The Nation Newspaper

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  • Southwest Ohanaeze greets Wike

    Spokesman of the Ohanaeze Southwest Prince Erondu Uche has congratulated Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for his reelection.

    A statement by Uche yesterday reads: “I congratulate Your Excellency on your victory at the polls. Your victory is an indication that Rivers people love you and are happy with your administration. Your victory is victory for democracy.

    “I encourage you to continue with ongoing development projects, and I thank the people who participated in the election either as candidates or electorate. I urge everyone to put away individual and party differences, and support the present administration for the betterment of the state.

    Read also: Umahi, Saraki greet Wike on re-election

    “I condemn the violence that characterised the election. The government should ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book and measures put in place to avert future occurrence.

    “Your Excellency sir, history will remember the role you played in developing and uniting Rivers people and returning power to the electorate. It takes a courageous man like Wike to overcome the challenges of the last election.”

  • Lions Club sponsors girl’s eye surgery

    The Ilupeju Lions Club has sponsored an eye surgery for three-year-old Alimat Ibrahim.

    The President of the club, Babatunde Raji, said Alimat had not seen since she was born.

    He said the gesture, which costs N750,000, was to enable Alimat regain her sight.

    Speaking at the weekend, at Eye Foundation Hospital, Ikeja, after the successful operation on Alimat, Raji said the period which the family came to the club and when the operation took place was within three weeks.

    Lions Club District Governor for District 404 B2 Nigeria, Dupe Dada appreciated Lions Club Ilupeju for the gesture.

    “Our major priority is the vision and this is our core area particularly when it comes to medical. We believe that the government cannot do it all alone and that is why we take it as our own responsibility to save souls. At the same time, we can only implore other persons to come and join us to help the needy,” he said.

    Alimat mother, Khadijat Ibrahim, a trader, thanked the club for coming to their aid.

    “We have been to different hospitals but we were told nothing could be done until we got to Eye Foundation Hospital that assured us that Alimat would regain her sight.

    “Since birth, Alimat could not see with the eyes. Lions Club Ilupeju came to our rescue and we appreciated what they have done,” she said.

    Former Chief Editing Assistant, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Grandfather to Alimat, Taiwo Ishola said the family had been to different hospitals and had done several tests but to no avail.

    He said they had spent over N200,000 and were eventually referred to Eye Foundation but the family could not afford the cost of the operation.

    “I wrote letters for financial assistance to several individuals and organisations but all were to no avail. As a family, we appreciate what this club has done and we thank God that the operation was successful,” he said.

  • Illegal toll on food items to go, says official

    The National Association of Produce Dealers (NAAPD) is to partner the 57 councils in Lagos State to tackle the collection of illegal toll on food items on the highways.

    Its National Secretary, Kingsley Chikezie, broke the news at an interactive session involving NAAPD,  the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Heads of Department of Agriculture and Social Services in the 57 councils on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on illegal and multiple levies and taxes on agriculture produce on highways, parks and markets.

    Chikezie said the law stated that no person,  tax officer or representative of government could collect any levy on the road, except in the market.

    The association, he said,  had the government’s backing to work with law enforcement agencies to stop the collection of such fees.

    The association, he said,  was working on a tripartite agreement with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria on the stoppage of illegal tolls on farm produce across the country.

    ‘’We want those illegal toll collectors to leave the roads and come to the market, as it amounts to double taxation. Our action is masses oriented. In the midst of the mobility and funding challenge we face, we want to ensure that nobody goes to the highway to collect tolls on agricultural produce,”  he said.

    When these ‘’illegal tolls’’ are removed from the roads, the prices of foodstuffs would be reduced “because as it is today, most of the prices of food are high in Lagos because of multiple taxation.”

    Head of  Lagos State Board of Agricultural and Social Service Bola Onigbajo, said the government would partner the association on the issue.

  • Woman dies, daughter injured as vehicle plunges into Ogun river

    A WOMAN conveying her daughter to school in Ogun State drowned yesterday when the private vehicle she was driving skidded off the dual carriage bridge between Ososa and Odogbolu stretch of the Sagamu-Ore expressway and plunged into the river beneath.

    Her daughter, a student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, was, however, rescued from the water.

