The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • NBC sanctions 23 radio stations

    NBC sanctions 23 radio stations

    The National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ) has sanctioned 23 broadcasting stations for various breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    The Head, Public Affairs, NBC, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, that the sanctions were for breaches in the third quarter of 2017.

    The broadcasting stations were fined a total of N2.849 million.

    Jimada said that the contraventions included breaches of the rules on hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims.

    She said that all the erring stations had been fined according to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    “The commission wishes to remind broadcasters that they have a duty to promote the socio-economic well-being of the Nigerian state and abide strictly by the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code or face sanctions.”

    For the “Use Of Hateful Speech”; Family Love FM, Uyo, was fined N200,000, ABS FM, Enugu-N100,000, Express FM Radio, Kano, N100,000. The latter was also fined twice later for similar infractions.

    On the “Use Of Indecent Musicals”; Royal FM, Abuja was fined N100,000, FLO FM, Enugu-N100,000, Radio Continental, Lagos-N200,000, Crystal 100.5FM, Abuja-N100,000.

    For “Unverifiable Claims”, a fine of N100,000 was meted on Crowther FM, Abuja, Harmony FM, Abuja-N100,000, Inspiration FM, Uyo-N100,000, BCA FM, Enugu-N150,000, ABS, Enugu-N100,000, Minaj Systems Radio, Enugu-N100,000 and IBC (Orient TV) Enugu N50,000.

    Others are Rainbow FM, Ibadan-N100,000, Globe FM, Jos-N100,000, Arewa Radio, Kaduna-N100,000, EBS Radio, Benin-N100,000 and Bond FM, Lagos-N499,000.

    ITV, Jos was fined N100,000, while IBC (Orient TV), Enugu was sanctioned N50,000 for ”Voicing and Unprofessional Broadcast”.

    NAN

  • Police arrest 66 teenagers in hideouts, 16 suspected robbers, cultist

    Police arrest 66 teenagers in hideouts, 16 suspected robbers, cultist

    The Bayelsa State Police Command has raided criminal hideouts and arrested 66 teenagers and 16 suspected armed robbers, five kidnappers and cult members in Bayelsa State.

    Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the state police command in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday, the police also displayed assorted arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects.

    The arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects were four locally-made revolver pistols, two pump actions guns, one 7.62mm live ammunition, 20 .9mm live ammunition and 30 rounds of AAA cartridges.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Amba Asuquo, said the 66 teenagers, who were between 14 to 17 were nabbed with weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.

    He said the minors consisting of 36 males and 30 females were arrested when the State Anti-Robbery Squad raided a community in Ekeki area of Yenagoa metropolis.

    He, however, said the teenagers would not be charged but would be counselled in the presence of their parents, warned and discharged.

    The police boss said on September 28, one Yoko Nathan, 31, and others at large, came from Azegbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area to Yenagoa to buy three AK47 rifles but were trailed by detectives.

    He said Nathan was arrested on Tombia Road, Yenagoa while trying to exchange money for the guns, while others fled.

    He said the suspect confessed that the guns were meant for kidnapping, sea robbery and armed robbery.

    Asuquo said: ”On October 4, 2017, about 7pm, policemen on patrol intercepted a tricyle with three occupants, armed with a locally-made revolver pistol with five rounds of live ammunition on Melford Okilo Road.

    ”On sighting the police team, the hoodlums fled. They were chased by the police and one of them was arrested, other gang members were traced to Tana Suite on Custom Road, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

    ”The suspects were searched and one locally made revolver pistol with five rounds of .9mm live amunition was recovered from one of the suspects, James Oweifa, 21. The other suspect is Peter Enang, 22. Investigation is ongoing.”

    Asuquo said on October 5, one Godbless Miller, 28, Agala Lawrence, 26 and Longlife Edwin, 23, all of Opolo-Epie community were rounded up in connection with cult activities at a hideout in Opolo

    He said one of th suspects, Miller, admitted being a trafficker ofIndian hemp and the a member of Greenlander cult.

