the states in the country, said the launching of the “save one million lives” project was historic, pledging transparency during the stage of the implementation plan.

     

  • Abdulsalami’s firm wins bid for power companies

    Abdulsalami’s firm wins bid for power companies

    ...FG rakes in N197.25b from  sales

    Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company, a firm owned by former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar on Tuesday emerged the core investor of the Eko, Ikeja, Ibadan and Yola electricity distribution companies.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government raked in N197.25billion as proceeds from the sale of its 60 per cent stake in 10 out of the 11 electricity distribution companies in the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

    Chairman, Technical Committee on National Council on Privatization, Mr. Atedo Peterside, made this disclosure in Abuja during opening of the commercial bids for the privatization of PHCN successor distribution companies.

    In the case of Kaduna Distribution Company, he noted that “none of the two bids received for company met the technical requirements.

    According to him, the Bureau of Public Enterprise will invite fresh bids from all the pre-qualified bidders, in accordance with the ‘Plan’ approved by the NCP in respect of the privatization of any unsold successor company.

    “Plan B entails inviting fresh bids from all the shortlisted bidders that paid the required $20,000 fee for the bid documents,” he said.

    Peterside, who presided over the bidding process, explained that there was an adoption of Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loss Reduction for the choice of the core investors.

    He said, “I wish to comment on the choice of the ATC&C loss reduction proposal as a basis. For core investor selection. The use of this method for the selection of core investors for distribution companies is a clear departure from the NCP’s usual practice of awarding companies to the bidder who makes the highest financial offer to purchase an asset after being technically qualified.

    “Furthermore, ATC&C loss level will provide Nigerian consumers and other stakeholders with specific parameters with which to measure the outcome of the power sector reform and privatization.”

    From the bidding process, the Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited emerged the core investor for the distribution company with 22.51 per cent ATC&C, while KEPCO offered 21. 43 per cent.

    Abubakar is the Chairman of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, the same firm that won the bid for Eko Distribution Company with 21.43 per cent ATC&C while KEPCO offered 20.43 per cent.

     

  • Police arrest suspected gang members in Lagos

    Police arrest suspected gang members in Lagos

    The police in Lagos said on Tuesday that 407 suspected members of the “One-Million-Boys” gang, allegedly terrorising Ajegunle area of the metropolis, have been arrested in the last two weeks.

    The Area Commander in-charge of “Area B”, Apapa, ACP Mohammed Ali, made the disclosure in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria.

    Ali explained that the suspects were arrested during police raid on their hideouts.

    He said that 130 members of the gang were arrested on October 7, 160 others apprehended on October 11, while 26 and 91 members were arrested on October 13 and October 15, respectively.

    “Some of the suspects have since been charged to court and some were screened and sent to Alausa for rehabilitation, while others are yet to be charged to court,” Ali noted.

    The Area Commander said the police had not received any complaints of violent crimes from the area since the raids were carried out

    NAN reports that members of the public from Ajegunle area had complained of violent crimes, including rape and armed robbery, against the “One-Million-Boys” gang.

    Meanwhile, Chief Rafiu Akanni, the traditional ruler of Layeni community, Ajegunle, has commended the effort of the police over the arrest.

    Akanni said the arrest has brought peace to the area.

     

  • Kogi Speaker impeached

    THE Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Abdullai Bello and other principal officers of the House have been impeached.

    They were impeached on Tuesday.

    Hon. Lawal Jimoh from Okene 11 constituency becomes the new speaker of the House.

    Other affected principal officers of the House are – the deputy speaker; Hon. Emmanuel Mebije, Majority Leader; Hon. Yakubu Yunusa, the Chief Whip; Hon. Saidu Akawu Salihu and the Minority Leader; Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi.

    The new principal officers of the state Assembly are – Hon. Atule Christopher Okoche (Deputy Speaker), Hon. Aliyu Akuh (Majority Leader), Hon. Suleiman Babadoko (Chief Whip) and Hon. Sunday Raishiwe (Minority Leader).

    17 out of 25 members of the Assembly signed the impeachment motion.

    The ousted speaker, Bello, in a quick reaction, said the impeachment was illegal as only 12 members signed, while 13 members are with him.

    He said, “As far as I am concerned, I remain the speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly. The impeachment process cannot stand. “

     

  • NBC boss assures on digital transmission

    NBC boss assures on digital transmission

    The Director- General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, on Tuesday reiterated the government’s commitment to total switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting by June 2015.

    He gave the assurance during a Pre-Africast Press conference in Abuja.

    According to him, a committee that will drive the switch will be officially inaugurated next month.

    He said: “I can assure you that we will switch over by June 17, 2015. Let me assure you also I’m sure before the second half of November, the driving force, the Digiti, a committee that will propel the switch will be officially inaugurated by the Minister of Information.

    “Digitisation throws up the need for more quality content, we all know that in the broadcasting industry content is the king.

    “Today we have over two million subscribers under the NTA/Startimes alliance, today in this country you have television sets that are build for digital reception.

    “You look at it from another platform, people talk about handheld devices, today I’m sure Nigeria leads African countries and some European countries in handheld devices. We have two licences, we have NTA/Startimes and the Multichoice group.”

    “Multichoice has been doing transmission to handheld devices in the last three years, NTA/Startimes in the last three months had been transmitting to hand held devices. I’m sure we will get there at the appropriate time.”

    Stressing that Africast is strictly for professionals, he said that 16 local companies and 15 foreign companies have registered to exhibit at Africast 2012 billed to hold from 23rd to 25th of this month.

     

  • Pension scam: Court to rule on suspects’ application

    Pension scam: Court to rule on suspects’ application

    An Abuja High Court has again adjourned to November 6, for ruling on an application to quash criminal charges in the N32.8 billion Police Pension Fund scam against three of the six accused persons.

    It will be recalled that Justice Abubakar Talba had on July 17, fixed October 9, for ruling on the motion filed by Atiku Kigo (a former Permanent Secretary), Mrs. Veronica Onyegbula (Cashier) and Sani Zira (ICT Officer).

    The trio, who are charged along with Esai Dangabar (Director), Ahmed Wada (Director) and John Yusufu (Assistant Director), are members of staff of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, currently on suspension.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that they were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

    The EFCC said the alleged fraud was perpetuated between January 2009 and June 2011.

    On arrival in the court on that day, its Clerk, Malam Garba Isa, informed the counsel to the accused, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) and that of the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the ruling was not ready.

    Isa said the judge had asked the counsel in the case to pick another date for the ruling.

    They had then, picked Tuesday October 16.

    But on arrival in court on Tuesday, after waiting for three hours, again the court clerk told Tarfa and Jacobs to pick another date.

    No reason was, however, given for the judge’s absence in court.

  • Sinking fund is vital to public debt management – DMO

    Sinking fund is vital to public debt management – DMO

    The Debt Management of Office said the sinking fund established in the 2013 fiscal policy will guarantee effective public debt management in Nigeria.

    The Director-General of the office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, made this known in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Tokyo, Japan.

    NAN recalls that N100 billion has been earmarked as sinking fund for domestic debt management in the 2013 budget presented to the National Assembly.

    “The sinking fund is an important aspect of effective public debt management, the whole essence, as has been said, is that government has embarked on a path of fiscal consolidation.

    “Part of that process is to, first of all, try to create more space for the private sector to be able to access long term money from the domestic bond market,’’ Nwankwo told NAN.

    He said that long term funds had been created since 2003 when government resuscitated the bond market.

    This, he said, was the reason why JP Morgan listed the Federal Government bond in its margin market bond index.