The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dumping

  • 28 prosecuted for open defecation, dumping of refuse

    Twenty-eight persons have been arraigned at a mobile court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, for open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    Two, who are minors, were, however, discharged and acquitted. Others were sentenced to fines ranging from N2,000 to N4,000.

    The Magistrate, Modupe Afeniforo, hoped that the sentence would act as a deterrent to others.

    Environment Commissioner Chief Bisi Kolawole said the government would implement environmental and sanitation laws to eradicate open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    Warning that the administration would begin a continuous house to house monitoring exercise to ensure compliance with the policy of having at least one toilet in every house, the commissioner stressed that culprits would be punished.

  • Reps to probe dumping of toxic waste in Delta

    The House of Representatives, yesterday in Abuja, passed a resolution to investigate the dumping of toxic waste in Koko community in Delta State.

    The House mandated its committees on Environment and Habitat, Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas Resources to investigate the extent of the environmental impact of the toxic waste on the community.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion, titled: “Need to Investigate the Dumping of Toxic Waste in Koko Community of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State,’’ sponsored by Rep. Daniel Reyenieju (PDP-Delta).

    Moving the motion, Reyenieju recalled that in June 1988, toxic waste was dumped in Koko, which resulted in illnesses and environmental damage to the aquatic life of the people.

    He expressed concern that apart from the incidence that happened in 1988, there was a recurrence in 2017 which violates the environmental guideline and standard for the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

    The lawmaker said was 80 per cent of oily sludge was  hazardous because of the presence of toxic organics, such as aromatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and complex compounds with very high molecular weights.

    “The consumption or absorption of toxic and carcinogenic contaminants by plants and lower animals will ultimately lead to bioaccumulation in humans from food chain in nature which will result in failure of organs and ultimately death.

    “During the rainy season, surface and underground water which is the source of drinking water for the people is gravely contaminated through seepage of toxic and carcinogenic substances into aquifer.

    “The area around the dump site is residential and a primary school, with its numerous pupils and teachers, also share a common perimeter fence with the dump site facility,’’ Reyenieju said.

    The House mandated the relevant committees to report back their findings within four weeks for further legislative action

  • Raji proud of dumping boastful Heartland

    Raji proud of dumping boastful Heartland

    Giwa FC defender Nojeem Raji says his team’s 2-1 victory over Heartland was purely down to the team’s quest to make the Owerri side’s boastful taunts before the game come to nought.

    There was a lot of hype surrounding the game on the pages of newspapers and social media where Heartland boasted they were coming to Kaduna to nick the points and this did not sit well with the former Enyimba defender.

    “We read how they have been boasting on the pages of newspaper that they were coming to beat us here,” Raji told supersport.com.

    “It was all about showing them football isn’t played on the pages of newspapers but on the field. They taunted us to no ends and we decided collectively to put them to shame and that is what we did.”

    Heartland thought they were on their way to an away win when Bright Ejike scored in the ninth minute for his ninth goal of the season.

    Giwa FC, however, clawed their way back into the game through Ibrahim Shuaibu’s fantastic effort before half time as Amos Gyang Dadung made sure of the points in the 70th minute.

    Raji opined that the victory and the manner it came shows that the team’s placing on the log is no fluke.

    “We have picked maximum points from our two games here in Kaduna. The Heartland game has proven our results are not a fluke. We are not afraid to play anywhere. We’ve picked points on the road and we showed a lot of character to come from behind and beat Heartland.

    “We play for each other and the proprietor of the club, Ambassador Chris Giwa. I hope we can nick a continental slot at the end of the season,” he said.

    With the win against Heartland, Giwa FC stay in fourth on the Nigeria Professional Football League table with 28 points from 16 matches.

  • Plateau PDP chief denies dumping party

    A chieftain of Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godfrey Miri, has denied dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Miri, who contested the governorship seat but lost in the primary, reportedly planned to join APC.

    But a statement yesterday in Jos, the state capital, by his campaign coordinator, Chaplain Gideon Yoila, said the PDP chieftain had not dumped the party.

    The statement said: “It has been reported in the media that my boss, Mr. Miri, has defected from the PDP and joined the APC. That report is malicious and unfounded.

    “I was told that a man, posing to be Miri’s campaign director-general, at the beginning of APC’s governorship campaign in Jos, announced that he had moved to the APC with Miri’s blessings and that Miri would do same on his return from Abuja.”

  • ‘BlackBerry not dumping mobile phone business’

    Waterloo, Ontario Canada-based mobile phone major, BlackBerry Limited has said it is not contemplating dumping mobile phone manufacturing business, adding that ongoing restructuring was to ensure repositioning to return to profitability.

    Its Territory Director, West Africa, Charles Asinugo who spoke in Lagos with ICT reporters during the launch of its flagship product, the BlackBerry Passport, said the firm is being reengineered to become the market leaders it used to be.

    Asinugo said John Chen is repositioning the firm to assure the customers of security, productivity and collaboration, adding that Nigeria remains central to its business.

