The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Christ Embassy to launch pidgin version of Holy Bible

    The Christ Embassy church says it will soon launch its pidgin version of the Holy Bible to further propagate the words of God.

    Pastor Eddie Owase, Head of the Warri Ministry Centre of the Christ Embassy, disclosed this on Tuesday night in Warri as part of activities by the church to mark Nigeria’s 59th independence.

    “We have been able to translate the Holy Bible into pidgin, that is one of the biggest things we will give to the world soon,” he said.

    Owase said that the annual Reach out Nigeria through the Rhapsody of Realities, a daily devotional of the ministry, had been translated into different languages in the country.

    The cleric said that 2 million copies of the Rhapsody translated into Urhobo, pidgin, Ijaw and Itsekiri languages were launched in Delta in 2019.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill Adamawa Tabital Pulaaku chairman, guest

    “The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the God’s power to save humanity,“ he said.

    He also said that the ministry would continue to sustain the programme which it started 11 years ago, to win souls for Christ.

    “Reach out Nigeria which started 11 years ago is a programme, designed to reach out to people, professionals, prisoners and those in the hospitals among others with the words of God.

    “We know that God’s word is the power to change the life of the people and if there is going to be progress and prosperity, it is going to be through the power of God.

    “We carried out various projects in orphanages, police, prisons among others in Delta and we are glad reaching out to souls in the country, we will continue to do that.

    “There is hope for Nigeria, at 59; Nigeria is great, not diminishing nor disintegrating.

    “It is our prayer that God will continue to sustain our leaders to do the inevitable and lead the country on the part of peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.

    Owase appealed to the leaders to embrace the words of God and believe in the unity and greatness of the country.

    “God loves Nigeria, irrespective of our differences, challenges, this country can only rise to be greater and stronger.”

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Great Football Club of Warri won the 2019 Reach out Nigeria Football tournament organised by the ministry.

  • PDP rejects Buhari’s plans to return toll gates

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently opposed plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to return toll gates on major highways across the country.

    The party lamented that the “insensitive idea” coming in the midst of excruciating economic hardship and high costs of living, “occasioned by the incompetence and harsh policies of the Buhari administration” is completely ill-conceived and anti-people.

    In a statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party insisted that at best, the idea amounted to “executive bullying”, which the PDP said, cannot be justified under any guise.

    The party said it would lead to increase in costs of goods and services across the country.

    The statement said: “Only recently, President Buhari approved the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 7.2% despite outcry by Nigerians, who are also being made to pay exorbitant tariffs for electricity and other essential services.

    “Since President Buhari came into office in 2015, his administration had continued to increase prices and impose all manner of levies on Nigerians which proceeds are being frittered by the cabal in the presidency leading to a bleeding economy and despondency among the citizenry”.

    The PDP said instead of putting more pressure on already impoverished Nigerians by introducing toll gates at this point in time, President Buhari should exert himself, seek ways of creating wealth out of the abundant resources at the disposal of his administration or make haste to surrender the reign of governance to more competent hands.

    “Nigerians could recall that the PDP administration, in keeping with our determination to ensure the wellbeing and economic prosperity of our citizens, dismantled toll gates, cut tax profiles and applied our energies towards wealth creation.

    “It is therefore certain that if our nation were under a PDP administration, as desired by Nigerians, competent hands would have been on the deck to proffer ways to create wealth for governance instead of turning our citizens into vassals who are overburdened by heavy taxes.

    “The PDP states that it is lamentable that at the time Nigerians ought to be enjoying the benefits of the Atiku Abubakar economic recovery and wealth creation blueprint, they are faced with suppressive policies,” the statement added.

    The party charged President Buhari to immediately rescind the decision, saying it’s not in the best interest of Nigerians.

  • Nigeria at 59: Nigerians react to Independence celebration

    Nigerians have reacted to Nigeria’s independence day celebration. The reactions which trended on twitter as #NigeriaAt59, had over 100k reactions from Nigerians home and abroad.

    Below are the reactions:

    @segalink

    Today should be a day of colorful celebration when we tell our children stories about the labors of our heroes past and how we are working to build on it. But sincerely, Nigeria is far from independence and we are not free. We are under the worst of aberrations ruining lives. Most of our respected voices have assumed the “siddon look” position in fear of being harassed, violated and persecuted for speaking the truth. Govt have lost their conscience and ruined our institutions with the installation of their demagogues. They no longer serve Nigeria.

