The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • UCL: Liverpool, Chelsea lose on Matchday One

    Dries Mertens’ penalty and a late Fernando Llorente goal condemned Liverpool to defeat in their Group E Champions League opener against SSC Napoli.

    Belgian forward Mertens scored from the penalty spot after Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was judged to have fouled Jose Callejon.

    Former Tottenham forward Llorente then capitalised on a mistake from Virgil van Dijk in stoppage-time to roll the ball past Liverpool keeper Adrian.

    This defeat has thus made Jurgen Klopp’s side the first defending Champions of the competition to lose the opening game of the following campaign since AC Milan in 1994.

    In London, Ross Barkley missed a late penalty to deny Chelsea a point, as the Blues UEFA Champions League campaign under Frank Lampard began with a 1-0 loss to Valencia in Group H.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Napoli beat Liverpool in Champions League opener

    Valencia’s off-the-field issues have overshadowed their on-field exploits since Marcelino’s sacking last week, but Albert Celades’ side bounced back from their 5-2 defeat to Barcelona with a resilient performance at Stamford Bridge.

    With Jasper Cillessen in fine form and Mason Mount’s injury having compounded Chelsea’s frustrations, the Blues’ frailties were exposed once more when Rodrigo Moreno prodded in Dani Parejo’s free-kick with16 minutes remaining.

    VAR came to Chelsea’s rescue when the referee decided to award the hosts a spot-kick for a Daniel Wass handball, but substitute Barkley – who overruled Willian to take the penalty – struck the bar.

    In Germany, Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved Marco Reus’ penalty as Barcelona held Borussia Dortmund to a goalless draw.

    The Germany international also denied Reus with a smart double save as Dortmund dominated the second half.

    Julian Brandt did beat Ter Stegen late on but his effort hit the bar.

    Barcelona gave a Champions League debut to 16-year-old Ansu Fati but created little, despite Lionel Messi’s first appearance of the season off the bench.

  • BREAKING: Napoli beat Liverpool in Champions League opener

    Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente scored late goals as Napoli defeated holders Liverpool 2-0 in Tuesday’s opening round of Champions League group stage matches.

    Mertens converted a penalty on 82 minutes and Llorente added a second in stoppage time as Napoli gained a measure of revenge for last season’s 1-0 loss at Anfield that denied the Italians a spot in the knockout rounds.

    (AFP)

  • Abiodun blames Amosun for failure of Ogun Trust Fund

    Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday disclosed that the Security Trust Fund initiated and launched by his predecessor; Ibikunle Amosun, failed and blamed the then Governor for its failure.

    Amosun launched the Trust Fund during the early life of his first tenure as Governor but the initial enthusiasm that trailed the initiative soon fizzled out after it was inaugurated and was rarely heard of in his second term of four years.

    But Abiodun who spoke at a “thank you meeting” with members of his All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to appreciate them for their support, especially during his pre – election court cases and the Election Petition Tribunal, said Amosun’s Trust Fund initiative failed because of the way it was managed.

    The Governor who did not elaborate on how the style of running the fund led to its failure, added that he decided to send a bill for an amendment of the law establishing the Trust Fund to avoid a repeat of the fate that befell it under the last administration.

    According to him, the previous security trust fund was beset by “governance issues.”

    He explained that the new amended Security Trust Fund has at its management level, a “wholesome team of people whose job is to ensure that they liaise with” the law enforcement agencies, look at their needs, provide the funding and manage it.

    Read Also: Ogun Govt. to introduce toll-free phone lines for alert, feedback

    Abiodun stressesed that the team would enjoy autonomy and be independent in carrying out their responsibility in a manner devoid of a situation where the Governor would turn them into errand boys.

    He said: “We are determined to make this state a safe state for ourselves, the citizens, our visitors, residents and investors. We will not tolerate lawless under any guise. We will not tolerate indiscipline, we will not tolerate cultism.

