The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Just in: Ondo Assembly sacks interim council chairmen

    EIGHTEEN Local Government Caretaker Committees in Ondo State have been dissolved.

    Ondo State House of Assembly announced the dissolution of the caretaker committees yesterday at its plenary.

    The House said the affected local government caretaker chairmen should handover to their councils Director of Local Government Administration with immediate effect.

    Most of the caretaker chairmen as well as their supervisory councillors have been in office since 2017, following the elongation of their six months term three times by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Akeredolu had issued a stern-warning to the caretaker chairmen against their alleged involvement in the scamming of supervisory councillors for tenure elongation few weeks ago.

     

  • Three injured in Lagos building collapse

    Three persons suspected to be artisans on Thursday sustained injuries after a building under construction collapsed in Lagos.

    The incident occurred at Kayode Aluko Olokun Close, Shangisha in Magodo.

    It was gathered the storey-building was at plastering stage when it caved in around 3pm while it rained.

    The three men who were trapped underneath the rubble were said to have been among those plastering the house at the time of the incident.

    Read Also: Police investigate ‘murder’ of Lagos businesswoman

    Our correspondent gathered operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) responded to the distress and extricated the victims from the debris.

    While two of them were said to have sustained serious injuries, the third victim’s condition was said to be stable.

    A source, who hinted on the incident, said the RRS operatives rushed the victims to the hospital and cordoned off the area.

  • Fayose hails Buhari, lampoons Obasanjo on June 12

    The immediate past governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for etching Chief Moshood Abiola in the indelible wall of fame.

    Fayose who took to his official Twitter account (Gov@Ayo Fayose) on Thursday berated the former president Olusegun Obasanjo for missing the opportunity to honour his kinsman when he was president between 1999 and 2007.

    The ex-governor said instead of Obasanjo to honour Abiola for his impeccable impacts in the struggle for democracy, he was busy nurturing elephant size ego.

    President Buhari had last year conferred a posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola who was widely regarded as Nigeria’s hero of democracy.

    He assented to a public holiday bill amendment which nullified May 29 previously set aside as a public holiday and accommodates June 12 instead in commemoration of the 1993 general election won by Chief Moshood Abiola.

    Also, The president at this year maiden celebration of Democracy Day announced that the Abuja National Stadium will now be known as Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

    Abiola was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election which was annulled by then-military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

    After he refused to give up his mandate, he was imprisoned in 1994 and died in custody under suspicious circumstances on July 7, 1998.

    Read Also: Alleged fraud: Court gives EFCC June 28 to re-arraign Fayose

    Nigeria returned to democratic system of government in 1999, with Olusegun Obasanjo elected as president.

    Many believed his choice as president was to appease the south-west region for Abiola’s stolen mandate, but Obasanjo never officially recognised the significance of June 12 and Abiola’s sacrifice.

    The former governor praised President Buhari for his legendary gesture in recognising the incurable spirit of Abiola in the struggle to enthrone democratic rule.

    “Honouring MKO Abiola by Buhari is to Obasanjo shame. It remains a sore point of his political history that because of ego, Obasanjo who’s the greatest beneficiary of the june 12, 1993 struggle failed to honour his kinsman, MKO Abiola. So, I commend President Buhari”, he said.

  • No recruitment in State House Clinic, says Perm Sec

    The Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, has urged the public to ignore notices of recruitment at State House Clinic currently making the rounds on the internet.

    The Permanent Secretary, in a statement by the Deputy Director, Information, Attah Esa, advised the public to be more circumspect and wary of such notices that are designed by mischief makers to deceive and extort unsuspecting job seekers.

    Arabi assured that the sponsors of the publication will be investigated and prosecuted.

  • We’ll continue stabilising West Africa – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed Nigeria’s commitment to stabilising the West-African sub-region within available resources.

    He spoke during an audience with Mohammad Ibn Chambas, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, on Thursday, at the State House, Abuja.

    He said he was pleased that the United Nations appreciated his administration’s focus on fighting corruption, poverty and ensuring regional stability.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also restated his belief that peaceful relations with Nigeria’s neighbours remained imperative in confronting terrorism and insurgency.

    Chambas, who represented the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at the Democracy Day celebration, said the UN boss extended his personal admiration for President Buhari’s “integrity and quality as a statesman especially, in fighting corruption and driving public accountability.”

    Read Also: Ohaneze to Buhari: zone SGF to Southeast

    He said the UN appreciated the Nigerian leader’s commitment to tackling poverty, terrorism, insurgency and recharging the Lake Chad.

