The Nation Newspaper

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  • ‘It’s unfair to assess Makinde now’

    The immediate past governor of Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Sunday said that it is unfair and dangerous to assess incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde barely three months after he came into office.

    The former governor, who maintained that Makinde was elected for a period of four years, insisted that it would be too early for him to access his successor, who was sworn in on May 29 this year.

    Ajimobi, who represented Oyo South Senatorial District between 2003 and 2007, was the governor of the state between 2011 and 2019.

    He said that he had done his best for the state, stating that it’s now time for Makinde to prove his worth.

    Ajimobi, who addressed journalists shortly after he was honoured with a meritorious award by the Catholic Archdioceses of Ibadan as part of the 70th birthday celebrations of the Bishop of the archdioceses, Reverend Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, urged citizens and leaders to continue to sacrifice for the development of the country.

    Read Also: Makinde’ll surpass Ajimobi, others in achievements

    The event was held on Sunday at Mary’s Cathedral, Oke Padre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Ninety-five eminent personalities received the award. Aside from Ajimobi, other recipients of the award include the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Chief Akanni Aluko, Ayo Fasoro , Chief Aloy Obi, Prof. Mercy Veronica,  Brig Gen.& Mrs. Eze , Chief (Mrs.) Francisica Otunla, Mrs. Grace Oby, Mr. Stephen Olasupo , and  Justice O. Ige.

    In his remarks, former governor Ajimobi said that he would henceforth maintain silence on issues concerning the state and allow the incumbent governor to do his job.

    The former governor said: “I feel really elated, I feel happy, very honoured, especially when you are being honoured by the people that we serve and the people that serve God. When you are recognised by clerics, men of God, it is the best honour you can get.

    “Yes, I have done eight years of talking; now it is time for me to keep silent and allow the other man to do his job.”

    Ajimobi further said that the media makes news when prominent people speak and when they decide to be silent.

    He said, “This is the problem with you people. When I talk, you will say that I am talking, now that I am not talking, you will say I am not talking. You are complaining that I am not talking now. So, what do you want me to do?

    “It is too early for me; I have been there for eight years. It is too early to assess him. Give the man the chance to do his job. I know that he has at least four years. He has just spent three months. It is too early.

    “I think it is good for us to work for the development of this country. We must all sacrifice for us to move this country forward, to grow. It is easier for people to talk, sometimes I read in the news particularly, on the social media.

    “The problem of the social media today is that beer parlour talk is now being elevated in the media.”

  • N2b alleged pension fraud: Court to hear application on Maina’s ‘assets’

    A Federal High Court, Lagos, will on October 9 hear an application to compel the government to release information on assets it recovered from the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo fixed the date while delivering ruling in an ex parte application for an order of mandamus filed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Registered Trustees of the Centre for Law and Civil Culture.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says on its website that Maina is wanted for alleged complicity in the over N2 billion pensions biometric scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF).

    The suit has the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, and the EFCC as respondents.

    The NGO’s lawyers A. Imran and Gazah T. Olalekan told the judge that an order of mandamus would compel the respondents to accede to its Freedom of Information (FoI) request on the status of all the property recovered by and from Maina.

    Read Also: Pension reform: so far, so good

    They also sought to know, among others, “whether the declaration of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform in Nigeria, as a wanted person by your commission stands or same has been revoked”.

    Granting their application, Justice Oguntoyinbo held: “…It is hereby ordered that time is extended within which the applicant may file ex parte application seeking leave for an order of mandamus against the respondents.

    “That leave is granted to the applicant to file application for an order of mandamus against the respondents to compel the respondents to release information as to the status and position of the (a) landed properties, monies and other valuables recovered from Abdulrasheed Maina, the ex-chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force…

    “(b) 270 landed properties, monies, exotic cars and other valuables recovered by Abdulrasheed Maina from the pension looters, which property and valuables are kept in the custody of the respondents”.

