The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Developer reaffirms commitment to WTC Abuja

    Developer reaffirms commitment to WTC Abuja

    In spite of the prevailing economic downturn in the country and the currency depreciation, real estate enthusiasts are optimistic that the Phase One of the World Trade Centre project, Abuja will be delivered this year as projected by the developers.

    The Group Managing Director of Churchgate Group, Mr. Vinay Mahtani, at a meeting with estate valuers and agents in Abuja, said customer interest in the project has been overwhelming. He restated his firm’s commitment to delivering the Phase One of the project this year.

    Mahtani said there has been a growing demand for quality real estate — residential and commercial.

    “Many people share our dream of building world-class projects in Nigeria; and Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, have shown their confidence in us through investments made already,”he said.

    At the meeting, an estate surveyor, Mr. Olusola Akinsola, who spoke on behalf of other estate surveyors and valuers, expressed satisfaction at the level of work on the Phase One. He xexplained that the effect of completing the WTC Abuja would be good for the real estate sector and the country’s economy at large. According to him, “housing is no more about shelter – it’s about employment, economic inclusiveness and multiplier effect on the local economy.” He opined that the WTC Abuja, being the first of its kind in West Africa, will bring all of these to the Nigerian economy.

    Construction of the WTC Abuja Phase One is now at the final stage. The project consists a residential tower that will offer luxury apartments with modern amenities and an AAA commercial tower that will accommodate businesses of all sizes. The buildings, at 24-storeys each, are set to define Abuja’s skyline: the commercial tower is the tallest office building in the nation’s capital, while the residential tower is the tallest residential building in Nigeria.

    On the potential of the WTC Abuja when completed, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communication, Churchgate Group, Mr. Femi Awopetu said the WTC Abuja would be an economy driver in itself, bringing together corporations and individuals, and providing a platform on which they can conduct business.

    Awopetu added that the project will also impact the economy and improve welfare of lives. “We have already created employment for thousands of people during the construction of Phase One and this will continue throughout subsequent phases of the project,” he said.

  • Rivers State killings: Group seeks President Buhari’s action

    A group, Ekpeye Patriotic Front, Rivers State on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take steps to end the orgy of senseless killings of innocent and law abiding citizens in the state especially in Ekpeye Kingdom.
    The group said that its appeal became necessary following the sustained killings in Ekpeye Kingdom especially the killing of over 20 persons in Ula-Upata and Edeoha town on Saturday, April 30th 2016.
    The group claimed that it has become obvious that the Nyesom Wike led Rivers State Government is keeping quiet over the killings because it is allegedly benefiting from the increase in the crime rate in the state.
    President of the group, Mr. Udhuluma Okpara, in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja, lamented that since 2015 over 200 Ekpeye citizens comprising Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas have been killed by sponsored cultists.
    Okpara recalled that “on 19th of January 2016, the assassins led by the notorious criminal stormed Ula -Upata and killed 17 persons, including a serving Police Corporal and the mother of another Police officer.
    He noted that “since then there is no day the group do not kill at least two persons on the average leaving many families in pains and agony.
    He said that “because of the daily and deadly activities of this group, many Ekpeye communities have been deserted for fear of attacks by these boys, which they carry out freely without any hindrance by the security agencies.”
    Okpara said “the worst of it happened again on 30th of April 2016, when same criminal and his gang stormed Ula-Upata and killed over 20 persons before proceeding to Edeoha community to kill another seven persons including a herbalist Mr Uwuma Ichocho and beheaded them and dumped their heads on the main road while they set ablaze their lifeless bodies.”
    The Rivers State Government and the security agencies, he claimed, have abandoned Ekpeye people to their fate.
    He said that they have written severally to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Commissioner of Police in the state on the spate of killings in Ekpeye and “the urgent need to arrest these known hoodlums and to beef up security in Ekpeye and save the lives of Ekpeye people who are daily being killed by these hoodlums.”
    He also claimed that some highly placed security operatives in the state were aiding the hoodlums to perpetrate their killing spree.
    Okpara urged the media and the Rivers State Police command not to play down on the actual nature of crime in Ekpeye by deliberately not telling the public the actual number of persons killed.
    He noted that reports credited to the police that only four persons were killed and the attacks being painted as cult clash is most unfortunate.
    He said that the four members of the Nwoka family of Ula Upata killed last Saturday were innocent persons shot by the hoodlums right in front of their house along the road.
    “The five killed at Edeoha are innocent persons as well,” he said.
    He urged the Police to carry out a thorough investigation and arrest these hoodlums while calling on the President to immediately declare a state of emergency in Rivers State to avert total collapse of security.
    The group listed those killed on 30th April 2015 at Ula-Upata
    1.     Mr. Ihemnachor Esordi
    2.     Mr. Fredrick Martins
    3.     Mr. Gospel Nwoka
    4.     Mr. Akor Aham Nwoka
    5.     Mrs. Aham Nwoka
    6.     Mrs. Aligbo Nwoka
    7.     Mr. Nwadu Nwati
    8.     Three Okada riders
    9.     A meat (suya) seller
    10.   A boy from Ogbo village
    11.   A man from Ula-Ehuda community.
    Those killed at Edeoha town and beheaded
    1.     Mr Uwuma Ichocho
    2.     Master Egbuluka Uwuma
    3.     Chisom Elleh
    4.     Chisanim Okoro
    5.     A visitor from Anakpor village.
  • Don’t lose faith in Nigeria, Atiku tells workers

