The Nation Newspaper

Category: News

  • Ijaw youths: we’re ready for dissolution

    Ijaw youths: we’re ready for dissolution

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) said yesterday that it was prepared for the dissolution of Nigeria.

    The youths noted that Nigeria was long overdue for division, insisting that oil wealth was the only cord binding the country together.

    The statement followed calls from northern youths that Nigeria should be dissolved peacefully.

    The Ijaw youths said their northern counterparts spoke when they visited the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

    But IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, said: “To the IYC, this call by northern youths has vindicated our age long position that the only thing holding Nigeria together is the petrodollars from the Niger Delta.

    “By this call, it is now clear that the moment the oil wells in the Niger Delta dry up, Nigeria would cease to exist.

    “We also welcome the call by northern youths for northerners in the South to return home within two weeks,” he said.

    The IYC statement called on Niger Deltans and southerners living in the North to return home.

    “The IYC wish to strongly call and warn Niger Deltans and southerners in the North to take this call very serious.

    “The IYC calls on Niger Delta governors and other southern governors to accommodate and take care of southerners who would return home. We call on Niger Deltans to be vigilant in the coming days,” the statement said.

  • Jonathan to Bayelsa: diversify your economy

    Jonathan to Bayelsa: diversify your economy

    President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the Bayelsa State government to diversify its economy, instead of depending on oil and gas alone.

    The President, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo spoke at the first Bayelsa State Investment Forum at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

    The forum with the theme “Unlocking Bayelsa’s economic potential: Opportunities and Challenges”, attracted investors from Europe, Asia, Africa.

    Also in attendance were the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and others.

    Jonathan said: “Bayelsa must diversify its economic base. It should not focus on oil wealth. It must pay attention to agriculture, coastal landscape for tourism, maritime industry and new housing estates.

    “The desire by the government for development will be supported by the Federal Government.”

    To realise the economic potential, he said there was a need for the people to place unity above partisanship.

    He insisted that peace was required to ensure the state’s development, adding that the Federal Government was determined to maintain peaceful co-existence in the country.

    “Bayelsa should place unity above partisanship and internal division in its planning and development,” he said.

    The President recommended agriculture as a sector waiting for development in the state.

    He said: “The government itself should place the business of agriculture and education on high priority; focus should also be given to infrastructure; these are the major keys for development.

    “I will also like to urge the government to redouble efforts in securing peace and security in Bayelsa and in the Niger Delta.”

    Governor Seriake Dickson said the state would promote investment in the state.

    He said the forum was organised to present the opportunities available to the world.

    “Bayelsa is a virgin bride waiting for a groom; our land and sea are very ripe for business.

    “I welcome all investors and I must assure you that we have a conducive environment for a growing economy.”

    The Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, said quick dispensation of justice would provide an enabling environment for investment.

    She said: “Bayelsa will not allow any corrupt investors in the state. We will do all we can to allow justice and your business must be in line with the much desired economic growth of the state government.”

  • Gunmen kill three in Port Harcourt

    Three men were killed in Amadi-Ama village in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday night.

    The gunmen were said to have walked into a compound known as Heavens Gate, at 9.40pm and shot at the victims.

    Eyewitness said two of the three victims died immediately; the third died in the hospital.

    The suspected assassins walked away unchallenged.

    It was gathered that one of the victims, identified as Iyowuna, was to contest in a youth group election tomorrow.

    Another victim was identified as Abiye; the identity of the third could not be established.

    It was gathered that Abiye and the third victim were Iyowuna’s friends who visited him that night.

    Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad said “details of the incident were still sketchy”.

  • Shun stomach politics, says Oshiomhole

    Shun stomach politics, says Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged women to shun politicians who preach politics of “stomach infrastructure”, saying they do not mean well for the state and the nation.

    Addressing women at the Edo Women Conference held in Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “Edo women have the right to question politicians on their credibility because it is no longer the business of rice, salt, beans, or money.

    “It is knowing what happened in the past and comparing with the present. Women, you have the right qualifications because intelligence is not determined by possessions of certificates.

    He urged the women to have confidence in themselves, saying, “You are not powerless as women but have confidence that as women, you are not inferior to any other group and it’s not about competition between you and the men but rather organise yourselves, mobilise and show determination to change a situation that has deprived, victimized and oppressed.

    “The day you make up your mind to do that, you would have come out of your woes and lamentations,” he said.

    In a paper presentation entitled “Edo Women Society, Our Issues our Voices”, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Mrs. Esohe Aighatise,  stated some issues facing Edo Women in contemporary times.

    She said, “Education is one of the problems that face women in our contemporary Edo Society.

    “When there is a choice of who to send to school, the girl child stands at a disadvantage as against the male child. When you train a woman, you train a nation”.

    She stated other issues to include cultural barriers, such as female genital mutilation, political inequalities, societal values, amongst others.

     

  • Youths block Benin/Lokoja road

    Youths from Ehor in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State blocked the Benin/Okene Road yesterday.

    They were protesting the over four-month blackout in the community.

    Their spokesman, Osaghae Mark, said they had made several complaints to both Benin and Ekpoma branches of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    He said: “The problem is that for the past five months now we have not had light. Some areas have light; other areas don’t.

    “We have been asking BEDC why. They said our transformer is bad. Four months ago, they brought new transformer to us. They refused to fix the transformer; yet they still bring bills.”

    BEDC spokesperson Curtis Nwade said he was not aware of the protest.

  • Abe empowers 7,900 women

    More than 7,900 women, particularly widows in Rivers South-East, consisting of Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Tai local governments, have gained from the Senator Magnus Abe wrapper scheme.