  • Buhari, Akeredolu, Fasanmi greet Oyetola at 65

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday felicitated with Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

    Also, Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and the Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Fasanmi, have congratulated Oyetola on his birthday.

    President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, joined the Oyetola family, friends and people of goodwill in wishing the governor good health, sound mind and more years of purposeful and visionary leadership for the good people of Osun State.

    He commended Governor Oyetola for his determination to improve infrastructure, social services, human and capital development in the state.

    The President also urged Governor Oyetola to execute all the programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and fulfill his campaign promises to the electorate.

    Read Also: Facts you should know about Gov Oyetola at 65

    President Buhari charged the governor to use the special occasion of his 65th anniversary as another privileged opportunity to rededicate himself to do more service to God and humanity.

    Governor Akeredolu on his part described the Osun governor as “humility personified” and “amazing neighbor.”

    The Ondo governor in a statement by the Commissioner for Informtaion and Orientation, Daniel ojogo, further described Oyetola as “a calm and unassuming personality whose selfless commitment to the good people of Osun State has markedly imbued and engendered confidence in governance in his state. To say the least, such selflessness and candour have been greatly deployed to the advantage of the good people of the Southwest.”

    According to the Akeredolu, the Osun governor is an enigma who represents an amazing friend, brother and neighbour with immeasurable qualities required for a fruitful relationship as exemplified in the cordiality between Ondo and Osun states.

    “It is no gainsaying, therefore, that as Governor Oyetola clocks 65, his wealth of knowledge and experience that have always been at the disposal of the good people of both states will continue to ignite stronger ties,” the statement added.

    Governor Akeredolu, on behalf of his wife, Betty, government and people of Ondo State, wished his Oyetola sound health and God’s continued favour, grace and wisdom, the statement further said.

    While also congratulating Oyetola, the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Fasanmi, said that it was “boon and grace” to have him at the helm of affairs in the state “in a situation like this.”

    In a statement by Fasanmi’s Media Assistant, Mr. Temitope Adebayo, the Afenifere leader explained that the proficient way Oyetola had been managing the resources of the state showed that “he is a God-sent.”

    “Within just 365 days in office, Oyetola has proved himself as a dexterous, humble Chief servant of the state,” he said.

    Fasanmi urged the governor not to deviate from the progressive agenda that he had been following, praising him for the “wholesome, inclusive composition of your commissioner nominees.”

    He further urged the nominees to assist Oyetola to achieve his laudable vision for the people in the state of Osun.

    Pa Fasanmi also expressed his warm appreciation for the governor’s support during his own 94th birthday celebrations held recently and prayed that Governor Oyetola “will go on to celebrate 94 years on earth. The target is for him to become a centenarian.”

    Also, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Obokun State Constituency in the 2019 general elections, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, congratulated Oyetola on his 65th birthday anniversary.

    In his congratulatory message, Oyintiloye described the governor as a visionary and a respected leader, who is living a simple life and rendering service to people.

  • NHIS account ‘not compromised’

    The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has assured stakeholders that the scheme’s account remains secured, intact and beyond the possible reach of hackers and other nefarious entities.

    The scheme said it only operates the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Its Head of Media and Public Relations, Ayo Osinlu, stated this yesterday in a statement.

    He said: “The discovery of fraud in the operations of one of the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMO), Clearline International Limited, leading to the arrest of two persons, one of whom is a staff of the HMO concerned, has come to the attention of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    Read Also: Reps to review NHIS

    “The seriousness of this crime, the huge sum of money involved, and the reference to NHIS’ account being hacked in the process have compelled the scheme to make the following clarifications.

    “That NHIS has no account anywhere else outside the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “It is, therefore, not possible, or true, that the perpetrators of this heinous crime hacked into the account of NHIS in this act.

    “That in the spirit of the scheme’s ongoing rebranding reforms, of which transparency and accountability is a major factor, a Management Committee has been constituted the day after the ­­crime was reported, to ascertain the veracity of the allegations, the actual sum involved and the circumstances that facilitated the commission of the crime, among other terms of reference,” it added.

