The Nation Newspaper

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  • FEC approves N1.5b for Zik’s mausoleum

    FEC approves N1.5b for Zik’s mausoleum

    The Federal Government yesterday approved N1.5billion for the completion of the Mausoleum for Nigeria’s first President, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    The project is ongoing in Onitsha, Anambra State, where Dr Azikiwe’s remains were interred.

    The government endorsed a national roadmap for the development of solid minerals and metals and said the Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development should carry out a public presentation of the document.

    The approvals were granted at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, briefed reporters on some of the decisions reached at the weekly meeting with the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple and the Minister of Mines and Solid Mineral Development, Mr. Mohammed Sada.

    Ms Pepple said: “The FEC approved the award of contract for the completion of Zik’s mausoleum in memory of our first President. It was given out for N1,496,531,483 with a completion period of 13 months.”

    The minister said N530million was included in this year’s budget, while N1billion was included in next year’s budget proposal to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

    She noted that the project had suffered some setbacks before it was transferred to the ministry in 2010.

    The contract, the minister said, was originally under the Presidency but was stalled and had to be cancelled three times.

    Ms Pepple said: “But in 2010, it was transferred when it became a full-fledged ministry, the Ministry of Lands and Housing Development. It was transferred to the ministry then.

    “In this year’s budget we have N530million with which we are going to start off the project. We have also put N1billion in the budget for next year. If that is given to us, we should be able to complete it within the time stipulated. It is a national monument; it is something we will want to complete before we celebrate our centenary in 2014. So, we are very hopeful that we will get the needed funds and the ministry is quite ready to ensure that we get value for money for the job that we are giving out.”

  • Man mistakenly chops off son’s hand in floods

    An unidentified man was yesterday said to have chopped off the hand of his son in floods in Anambra State.

    He reportedly mistook the hand for a snake inside the floods.

    A former Chief Judge, Justice Paul Obidigwe, narrated the incident in Awka, the state capital, at the inauguration of a special squad of the state branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

    Though he did not give details, the former CJ also gave instances of other incidents that portrayed the harrowing experiences of flood victims.

    Obidigwe is also the Chairman of Omambala Forum.

    During the inauguration, members of affected communities narrated their ordeal.

    The former CJ called for urgent assistance to the victims at various camps, adding that there had been stories of casualties from many communities.

    According to him, there was a man from one of the villages that had been sacked by the floods, who mistakenly killed his son in the night after chopping off his hand in flood waters.

    He said the father noticed a small figure emerging from the waters and reached for his cutlass, thinking it was a snake.

    The man, Obidigwe said, chopped off the boy’s hand.

    It was when the people found the boy’s body floating on water the following day they realised that the man did not kill a snake but his son.

    The former CJ said as the floods swept into the villages, carrying animals and reptiles from the wild.

    He said in one instance the floods swept away a young boy without the father’s knowledge.

    Obidigwe also narrated a story of a man that had committed suicide having lost all his cash crops that he took a loan to cultivate.

    He said there was yet another of a man who drowned while he attempted to ferry firewood from his submerged home in Ayamelum.

    Obidigwe said: “It was discovered that the internally Displaced Persons (IDPS), who were earlier accommodated in schools and churches have been further displaced because flood has submerged the earlier designated camps.

    “The situation of the surging flood has aggravated the condition of flood victims because nearby camps are no longer available.”

  • Police recover Abacha’s wife’s N30m jewellery

    Police recover Abacha’s wife’s N30m jewellery

    The Kano State Police Command has recovered gold jewellery worth N30 million, belonging to Hajiya Maryam Abacha, widow of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, from suspected robbers.

    The police have also killed two suspected armed robbers in a gun duel.

    The jewellery was reportedly stolen from the home of the Abachas at Nassarawa Quarters, Kano.

    Five of the suspects have been arrested. One of them was shot.

    Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris told reporters yesterday in Kano that a suspect, Lawan Mohammed, was arrested for the robbery.

    The police chief said other items were recovered from him.

    Among them are 42 pieces of gold ear rings, five pieces of gold rings, five pieces of gold pendants, five sets of gold jewellery and 26 pieces of golden chairs.

    Idris said the suspect will soon be prosecuted.

    The police chief also said during a stop-and-search, four occupants of a Toyota Corolla car, with registration number (Lagos) NA947KJA, shot at the police.

    He said two of them were killed while the others escaped.

    Idris said the police recovered the vehicle, an AK 47 rifle with rounds of live ammunition, two locally-made revolver pistols, five cartridges and an AK 47 rifle magazine.

    The police chief decried rising cases of rape in the state.

    He said a 55-year-old man, Ibrahim Tanko, was arrested for raping a four-year-old.

