The Nation Newspaper

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  • Floods alert for Kogi, Abia, Benue, others

    Floods alert for Kogi, Abia, Benue, others

    The Federal Ministry of Environment Flood Early Warning Centre has  issued a forecast of possible heavy rainfall that may cause flooding in some parts of the country.

    The forecast entitled: ‘Flood status Report for Dissemination’, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, indicated that the rainfall was expected between now and September 24.

    “Please note and help to disseminate the forecast of possible heavy rainfall that may likely result in Flood (if adequate and necessary precautions are not taken),” it said.

    It identified the locations to include Abejukolo and Wara in Kogi; Afikpo in Abia, Egbema in Imo; Itigidi in Cross River  and Otukpo in Benue.

    Others are Patani in Delta; Sagbama in Bayelsa; Kisi in Oyo State;Jebba, Kosubosu, Lafiaji and New Bussa in Kwara as well as Nafada in Gombe State.

    The list also includes Shendam in Plateau; Demsa, Ganye, Jimeta, Mayo-Belwa, and Song in Adamawa and Donga, Gembu, Mutumbiyu, Yorro in Taraba.

    The alert also asked Jigawa, Kebbi, Bauchi, FCT, Katsina, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto and Niger states to watch out for vulnerable areas, following earlier alerts issued.

  • Suspected hoodlums hack student to death

    •UniAgric Makurdi shut

     

    Cultists on Monday night invaded the Federal University of Agriculture (UniAgric), Makurdi and hacked a student to death. They also defiled female students.

    The university was shut yesterday, following a protest by the students, who went on the rampage to protest lack of water, electricity and security.

    A source in the university said the cultists invaded the school on Monday night and killed a yet to be identified student with a machete, adding that they defiled female students, stole phones and other valuables.

    The Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs, Dr. T.J. Orsar, dismissed the allegations by the students and said they had no reason to complain as the university authorities have done their best to make the campus conducive.

    He said the university management had addressed the students over water scarcity and made contingency arrangements with water tanker operators.

    Orsar said before some areas in Benue State were flooded, there was an agreement with students that owing to the high cost of diesel, electricity would be supplied through generators between 6pm and 12midnight anytime there was a power outage.

    A statement signed by the registrar and released by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Dzerkaan Fanafa, directed the students to vacate the campus.

  • Reps insist Oteh must go

    Reps insist Oteh must go

    The House of Representatives yesterday took President Goodluck Jonathan head-on over the re-instatement of the Director General of the Security Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh.

    Members insisted that the resolution of the House which requested the President to sacked the Director General should be honoured.

    The House also yesterday blacklisted the Director General saying none of its committees would have anything to do with her anymore.

    The House requested the President “to implement the resolution of the House of Representatives on the near collapse of the Capital Market particularly aspects of the resolution requesting the removal of Ms Arunmah Oteh as the Director General of Security and Exchange Commission for being unqualified by law to serve as Director General of security and Exchange Commission, as contained in Sections 3(2)(a) and section 38(I)(b) 2 and 3, and section 315 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA), 2007.”

    The Green Chamber also resolved “that the House of Representatives or Any of its committees shall henceforth cease to accord any recognition or deal with Ms Arunmah Oteh as Director General of Security and Exchange Commission.”

    Lawmakers gave the House Committee on Legislative Compliance 14 days to report the level of compliance of the Executive with the resolution.

    The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion by a member, Ossai Nicholas Ossai titled: “Need for the President to enforce the resolution of the House of Representatives on the Investigation into the near collapse of the Capital Market.”

  • World Bank approves $10m to build pedestrian bridges

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mike Onolememen, yesterday said World Bank has approved $10 million for four pedestrian bridges in Abuja.

    He spoke at the approval of six pedestrian bridges in Abuja.

    According to him, the building of the bridges is an integral part of the road safety components of the federal road development project.

    He said: “The objective of the road safety components of the federal road development project is to improve safety level on the roads.

    “It is in realisation of this that the World Bank approved $10 million for the building of four pedestrian bridges on some selected roads in Abuja.

