The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Ohanaeze urges Igbo to make friends across Nigeria

    Ohanaeze urges Igbo to make friends across Nigeria

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural group, has urged its people living in the north to court more friends so as to actualise the ethnic group’s quest to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023.

    The call is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and Abuja. The meeting, held in Minna, ended Sunday night.

    The communique restated the group’s resolve to promote one indivisible Nigeria with equal opportunities for all, and urged Igbo people resident in the north to live in harmony with their host communities.

    It lauded the contributions of Mr John Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, toward a united and prosperous Nigeria, and urged him to continue to defend the interest of the people.

    The cultural group extended its hands of fellowship to other Igbo associations the world over, and called for more unity in the pursuit of Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.

    The reports that 44 chapters of the group, drawn from across the 19 states of the north, attended the meeting.

    NAN

  • Anambra best in SDGs projects in Nigeria – Obiano’s aide

    Anambra best in SDGs projects in Nigeria – Obiano’s aide

    Mr Geoffrey Uba, the Senior Special Assistant ( SSA ) to the governor of Anambra on Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), says Anambra is one of the best in the implementation of sustainable development goals projects in Nigeria.

    He said the state was also among the best three in the country in terms of security, road networks, economic development, and collaborations with international donor organisations.

    Uba in Awka on Monday that Anambra which was listed among the educationally disadvantaged states in the South-East now ranked the first in education.

    The governor`s attributed the successes recorded in the state to the well articulate manifesto of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) and prudent management ability of Gov. Willie Obiano.

    Uba, however, dismissed the rating of APGA by some people as a one state party, saying “APGA is a national party.’’

    “ Let me emphasize that APGA is a national party. It is not a one state party. We have elected members at the state and national assemblies. In Abuja, we have a mayor of APGA extraction,” he said.

    Uba, a chieftain of the party, said that Nigerians should remember that Imo used to be an APGA state before it joined the All Progressives Congress.

    He said that the party was proud of the achievements of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra in three and half years.

    “APGA has achieved a lot in Anambra state. Anambra used to be ranked as one the backward states in the country.

    According to Uba, Gov. Obiano has used the party`s platform to take the state to greater heights and will do more if re-elected on Nov. 18.

    “These are the core democracy dividends and Anambra people are very happy and we will demonstrate this happiness on Nov. 18 election.

    “Anambra state under Willie Obiano has demonstrated so much passion for the welfare of the people,” the SSA said.

    NAN

  • Buhari hails Balarabe Musa’s honesty

    Buhari hails Balarabe Musa’s honesty

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged politicians and other citizens to emulate Alhaji Balarabe Musa’s virtuous life of honesty, integrity, selflessness and patriotism in order to make Nigeria achieve progress.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, said Buhari made the call in a tribute to Balarabe Musa on the occasion of his recently celebrated 81st birthday anniversary.

    Buhari described the former civilian governor of old Kaduna State as a “man of unassailable integrity and untainted record of public service”.

    According to the president, even Musa’s worst enemies and critics cannot dispute his remarkable reputation for integrity and selfless service to the people.

    He said: “Balarabe Musa is one of Nigeria’s brightest stars of integrity and sterling principles.

    “The octogenarian has lived to his reputation by avoiding any conduct associated with corruption and dishonour.’’

    He recalled that his close association with Musa in the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties ( CNPP ) had enabled him “to appreciate the radical politician’s patriotism and his commitment to build strong opposition in the country in order to deepen democracy’’.

    The president also praised Musa’s independent-mindedness, stressing that the principled politician can criticise even his friends, associates and allies when it comes to politics.

    According to him, politics is public service and not an opportunity to amass wealth overnight at the expense of the ordinary people or the voters.

    He prayed that God would continue to bless the elder statesman with better health, more wisdom and longer life in the service of the country.

    Musa, a left-wing Nigerian politician, who was elected Governor of Kaduna State during the Second Republic, said his wish and desire for Nigeria had yet to be fulfilled, 57 years after the nation’s independence.