    @DrJoeAbah

    At 59, one undeniable fact is that we have not built the country we are capable of building. The question is: Beyond partisan politics, what do we do next? #NigeriaAt59

    @nafeezi

    Call for peaceful protest you get detained for treason like Omoyele Sowore, Demand for accountability you get jailed for terrorism like Agba Jalingo, Tweet about insecurity you get jailed like Steven Kefas, Take up arms against the state you get amnesty like bandits #NigeriaAt59

    @JokeSanwoolu

    Nigeria is on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation. We have so much we should be grateful for, and in which we should rightly take pride. #NigeriaAt59 #foragreaterlagos

    @seyiamakinde

    Today, for Nigeria, marks our independence from colonial rule, and the day we took our destiny into our own hands, 59 years ago. Today, it is the concepts of freedom and democracy I want us all to turn to and never lose sight of. #NigeriaAt59

    @DJPhemzydee quoted vice president osinbajo’s tweet and said,

    #NigeriaAt59 but: we can’t go out ‘cus SARS will harass us, we don’t have good roads, electricity, adequate security system,no employment opportunities for the youths yet someone called us lazy. We are your prisoners. With due respect sir, Fvck you & your independence celebration.

    @AbdulMahmud01

    #KefasTravails. This is what is known: Stephen Kefas, a Southern Kaduna activist and patriot is currently being held in Kaduna Prison at the instigation of Governor El-Rufai.

    @hashtag2weets

    Rewarding people on a non-intellectual TV show?

    SARS?

    Failed governance?

    Failed leaders?

    Poor healthcare?

    Poor education?

    No electricity?

    Poor road networks?

    I want to know what we’re celebrating.

    #IndependenceDay2019 #IndependenceDay #NigeriaAt59

    @OlamiLekzy44

    This is the Nigeria we celebrate but surely not the one we deserve. Not actually a #HappyIndependence #IndependenceDay #nigeriaindependence #October1st #NigeriaAt59

    @FeyiAina

    Happy 59th Independence to our dear country Nigeria. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Together we shall do positive exploits. #NigeriaAt59

    @F_lotche

    Freedom is the most precious thing in every human’s life. No one has a right to take it away, and we need to do everything to protect our society from cruelty and violence.

    Happy 59th Independence! #October1st #NigeriaAt59

    @UtaziJay

    Every year we keep asking “what are we celebrating?”

    I hope one year, we get to stop doing this rhetorics and appreciate the things that we have and live for.

    Happy Independence Day Nigeria!!!

    #NigeriaAt59

    @gbolahanba

    Despite the ups and down at least we would still say happy #NigeriaAt59 to our beloved country Nigeria.

    We hope to be truly independent, and our leaders remember this part “I pledge to Nigeria my country to be FAITHFUL, LOYAL and HONEST”. #IndependenceDay

    Happy New Month famz

    @Iam_KingBuchi

    NIGERIA MY COUNTRY.. My fight is not with you NIGERIA. My fight is with that Angel  that directed me to you. I think he owes me some EXPLANATION. shey he did not sew Canada, Dubai, or even Kuwait that is one step away from KETU ehn? Isoryt #NigeriaAt59 #IndependenceDay

    @YoungOtutu

    “Remember the dream of our forefathers”

    IBB is a tyrant, dictator

    Ahmadu Bello was a tribalist.

    Ojukwu was a coward (exile)

    Yakubu Gowon a selfish leader

    Obafemi Awolowo a tribal jingoist.

    Sani Abacha a corrupt, wicked dictator.

    I ask you what dreams? #NigeriaAt59 #October1st

    @localblack_man

    Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

    Let’s keep hope alive. Happy Independence Day Nigeria #NigeriaAt59

    Read Also: Buhari joins dignitaries to mark Independence Anniversary

    @ayemojubar

    Mother #Nigeria, Don’t worry, you’ll survive all these rapists that care for nothing but your wealth. For 59 years, they’ve been using you and dumping you with your confused children, I hope by 2023 they would have got enough sense to free you. With the way Buhari is dealing with Sowore’s case, He has put himself on trial unconsciously. Imagine God coming down from heaven to prove to a man that he is God? That’s how the whole thing sounds. A perfect power should be under perfect control.

    #IndependenceDay #NigeriaAt59

    @YoungOtutu

    59 years of Corruption

    59 years of mis-leadership

    59 years of failed governance

    59 years of crippling economy

    59 years of declining democracy

    59 years of continue reliance on Oil.