    Blackberry had named Chen as its interim chief executive officer. Chen had said the management changes at the firm were aimed at refining the company’s strategy “to ensure we deliver the best devices, mobile security and device management”.

     

  • Poultry group warns against dumping

    The   poultry industry has expressed fears that cheaper products being imported or dumped into the market can lead to its collapse.

    Speaking  with The  Nation, the  Vice-President(Agriculture) Association of  Small  Business Owners Of  Nigeria(ASBON), Mr  Stephen Oladipupo, said smugglers were  dumping poultry products into the market can be sold at a much lower price than local products.

    As a result, he    said   the poultry industry was in need of support from the government to avoid a collapse of the industry, as the threat of cheaper products being opportunistically imported or dumped in the market adds more pressure to keep costs down.

    Oladipupo  said local producers are experiencing now with the influx of cheap smuggle   chicken that are undercutting them on price and capable of   putting them   out of business.

    Calling on the government  to address smuggling,he  indicated it had already caused a slowdown in the regular growth of the poultry sector.”

    According to him, poultry producers are losing money as  smuggled  poultry imports flood the market.

    He said  poultry farmers are struggling with high production costs, including increase in chicken feed and erratic electricity and fuel costs,. The numbers are leading to a drop in profits that is pushing some farmers out of business.

    For  this  reason,he   called  on the  government to come up with a poultry policy that will address subsidies, standardisation mechanisms, treatment and market structures to curb losses and exploitation.

    He explained  that It was  not sustainable for the poultry sector to keep absorb these costs on a long-term, and many small and medium operations might not be able to continue their business.

    He called upon the government to impose stricter regulations to protect the local producers.

    Stressing  the  need  to  revamp poultry industry, he  said  there is  vital  to  enable   farmers   produce day-old chicks, high quality animal feeds and other poultry products.

  • Implications of Sheriff dumping APC for PDP

    I asked a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Maiduguri his reaction to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s dumping of All Progressive Congress (APC) for PDP. He was quick to answer saying “for now I have stepped aside. I am neither in PDP or APC. Let me watch events unfolding”. This is not far from the scenario playing out in Borno since Ali  Modu Sheriff, alias SAS, announced in Maiduguri that he had bid farewell to APC for PDP. Most PDP members, especially the chieftains now adopt “Siddon look,” watching if not observing.

    No doubt, SAS dumping APC for PDP will alter Borno political landscape. The change could be for better, the change could be for worse. What is however certain is that henceforth, events in the political field of Borno will not be the same again. SAS change of party will raise questions. Some questions will get immediate answers, some will get response later and other questions will never get answered. Here comes one of such questions. What are the implications of SAS leaving APC for PDP?

    The implications of SAS dumping the APC for PDP are multi-dimensional. This is all embracing as it will affect the PDP, APC and the people both positively and negatively. For the PDP, it has hit a jack pot. SAS will come with his supporters in APC to PDP. He will plough his resources for the possible success of the PDP in the state. In his Machiavellian disposition, he would do what it takes to ensure victory for PDP his new found love. In this circumstance, SAS is indeed an asset for PDP. However the disposition and willingness of SAS to open his door of fortune depends on the degree of his acceptance by the generality of the Borno State PDP and not necessarily the blessing and endorsement by the presidency. The question that readily comes up now is how acceptable is SAS to the Borno State PDP? The present Borno PDP is made up of the Mohammed Gonis, the Shettima Mustaphas, the Architect Ibrahim Bunus, the Abba Gana’s, the Abba Ajis, the Kumaila’s, the Asheik Jarmas, the Mahmud Ahmads and a host of other juggernauts. Of all these, the Abba Aji’s, the Kumaila’s and the Ibrahim Bunus who, before joining the PDP years back, were members of the ANPP and had to  leave the latter for the former as a result of the conflict between them and SAS who was then both the leader of the state ANPP as well the state governor. The question is will they readily and willingly accept SAS in PDP in the present dispensation?

    The news report in Daily Trust, July 18, 2014, page 18 with the title “Disquiet in Borno PDP over Sheriff” reads: “There is crack in the ranks of founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State following the resolve of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to join the party. There are indications that some PDP members who are “aggrieved” with the development would dump the PDP. A source said some of them would not have the patience to sit with Sheriff under the same roof because of the fierce political rivalry they had with him in the past”.

    “However, secretary of the PDP Youth Forum in Borno State, Umar Sanda said they are tired of playing what he called “Second Fiddle” in national politics. We are aware that most of the chieftains of PDP in Borno State are not happy that Sheriff is joining us but that is their personal opinion. As far as the youths are concerned, he is warmly welcome”, he said.

    Besides, a group designated as “Original Borno PDP” has made it point clear in Advertorial recently that it would only concede the deputy governor position to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff stating unequivocally that the position of governor remains the exclusive preserve of the Original PDP in the coming elections. What will be the position or status of SAS in relation to the existing structure of PDP in the state? Certainly, SAS coming into PDP with his already laid down party structure will not like to play the second fiddle. Besides will SAS allow the party structure he came with from APC into PDP be swallowed by PDP without adequate compensation?