    He held office between Oct. 1, 1979, and June 23, 1981, when he was impeached.

    Musa said: “Though, I felt great on the attainment of a new age and achievements in life, I would have been more fulfilled, if the country has overcome most of its development challenges.

    “At 81, I will say I feel great and I thank God for everything. But, I am not completely fulfilled because we are yet to have the country of our dreams.

    “We are yet to have a country where there is equity and respect for rights and dignity of all citizens.

    “We are yet to have a country where the governed are good followers and leaders think first think about the people and not the other way round.

    “I desire a better Nigeria where everyone will feel the impact of governance that is my birthday wish for the country.

    NAN

  • Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Alleged Fraudulent Activities in Collection, Accounting, Remittance and Expenditure by Revenue Generating Agencies has invited the Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mr Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it.

    The committee’s Chairman, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said in statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to him, the invitation followed findings on a N6.5 billion unpaid revenue accruing from the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.

    He said, others invited to appear before the committee are the Director Generals of Directorate of State Security ( DSS ), Bureau of Public Enterprise ( BPE ) and National Council on Privatisation ( NCP ).

    Adeola said the essence of the invitation was to get the Police and DSS to assist the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Bureau of Public Enterprise ( BPE )in recovering the money, which had accrued for over nine years.

    He said that the invitation was to also assist in ejecting the concessionaire of the Trade Fair Complex, LITFC, AULIC Nigeria Limited and recovering the complex.

    Adeola said it had become necessary to recover the 322 hectares multi billion Naira complex following a huge debt due in the N40 billion lease fees.

    Adeola quoted the Director-General of BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, as saying the concession agreement to AULIC Nigeria Limited was revoked in early September by the Federal Government.

    He further quoted Okoh as saying all efforts to eject the concessionaire including the use of the Divisional Police at the complex and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) proved abortive.

    Adeola said findings showed that “after the initial fees of N200 million paid by the concessionaire in 2007 and another N12 million, it has not paid a dime to the federal government, with outstanding revenue of N6.5 billion.

    “The concessionaire has bastardised the trade fair complex with hospitality and real estate businesses without approved plans.

    “It is shocking that an individual or corporate organisation could operate so lawlessly, withholding federal government revenue, while contravening a government revocation order of his concessionaire agreement.

    “What we need to do at this point is to recover the Trade Fair Complex from the concessionaire and subsequently pursue the issue of N6.5 billion unremitted federal government revenue.

    “Since the local police cannot handle the ejection with the concessionaire still operating and collecting revenue using all manner of tactics including thuggery, we are inviting the IG-P and DG-DSS to address this illegal challenge on the authority.

    “I am surprised that anyone can flagrantly operate as if he is above the law and the government,’’ the statement read in part.

    NAN

  • Security breach: NCC summons telecom chief executives to Abuja

    Security breach: NCC summons telecom chief executives to Abuja

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) has invited chief executive officers of major telecommunications companies to an emergency meeting in Abuja over persistent breach of national security with pre-registered SIM cards.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is calling the meeting, following incidents of the sale of pre-registered SIM cards by mobile network operators.

    The NCC has been under pressure to help stop  crimes committed with such SIM cards,  a source told The Nation last night.

    “As a first step under the stricter regime, NCC has summoned an emergency meeting of operators, on Monday, October 30th, when the executives of the big mobile network operators gather at the NCC headquarters in Abuja,”  the source added.

    “It is expected that they will be issued a riot act by NCC Executive Vice Chairman Prof.  Umar Garba Danbatta to rein in pre-registered SIM card sale across the country,”  the source, who spoke in confidence, noted.

    Invitations sent to the chief executive officers of the operators noted that the NCC “has continued to receive complaints of pre-registered and fraudulently registered SIMs being used for acts amounting to serious breach of national security, criminality and fraud”.