    59 years of ethno-religious disunity.

    59 years of perennial malady #NigeriaAt59 #IndependenceDay

    @kingjames_x

    Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world

    The richest man in Africa is a Nigerian

    The richest black woman in the world is a Nigerian

    The cocoa house in Ibadan was once the tallest building in Africa

    #IndependenceDay #NigeriaAt59 #Nigeria

    @MubarakJunju

    Once lived a Nation where together the Aboki’s, (Hausa) the Oluwa’s(Yoruba) and the Inyamuri (Igbo) Build, Struggled, Stand for a Country known as Nigeria  Together we can make it right as one Nigeria to serve with heart and might In peace and unity #NigeriaAt59 #Nigeria

    @royaltyuso

    I will give up on #Nigeria if I can find a country that failed because her citizens were patriotic. Until then, we stay resolute in our common cause as a nation towards Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. Happy Independence Day and GOD bless Nigeria. #October1st #NigeriaAt59

  • Tribunal upholds Ganduje’s election

    The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Wednesday upheld the victory of the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The tribunal declared that the petition of the main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Abba Yusuf, challenging the victory of All Progressives Congress(APC) lacked merit.

    The chairman of the three-member panel, justice Halima shamaki, in a judgement read for over 3 hours at High Court , in miller road, Kano, dismissed the PDP’s petition seeking the nullification of Ganduje’s victory in March 9 governorship election

    Details Shortly…

  • Lawan seeks arrest, prosecution of foreign illegal miners

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute foreigners and Nigerians illegally mining of the nation’s mineral resources.

    Lawan said this while contributing to a motion titled: “The need to check illegal mining activities in the country” sponsored by the Senator representing Zamfara North, Yau Sahabi and 32 others.

    He said: “This Senate will look into the solid minerals sector seriously, and we will charge our Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development and Metallurgy to call for a public hearing on what the sector should be in this country.

    “We know we have policies on solid minerals as well as legislation.

    “The Federal Government gave N30 billion to the ministry just to revamp the sector in the last four years but I think as a parliament, we should be able to contribute very meaningfully to ensuring that this sector, which is so important to us, is given attention, given the kind of situation the oil industry is going through.”

    Read Also: ‘Ahmed Lawan will harmonise ninth National Assembly’

    He described illegal mining as unacceptable while calling for revamp and protection of the sector.

    Lawan said: “We have to work to ensure that this particular sector is properly revamped and protected.

    “The situation of illegal mining is unacceptable. We can’t tolerate it and allow that to happen.

    “If there are any foreigners coming in their helicopters and on their feet to come and mine our resources without the necessary documentation, I think it is for us to ensure that our security agencies arrest them and prosecute them.

    “I believe that this Assembly, particularly this Senate, must be at the vanguard of reviewing the situation in the mining sector and what we need to do if there are gaps in terms of legislation,” Lawan said.

  • Ekiti most neglected in Nigeria- Afe Babalo

    The Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola has said Ekiti has been grossly neglected by the federal government in the area of infrastructure critical to socio-economic development.

    Babalola said the decrepit state of infrastructure has impacted negatively on the the socio-economic landscape of the state, saying the nagging problem have made the state to be allergic to investment.

    The legal icon said the event leading to the collapse of the bridge linking Ado Ekiti capital city with his university and Federal Polytechnic was a testimony that the state has been grossly overwhelmed with infrastructure deficits.

    Babalola, who described Ekiti as the most neglected state in the country, expressed serious concerns over the collapse of the bridge after a torrential downpour in which claimed one live.

    The bridge on Ureje bridge along Ado-ABUAD-Ikare road was on Monday flooded by water and collapsed.

    A man who wanted to navigate the water got drowned and died in the process.

    Several commuters coming in and out of Ado Ekiti capital city were stranded for several hours between 7pm on Monday till 12 noon on Tuesday after the bridge had collapsed.

    Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Babalola attributed the collapse to the negligence of the government, saying his several efforts to made the federal and state governments to rebuild the bridge on Ureje river were to no avail.

    He said: “for the past nine years, I have been maintaining that road but this year after series of letters , Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA) wrote to me informing that they have awarded the road to a contractor and I have been following the contractor day and night.