    The police boss also confirmed the arrest and release of Mr. Oguanisi Akpusu, a newphew of former President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged shooting of two persons during a masquerade festival at Emeyal 1 community of Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

    Asuquo said though investigations showed that the shooting was “accidental”, the victims of the accident sustained gunshots injuries on their legs and thighs.

    He said, Akpusu, who was part of the ongoing masquerade festival in Ogbia kingdom shot two persons at Omeyal 1 and was arrested by policemen attached to the Kolo Police Division.

    Asuquo said, “Preliminary investigations‎ showed that it was a case of accidental discharge at a masquerade ceremony in Otuoke and Emeyal area of Ogbia LGA. The victims are being taken care of by the suspect and the Ogbia people. It may have been a mistake.”

  • Father set son ablaze for disrespecting brother

    Father set son ablaze for disrespecting brother

    A 56 years old man, Musa Alhaji have been arrested by the Niger state Child’s Right Agency for setting his 15 year old son, Bello Alhaji ablaze with petrol in Bida for Disrespecting and quarreling his elder brother.

    It was gathered that the father returned from work and saw Bello struggling to take over the phone of his elder brother, angered over what he teamed as disrespect, Musa fetched some petrol which he had in the house, poured it on him and set him on fire with a lighter.
    It took the intervention of neighbours to save Bello from burning to death but before help could come, he had attained various degrees of burns.
    The vigilantes apprehended the father and reported the case to the desk officers of the Childs Right Agency who swung into action by taking the injured boy to the General Hospital Bida and handed over the father to the police.
    The Director General of the Childs Right Agency, Barrister Mariam Haruna Kolo described the incident as a discipline that was out of line cautioning parents to note that there is a thin line between discipline and wickedness.
    According to her, the offence at which the boy was been punished for was minimal to the punishment he recieved adding that setting someone ablaze is a bizarre way of discipline.
    Kolo stated that the father would be evaluated for insanity stressing that a sane person cannot commit such atrocity against his son.
    She also said that the boy is responding to treatment but he would be permanently scarred for life adding that he would also go through psychotherapy when he leaves the hospital because the turma may affect him for life
    The DG said that the case have been charged to court while the man is still in police custody adding that justice will take it’s due course.
    The father, Musa Alhaji has pleaded for leniency as he said he acted out of anger.
    He also pleased to be allowed to go home to cater for his family as he is the breadwinner of the family and his 13 children will starve if he is not allowed to go home and work to provide what they can eat.
  • UNAIDS, NNPA partner to empower journalists

    UNAIDS, NNPA partner to empower journalists

    The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) in collaboration with National Newspapers Publishers Association ( NNPA ), USA, have pledged to empower journalists in West and Central Africa with skills and gadgets to improve their proficiency.

    Dr Djibrill Diallo, Regional Director, UNAIDS, disclosed this during the regional media workshop organised by the agency in Dakar, Senegal, with the theme: “Informing the messengers to change the face of the fight against HIV in West and Central Africa’’.

    He said the partnership between UNAIDS and African-American media partner networks was within the framework of 2017-2021 Plan of UNAIDS.

    He said that UNAIDS has the support of the Deputy Secretary General of United Nation to design a sustainable funding mechanism for the partnership.

    While speaking on the conference, the regional director said that UNAIDS has designed a Catch-Up Plan for West and Central Africa with the aim of fast-tracking HIV/AIDS response in the region.

    He explained that the catch-up plan was an essential step towards the realisation 90-90-90 UNAIDS target by 2020 and ending AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030.

    Diallo said the 90-90-90 target means that 90 per cent of the population will know their status, while another 90 per cent of the people found to be living with HIV would be enrolled for treatment by 2020.

    The UN official added the last 90 refers to the 90 per cent of the people living with HIV, who are enrolled on treatment suppressed by the virus in their body by 2030.

    He said the catch-up plan is an 18-month initiative aimed at enhancing HIV response in the region to the speed of those countries already on track of achieving the 90-90-90 target.

    Diallo said the plan aims to put additional 1.2 million people living with HIV on treatment by the end of 2018.

