The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria News

  • Bayelsa says it’s committed to sports devt

    The Bayelsa Government is committed to developing the potentials of the state’s sports men and women as part of efforts to rebuild sports in the state, an official has said.

    The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, expressed the commitment Friday in Yenagoa during a courtesy visit by officials of Bayelsa chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

    “It is in realisation of this objective that the state government embarked on the improvement of sports facilities to encourage sports men and women in achieving their maximum potentials,’’ he said.

    The commissioner described sports as “big business’’ and called for more collaboration between the state government and SWAN to accelerate growth in the sports sector in the state.

    He said such development and collaboration would go a long way to encourage talented youths and enable them excel in national and international events.

    “We have been pushing forward to ensure an improvement of facilities, while the state sports academy has come to stay.

    “Academic activities have started, with the students on ground. We are doing this because sports is a big business.

    “The reconstruction work at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa is getting to completion stage and I believe by Feb. 14, the stadium will be commissioned as part of events marking the sixth year anniversary of the present government,” Iworiso-Markson said.

    The Commissioner however applauded Bayelsa SWAN’s planned effort to hold the maiden edition of Clinton Thompson Football Competition in the state, describing it as a welcome development.

    The competition fixed for Dec. 18 is being organised by Bayelsa SWAN to immortalise the late sports journalist who died earlier this year.

    The late Thompson, who was a veteran reporter and the pioneer President of SWAN South-South Zone, was at a time the General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, Glory FM 97.1.

    Alambo Datonye, the state SWAN Chairman, said the competition which would involve practising journalists in Bayelsa, was aimed at encouraging physical fitness and mental alertness of media practitioners through sports.

    He said the Association was ready to work with the state government to encourage athletes in the state, especially from the grassroots level.

    “We organised a six-kilometre road race earlier this year and that competition was successful. We are not going to stop, because sports is a veritable tool we and the present government can use to rebrand the state.

    “There are talented youths in Bayelsa. These talents can be groomed and promoted to the highest level in areas of sports,” the chairman said.

    NAN

  • Mechanic in court for absconding with vehicle

    Mechanic in court for absconding with vehicle

    A 42-year-old mechanic, Isah Danjuma, who allegedly absconded with a vehicle valued at N750,000 was on Friday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused was arraigned before the Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Ekogbulu, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    Danjuma, who resides at the Agege area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Ekogbulu said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

    According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on Dec 28, 2014 at Oredapo Street, Agege, Lagos.

    He said that the accused obtained N750, 000 from Madi Abdullahi, under the pretext of selling his vehicle to him.

    “The accused approached the complainant telling him to buy his DAF vehicle 28 model at N750, 000.

    “The complainant did not have the money, so he contacted his brother in the North to come and buy the vehicle.

    “His brother came to Lagos and inspected the vehicle and he liked it, paid N400, 000 into the accused’s bank account and promised to pay the balance the following day.

    “Immediately the balance of N350, 000 was paid the following day, the accused relocated with the vehicle to an unknown destination and was nowhere to be found again.

    “All efforts made by the complainant to retrieve the money or the vehicle proved unsuccessful,” he said.

    Okuoimose said that the accused was later arrested after three years of his disappearance with the vehicle.

    The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

    The accused may be jailed for 15 years, if found guilty of obtaining money under false pretences, according to the provisions of Section 314.

    The case was adjourned until January 10  for mention.

    NAN

  • LCM donates N5m to welfare homes

    Lagos Channel Management (LCM), a Lagos-based dredging company, on Friday donated N1million each to five orphanage homes in the state.

    The beneficiaries include Oyiza Orphanage and Foster Foundation in Mushin and Lady Oyindamola Memorial Home for the mentally challenged in Badagry.

    Others are: Special Correctional Centres for Boys in Oregun, Olubukola Fowowe Memorial Children Centre in Ogba and Correctional Homes for Boys in Yaba.

    Mr Danny Fuchs, the Managing Director of LCM, said that the donation was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the society.