    “If we indeed want to attract investors to Ogun state, if indeed the Ogun state citizens have entrusted me with their mandate as the chief security officer of this state, I must ensure that people can go about their legitimate businesses, sleep in their homes without having to worry about crime or criminals. So we began to take the issue of security very seriously and very important.

    “We cannot invite people to come and invest in this state when it is one day of kidnappings, the other of armed robbery. So we decided that we are going amend the law that set up our security trust fund so that it has appropriate governance and why do we do that, we realised the fact that the previous security trust fund failed, it failed because of governance issues and we thought we needed to look at that.

    “We have amended it, through the State House of Assembly, we sent the law to them, they approved it, we reconstituted that trust fund to ensure it has the right combination of people, to make sure that the trust fund has people of integrity that can add value to the fund.

    “We looked at what other funds were coin in other parts of the country. So we now have the chairman, the executive secretary, we have people on the board who come from the private sector. We chose the chairman from the organised private sector, who is no other person than Mr. Bolaji Balogun who is the chairman of larfage.

    “We chose the executive secretary Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje who has been the executive secretary of the Lagos state security trust fund for seven years. We have our banker friends, we decided that we are going to have an executive director each from a bank, this assures inclusiveness and they are buying into it.

    “We now decided to have our royal fathers and also our father’s in both sides of the religion. We put a retired AIG, who sits on the board of INTERPOL.

    “We have a wholesome team of people whose job is to ensure that they liaise with our law enforcement agencies, look at their needs, they provide the funding and they manage the funding. On our part as a State, we will also provide our counterpart funding.

    “In the mean time, we have also appointed auditors because it is not a case of me, the governor calling on the members of the trust fund to go and buy this and go and buy that.

    “The governance is instituted in it so that they are independent, they are autonomous, they take decisions accordingly, they fuel the vehicles and equipment, they maintain them so this is sustainable.

    ” We felt that this is very important if we indeed must fight crime, if we indeed must ensure that people continue to live, reside and work in Ogun state, if indeed we want to invite people to Ogun state and we want Ogun state to be that investment number one choice destination in this country.”

  • Don’t glorify terrorists, treat them as criminals, Buratai warns

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has warned against further glorification of the Boko Haram Terrorists, asserting that they should be treated purely as criminals.

    The Army Chief made the observation while on operational visits to troops in the northeast.

    He said increased propaganda for the terrorists by the media and some people have emboldened them to carry out criminal activities against the people.

    According to a statement by Army’s spokesman, Col Sagir Musa, the Army Chief called for the understanding and support of Nigerians to rid the country of criminal elements such as the terrorists.

    Buratai, who described the undue publicity given to the terrorists as worrisome, lamented that “the development has further boosted the image of the criminal gang thus assuming larger than life status.”

    He was quoted as saying that “it is wrong for any person to eulogize or support murderers, bandits and armed robbers that the known Boko Haram terrorists group has turned into.”

    Consequently, referring to such gang of criminals, bandits, insurgents such as Boko Haram Terrorists Group, JAS or ISWAP in Nigeria could amount to supporting or encouraging terrorism, Buratai added.

    The Army Chief said that it is also important to note that the mode of operation of these elements is pure criminality for personal gains.

    Read Also: Buratai hails efforts to tackle terrorism, insurgency

    The statement further reads: “It is common knowledge that the criminals no longer pretend to be championing any cause other than quest for materialism as manifested in murder and terror on hapless people.

    “He pleaded that as peace loving people, Nigerians should not be glorifying these criminals by calling them by any name other than “criminals,” “rapists,” “kidnappers”, “armed robbers” and “murderers.”

    “Unfortunately, many Nigerians are not aware that giving prominence to the criminal activities of the terrorists group through sensational headlines and fake news in both electronic and print media could also amount to tacit support to terrorism which violates the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011.

    “It is therefore important that all Nigerians to rally round our gallant troops as they fight these criminals. All should know that the support to the efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the counter terrorism efforts would boost their morale and it will be highly appreciated. The Nigerian Army is asking for the continued understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians and well-meaning people.