    Speaking earlier, Mr Cloves Campbell, President of NNPA, said the partnership would enable reports emanating from journalists within the region to feature in over 205 African-American newspapers.

    He said that the partnership entails an exchange of journalists, supporting media organisations with equipment and attending the annual convention at USA for a greater networking.

    Campbell said this is to enable African-Americans have the reports from the origin devoid of distortion.

    NAN

  • TCN explains power outage in some Lagos communities

    TCN explains power outage in some Lagos communities

    The management of Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN ) on Wednesday, attributed the in adequate power supply in some communities in Lagos to upgrading of its transformers at Ejigbo and Alimosho transmission sub-stations.

    Mrs Celestina Osin, the Principal Manager (Public Affairs), TCN, Lagos Region, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos.

    According to her, all these communities are under Ikeja Electric Plc.

    She said the upgrading of transformer, which commenced on Oct.16, was for five weeks or more depending on the conclusion of the project by the contractors.

    The spokesperson, however, assured that said the upgrading of the transformers would increase the load capacities of the two sub-stations.

    “At Ejigbo 132/33KV Transmission Substation, two NO 30MVA transformers are being upgraded to 100MVA transformer, so the station transformer capacity will now go from 160MVA to 300MVA.

    “Also, Alimosho 132/33KV Transmission Substation has one NO 30MVA transformer being upgraded to 100MVA. Station transformer capacity will now increase from 160MVA to 230MVA.

    “Consequently, Ejigbo 132/33KV Transmission Substation load will now increase to 240mw from 128mw.

    “At the same time, Alimosho 132/33KV Transmission Substation load will go from 128mw to 184mw,” she said.

    She said the management of TCN and Ikeja Electric Plc would work to avoid power outage, promising that s electricity supply would be given to electric consumers for some hours.

    Osin appealed to all communities affected by the irregular supply to bear with the situation, adding that the objective of the project was to serve them better.

    On Oct. 12, Ikeja Electric had in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Felix Ofulue, notified residents of Lagos communities of outage which he said would last over a month.

    Ofulue said that the effort would allow TCN to upgrade some of its transformers in Ejigbo and Akowonjo substations.

    He said Ikeja Electirc Plc would use all available channels to mitigate the negative impact of this necessary upgrade on its customers.

    The affected communities include: NNPC, Bungalow, Ori-oke, Ire-Akari, Ejigbo, Osolo, Ilamoshe Low-cost, Shasha Orisumbare, Oguntade, Foursquare and Airforce and environs.

    The others are: Alimosho, Shasha, Orelope, Akowonjo, Federal Housing Authority, Oki and Okunola and Unity, Kuwait and Olorunadaba.

    NAN

  • Metuh: DSS produces Dasuki in court

    Metuh: DSS produces Dasuki in court

    The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday produced the detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in compliance with an order of the Federal High Court he should appear as a witness.

    He is expected to be a witness in the trial of a former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olisa Metuh.
    Dasuki was decked in a light blue attire with a cap to match.
    On Tuesday, despite the request by defence lawyers for an order of arrest to be issued against the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, for failing to produce the ex-NSA in court, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang ruled that he could not yet conclude that the DSS top man deliberately flouted the court order.
    But the counsel prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, had informed the court on Tuesday that the Legal Adviser of DSS informed him over the telephone that Dasuki refused to be brought to court except by force.
    Tahir later told the judge that he received a text message from the Legal Adviser of DSS saying after much persuasion, Dasuki agreed to appear in court on Tuesday.
    But the judge had ruled on Tuesday that whether or not Dasuki and another subpoenaed witness, former President Goodluck Jonathan, would go ahead to testify would depend on the outcome of the court’s rulings on the summoned witnesses’ application objecting to Metuh’s request for them to testify in the case.
  • NNPC to create 1million jobs, establish bio-fuel plant in Ondo

    NNPC to create 1million jobs, establish bio-fuel plant in Ondo

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ondo State Government to establish a 65,000 million litres bio-fuel plant in Okeluse, Ondo State.

