The Nation Newspaper

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  • Oyo indigenes in Law School get N10m bursary

    Oyo indigenes in Law School get N10m bursary

    The Oyo State Government has distributed cheques worth over N10 million as bursary awards to its indigenes at the Nigerian Law School for the 2011/2012 academic session.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Adetokunbo Fayokun, during the distribution in Ibadan, said the gesture was aimed at assisting them financially.

    According to her, the state government was unaware of the importance of their school programme, and the huge financial resources required, hence the need to come to their aid.

    Promising that government would continue to implement policies that would enhance the educational development of the youth in the state, Fayokun urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being more committed to their studies.

    The commissioner also enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the state and shun all acts that could bring disrepute to their families, the state and the nation.

    The Chairman of the state Scholarship Board, Dr. Adekiitan Babalola, in his remarks, prayed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for approving the bursary to the students.

    He said arrangements had also been concluded for the payment of 2011/2012 bursary awards to final year students of Oyo State origin in all federal and state-owned tertiary institutions nationwide.

  • Some of the PPPRA reforms

    •Redeployment and reorganisation of management and staff  structure

    •Restriction of participation in importation to only owners of coastal discharge/depot facilities  from 128 to 42 initially and to 39 presently)

    •Introduction of 3-3-2 system for the engaged independent inspectors (three inspectors to validate vessel arrival;  three to validate vessel discharge into shore tanks; two to validate truck-outs from the storage depot.

    •Taking physical control of discharge valves at deports to prevent possible back loading.

    •Obtaining  NNPC commitment to comply with all PPPRA requirements for PSF processing just like all the other marketer

    •Rejecting “homogenised cargo” from multiple vessels with no defined origins for proper verification.

    •Ban on cargo from storage tanks in West African coasts except from established refineries and blending plants to eliminate round tripping.

    •Participating banks to validate sales with bank statements for 3rd party discharges.

    •Pre-qualification of  suppliers to ensure that only credible and professional suppliers engaged in the business.

    •Banning the use of Bills for Collection by all PSF participants beginning from Q3 2012 owing to abuses to which the instrument was put in the past.

    •Subscribing to Lloyd’s List intelligence “Tanker Channel/Sea Searcher

    •Engagement of consultant to review the Petroleum Products Pricing Template. Currently, the PPPRA-template which was developed to cover the interests of all stakeholders in import-parity-price-model-based.

  • Oyo trains 3,000 YES-O cadets to boost teaching

    Oyo trains 3,000 YES-O cadets to boost teaching

    The Oyo State Government yesterday began the training of 3,000 Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo (YES-O) education cadets in the three senatorial districts to address the shortage of teachers in public schools.

    The cadets, who are graduates of Education, would be deployed to various public primary and secondary schools after their training, it was learnt.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Adetokunbo Fayokun, spoke in Ibadan, the capital, at the beginning of the training programme.

    She said the training would equip the cadets with requisite skills and knowledge to enable them function effectively in their assignments.

    Mrs Fayokun said the government would ensure a turn-around of the education sector, adding that the YES-O cadets would serve as the purveyors and actualisers of the objective.

    She said: “May I state that the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration is committed to the transformation of the education sector. It is our hope that the YES-O team will be at the vanguard of this desired change.”

    The commissioner urged the cadets to make the best use of the training to prepare for the task ahead and make a lasting impact in the lives of the students.

    The training programme will run simultaneously in Ibadan/Ibarapa, Oyo/Ogbomoso and Saki zones.

    The trainees are among the 20,000 YES-O cadets recruited by the Ajimobi administration in December, last year, to reduce the high rate of unemployment among youths in the state.

  • Kidnap: Court strikes out council boss’s name from suit

    An Anambra State High Court, sitting in Onitsha, yesterday struck out the name of the Transition Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Mr. Raphael Nnabuife, as the sixth respondent in the application filed by Prince Christopher Udoh, the proprietor of Arthur Garden Hotels, Nkpor.

    Udoh is demanding N5 million damages from the police for the closure of his hotels and his “unlawful” detention.

    He is also praying the court to order the respondents and their agents to release him from police custody, where he has been since August 9.

    Udoh’s hotels were sealed and he was detained, following the arrest of suspected kidnappers in one of the branches.