    The NHIS reassured its stakeholders and the general public that it will not tolerate any breach of trust or guidelines under its operations.

  • Kwara hospital records 35% patronage rise in three months

    Kwara State Government, in the last three months, has recorded 35 per cent rise in hospital patronage, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said.

    He added that the feat was borne out of the government’s focus on basic health care and the recent equipping of the General Hospital, Ilorin.

    The governor spoke at the weekend at the closing ceremony of the free medical and surgical interventions, at the General Hospital, Ilorin.

    Represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, AbdulRazaq said: “We’ll make sure that our primary health centres are properly run and functioning very well. The government will also equip hospitals to meet people’s medical needs. What you have seen here is a direction of where we are going.”

    Read Also: ‘Kwara will pay attention to road’

    The surgical interventions, in which 500 persons benefitted, was sponsored by the government in partnership with the Kwara State Association of Nigeria, North America (KSANG) and Sakinah Medical Outreach.”

    AbdulRazaq said the government was determined to secure the services of qualified health personnel, to provide quality health care services.

    The Special Adviser on Health Matters to the Governor, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, said the just concluded surgical mission was a follow-up to the medical mission held across the three senatorial districts where about 2,500 patients were attended to by volunteer doctors from Sakinah Medical Outreach.

    “The combined medical and surgical mission is one of those key emergency strategies to bring immediate relief to people that have common ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, infectious and non-infectious diseases,” he said.

  • Sokoto shuts three private schools

    Sokoto State Government at the weekend shut three private schools for failing to provide a conducive learning environment as well as not complying with the guidelines for establishing private schools.

    Similarly, 10 non-existent private schools with full addresses were identified across locations.

    The schools, which closure by the Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education is with immediate effect, include: Coral Foundation Spring Montessori, Sokoto; Brighter Children School, Koko Road, Sokoto and Godiya Nursery and Primary School, Tambuwal.

    A statement made available to reporters in Sokoto by the spokesman for the ministry, Nura Bello Maikwanci, said the schools were found to be in poor learning environment and did not meet the requirement for establishing a private school.

    The statement said the essence was to ensure standard, quality and compliance with basic requirements for operating private schools with a view to developing the sector for academic excellence.

    Read Also: Assembly tasks Sokoto State Govt. on IPSAS for 2020 budget

    It added: “Ten other private schools were discovered not in existence by the committee set up by the ministry to assess and evaluate the operation of private schools.

    “They include Precious Nursery and Primary School, Shuni Road, Sokoto; Grace International School, Nakasari, Sokoto; Spring -Field International School, Unguwar Rogo, Sokoto and Alkhairi International School, Bodinga.

    “Others are: TAC Academy Kwannawa, Sokoto; Rhema International School, Kwannawa; Kids Ambassadors Nakasari Area, Sokoto; The Sokoto Academy, Mana, Sokoto; De-Trend Day Care School, Old Airport, Sokoto and

    International Academy for Excellence, Badon Barade, Sokoto.

    The statement urged schools with the approvals from Arabic and Islamic Education Board or Local Government Education Authority with full integration to speedily regularise their operations with the ministry.

    Commenting on the sidelines, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Muhammad Bello Abubakar Guiwa, said the measures being taken by the ministry were not aimed at victimising or denying operations of private schools, adding that they were rather to reposition education such that standard, quality and compliance were encouraged in line with the mandate to resuscitate the sector following the declaration of emergency.

    He, however, said that only private schools that complied with the guidelines would be allowed to operate, adding that education was key in shaping the cause for societal development.

    “The world is now knowledge driven and we must key in by encouraging standards, quality and most importantly compliance with basic requirements for operations for the benefit of the people,” Guiwa said.

  • FCE clears promotion backlog

    The Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene in Kogi State has cleared backlog of workers’ promotion dating back to 2015/2016 academic session, Provost Dr. Umar Hassan has said.