    Fuchs said that the government alone should not be saddled with the responsibility of caring for the less privileged in the society, and urged other corporate entities to do likewise.

    “I know what we have given can’t solve all the problems in in your various homes, but it is just our own little way of identifying with the children in your care.

    “Over the years, we have taken it as a point of duty to give to the society and this has become the norm in LCM.

    “I also commend the care givers for dedicating their time to take care of these children and I hope they will use the money judiciously to better the lives of the children,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mrs Yewande Falugba, the Director of Administration and Human Resources in the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, praised the company for its enterprise and gesture to the less privileged.

    Falugba said that the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the children in government-owned homes get adequate care, while those owned by private individuals are properly run.

    “We appreciate LCM for what they are doing because their support will go a long way to put smiles on the faces of the children.

    “The Lagos State Government is doing a lot to keep these homes running in order to impact positively on the life of children and we hope more companies will support the government, ” she said.

    Three out of the five homes that benefitted from the largesse are owned by the Lagos State Government.

    Thirty-five orphanage homes have benefitted from the company’s yearly donation in the past seven years.

    NAN

  • Mechanic arraigned for phone theft

    Mechanic arraigned for phone theft

    A 20-year-old mechanic, Tola Lebile, on Friday appeared before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State over alleged theft of  a Tecno V8 phone valued at N8,000.

    The accused, who has no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge breaking in and stealing.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, the accused stole the phone from Mr Ogunyemi Adewunmi at 2.30a.m. on Nov. 6 at No. 10, Lebi St., Okitipupa.

    Orogbemi told the court that the mechanic entered  Adewunmi’s house to steal the phone.

    He submitted that the offences contravened Sections 412 and 390(9) of the  Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Read also: Mechanic in court for absconding with vehicle

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, granted him bail in the sum of N30,000 and a surety in like sum.

    He ordered that the surety must provide evidence of a year tax payment to the Ondo State Government.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until Dec. 15 for mention.

    NAN

  • I believed woman who accused Zuma of rape – Deputy president

    I believed woman who accused Zuma of rape – Deputy president

    South Africa Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said he believed the woman who filed rape charges against President Jacob Zuma in 2006.

    Zuma was tried and acquitted of raping Fezekile Kuzwayo, also know as Khwezi, 11 years ago, when she was a guest in his home.

    In spite the acquittal the trial damaged Zuma’s reputation, not least because Khwezi – who died in 2016, was HIV-positive and Zuma told the court that he had taken the precaution of “showering” after unprotected sex.

    Ramaphosa, who is vying with Zuma for leadership of the ANC and, therefore, the country, made the remarks during a radio interview on Thursday night.

    When pressed on the rape allegations, Ramaphosa at first demurred before saying: “Yes, I would believe her.”

    “I know how difficult and painful it is for a woman to garner up the courage to stand up and say, ‘Yes, I was raped.

    “It must be one of the most difficult decisions that she has to make,” he said.

    Ramaphosa has been Zuma’s deputy since 2014.

    Read also: Probe Okorocha over ‘statues of Zuma – Johnson Sirleaf

    On Friday, the presidency released a terse statement in response to Ramaphosa’s remarks.

    “The rape allegations against President Zuma were properly considered by a Judge of the High Court.

    Having evaluated the totality of the evidence, the court acquitted Zuma of the rape charges.

    NAN

  • Man gets N50,000 bail for N8000 theft

    Man gets N50,000 bail for N8000 theft

    A 22-year-old man, Jamiu Habeeb, who allegedly stole 10 shirts worth N8000 from a trader, Mohammed Isah, was on Friday in Lagos granted a N50,000 bail.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, who gave the ruling at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, ordered the accused to provide one surety as part of the bail conditions.

    Etti said the surety must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
    The accused, who entered a ‘not guilty’ plea, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused, who resides at the Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos, committed the offences on Nov. 21, at Ijora Market, Apapa, Lagos.

    Kokoye said that the accused and his accomplices, now at large, conspired to steal 10 shirts worth N8000 from Isah’s shop at about 3:00 pm.

