The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria News

  • Rohr fecilitates with Nigeria at 59

    Super Eagles German coach, Gernot Rohr has offered felicitation and salutation to Nigeria and indeed fans of the national team on the occasion of the country’s 59th Independence Day Anniversary which was celebrated on Tuesday.

    Rohr definitely shares so many things in common with Nigeria’s anniversary month.

    Apart from resigning his coaching appointment as manager of Niger’s national football team in October 2014, the former Bayern Munich defender actually made history on 7th October 2017 when his Nigeria-led team became the first African side to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 win against Zambia in Uyo.

    “Nigeria at 59? That’s a great anniversary,” the 66-year-old Rohr who has supervised the country’s 45 international matches told NationSport exclusively. “Today, Nigeria can be proud of freedom and democracy.”

    Read Also: Letter to Gernot Rohr

    Under Rohr, the Super Eagles have won an impressive 26 matches; drew 10 and lost 9.

    Apart from qualification for Russia 2018 World Cup, the Super Eagles also made it to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where his young side won the bronze medal.

    “The youthfulness of the Super Eagles is the mirroring of the nation,” Rohr noted in his goodwill message.

    Meanwhile, Rohr has disclosed that he might be forced to name a replacement for injured Super Eagles’ newly capped Joe Aribo ahead of the eagerly awaited international friendly against Brazil in Singapore on 13th October.

  • Lagos roads to be fixed after rains

    LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to Lagosians for patience over the bad state of roads in the state, saying the continuous rainfall since he was sworn in about four months ago is slowing down rehabilitation on the roads.

    As soon as the rains stop, work on the bad roads will kick off in earnest, he said.

    Sanwo-Olu made the appeal while answering questions on the traffic situation and bad roads in the state at ‘The Platform’ put together by The Covenant Place, which took place at Iganmu on the Lagos mainland, on Tuesday.

    The event which was a question and answer programme coordinated by Pastor Poju Oyemade has as its theme: ‘Redesigning the Nigerian Economy with new ideas’.

    Sanwo-Olu promised there would be extensive and massive rehabilitation of roads after the rainy  season, but that all the roads cannot be tackled at once.

    The governor said it has been raining since he was sworn in, a situation which hampers work with bitumen.

    He assured that the government was still working day and night to remedy the state of the bad roads in the state.

    Apart from bad roads, the governor said water, small land mass and population explosion were responsible for traffic congestion but that his government’s remedy for the traffic problem being experienced on a daily basis was a multi-modal transportation system.

    This, he said, involves developing the rail, water transportation and  bus transit system which the government is already working on.

    Read Also: Lagos retirees get N1.5b pension

    He said, “On water transportation, we are encouraging the building of a lot of jetties and we have just acquired 6-7 new passenger boats that can take 60-70 passengers at a time”.

    These, Sanwo-Olu said, will be the long-term solution to the transportation problem, adding that the government was working on a short-, medium- and long-term solution to issues surrounding transportation.

    On commercial motorcycle operators, the governor said because he wants to give everybody a chance to be part of the state development plan, the government is trying to harmonize and come up with a regulation system for them.

    “This is designed to know who they are, their activities and how to manage them to ensure that they don’t add to the problem of traffic flow in the state, we don’t want to disenfranchise anybody,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    The governor also disclosed that since his assumption of office it is only in the education sector that he has given a major approval for the recruitment of about 10,000 teachers into the state public schools, a process that is already ongoing.

    He said he would also ensure proper and adequate regular training for teachers to enhance their efficiency and capacity.

    “We are constricted in terms of finances, but it is a marathon, we need to continue to run to ensure we meet up and I can assure you that we will meet up and Lagos will continue to be greater,” Sanwo-Olu assured.

  • Court remands cyclists ‘killer’ in Niger

    A 30-year-old man Tunde Tayo, who was alleged to have killed a commercial motorcycle operator in Maitumbi area of Minna has been remanded by the Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Minna, Niger State.

    He was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide which contravenes sections 97, 298 and 221 of penal code.

    It would be recalled that the police arrested Tayo for ‘killing’ 25-year-old Abdullahi Sale of Ungwan  Rama.

    The suspect was said to have killed Sale in his uncompleted building along Maitumbi-Shiroro Road and buried his body in a shallow grave near his house. Upon exhumation of the victim’s body, it was discovered that the head had been removed.