    “He further stated that all troops have been enjoined to henceforth go all out to deal decisively with these criminals. They are nothing but bandits and armed robbers. Let’s support our military to ensure a secured Nigeria.”

  • Industrial Court President lauds Obaseki on investment in judiciary

    President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has lauded the commitment of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration towards ensuring that the judicial arm of government is given the necessary support to function effectively.

    Justice Adejumo gave the commendation on Tuesday in Benin City, during the commissioning of the Benin Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, constructed by the Edo State Government.

    According to him, the establishment and commissioning of the Industrial Court in Edo State will promote industrial harmony in the state as well as provide succour for lawyers who used to travel to Akure to attend to cases from Edo State.

    Adejumo noted that the court will also encourage social development of the state through the promotion of peace and progress, and in the country at large.

    “The facility is great and the building is good. This is the product of cooperation and I thank the governor for this,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘Obaseki has mismanaged Edo Assembly crisis’

    The Industrial Court President explained that the Court was established in 1976 and his coming on board 16 years ago, led to its spread in Nigeria as Edo State is the 28th state where the court has been established.

    In his response, Governor Obaseki said: “This is the first in the series where we will be handing over properties to the Judiciary as we have several of them undergoing construction in the state.”

    The governor thanked the President of the National Industrial Court for honouring the state with his presence at the commissioning ceremony, assuring that his administration has already provided an accommodation for Hon. Justice Abiola Adewemimo, who will be the first resident Judge of the National Industrial Court in Benin City.

    He said: “We are investing in our Judiciary as we have started the first in the series of accommodation for Judges in the state and we will not discriminate as we will ensure a comfortable accommodation for them. Our plan next year is to develop an estate for Judges in the GRA area of Edo State.

    “This is just a temporary Court as the Court will be relocated to a permanent site within the next three years. We have secured the property and we have actually completed a design for the permanent structure.

    “As a government, we want to ensure we have the full complement of the Judiciary in the state and we are doing everything to provide what is required to make the Judiciary function effectively and efficiently in Edo State.

    “We are going to be emphasising and strengthening our Magistracy, investing in our High Court and are pleased that we have successfully been able to attract the Industrial Court to Edo State as we work to relocate the Court of Appeal to a more auspicious premises and hope if possible to have a Supreme Court in Edo State.”

    Obaseki noted that the aspiration of his administration is to be the industrial hub of Nigeria as the state is working hard to ensure that before the end of the year the state government will commence the construction of 1,000 hectares of Industrial Park in the state, adding that it will be the bastion for attracting companies and organisations to the state.

    The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, said the construction of the Court in Edo State has provided one instance of the positive attitude of Governor Obaseki towards all matters pertaining to the administration of justice and to the rule of law in the state.

    The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, who expressed delight at the achievement, said it is a great development for the state.

    She thanked the Governor for the achievement and expressed confidence that the Court will contribute to industrial harmony in the state.

    The Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Edo State branch, Prince (Barr.) Collins Benson Ogiegbaen, expressed the gratitude of the Bar of Edo and Delta states to the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki for realising the dreams of most lawyers in both states who were exposed to kidnapping and hardship on the Akure Road, as it was one of the most dangerous roads in Nigeria. “The entire Bar in Edo and Delta State are grateful to the exemplary leadership style of Governor of Edo State,” he said.

  • PHOTOS: Mohammed-Bande takes over as UNGA president

    Ambassador Tijjani Mohammed-Bande on Tuesday took over as President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

    Immediate-past President of the73rd General Assembly, Ms Maria Espinosa, handing over the gavel over to her successor and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb.Tijani Muhammad-Bande, at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday. With them are: UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres and other UN officials
    President of the 74th Session of the UNGeneral Assembly, Amb. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (M), Former INEC Chairman, Prof.Attahiru Jega (2nd L); Senior Special Assistant to the President onMedia and Publicity, Malam  Garba Shehu(3rd R), and other dignitaries at the  handing over to the 74th  President of UNGA at the UN Headquarters inNew York on Monday
    From left: Wife of the President of the 74th UN General Assembly,  Aishatu Muhammad-Bande;; President of the 74th session of UNGA Amb Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and the first secretary, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy Sea to the UN; Msgr. David Charters during a Church service to usher in the 74thsession of the Assembly at the Church of Holy Family, UN Parish, in New York on Monday.