    “The collaboration between the World Bank and the Federal Government in financing this project at a ratio of 9-1 under the road sector development team of the Ministry of Works is imperative and represents the way forward for critical infrastructures in line with the government’s policy of promoting partnership with multi-lateral and private sector financiers.

    “The six bridges in phase one and two were awarded by the government to Messrs Dutum Company Ltd, Rural Steel Bridging Ltd and Enerco Nigeria Ltd with a contract period of six months each.

    “This is to reduce fatalities on Nigerian roads as part of the safe road corridor concept. Our determination cannot be compromised because the lives of our citizens crossing these roads are vital to our socio-economic renewal and national transformation.

    “It is gratifying to note that this project, when completed, will improve the safe crossing movement of people in a manner that will ensure the achievement of our common objective of combining efforts and resources to address issues on road safety in Nigeria and to save lives.

    “In the first phase of the exercise, we are building pedestrian bridges in the following locations with high pedestrian traffic: Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Tafawa Balewa Way, Old Secretariat Junction and Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuye Junction.

    “Others are, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Ahmadu Bello Way, Banex Junction; Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Shehu Shagari Way, Nicon Junction; Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Okonjo Iweala Way, VIO Mabushi Junction and Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Ladi Kwali Way, Sheraton Junction.”

  • LASU students protest over tuition fees

    LASU students protest over tuition fees

    Students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, protested the slight reduction in their tuition yesterday they disrupted the final day of the second semester examinations for the 2011/2012 academic session by some hours.

    All hopes for a significant reduction in the fees in their were dash on Monday when  the varsity’s management of the university announced the new tuition regime for next session.

    According to the official bulletin by the Centre For Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) of the Vice Chancellor’s Office, dated September 17, fresh students are to pay between N151, 250 and N326, 250 when they get to 200-Level as against the N193, 750 and N308, 750 which they paid in their first year.

    Following the announcement, some of the students under the Joint Committee of Class Governors of the fresh students staged a protest, boycotting the second semester compulsory GNS examinations

    The placard-bearing students blocked the ever-busy Ojo/Badagry Expressway until policemen were drafted in to restore law and order.

    They came in three Hillux vans which were packed outside the university’s main gate.

    The revised tuition fees is to be made in two installments when they resume for the 2012/2013 academic session.

  • Obajana Road: Kogi groups to bar Senator, Reps from coming home

    The agitation for the reconstruction of the dilapidated Obajana-Kabba-Egbe Road took a dramatic dimension yesterday as some youths in Okunland, Kogi West Senatorial District, in separate statements  resolved to constitute themselves into a militancy movement that would restrict members of the National Assembly from the zone from coming home “if the Federal Government fails to act before December.”

    Those affected, according to the groups, are Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West District, Tajudeen Yusuf, representing Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu Federal Constituency and Sunday Karimi, representing Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro Federal Constituency.

    In a joint statement, Yagba Change Agent Group (YACAG), Okun Youth Initiative (OYI), Association for Better Okun Youth (ABOY) and Okun Summit, said a movement of socio-political, cultural, women, professional bodies and students’ union organisations, after a meeting, had communicated their intention to the affected National Assembly members.

     

  • Police arrest kidnappers of Dangote’s cousin

    Police arrest kidnappers of Dangote’s cousin

    A gang, which abducted a cousin of the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and collected a ransom of N32million, has been arrested by the police.

    The victim Yahaya Aminu, was kidnapped on September 2, at the Falomo, Ikoyi branch of GTBank, Awolowo Road, Lagos.

    He has, however, been rescued. Two locally made pistols with 16 cartridges and a Kia Cerato, marked DN735APP, belonging to the victim, was recovered.

    It was gathered the gang  also kidnapped Mr Debasis Mitroroy, also of Dangote Group.

    The  gang had kidnapped an Indian, demanding 200,000 dollars as ransom, which was paid.

    The suspect, Pius Uba Livinus and two others; Kelechukwu Onyema and Ayebe Segun, were arrested by operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Livinus’father, a former police Inspector, who was dismissed in 1995, is also being held for attempting to protect the suspect.

