The Nation Newspaper

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  • Army dispels rumour on planned Maiduguri attacks

    The Army on Thursday urged members of the public to disregard rumours of impending attacks on Maiduguri and its environs by Boko Haram Terrorists, saying there is no cause for panic.

    The spokesman of operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command in the northeast, Col Ado Isa said in a statement that troops are on patrol and effectively in control of the situation.

    He dismissed as ill founded rumours of impending attacks within and outside the city, asserting that troops would take advantage of the super camp strategy to deal with the terrorists.

    Col Isa said:”Information circulating on social media revealed that some mischievous elements are insinuating and peddling rumours of ‘terrorists’ plan to execute deadly attacks on some selected populated areas and key facilities in Maiduguri town and neighboring areas in order to cause panic and inflict casualty on innocent Nigerians.

    “Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, assures the public that necessary measures have been put in place to checkmate the purported evil plans of the criminals.

    “Accordingly, troops in the Theatre, have been committed to ensure movements and activities of the marauders are effectively thwarted.

    ” Troops are also in staging positions in line with the Super Camp Concept to destroy the bandits whenever they are seen.

    Read Also: Army begins Court Martial of Former GOC over missing N400m

    “Consequently, members of the public are urged to disregard the rumor of ‘deadly attacks’ on Maiduguri and environs.

    “The fake news is circulated by mischievous elements and other collaborators of the criminals with the aim to instil fear and panic in the minds of the people as well as to sabotage the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the struggle to end the menace.

    “Members of the public are therefore enjoined to disregard the alleged attacks on Maiduguri city and environs and go about their routine lawful businesses without fear or hindrance.

    “The public are also advised to be more vigilant and report unusual/suspicious presence or movements of persons especially at important public places like markets, schools, mosques and churches as well as venues for occasions to security agencies.”

  • Flooding: NERC orders three hydro power plants ‘must run’

    Following the forecast of the Nigerian Metrological Agency that there will be ravaging flooding resulting from long duration of rainfall this year, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday in its “must run” order, directed the three Hydroelectric Power Stations; Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, to as a matter of compulsion, operate their plants.

    The order, which The Nation obtained from the commission’s website on Thursday was titled: “Order on mandatory dispatch of hydro power plant in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.”

    The investors in the plants Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and North-South Power Limited have been underutilizing the entities owing to load rejection and low demand from the electricity distribution companies (DisCos). The DisCos, in turn, blame their decision on lack of a cost-effective tariff and the weakness of the transmission network in the industry.

    But the NERC on Thursday dropped the hint that a major consequence of the meteorological event on the operations of the three hydropower stations (i.e. Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro) has been high rate of reservoir fill-up which poses extreme environmental risks to lives/property downstream from the plants that could result in submerging entire villages along the riverbanks.

    Read Also: NERC yet to approve hike in electricity tariff

    The commission said that its attention had been drawn to rising cost of wholesale energy to the electricity distributors in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) that was blamed on generated and wheeled energy.

    The “increasing cost of wholesale energy to distribution licensees in NESI attributable to the generation mix of dispatched energy,” according to NERC.

    According to the order that the NERC chairman, Prof. James Momoh and its Commissioner, Licensing and Compliance, Dr. Dafe Akeneye issued, the “must- run” status of the three plants shall be enforced in line with their daily nomination.

    The commission assigned the System Operator (SO) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ensure strict compliance with the terms in the order in the dispatch of power plants in the industry.

    In the event of any deviation or non-compliance with the terms of the order, the NERC mandated the SO to compulsorily submit detailed written justification to the Commission within 48 hours.

    The commission insisted that the order took effect from September 18, 2019.

    NERC said that : “(A). The 3 hydropower plants are hereby designated as “must-run” powerplants and shall be accorded high priority by the SO in the dispatch of grid connected power plants in Nigeria.

    B. The “must-run” status of these 3 hydropower plants shall be implemented in accordance with the daily nomination of these plants.

    C. The SO shall ensure strict compliance with the terms of this order in the dispatch of powerplants in NESI.

    D. The SO must submit detailed written justification to the Commission within 48 hours for any event of deviation/non-compliance with the terms of this order.

    E. This order takes effect from the 18th day of September 2019.”

    The order explained that the commission is required by section 32 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (“EPSRA”) to�a. create, promote and preserve efficient industry and market structures, and to ensure the optimal utilization of resources for the provision of electricity services.

    It added that NERC should ensure the safety, security, reliability, and quality of service in the production and delivery of electricity to consumers.

    According to the order, the commission is expected to establish or, as the case may be, approve appropriate operation codes and safety, security, reliability and quality standards.

