The Nation Newspaper

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  • Macron, Johnson to meet over Brexit

    French President Emmanuel Macron will meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Aug. 22 to discuss Brexit as well as the crises in Iran and Syria, an official from Macron’s office said on Monday.

    “The President of the Republic will host Boris Johnson for a working dinner at the Elysee Palace, which will be preceded by remarks to the press,” said the official.

    Johnson is also scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday this week.

    Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and medicine if it leaves the European Union without a transition deal, according to leaked official documents reported by the Sunday Times whose interpretation was immediately contested by ministers.

    Setting out a vision of jammed ports, public protests and widespread disruption, the paper said the forecasts compiled by the Cabinet Office set out the most likely aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the worst-case scenarios.

    But Michael Gove, the minister in charge of coordinating “no-deal” preparations, challenged that interpretation, saying the documents did set out a worst-case scenario and that planning had been accelerated in the last three weeks.

    The Times said up to 85% of lorries using the main Channel crossings may not be ready for French customs, meaning disruption at ports would potentially last up to three months before the flow of traffic improved.

    The government also believes a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, will be likely as plans to avoid widespread checks will prove unsustainable, the Times said.

    “Compiled this month by the Cabinet Office under the codename Operation Yellowhammer, the dossier offers a rare glimpse into the covert planning being carried out by the government to avert a catastrophic collapse in the nation’s infrastructure,” the Times reported.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said it did not comment on leaked documents. But Gove said it was an old document that did not reflect current preparedness.

    “It is the case, as everyone knows, that if we do have a no-deal exit there will inevitably be some disruption, some bumps in the road. That’s why we want a deal,” Gove told reporters.

    “But it is also the case that the UK government is far more prepared now than it was in the past, and it’s also important for people to recognise that what’s being described in these documents… is emphatically a worst-case scenario,” Gove added.

  • More items ‘ll be denied FOREX, says CBN Governor

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Monday said more items will soon be denied foreign exchange from government institutions and Nigeria banking industry.

    He also said that the bank will not go back on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari on food importation into the country.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop providing foreign exchange for importation of food into the country.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the retreat for ministers designate in the Presidential Villa, Emefuele alao said that Nigeria will move to get stay of action against the $9 billion judgement.

    A British court had ruled on Friday that an engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd., has the right to seize $9bn in Nigerian assets.

    The ruling by Justice Butcher bordered on a 2010 contract Nigeria signed with P&ID, to the intent that the latter would build a state-of-the-art gas processing plant to refine natural gas (“wet gas”) into “lean gas” that Nigeria would receive free of charge to power its national electric grid.

    On how far he has gone on the President’s directive, Emefiele said “Let me say this, Mr. President’s comment on the issuing of forex to people who import food items into the country, is in the logic of CBN’s management foreign exchange policies that we started since 2016.

    “If you recall, we started with about 41 items (food and non-food items), because we believe that those items can be produced in the country.
    As we stand today, there are about 43 items on that list and I will say substantially most of them are food items.

    “We are basically saying if we have a food item that can be produced in the country, why should we waste scare foreign exchange importing those items into the country, when those can be produced in the country.

    “It is important for me to say that the attempt to misrepresent the comments of Mr. President is very unfair and unfortunate. But, what we will say from the CBN is that Mr. President has made this comment purely to strengthen the position of the CBN, to say that he believes in what the CBN has been doing since 2016 and there is need for us to reinforce that going forward.

    “I will say that to honest, we would aggressively go more into the list of items that are being imported into the country, items that can be produced in Nigeria.
    I will like to stress that we would ensure that more of these items will get on the list of items that are going to be restricted from accessing foreign exchange in Nigerian banking industry not just from the CBN source.

    “Because, I have heard some comments that maybe it’s about the CBN’s source, it is not the CBN’s source, we are saying you will not be able to access foreign exchange from the Nigerian banking industry because it is important for us to produce these items in Nigeria and we will follow through on them.