    Read Also: Robbers kill two in Niger

    According to the police “First Information Report” read at the court by the head of the Legal Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Mr. Jude Thaddeus Akaeze, the suspect conspired with others, who are currently at large, to lure and rob the deceased of his  Bajaj motorcycle valued N215,000.

    The deceased was later killed and buried after he was robbed.

    The pleas of the accused were not taken on the ground that the court is only hearing pre-trial into the matter and ordered for the remand of the suspect in Minna Correctional Centre pending when the police will forward the case file to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.

    The case was adjourned October, 30 for further mention.

  • Makinde: I won’t interfere in Ibadan chieftaincy system

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has promised not to interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.

    The governor spoke during the 86th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy celebration of Mrs. Theresa Oyekanmi, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Oyekanmi was recently installed as the 14th Iyalode of Ibadan land after the death of Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

    Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Funmi Orisadeyi, said: “As your son, I am reassuring you of my support for the progress of Ibadan. Let me re-state that I will not interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.”

    Read Also: Independence Day: Makinde calls for orientation change

    The governor solicited the support of traditional institutions for his administration in transforming the state, and congratulated Chief Oyekanmi.

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, prayed that his reign and that of the Iyalode would last and bring growth to Ibadan land.

    The event was attended by prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan.

    Among those present were Oba Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; Chief Lekan Alabi, Agbaakin of Ibadan land; and Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former secretary to  the state government.

  • Police disperse protesters in Makurdi

    IN Makurdi, the Benue State capital, police shot teargas to disperse protesting Okada riders, arrested many of them and took their motorcycles to police station.

    The commercial motorcyclists  took to major streets of the capital city to protest against what they called the high cost of registration and licensing of motorcycles in the  state.

    In an attempt to stop the cyclists from protesting, police fired teargas at them.

    Chairman of Benue Motorcyclists  Association (BEMOA) Comrade Matthew Nyiutsa told The Nation that efforts were being made to resolve the crisis, saying they were given a grace period to pay by instalments to reduce the burden on members.

    Comrade Nyiutsa described the registration and licensing of motorcycles as a national policy which his members must comply with but pleaded for more time.

    Read Also: Eleven suspected cultists in Police net

    Police Spokesperson Kate Anene told The Nation that every vehicle on the road must obtained a licence and registration including motor cycles.

    She said the grace period is over and the commercial motorcycle riders must comply.

    Some okada riders who spoke to The Nation said the registration fee is top high .

  • Two killed in police-cyclists clash in A’Ibom

    THE war between the police and commercial motorcyclists over government’s regulation of motorcycle operations in Akwa Ibom state is yet to abate.

    On Tuesday, the cyclists or okada riders clashed with police in the oil city of Eket. Two  motorcyclists died in the exchange, but a Volvo station wagon car used by the police for surveillance was also burnt by the cyclists.

    Police spokesman, Odiko MacDon, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, saying that 19 suspects have been arrested in connection with the fracas.

    MacDon said the suspects arrested defied government’s restriction order which allows okada riders to operate between 6am and 6pm.

    He insisted that the police cannot be intimidated and will not stop the enforcement of government’s directive.

    Yesterday’s incident happened just a week after the police allegedly killed an ‘okada’ rider in Uyo which sparked off wild protests resulting in the torching of the NTA station and massive destruction of properties in the capital city.

    Read Also: Three killed in Akwa Ibom cult clash

    The Nation gathered that tension in Eket reached breaking point following an order placed by Eket local authorities restricting the operation of okada riders from 6am to 6pm. The government had said the decision was to check the upsurge in crime in the area.

    It was gathered that some okada riders did accept the restriction order and went ahead to operate beyond the time limit.

    An eyewitness Emman Okposin said the police surveillance team chased them away from the road from 5:30pm as against the 6pm deadline and that they beat his colleagues and impound their motorcycles.

    Okposin said last Sunday night one their members was shot dead by the police while chasing the operators.

    “Last Sunday our member was shot dead in the night and  the corpse has been deposited in mortuary at Immanuel General hospital, Eket.

    Continuing, Okposin said the incident that caused them to revolt occurred yesterday when a policeman beat a motorcyclist until he collapsed on the spot before the victim was rushed to hospital.

    He said the victim identified as Udo from Idung Udoe in the area died the previous night while receiving treatment at Immanuel General Hospital, Eket.

    “Our member Udo from Idung Udoe in Eket died last night from injuries he sustained at the hands of police, so we revolted.”

    He said the youths and all motorcyclists operators took the corpse to Eket local government council and later to the area police station as the council chairman Frank Archibong was not available to address them.