    The order noted that Section 66 of EPSRA mandates the licensed System Operator (“50”) to carry out the activity of system operation, generation scheduling, commitment and dispatch in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”).

    NERC recalled that the SO in execution of the statutory mandate in 2 above issued the following merit order for NESI on 21 July 2017 –

    Group 1: Hydro units (least cost) on free governor control and ancillary service.

    Group 2: Other units identified to be on free governor control.

    Group 3: Other units identified to be offering regulating reserve.

    Group 4: Other units offering spinning reserve (i.e. the power plants contracted for the ancillary service).

    Group 5: All plants dispatched subject to transmission constraints.

    Group 6: All plants providing voltage support above statutory limit.

    Group 7: All other power plants.

    The order reads in part : “The meteorological forecasts for 2019 indicated that there would be significant events of flooding across the country and these forecasts have been confirmed with the high incidents of heavy rainfall for long durations across the country.

    “A major consequence of this meteorological event on the operations of the 3 hydropower stations (i.e. Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro) has been high rate of reservoir fill-up which poses extreme environmental risks to lives/property downstream from the plants that could result in submerging entire villages along the riverbanks.

    “The attention of the Commission has also been drawn to the increasing cost of wholesale energy to distribution licensees in NESI attributable to the generation mix of dispatched energy.

    “The Commission notes that urgent regulatory intervention is required to address the issues identified above in the overall public interest of Nigerians in order to forestall preventable tragedies that could arise from the non-prioritised dispatch of the 3 hydropower stations.

    “The Commission notes further that the SO has been apprised of the national security implications of the non-prioritised dispatch of the 3 hydropower stations by other agencies of government.”

  • Cult clashes: Council boss imposes curfew on Delta communities

    Following incessant cult clashes Ekete and Ovwian commumities, Udu council area of Delta state, a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the flashpoint areas by the local government chairman, Mr. Jite Brown.

    In a statement signed by the council secretary, Elohor Awinoron, the curfew which took effect from Wednesday, September 18, lasts from 9pm to 6am.

    According to the statement, the decision was reached after deliberations with Divisional Police Officers and other security chiefs in the council.

    Suspected rival cult groups have recently turned some areas in the communities into a field for their criminal operations, reports say. Residents have been living in fear due to the killings, robberies and other assaults meted on victims.

    Read Also:  Thugs detonate explosive, engage police in shootout at Bayelsa PDP primaries

    Areas affected by the curfew are Ovwian town, Ekete Inland, Ekete Waterside, Owhase town, Express, Mofor and Orhuwhorun Junctions.

    The council chairman stated that the movement of commercial vehicles including tricycles and motorbikes, commonly referred to as Keke NAPEP and Okada, are also restricted.

    He said anyone found operating within the time of curfew will be impounded and the owner prosecuted.

    Brown further emphasized that security men have been put on red alert to enforce the curfew, urging people in the respective areas to adhere to the directive.

  • Drama as PDP BoT chair, scribe sing discordant tune over ‘report’

    It was all drama as the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jubril and its Secretary Senator Adolphus Wabara disagreed over the submission of an investigative report on Thursday.

    Briefing journalists shortly after a marathon meeting of the Board at the party’s Abuja secretariat, the two elderly chieftains contradicted each other on the status of a report of the committee that investigated.

    At issue was a report of a five-man committee set up by the BoT on July 9, to investigate why PDP members in the House of Representatives elected Mr Ndudi Elumelu as Minority Leader, against the party’s choice of Mr. Kingsley Chinda.

    Miffed by the Reps’ action, the leadership of the party had suspended Elumelu for one month.

    Besides Elumelu, others affected by the suspension order were Lynda Ikpeazu, Wole Oke, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwadi, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Abdul-Majid.

    The BoT investigation committee, chaired by a former Senate President, Dr Iyiorchia Ayu also had two other former Senate Presidents, Chief David Mark and Chief Adolphus Wabara as members.

    A former Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibahim Mantu was also a member while a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara served as secretary of the committee.

    However, Opara resigned from the committee before it concluded its assignment.

    During a question-and-answer session at the briefing, the BoT chair Jubril said the Board had received the Ayu committee report but had yet to submit same to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    Jubril said: “We have received the report from the Ayu committee but we have not submitted it to the NWC because we are still deliberating on it and we have not taken a decision on it yet.”

    But he was swiftly countered by BoT Secretary Wabara, who said that the Board had indeed submitted the report to the NWC.

    Wabara said: “We have considered the report and we have submitted the report on Elumelu to the NWC”.