    The commission is believed to be bothered by  the grave security implications and the distortions that may occur in the 149 million SIM data base.  It is set to impose not only the MTN type sanctions but will now go after the executives of culprit operators, who might face prosecution.

    It was gathered that since the beginning of this year the NCC through its Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement has vigorously pursued agents selling pre-registered SIM cards and imposed sanctions and fines on operators.

    Several joint raids with the security agents were carried out on pre-registered SIM cards selling points in Kano, Jigawa, Abuja, Lagos and others.

    Apart from the huge fine slammed on MTN in October 2015, NCC has continued to sanction the MNOs for poor compliance with SIM cards registration requirement.

    Documents sighted by The Nation showed that the commission last week slammed N11 million fine on Airtel, N10 million on 9Mobile, N10 million on MTN and N5.8 million on Glo for “improperly registered and fully activated Subscription Media (SIM cards)”.

    NCC late last year turned its SIM registration data base to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) towards building a national data base of biometrics that can serve security operations.

    The commission said it recognises the importance of having a complete data base of registered SIM cards to aid the work of the security outfits, hence the renewed effort to ensure they are properly registered.

  • Monkeypox hit Abuja as FG confirms six fresh cases

    Monkeypox hit Abuja as FG confirms six fresh cases

    The Federal Government has confirmed six new cases of the MonekyPox virus in the country, with one case recorded in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, made this known in a statement by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director of Media and Public Relations, Ministry of Heath.

    Akinola said apart from the one recorded in Abuja, two cases were confirmed each in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom while Enugu State had one case.

    Ehanire also said investigations were ongoing to see if any of the new cases has a link with the Bayelsa cluster, where the outbreak started.

    He further called for calm among members of the public, adding that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is working with all affected states to ensure case finding and adequate management.

    He added that as frightening as the manifestation of the ailment might seem, no fatality has been recorded to date. As of Oct. 25, a total of 94 suspected cases have been reported from 11 states, (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Rivers and Abuja).

    He said patients of the newly confirmed cases were already being managed by public health authorities and have been receiving appropriate clinical care.

    He said Ministry, through NCDC, was in close contact with all State Epidemiology Teams, and the health facilities providing clinical care to both suspected and confirmed cases.

    He added that State Commissioners of Health have been advised to place all health care facilities and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers on alert, to ensure early case detection, reporting and effective treatment.

    Read also: Monkey Pox victim commits suicide in Bayelsa hospital

    The minister said a National-level Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the NCDC with support from our development partners, was coordinating outbreak investigation and response across affected states.

    He added the EOC included the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as experts from partner agencies.

     

  • Group backs Buhari for 2019

    Group backs Buhari for 2019

    The Buhari Support Group on Friday met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House journalists at the end of the meeting, the group maintained that the critical to solving the problems facing the nation.

    The President, the group said, should be able to finish what it started by the year 2023.

    The leader of the Buhari Support Group,

    Abu Ibrahim, said “Well, we came here as members of the national committee of the Buhari support group. This is an amalgamation of about 189 different support groups that had worked for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to win the 2015 general election.

    “We have been holding meetings, discussing the problems of this country, Nigeria. So, we thought it was high time we meet with the President to intimate him about the activities of the group.

    “We discussed with him about the plans to improve the situation in Nigeria. Mr President was very pleased with our programs.”

    On whether the Group was in the Villa to convince Buhari to contest the 2019 Presidential election, he said “Well, that didn’t come up actually. We only discussed the programs of the organization and problems of the group. But we didn’t go into the 2019 elections.”

    Asked if the group is going to encourage Buhari to run for reelection, he said “Of course l will. Because l believe in his philosophy and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the Progress, stability and prosperity of this nation.”

    The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, said that the group will continue to support the President and his administration as a group.

    He said “We will continue to identify with and support all the programs that this administration has set forward. And l believe that we have every justification to be happy because, the President campaigned on three major pillars of anti- corruption, fighting the insecurity across the country and revitalizing the economy of Nigeria.