    The prosecutor claimed that the accused and his accomplices went to the complainant’s shop pretending they were customers interested in buying shirts.

    He said they picked 10 shirts and ran away without paying.

    Kokoye explained further that the complainant raised an alarm about his stolen shirts and other traders ran after the accused.

    He said that Habeeb was apprehended by some traders, while his accomplices escaped with the shirts.

    Kokoye said that the complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
    Section 287 prescribes three years’ imprisonment for stealing, if convicted.
    The case was adjourned until December 21, for mention.

    NAN

  • Argentina must improve to succeed in Russia – Messi

    Argentina must improve to succeed in Russia – Messi

    Argentina captain Lionel Messi believes they need to improve if they are to stand a chance of winning next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Argentina, who reached the final in 2014, struggled during qualification for Russia, going through three coaches before securing their place at the tournament.

    And it was all thanks to a Messi hat-trick in a 3-1 win away to Ecuador in the final qualifier.

    Messi’s side will kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland on June 16, before facing Croatia and Nigeria in their other group stage fixtures.

    Next year’s tournament may be the last chance for the 30-year-old Messi to win a major trophy with Argentina and the FC Barcelona forward is already concerned.

    He says they need to make changes in order to overcome more fancied countries.

    “We had a difficult time (in qualifying), but we had our moments,” Messi said.

    “But it’s true that we need to improve if we want to be world champions. Right now we’re not far off, but there are better sides than us, such as Brazil, Germany, France and Spain.”

    As well as losing to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina were also defeated by Chile in successive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016.

    Messi, however, believes they should have celebrated at least two victories.

    “I never went back over the finals (we lost). We deserved to win them, in spite of not playing that well. We still had the best chances, both in the World Cup and Copa America,” he said.

    “I’d have to watch them again to see what we didn’t get right in order not to win them. But right here I believe we should have won at least two of them.”

    Messi and his team mates have had a tumultuous relationship with the Argentine media, boycotting them 12 months ago due to what the national team perceived as unfair treatment.

    He said that media criticism has created a culture of fear within the squad.

    “Criticism went above and beyond what is normal and became personal,” he said.

    “The bitterness we feel is because we know what’s coming if things don’t go well for us. People want results and if they don’t get them, they want to see fresh blood. We don’t feel that way.”

    NAN

  • Employment Scam: DSS warns public

    Employment Scam: DSS warns public

    The Department of State Services ( DSS ) has warned members of the public against the activities of fraudsters as regards employment into the service.

    A statement issued by an operative of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo, on Thursday in Abuja, said it was not currently employing or carrying out any form of exercise in that regard.

    Opuiyo said some fraudulent persons and groups were extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public with the promise to employ them into the service.

    “The Service wishes to state for the umpteenth time that it is not currently employing or carrying out any form of exercise in that regard,” he said.

    He said that the service does not charge money for the purpose of recruitment.

    Opuiyo advised the public to be wary of these fraudulent persons and groups whose stock in trade remained the spread of falsehood and engagement in impersonation.

     He warned that the Service would not hesitate to deal decisively in accordance with the law with anyone caught in the act of impersonating it.

    The official enjoined members of the public to pass relevant information relating to the nearest Service Command, while efforts were being sustained at uncovering the network of these fraudsters.

    NAN

  • Supply shortfall cause of fuel scarcity – Kachikwu

    Supply shortfall cause of fuel scarcity – Kachikwu

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, says the major cause of the fuel scarcity currently being witnessed across the country is shortfall in supply of petroleum products.

    Kachikwu, who stated this in a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja, however, said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) was making efforts to ensure that queues at filling stations disappeared in a couple of days.

    “Presently, queues in Lagos have reduced. We know that Lagos, Abuja, Benue, Port Harcourt were among the worst-hit areas.

    “Benue has been dealt with; Port Harcourt is quite moderated. Apart from these areas, other places in the country are probably liquid.

    “The major problem is the gap in terms of volume, because NNPC is the only one importing the product to the country,” he said.