    The ex-Inspector was arrested after his son confessed that his father, who had earlier denied knowing his whereabouts when police invaded their home, has been protecting him from being arrested.

    The suspect’s father had told policemen that he had not seen Livinus for over two months. But the suspect later  confessed that he has been with his father since he kidnapped the Indian last year.

    It was gathered  that that the suspect was arrested in February for a failed kidnap operation and charged to court but he found his way out of prison after two months.

    The suspect, who said his father is also being detained in connection with the crime,  had participated in three  kidnap operations.

    Police spokesperson Ngozi Braide said Livinus (25) , Oneyema (27) and Segun (32) would be prosecuted .

  • Security guard remanded for ‘raping’ housewife

    Security guard remanded for ‘raping’ housewife

    A 35-year-old night watchman, Mr. Niyi Ayoola, has been remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping a housewife, Mrs. Bola Osunlana.

    The accused on Friday appeared before the court, presided over by Magistrate Adewumi Makanjuola.

    The charge sheet said the accused forcefully slept with Mrs. Osunlana when she was going home on Iloro Market Road in Ile-Ife.

    Ayoola, who was the security guard attached to Iloro Market, allegedly committed the offence on August 29 at 10.20pm.

    Police Prosecutor Elisha Olusegun told the court that it was odd that Ayoola, who was employed to obey the law, was caught breaking it.

    According to him, the offence is contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria 2003.

    However, the accused pleaded not guilty of the one-count charge.

    The defence counsel, Mrs. O. Nnenna, prayed the court to grant him bail, adding that the accused should be presumed innocent until proved guilty.

    Nnenna said Ayoola would provide the court with credible sureties, if he was granted a bail.

    She assured that the accused would also not jump bail, if granted one.

    Makanjuola ordered that the accused be remanded in Ilesha Prisons and adjourned the matter till September 20.

  • Terry cleared for Juve clash

    Terry cleared for Juve clash

    JOHN TERRY has been passed fit for the start of Chelsea’s defence of the Champions League.

    The Blues skipper jarred his knee in Saturday’s heated goalless draw at QPR days after recovering from an ankle injury.

    But tough-nut Terry has given boss Roberto di Matteo a boost by coming through a light training session Monday as preparations get underway for the visit of Italian champs Juventus today.

    And UEFA bigwigs admit they will be watching the visitors’ bench at Stamford Bridge like hawks to make sure banned Juve coach Antonio Conte does not try to beat his rap and phone his pals in the dugout.

    Conte is serving a 10-month ban for keeping quiet over match-fixing when boss of Siena and is banished to the stands.

    A UEFA spokesman said: “The ban does extend to UEFA competitions.

    “Conte isn’t allowed to have any contact with the players during the game or at half time.”

  • UCH records three suspected cases of lassa fever

    The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan yesterday confirmed that it has recorded three suspected cases of lassa fever.

    The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital, Dr Jesse Otegbayo, spoke in Ibadan yesterday.

    According to him, the hospital received three suspected cases of the deadly and highly contagious fever but that only one was confirmed as lassa.

    He said the patient, who was brought to the hospital from an area within Ibadan metropolis, died on August 30.

    Otegbayo recalled that the first suspected case was in July but that the sample tested negative. The second was in August which tested positive and died shortly after while the third was recorded last week. The result, which he just received at the time of the interview with our correspondent showed that the patient tested negative to the disease. The third patient is still on admission at the hospital.

    Otegbayo explained that the government has put in place various mechanisms to prevent  the disease at various hospitals in the six geo-political zones.

    “Government has a specific project to address the disease. They include media campaigns including radio jingles and posters to enlighten people on how it can be prevented and contracted. The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health has regionalized diagnostic centres where the tests are conducted. The two for the Southwest zones are in Lagos and Irrua in Edo states. Only results from these centres are taken.

    Besides, government has put in place a chain of reporting from hospitals to states’ Ministry of Health to the Federal Ministry of Health. They work to ensure prevention, diagnosis and quick response.

    “Government has also made available free drugs. The drug was administered to the one that died but the disease has high mortality rate. It spreads very fast.