The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • U.S. airstrike kills four al-Shabaab fighters

    U.S. airstrike kills four al-Shabaab fighters

    Four al-Shabaab fighters have been killed and a vehicle destroyed in a U.S. airstrike about 25 kilometres west of Somalia’s Capital, Mogadishu, U.S. Africa Command said on Thursday.

    According to a statement, no civilians were killed in the overnight strike that also destroyed a vehicle equipped with an explosive device, “preventing it from being used against the people in Mogadishu.’’

    The U.S. has been supporting operations against the Islamist militant group as part of its global fight against terrorism.

    The airstrike marks the second such attack this week.

    Read also: al-Shabaab executes four spies

    U.S. Africa Command said in a statement that it had killed 13 militia fighters in an airstrike in southern Somalia on Sunday.

    Al-Shabaab is seeking to establish an Islamist state in Somalia and is affiliated with the international al-Qaeda terrorist network.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Fuel scarcity will end soon, DPR assures Nigerians

    Fuel scarcity will end soon, DPR assures Nigerians

    The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) on Thursday assured Nigerians that the lingering scarcity of petrol being experienced across the country will come to an end in the next few days.

    Mr Mordecai Ladan, the Director of DPR, gave the assurance after his inspection visit to some private depots in Lagos.

    Ladan said: “Petroleum products are coming in gradually; in most of the depots visited, some are being discharged, while there is assurance that some will come in again within 48 hours.

    “I think with all we have seen now in the depots visited, petrol should be available in all filling stations across the country in few days time.

    “The scarcity of petrol will soon ease out in days to come,” he assured Nigerians.

    Ladan appealed to the depots to focus more supply on the independent marketers’ filling stations, saying that they were most affected by scarcity of petrol.

    He said that independent marketers have filling stations in most major locations in the country, and most of them had not received supply for weeks.

    The DPR inspection team visited Folawiyo Energy Ltd., and NIPCO Tank Farm in Apapa.

    Read also: DPR, Oyo govt seal 10 filling stations in Ibadan

    At NIPCO, a vessel was discharging over 23 million litres of petroleum as at the time DPR team reached the tank farm.

    Mr Taofeek Lawal, the Head, Corporate Communications of NIPCO, said that about 300 petroleum tankers were waiting to load the product.

    Lawal said that with 23 million litres of petrol, the company would load over 600 tankers in two days.

    He said that NNPC had assured the company that another vessel carrying the product would arrive on Saturday.

    Lawal assured the DPR team that the company would work tirelessly to ensure that scarcity of petrol was ease out in few days.

    At Folawiyo Energy Ltd., Mr Dipo Makanjuola said that the depot had about six million litres of petrol and had been operating 24 hours to ensure that Nigerians get the product.

    Makanjuola said that the product belonged to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) and they were loading the product according to the directive of the corporation.

    According to him, the last time we received the product from NNPC was on December 23 and that is what we are loading; we hope to get another supply by Saturday.

    NAN

  • France repatriates three children of suspected jihadists from Iraq

    France repatriates three children of suspected jihadists from Iraq

    Three French-born children belonging to suspected Islamic State ( IS ) militants and who were being held by Iraq authorities have been flown back to Paris, France Capital, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday.

    The International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) said it was the first such repatriation of French children from Iraq.

    It has suffered a series of deadly militant attacks over the past three years and is grappling with the threat of homegrown militancy as well as the risks posed by IS fighters slipping back across French borders.

    “Their return was organised in coordination with the authorities in Iraq,” a foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters.

    French media reported that the family had left France for Iraq in 2015.

    “The father was killed during the battle for Mosul and Iraqi forces later detained the mother and her four children in July.

    “She and her youngest child remain in detention in Iraq,’’ Vincent Brengarth said, the lawyer acting on her behalf.

    Her three older children, aged between three and eight years, were now in foster care after arriving back on December 18.

    Reuters revealed in September that Iraqi authorities were holding about 1,400 foreign wives and children of suspected IS combatants at a single camp after government forces routed the jihadist group from Mosul, its last major urban redoubt in Iraq.

    However, it was not clear if the three children had been among the same group.

    French officials have indicated a preference for their citizens held in Iraq and found to be affiliated to IS to be prosecuted there, although in mid-November President Emmanuel Macron said the fate of women and children should be examined on a case-by-case basis.

    The head of France’s domestic spy agency last month said some 700 men and women either of French nationality or who had resided in France, as well as 500 children, were in Iraq and Syria or linked to the militants.