    Hassan, who spoke at the weekend while conducting reporters round the projects inaugurated by his administration in the last two years, said they included Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) intervention projects that had addressed the needs of a vastly growing academic community.

    He said the institution boasts of low fees among its contemporaries.

    The provost appealed for additional federal funding to address the problem of inadequacies.

    “As it is often said, the government is a continuum. Therefore, we’ve set in motion necessary machinery to address the lingering challenges we met on ground, which are majorly financial and of course, academic related. We inherited huge liabilities of promotion arrears for 2015 and 2016, which were as a result of shortfalls in personnel cost.

    “Despite the lean resources at the disposal of the college, critical policy decisions have been taken to stabilise the system with quick interventions in academic programmes.

    Read Also: BUK expels 63 students, rusticates 13 others

    “We created additional academic directorates and restructured the existing ones for greater efficiency and service delivery.

    “Our efforts to move the college to the next level of growth and development in research and academic development have continued to yield fruits, with growing opportunities.

    “This administration met some ongoing TETFUND projects and knowing fully well that new projects cannot be accessed without the completion of the ongoing ones; it became expedient for us to mobilise the contractors to site to ensure immediate completion of the projects. They include the Information Communication Technology (ICT) complex at 60 per cent completion then, but now completed, School of Vocational Education lecturer’s building at 70 per cent completion then, also now completed and the gymnasium at 60 per cent completion then, now completed.

    “Others include the construction of one-storey building complex for Early Childhood Care, Primary, Adult and Non-Formal Education, with external work ongoing.

    “The construction of twin-200 seater auditorium with external work. These initiatives have made considerable impact on the well-being of our students on campus and of course our workers. Interestingly too, discussions are at an advanced stage to benefit from Dangote Foundation for hostel construction and rehabilitation.

    “We inherited huge promotion arrears for 2015/2016. I am delighted to inform you that so far we have cleared 19 months of 2015 and nine months from 2016 arrears. Remarkably too, 2018 promotion was effected and financially implemented. Similarly, as at December 2017, all salary arrears were cleared. It is also worthy of note that the contentious issues surrounding the payment of arrears of Peculiar Academic and Non-teaching allowances have been put to rest, as we have begun implementation.”

  • Army arrests suspected insurgents’ logistics supplier

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday arrested a suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ logistic supplier and seized a car stacked with motorcycle used tyres in Borno State.

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. A.K. Ibrahim, made the disclosure while parading the suspect at the Gubio Super Camp in Maiduguri.

    He said the suspect, Samuel Chukwudon, was arrested on September 27 by a joint team of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) and personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), while travelling along Baga-Monguno Road.

    Ibrahim said the troops seized items which included a car, 136 used motorcycle tyres, 200 new tubes and a number of rubber gum.

    Read Also: Army partners NPS to protect national parks, reserved areas

    “The arrest is based on the subsisting ban on motorcycle in the theatre of operation due to the security challenges.

    “We know that the insurgents use motorcycles in their operations; nobody is allowed to ride motorcycle, the suspect is arrested with the banned items heading toward Lake Chad basin.

    “Boko Haram insurgents are around the area and we felt that something was fishy. He made attempts to bribe our men at the time of the arrest and during interrogation,” he said.

    The officer said that the seized car and items would be destroyed and warned people against trading in motorcycles and motorcycle spare parts.

    The suspect told reporters that he sells used motorcycle tyres to cart pushers such as water vendors and firewood sellers in Monguno.

    “I’ve lived in Monguno since 1990. I have a shop and everybody in the town knows me. I engaged in the used tyres trade because they told us not to sell new tyres,” he said.

  • Dangote extends promo by four weeks

    Management of Dangote Cement at the weekend extended its sales promo by additional four weeks.

    The company said its customers have more than 20 cars and other fabulous prizes to win and that they must win all the gifts before the promo is concluded.

    Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director (GMD) Joseph Makoju, who spoke while presenting another car in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, said: “We are excited to inform you that we have decided to extend the ongoing National Consumer Promotion, tagged: Dangote Bag of Goodies.”