    Don’t lose faith in Nigeria, Atiku tells workers

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has urged Nigerian workers not to lose faith in the ability of the nation under the leadership of President Buhari to surmount these odds.
    In his May Day message to Nigerian workers, the former Vice President also proposed a fairer deal for workers in order to reduce the frequency of strikes in the country, which he regrets takes a heavy toll on the economy.
    He said that notwithstanding the huge challenges the country and its people are facing, it will take the support of everyone working in tandem with the Buhari administration to lift the economy out of the doldrums.
    “President Buhari alone cannot turnaround the fortunes of the country. It requires everyone – elected and appointed officials, the legislature and the judiciary, the public and private sectors and ordinary Nigerians – working together in faith and commitment to bring about the desired change”, he said
    The APC chieftain argued that President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade when combined with curbing wastages and profligacy will free much-needed resources to jumpstart the economy by investing in infrastructure and high jobs yielding sectors especially agriculture as proposed by the government.
    He reminded the workers that the envisaged better deal for them is intrinsically tied to increased productivity.
    “With dwindling revenue from oil, it has become imperative for us to bake a bigger cake that will be big enough for all partakers. To achieve this, we need to be more creative as a government and more productive as a people.”
    He maintained that observed that improved conditions of service for workers would help to reduce corruption and fraud among employees, pointing out that it is impossible to convince workers to make sacrifices while the public office holders live a life that is inconsistent with the economic realities of Nigeria.
    “We all need to make sacrifices in line with the realities of the time. It is not enough to ask workers to make sacrifices while public office holders are ostensibly immune from it. Such a situation promotes industrial disharmony,” he said.

  • Army defends non-payment of Soldiers allowances

    Army defends non-payment of Soldiers allowances

    The Nigerian Army has explained the reasons behind the delay of allowance to soldiers, which is said to be affecting the fight against insurgence in the North East.

    According to the Army Acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to inform the public that the issue of non-payment of peacekeeping operations allowance is a minor internal military administrative matter which was treated and resolved accordingly and has no bearing on the fight against terrorism and insurgency as they mischievously alleged”.

    “It should be reiterated that the alleged non-payment of operations allowance among the returnee peacekeepers was due to administrative hitches which was solved to the point that all outstanding peacekeeping operations have been paid and the last batch payment was done last Tuesday”.

    Continuing the Spokesman said “as regards  to payment of operations allowances, it is borne out of deliberate mischief and failure to comply with the new measures aimed at ensuring probity and accountability in the Service. All officers and soldiers are now paid their operations allowance directly into their account. All  those that did not receive theirs was due to non-compliance with the directive of giving correct account details or duplication of names due to recent postings. This has been explained to all those affected and efforts were on to rectify same shortly” he said.

    Usman said that majority of the troops have been receiving their allowances regularly. “The very few indiscipline ones cannot be used to distract us, neither should they be used as yardstick to measure troops general well being and performance. Already issues relating to troops welfare have been of utmost priority to Mr President and the Army leadership is doing everything possible to ensure troops’ high morale” he concluded.

  • Developer reaffirms commitment to WTC Abuja

    In spite of the prevailing economic downturn in the country and the currency depreciation, real estate enthusiasts are optimistic that the Phase One of the World Trade Centre project, Abuja will be delivered this year as projected by the developers.

    The Group Managing Director of Churchgate Group, Mr. Vinay Mahtani, at a meeting with estate valuers and agents in Abuja, said customer interest in the project has been overwhelming. He restated his firm’s commitment to delivering the Phase One of the project this year.