    Stressing that there will be no amendment to this policy, he said “There will never be an amendment because the issue is this, why should we be exporting jobs to other countries? Today we are complaining that there is a high rate of unemployment, leading to some extent the level of insecurity in the country, why should we allow people to import food that can be produced in the country?

    “We need to improve wealth in our rural communities and I am saying we will not change course, we will even be more aggressive on this Programme.” He said

    Asked if the President’s directive won’t affect the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement Nigeria just subscribed to, he said “It will not affect the content of the AfCFTA, in any case the AfCFTA is an agreement that is ongoing, the terms of engagement are still being discussed and negotiated.

    “The important thing is that Nigeria needs to stand as the largest economy in Africa and the largest populated countries in Africa, we need to stand and dictate the terms under which we want to be in it and this is what we are staying. But what I am saying is that it is wrong, it is inappropriate that an item that can be produced in Nigeria should be imported into Nigeria.

    “When we get into the AfCFTA issues we will also look at the details of it, but at this time we are saying we need to create jobs for our country, for the youths and we need to create jobs, we yearn for growth and the only way we can really accelerate growth in a Nigeria between now and next four years is to see to it that items that can be produced in Nigeria are indeed produced in Nigeria rather than being imported into the country.” He said

    On the $9bn judgement debt, he said “I am not scared at all and I think it is also important that this question has come up. Since the news about the judgement broke out late on Friday, we have been discussing with our counsels, and they have advised that there are sufficient and strong grounds on the basis of which we could file a stay of execution and also an appeal against that judgement.

    Read Also: CBN’s report: AMCON N3.8tr Bonds mature 2023

    “There are certain anomalies in the process leading to the award of that contract which is currently being looked into by the EFCC and I believe that the EFCC themselves have their own investigation reports about that.

    “So, we will follow through and aggressively too on ensuring that the execution of that judgement is stayed and that the appeal succeeds at every level both within Nigeria and abroad.

    “It is important for me to use this opportunity to assure our friends, local and foreign investors who called to expressed solidarity with us, not to express concern but to say that there is no need for anybody to worry. We know that the implication of that judgement has some impact on monetary policy and that is why the CBN is going to step forward and very strongly too to ensure that we defend the country and defend the reserves of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Asked why he was at the retreat for ministers, he said “Yes, I am not one of the ministers but as one of the senior government officials in the area of policy making, we have also been invited to come and join the ministers designate in listening to Mr. President about the policy trust for the next four years.

    “I think this is a very brilliant initiative because what it will do is that it will set the focus, everybody will know what the assignments and responsibilities will be in specific terms between now and the next four years.
    I am here because as a member of the monetary policy authority, it is part of the attempts for collaboration between the monetary and fiscal authorities in Nigeria.”

    On the impact he will make at the event, he said “Mine is just to listen and see who what we are doing at the CBN’s monetary policy side, is in tandem with what the fiscal authorities are also coming up with. But I know certainly there are because all we are saying is that Nigeria yearns for growth, for improved level of employment in this country and I know at the end of this Programme, everybody will be on board to say we must reduce the level of unemployment in Nigeria, we must grow this country and must increase productivity and output in Nigeria.”

  • Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Monday ordered that a 23-year-old man, Israel Adesanya, who pleaded guilty to breaking into a house and stealing biscuits, and recharge cards, be remanded in prison, pending sentencing.

    Magistrate T.A. Ojo ordered that Adesanya, who resides at Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos, should be remanded in the Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, pending review of the facts of the case and sentencing, as he pleaded guilty.

    Ojo adjourned the case until Sept. 30.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Kenrich Nomayo, told the court that Adesanya committed the offence on May 20, at No.10 Cosmos Avenue, Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos.

    Read Also; Court strikes out theft case against trader

    He said that Adesanya scaled the fence and broke into the apartment of Mrs Funmi Ajayi and stole shortbread valued at N5,250, recharge cards of different network valued at N85,000 and N108,000 cash.

    Nomayo said that the defendant conduct himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 285 308 and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stealing attracts three years’ imprisonment.