    “It has been a very, very good journey so far and also believes that Mr. President and Nigerians have a future beyond 2019. What he has started, by the grace of God, he should be able to complete, up to 2023.

    On areas the President should improve upon towards 2019 elections, he said “Well, we have issues we think that the administration will be dealing with very successfully, now that we have economic recovery and growth plans which encapsulates everything we need to move Nigeria forward. Now that Nigerians have continued to show love for Mr. President, l believe that we are going to achieve those things that we set for ourselves at the moment.

    “I also believe that the future is bright and by the grace of God, by 2019, we would have achieved so much in this administration and Mr. President will have no option but continue the good work he has started,” he said.

     

  • DINNER: Saraki, Dogara angered by Aso Rock security checks

    DINNER: Saraki, Dogara angered by Aso Rock security checks

    The planned dinner by President Muhammadu Buhari the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and some principal officers of the National Assembly failed to hold last night.

    The dinner was slated for the new Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja by 8:30 PM.

    However, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the entourage were said to have disagreed with security officials at the pilot gate.

    According to sources, the lawmakers were asked to come down from the bus conveying them so as to be issued visitors’ tags.

    Not comfortable with the screening, the lawmakers were said to have turned back.

     

  • Super Eagles Coach says Argentina beatable

    Super Eagles Coach says Argentina beatable

    Yusuf made the assertion in an interview in Abuja ahead of the Nov. 14 friendly match against the former world champions in Russia.

    The coach said that the Super Eagles were capable of reversing the series of defeats suffered at the hands of the South Americans by beating them in Russia this time around.

    Argentina’s track records would not be an advantage because the two teams would play the match based on their current form.

    “My players are equal to the task any time anywhere and we are not afraid of big names because big names no longer play football, but talent and determination are key to winning matches,’’ the coach said.

    He assured Nigerians of an impressive outing against Argentina in the warm-up match aimed at boosting the morale of not only the players but their fans for World Cup.

    The prestige friendly match will be one in the series lined up to familiarise Nigerian players with the playing style of their likely opponents at the World Cup.

    NAN

  • Netherlands-based Omidiji eyes call up to Super Falcons

    Netherlands-based Omidiji eyes call up to Super Falcons

    Sophia Omidiji, a Netherlands-based soccer player, says her dream is to play for Nigeria’s senior female team, the Super Falcons.

    Omidiji said this on Thursday in Abuja that she was optimistic that her abilities would earn her a place in the national team.

    20-year-old Omijidi was born in Las Vegas. United States and was adopted as an infant by a Nigerian father, who hails from Ogun.

    The player was earlier invited to the camp of Nigeria’s U-20 side Falconets ahead of a 2016 World Cup qualifier against Democratic Republic of Congo.

    She plays for Dutch’s topflight side S. B. V Excelsior in Rotterdam.

    The forward had earlier played for KAA Gent in the Belgium Division I, where she scored 18 goals with 12 assists in 20 games.

    According to her, it is always a privilege and honour to represent one’s fatherland.

    “It has always been my dream to be able to contribute my quota and bring joy to our people in the form of lifting the World Cup with the Super Falcons. Then I will be fulfilled.

    “I also think my abilities will give me a good chance in the team and playing for Excelsior is an opportunity to learn from great coaches in Eredivisie league, the highest league in the Netherlands,” she said.

    The player said she was currently studying as well as playing football.

    “In January, I will be obtaining an Associate degree. This is to show others that you can be a professional and get a degree.

    “I believe in myself, trust my abilities and know that by God’s Grace I will accomplish my goals.

    “I have a strong team behind me; my family and my managers Temple Management Company (TMC), so I just focus on developing myself,” she added.

    TMC is a full-service creative talent and event management company incorporated in Nigeria and operating in the Entertainment, Sports, Media and Art sectors.

    NAN