The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Jonathan assures flood-impacted communities of support

    Jonathan assures flood-impacted communities of support

    President Goodluck Jonathan has assured flood affected communities in Rivers of Federal Government’s support to cushion the effect of the disaster.

    The president gave the assurance at Mbiama in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers on Saturday shortly after he visited the flood-impacted areas in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that several communities in Ahoada-West, Ahaoda East, Abua and Ogba/Egema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state are currently flooded.

    Jonathan expressed worries at the sufferings the flooding had caused residents of the affected areas.

    He said the Federal Government was poised to come to the aid of all the affected communities nationwide.

    “As a government, we are very concerned about the health of the people living in the affected areas; we want to ensure that they live a normal life after the flooding,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, described the president’s visit as a “clear indication of his responsiveness to the yearnings of the people.’’

    Amaeachi also commended Jonathan for the release of some funds to the state to respond to the needs of the affected people.

    “I acknowledge the receipt of the money given to us, I assure you that it will be used judiciously and for the reason it was given,’’ he said.

     

  • PDP suspends national vice chairman

    The National Working Committee (NWC), of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, has suspended the party’s North East National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Girigiri Lawal.

    According to a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, the suspension takes immediate effect.

    The statement said the NWC took the decision in furtherance of its resolve to entrench discipline at all levels of the party’s operations.

    It added that Lawal had earlier been invited by the party`s NWC for preliminary hearing on an alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

    “After the preliminary hearing, the NWC resolved to suspend Lawal for a period of one month with effect from October 12.

    “The matter has been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of our party for further action,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Metuh as saying in the statement.

     

  • Shehu reiterates call on Boko Haram to embrace dialogue

    The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, on Saturday renewed calls on the Boko Haram sect to embrace dialogue and end its violent campaign.

    Ibn Garbai made the call at an emergency meeting with some Borno elders in his palace in Maiduguri.

    “I want to make special appeal to members of the sect to please sheathe their sword and embrace dialogue with the government.

    “They should please consider the hardship being faced by the people due to their violent campaign,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the monarch as saying during the meeting.

    Ibn Garbai also denied claims that he was instrumental to the arrest of some individuals by the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    “I want to say categorically that I have no hand in the arrest or victimisation of any persons by the JTF.

    “The people must understand that the JTF does not take orders from anybody in the state, they take orders from their commanders only,” he said.

    Ibn Garbai also challenged the Borno Elders to come up with suggestions on how to end the Boko Haram crisis.

    He regretted the escalating crisis, which he said had crippled both economic and social activities in the state.

    “I want to appeal to all residents of the state to embark on prayers and fasting to seek divine intervention on the crisis,’’ he said.

     

  • U.S court delays ruling on suit against MTN

    U.S court delays ruling on suit against MTN

    A United States court has delayed ruling on a $4.2 billion suit by Turkish mobile operator Turkcell against South African rival MTN Group, pending a Supreme Court decision on a separate case, the two companies said.

    Reuters says Turkey’s largest cell phone operator sued MTN in a U.S. federal court in March, alleging the Johannesburg-based company used bribery and attempted trafficking of political influence to win a mobile licence in Iran that was first awarded to Turkcell.

    MTN has asked for the case to be dismissed, saying the suit has no legal merit and a U.S. court does not have jurisdiction over the case.

    The court has put the suit on hold, the two companies said in separate statements late on Friday, to await a Supreme Court decision on a different case using the Alien Tort Statute – the human rights law on which Turkcell’s suit is based.

    This month the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kiobel vs Royal Dutch Shell, a high-profile case where 12 Nigerians accuse the Anglo-Dutch oil company of complicity in human rights abuses in the country.

    The Supreme Court will decide in the Kiobel case whether the Alien Tort Statute – an 18th century law that has usually been reserved for human rights abuses – can be used to sue foreign corporations in U.S. courts.

    Whether or not the Turkcell can proceed in its U.S. lawsuit is likely to be dependent on the ruling in the Kiobel case, legal experts have said.

     

  • QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

    Everybody has gone on training. It has never happened in five years. The mood here is very sad, and those at the board meeting are running away from everybody, so we don’t really know what went wrong.

    Anonymous Keynote Bank staff on the resignation of the Managing Director of the bank, Oti Ikomi.

    At the risk of sounding like a broken record, may I re-emphasise that we must pursue attitudinal change concomitantly with constitution review.

    Senate President David Mark on the 1999 Constitution review at a public hearing in Abuja.

    Despite allegations of widespread security force abuses, the Nigerian authorities have rarely held anyone accountable…further solidifying the culture of impunity for violence.

    Human Right Watch on the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

    Since I was born, I have witnessed ocean surge once but nothing can be compared to what we are seeing today…

    Pa Rufus Ignatius, a 70 year old man on the flood that recently ravaged Oguta Lake in Imo State.

    I must say that I was embarrassed by the entire scenario, because my wife does not deserve it. She should not have been abducted for any reason, because she chose to stay with my children in my home town  doing her legitimate business to support me at the home front. So, if she was kidnapped to get at me, she does not deserve it.

    -Najeem Salaam, Osun State House of Assembly Speaker on his wife’s abduction in Ejigbo, Osun State.

     

  • Floods: Embankments for Niger, Benue Rivers

    Floods: Embankments for Niger, Benue Rivers

    Following the damages caused by floods in many parts of the country, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday the Federal Government will build embankments along the River Niger and Benue confluence.

    He said this during his visit to Saint Joseph’s Memorial secondary School camp for flood victims in Aguleri, Anambra East local Government Area, Anambra State.

