The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Fashola tasks youth on nation building

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Thursday called on the youth to rise up to the responsibility of nation building, as the future belonged to them.

    Fashola made the call during the 81st anniversary, Ikoyi Club 1938 Lecture in Lagos.

    Speaking on the topic “Youths and Leadership in Nation Building”, the minister said that there were several opportunities youths must seize locally by taking responsibility, instead of migrating to other countries.

    “Have we built that spirit that we will not give up on our country? There is a lot of goodness here in Nigeria, unless you change your mindset, you will not see it,” he said.

    Fashola urged youths to change from that mindset of entitlement only to include duties to the nation, to ensure development of the country.

    Read Also: How research can solve social problems, by Fashola

    He said that every generation had duties it must carry out and challenged Nigerian youths to take initiative to change trends.

    The minister said that youths locally and globally who chose to act to fill leadership vacuum had changed the way things were done in various sectors, lifestyles and livelihoods.

    “Youths should have a sense of duty, every generation of youths must understand their duty and rise up to it. That sense of duty and responsibility is what is important.

    “Everybody has a space to contribute if we move away from our sense of entitlement,” he said.

    Speaking on duty and leadership, he said young people had the responsibility of defending a nation.

    He said that the responsibility to build Nigeria fell “squarely on the shoulders of the young people”.

    Fashola prayed for God’s blessings on the nation and Ikoyi Club.

    “We must applaud government when they do well and not wait till our leaders die to begin to roll out encomiums,” he said.

    He said that we are better in Nigeria than we think, while reeling out ugly sides of other countries which they cover up.

    Fashola said that several of his mates in law school who ran abroad had returned home.

    Leaders of the club earlier took turns to shower accolades and encomiums on the minister, who is also a member of the Ikoyi Club.

    (NAN)

  • Alleged $8.4m fraud: Court insists on Pinnick’s, others’ appearance

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted on the appearance of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four others to answer to a criminal charge pending against them.

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order on Thursday at the resumed hearing in the charge brought against them by the Federal Government, through the now disbanded Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) on the recovery of public property.

    Those charged with Pinnick are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

    Pinnick and others are, in the charge 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, accused among others, of misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body.

    The money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    They are also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

    Read Also: Pinnick removed as CAF First Vice-President

    When the case was called on Thursday, the defendants were absent, despite the court’s order of July 1, 2019 for bench warrant compelling the defendants to appear on the next adjourned date.

    SPIP’s lawyer,  Celsius Ukpong drew the court’s attention to the fact that his agency, (the SPIP)  has been shut down  on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ukpong said, because of the development and subsequent directive by the President, SPIP’s activities and functions have been transferred to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    He added that part of the SPIP’s activities transferred to the AGF was the case file containing the Pinnick and others’ charge and related processes.

    Ukpong said: “It was the panel that file the charges. But, we have been disbanded and President Buhari directed us to handover all our activities to the office of the AGF.

    “In view of the new development, we believe that the office of the AGF will do justice to this matter.”

    A lawyer, who said he was from the AGF’s office, Abubakar Musa confrimed Ukpong’s explanation, but said he believed the case file was in transition to the office of the AGF, following the closure of the SPIP by the President.

    Musa said the office of the AGF was in the process of harmonising all pending cases involving the defendants.

    He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him access the file and comply with the orders of the court made when the case last came up.

    Lawyer to the defendants, Mohammed Katu confirmed what the other two lawyers said.

    Katu confirmed that they were before the office of the AGF to harmonize pending cases against the defendants.

    After listening to the lawyers, Justice Ojukwu expressed displeasure at the defendants’ absence.

    She noted that it was a slight on the court for its order to be ignored by the defendants, and threatened to excuse herself from the case.

    The judge noted that had the defendants been in court, she would have excused them in view of the absence of a competent prosecution counsel before the court.

    The judge said: “there is nobody that is bigger than the law and therefore, if a court made an order, it must be obeyed.

    “I don’t understand, if I make an order, it must be obeyed by all parties. Is the AGF conducting this case?

    “If there are multiplicity of cases on the subject matter of this charge, your duty is to come to court on the issue of abuse of court process.

    “The AGF will not constitute a parallel court on this matter.”

    The judge thereafter adjourned until November 5, 2019, but insisted that the defendants must attend court.

  • Power Supply: Gbajabiamila frowns at unpatriotic public officers

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila says that unpatriotic activities of serving and retired public office holders are responsible for the socio-economic misfortune in the power sector.

    Gbajabiamila spoke while declaring open the investigative hearing into the Federal Government’s abandoned power projects from 1999 to date.

    The speaker, represented by the Chief Whip, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), expressed his displeasure with the state of power in the country.

    He said that the motion on the need to review government’s expenditure on the power sector to ensure sustenance of the power reform programme in Nigeria was referred to the Ad-hoc Committee on Thursday.