    The minister assured that there was adequate storage facility for imported products, adding that emergency measures were in place to ensure that the products were available during the Yuletide and post-January.

    He said that four vessels laden with petroleum products would “berth in a few days and a total of 20 cargoes are also expected with petroleum products’’.

    Kachikwu said that the NNPC had, as at Wednesday, discharged products at its depots, adding that emergency supply, quick truck delivery and stricter monitoring were measures adopted to ensure that queues disappeared.

    He added that NNPC would use additional trucking to major cities using strategic reserves from Suleja, Minna, Gusau and Gombe.

    This, he said, would help to service Abuja, Kano and Sokoto axis to feed the North-West, North-East.

    “I have asked the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency to ensure stricter sanctions on any station that refuses to abide by the rules.

    “They need to take a firm action to ensure that we get quick results,’’ he said.

    Kachikwu further assured that the market would be flooded with more products to cushion effects of over-subscription through Kaduna refinery production, adding that Port Harcourt was expected to start producing 2.1 million litres of petrol per day.

    He said that it was expected that with the adopted strategies, the queues would “slide down’’ in one week.

    On long-term strategy, he said that ultimate result would come when the refineries resumed optimal production.

    The minister said that work would commence effectively in the refineries in January.

    Executive Secretary of DPR, Mr Modecai Ladan, said that many sanctions awaited filling stations found compromising the dispensing process, warning that the stations would be shut down or charged N275 per litre.

    He said that any station found hoarding products would either be sealed or its product auctioned or dispensed free-of-charge to consumers.

    Ladan added that depending on the offence, defaulters may be shut down for six months or blacklisted.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a drive round Abuja metropolis and highways revealed that only a few filling stations were opened for operation, serving long queues.

    NAN

  • Charge d’Affaires – Some Nigerians unwilling to return from Libya

    Charge d’Affaires – Some Nigerians unwilling to return from Libya

    Charge d’Affaires of Nigeria in Libya, Mr Illiya Fachano, says some Nigerians in Libya have refused to be repatriated inspite of the “unfavourable situations.”

    Fachano revealed on Thursday that  “not all of them (Nigerians) want to come back home”.

    “Before you can assist them, they will have to sign a consent form, after which emergency travel certificates are issued.

    “I want the public to know that we have some Nigerians who are not willing to return inspite of the unfavourable situations and the fact is that we can’t get them on the flight without their consent”.

    “Migration is a natural and has always happened but becomes an issue when there are people migrating illegally meaning the migrants arrive without proper documentations and conceal their identity.

    “What we do is identify the Nigerians in the camps, register them then issue them an emergency travel certificate but those who happen to be sick get medical treatments before being confirmed to fly.

    “The Internationl Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) has rallied support of the European nations and particularly Italy for the Libyan Coast Guards who are particularly ordered to prevent boats that smuggle migrants and refugees from Libya to Europe.

    “The fact that the coast guards at the Mediterranean Sea are professionally trained and well funded by the EU, they have captured many people who are trying to illegally cross to Europe and returned them to Libya.

    “Unfortunately, we have noticed that in every batch of people brought back to Libya from Europe or the Mediterranean Sea, a larger number of the migrants come from Nigeria because of our population causing us to have much more Nigerians to be repatriated,’’ he said.

    The charge d’affaires said it is worrisome that with all the efforts of the government to rescue stranded migrants, more Nigerians are still trying to go to these places hoping that they will be lucky in achieving their European dream.

    Read also: 3250 have been repatriated from Libya – FG

    The Federal Government said yesterday, that it has so far identified 2,778 Nigerians trapped in the Libyan detention camps.

    Of this figure, government said 250 were repatriated on December 5.

    So far the government said 3,250 have so far returned from the Libyan enclave.

    Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman, Tiwatope Elias-Fatiile, said that the 2778 were Nigerians

    identified in detention camps that embassy officials had been visiting.

    Those registered in these camps, the spokesman said, While the government indicated that the repatriation exercise was a continuous exercise.

    The government said it would continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.

    NAN