  • Three Katsina corps members die in auto crash

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Katsina State, has confirmed the death of three corps members in a ghastly motor accident in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the corps Public Relations Officer, Mr Alex Obemeata, on Sunday in Katsina.

    “Sunday Aug. 18, 2019, is a sad day for the NYSC in Katsina State as three Corps Members lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident on their way to a Church programme in Funtua.

    “The Corps Members numbering 12, were in one bus belonging to the National Association of Catholic Corps Members, Katsina.

    “Three of them died on the spot,” Obemeata said.

    Read Also: NYSC: 2019 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 Orientation exercise begins Tuesday

    The PRO added that the accident occurred when the state governor Aminu Masari, was passing by at Gobirawa, Kankara LGA on Sunday.

    He said that the governor stopped over and ordered a vehicle in the convoy to rush the injured to the State’s General Hospital immediately, for treatment, while the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary.

    He revealed that the State NYSC Coordinator, Alh Ahidjo Yahaya, was at the hospital in company of some senior members of staff, when the ambulance carrying the injured and the deceased arrived.

    Though the spokesman did not disclose the identities of the deceased, he said Yahaya prayed for repose of their souls and also for God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Oshoala nets winner as Barcelona beat Montpellier

    Asisat Oshoala got the only goal for Barcelona as they defeated Montpellier 1-0 in Sunday’s international club friendly.

    The Spanish side were drawn against Juventus in the Women’s Champions League Round of 32 on Friday and aimed to end their tour on a high after wins over Marseille and Arsenal.

    The French ladies were hoping to conclude their pre-season campaign on a fine note ahead of their French topflight opener against newly-promoted Stade de Reims.

    Read Also: Afrobasket 2019: Buhari hails D’Tigress for retaining title

    However, Oshoala’s strike just six minutes into the contest at the Stade Bernard Gasset was all Fredrik Bengtsson’s side required to secure a morale-boosting win over the hosts.

    The Nigeria international has now scored seven goals in four games this term, to increase her tally to 15 goals in 15 appearances since joining last season’s Champions League finalist in January 2019.

    Barcelona face Seagull in Copa Catalunya Femenina clash at Estadio Nou Municipal de Palamos on Thursday.(Goal)

  • Sanwo-Olu to inaugurate Omotoso, Igbokwe, Elegushi, others as exco members

    The Lagos State Executive Council will be inaugurated tomorrow, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

    The governor said he would not delay the swearing-in of commissioner- and special adviser-designates already cleared by the House of Assembly.

    Sanwo-Olu spoke at the weekend while receiving retired top civil servants under the aegis of the Association of Lagos State Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ALARHOSPS).

    The governor said the wheel of governance would be in full gear before the end of the week, in fulfilment of his campaign promise to inaugurate his exco within 90 days.

    Among the commissioner-designates are former Editor of The Nation Gbenga Omotoso,  Lagos State All Progressives Congress Publicity Secretary Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Arc. Kabir Ahmed, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, Mrs. Solape Hammond and Mr. Moruf Akinderu Fatai.

    Read Also: Cabinet nominees: APC women leader hails Sanwo-Olu over inclusion of 12 women

    Others include Assistant Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Miss Adekemi Olanike Ajayi-Bembe, APC Secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed and former member of the Assembly, Prof. Akinola Abayomi.

    The governor added that newly appointed permanent secretaries would also be sworn in today to complement the activities of commissioners and special advisers.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Next week, by God’s grace, we are swearing in all other complements of cabinet and also Permanent Secretaries to have the engine of governance on full swing. At that point, we believe that all the campaign promises we made can come to reality and Lagosians can benefit more from the choice they made at the last election.”

    The commissioner- and special adviser-designates are expected to be allocated their individual ministries during the inauguration ceremony, scheduled to start at 9a.m.

    The governor described the body of retired civil servants as “valuable assets” to the state, noting that their actions while in service contributed to the “enviable height” Lagos attained among states in the nation.

