The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bolaji Ogundele

  • First Lady urges Nigerians to prioritise care for the elderlies

    First Lady urges Nigerians to prioritise care for the elderlies

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has re-emphasized the need to give more attention to the elderly in society. 

    Tinubu spoke Wednesday, January 24, when she received the Wife of the Akwa Ibom state governor, Pastor Patience Eno in her office at the State House, Abuja.

    The First Lady noted that the elderly have paid their dues in all spheres of life and deserve to be taken care of in their old age.

    In a statement issued by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said: “It is easy to bypass them, so to speak because their voice is no louder. They need our attention.

    “I commend the Akwa Ibom State Governor His Excellency Pastor Eno for buying into the vision of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme, RHIESS”, she said.

    The First Lady used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor for his victory at the Supreme Court, upholding him as the duly elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

    “It is now time to work fully. Let us put politics behind us and face governance”, she said.

    Earlier, her guest, the wife of the Akwa Ibom state governor, explained that she was at the State House to update the First Lady on the RHIESS.

    Read Also: First Lady tasks Christians to go beyond religious sentiments, embrace tolerance

    “My husband the governor has decided to adopt the RHIESS program as initiated by you and says that it would now be a monthly program. He recognizes that it is a highly laudable one and it really brings joy and hope to the elderly”, Mrs Eno said.

    The wife of the governor stated that Akwa Ibom State was set to host 500 elderly, aged 65 years and above every month and a Fifty Thousand Naira each (N50,000.00) token, in addition to giving them sundry items as well as access to free medical checks.

    It would be recalled that the First Lady, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, had on 21st December, last year, held the maiden edition of the Elderly Support Scheme, RHIESS nationwide, where 250 elderly per state, the FCT and the Veterans of the Armed Forces aged 65years and above were gifted N100,000 each with other items and offered free medical checks.

  • Many injured as police, air force personnel clash

    Many injured as police, air force personnel clash

    The peaceful atmosphere in Jeddo, Okpe council area of Delta, on the outskirts of Warri metropolis, was shattered Monday evening as operatives of two sister security agencies; police and the Nigerian Air Force, engaged each other in a fierce shootout.

    Although there was no death record from the engagement, the Nation gathered that several persons, including personnel of both agencies and some residents of the area, sustained various degrees of injuries even as properties including vehicles and makeshift homes, were destroyed.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started when a personnel of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the police got engaged in a hot argument with a lady, which resulted in a physical assault as the police personnel reportedly slapped the lady, who happens to be an air force personnel’s daughter.

    The lady went back home to relate her experience to her father, who reportedly mobilised his men to storm the spot where his daughter had been assaulted. The police official also called his colleagues in when he sensed that the situation was about to go out of hands.

    Security sources disclosed that the Airforce, on arriving the scene, opened fire which was replied by the Police special squad with people scampering for safety.

    Alhough no life was lost in the incident, several people, including the personnel of the two agencies, sustained injuries while several vehicles were vandalised and make shift properties of traders destroyed. The incident has scared most residents out of their homes, fearing there might be further faceoff between personnel of both bodies.

    Although efforts to get an official reaction from the police was not immediately successful as the police spokesman at the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said he was driving when reached, a senior police source confirmed the incident, but was unable to talk much.

    It was also gathered that the Area Commander of the Police in charge of Warri, Mohammed Shaba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) met with the new Commanding Officer of NAF for several hours to find a lasting solution to the clash.

    “I am in a meeting over the clash. I cant talk on it. It is the Commander of the Nigerian Airforce that call talk on it”, he said on phone.

    Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the incident but promised to investigate.

  • Accident claims two teachers in Delta

    Accident claims two teachers in Delta

    At least two teachers of Adaka Grammar School, Ugboren, Sapele council area of Delta state, lost their lives to an auto-crash near Elume Junction, Sapele yesterday afternoon.

    Yesterday’s accident came less than a week from an earlier incident, which claiming the lives of three secondary school principals and a vice principal, who were on their way to Kwale an official assignment.