    From left: UN Deputy Secretary-General,Ms Amina Mohammed; immediate-past President of the 73rd General Assembly, MsMaria Espinosa; Wife of the President of the 74th UN General Assembly,  Aishatu Muhammad-Bande; President of the 74thsession of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande and UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres during a Church service to usher in the 74thsession of the Assembly at the Church of Holy Family, UN Parish, in New York on Monday.

  • My music can cure depression – Naira Marley

    Nigerian rapper and singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley has said that his music has the ability to cure depression.

    The ‘soapy’ crooner stated this on his Twitter handle.

    According to the “Inside life” rapper, his music has the ability to cure depression even though some side effects include losing your home training.

    “My music can cure depression. Side effect- you might lose home training,” he wrote

    The response showed forth after the singer was backlashed for his kind of music by fans.

    However, the singer is promoting his new song ‘puta’ and held his musical concert ‘Marlian Fest’ in Ibadan last Saturday where he thrilled fans with energetic performances.

    Read Also: Naira Marley hints on plans to help prisoners get fair hearing

    Other acts in the show include Zlatan and other ‘Marlian crew’.

    Naira Marley was arrested by the men of Economic and Financial Crime Commission in May 10, 2019 for alleged credit card fraud.

    He was charged to the Federal High Court, Lagos on May 30, 2019.

    However, court granted him the bail on the conditions of; a N2,000,000 bond, and two sureties one with a landed property and the other, a Civil Servant, not lower than a level 10 officer.

    After perfecting his bail conditions, Naira Marley was released on June 14, 2019.

  • BBNaija: Cindy, Frodd, Mercy, Diane up for fake eviction

    Housemates Mercy, Frodd, Diane and Cindy have been out up for fake eviction.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, unknown to the housemates, there will be no eviction this week, making their nominations invalid.

    The ten remaining housemates were called into the diary room for the usual nomination process, with each of them nominating two housemates each.

    Ike nominated Frodd and Cindy, who nominated Diane and Ike. Omashola nominated Mercy and Diane, who nominated Mike and Omashola.

    Mike nominated Diane and Mercy while Tacha nominated Cindy and Mike, Seyi nominated Ike and Mercy while Frodd nominated Cindy and Mercy.

    Read Also: BBNaija: ‘I felt so much peace around Gedoni’ – Khafi

    On her part, Mercy nominated Frodd and Omashola, and Elozonam nominated Frodd and Tacha.

    While the nominations were rolled out, Frodd seemed upset to have been nominated again. On the flip side, Tacha was relieved to escape nomination.

    NAN reports that the fake eviction tension was further fueled by the lack of a Veto power of chance holder for a save and replace.

    For the remaining part of the week, housemates will pick photographs from a red box. The housemate with a complete picture would hold the ultimate veto power.

  • Stop consuming non-iodised salt, NAFDAC advises Nigerians

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised Nigerians to stop the consumption of non- iodised salt as “it is dangerous to human health.”

    Dr Abubakar Jimoh, the Director of Public Affairs of the agency, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The director was responding to information that people in rural communities were still consuming local salt, which was not processed.

    He said that the consumption of such local salt could lead to goiter and other dangerous diseases and called on Nigerians to avoid the product.

    According to the director, there are four areas in Nigeria where traditional salt is still being traded, particularly in Nasarawa State.

    “NAFDAC is making effort to stop the trading of this salt in these states but some of them have refused.

    “With the creation of NAFDAC in 1993, that was the first time and there was still major work to be done on salt consumption.