    “What I know which is true is that the contractor had done more damage to the road than helping us.I wrote about the bridge to all those concerned ; federal ministry of works and copy the President. I also wrote letters to Governor Kayode Fayemi because I knew that road was neglected by the contractor and the federal government.

    ” Indeed, Ekiti state is the most neglected state in this country. Look at the road between Ilesha and Ado-Ekiti, it was made over 20 years ago. This road from Ado-Ekiti to Ijan to Ode to Ikare to Lokoja was build before i was born over 100 years ago.

    “That bridge which you saw was also build over 100 years ago , that narrow bridge. When I was in school, we used to trek from that place to Ogbese river in order to cut what we called prank cane to make chairs and wooden ceilings along that route.

    “Nothing has been done to improve the bridge. I have been writing , phoning , sending text messages about that bridge will collapse anytime. I warn all of them , including the governor that it will collapse that something should be done
    .
    “When it happened two days ago, I sent text messages to Fayemi that what I told you should not happen has happened. I also got in touch with Minister of Works, who eventually phoned me that they were going to do something about the bridge.

    ” I sent messages to monarchs and others. In the afternoon , I got a text from Fayemi that some people will come the following day to work on it. Fashola told me they are moving there immediately.I went to the bridge and i saw them working there.

    “My team of engineer has been there early in the morning. No heavy truck or vehicle should pass that place otherwise it will go down.

    Read Also: UN worried by Nigeria’s growing security, socio-economic challenges

    “What we need is a new bridge and a dual carriage road from Ado-Ekiti to the university , which is only 15km. I don’t know why the road has not been repaired.I hope now with what has happened, things will change. I went through Afao to Igbemo to Iluomoba to the university. It takes me about One and half hours to get to the university on Tuesday instead of 15 minutes.

    “Like I said, Ekiti is the most neglected state in this part of the world. Secondly , I protested in my usual way. Former President Obansanjo did little work on the road and you can see it has not been completed.

    “Again, I was lawyer to federal government , Obasanjo again work on it from Itawure to Ado-Ekiti, a dual carriage, since he left it is all forest”.

    Corroborating the level of neglected in Ekiti, Babalola said the road from Ado-Ekiti to Akure, Ondo State capital, is one of the worst roads in the country.

    “What I will continue to do now is to continue to pile pressure to those responsible and in authority for us to have good infrastructures, because without good infrastructures , nobody can come to the university. You know we are suffering here”.

    He, however, called on the Federal Government to expite action on the rehabilitation of the deplorable federal roads which will invariably improve the socio-economic fortune of the state.

  • APC Diaspora chairmen back State party leaders ultimatum to NWC

    The APC Committee of Diaspora chairmen have backed the ultimatum issued from the state chairmen of the party in Nigeria.

    It should be recalled that last week, the Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmen gave a 10-day ultimatum to the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) to address their concerns.

    The Diaspora chairmen had in a communiqué made available to The Nation, issued and signed by Dr. Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK & Chairman, APC Diaspora Chairmen Forum and the forum’s secretary, Hon. Ayoola Lawal on Wednesday, said; “After carefully reviewing the issues raised in the communique released by the state chairmen of our party days ago, we fully endorse their position and again reiterate our previously stated position in our call for a closer relationship between members of the party and government”

    The diaspora chairmen expressed displeasure and dissatisfaction with how the party leadership relates with its diaspora branches and members in the areas of lack of communication and respect for party leaders and members.

    Read Also: APC UK disclaims factional group

    “In some of our communications in the past, we have wondered how a political party will find it convenient to ignore her members or treat leaders of the party with so much disrespect and negligence.

    “We are pleased that the state chairmen of our party in Nigeria have now come to the same conclusion and spoken out on this matter. Our view is that a political party exists not only to win power but also as a socializing platform for community harmony, leadership talent identification, nurturing/mentoring for sustainable development”.

    It noted that the idea of the party shopping for candidates to serve in its government from the opposition is strange to multiparty democracy and it is an unhealthy concept to the growth, maturation and stability of the nation’s democracy.

    “When a party wins an election, she will actively ensure that political offices are filled by members/supporters of the party, not by people from the opposition”.

    The Diaspora chairmen called for the urgent constitution of the NIDCOM board and their wish to get party members in diaspora into the newly established Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

    They further called on the party leadership to resolve the issues they have raised to ensure that APC recovers from the present self-inflicted wounds for the sustainable development of not just the party but of the nation.