    The Nation gathered that the teachers involved in the unfortunate incident yesterday were in the company of other passengers, including the principal of the school, identified as Mr Esemuede, in the school’s bus when the accident happened.

    Although details were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, the Nation gathered that the accident involved only the bus conveying the personnel of the school back to their homes. According to sources, the bus tumbled a couple of times.

    It was also gathered that other passengers of the bus, including the principal had been taken to a hospital for medical attention.

    “I was just informed of the accident this evening, they said they were returning home after the day’s school classes. I was told two of the teachers died while other injured occupants were taken to a hospital”, a source told the Nation

    Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said two people died, adding that the injured persons had been taken to the hospital. He added that an investigation would reveal the cause of the accident.

    “I’ve not got much of the details, but yes the accident did take place. I don’t know the type of vehicle, but two people died, until we get the details, I understand that those who were injured were taken to the general hospital in Sapele.

    “We have also gone for the evacuation of the vehicle. It was a lone accident, we learned that the vehicle somersaulted. It calls for an investigation to know what exactly happened,” Aniamaka said.

  • Omare emerges President of factionalised IYC

    Omare emerges President of factionalised IYC

    Eric Omare, the immediate past spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has been elected to lead as President of the apex Ijaw youths body by one of its factions.

    The election, which ushered Omare in, alongside three other executive council members, was held in Burutu town, headquarters of Burutu council area of Delta state between Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3, 2017.

    The election was held in defiance to a general resolution reached in Patani, Patani council area of Delta state, by a group of stakeholders of the IYC, including past presidents, elders and leaders from different parts of nation, which called for a new convention to be held on Sunday, March 5 in Okrika, Rivers state.

    According to the stakeholders, the convention scheduled for Okrika this coming weekend, which would have been second of its kind, should produce a credible electoral committee, which should organise the body’s election.

    However, the election held in Burutu, which produced Omare as president, had the blessing of the outgoing president, Udengs Eradiri.

    Omare emerged winner with a total of 67 votes to defeat his only challenger, Justine Okubo who did not record a single vote.

    Other executives elected are Ebalakpo Parkins, secretary general; Magada Franklin, financial secretary and Henry Ayala, Spokesman.

    Omare, a lawyer by professional practice, served as the Publicity Secretary of the outgoing executive council. He is also a Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youths and Community Matters.

    In his acceptance speech, Omare while acknowledging the crack in the IYC, said “the new IYC executive would hit the ground running as we would immediately kickstart the process of healing the wounds that arised as a result of the election.”

    Speaking earlier, the outgoing president, Udengs Eradiri, said: “I pray the new IYC exexutive carry on with the vision and mission of the IYC. Eric Omare is a man that is very grounded in the Ijaw struggle and I believe he won’t fail on this regard.”

  • Two houses razed in Delta

    Two houses razed in Delta

    Two residential buildings, housing more than 20 people, were yesterday razed down by an afternoon inferno in the Otovwodo-Agbasa area of Warri, Warri South council area of Delta state.

    On Thursday fire came less than 24 hours after a similar incident destroyed property worth millions of naira along Warri-Sapele Road, Warri.

    The Nation learned that the fire was sparked by a power surge when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) restored power supply to the area after months of the outage.

    An eyewitness, Mr Pius Eghagha, told The Nation that the fire was caused as result of power that was restored to the area. According to Eghagha, “All efforts by the State Fire Service and residents to extinguish the inferno were to no avail.”

    Efforts by men of the Delta State Fire Service, residents of the buildings and their neighbours to quell the raging inferno were unsuccessful.

  • Panic as gunmen invade Delta community

    There was panic across Igun community, Ethiope East council area of Delta State on Wednesday evening as tens of gun-wielding terrorists suspects stormed the community, shooting sporadically.

    Although no casualty was recorded, the Nation gathered that the situation was almost deteriorating into a bloodbath before the invaders withdrew from the community as Igun youths grouped to confront the armed attackers.

    It should be noted that Igun is one of the ten Urhobo communities in Delta state that some Edo state communities are laying claims to.

    A legal matter has however been filed in a Benin High Court to sort out the confusion.