    While pledging UN continued technical support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the next general elections, Chambas also expressed the UN’s delight that Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, was elected the President of the 74thUN General Assembly.

    He described Prof. Muhammad-Bande as “highly regarded by his peers in New York,” adding that “We will ensure his tenure is a success.”

    According to Chambas, “We have no doubt that he will be a pride to Nigeria and Africa.”

    In a related development, President Buhari Thursday received in audience the First Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan, Taban Deng Gai, who came to seek Nigeria’s continued support towards lasting peace in his country.

  • Ohaneze to Buhari: zone SGF to Southeast

    Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council(OYC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give the southeast the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The group, in a statement in Abakaliki on Thursday, said that will give the zone a sense of belonging in the President’s second tenure.

    The statement signed by the President-General of OYC also congratulated the new National Assembly Leadership elected on Tuesday.

    The statement said: “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide had watched keenly the manipulated drama and scheme out of South East zone from the leadership of National Assembly, Judiciary and other Security apparatus of the Country, but rather than lamenting endlessly, We congratulate those who emerged as National Assembly Leaders”.

    “It is the will of the Almighty God, and we the younger generation of Ndigbo accept these realities as an act of fate, and we urge Igbo leaders to shield their battle swords and quietly go into ” ime Obi” and re-strategize ahead of time for the battle Royal ahead in 2023″.

    ” We should borrow leaf from South West who were in similar situations between 2007 till 2015 before they bounced back in the present moment with President Buhari”

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth council worldwide wishes to state emphatically for the records,that APC, the ruling party is the amalgamation of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria,Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu, All Nigeria People’s Party led by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, and Congress of Progressive Change led by President Buhari before the arrival of the New PDP led by Atiku Abubakar and a faction of APGA led by Sen Rochas Anayo Okorocha”.

    “History will vindicate us, that President Buhari and Vice President Osibanjo had represented the interest of the North and South West. We urge that equity should be balanced in zoning of SGF to Southeast, and we unanimously nominate the leader who was part and parcel of that merger and the leader of defunct ANPP, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu to be considered as the next SGF, for equity, fairness and natural justice and for Southeast not to be completely shut off from the Executive Council”.

    “We have the implicit confidence that Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has a wonderful enigmatic personality to assist President Buhari drive the next level agenda. We appeal to the Presidency to allow Southeast replace Northeast in the position of SGF since Northeast now is having the position of Senate President”

    Read Also: Ohaneze wants laws to end herdsmen menace in Southeast

    The group also called for synergy and cooperation from all southeast governors and the Presidency.

    “Igbo Youths will continue to support our Southeast Governors led by Gov David Umahi, and urge them to continue to have cordial relationship with President Buhari and ensure that all the dividends of democracy especially those road projects approved by the last Federal Executive Council, for the South East and existing ones are completed in the second tenure of President Buhari”

    “We urge the Governors to appoint youths into their various cabinets. We congratulate all those that emerged Speakers in the South East, and urge them to enact laws that will end the atrocities of Herdsmen in the South East by ensuring that the dreaded Bakassi Boys are returned with special mandate to engage the armed herdsmen in the South East”, the group concluded.

  • Senate aborts motion to debate Buhari’s Democracy Day speech

    The Senate on Thursday aborted a motion which sought the debate of the June 12 speech of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanius Dung Giang, prayed the Senate to debate the speech which he said was already in public domain.

    The senator relying on order 52 (matter of urgent national importance) said that the motion had to do with democracy Day speech of President Buhari.

    He said, “This speech is already in public domain. I am asking that in view of the interest it has generated—-“

    Before Giang could proceed, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan intervened and said that the leave of the Senate should be obtained and consent and approval of senators secured before the mover of the motion could proceed or not.

    Lawan put the question whether the mover of the motion should be allowed to proceed with his motion, overwhelming “nay” greeted the question.

    The nay answered signalled the sudden death of the proposed motion.

    But Senator Uche Ekwunife, was not done with the issue of June 12 celebration.

    The Anambra Central senator attempted to bring up the role Professor Humphrey Nwosu played during the June 12, 1993 general election.

    Read Also: Lawan performs first plenary assignment as senate president

    Ekwunife told her colleagues that she had already discussed the issue with the Senate President and was ready to talk about the role of Professor Nwosu if the debate of President Buhari’s June 12 speech was allowed.

    She noted that since the debate of the President’s speech was not allowed “I am ready to talk about the role Professor Nwosu on the June 12, 1993.

    Senate President told her to bring the motion in another legislative day.

  • Tips on how to identify fake naira notes

    A lot of Nigerians have fallen victim of fake currency because they can’t differentiate between real and fake naira notes.