    Read Also: Kogi, Bayelsa polls: PDP steps up efforts to unite aggrieved members

    This was followed by muffled disagreement between the two elderly party chieftains with the BoT chair raising objection to the Secretary’s statement even as the latter stood his ground.

    Their verbal exchange was in hushed tones but was audible enough for journalists to hear their voices.

    The disagreement dragged till the end of the media briefing, with the two Board members frowning and mumbling at each other as they left the venue and walked through the drizzling rain into their waiting cars.

    Curiously however, while the BoT meeting was still ongoing, the leadership of the party had issued a statement regarding the disputed report.

    The statement, signed by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the NWC had not received the said report from the BoT.

    The statement reads in full: “In the light of public enquiries and conflicting reports on the position of the leadership of our great party on issues related to the minority leadership of the House of Representatives;

    “The National Working Committee (NWC) hereby clarifies that it has not yet received any report from the Board of Trustees (BoT) concerning the outcome of the five-member committee it set up to intervene on the contentious matter.

    “Consequently, the NWC maintains that it has not taken any decision to review its subsisting stance on the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

    “The NWC therefore urges critical stakeholders, party members and the general public to completely disregard any report to the contrary”.

  • Ondo PDP loses Woman Leader, 13 days after auto crash

    A woman leader in the Ondo state Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mrs Toyin Ajinde who was involved in a ghastly road crash with the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Nicholas Tofowomo penultimate weekend has been reported dead.

    She was said to have sustained serious injuries in the accident and had since been on admission in University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo.

    Sources said she underwent series of surgeries but unfortunately could not survive due to the degree of the injuries sustained in the accident.

    The PDP family was thrown into mourning on Thursday as news of her death filtered in.

    Members of the party were also in grief at the party Secretariat at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital discussing Mrs. Ajinde’s death.

    Besides Mrs. Ajinde and Senator Tofomo, other people who were involved in the car crash were a 2020 governorship aspirant of the party, Banji Okunomo and Mrs. Yetunde Dada.

    It was reported that the car in which they were travelling crashed along Igbara-Oke near Akure while returning from Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The senator and others occupants of the vehicle were immediately rushed to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo by officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    According to a statement signed by PDP’s Director of Media & Publicity, Zadok Akintoye, Mrs. Ajinde was described as one of the party’s foremost women-leaders.

    The statement entitled: ‘Toyin Ajinde: An Unbeatable Loss’ reads in parts: “Our party expresses deep sadness at the news of the death of one of our foremost women-leaders, Mrs Toyin Ajinde.

    “Her demise, which was due to injuries sustained after a vehicular accident along Ilesha-Akure expressway, remains a loss that would be long felt by our party and citizens who met and benefitted from her magnanimity and good nature.

    “Toyin was a great mobilizer and dedicated party woman who blazed the trail for greater inclusion of women in politics and governance.”

    The party, however, pray that God would grant her husband and children the fortitude to bear the great loss.

  • Warner Bros Studios hosts Del-York Creative Academy

    One of the largest landmark entertainment studios, Warner Bros. Studios, will host Del-York Creative Academy(DCA) in Burbank, California.

    The two-day event organised by the Business Resource Group BE@Warner Bros. will take place in Burbank, California.

    Selected students from the 2019 class of the Del-York Creative Academy and alumni will participate in the two-day workshops focused around the entertainment industry.

    Projects from DCA students will be screened on the lot, followed by a panel discussion featuring DCA, University of Southern California (USC) Warner Bros. and other partners from various studios.

    Also, DCA alumni and special guests will be taken on the full Warner Bros. Studio tour experience for a peek behind the curtain into the operations of one of the world’s largest and most successful studios.

    Read Also: “Game of Thrones’’ director offers Nigerian actor role in Warner Bros film

    The Del-York Creative Academy is Africa’s foremost capacity building institution for film, media, animation & technology.

    It is pioneering the growth of the African Creative Industry through intensive hands-on training programs while bridging the gap between creatives in the United States and Africa.

    The academy has successfully flown in 85 lecturers from Hollywood to Africa and trained 1,800 students in over a decade of existence.

    DCA President and founder, Linus Idahosa, said: “Jack Warner, the esteemed head of Warner Bros. for many years was once quoted as saying, “If I am right 51% of the time, I am ahead of the game.

    “I believe this visit will give voice to the potential that lies within Africa’s Creative economy. The knowledge exchanged here will also prove itself profitable in the years to come when Africa not only becomes the largest market for media consumers in the world but creates the largest and most effective outsourcing workforce.”