    In a counter-affidavit, Nnabuife said he is not a policeman and did not make any complaint to the police against Udoh to warrant being included as a respondent in the application.

    Justice J. I. Nweze struck out Nnabuife’s name from the application and awarded N10,000 against the applicant in his favour.

  • Osun ACN congratulates monarch

    Osun ACN congratulates monarch

    The Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has congratulated the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Olawale, the Adedeji II, on the conferment of a national award of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) on him by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The party’s state Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, sent the congratulatory message to the monarch.

    He noted that the monarch deserved the honour because of his landmark achievements as a reputable banker and community leader.

    The ACN chairman described Oba Olawale as an unusual personality who has remained committed to the development of his domain since he ascended the throne of his forefathers over two decades ago.

    Acknowledging the roles of the monarch to the growth of the state, Adebiyi said he is also a lover of his people and community.

    The politician added that Oba Olawale is a quintessential leader whose love and support for the ruling party in the state is second to none.

  • Police, Hausa community clash in Owerri

    Many people were injured yesterday in a clash between policemen and the Hausa community in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    Heavily armed policemen and vigilance groups stormed Douglas Road to eject Hausa traders from the area, but the traders fought them.

    It was learnt that the police were acting on a security report that Boko Haram members had infiltrated the area.

    The police shot tear gas canisters into the air to scare the traders , but they insisted that they were not a security risk.

    The situation degenerated into a free-for-all, in which many people were injured.

    An eyewitness said the fear that members of the Boko Haram sect may be in the vicinity led to a stampede. He said passers-by scampered to safety and people abandoned their vehicles and fled.

    A witness said the Hausa traders fought the security agents with assorted weapons.

    He said: “The traders were served quit notices sometime ago because of the heavy traffic and avoidable accidents caused by their trading activities. “They constitute great nuisance in the area and the security situation in the country demands stringent security measures.”

    A Hausa trader, simply identified as Farouk, said they were never served quit notices.

    He said: “Some people were saying that we are Boko Haram members and that they will send us out of the state, but we are law-abiding Nigerians and are only doing our lawful businesses.”

    A government source, who did not want to be named, said the traders were served a notice to leave the place by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

    The source said a task force went there to enforce the order after the expiration of the notice, but it was resisted by the traders.

    Police spokesman Vitalis Onugu said he was yet to be briefed about the incident.

  • Police ‘arrest’ two trailers, occupants in Onitsha

    Two trailers loaded with human beings were yesterday intercepted in Onitsha, Anambra State, by the police.

    They were impounded at Upper Iweka.

    Police Area Commander, Onitsha, Mr. Benjamin Wordu debunked speculations that the occupants of the trailers were Boko-Haram members.

    He said: “There are so many speculations going on now, but my men have started investigating the matter. We are suspecting that they are destitute. We suspect they were brought into the state ahead of the Christmas celebration, but there is no cause for alarm. We are on top of the situation.”

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Awka, the state capital, Governor Peter Obi thanked the public for notifying him when the trailers stopped at Upper Iweka.

    Obi urged the people to remain alert at all times and report suspicious movements to the authorities.

    He said the trailers and their occupants would remain in the custody of security agents until their identities and destination are uncovered.

    The governor reiterated his determination to improve security in the state.

  • Anambra floods: ANPP seeks Fed Govt’s intervention

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Anambra State has urged the Federal Government to assist 24 communities ravaged by floods in the state.

    The party’s Chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Orjiakor, told The Nation yesterday in Awka, the state capital, that the problem is beyond the state government.

    The floods destroyed property and rendered many homeless in Osomala, Ochuche, Umuodu, Akili Ogidi, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Awba Ofemili, Omor, Oroma Etiti, Ezi-anam, Umuenwelum, Umueze-Anam, Umuoba Anam, Nmiata, Innoma, Ukwulla, Owelle, Igbedor, Odekpe, Odemagu, Nzam and Igbokenyi.

    Orjiakor said: “We have not heard of many deaths, but will the government allow many people to die before help comes?

    “We are not blaming the federal and state governments, but we are saying something should be done urgently to prevent further calamity. Governor Peter Obi has gone there to see the extent of the damage, but what next after the visit? All hands must be on deck, including the national and state emergency management agencies, to prevent further damage.”