    The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, told The Nation that the vehicle was coming from Lekki in Lagos and going to Ijebu-Ode, when the accident occurred.

    Akinbiyi said mother and daughter were the only occupants of the vehicle.

    Read also: 19 killed, 38 injured in Katsina road accident

    The woman was conveying her daughter, who is a student of TASUED to school. She lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the river.

    According to Akinbiyi, the vehicle has been evacuated from the river and moved to the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) of Odogbolu Divisional Police Headquarters, Odogbolu.

  • Apapa gridlock takes toll on cashew

    Cashew exporters are struggling to get international buyers for cashew nuts as a result of  delays in shipment  caused by  congestion on Apapa Port  access  road.

    Recently, Nigeria’s cashew suffered a setback when her 37,000 tonnes of cashew exported to Vietnam were rejected.

    The National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Tola Faseru, said as a result of the gridlock on the major road leading to the port, some cashew traders defaulted on contract and ability to meet up with buyers or get fresh contracts.

    Read also: FG to deliver Apapa truck park this month

    The situation is not expected to improve for several months.

    Faseru said exporters were  having difficulty fulfilling their contractual obligations.

    He added, however, that the group was working with government agencies in the maritime sector to address the crisis.

     

  • ‘Kachikwu, Baru have transformed oil sector’

    The reduced incidences of oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta have been attributed to the working relationship between Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru.

    The Niger Delta Oil Communities Agenda (NIDOCA), in a statement yesterday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Emma Akpovoka, said Kachikwu and Baru have shown efficiency in the recorded achievements of the petroleum industry.

    The group, which lauded the duo for their consistent drive for transparency and transformation, noted that these have paved way for more investors into the oil and gas business.

    The statement reads: “In the last three and half years, a careful review and assessment of happenings in the oil sector showed that Kachikwu and Baru have worked collectively to attain the remarkable achievements and transformation in the sector.

    “Though President Muhammadu Buhari is the substantive Petroleum Minister, however, Kachikwu and Baru have initiated and implemented policies to the satisfaction of Mr. President. Under the present administration, the oil sector has witnessed tremendous reorganisation, become more effective, efficient and transparent to investors.

    “It is evident that Kachikwu and Baru have maintained a quality working relationship, which was why they have been able to efficiently address or minimise pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta.

    “We do believe that Kachikwu and Baru are still determined to do more and consolidate on the present achievements in the Next Level administration”.

  • Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

    Policemen have killed three of the armed bandits that stormed Kakangi Village of Birnin-Gwari Council, Kaduna on Saturday in a gun battle.

    But the police lost two of their men in the cross-fire.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the development yesterday in a statement.

    The PPRO said: “The command received a distress call through DPO Randagi on 6/4/19 at about 1900hrs that armed men in large number entered Kakangi village of Birnin Gwari council, who started shooting sporadically and attacking the villagers.

    “Upon receiving hints, combine teams of PMF personnel, conventional police and men of a vigilance group were quickly mobilised to the village to engage the bandits in fierce gun duel and successfully repelled the attack, but however, two of our men paid the supreme sacrifice during the intense gun duel with the bandits.

    “Our gallant men gunned down three of the bandits and several others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.”

    The PPRO added: “One Inspector Aliyu Mohammed and Sgt Rabiu Abubakar both attached to Randagi Division as well as Sgt Ibrahim Nasir along with six civilians were injured and are now receiving treatment at the General Hospital Birnin-Gwari. The attackers also torched some houses in the village.”

    He said the command has mobilised more reinforcement to the area with a view to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ahmad Abdurrahman has condemned the attack and assured members of the public that the command will fish out the culprits. He, however, appealed to the good citizens of the state to support the police with prompt and relevant information that could help in getting rid of the bandits.”

    The police chief prayed for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers, who lost their lives in the operation and quick recovery of the injured persons.

    But, the Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari, while narrating the incident, said the bandits stormed Kakangi around 5pm on motorcycles, shooting sporadically at the police station before proceeding on a house-to-house attack and burning down houses.

    He quoted a survivor of the attack at Gagumi Kakangi as saying that they were sitting in front of the police station and suddenly bandits heavily armed started shooting.

    One of the survivors said he jumped through the fence to escape.