    Okposin said the police prevented them from entering their station and they returned the corpse to the mortuary.

    He said all the cyclists and the youths regrouped and moved to a police checkpoint along James Town road and burnt down their patrol vehicle as policemen at the checkpoint escaped.

     

  • Ndume: repair Borno’s bad roads

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate major roads in Borno State.

    Ndume addressed reporters after meeting with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with lawmakers from the state.

    The lawmaker said the intervention would remove the harrowing experience commuters face as a result of poor roads.

    He said work on Biu-Gombe, Biu-Maiduguri, Biu-Damaturu, Biu-Gombi, Bama-Gwoza-Mubi, Gwoza-Damboa-Buni Yadi, captured in previous budgets and awarded, had not taken off fully.

    Ndume said no serious work was done on the roads, adding that a journey that should take one and half hours often took more than six hours.

    He said: “I and other lawmakers from the state met the minister of Works to intimate him of our experiences. We came to beg the minister to intervene to take the hardship away from the people; we hope serious work would begin on those roads.

    “There is only one connecting road that is motorable. From Maiduguri to Biu is 186 kilometres drive, which is about one and half hours, but because of the insurgency, the road is completely closed. Travelling that road now takes six hours.

    Read Also: Be patient over bad roads, Sanwo-Olu appeals 

    “The sad story is that the road from Biu to Buni Yadi is so bad. The road leads to Sambisa forest and if anyone should travel there, the person has to slow down and you know what that means. The only road we started using since last week is Biu-Potiskum-Damaturu road.

    “So Maiduguri is locked. The only exit is through Borno South and that is not good considering the traffic in that axis.”

    Ndume urged the Federal Government to prioritise road work to ease the pains of a people ‘who are already devastated by insurgency’.

  • Kogi 2019: PDP seeks redeployment of REC, police chief

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has called for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police Hakeem Busari, and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. James Apam.

    PDP made the resolution in Lokoja Local Government after its stakeholders meeting yesterday.

    The party said removing Busari and Apam would guarantee fairness, equity and justice.

    Read Also: Kogi 2019: INEC expresses worry over possible violence

    Signed by the party Chairman in Lokoja, Abubakar Idris, the communiqué warned against deploying Dr. Amina Zakari, national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to oversee the election.

    The party, however, passed a vote of confidence in the Nigerian Army (Records) Command and the DSS in Lokoja, saying they had lived up to their billing in the conduct of elections in the state.

    It restated its commitment to ensure victory for the party and its candidate, Musa Wada, and called on members to work for him.

  • Bid to remove sealed warehouse property fails in Owerri

    THE police in Imo State have foiled an attempt by some people to cart away the property stocked in one of the warehouses seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Owerri, the state capital.

    The police also impounded two trailers allegedly deployed to evacuate the warehoused property and arrested 12 suspects in connection with the crime.

    The warehouse owned by Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, wife of the immediate past governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha, is situated along Aba Road, Owerri.

    One of the police officers at the facility said law enforcement agents moved in on a tip-off, adding that 12 persons were arrested in the act.

    Read Also: Native doctor, five ‘robbers’ held in Imo

    “Following a tip-off last night (Sunday), after two trailers had moved into the warehouse late in the night, a police team was dispatched to the premises,” said the officer, who spoke to journalists in confidence.

    “Those inside the premises, however, refused to open the gate. The police team therefore cordoned off the building till this morning (Monday, 30/9/19) when we stormed the premises. The two trailers were impounded and 12 persons arrested.”

    The spokesman of the state police command, ASP Orlando Ikokwu confirmed the incident, adding that the two trailers impounded were taken to the command headquarters, Owerri.

    Two months ago, the EFCC sealed some properties reportedly traced to former governor Okorocha, as well as those of his family members and cronies.

     

  • AbdulRazaq donates to special needs’ school

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday donated audio books to visually impaired pupils of the state’s special needs’ school. The governor congratulated the pupils on Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary.

    A statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the governor visited the school after the pupils returned from the Independence parade at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin.

    AbdulRazaq inspected the renovation of two blocks of five classrooms, which he had pledged to upgrade when he visited the school in July.

    The headteacher, Mrs. Faoziyah Aroyehun, praised the governor for the books which she said would be useful for the pupils.

    She said: “These audio books are particularly useful for the visually-impaired students, and we appreciate … the kind gesture. We also thank him for the ongoing interventions in the school.”