    The GMD said while the promotion will now end on October 15, customers still have till October 31 to redeem their prizes.

    “Based on the above dates, packaging of cement in the special promo bags with scratch card insertion will continue till October 15 while lucky consumers will be able to continue redeeming their prizes up until October 31.”

    Read Also: President Buhari hails Bill Gates, Dangote for service to humanity

    Also, hundreds of pedestrians, motorists and motorcycle operators took turn to catch a glimpse of the presentation of prizes in Lokoja.

    The car winner, Mr. Abubakar Musa, 33, a block moulder, said he was in shock, even after getting the keys to his new car.

    Narrating how he won the car, Musa said “…When I removed the winning card from the bag of cement, I ran to my wife who told me that the promo had since ended. But when I brought it to the Dangote office here (in Lokoja), they confirmed that it was ongoing and that I had won a car.”

    He added: “I still cannot come to terms that I have won a car. I believe it is God’s doing. Dangote is godsend to my family.”

    Makoju said the company was making a point by rewarding its loyal customers.

    The GMD described the promo as a success, urging Nigerians to key into it as the winning cards were in over 72 million promotional bags of Dangote cement.

    He said Dangote was not only leading in the cement sector but was also leading in quality.

    Makoju said it is the only cement company in Nigeria that uses automatic robotic engineering to deliver quality to end-users.

    Describing Kogi State as the heart of Dangote Cement, the GMD noted that Obajana Cement plant in Kogi is one of the largest cement plants in the world.

    The company’s National Sales Director Adeyemi Fajobi said over 21 million winners of various items were expected at the end of the promotion.

    According to him, millions of naira will be won during the promo.

    Dangote Cement Marketing Director, Mrs. Funmi Sanni, urged the people to continue to buy the company’s cement because “there are various prizes for a whopping 21 million Dangote Cement buyers”.

    The figure, she said, was about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

    Mrs Sanni added that lucky Dangote Cement consumers across the country would win 43 cars, 24 tricycles, 24 motorcycles, 550 refrigerators, 400 television sets, 300,000 Dangote foods goodies packs and recharge cards for all networks worth N200,000,000.00.

  • Govt reunites victims of Kaduna Rigasa ‘Islamic Centre’ with families

    As Kaduna State Government on Sunday commenced reuniting the over 300 rescued inmates of the embattled Rigasa ‘Islamic Centre’ with their families, the legal team of the centre has defended its activities.

    The state government had on Saturday taken custody of the over 300 rescued inmates of the centre from the Kaduna State Police Command.

    As at Suday, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Hafsat Baba, said 140 of the over 300 victims have already been re-united with their families.

    She said the victims, including 77 children and 113 adults were taken to a secured facility for proper profiling before uniting them with their families.

    Read Also: Kaduna Islamic School has no operational license – Police

    Baba said: “Initially, after they were rescued, they were brought to Ranchers Bees Stadium where they stayed overnight and given food by the state government.

    “On Friday, they were relocated to the Hajj Camp. And that was when we did the head count to find out and separate the children from the adults. We were able to get 190 on ground.

    “Seventy-seven of them are children, the youngest being the age of six. There are some that are seven, eight, nine and 10. We also have adults as old as 30 and even up to 50. We have 113 adults as at Friday.

    “On that same Friday, there were about 15 children that were really sick. We had to take them to the hospital. About three of the adults were on admission where they are being taken care of.”

    She, however, commended officials of the Nigeria Police, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and media practitioners for the various roles they played in the exercise.

    The Legal Adviser, of the supposed Rehabilitation Centre, Sani Katu said, the Kaduna State government and the police have not done well by raiding the centre.

    The lawyer said the development was a big loss to Kaduna State government, Nigeria and neighboring African nations.

    According to him, the centre which started in year 2000 and duly registered with the state, has been a molder of society and should be commended instead.

    He said they will cooperate with security personnel on investigation, but the legal team will also give the centre every cover to prove that it intentions are pure.