    “We have organised sensitisation workshop on universal salt iodisation.

    “We have been educating Nigerians that we should not be consuming this local salt because it is not iodised.

    “We began a programme in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Micro Nutrient Initiative, Global Alliance and other development partners on the issue.

    Read Also: PenCom recovers N16b in seven years

    “We flagged off a campaign against that and it was held in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, in 2004 under late Prof. Dora Akunyili as the Director General of the agency.

    Jimoh said based on the work NAFDAC did then, Nigeria was declared universal salt iodisation compliant in Turkey and also won numerous awards in that regard.

    “Nasarawa is one of the identified four major endemic areas, they have insisted that it is their traditional source of making livelihood, it is commerce for them.

    “They told NAFDAC at that time that if they must leave the trade, what they will be trading on must be provided for them,” the director said.

    He, however, called on those still trading and consuming non-iodised salt in Nasarawa State to stop as the act was capable of bringing setback to the country.

  • Fayose left N57bn unpaid workers’ salaries, pension arrears, says Fayemi

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Tuesday said that the workers in the state civil service were currently being owed N57billion as arrears of unpaid salaries and emoluments.

    The governor said this at a meeting he had with the civil servants as well as a cross-section of labour leaders at the Government House, Ado Ekiti.

    He said that his administration was making frantic efforts to defray the backlogs which he said would be done in phases.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi claimed the trend was caused by irregular payments of salaries and pensions by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose.

    He said the arrears covered outstanding salaries, pensions, promotion arrears, leave bonuses and other emoluments from 2014 till October 2018 when he assumed office.

    The governor also said he was not part of the people that were opposed to local government autonomy.

    He said the local governments in the state were currently being given unfettered access to administer their own funds without interference from his government.

    He said he would honour his earlier pledge to pay all the outstanding workers’ benefits.

    He clarified that some would be given immediate attention, while some would be defrayed by instalmental.

    He said, “It is sad to reel out such a homongous figure, because it can create panic for you and I.

    ” But let me say that we cannot pay everything in one fell swoop, but the 2019 promotion arrears will be given immediate attention while others will be defrayed by installment.

    ” It becomes difficult to pay once because Ekiti gets a little above N5billion monthly, with the state getting like N3billion, while the local governments receive little above N2billion monthly “, he said.

    On the issue of local government autonomy, Fayemi said he was never opposed to the idea of giving financial independence to the third tier of government, being the closest to the grassroots.

    “I am not opposed to it. Since I came back as governor, not even one naira of the local government money was being administered by me.

    ” I have allowed the councils to manage whatever comes to them.”

    Fayemi said that the state under him was considering alternative power supply option to shore up the one being supplied to the state from national grid.

    He said he was planning the alternative because the current supply was grossly inadequate and crippling economic activities in the state.

    He also said that he had earmarked some funds for the Ministry of Environment to undertake erosion and flood control projects in some towns.

    Fayemi said that this was because of the recent flooding that ravaged Ado Ekiti and other towns, of which many civil servants were major victims.

    Read Also: How Fayemi can make difference, by PDP chief

    He also said that he would discuss the acute shortage of manpower in the health sector with the Health Management Board (HMB) when it was raised by the labour leaders.

    He said that he would ascertain the actual statistics and how to fill the missing gaps in the health sector.

    The Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Kayode Fatomiluyi, had called the attention of the governor to the chronic shortage of manpower in the health sector.

    Fatomiluyi said, “Over 1,000 nurses were at HMB in 2014 during your first term, Your Excellency Sir.

    “But today, we have less than 500 to manage 22 health facilities across the state.

    “The Governor must do something about this,” he said.

    Some of the other labour union leaders in the state that attended the meeting include: Kolapo Olatunde of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Sola Adigun of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    They also pleaded that issues that had to do with the benefits of workers must be given utmost priority.

    They urged the governor to use his connection as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to fast track the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers. (NAN)