  • PIB, Constitution Review, N5000 note top Senate’s agenda

    PIB, Constitution Review, N5000 note top Senate’s agenda

    Three major issues are expected  to top the agenda of the seventh Senate as it resumes legislative business for the second session today, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Senate’s eight weeks’ annual vacation, which began on July 20 ended yesterday.

    The quick consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is leading the agenda.

    The upper chamber of the National Assembly had deferred action on the Bill following its late submission by the executive.

    Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, had assured the nation that the Bill would be given speedy consideration. He debunked insinuations that it would suffer the same fate like the last one.

    Another issue  is the review of the 1999 Constitution. The Senators are expected to continue public hearings in the six geo-political zones to build consensus on issues that have been thrown up for alteration.

    The Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led  Committee on Constitution Review went on a retreat in Asaba, the Delta State capital in preparation for the hearings.

    There is also the consideration and passage of the 2013 national budget.

    This is, however, premised on the promise of Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the executive would present the budget this month when the National Assembly resumes legislative session.

    It would be the first time in about 13 years that the budget for the successive year would be presented to the National Assembly early for deliberation.

    The executive  extended the time for the implementation of budgets to March because the documents were not turned in early  for consideration and passage before the end of December.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala  condemned the practice and promised that the 2013 budget would be presented early.

    The lawmakers also vowed to take on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido  Sanusi on his proposal to redenominate the Naira and introduce a N5000 note.

    Although Nigerians have condemned the proposal, saying it would cause inflation,  Sanusi had vowed to go ahead with the action.

  • How govt is resolving crisis, by minister

    How govt is resolving crisis, by minister

    Minister of Interior Abba Moro, yesterday said the Federal Government’s dialogue with Boko Haram is achieving results.

    He also explained that the government has adopted three variables to deal with the sect.

    The variables are curtailment, managing consequences of violence and dialogue.

    He said he has written to the Police and the State Security Service(SSS) to probe allegation of gun-running against him.

    He said he wants security agencies to conduct a search in all his houses and if he is found guilty of stockpiling arms, he should be dealt with according to the law.

    Moro, who spoke in Abuja, said the ongoing dialogue with the sect has reduced attacks and violence in the north.

    He said: “Let me say that the Boko Haram situation is a very complex situation, it is a very unfortunate situation. I want to believe that this present administration, a democratically elected government, believes that it has responsibilities for all Nigerians  that are law-abiding and going about their legitimate businesses without recourse to violence and Nigerians that one way or the other feel aggrieved and have taken the path of violence to express their grievances.

    “With the  evolvement of Boko Haram and its crises, the Federal Government took various steps and opened various options. One, the step of curtailment; two, the step of managing the consequences of violence and crises where they occurred; and of course, the noble cause of dialogue because experience has shown that in all war situations, at the end peace is only achieved through dialogue, through talking.

    “And so, the Federal Government has ordinarily made itself available for talking, especially if the proponents of Boko Haram and the crises open up and present themselves as people that can be easily identified and dealt with.

    “So, I believe that it is only in conformity with civilized norm that the Federal Government would continue to talk with members of the Boko Haram.

    And I want to tell you this. It is a combination of all these options that the Federal Government has taken (enforcing peace, enlisting support for peace through dialogue).

    “While we have not been able to come completely to grips with the Boko Haram crisis, you will agree with me that when you are talking, there is less violence.

    “And today, we are discovering that people have started  accepting peace as the only option for even achieving the results that they want to achieve through violence.

    On allegation of gun-running and stock-piling of arms to intimidate political opponents in Benue State, the Minister said: “I am not a violent person, I am a democrat.”

    He said a similar allegation was made in 2005 for which he was arraigned in a High court by the SSS and he was discharged and acquitted by the court.

    Moro added: “They even  went to the ridiculous extent of insinuating that I confiscated the arms donated to the Civil Defence Corp by the Nigerian Army. Statutorily, as minister of interior supervising the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corp.

    “ I went to take delivery of the arms donated by the Army to the Civil Defence Corp, symbolic delivery and from that point that I took delivery of the crates, they were loaded into the vehicles of the Nigerian Army, escorted by the Nigerian Army to the depot, to the armoury of the Civil Defence Corp, the first and the last that I saw of those arms was when I was taking delivery of the crates.