    Coming to APC, the exit of SAS will certainly create a vacuum. However, since coming into power as the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim through his skilful diplomacy, humility, tolerance, open-door policy, non-discriminatory policy, mass-oriented programmes, laudable poverty alleviation programmes, exceptional humanistic approach in the handling of the victims of the insurgency and his philanthropic disposition has endeared him to all, including the rank and file of the state PDP. Governor Shettima’s incontrovertible records of achievements attest to good governance that mesmerizes the people to his administration. According to an observer, “we now know those who used political power for good or for evil, for the people’s  happiness or for oppressing them”

    Though, APC will lose some supporters to SAS, the good governance of Governor Shettima may check the leakage. Wittingly, it appears Governor Shettima as the leader of APC in the state is in control of the party machinery judging from the outcome of the last party state congress and this appears a plus for him in galvanizing APC into further strength. His humility and cautious approach to issues may help swell the population of APC as the likelihood of more supporters from other parties, including PDP is obvious.

    The coming into PDP by SAS may break the dominance of the state by APC. Future elections in the state will be competitive and may not be violent free. This is the fear of many. The good people of Borno will have the final say provided there is free and fair election.

  • ‘Stop making Ikere-Ekiti dumping ground for deputy governors’

    A coalition of Ikere-Ekiti indigenes in Ekiti State, the Concerned Ikere Indigenes (CII), has rejected the choice of Dr. Olubunmi Olusola as the deputy governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the June 21 election.

    The group described the Mrs. Olushola’s choice as a deliberate policy to degrade the town as a place where no one is qualified to be governor.

    In a statement yesterday, the CII claimed that “Ikere-Ekiti had produced two deputy governors for the PDP candidate, Ayodele Fayose, whom he humiliated out of office.

    “The impeachment of our illustrious son, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, was orchestrated by Fayose before he brought in Mr. Adebisi Omoyeni to replace him. Omoyeni himself left Fayose’s government when the former governor was plotting to rubbish him and dent his impeccable credentials.”

    The group claimed that Aluko and Omoyemi “are more qualified than Fayose on grounds of integrity, exposure, education and corporate governance. They were in the race for the 2014 governorship in Ekiti State, but Fayose in cahoots with party national leadership, conspired to deny our illustrious sons the coveted seat only for him to now declare to Ikere-Ekiti people that they don’t deserve to be governor of Ekiti State but a perpetual deputy governor.”

    The CII further alleged that Chief Dayo Okondo, who Fayose purportedly deceived for a long time on a promise to make him deputy governor, “is now wrecked in failed health over psychological crisis resulting from the PDP candidate’s deception” after he reportedly used the man for unedifying duties.

    “Since the man has been on sick bed, Fayose has not deemed it fit to visit him while Governor Kayode Fayemi is the one now taking care of Okondo’s health challenges,” the statement added.

    Also, the Ikere-Ekiti indigenes accused Fayose’s thugs of turning “their guns against the students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, killing scores of them, resulting in the closure of the school with Ikere-Ekiti businesses suffering the brunt of the close down of the college.”

    It also asserted that even though it was agreed that the South Senatorial zone should produce the next governor of Ekiti State, “all the aspirants of the party in the zone were rigged out in the primaries only for Fayose to bring in an Ikere-Ekiti indigene who nobody knows at home and who is a political novice to be his running-mate so that he can manipulate her in the governance of the state at will at the detriment of Ekiti people.”

  • Lawmakers to probe dumping of bodies in Ezu River

    Lawmakers to probe dumping of bodies in Ezu River

    The Senate yesterday asked its joint Committee on Police Affairs, Security and Intelligence to conduct in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding the dumping of bodies in Ezu River in Anambra State.

    This followed the adoption of a motion, entitled: ‘Strange dead bodies found in Ezu River of Anambra State’, sponsored by Senator Andy Uba, (Anambra South)

    Senators expressed indignation over the incident and said the identities of the victims must be established.

    Uba noted that in the early hours of January 19, some villagers of Amansea community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State witnessed one of the most horrifying sights in the history of the community when they found 30 bodies, mostly males, floating on the Ezu River.

    He said he was worried that between January 23 and 24, four more bodies were discovered floating on the river.

    Uba noted that he is concerned that “even as we speak, no explanation has been proffered as to the possible origin of the bodies.”

    He said he is worried that the autopsy ordered by the Anambra and Enugu state governments has yielded no report.

    He said he is also worried that the Ezu River, being the only source of water for domestic and other uses for the people of the five communities of Anambra State, namely- Amansea, Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Ugbene and Oba-Ofemili as well as other communities in Enugu State, has been polluted and has caused a lot of discomfort and hardship to the people of Anambra and other affected communities.

    Uba said he is further concerned that the river in its polluted state may trigger an epidemic in the adjoining communities to the river in the two states.

    Senate President David Mark noted that the incident deserved the attention of the Senate.

    He said: “It is curious, it is disturbing that up till now not one community in this country has come to report that it can’t find one person.

    “I am worried that 30 human bodies were found on a river. No community has reported a case of missing person.