    Giving details of the incident, the Otota of the community (spokesman), Pa Mark Egbri said “we were in our community when the gunmen, numbering more than 40, stormed Igun main town and started shooting sporadically into the air in a bid to scare us.

    “Though we didn’t record any casualty while the gunmen held sway, it took the resilience of youths from the community, who challenged the gunmen, to force them to retreat from the community”, he said.

    Efforts to get an official reaction from the police were yet to yield any fruit as at the time of filing this report as the spokesperson of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (SP), could not be reached before this report was filed.

  • Suspect collapses in court over magistrate’s order

    Suspect collapses in court over magistrate’s order

    There was a melodrama at the Warri South Magistrate Court on Thursday when a suspect, one Smart Etiemor suddenly collapsed over the court’s order to remand him in prisons custody.

    Etiemor had allegedly collaborated with another suspect, Robinson Dagbolo, to write a petition against a clergyman, Bishop Sunny Jero, accusing him of, among other incriminating allegations, sponsoring the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    However, the Chief Magistrate considering their matter, C.I Moeteke, who said his court lacked the jurisdiction to try the accused persons, ordered that they should be remanded at the Okere Prisons, Warri, until August 18, 2016.

    The middle-aged suspects were arraigned on a one-count charge of false accusation, an offence punishable under Section 125 of the Criminal Code Cap c21 of Delta.

    Earlier, the prosecution counsel, ASP Sunny Irabor told the court that the suspects allegedly petitioned the complainant on July 14, 2016 over human trafficking, gun running and sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.

    He said that after obtaining a search warrant, the police combed the church and private residence of the Bishop in Warri alongside the suspects adding that nothing incriminating was found.

    At the rising of the court, Jero told newsmen outside the court premises that he and the suspects hailed from Ogboinbri community in Egbema clan in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta.

    ”They wrote a petition against me and police come to search my church and house in the present of the suspects and nothing was incriminating was found, then I was granted bail.

    ”I have to write a petition against them through my lawyer for arresting me illegally, that is why they were arraigned today,” Jero said.

  • Another gas pipeline destroyed in Warri

    Another gas pipeline destroyed in Warri

    The Warri-Escravos gas pipeline was again sabotaged in the early hours of Friday. There was yet to be any official confirmation neither claim of responsibility by anybody as at the time of filing this report.

    The incident, which was suspected to have been carried out by insurgents, most likely the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which had claimed responsibility for earlier similar incident in the Warri creeks, happened behind a community called Salvation City, near Ogbe-ljoh, Warri South-West council area.

    It was gathered that those behind yesterday sabotage used dynamites and other dangerous weapons to carry out the attack. It happened at about 2:00am.

    Confirming the incident, the Spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC), Eric Omare, who is from Ogbe-Ijoh, said his community people informed him of the incident.

    “I got a call from the village this morning that there has been an explosion on a pipeline  located behind Salvation City, I think it is the one that links Escravos to Warri and I’m not sure of the operators, but I think it will be either NNPC or NGC”, he said.

    Although, details of the attack was still sketchy at the time of filing this report, an official of the Delta State government described the attack as a major blow to gas production in the country.

    It was gathered further that the attacked trunkline belongs to phase two of the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline owned and operated by the Nigerian Gas Company Limited (NGC).

    Again, both military authorities and officials of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), could not be reached for comments.

     

  • Pipeline attack: Another 40,000 bpd of crude oil lost

    Pipeline attack: Another 40,000 bpd of crude oil lost

    Nigeria late Thursday lost over 40,000 barrels per day of crude oil to another attack on three of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) operated swamp flow stations in the Warri South-West council area of Delta state.

    Thursday night’s incident was the second consecutive-day’s mishap, which responsibility had been claimed by a new insurgent group, which called itself the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Saturday Nation gathered from reliable community sources that three platforms in Makaraba, Otunana and Abiteye were damaged, leading to the loss of more than 40,000 barrels per day.

    According to the source, another attempt by the hoodlums to sabotage three other platforms in Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba was successfully repelled by security forces. The other major incident was on the company’s Okan offshore manifold.