    The NNPC Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr Maikanti Baru, said this when he received Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on a courtesy visit.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the corporation’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division.

    Baru explained that the plant and other projects such cassava feed stock production would create at least one million direct and indirect jobs.

    According to him, the project would be partly funded by some investors bringing in Foreign Direct Investment into the country.

    Baru reeled out other benefits of the project to include reduction of fuel import and greenhouse gas emission, and boosting the production of animal feeds from by-products of the plant.

    The GMD also allayed fears of any possible negative impact of the plant on the supply of cassava-based foods for human consumption.

    He explained that the cassava to be used for the bio-fuel project was a special breed that would not interfere with the activities of farmers cultivating other breeds of cassava or crops.

    “We have already discussed with you and you have agreed to make 15,000 hectares of land available towards the cultivation of this cassava.

    “It will, of course, in the process invite people who are used to farming cassava as well as new entrepreneurs who want to go into that business to participate in the cultivation of the cassava that we are going to use for the production of the fuel ethanol.

    “We expect that this plant, when built, will be producing at least 65 million litres per annum of ethanol that could be blended into our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and will be used in Nigeria and neighbouring countries when exported,” Baru said.

    He disclosed that the bio-fuel project would be fitted with a 40 megawatts electricity plant that would also supply power to the host communities.

    The GMD said NNPC intended to commercialize the greenhouse gas emission reduction capability of the project to win carbon credit for the nation from the international community.

    He added that it would also make money from such by-product as industrial starch and others which would be converted to animal feeds to boost food production in the country.

    “The benefits of this project to Nigeria and specifically to Ondo State are immense and NNPC is very eager to see it implemented.

    “We are working with the investors who will invest because there are several dimensions to the project,” he said.

    Earlier, Gov. Akeredolu, assured that the state had enough farmers as well as cassava to sustain the bio-fuel plant, stressing that his visit was to show his commitment to the project.

    Present at the signing of the MoU were officials of Nigeria Export-Import Bank ( NEXIM ), New Partnership for African Development and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.

    NAN

  • Adamawa Assembly passes law on compulsory HIV/AIDS, genotype test for couples

    Adamawa Assembly passes law on compulsory HIV/AIDS, genotype test for couples

    The Adamawa House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a law for compulsory HIV and genotype (sickle cell anaemia) test for couples before marriage.

    The law was unanimously passed after the third reading of the bill at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa.

    A motion for the third reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Hassan Barguma (APC-Hong), and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Tsamdu (APC-Madagali).

    The speaker of the house then directed the Clerk of the Assembly to make clean copy of the bill and send to the governor for his assent.

    Parts of the bill stipulated that any couple intending to marry would be subjected to a compulsory HIV/AIDS and genotype test that should be conducted in public hospitals or registered diagnostic centres one week before the marriage.

    The bill also required that the certificate of the two tests should be presented to any religious institution or the clergymen of church or mosque where the wedding would be contracted.

    “Any person or persons who have complied with this law in fulfillment of the requirement of the previous marriage shall not on this basis evade undergoing the test when contracting any subsequent marriage,” the proposed law stated.

    Part three of the bill also made case for non-discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anaemia in the state.

    “Individuals, communities, employers and employees have a mutual responsibility to prevent discrimination on basis of HIV (AIDS) or Sickle Cell Anaemia in the society.

    “No cultural practice or tradition shall encourage documented practices that exposé people to risk of HIV infection,” the bill said.

    It further provided for a penalty of N150,000 for individuals and N500,000 for organisations or imprisonment for a period not less than one year or both for any person or institution found guilty of non-compliance with the law.

    With regard to organisations, the head or representatives of the board of the organisation would be held liable, the bill said.

    NAN
  • 28% of people living with HIV in W/A not on drugs – UNAIDS

    28% of people living with HIV in W/A not on drugs – UNAIDS

    The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) on Wednesday said only 28 per cent of people living with HIV in West and Central Africa have access to anti-retro-viral drugs.