    “You will agree with me that from 1999 to date, the National Assembly has appropriated huge sums of monies in the power sector and there are lots and much to be desired from the sector.

    Read Also: Reps urge Fed Govt to curtail Lassa fever outbreak

    “The problem is you and I; we are not patriotic enough in the discharge of our responsibilities to our nation.

    “Again, I want to state that it is embarrassing that when you pick-up newspaper, what you read is probe, probe, and probe; many heads to roll; EFCC to investigate.

    “It is time in our nation building to rethink and press the reset button on what we do, how we do them with a view to ensuring that we get value for the monies appropriated for projects,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila said that Nigerians were virtually in every part of the world largely in search of stable electricity supply, good medical health facilities, quality education among others.

    According to him, it is time we out our hearts correcting all that is wrong so that we can create an enabling environment for our children.

    “The constitution of this Ad-hoc Committee is to enable the House in moving forward, take a critical evaluation of monies appropriated vis-a-vis their utilisations.

    “However, in the course of carrying out this assignment, the committee is at liberty in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to invite any organisation, agency, person, either still in active service or retired to make clarification where necessary,” he stressed.

    Also, Rep. Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe) Acting Chairman of the ad hoc committee, explained that the exercise was aimed at reviewing government’s expenditure in the power sector from 1999 to date.

    He said that committee was constituted on Wednesday with a clear mandate to investigate the Federal Government’s abandoned power projects.

    Kumo said that the aim was to find the major encumbrances affecting the projects and to make appropriate recommendations on the ways to complete the projects within the life span of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    “Having established the powers and legitimacy of our action, we are here today to provide all relevant stakeholders the platform and opportunity to make their informed submissions and contributions on the matter.

    “We therefore, urge you to be objective, truthful and observe decorum throughout our sitting here today,” he said.

    Stakeholders at the event include Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), management team from all the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and GENCOS, among others.

    (NAN)

  • Legislative Agenda: Senate to focus on anti-corruption, education

    The Senate on Thursday resolved to focus its legislative agenda on mitigation of poverty, corruption and revamping of education, among other developmnent programmes.

    It also resolved to stimulate fiscal prudence, promotion of unity among Nigerians and housing as interventions for Nigerians.

    The resolutions was made after a debate on the presentation of a report of the ad-hoc committee on Legislative Agenda for the 9th Senate.

    Leading debate on the report at plenary, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger), said that it was important for the Senate to focus on how to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    He said that the senate must provide legislative interventions to use agriculture as a veritable tool to achieve the aim.

    “The Senate must focus on providing interventions on food security and development of the solid minerals sector,” he said.

    Read Also: Senate to pass Petroleum Industry Bill in 2020

    Sen. Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo), said that the Senate should be concerned about the growing public debt of the country occasioned by external borrowing.

    He also raised concerns on the inability of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation(AGF) to audit agencies of government yearly.

    He said that the agencies were not accounting for monies allocated to them at the end of the year.

    This,he said was because the Federal Audit Bill passed by the 8th Senate had not been signed.

    He said that if the bill is signed into law, it would strengthen the AGF to audit the agencies of government.

    In his contribution, Sen. Orji Uzor-Kalu (APC Abia), said that the Senate should focus on how best to ensure implementation of the budget for Nigerians.

    According to him,senate must work towards ensuring that 70 per cent of the budget be channeled to capital projects and recurrent 30 per cent.

    He said that the 9th senate must work towards having a working economy for the people by developing legislative interventions that would foster creation of small industries for employment generation.

    Also, Sen.Dino Melaye (PDP Kogi), said that the legislative agenda should focus on how best to drive the unity of Nigeria.

    He also said that there was an urgent need to revamp the educational sector, health sector and intensify the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    Melaye said that the major areas where corrupt practices were endemic were in government procurement processes and the petroleum sector.

    He maintained there was no technology deployed in the country to determine the volume of crude oil production in Nigeria.

    Other senators hinged their contributions on the need for the Senate to focus on providing legislative inputs on how to improve the power sector, ease of doing business and development of science and technology.

    President of the Senate Ahmad lawan, who presided over the debate that said 45 senators contributed, commending the committee for their input on the agenda.

    He said that the senate was hopeful that the issues reflected in the agenda when worked upon would make a difference in the life of Nigerians.

    Lawan, who decried the high number of agencies of government,said that there was the need to trim the number of agencies given the paucity of funds to manage them.

    He said the funds used in running the agencies could be channeled into capital projects.

    Lawan, therefore, charged the various committees to look at the areas of concern to them in the agenda and design ways of improving the life of Nigerians.