    Mahtani said there has been a growing demand for quality real estate — residential and commercial.

    “Many people share our dream of building world-class projects in Nigeria; and Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, have shown their confidence in us through investments made already,”he said.

    At the meeting, an estate surveyor, Mr. Olusola Akinsola, who spoke on behalf of other estate surveyors and valuers, expressed satisfaction at the level of work on the Phase One. He xexplained that the effect of completing the WTC Abuja would be good for the real estate sector and the country’s economy at large. According to him, “housing is no more about shelter – it’s about employment, economic inclusiveness and multiplier effect on the local economy.” He opined that the WTC Abuja, being the first of its kind in West Africa, will bring all of these to the Nigerian economy.

    Construction of the WTC Abuja Phase One is now at the final stage. The project consists a residential tower that will offer luxury apartments with modern amenities and an AAA commercial tower that will accommodate businesses of all sizes. The buildings, at 24-storeys each, are set to define Abuja’s skyline: the commercial tower is the tallest office building in the nation’s capital, while the residential tower is the tallest residential building in Nigeria.

    On the potential of the WTC Abuja when completed, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communication, Churchgate Group, Mr. Femi Awopetu said the WTC Abuja would be an economy driver in itself, bringing together corporations and individuals, and providing a platform on which they can conduct business.

    Awopetu added that the project will also impact the economy and improve welfare of lives. “We have already created employment for thousands of people during the construction of Phase One and this will continue throughout subsequent phases of the project,” he said.

  • Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to take immediate steps to secure communities under attack by herdsmen.
    The President also ordered Olonishakin and Arase to go after groups terrorizing innocent Nigerians in communities and villages.
    The President gave the matching order at the presentation of the book, “Who will Love my Country” written by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja.
    President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that his government will no longer allow the attacks to continue.
    He specifically condemned the attacks said to have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani local government of Enugu State which claimed many lives on Sunday.
    He said, “Let me start by condemning in strongest terms the attacks by herdsmen in Enugu State on Monday.  I deeply sympathize with those who lost their lives as well as those who lost their property.
    “I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector – General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen and to go after the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”
    On the book, Buhari said that the author saw the need for attitudinal change for the purpose of fighting corruption and impunity and of course the need for Nigerians to love their country.
    He noted that “the author demonstrated in the book that Nigerians can only get the Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to put the nation’s interest above their individual interest.”
    He said, “We should start with individual attitude of change,  if we change our ways, the society will change for the better.
     “The author urged all tiers of government to undertake programmes and policies that will enhance the living standards of the people and ensure their happiness.
    “The 2016 budget is designed to bring our people out of poverty, enhance their living standards and bring smiles to their faces. The N500billion social intervention fund was designed to among others create jobs for 500, 000 unemployed graduates, provide loans for one million Nigerians including market men and women as well as artisans to start up their business.
    “It also includes feeding of 4.5million students in schools. Nigerians can only have and live in the country of their dreams by shunning corruption and desist from converting public property for personal usage or divert public funds to their private pockets.
    “I commend Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for investing his time and energy to write the book which is a wake up call and thought provoking.”
    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who chaired the event said that from the title of the book, it is easy to determine that Ekweremadu has set out on a journey of self discovery.
    Gen. Gowon said, “It is a journey that is hinged on patriotism. I will want to believe that the motivation to write this book, derives in that part from the circumstances of our nation’s contemporary history. In itself this could be likened to bad times in which new life cannot be brought forward.
    “Many years back we fought a war to remain united, indivisible nation, this was because we believe and still believe that what bounds us is far greater than what divides us.
    “There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is stronger together and that the future remains very bright. Let us continue to move together as one. Nigeria has a great potential to become great, but it is left for each and every one of us to do our best to ensure and hasten the process.
    “Who will Love My Country?  The truth is no one but you and I. The foreigner cannot love our country the way we will love it. Neither can you love other country more than you will like your own.
    “We shall overcome all challenges if the leadership is committed to truly serve the people, and avoid corruption which I believe that the current leadership will tackle.
    “Definitely not insurgency or Fulani herdsmen’s menace will divide us because with the help of God and cooperation of the citizenry and the gallant security forces, we shall soon conquer.”
    Senator Ekweremadu in his speech asked Nigerians to show more love for the country by rising above tribe, ethnic, religious and political persuasions, with a view to subordinate all the aforementioned interests, to the overriding interest of the country.
    He also called on Nigerian leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying that was the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest.
    He noted that to love Nigeria, would entail Nigerians to critically revise and reexamine their attitudes,  values, and how they treat one another, which “demands of us some sacrifice.”
    He asked: “Are we going to bequeath to our children a banner stained by corruption, bad governance, ineffective leadership, ethnicity, slacking moral values, decadence, mediocrity, and sloth? God forbid!”
    He said Nigeria needed to return to the path of progress and unity charted by the founding fathers.
    He said: “If you are on a journey and you find out that you are travelling the wrong road, the right thing to do is to turn back and take the right path.
    “We must be ready to surrender our perceived narrow advantages to the general good. We must let go, for unless you release the man you are holding to the ground, you would not also be able to move an inch. Now is the time to offer one another a hand of comradeship and together we can move to the Promised Land.”
    He reiterated the fact that he wrote the book, not as the Deputy President of the Senate, nor as a card carrying member of any political party, but as a patriotic Nigerian, who was concerned about Nigeria’s future.
    He added, “I lay no claims to having the solutions to Nigeria’s problems; I simply want to challenge and inspire Nigerians to rise above ethnic, partisan and selfish interests and focus more on how to build a better country for us and our children.”
    Ekweremadu, further charged Nigerian Leaders to “show fidelity to democratic imperatives of accountability and transparency, respect the laws of the land and respect the rights and liberties of citizens.
    “Nobody can save or help Nigeria but Nigerians. As Timi Dakolo rightly pointed out in his thought-provoking song, Great Nation, ‘We are all we have’. That is the message of this book.  There are no problems Nigerians cannot solve if we act in good faith, guided by the nation’s best interest.
    At the event, where a minute silence, at the behest of Ekweremadu, was observed in honour of those who were killed in Uzo Uwani in Enugu State as well as other parts of the country, the Deputy President of the Senate said “the sad incident further reinforces the need for this book and the ideas espoused in the book”.
    “The primary responsibility of government is the security of lives and properties of the citizens. We must rethink our security system to serve us better”, he declared.
    The book presentation had in attendance a retinue of serving and former governors, ministers, party leaders, federal lawmakers, across political divides.
    It also recorded a high turnout of members of the academia, diplomatic corps, and the civil society.
  • 49,867 Nigerians involved in road accidents in 3 years – NBS