  • Ex-senator didn’t defect from our party, says PDP

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that a former Senator, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Nimi-Barigha Amange, did not defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement on Thursday that Amange ceased to be a member of the PDP shortly before the last general election elections when he defected from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Cleopas explained that Amange defected from the PDP to the ADC to contest against the PDP when he failed to secure the Senatorial ticket of the party for Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

    Cleopas said that Amange’s claim that he defected from the PDP to the APC because of Governor’s Dickson’s style of leadership was unfortunate and a mischievous attempt to create a false Impression of an implosion in the party.

    He said: “There is a misleading report that Amange has defected from the PDP to the ADC. The fact is that Amange is not a member of our party. He defected from the PDP to the ADC, to contest against us in the February 16, 2019 National Assembly election and lost.

    Read Also: Ex-Bayelsa PDP senator joins APC

    “Sen. Amange is not a PDP leader and the public should discountenance this misleading claim. This unfortunate claim is part of a calculated attempt to create an erroneous impression of an implosion in a party that is stable.

    “The PDP in the state knows those who are genuine members. Amange is not one of us and he should desist from misinforming the public with the intent to cause mischief.”

    Cleopas said that the Bayelsa State Chapter of the PDP was too strong to be bothered by a false defection masterminded by people troubled by the strong internal cohesion within the party.

    Cleopas who debunked Amange’s accusation against the governor stressed that he had never seen a leader who had adopted a more consultative approach to the resolution of issues than Governor Dickson.

    He said that before his defection in January, Amange was the one producing the councilor from his ward.

    He added that the governor, who he wrongfully accused of dictatorial tendencies could not identify the PDP candidate for Nembe Local Government Area in the last local government chairmanship election, West Alalibo, until after the poll.

    Cleopas added Amange surreptitiously sponsored a candidate who lost to the PDP Candidate, Ms Dorcas Kuku, a daughter of PDP Board of Trustees member, Mrs Remi Kuku in his Ward in Nembe Local Government Area in the last election.

    He added that contrary to lies being peddled against Governor Dickson by Amange, the Vice Chairman òf Nembe Local Government Area, Alison Abel, was collectively nominated by the Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Amange and other stakeholders.

  • Buhari is incompetent, dragged Nigeria into dungeon of poverty, says Sheikh Gumi

    Famous Islamic Scholar in Northern Nigeria, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said that, the 2019 general elections were the worst and has produced an incompetent government presided over by Muhammadu Buhari.

    Sheikh Gumi who accused southern political class for the outcome of the 2019 elections argued that, Buhari’s government has plunged Nigeria into dungeon of poverty.

    While arguing that, the southern political class deliberately supported what he described as failure during the 2015 and 2019 elections for their personal gains, the Islamic Scholar said, the elections were beclouded with massive irregularities, which according to him eventually produced gross incompetent government.

    Sheikh Gumi stated this while playing host to the President and Founder of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Isah El-Buba, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna on Thursday.

    According to him, “the 2019 election was the most painful, worst election conducted in the history of Nigeria, which has now divided Nigerians across interests capitalising on their ignorance the real persons behind the faces they thought they know.

    “We are having the same vision about getting the right purposeful leadership that is focused and all-embracing like hawk which protects all his children. This is the type of leadership we need.

    Read Also: Oba of Benin: Edo will benefit from Buhari’s govt

    “Nigeria is now seriously divided along all interests. Class struggle is now the major factor that keep polarising Nigeria. Now what brought the division is abject poverty. The poor and the downtrodden are now angry. All the crimes we have now came as a result of poverty.

    “The politicians are necessary evil even though a lot of them are not educated. The crop of political leaders not educated to handle the problem we have in Nigeria today. The idea is very important and not what we see today. There is no point looking at who is doing what but the idea.

    “Jonathan and Buhari are not good for Nigeria. When we told Jonathan to do something, he was looking at us from Muslim perspective. People were dying in hospital, kidnapping is the worst thing. I lost a daughter a few months back from this kind of kidnapping. After attaining position all they think is how to get contract and jet out of country.

    “I will support you to move round the country because we still have good people all over the country. I’m ready to go with you. But, don’t forget to carry them along. You have to tell them. The last election was the painful election I have seen in Nigeria. In 2015, we realised we were handicapped because Nigerians are ignorant. I expected 2019 to be clean, but, it is the worst election I have seen in Nigeria.

    “You can imagine, a government that is fighting corruption saw a governor from the North stalking dollars in his pockets and kept quiet. What example is the North showing? Nigeria needs a new page. People who will unite us. The surest way to move Nigeria forward is through free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

    Earlier, Prophet Isah said, he embarked on national tour to see a new Nigeria where justice shall be the basis upon which the country is governed.

