The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Allegri declares Ronaldo fit for Juventus clash with Ajax

    Cristiano Ronaldo has been passed fit to play for Juventus in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday.

    Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri disclosed it to Sky Italia in Amsterdam ahead of the clubs’ Champions League clash.

    Ronaldo was rested by the Turin club after his sensational hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in the last round of the Champions League on March 12.

    However, he picked up a thigh strain while on national team duty with Portugal last month. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Ad hoc staff protesting over unpaid allowances may have banking problems – INEC

    The Lagos office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that ad hoc staff protesting over unpaid allowances may be having problems with their banks.

    Mr Femi Akinbiyi, its Public Relations Officer, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, in a reaction protest by some ad hoc staff over the non-payment of their allowances, several weeks after the general elections.

    “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Lagos State, has been drawn to the report of some ad-hoc staff going round some media houses claiming that they have not been paid their allowances for the job they carried out during the general elections.

    “The commission wishes to state that it commenced payment of all ad-hoc staff engaged during the last general elections immediately after the conclusion of each election.

    “Most of those claiming they have not been paid are either among those whose account details are not correct, and their banks have sent the money paid into such accounts back to the commission, or those that are not engaged, but claim to have been engaged by INEC.

    “For instance, it is on our record that one Mr Samuel Nelson, who led the protest over non-payment of ad-hoc staff at Oshodi-Isolo Local Government office, has been paid,” Akinbiyi said in the statement.

    The INEC spokesman said that in the course of the payment, it was discovered that the names submitted by some ad-hoc staff were not the same as the names on the bank accounts submitted.

    “We, therefore, enjoin those who genuinely worked with the Commission in Lagos State and have not been paid to get in touch with the Electoral Officers of the local governments where they claimed to have worked.

    “The Electoral Officers will verify the claims and if found to be genuine, will send same to the accounts department of the Commission for processing.

    “We want to use this medium to thank media houses that balanced their stories by hearing the Commission’s side of the story, which we believe is the standard practice in journalism.

    “We equally enjoin media houses and journalists who are in the breach of this standards to give the Commission a fair hearing on any issue affecting it,” he added.

    According to him, the payment of honorarium to ad-hoc staff will continue until all people engaged for the general elections are paid.

    He said that all those who were engaged and were not paid should also dialogue with the commission with proof, instead of spreading falsehood through the media.

    “They can take the advantage of the SERVICOM unit of the Commission to lay their claims through the following numbers: 09056369789 or 08145419483,” the PRO said.

  • Breaking: Umahi suspends two LG chairmen over communal clashes

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Tuesday suspended the Chairmen of Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Areas over the resurgence of communal crisis in the areas last week.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected chairmen included: Mr Emmanuel Nwangele of Abakaliki and Chief John Nnabo of Ikwo LGA.

    Dr Hyginus Nwokwu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), told newsmen after the governor’s meeting with stakeholders of both councils, that the suspension was with immediate effect.

    “The governor is not happy that both chairmen did not demonstrate capacity to ensure security in both councils which they are constitutionally bound to protect.

    “The governor also suspended all political office holders from communities in both councils—Enyibichiri, Noyo Echilaike from Ikwo and Edda, Enyigba communities from Abakaliki LGA.

    Read also: Eight killed in resumed Ebonyi boundary crisis

    “The suspension will lapse only when lasting peace returns to the areas as the suspended chairmen are directed to handover to their vice chairmen,” he said.

    Nwokwu added that civil servants from both councils who directly or indirectly financed the perpetrators of the clashes were also suspended.

    “This will ensure that they are financially incapacitated to sponsor such aggressions as the sanctity of live supersedes all political considerations,” he said.

    He disclosed that the governor also directed stakeholders from Abakaliki LGA to unearth the hoodlums who killed and set fire on a bus conveying Ikwo indigenes along the Alex Ekwueme Federal Univeristy, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) road, within one week.

    “These people were unfortunately burnt beyond recognition and they involved six members of the same family including a three-month old baby.

    “The government will be forced to hunt the perpetrators if the stakeholders fail to produce them within such period and the situation will not be palatable to anybody.

    “The government hereby assures the citizens especially indigenes of the affected communities, students and staff of FUNAI,  that security agencies have been mandated to provide adequate security in the areas,” the SSG said.

    In his comments, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, the Commissioner for Border, Peace and Internal Security disclosed that 33 political appointees were suspended in Ikwo LGA and 18 in Abakaliki LGA.

    “The governor suspended the chairmen because they failed in their constitutional duty of protecting the people, so the issue of whether he has the constitutional right to do so does not arise.

    “The councillors who are also elected were also suspended and we should realise that only the living can talk,” he said.

    Umahi in his earlier remark before the meeting, threatened to suspend the chairmen of Ohaukwu LGA of the state for failing to ensure the people’s security in the wake of its land dispute with the people of Agila in Benue.