    “Very serious blast at Abiteye, Otunana. Our Otunana axis occurred around past 10pm, there is still fire in Azama gas line now, but we don’t know the cause or what the people want or who they are fighting for. We don’t know where they are going or where they are coming from.

    “The production cut is put at over 40,000 barrels per day from the Makaraba, Otunana and Abiteye swamp operations, three out of six. The attack towards Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba was resisted by the Nigerian armed forces so that side couldn’t be blown up. The Okan manifold in the offshore was also attacked. This is the one that goes to the FSPO offshore.

    “What this means is that Dibi, Olero and Opuekeba will still be pumping product to Chevron’s tank farm for storage, but they won’t be able to discharge because of the attack on the Okan manifold in the offshore.

    “For gas, although the blew gas pipeline too, the impact was not much because according to them, their production for Chevron gas is on, but only their production for NNPC/NGC gas line is the only one affected and that is the fire that is still on at the back of Azama”, the source said.

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a new insurgent group, sworn to destroying the nation’s oil and gas economic base, had yesterday claimed responsibility for the Thursday night attacks, just like those of the Wednesday’s midnight attacks.

    In its statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Col. Mudoch Agbinibo, claimed that its attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Coperation (NNPC) crude and gas lines in an undisclosed location was in the fruition of an ultimatum demanding an apology from wanted ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo).

    “To keep to our promise, the three (3) days ultimatum given to Chief Government Ekpemupolo has elapsed and he fails to apologize to the Niger Delta Avengers, at 2200hours Thursday, May 5, 2016, our strike team 4 hit the Nigerian National Petroleum Coperation (NNPC) crude and gas lines

    “The Crude line feeds the Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively, while the gas line feeds the Lagos and Abuja electricity power supply. With this development the Warri and Kaduna refineries will be shut down and all cities that depends on the gas line for power will all be in total darkness like the creeks of the Niger Delta.

    “In same vein, the Niger Delta Avengers strike team 7 at same time 2200hours Thursday, May 5, 2016, blew up Well D25 in Abiteye. A major gas Well belonging to Chevron. And also blow up major pipe lines to effectively put the Abiteye, Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm out of operation. As at now Chevron operation in the Niger Delta is zero”, the group claimed.

    Meanwhile, the management of the oil giant, Chevron, disputed facts of the incidences that occurred and the company’s spokesman, in a terse response to questions from Saturday Nation, said only the Okan manifold was breached.

    According to Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policies, Government and Public Affairs of CNL, only the Okan platform was breached, but later said in another short message that new information on sabotage, promising to get back later with more details. He never did till this report was filed, more than three hours later.

    “Not true, only Okan offshore platform is breached. Not sure yet what has been shut in”, he responded to a text message inquiry. He later sent another message saying ” just got information on new sabotage. I will get back to you shortly. I will revert to you when I have additional information,” he never did.

  • F.G charged to commence building of maritime varsity

    F.G charged to commence building of maritime varsity

    Following the passage of the 2016 Budget by the National Assembly, the Federal Government has been charged to commence in earnest the construction of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State.

    A Niger Delta based Non-Governmental Organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), which gave the charge, said the recommendation to continue the specialized institution was made in bad faith.

    This is contained in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade and made available to newsmen in Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State.

    “We believe that scrapping the maritime university is not a good idea. These are people who have been suffering from untold hardship due to oil exploration and exploitative activities.

    “This is an area hosting a lot of oil and gas facilities including the Escravos Gas to Liquid Project, and yet the Minister had the temerity to say that no parent will allow his or her child to attend the university,” the statement said.

    CEPEJ advised the Federal Government to do the needful by retracing its steps and resuming work on the university site, maintaining that the suggestion that only feasibility study was done on the institution was indicative that the Minister was out of touch with reality.

    The NGO urged the Federal Government to send an independent body to visit the institution for on the spot assessment of the extent of work done and not rely on imaginary reports and fifth columnist to form its judgment and policy implementation.

    The Center reiterated that the institution would not reinvigorate economic activities in the coastal community but would go a long way to engage the youth positively thus reducing youth restiveness and militancy as according to it, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”