    As they were escaping, thick smoke from several locations overshadowed the sky.

    Nagwari, however, added that he learnt from several sources that many people were feared killed, including high profile indigenes of Kakangi, who were attending a mass wedding.

  • Gunmen abduct council chair’s dad

    Five gunmen yesterday abducted Mr. Wellington Magbisa, the father of the Caretaker Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Michael.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers gained access to their victim’s house through a window, seized him and took him away.

    Sources said the incident, which occurred in the morning, caused panic in Sagbama and confusion in Magbisa’s family.

    Read also: How father, son raped, impregnated 13-yr-old girl

    The abductors reportedly took their victim away to an unknown place through the waterways.

    Police spokesman Butswat Asinim confirmed the incident, saying “our men are investigating the matter.”

    “About five gunmen gained access to the victim’s house through a widow and took him away through the waterways. The police are doing everything to locate their whereabouts”, he said.

  • Oyo APC will bounce back, says Ajimobi’s wife

    OYO State Governor’s wife Dr. Florence Ajimobi has assured the people that the ruling All Progress Congress (APC) will bounce back to power in 2023.

    She also solicited for support and prayers of the people, especially women, for the incoming People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    Mrs. Ajimobi said God had destined the Governor-elect, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to take over from her husband.

    The governor’s wife spoke at the April edition of the quarterly prayer rally organised by the Women Intercessory Network at the Remembrance Arcade, opposite Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, at the weekend.

    She said: “We are very proud; it is a women intercessory network devoid of any political party. I am the wife of the governor of Oyo State and my husband is an APC member, but this is not a political ground. We are here to pray for the government of Oyo State and for our nation at large.

    Read also: Senate Presidency: erring senators risk expulsion from APC

    “I want to implore our women, like I have said earlier, that they should make sure they bring every woman here so that we will continue to pray for the administration of the incoming governor.

    “But that doesn’t make me less an APC member. We are coming back in 2023 by the grace of God and on this ground that God has continued to answer prayers, APC is going to come back in Jesus name.”

    Noting the place of prayers in the success of any political administration, Mrs. Ajimobi urged the governor-elect, Mr Seyi Makinde, not to compromise prayers.

    She stressed that no government, irrespective of how well-intentioned and focused, could achieve anything without the backing of God.

    The event was well-attended by women from across the state, wives of political office holders, women politicians, political appointees, children and others.

  • Coalition urges Buhari to review decision on digital bill

    A coalition of civil society organisations promoting digital rights in Nigeria and other African countries has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review his decision on the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.

    The coalition, in a statement at the weekend, expressed disappointment in President Buhari’s decision to decline assent to the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.

    The bill, the group said, was meant to protect Internet users against the infringement of their fundamental freedoms and guarantee human rights online in the country.

    The organisations include Paradigm Initiative, African Academic Network on Internet Policy, Internet Society, Nigerian Chapter, Public and Private Development Centre, Dotunroy.com, Alliance for Affordable Internet – A4AI and World Wide Web Foundation. Others are Senegal ICT Users Association ( ASUTIC ), Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), Jonction Senegal, TechHer NG and Fantsuam Foundation, Nigeria.

    President Buhari declined to assent to the bill on the grounds that it fails to address too many technical subjects and that some areas covered by the bill are also covered by ‘various bills pending at the National Assembly’.

    Read also: Youths: Buhari keen in ending corruption, poverty

    The coalition said: “The various bills as referred to in the letter are still merely bills which may or may not become laws. For instance, the Data Protection Bill (HB. 02) has been pending at the National Assembly (NASS) for up to eight years. Why then would Mr President miss an opportunity to fill the lacuna for these subject areas when a bill duly passed by the NASS has been presented for assent? We make this assertion with the knowledge that no law or bill is perfect.”

    According to the coalition, the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill does not conflict with any existing laws or the Constitution of the Federal Republic, and it is uncommon that a bill would be stood down because it could conflict with laws that might exist in the future.

    “Our opinion is that the decision not to sign the bill is nothing short of a  missed opportunity for Nigeria to send an important message to the rest of the world on its commitment to protect its citizens from abuse and create a positive regulatory environment for digital technology,” the coalition said.