    49,867 Nigerians involved in road accidents in 3 years – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says no fewer than 49, 867 Nigerians were involved in road accidents from 2013 to 2015.

     

    This is contained in a report released by NBS on Police Data – Reported Road Accidents and Stolen Vehicles on Thursday in Abuja.

     

    The report gave the breakdown of those killed in the accident as 5, 539 in 2013; 4,430 in 2014 and 5,042 in 2015, respectively.

     

    It showed that 12, 372 persons were injured in road accidents in 2013; 12, 227 in 2014 and 10, 257 in 2015.

     

    The report, however, put the total number of reported cases of road accident during the period at 24, 954 in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

     

    It showed that the highest number of accidents were reported in Lagos with 4,038 cases, followed by Ogun with 3, 484 and Rivers with 2, 145 cases.

     

    The lowest number of reported cases of road accident was recorded in Jigawa having 21; Delta 22 and Zamfara 70, cases respectively.

     

    Meanwhile the report stated that a total of 2, 569 vehicles were stolen in the period, showing that 551 vehicles were stolen in 2013; 1,201 in 2014 and 818 in 2015.

     

    It stated that out of the stolen vehicles, 341 were recovered in 2013; 592 in 2014 and 436 in 2015 in the country.

  • Court adjourns Oronsaye’s case as judges attend conference

    Court adjourns Oronsaye’s case as judges attend conference

    Justice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday adjourned the case of former Head of Service, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, to May 18 for continuation of hearing.

     

    Oronsaye and his counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi, were already in court when the registrar announced that the court would not sit and that all the cases had been adjourned.

     

    The registrar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the adjournment was because judges of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal were attending a seminar on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

     

    He added that the information got to the court late and that was why counsel and parties could not be reached until Thursday morning.

     

    While cases for ruling and judgement were fixed for Friday, other counsel were asked to pick suitable dates.

     

    Oronsaye is standing trial for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government, using his position as the then Chairman, Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force.

  • How Badeh used N1.1b to buy property in Abuja, by witness

    A prosecution witness, Air commodore Saliu Abdulahi Yushau, yesterday continued his evidence against the former Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshall Alex Badeh.

