The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Illegal

  • One dead, three injured in Ebonyi ‘illegal’ mining

    A man, said to be an illegal miner, Anele Nwite, at the weekend died in a mining pit in Ameka, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Three others were injured and are receiving treatment in a hospital.

    The pit reportedly caved in when the “illegal miners” were scooping for salt.

    It was learnt that Nwite’s head, hand and leg were severed by a large stone which fell on him.

    Another miner, Ebube Agu, was injured and taken to Ugodinma Hospital Onueke in the same local government area, where he is said to be responding to treatment.

    The other two were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment and are said to be in critical condition.

    The deceased was reportedly buried immediately his body was retrieved.

    The Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area, Lazarus Ogbee, denied knowledge of the incident.

    He said: “I have not received such a report on my table. The Development Centre Coordinator and the councillor representing the ward have not brought it to my notice. I am just hearing it from you.”

    The area where the incident occurred is on lease to Royal Salt Company Limited.

    Efforts to get the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Ifeanyi

    Ike, and his Cement and Mineral Development counterpart, Sunday

    Ugwuocha, to react to the incident, were abortive.

    They were said to be attending the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting.

  • ‘Demolished 100 Abuja homes illegal’

    ‘Demolished 100 Abuja homes illegal’

    THE Director of the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT’s) Department of Control Unit, Mallam Yahaya Yusuff said yesterday in Abuja that the 100 houses demolished at Trademore Estate on Airport Road were illegal structures.

    He said the plot of land, where the structures were built, was not meant for mass housing development.

    Yusuff explained that despite an advertisement by the FCT Administration that developers should stop encroaching on the lands meant for mass housing, many of them were yet to abide by the notice.

    The director said when his unit noticed that developers were not complying, the Sunshine Estate, Liberty, Civil Defence Estate, Prison Services Staff Housing estates, among others, were demolished.

    He said residents of the estates were advised to revalidate their land titles at the Urban and Regional Planning Unit.

    Yusuff said the developer at the Trademore Estate did not revalidate his land titles.

    The director added that it was the reason the structures were demolished, after the expiration of the deadline.

     

  • Ajimobi to Fed Govt: block illegal arms importation

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged the Federal Government to block importation of arms into the country.

    Ajimobi spoke at the opening of the training workshop organised by the 2nd Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan on Wednesday, described the national security challenge currently being faced by the country as a passing phase.

    He said: “It is in the definition of what constitutes our core values as a people that we can find lasting solutions to the separatist inclinations of some of our people who take arms against the country.

    “It is in the lack of identification of our core values that can be found the absence of patriotism among her nationals, to the extent of rising against Nigeria’s national interest,’’ he submitted.

    He also said that Nigerians must be made to undergo courses in security consciousness, adding “the time of innocence for us as a people has gone and security consciousness must take over our innocence.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, said the theme of the training “Developing Requisite Capabilities by the Nigerian Army for Combating Contemporary Security Challenges’’ was apt in view of the security challenges currently facing the country.

    He was represented by Major –General Mohammed Abubakar, the GOC, 2 Mechanised Division, Ihejirika said that the army was saddled with the leading role of responding to the myriad of security challenges facing the country.

  • Illegal refineries, vandalisation are our greatest threat, says Maku

    Illegal refineries, vandalisation are our greatest threat, says Maku

    INFORMATION Minister Labaran Maku at the weekend attributed the twin menace of illegal refineries and pipelines vandalism as the greatest threat to the nation’s socio-economic development.

    The Minister spoke while inspecting the Civil Defence Academy during the National Good Governance Tour of projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Apart from the illegal activities causing environmental pollution in the Niger Delta, he said it is adversely affecting the nation’s economic income.

    Maku noted that the illegal activities are posing great danger to the future of the people of the Niger Delta.

    He said: “The greatest threat to Niger Delta region is illegal refinery and pipeline vandalisation. Our forefathers left behind good and safe environment for us. The pollution and contamination that is coming from the Niger Delta is great.”

    “If these communities do not stop these activities, it will cause great danger to the future of the people of Niger Delta.”

    “So, it is in the interest of those communities and the nation to stop the destructions they are doing in the Niger Delta area,” he said.

    Maku also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation in the region.

    Inspecting the N13.4 billion Inner Southern Expressway in the city, Maku said the road is strategic and will greatly de-congest traffic.

    “It will remove grid lock in the city and add value to the residents of the city,” he stated.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said the 3.8 kilometer road is aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the city centre.