  • NUT demands 65 year retirement age

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the bill seeking to increase the retirement age of teachers/education officers from 60 to 65.
    NUT’s National President, Muhammed Idris, stated this during a briefing in Abuja to mark the International World Teachers Day.

    He said that the union would not rest on its demand to see that the bill is assented to by the president.

    According to him: “I wish to also acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other stakeholders to see that our age-long demand for review of the retirement age of teachers/education officers from 60 to 65 is addressed.
    “We urge all of us not to rest on our oars until the bill is signed into law.”

    He commended Buhari for sustaining the sponsorship of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to honour and reward outstanding teachers in the country.

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the ministry has put in place mechanisms to strengthen the implementation of teacher education in the country.

    The minister listed the mechanisms to include: reviewing the quality assurance/monitoring instruments in line with global best practice, engagement of independent quality assurance teams and stakeholders in monitoring of all academic activities.

    Others are: conducting nationwide capacity building workshops for 100, 000 teachers at basic and post basic levels through the support of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

    Read Also: Obaseki is NUT’s best governor

    Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, added that teacher development and motivation were central to efforts the ministry is making to reposition the education sector to meet national aspirations.

    “The ministry is systematically and fully committed to constant upgrading of the teaching standards and contents to boost teacher quality in Nigeria.

    “We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to ensure that teachers are professionally qualified, empowered and adequately remunerated, motivated and supported for efficiency and effectiveness,” the minister said.

  • Maina’s son pulled pistol on security agents, says DSS

    Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, the 20-year old son, of former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, pulled a pistol on security agents when operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested both of them Monday, September 30, 2019.

    The Public Relations Officer of the DSS National Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    According to the statement titled DSS ARRESTS ABDULRASHEED MAINA, made available to reporters in Abuja, the DSS in a combined operation, on 30th September 2019, arrested Maina at the Pennsylvania Avenue Hotel in Abuja.

    He said the arrest followed a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Service to assist in the apprehension of the suspect.

    “Maina was arrested in company of his 20-year-old son, Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, who unsuccessfully tried to resist the arrest.

    “The lad even pulled a pistol against the security agents involved in the operation. He was, however, disarmed and arrested. He is a final year student at the Canadian University of Dubai where he is studying Telecoms Engineering.

    “Items recovered from the suspects include a pistol with live ammunition, a bulletproof Range Rover SUV, a BMW Saloon car, foreign currencies, a phantom 7 drone and sensitive documents.

    “The suspects and the recovered items will be handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and appropriate necessary actions.

    Read Also; Arrested Maina likely for trial over N2b contract

    “It is instructive to note that the operation is as a result of a renewed interagency collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies.

    “The Service has always subscribed to such collaboration believed to be important in national security management and therefore, hopes to sustain the initiative in mitigating the current threats against public safety and national critical assets,” the statement read.

  • INEC fixes October 26 for Katsina bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday October 26 for the conduct of the bye-election for Sabwa Constituency of Katsina State, which became vacant as a result of the death of the incumbent, Mustapha Abdullahi, who died on July 5 through road accident

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Katsina State, Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa, who made the above disclosure on Wednesday in Katsina said the decision to conduct the bye election on this date as agreed by the stakeholders at the meeting, was as a result of the declaration of the vacancy by the State House of Assembly through a letter addressed to the commission dated September 26

    He said: ’’The purpose of this meeting is to inform you of the vacancy and position of the law with regards to elections and filling vacancies thereto. Even though a lot of activities are involved spanning from those of INEC, the political parties, Security agencies, and other relevant agencies, we are bound to respect the position of the law’’

    The INEC boss further disclosed that the constituency has 10 registration areas, 74 polling units and 61 voting points, making up a total of 125 voting centers with a voting population of 63,435 registered voters.

    Read Also: Independent National Electoral Commission and 2019 elections

    He further disclosed that the commission will source the 512 required numbers of electoral personnel from the NYSC and Tertiary institutions from the state

    He assured that the distribution of sensitive materials through to the conduct of the election proper shall remain open and transparent to the satisfaction of all stakeholders

    In a related development, the REC has declared that only 8 Political Parties are existent with functional offices in the state, adding that the remaining numbers only exist on paper

    He said: ’’We may stop corresponding with parties that has no clearly identifiable and functional offices. When we write, we only communicate with 7 or 8 parties that we know are functional and the rest of the letters we dump them at IPAC.

    ‘’Imagine a political party came here to rent our vehicles to conduct rallies and ward congresses’’