    Dr Djibrill Diallo, the Regional Director, UNAIDS, made this known at the regional media workshop organised by the agency in Dakar, Senegal.

    The theme of the workshop is: “Informing the Messengers to Change the Face of the Fight against HIV in West and Central Africa’’.

    According to Diallo, of the 6.5 million people live with HIV in the region, only 28 per cent of them have access to anti-retro-viral drugs.

    “Eastern and Southern Africa have a little above 54 per cent access to anti-retro-viral drugs,’’ he said.

    The regional director said that UNAIDS has designed Catch-Up Plan for West and Central Africa with the aim of fast-tracking HIV/AIDS response in the region.

    Diallo said that the catch-up plan was an essential step toward the realisation of 90-90-90 UNAIDS target by 2020 and ending AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030.

    He said that 90-90-90 target means 90 per cent of the population would know their status, 90 per cent of people found to be living with HIV got enroll into treatment by 2020.

    The regional director said the last 90 refers to the 90 per cent of the people living with HIV, who were enrolled on treatment suppressed the virus in their body by 2030.

    Diallo said that the catch-up plan was an 18-month initiative aimed at enhancing HIV response in the region to the speed of those countries already on track of achieving the 90-90-90 target.

    He said that the plan aims to put additional 1.2 million people living with HIV on treatment by the end of 2018.

    According to him, the plan was adopted by the Head of States at the 29th African Union Summit in June 2017.

    “In Nigeria, because of the emergency catch-up plan, additional 100,000 people were put on treatment in the country.

    “As UNAIDS, we will work with the countries to do a strategy that will address the first wave countries in the region,’’ the regional director said.

    He said that the plan would initially be implemented in eight first wave countries in West and Central Africa which were divided into three categories.

    Diallo said that the four countries that bear the brunt of HIV infections are Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The regional director said that three countries, whose health systems were wiped-off due to Ebola Virus Disease, were Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.

    He said that the third category was the Central African Republic whose health systems become very fragile due to conflict.

    Diallo said that domestic funding for HIV/AIDS programmes has grown in the region including efforts in Cote d’Ivoire with 400 per cent increase and pledges by Nigeria and Senegal to increase funding HIV/AIDS programmes.

    NAN

  • Angry Oyo-Ita confronts Kyari in FEC over leaked memo 

    Angry Oyo-Ita confronts Kyari in FEC over leaked memo 

    The Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, showed her anger on Wednesday when she reacted in a very unusual manner at the Council Chambers apparently over her leaked memo to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    This happened before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Her angry reaction was witnessed by all those who were in the Council Chambers for the swearing-in of the new Secretary to the Government or the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the launch of the 2018 armed forces emblem.

     Many Council members were also in the hall for the Federal Executive Council meeting.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari were seen questioning Oyo-Ita, shortly before the commencement of the event which started at 10:55am.

    Oyo-Ita, who has never lost her cool in the public, was seen angrily gesticulating while trying to make her point in what was obviously a heated argument with Kyari.

    The Head of Service went back to her seat and then rose again and headed straight to Osinbajo, who also engaged her in a tête-a-tete over the issue.

    The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, later joined the conversation after which the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation was seen calming the Head of Service.

    She was later asked to return to her seat by the Deputy Chief of Staff Femi Ipaye, when it was now obvious all eyes were fixed on them.

    The drama, which lasted about 10 minutes, was witnessed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Chief of justice of the federation, Walter Onnoghen, the Governor of Adamawa, Jibrila Bindu, All Progressives Congress National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, chief of defence staff, service chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other heads of paramilitary service among others.

    A national daily had quoted Oyo-Ita, in the leaked memo, as saying that Buhari was aware of the reinstatement of the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Oyo-Ita was also quoted to have stated that she had warned the president against the controversial recall of the embattled former pension boss.

    President Buhari had ordered last week the immediate disengagement of former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Maina was in 2013 recommended for dismissal by the Federal Civil Service Commission following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.

    In 2012, Maina was accused of leading a massive pension fraud scheme amounting to more than N100 billion.

    He was drafted by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2010 to sanitize a corrupt pension system.