    The newly appointed permanent secretaries with their present deployment are: Mrs. Sanyaolu Kikelomo Morenike (Director, Service Matters, Public Service Office); Sodeinde Olalekan Nurudeen, an engineer, (General Manager, Office of Drainage Services); Mrs. Shitta-Bey Titilayo Khadijat (Director, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice); Mr. Musa Mooruf Olawale (General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority) and Mrs. Durosimi-Etti Olorunkemi (Director, Administration and HR, Ministry of Water Front Infrastructure Development).

    Others are Mrs. Kalesanwo Olayemi Yewande (Director, Establishments, Local Governments, and Establishment Training Office); Agoro Moruf Olawale (Director, Civil Engineering, LASURA); Mrs. Odeneye Belinda (Director, Environmental Service, Ministry of Environment) and Mr. Olawale Mesewaku Babatunde (Director, administration and HR, Audit Service Commission).

    The appointments were announced in a circular signed by the Head of Service, HOS, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, dated August 16, 2019.

  • ‘Oyo ‘ll break poverty barrier through payment of taxes’

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has pleaded for the support of stakeholders operating in the state on adequate deductions, prompt remittance of taxes and other levies.

    He said by paying taxes, the government would be able to fulfil its promises on the provision of social amenities, enduring infrastructures, regular payment of government obligations and other amenities.

    Read Also: Makinde appoints ex-CP Owoseni as special adviser

    Makinde spoke during a one-day sensitisation workshop on Computations, Deductions and Remittances for Federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as tertiary institutions at the House of Chiefs, Secretariats, Ibadan.

    Executive Chairman, Oyo State Internal Revenue Service, Aremo John Adeleke, who spoke on behalf of Makinde, reiterated that the intention of the administration was not going to over-burden any business enterprise, either small or big, but rather to ensure that government get its fair and reasonable share of all its eligible tax revenue.

  • Ekiti promises fairness in teachers’ recruitment

    The Ekiti State Government has assured applicants that the ongoing recruitment of teachers into its primary schools will be fair and transparent.

    Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi said applicants would be given a level-playing ground in the recruitment exercise being conducted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Egbeyemi spoke in his office at the weekend while receiving in audience the executive of the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by the chairman, Mr. Olatunde Kolapo.

    The deputy governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, pledged the readiness of the state government to consider qualified applicants for the teaching jobs without interfering in the exercise.

    Read Also: Ekiti woos investors with ease of doing business

    Egbeyemi noted that the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration would not rest on its oars in reducing unemployment among the youths to make them useful to the society.

    He also added that the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) would soon invite applications for teaching jobs in secondary schools to fill the available vacancies therein.

    On arrears of workers’ salaries, Egbeyemi noted that government was working out means of defraying the arrears left behind by the last administration and would not relent in the regular payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities as and when due.

    Kolade hailed the Fayemi administration for the regular payment of workers’ salaries, retirees’ pensions and increment in the monthly savings for the payment of gratuities from N10 million to N100 million monthly.

    The NLC chief appealed to government to fulfil its promise in the payment of salary arrears, leave bonuses and implementation of workers’ promotion.

  • Oyo Assembly allays herdsmen’s fear over anti-open grazing law

    The Oyo State House of Assembly has allayed the fears of the herdsmen  in the state that the anti-open grazing law being put in place will terminate their means of livelihood.

    The Assembly is working on the bill, which has passed Second Reading.

    But, a Fulani group, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, on Friday, appealed to the Assembly to consider an alternative grazing space for their members in the law being put in place. They described it as settled grazing.

    Addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday, the group, led by its National President Alhaji Sale Bayari, called on the Assembly to give the law a human face by allowing an alternative grazing space for the herdsmen should the law become absolutely necessary.

    Read Also: Oyo Assembly approves Makinde’s N10b loan request

    But the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Kazeem Olayanju, told The Nation on telephone yesterday that the herdsmen in the state have nothing to fear about the law because it was aimed at regulating grazing in a way that would protect them and other members of the society.