    Tanko allegedly lured the girl to a corner and threatened to inject her, if she refused.

    Idris said about nine rape suspects were arrested in Kano last month, adding that they will be charged to court soon.

    The police commissioner explained that during a raid on some hideouts, 256 suspects, who were terrorising the residents, were apprehended.

    He said among the items recovered from them are nine cars, three AK 47 rifles, one Lar rifle, a Makarov pistol, one FN Herstal Belgium SSS rifle, 50 rounds of assorted live ammunitions, two pistol magazines, 184 parcels and 340 wraps of Indian hemp.

  • Police ban movements in Jos for Saturday’s by-election

    PLATEAU State Police Command has banned movement in Jos, the state capital, and its environs in the next two days.

    It said this is to ensure the smooth conduct of the by-election into the Plateau North Senatorial District.

    Police Commissioner Emmanuel Ayeni announced the restriction at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Police Officers’ Mess in Jos.

    He explained that the measure is to ensure that the residents have a hitch-free election.

    Ayeni said the restriction will hold between midnight on Friday and midnight of Saturday.

    The police chief said the residents will be allowed to continue their businesses from Sunday morning.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed October 6 for the bye-election.

    Ayeni, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, warned underage voters and those who might cause trouble to stay away from the area.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Habu Zarma said arrangements had been concluded to ensure the success of the election.

    He said: “The over 1,55,903 credible voters (in the area) are expected to participate in the election. Six parties registered for the senatorial election. Three parties fielded candidates for House of Assembly election in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

    “The election will be conducted in six local government areas, 73 registration areas and 1,212 polling units. Bassa has 118,686; Barki Ladi, 102,555; Jos North, 427,856; Jos South, 287,019; Riyom, 67,294 and Jos East, 52,492. Ad hoc electoral workers have been recruited and are undergoing training.

    “Residents who were displaced by the last floods will be given the opportunity to vote, as electoral workers will be at their camps to make polling booths available to them.”

    The Commissioner for Information Abraham Yiljab said Governor Jonah Jang has warned against rigging.

  • Senator donates N3.3m materials to Jigawa flood victims

    The senator representing Jigawa South at the National Assembly, Abdulmumin Hassan, has donated relief materials worth N3.3million to flood victims in the state.

    The senator urged Nigerians, particularly Jigawa State residents, to assist victims.

    Hassan spoke in Dutse, the state capital, after donating relief materials to flood victims.

    He said the Senate was concerned about the effect of the floods, especially the epidemic that they might cause.

    The senator urged the Federal Government to avert an epidemic in areas that have experienced floods.

    Hassan hailed the Jigawa State Government for setting up a task force to tour the affected areas and assess the situation.

    The senator promised to donate additional 10 bags of maize to the previous 480 bags for people with special needs.

    Hassan’s donations, which comprised 294 bags of millet and 196 bags of maize, will be distributed to the victims in the seven local government areas in his constituency.

    He said victims in each Local Government will receive forty two bags of millet and twenty eight bags of maize making a total of seventy (70) bags per Local Government

  • PDP NWC stops state primaries, congresses

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples‘ Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday directed state chapters to desist from conducting primaries or congresses.

    The directive is contained in a statement by Mr Olisa Metuh, the party‘s National Publicity Secretary in Abuja.

    The statement added that state primaries and congresses could only be conducted with the consent of the party‘s leadership.

    It added that anything contrary to this was unconstitutional and illegal.

    “Consequently, the NWC has rejected the slated Adamawa State PDP Local Government primaries and directed the state to cease any further action in this regard,’’ the statement said.

    The statement called on the state organs of the party to henceforth comply with the party‘s constitutional provisions, especially in Article 50 (1) of its amended constitution of 2012

  • Four Edo flood victims die in camp

    Four persons, including a child, have died at one of the relief camps for flood victims in Edo State.

    The deaths occurred at the Ekperi Grammar School, which is home to victims from Udaba, Udochi, Anegbette, Osomegbe and other villages in Estako Central Local Government Area.

    One of the victims, simply identified as Alhaji Bila, slumped and died a few minutes after the National Medical Association (NMA) visited the camp to provide relief materials and treat the sick.

    The association donated drugs, bottled water and insect repellants to the victims.

    It urged the Federal Government to be more proactive in disaster management.

    NMA President Dr. Osahon Enabulale said: “All flood victims are advised to go to the health camps, where counselling is being organised, to ensure that they receive quality information on how to protect themselves and get treated.

    “We must all take pro-active measures to prevent further disaster because what we are seeing now may just be the tip of the iceberg. NMA is on a tour of flood-affected areas nationwide and at the end of this exercise, we hope to be in a better position to advise the government and Nigerians, as well as make our modest contribution towards preventing a recurrence.”