  • Banky W, Osei, others for Nexford Open Day on Saturday

    Award-winning actor, singer and entrepreneur, Banky W; and the Founder, She Leads Africa, Afua Osei, are among the panellists for the 2019 Nexford University’s Open Day.

    Organisers of the Open Day, which will hold at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Saturday, said that the panellsts would discuss critical job skills needed in workplaces and for entrepreneurs.

    The panelists include the Founder of Business Lab Africa, Tricia Ikponmwonba; the Lead at Teach for Nigeria, Bunmi Adefisayo; and Mark Igbinedion from Get Qualified.

    The others are Miss Olamidun Majekodunmi and Dr Robin Johnston from the Nexford University.

    According to the organisers, Saturday’s Open Day is tailored towards addressing the needs of small businesses/startups.

    A statement explained: “The Open Day will give participants high-quality, affordable, dynamic enlightenment that prepares them for the global workplace.”

    The Nigeria Country Director of Nexford University, Majekodunmi, signed the statement, which also stated that one of the reasons for hosting the Open Day was to curb youth unemployment through entrepreneurship.

    It reads: “NXU launches Lagos Open Day to curb youth unemployment. The goal is to empower and support the region’s entrepreneurs. In the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, more than one in eight of all 15- to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education, or training – Nexford Insights. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 75 million young people are unemployed.

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    “Estimates of underemployed youth could triple this number. This represents a huge pool of untapped talent and a source of social unrest if left unchecked. Local economies can’t meet rising job demands. To help with this, NXU equips learners with the skills they need to be globally competitive and tap into international economic opportunities.”

    The statement also quoted Nexford’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fadl Al Tarzi, as saying, “With the rapid advancement of tech, skills are the only barrier between ambitious youths across the world and attractive economic opportunities. Our next-generation university focuses on this, precisely.”

    Justifying its investment in curbing unemployment and aiding entrepreneurship, the university said, “The university surveyed Fortune 500 companies and analysed millions of job vacancies to create a curriculum focused on job skills. Nexford’s online learning model bridges the skills gap between graduates and employers.

    “Students can choose from elective courses or specialise on hot topics such as Sustainability, Managing Hyperconnectivity and Doing Business Across the World – Nexford programs overview. Learners pay a flat-fee monthly tuition, similar to a phone or data bill.”

    It added: “No long-term commitment or huge lump sum is needed. They pay the same monthly fee regardless of the number of courses or credits taken. The faster they go, the less they pay, which gives students an incentive to finish on time.”

  • U.S based Northern Nigerian advocate Calls for release of remaining abducted aide workers

     

    Magnafaith Krimi, a Northern Nigerian community advocate based near Washington, has announced her displeasure and  condemned the murder of an aide worker by Boko Haram militia in Borno State.
    Krimi, in a statement made available to the Press by African Global Center a Non-Profit Organization headquartered in the U.S stated,
    My most heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and the entire nation.
    Though, mainstream media within the international community rarely report killings of hardworking Nigerian women, men and their helpless children who have been hacked to death in their homes. Some kidnapped, raped, even church folks get shot to death as they leave church after prayer meetings. Just as happened to an abducted member of the Action Against Hunger Team, a Non-Governmental Organization in Borno.
     Suspected radical terrorist, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers or in some cases thugs as they are called by various agencies locally and internationally have allegedly been cleansing the north-central states of Nigeria for almost 10 years.
    This tragedy has struck our community again.  Humanitarian, aide workers and medical professionals are not to be counted as victims of conflicts. They sacrifice to bring relief to hurting communities and should never become a statistic of the numbing regularity.
    Scores of women and children have been kidnaped on highways and held captive for days as their loved ones scramble for donations and loan for ransom.
     I am calling for the unconditional release of the remaining members of the Action Against Hunger team still being held captive by the Boko Haram militia.
     She said,
    I am confident that the Nigerian armed forces will ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. Krimi said in response to the Boko Haram militia released video of the alleged execution of one of the abducted aid workers on Tuesday.
    A  crisis-ridden Nigeria has negative impacts  for international  businesses, in which case the International Committee on Nigeria, enabled a panel of victims from Nigeria to report in congressional offices and to give testimonies to media, members of the U.S. administration, and to think tanks in June to bring awareness to the reality of the  everyday live of a northern citizen of Nigeria.
     Krimi stated that there has to be an awakening of humanity in Nigeria.
     While it is nice to say we must emphasize encouragement and positive solutions within our conflict zones and that yes, we must not give up,
    Krimi ended her text like she did before, You see, my beloved country has a problem with telling the truth about itself. It is indeed a good country. Very good. Yes, so good, it should be better.