    Earlier, the senate had mandated Committee on Finance and National Planning to look into the Medium Term Expenditure Framework submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    (NAN)

  • PDP condemns protest against Ambode at Lagos Assembly

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has condemned the recent protest at the state House of Assembly, calling for the probe of  former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    A statement by Mr Taofik Gani, Lagos PDP spokesperson on Thursday in Lagos, said that the protest lacked sincerity of purpose and obviously calculated at embarrassing the immediate past governor.

    A group, under the aegis of the Lagos Youth Vanguard, led Rasak Olokooba, and Ibrahim Ekundina, had on Tuesday stormed the Lagos Assembly, demanding a probe of the former governor.

    “Disturbing is the tendency of such protests to overheat the polity and increase the already created loss of confidence in the government,” the PDP said.

    Read Also: Protesters storm Lagos Assembly, demand probe of Ambode

    The PDP accused Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu led APC government of being behind the protests.

    “The governor himself is sponsoring such protests against his predecessor, unfortunately overheating the polity and to distract Lagosians away from his abysmal performances.

    “To the PDP, Governor Sanwo-Olu has created “Official Vendetta” in Lagos governance; unfortunately for him, his ranking is going down whilst he needlessly goes after his predecessor,” the statement said.

    The PDP, however, called for a holistic probe of the administrations of Bola Tinubu, Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, rather than restricting it only to Ambode’s regime.

    “Lagosians are eager to know the stewardship of their former governors.

    ” From 1999 till 2018 over N17 trillion was realized as IGR, royalties, Federal Allocations, investments and crude oil discovery.

    “Unfortunately, much of these monies are linked to Hotels, Airlines, Oil Companies, construction companies, home & Abroad,” the PDP said.

    (NAN)

  • ICPC recovers three ambulances, 500KVA Transformer from Senator Buruji Kashamu

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday said it has recovered three ambulances and a 500KVA Transformer which are Constituency Project items from Sen. Buruji Kashamu.

    The agency said the items were part of 2016 Constituency Projects meant to be distributed to Ogun East Senatorial District.

    The items were discovered at his Constituency Project Office in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

    A statement by the Spokesperson for the Commission, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni, said the commission uncovered the items following intelligence alert by a concerned citizen.

    Read Also: Constituency projects: Our findings will shock Nigerians – ICPC

    The statement said: “The three ambulances which were procured at the cost of N6m each, were meant to be supplied to Obada Healthcare Centre, Oke Sopin in Ijebu North Local Government Area; Community Health Centre, Itele in  Ijebu East Local Government Area; and Community Health Centre, Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area respectively.

    “The transformer is the last of an initial eleven meant for distribution to various communities of Ogun East Senatorial District which were procured at the cost of N3.6m each, bringing the total for the entire eleven transformers to N39.5m.

    “The commission received intelligence about the items from a concerned citizen who became aware of the commission’s Constituency Project Tracking Group initiative which exercise has so far covered 12 states of the federation.

    “The recovered items were seized and the vehicles were moved to a Police Station while the 500KVA Transformer was marked with the Commission’s seizure seal and in the interim, kept in the custody of the Manager of the Senator’s office.

  • Members’ posters for 2023 presidency, ploy to cause distractions, disharmony – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has distant itself from posters of its members contesting for 2023 presidency.

    The party says that such posters were posted by mischief makers and not from the party members.

    The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who said this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, said that the party did not have any activity about 2023 elections than to focus on governance.

    The posters of APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu, Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had been sighted in some parts of the country.

    Read Also: PDP will struggle to get 25 per cent of Kogi votes, says APC DG Adeyemi

    Issa-Onilu, who said that the governing party was faced with challenges of governance, security, economy and corruption, said that it would focus on policies, projects and programmes that were imperative to Nigerians.

    “As a party, we want to state clearly that having won elections convincingly and having been given the mandate to run government for the next four years, our major and only focus now is governance.

    “We are not engaging in any other activity about 2023 elections.

    “Wherever you see such (posters) you can be sure it is from mischief makers to continue to take actions to cause distractions for the governing party.

    “We are to deal with the challenges of governance, security, economy and corruption as well as other associated issues. That is what we are focused on.

    “So, as a party, we understand that the social contract we have signed with the people of Nigeria with the renewal of our mandate,” the party’s

    Issa-Onilu also urged the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) not to undermine the order and security, particularly the judiciary as an important institution of the country.

    (NAN)

  • Tiv/Jukun leaders in Taraba agree to ceasefire

    The leaderships of the Tiv and Junkun waring factions in the Southern part of Taraba on Thursday, agreed to a ceasefire to allow the return of normalcy to the area.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day peace meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba, with representatives of the tribes, government officials and state security chiefs.

    Government officials and security agencies in the state also attended the meeting.

    According to the communiqué, speakers at the meeting condemned the crisis and stressed the need for cessation of all forms of hostilities between the two communities to have way for the peace building effort being spearheaded by the state government.