    Former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma also donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the Edo flood victims.

    They included rice, beans, gari, blankets, palm oil, mattresses, toothpaste, milk and soap, among others.

    The Grant Auditor of the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation, Mr. Peter Ndochi, said the relief materials were to complement the state government effort in alleviating the suffering of the victims.

    Permanent Secretary, Edo Government House, Mr. Bright Emoedume, who represented Governor Adams Oshiomhole, thanked the foundation.

  • ‘New battalion not to protect Jonathan’

    ‘New battalion not to protect Jonathan’

    The newly-established 176 Special Forces Battalion of the Brigade of Guards was not established to tighten security around President Goodluck Jonathan alone. Special Adviser to the President, Reuben Abati, said yesterday.

    This is coming barely 24hours after the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told reporters that the battalion was established because of the serious threat posed by the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

    Okupe was quoted as saying that the President, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, needed to strengthen security around himself.

    Abati however debunked the claim yesterday. He insisted that the new battalion, though part of the Brigade of Guards saddled with the responsibility of presidential protection, was not meant for Jonathan alone.

    Abati said the approval for the creation of the battalion preceded Jonathan’s Presidency.

    He also said the establishment of the battalion was also to meet the provision of the Nigerian Army Order of Battle which recommends that Brigades must have three battalions.

    According to Abati, “The approval by the Army Council to establish that battalion was given on May 4, 2010. I am sure President Jonathan was not the President then.

    “What President Jonathan did was only to give the go ahead much later in 2010.

    “At the inauguration of the battalion’s barracks in Kuje today (Wednesday), it was made clear that the battalion will be in charge of security in Kuje, Gwagwalada up to Niger State.

    “That the barracks’ location in Kuje is very far away from the Presidential Villa is enough proof that it was not meant to protect the President alone.

  • Ndigbo Lagos get title committee

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter, has frowned at the alleged indiscriminate conferment of traditional titles on people by the Eze Igbo of Lagos, Hyacinth Ohazulike.

    It said the titles were being conferred on people without proper consultation with the council of chiefs.

    In a statement in Lagos after a meeting of its Joint General Assembly, Igbo-speaking communities and the Traditional Council of Ndi Eze (Kings) and Title Holders, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it has set up a council to be responsible for screening and selecting title holders.

    It said, successful candidates would be referred to Ohazulike by the council.

    The organisation said the appointment of worthy Igbo ambassadors is the collective responsibility of every Igbo indigene and not that of the traditional head alone. The general assembly said Igbo culture was being violated as a result of greed and individualism.

    Ohazulike debunked the allegation against him, arguing that he had not been running a one-man show. He said the chiefs had no power to query him because he installed them.

    Ohazulike said he has been conducting his activities according to the rules of the institution.

    He said: “All the Eze Udos have ganged up against me. I installed them, so they have no power to query me. I have been on this stool for 14 years. All the allegations levelled against me are unfounded, because I have not deviated from my traditional role as the custodian of Igbo culture and tradition in Lagos State and in the Diaspora.”

  • Amaechi to Head of Service: continue reforms

    Amaechi to Head of Service: continue reforms

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday swore in the Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Samuel Long-John, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Amaechi praised the former HoS, Mrs. Esther Anucha, for her “outstanding performance”.

    He said his administration was determined to improve the civil service.

    The governor said: “I made the decision to stabilise the civil service when I assumed office in 2007. I thought of putting in place an efficient and effective civil service to ensure stability. We have Long-John, as the most senior civil servant, for this task. This is not the time to play politics and we have taken the best decision.”

    Amaechi urged Long-John to improve on the achievements of his predecessor.

    He said: “As the new HoS, you need to continue the overhaul of the civil service by ensuring that every civil servant is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant.”

    Long-John pledged to put in his best. He said: “We all know the civil service is the engine room of the government and we will do everything possible to sustain it to serve the current administration better than expected.”

    At a gala night in commemoration of Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, held at the Shell Club in Port Harcourt, Amaechi assured multinational companies in the state of adequate security.

    He said: “Before 2007 when I assumed office, insecurity was the order of the day, but this administration brought the situation under control. We assure you of adequate security in all your operations”.

    The governor assured residents of regular electricity by December. He said: “By December this year, we shall provide regular power supply. Even though it is the responsibility of the Federal Government and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), we have decided to do it. Rivers State Government has 545 mega watts of power for distribution and we promise to sustain the means of power supply to sustain your industries and businesses.”

    The Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu said Shell companies are committed to improving their partnership with Nigeria.

    He hailed the Amaechi-led administration for sustaining peace in the state.