    If you have once fallen victim of fake money before, then you should follow these easy ways to know how to identify fake naira notes.

    ·       Check the texture

    You should know that if the texture of the note is very soft and the image looks so dull you should quickly reject it and return it to the person who gave it to you.

    ·        Use water

    If you are not too sure of the note given to you, the easiest way is for you to quickly wet your hand with water then use that same hand to fold the money or scrub it gently, if fake the colour will start washing off before your very own eyes.

    If that didn’t work fast for you, you can immerse the money in water for 30 seconds. Make sure it becomes very wet and looks rough. You will notice the colour will start washing off but the original currency will never wash.

    ·        Check the gold foil

    The N1000 note has a gold foil on the right side beside the CBN governor’s signature. You should have it in mind that if you peel the foil of a fake note it will peel.

    So if the above number two option is too hard for you and you are holding a N1, 000 note, you should try to peel off the foil. If it does peel, that means it is fake.

    Read Also: Suspected fake soldiers ‘harass, extort money from traders’

    ·       Check the ribbon/thread carefully

    There is a thread, which looks like a ribbon on all naira notes running from the top to the bottom except N50 note that doesn’t have it.

    In real notes, this thread can be felt and looks very thick. It is more noticeable on old naira notes. But in fake notes, you will see same thread without being thick and quality like that of the real notes.

    If you scratch the painting, it will peel off like that of the solver panel on recharge cards.

    ·       Use mercury bulbs

    Some features of the naira notes cannot be seen with naked eyes.  These features are only in original naira notes and one cannot see them except with the help of mercury bulbs.

    If a real N1000 note is placed under the rays from a mercury bulb, it’ll show a glowing 1,000 in numbers written across the note. But when you place the fake note everything about it will be upside down.

  • Our admission cut-off mark remains 200, UI insists

    The management of the University of Ibadan has declared the cut-off mark for the premier institution remains 200 as against 160 agreed on by the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) and stakeholders of higher institutions.

    JAMB announced on Tuesday that cut-off mark for admission into federal universities will be 160 for 2019.

    On Tuesday, JAMB and stakeholders at the 19th Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria approved 160 and above as the national minimum benchmark for 2019 admission into public universities.

    But many educationists criticized the cut-off mark, describing it as ridiculously low and a further indication of the falling standard of education.

    UI, on its part, said it will have nothing to do with the national minimum cut-off mark.

    Read Also: Candidates react to JAMB’s 160 cut-off mark for admissions

    In a statement by the office of its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the institution said: “For the avoidance of doubts in the minds of our prospective admission seekers, their parents and guardians, our alumni and alumnae and the general public, the minimum mark for any course at the University of Ibadan, and all its Affiliated Institutions, remains 200 out of the maximum of 400.

    “This has been the position of the Senate of the University since the matriculation examinations into Nigerian Universities commenced in 1978.”

  • LAUTECH student, 15 others arrested for alleged robbery, cultism

    The Police in Oyo State on Thursday said it had arrested 16 suspects, including an accounting student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, over alleged armed robbery, cultism and conspiracy.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Shina Olukolu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen of the command’s activities at the police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

    Olukolu said that the suspects were believed to be the criminals terrorising people of the state in the last few weeks.

    He assured that the officers and men of the command were to ensure that they rid the state of criminal elements.

    He said that the arrested LAUTECH student had confessed to being a member of illegal Eiye secret confraternity in the institution and had been unleashing mayhem on members of the public and students.

    Olukolu said that operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested the student following a tip-off on June 6 at about 7.30 p.m. in Aroje area, Ogbomoso.

    Read Also: 15 police officers in detention over extortion

    “The suspect had been on the wanted list of the police for involvement in series of criminal activities and a team of SARs operative on patrol swung into action after getting the information about him and was arrested.

    “Two locally-made pistols, four live cartridges, one knife and a cutlass were recovered from him.

    “Investigation is now in progress to arrest other members of his cult gang,” he said.

    It was learnt that among the suspects were two who allegedly hypnotized one Mary Ajayi and collected N1.4 million from her while on the way to a bank at Dugbe area.

    The commissioner said that Ajayi was sent by her boss to deposit the money in the bank when the suspect approached her, hypnotized her and collected the cash from her.

    According to him, the suspects thereafter took their victim to Inalende area of Ibadan and inflicted several injuries all over her body and locked her inside a room.

    He said that the victim was rescued by the police through information provided by public “and the suspects were arrested’’.

    Olukolu said that a Toyota Camry car and other items bought with the money were recovered from the suspects.

    He commended the public for constantly providing police with credible information that had led to the arrest of criminal elements in the state.