    He revealed how himself and Useni Umar, a lawyer, inspected some properties in Maitama and Wuse 2.

    Badeh and a firm, Lyanikam Nigeria Limited, are being tried before a Federal High Court on a 10-count charge, bordering on money laundering.

    The ex-Chief of Defence Staff is accused of diverting N3.97 billion belonging to the NAF, which he allegedly deployed in acquiring property using his firm.

    The anti-graft agency accused Badeh of using the funds to buy landed assets in Abuja for himself and two of his sons between January and December 2013.

    He pleaded not guilty to these charges.

    But yesterday, Yushau told the court that Badeh used N1.1 billion meant for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to purchase a house at Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    He said: “I cannot remember everything I said to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because I was answering a question based on how they are being put across to me by my investigators.

    “I know it is not everything I am telling the court that is captured in my statement, but the fact still remain that everything I told the EFCC was within my knowledge and records are there.

    “After the agent we hired inspected the property on Ogun Rivers Street in Maitama and the one belonging to Alex Badeh Jnr. at Wuse2, we inspected the properties with my boss, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh.

    “After being satisfied with the property, Badeh gave me a name that the property will be bought and I forwarded the name following his instructions, Lyanikam Nigeria Limited.”

    The witness contradicted himself when he was cross-examined on the mode of payment for a shopping complex belonging to Badeh.

    The witness testified to the EFCC in one of his statement that the money for the development of the shopping complex was paid for in dollars at once, but later admitted it was an error.

    “I cannot remember saying once, but if I said so, then it is an error,” he said.

    Yushau said based on his directive from his boss, he had engaged Saka to draw the building plan for the shopping complex, adding that the man was not paid, only to turn around to say he asked Mustapha Yerima, the managing director, Rytebuilders, that handled the shopping complex to give something to Saka.

    He said: “After the construction job was given to Yerima on the instruction of my boss, I called him to give Saka something since the job was not given to him and I was told that he was given N10 million.”

    On balance payment for the land acquired, the witness admitted instructing the command finance officer of the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters to pay the remaining balance.

    “I am aware that N558 million was in the NAF account when I instructed the CFO to pay after he was supposed to change it into dollars, instead he transferred the money in naira into the account of Rytebuilders. I did not ask him to transfer the balance in naira,” the witness said.

    “From the evidence, you instructed Group Captain Sinni, the then command finance officer to pay the balance of the payment for the land to Yerima from the money you take to your boss every month, but later when you visited EFCC you said Captain Sinni paid in dollars?” Olujimi queried.

    Responding, Yishau said he told the EFCC that Captain Sinni paid the money in dollars, but that he had already made this statement before realising that it was transferred from the account of the NAF to the Rytebuilders.

    “The statement was given before I knew that my CFO paid the money in naira instead of dollars,” Yashau maintained.

    The case continues today by 11:30am.

  • Badeh: EFCC’s witness admits making conflicting statements

    Badeh: EFCC’s witness admits making conflicting statements

    Retired Air Commodore Salisu Yushau, testifying in the trial of the case of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, at a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday admitted making conflicting statements.

    Yushau admitted that the statements he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was different from what he was giving in court based on the nature of questions asked.

    The witness, who was being cross-examined by Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN), told the court that the conflicting statements in to the EFCC and his testimony in court in the same case arose from the technicality of the questions asked.

    He said that the shopping complex bought for N650,000 million was not captured in the statement he made to the EFCC in details.

    “The statement I gave to the EFCC was to address the specific questions that were being asked.

    “I know that it is not everything I am telling the court here that was captured in my statement.

    “But the fact is that ‎everything I told the EFCC was within my knowledge and the records are there,’’ he said.

    He also told the court that Badeh, and Mr Hussein Umar inspected some properties in Maitama and Wuse 2, which were thereafter purchased in the name of Iyalikam Nigeria Limited and Alex Badeh junior.

    “‎After we inspected the property and after been satisfied, my boss, (Badeh) gave me a name, in which the property should be purchased and I forwarded the name to the agent following the instruction of my boss.

    “‎I did not say all this in my statement because I was answering the questions as they were been put through to me by the EFCC.’’

    The witness told the court that he was appointed Director, Finance and Account of the Nigeria Airforce, adding that he had also told his boss that he did not like the appointment.

    “My boss, the first defendant was well aware that I did not like that office and I wanted to retire before he was appointed chief.’’

    The court adjourned the case till April 20.