    Meanwhile several hundred others have already slipped back into France.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Court remands man over attempt to rape teenager

    Court remands man over attempt to rape teenager

    A 42-year-old man, Kamoru Mustapha, was on Thursday charged before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to rape a 15-year-old girl.

    The accused, who resides at Jengede village in Abeokuta, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, abduction and attempted rape.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 17, at about 1.45 p.m at Dofat Hotel, Jengede.

    Eigbejiale said the accused said one of his friend’s gave the victim money to buy food for his (friend) mother and told her that when coming back she should bring the food to him at the hotel.

    On getting to the hotel, the friend to the accused person asked her to go and give the food to Mustapha who was in one of the rooms.

    Read also: Court  remands farmer, 55, for defiling a boy

    “When she got to the room to deliver the food, the accused person locked door, grabbed her and tried to rape her.

    “She was screaming, when one of the hotel attendants heard her voice, and asked the accused to open the door.

    “The accused opened the door and escaped but was later apprehended and taken to the police station,” he said.

    The offence contravened sections 516, 361 and 359 of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adelaja adjourned the case to January 26, 2018, for mention.

    NAN

  • Nigerian varsities can rank as best with stable calendar – UNILAG VC

    Nigerian varsities can rank as best with stable calendar – UNILAG VC

    Nigerian universities can rank best in Africa, if we can have a stable academic calendar, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), has said.

    Ogundipe spoke on Thursday in Lagos against the backdrop of incessant strikes by labour unions in the nation’s university system.

    According to him, there is need for everyone, especially the key stakeholders in the education sector to look inward to ensure that crisis which gives rise to strikes are managed effectively.

    “I make bold to say that universities, especially the first generation institutions in the country, can be ranked best in Africa if we can have a stable academic calendar.

    “There is need for everyone to look inward and manage the crisis in the system effectively so that our university system can be ranked among the best in the world,’’ Ogundipe said.

    He said that there was need for Nigerian Government too to take the running of universities and other related issues seriously.

    “If you want to run a university, you should go all out and do it in line with the best practices.

    “We are talking about the global ranking of universities, and here we are still grappling with the issues of strike.’’

    The UNILAG VC noted that such development do not speak well about the country as “lots of people around the world are reading and taking note of it’’.

    He explained that most of the facilities that would guarantee conducive teaching and learning environment were being handled by non-academic (support) staff that were on strike.

    Read also: UNILAG postpones candidates’ screening

    Ogundipe added that with the strike, their academic staff counterparts and others were now forced to adjust to the situation.

    “The strike has affected the operations of the university indirectly,’’ he said.

    According to him, issues of power and water supply, the use of laboratory and others have taken their toll on the operations of the university.

    “I am sure that the academic staff will be up to their assignments.

    “This group of staff is not on strike; the classrooms are open, lectures are going on since the inception of NASU strike.

    “Even, as we resumed on December 27, lectures have started in most faculties in Unilag.

    “The non-teaching staff has their grievances; the strike is a national strike and not a local one.

    “To this effect, there is little the university authorities can do,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

    The unions, under the aegis of JAC, had on September 11 declared an indefinite strike across all the federal universities over the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into in 2009 with the Federal Government

    The strike was suspended while dialogue continues between the parties, only to embark on another strike on Dec. 5.

    Mr Solomon Ugwoke, the National President of JAC, who also doubled as the president of SSANU, one of the striking unions, had stated that there was no going back on the strike.

    NAN

  • Katsina to recruit 5,000 NCE holders

    Katsina to recruit 5,000 NCE holders

    The Katsina State Government is to recruit 5,000 holders of National Certificate of Education (NCE) under its programme tagged ‘S-Power’ to shore up its teaching staff in primary schools.

    Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari made the disclosure on Thursday in Rimi at a rally to receive some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Masari said the programme, which is similar to that of the Federal Government’s ‘N-Power programme’, was aimed at reducing unemployment especially among the teeming unemployed youths.

    He said the programme was part of the administration’s determination to fight unemployment and reduce poverty in the state.

    According to him, the NCE holders will be posted to teach in primary schools to improve the development of education in the state.

    On the rally, the governor said that he was highly impressed by the high turnout of the party supporters.

    Masari described the defectors as notable politicians and urged them to be loyal to the party’s leadership and principles.

    The state Chairman of APC, Alhaji Shitu S. Shitu said that Masari’s leadership style had attracted many people to the party.

    He said that the state government had executed projects in the 359 wards across the state.