    He also bemoaned the spate of attacks which led to several deaths within a fortnight at Ikwo, Abakaliki, Amasiri community of Afikpo North LGA and Onicha Igboeze in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi. (NAN)

  • Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: Expect more successes in economy, security

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Dubai declared that the next four years of his administration will be a harvest and consolidation of successes in the three-point agenda of fixing the economy, fighting insecurity and corruption

    Speaking at a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian Community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Buhari pledged more government investments in research and development, as well as technology and educational institutions.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also promised that the prudent economic management, diversification of production and revenue bases of the administration in the last four years will be sustained for better prospects for all Nigerians.

    He said “The Next Level is to consolidate whatever we have done till 2023 and it makes common sense that in order to manage any outfit, whether a nation, state or organisation, you have to secure it.

    Read also: Buhari committed to ending criminality, banditry – IGP

    ‘‘We all know how many local governments Boko Haram were occupying. People from the North-east know that they are not holding any local government today. They were holding 17 out of the 774 local governments before we came in 2015; they are not holding any now,’’ the President said.

    At the interactive session, the Nigerian leader noted that a key objective of his administration which had yielded positive results, in the last four years, was the campaign for the nation to return to agriculture.

    He said the nation cannot afford to lag behind again in agriculture.

    ‘‘What we did was to encourage agriculture, and fertiliser was made available at half the price.

    ‘‘We encouraged people to go back to land. The response was excellent. We have virtually achieved food security; we have stopped the importation of rice.

    ‘‘The money we have saved in foreign exchange is in hundreds of millions of dollars, not even in naira. We are putting that into infrastructure,’’ the President said.

    Responding to a question about the pace of anti-corruption war, the President said: ‘‘Whoever calls me Baba-go-slow, I’m very conscious of historical antecedents. You know what happened to me the last time… people [now] have to be proven guilty before they are locked up.’’

    Reflecting on the 2019 APC presidential campaign and the outcome of the polls, the President said: “I was very impressed by the turn out of every state to see and hear me. The crowd is more than what you can buy or force to come. Nigerians voluntarily came out.’’

  • Police confirm killing of 21, rustling of 50 cows in Kajuru

    The Kaduna State Police Command on Monday confirmed the Killing of 21 persons and rustling of 50 cows in an attack by gunmen in Banono and Anguwan Aku villages in Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

    The Command Public Relations officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, gave the confirmation in a statement issued in Kaduna.
    Sabo said the said incident happened on April 8, at about 0930Hours.

    “We received a distress call that a group of armed men in large number on motor bikes entered Banono and Anguwan Aku both are remote neighbouring villages in Kufana district of Kajuru LGA.

    “The attackers started shooting sporadically attacking the villagers and in the process shot and killed twenty one persons, injured three others and destroyed ten 10 houses.

    ” The bandits also rustled about fifty 50 cows,” he said.

    Sabo disclosed that a combined teams of Police Mobile Force personnel, conventional Police, Army and the local Vigilante were promptly mobilised to the area.

    He said they repelled the attack and evacuated both the dead and the injured to hospital.

    Read Also: Police identify those behind Rivers cult killings

    According to him, while efforts are on to apprend the fleeing criminals, reinforcement of more Police Operatives have been drafted to the area for intensive combing and patrol with a view to forestall further breakdown of law and order/reprisal and arrest the perpetrators.

    Sabo said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdurrahman is saddened by this attack and has reiterated the Command’s commitment to apprehend the culprits.

    “He sincerely condoled the affected families on the irreparable losses.

    “The Command appeals to members of the public to continue to assist the Police with useful information that could help in addressing these challenges and for the possible arrest of these criminals.” Sabo said.

  • 2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships: Nigeria qualifies for World Junior Championships

    Despite two years absence from the ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships, Nigeria boys’ team yesterday in Accra, Ghana,  regained its place among the superpowers at junior level after securing its place at the 2019 ITTF World Junior Championships holding in Thailand.

    Apart from the first group match against Tunisia in which the team recorded a 3-1 win, every other match ended 3-0 in their favour.

    The team led by Azeez Solanke, Augustine Emmanuel, Abayomi Animashaun and Jamiu Ayanwale were unbeaten from the first match to the semifinal stage where they walloped Togo 3-0.

    Read also: 2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships: Nigeria hits semifinal

    From 2016 when Nigeria featured at the World Junior Championships held in Cape Town, South Africa, the team has not competed at the global championship and this qualification meant a lot to the players who told NationSport that they are happy returning to the big stage in the world.

    “We are happy that we qualified and I must tell you that we are hoping to do well this time in Thailand.

    Generally to quality as one of the best teams in Africa was a bit easy for us because the only tough match we played was against Tunisia in the opening match of the group. We are excited on this and we hope we can get the needed support from government to attend this tournament later in the year,” Animashaun said.

     

  • Train crushes beggar to death in Lagos

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Monday confirmed a passenger train crushed a beggar to death at Muslim area of Lagos.

    Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos District Manager (RDM) of the corporation, made confirmation while addressing newsmen on the incident in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an Ijoko to Iddo bound Mass Transit Train crushed a beggar to death near the Mushin railway station on Monday morning.

    NAN reports that the unidentified beggar was one of the six beggars that sat in a row near the railway line at the Mushin Railway corridor.

    Read also: 60 SON workers get training

    Oche said life of every Nigerian was important to the corporation, advising people to endeavour to obey the order and signs attached to the rail lines.

    According to him, it is against the law to sit or trade beside the railway line, either begging for alms or for any other reason.

    Oche, however, warned traders, hawkers, beggars and passersby to stay away from the rail lines across the state to avoid casualty.

    “Anybody who has no business entering the train should not be on the rail corridor, because it is very dangerous.

    “It’s like a suicide mission seeing a train approaching and you are still sitting down on the track,” he said. (NAN)

  • Ekiti employs marshals to enforce grazing law

    THE Ekiti State government has employed marshals to enforce the Anti-Grazing Law 2016 and prevent farmers-herders clashes across the 16 local government areas.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the officers on yesterday, the Marshal Coordinator, Sola Durodola, urged them to perform their assignment with utmost sense of responsibility.

    Durodola said the marshals are vested with the power to ensure that herders comply with the law that regulates grazing within the hours allowed by law and restriction of their movement.

    He said government would not allow destruction of farmlands and farm produce through unrestricted grazing and attacks on farmers and other law-abiding citizens.

    Durodola also urged the marshals to monitor what he described as some nefarious activities of loggers in the forest.

    He regretted that illegal felling of economic trees in the forest has robbed the state government of huge revenues that would have been used to the benefit of the people.

    The coordinator warned the newly recruited marshals against involvement in shady deals and corrupt practices capable of jeopardising the mandate of the agency.

    Durodola stressed that officer caught in sharp practices would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Some of the newly recruited marshals, while speaking with reporters, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them and work in line with the mandate of the agency.

  • Doctor’s death: Five more suspects arrested

    Five more persons have been arrested by the police over the killing of a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, last Friday.

    A  House Officer at LUTH, Dr. Stephen Urueye was stabbed to death a day after his convocation.

    Urueye was among the students who graduated at the 50th convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last Wednesday.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), told The Nation last night that five more suspects had been arrested.

    This brings to seven the suspects arrested in connection with the doctor’s death.

    Read also: OUTRAGE AS HOODLUMS KILL LUTH DOCTOR 24 HOURS AFTER GRADUATION

    Urueye, it was learnt, received alert of his first salary as house officer the day he was stabbed by the robbers.

    He was stabbed in front of the Sickle Cell Centre, near the teaching hospital’s gate, Idi-Araba, Mushin by robbers.

    With blood gushing out from his thigh, he ran into the LUTH compound where he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre (A&E).

    He was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

    There, his fellow house officers and senior doctors battled all through the night to save him, but he died around 3:43am.

  • Balogun shifts focus to All African Games

    Nigeria’s fast-rising wrestling sensation, Sunmisola Balogun has turned her attention to the forthcoming 2019 All Africa Games after winning gold medal at the just concluded Senior African Wrestling Championship held in Tunisia.

    The Ondo state born athlete defeated Amina Ibrahim of Egypt, Amel Hammiche of Algeria in the first and second round, defeated Nour Jeljeli of Tunisia in the semi-final, before defeating Yvette Zie of Burkina Faso in the final of the 65kg to claim gold medal in her first senior category fight outside Nigeria.

    In a chat with NationSport, Balogun, who won gold medals at the 2018 Africa Youth Games (AYG) in Algiers and the 2018 National Sports Festival in Abuja, said she went to Tunisia determined to win a medal.

    The 17-year-old is now looking forward to make the country proud at the 12th All African Games scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco from 19 August to 31 August 2019.

    “When I was preparing for the African Wrestling Championship in Tunisia, I never thought I will compete at the senior category. But when I heard that I am going to compete at the Senior 65kg, I was a little bit panic. However, I said to myself ‘yes the time has come to prove myself that I can do it’. A lot of people encouraged me, especially my team mates, the Ondo State wrestlers. I promised myself to give out all my best, even more that 100 percent to perform well. My final against Yvette Zie of Burkina Faso was a very tough one and I won by 1-0. I never gave up one one point in about six minute on mat. I returned the glory to God almighty and those who still believe in me. I never dreamed about success, I worked for it. We just have to rest a little before resuming reaining ahead of other competitions. You know the All African Games is fast approaching too.”

    Balogun thanked the Nigeria Wrestling Federation for supporting and encouraging the young wrestlers.

    “I want to express my appreciation to the federation especially my coach, Purity Akuh who has continued to push us to success. He kept encouraging us during competitions by saying we have come here not to play but put in our best by more than 100 percent,” Balogun told NationSport.