    Olayanju explained that the Assembly recognises that herdsmen have lived together peacefully with indigenes for several decades, adding that the lawmakers are aware that they have fully integrated into the various communities where they live and do their business.

    According to him, rather than ban open grazing totally, the bill is proposing registration of herdsmen for issuance of permits.

    His words: “Our people have been living together peacefully with the Fulani for ages. But the popular claim now is that Fulani are criminals. It is also believed that the  Fulani that are committing crime are those coming from other countries. So, the bill will make them register and get permits and identity cards. So, if they are accosted anywhere in the state, their ID cards and permits will clear them as well known Fulani, who are free to practice their trade. This will help check the influx of foreigners into their midst. It will also protect them. We just want to regulate them so that nobody will harass them. It will also enable them to live peacefully with farmers. This law will also enhance peaceful relationship among stakeholders in the farming system in the state.”

    The Fulani group had pleaded: “We are pleading with the Oyo State House of Assembly to ensure that as interested and affected citizens of the pending law, we deserve to be heard and listened to during the public hearing of the bill so that our views and opinions as Nigerians are heard and considered without bias against or favour.”

    Olayanju said a public hearing might hold on the bill before its Third Reading.

  • ‘Kano DisCo remains disconnected over rule breach’

    The electricity distribution companies (DisCos) suspended for breaching electricity market rule have been reconnected to the grid, the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, has said.

    Ikeja, Eko, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano DisCos were suspended and were partially disconnected to enable them comply with market rules they signed on to. While Eko, Ikeja and Enugu have complied and their suspension lifted, Port-Harcourt and Kano DisCos remain suspended.

    Mohammed said: “We enforce the market rule especially where we suspend a DisCo, the suspension comes with some level of explanation.  The market rule gives us power to disconnect the whole supply to that DisCo but we look at the feeder that supplies the offices of the DisCos on default and we disconnect the feeders that feed them. We don’t disconnect everybody, we are also Nigerians and we are mindful of the fact that we don’t want people to feel bad about us.

    “No DisCo is under disconnection except Kano DisCo. All others have complied with the rule and we have reconnected them. None of them even lasted for one week except Kano DisCo. We decided to reconnect due to Sallah celebration but we will disconnect them after the Sallah. The feeders we disconnected in Kano also feed other households, but the intention is to force them to comply with the market rule and do the right things.

    “What we are doing in Nigeria is gaining the market. All the DisCos have universal licences and not restricted licences. It is not a licence that says if you are in Lagos, leave Ajegunle out and serve only Apapa. No, they are supposed to serve everybody. Secondly, the aggregate technical collection and commercial (ATC&C) losses, based on the performance agreement they (DisCos) signed included poor people and rich people. To prioritise supply to some areas at the detriment of others does not make sense because their licence is not restrictive.

    “If a DisCo tells you what we are doing is affecting their business model, ask also which study they conducted that gave them that policy they are working with. We have conducted a credible study, which is called 20-year DisCo-Transmission Expansion Plan. “The plan looks at the needs of the DisCos and come up with a report that says this is how you should expand because most of the DisCos are not performing and are not even investing. To escape from their failure of lack of investment, they will say we are putting capacity where they don’t need it.

    “Electricity stability requires what we call redundancy and the least you can is N-1 which means any place where they need 60KvA, you will give them 60KvA x 2 and that is what we are doing under the programme.”

    He said there was nothing like giving supply to where they don’t need it. According to him, what is happening is that some of them are gaining the market.

    Mohammed added: “They refused to put prepaid meters in some places, supply them energy for few hours and charging them on filthy charges (estimated billing or crazy billing). All these claims that poor people don’t pay are all lies. The reality is that we have been gaming the market, people are frustrated and when frustrated, they can use several means to punish us, including refusing to pay, and tapping the meters.

    “There is no relationship between poverty and payment of electricity bill. What the poor needs is adequate power supply, meter and give him the choice to switch on/off as he pleases.”