    Wrappers were presented to 1,000 women drawn from the 10 wards of Oyigbo Local Government.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) ward chairmen, spokesmen, women and youth leaders in the area got a motorcycle each.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area, Abe said the gesture was to thank the women for their support to the Amaechi administration.

    He said: “What I am doing here is not constituency project, it is between my people and me.

    “My constituency projects are schools being built here in Oyigbo and Sogho, in Khana Local Government. Others are Anatomy Block in the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) and a project at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.”

  • Police foil bank robbery in Osun

    The peoples of Modakeke, the headquarters of Ife East Area Office of Osun State on Thursday were under the fear of dare devil armed robbers, who attacked an old generation bank in the town for several hours.

    It was gathered that the robbers attempted to rob the bank located at Iraye area of the town but the police were able to dislodge the armed bandits.

    Eye witness account said that the robbers, numbering about six got to the bank around 3.00 pm but could not gain entrance into the banking hall before the police after receiving a distress call chased them away into the bush near the Modakeke High School.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mrs. Folashade Odoro, prompt response of the police saved the bank from being robbed.

    She said the police were on the trail of the armed bandits but said no arrest has been made.

  • ECOWAS to abolish residence permit

    ECOWAS to abolish residence permit

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State have approved the abolition of the residence permit and the introduction of biometric identity card for community citizens.

    It also adopted the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which comes into force on 1st January 2015; this is in order to promote trade exchange and investments within the region, which will constitute the pillars of the Single currency.

    The commission will work diligently with other stakeholders to ensure its vision of an ECOWAS of people rather than an ECOWAS of States and a single economic space by year 2020.

    This was revealed Thursday in Abuja, in a statement by the President, ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, at the 34th meeting of the convergence Council of Ministers and Governors of Central Banks of the West African Monetary Zone.

    Ouedraogo who was represented at the occasion by the ECOWAS Commissioner of Macro Economic policy and economic research, Dr Ibrahim Bocar BA, stated that the revision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s economic Account (GDP), placing the country ahead of South Africa is, also for the West African region another source of pride.

    His words, “I am delighted to report that the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government have approved the abolition of the residence permit and introduction of the biometric Identity Card for the Community citizens.

    “The authority subsequently requested the Ministers in charge of security to review all the security implications of the measure prior to the signing of the Supplementary Acts on the issues. Member states are urged to continue to ensure that the non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are reduced to the barest minimum by reducing the checkpoints along the international transit corridors.

    “ECOWAS Commission, as a key stakeholder, will work diligently with all other stakeholders to ensure that the vision of an ECOWAS of people rather than an ECOWAS of States and a single economic space is realized by year 2020.

    “In this regard, the Commission endeavours that all other integration programmes under its watch are effectively implemented. The other road maps adopted by the Heads of States relating to the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), which comes into force on 1st January 2015, free movement of persons and ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) are being followed carefully to ensure that the community is fully integrated.”

    He also stated, “It is clear that the intended aim is not to rush to create a currency without a solid economic foundation.

    “The aim is not only to draw lessons from successive postponements of missed deadlines in 2003, 2005, 2009 and probably 2015 for the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) but also to take into consideration the factors behind the Euro crisis, that is to say, the fiscal and budgetary problems.

    “At the 42th session of the Conference of Heads of States and Government in July 2013, the ECOWAS Commission’s President was mandated to accelerate the macroeconomic convergence process for the deadline of 2015 for the WAMZ and 2020 for both monetary zones be met.

    “The extraordinary Summit of 25 October 2013 gave a new impetus to the programme of Common Currency whose supervision was entrusted to the President of Ghana and Niger.”

     

  • Breaking: Malaysia Airlines crashes in Ukraine

    Breaking: Malaysia Airlines crashes in Ukraine

    Malaysia Airlines MH17 passenger jet has crashed in Ukraine near the Russian border

    The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur had 280 passengers and 15 crew members on board.

    Cause of  the crash  yet unknown.

     

    UPDATE 1: Malaysia Airlines Twitter feed says airline has lost contact with Flight MH17 from Amsterdam

    UPDATE 2: According to Reuters, “Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser said the Buk missile was fired by separatists: Interfax”

  • ASUP’s demands are genuine – Mark

    ASUP’s demands are genuine – Mark

    Senate President, David Mark, Thursday expressed the Federal Government’s commitment towards addressing the ills in the education sector.

    Mark who spoke when the Executives of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) visited him in his office noted that the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are genuine.

    He noted that the biggest investment any government can give to its citizenry is education at all levels. This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja.

    He said: “The demands of ASUP indicate that the Union is not selfish. They are requesting for not only their welfare but infrastructural development that would promote learning in the Polytechnics.

    “I was delighted when I heard that the Union gave room for the new Minister of Education to settle down and look into the demands of the Union. This shows some level of understanding.

    “We must continue to dialogue. What we need is to resolve all the issues raised and bring back our students to classes. Polytechnic education is a unique form of education no nation desirous of development can ignore”

    Mark assured that the Senate under his leadership will continue to do the needful to make sure normalcy returns to our Polytechnics, “the Senate will continue to do the needful to bring back our students to classes and ensure normalcy returns to the sector.”

    Earlier, the President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzo Asomuogha, commended the National Assembly for the steps taken so far at resolving the strike and return the lecturers to classrooms.

    He called on Mark and the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to attend to the demands of the union before the expiration of the three months suspension of the strike.

    He added that lecturers are always ready to put in their best to develop the Polytechnic education across the nation.