    Read Also: Jukun-Tiv conflict: Catholic bishops call for peace

    “The meeting noted that the crisis had been hijacked by criminal elements from both the Jukun and Tiv communities and therefore, the two communities should expose the criminal elements amongst them.

    “We also resolved to stop reprisal attacks or revenge from both parties but report all from of security breaches to the security agencies for appropriate action.

    “There is every need for government to take deliberate steps to encourage the Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes since adequate security operatives have been deployed to the affected communities to protect lives and property,’ the leaders said.

    The leaders urged journalists to be more positive in their reportage while the parties also charged the communities to be wary of rumours that are capable of inciting the people and destabilising the entire peace process.

    The communiqué was signed by the Deputy Governor, Haruna Manu as representative of the state government, Mr Danjuma Adamu and John Mamman signed for the Jukun community while Mr Jime Yongo and Mr Isaac Waakaa signed on behalf of the Tiv community.

    The communal crisis between Tiv and Jukun of Taraba has claimed many lives and property worth billions of Naira in Takum, Wukari and Donga local government areas of the state.

    (NAN)

  • Davido to make Hollywood debut in ‘Coming to America 2’

    Nigerian international music superstar, Davido, is set to make acting debut in Hollywood, with a performance role in the sequel of the 1988 romantic comedy classic, “Coming To America”.

    African-American comedian and actor, Michael Blackson disclosed this on his verified Twitter handle @MichaelBlackson, congratulating Davido.

    Blackson wrote: “Davido told me he has a performance scene in the movie #ComingToAmerica2, congrats homie.”

    Although, Davido has not confirmed or debunked the report, industry watchers are taking the post seriously, as fans are already congratulating the “Assurance” crooner.

    Filming for the sequel, ‘Coming to America 2’, has begun in Atlanta, Georgia, and it is scheduled to be released on Dec. 18, 2020 in the United States.

    It is produced by Kevin Misher and directed by Craig Brewer, from a screenplay by David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein, and Kenya Barris, based on characters created by Eddie Murphy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ”Coming to America” is a blockbuster romantic comedy film directed by John Landi, based on a story originally created by veteran actor Eddie Murphy, who played the lead role.

    The film also co-stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos, and was released in the United States on June 29, 1988.

    Read Also: As Don Jazzy marks one year of not smoking, Davido plans quitting

    Eddie Murphy plays Akeem Joffer, a crown prince of a wealthy African nation of Zamunda who grows weary of his pampered lifestyle on his 21st birthday and wishes to do more for himself.

    When his parents, King Jaffe and Queen Aeoleon, present him with an arranged bride-to-be, Akeem takes action.

    In his quest for an independent woman, who loves him for himself and not his social status, Akeem and his best friend/personal aide, Semmi, travel to the New York City borough of Queens.

    They rent a squalid tenement in the neighbourhood of Long Island City under the guise of poor foreign students beginning their search for Akeem’s bride.

    The film ended in the lines of Prince meets Princess and they live happily ever after. (NAN)
    JOSH

  • UPDATED: UK court orders stay of $9.6b award execution

    • · FG to deposit $200m within 60 days

    A United Kingdom Commercial Court has ordered a stay of execution of the $9.6billion damages secured against Nigeria by Process and Industrial Developments pending the determination of an appeal by the Federal Government.

    It however asked the government to make a security payment of $200million to the court within 60 days

    The court also granted Nigeria’s leave to file an appeal against the award.

    But the court upheld the award and refused to reverse the damages.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the battle to quash the award has shifted to the UK Court of Appeal.

    He, however, hinted of the possibility of challenging the legality of the $200million security deposit within the 60-day window.

    Read Also: $9.6b award: Fed Govt raises 13 points against P&ID, exposes trick clause in MoU

    P&ID secured the damages against Nigeria following a failed Gas Supply Project Agreement (GSPA) contract between it and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    A brief from London by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said: “Leave to appeal has been granted.  Stay of execution is also granted subject to payment of $200m security payment to court pending the determination of the appeal the leave for which has been granted by the commercial court.

    “The steps we will consider are to study the ruling and act in a way beneficial to the interest of the nation.

    “We will study the court rulings, exercise the right of appeal and consider the legal options available at our disposal as it relates to the payment of $200m in view of the 60 days window stipulated by the court.”

    Malami, who admitted that he was pleased with the judgment, said: “I see this as a positive resolution that constitutes an important step in the government‘s efforts to defend Itself in a fair and just process.

    “We look forward to challenging the UK Commercial Court’s recognition of the Tribunal’s decision in the UK Court of Appeals, uncovering P&lD’s outrageous approach for what it is: a sham based on fraudulent and criminal activity developed to profit from a developing country.”