    Jonathan, who was in Company of Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, ministers, Senators and House of Representatives members said the calamity is beyond the capacity of all governments, adding that it is the reason why his administration is discussing with international community.

    He said the building of Kasambila Dam which is already in progress would be completed in 2014 so that the flooding would not repeat itself.

    The President said the last time he witnessed such a flood was in 1969, adding that the federal government is working hard to cushion the pains of the people.

    “We know we need external assistance, we encourage you to bear the pains, the federal government will work with the state to make sure that all of you will get something.

    “The ancestral homes and shrines are all washed away including farm produce, while buildings are submerged, I will work with the government in making sure that things are normal again, “ Jonathan told the flood victims.

    The president said he believed that by mid -November the flooding would have receded and commended Obi and the people of Anambra State for the concern they had shown the victims since the incident.

     

  • Ohanaeze backs fiscal federalism, regional police, six regions

    The apex Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday expressed its support for agitation for fiscal federalism.

    The body also canvassed for recognition of six regional structures in the constitution and establishment of state police.

    This is contained in a paper Ohanaze presented at a two- day Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

    The public hearing was organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in Abuja.

    A top Chieftain of Ohanaeze, Dr. Olisa Ebigwei, made the presentation tagged: “The position of the Igbo nation.”

    Ohanaeze said that there should be six regions corresponding with the present six geo-political zones as the federating units to be headed by elected Governor General.

    The body said that each region should enjoy the same powers and autonomy as was the case at independence in 1960.

    On fiscal federalism, Ohanaeze noted that at independence, revenue sharing formula was 50 per cent on derivation to the region of origin, 20 per cent to the Federal Government while the balance of 30 per cent was shared equally among the regional governments including the regions of origin.

    It said that the formula was reconfirmed in the 1963 Republican Constitution.

    To make more funds available to the proposed six regions, Ohanaeze recommended 30 per cent based on derivation and 70 per cent to be shared by the Federal Government and the six regions taking into account the reduced responsibilities of the Federal Government and the increase roles of the regions.

    It said the agreed allocation for the six regions should be shared equally among them.

    On the tenure of the chief executive at federal, regional and states, the body said a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall hold office for a single term of six years and shall not be eligible for another term of office.

    It said the president shall be assisted by a vice president of his choice, whose role shall be defined by the constitution.

     

  • FG woos American investors

    FG woos American investors

    The Federal Government has urged American businesses and investors to tap into the investment opportunities that abound in other sectors of the economy.

    Specifically, the government asked the American investors to invest in the roads, power, transportation, mines and steel, aviation, water resources and agricultural sectors of the economy.

    Minister of Works and coordinator of the investment drive, Mr. Mike Onolememen, told participants at the United States-Nigeria conference on infrastructure that Nigeria is currently the hottest investment destination in the world.

    The minister, who reassured the international community of Nigeria’s preparedness to protect their investments, listed the steps taken by the government to include; enactment of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act of 2005; Enactment of the Power Sector Reform Act of 2005; Enactment of the Public Procurement Act of 2007; Enactment of the Mining Act of 2007; the ongoing reforms in the road, port, airport, ICT as well as the gas revolution plan of 2011.

    He said, “The transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria envisions the mobilization and harnessing of private sector funds for infrastructure development through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), as to supplement the increasingly limited resources of government.”

    The minister said the Public- Private Partnership funding mechanism requires the creation of a deregulated and competitive economic environment to attract foreign and local investments, adding that the Federal Government “has since created such an environment for investors, and this accounts for the success stories of some investors such as MTN of South Africa and Dangote Group of Nigeria, among others who dared all odds to invest massively in the country about 10 years ago.”

     

  • Ghana’s Ashanti jewels stolen in Norway

    Ghana’s Ashanti jewels stolen in Norway

    Police in Norway are investigating the theft of some of the Ghanaian Ashanti crown jewels from a hotel in Oslo.

    The jewels were travelling with King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the ruler of the Ashanti, who is representing Ghana at a conference in the Norwegian capital.

    BBC reports that a suitcase was snatched from the lobby of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel.

    The jewels, amassed over generations and considered to be priceless, are used by the king when he performs ceremonial duties.

    Police are quoted in the Norwegian media as saying that they have “good” surveillance pictures, and are now trying to identify suspects in the footage.

    “Anyone carrying something of great personal value will understand what a great loss it is when it is stolen,” the king’s secretary Kofi Owusu Boateng was quoted as saying.

    “And for anyone who knows our tradition it will be clear that these crown jewels have tremendous value.”

    However, he later told the BBC’s Newsday programme it was “not such a big deal” and that only some rings and headgear were taken.

    King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ascended the throne in 1999 as the 16th ruler, or Asantehene.

    The Asantehene is a revered figurehead for Ghana’s largest ethnic group. He adjudicates in disputes and is closely involved in local issues.

    However the king – like other traditional leaders – is barred by the constitution from taking part in Ghanaian politics.

     

  • Police denies arrest of Nasarawa Attorney General

    The police in Nasarawa State on Friday dismissed reports of the arrest of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, over an alleged possession of arms and ammunition.

    The denial is contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Ada.

    The statement said the story of the arrest of Abdullahi was false, malicious and mischievous.

    “The report is intended not only to smear the name of the Nasarawa State Attorney-General, but also to cause disaffection between the police and the Ministry of Justice,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the command as saying in the statement.

    It further urged the people not to use ICT as a means of destroying other person’s reputation or cause disaffection among the citizenry, but to apply it towards the development of the society.