    One of the defectors, Bilyaminu Rimi, assured that they would uphold the unity, progress and social interaction of the party.

    He promised to ensure that APC emerged victorious during the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

    NAN

  • LAWMA: We are not owing sweepers salaries

    LAWMA: We are not owing sweepers salaries

    Mr Segun Adeniji, the General Manager, Lagos Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) on Thursday said plans had been concluded to pay street sweepers the outstanding month salary for the year.

    Adeniji gave the assurance in an interview in Lagos following complaints made by the sweepers.

    “We are responsible for the category of sweepers on orange clothes, those on lemon clothes are handle by contractors.

    “Those engaged by LAWMA have been paid up to November, I am speaking to you authoritatively; we only owe them for December.

    “They were paid before the holiday and if not, they all should be paid before the end of the day.

    “For December, yes we have not paid, but we are not owing them for November,” Adeniji said.

    The street sweepers in Lagos, under the supervision of the LAWMA told NAN that yet to receive their salary for the month of November and December.

    Some of the sweepers, who pleaded anonymity, said they celebrated their Christmas without their salaries.

    “We were expecting our supervisor to pay us before Christmas but unfortunately we spent Christmas without any salary and we could not buy things to celebrate without family.

    “We just appeal that our two months salaries should not be carried forward to the New Year, it will be very unbearable, most of us depend solely on the sweeping job,” they said.

    They called on the authority to improve on their working tools and increase in salary considering the economy situation.

    NAN

  • 15 people bag 10 years over protest in Egypt

    15 people bag 10 years over protest in Egypt

    A court in Egypt on Thursday sentenced 15 people to 10 years in prison for  inciting riots and protests and assaulting security forces in 2013 in the southern province of Minya.

    The convicts are supporters of the currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group of former President Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted by the army in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule.

    The prosecution also charged them with joining a banned group and calling for protests in response to Morsi’s ouster and the later security crackdown on his loyalists.

    One of the 15 is in custody while the rest were sentenced in absentia.

    Morsi’s angry supporters attacked many security men and churches of the Coptic minority in several provinces nationwide, particularly in Upper Egypt.

    This followed the deadly security dispersal of two major pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza in mid-August 2013 that left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

    On December 24, 26 defendants were similarly sentenced up to 10 years in prison over committing violence and sabotage and storming a police station in January 2014.

    Most Brotherhood leaders, members and supporters, including Morsi himself and the group’s top chief Mohamed Badie, are currently detained.

    Many of them have been handed death sentences which can be appealed and lengthy jail terms over charges varying from inciting violence and murder to espionage and jailbreak.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Three docked for beating up police officer

    Three docked for beating up police officer

    Three men,  who allegedly assaulted a police officer,  appeared on Thursday in  an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused – Ahmed Olaiya, 19; Nurudeen Alarape, 25; and Sodiq Adesina- all residents of  Akute in Ogun, are facing a two-count charge of assault and conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Eruada, told court that the accused committed the offences on November 30 at Olowora Junction, Isheri Road,  Lagos.

    Eruada said the accused beat up one Insp  Sunday Adu  who tried to arrest them for a traffic offence.

    “The accused and his accomplices  descended on him and beat him to a pulp,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor  said the offences contravened Sections 172 and 411 of the Criminal Laws  of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Section 172 prescribes a three-year jail term for assault, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Read also: woman in court  for slicing neighbor’s head with razor

    The Magistrate, Mrs G.O. Anifowoshe, granted the accused  bail in the sum of  N 20,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Anifowoshe said the sureties should be gainfully employed and should show evidence of  two years  tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    He adjourned the case till  January 17, 2018 for mention.

    NAN

  • We will continue to pray for Buhari ‘s son – PDP

    We will continue to pray for Buhari ‘s son – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), has said that it will continue to pray for the son of President Muhammadu Buhari ’s son, Yusuf for speedy recovery from his power-bike accident.

    A statement fromthe party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Thursday said the party was shocked by the news of the accident.

    “PDP as a family receive with shock, the sad news of the involvement of Yusuf Buhari, son of President Muhammadu Buhari in a power-bike accident in Abuja on Wednesday.

    “The PDP as a family prays for Yusuf’s speedy recovery to enable him return to his normal life.

    Ologbondiyan said that the party was  reassured by reports from the Presidency that Yusuf was in a steady condition.

    Read also: Buhari ’s son ‘stable’ after bike accident

    “We also commend the prompt intervention by medics even as we value the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers for Yusuf and the first family”.

    NAN