The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Enugu gets 360 patrol vehicles

    The Enugu State government has bought 360 patrol vehicles — 260 Sienna buses and 100 Hilux vans — to be distributed to security agencies, vigilance groups and forest guards.

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Wednesday said the 260 buses would be given to watch groups and forest guards; the Hilux vans would go to the Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Ugwuanyi hinted that the government had placed order for patrol motorcycles and bicycles.

    He noted that the move would strengthen security in the state and ensure that the 478 autonomous communities were secured.

    Read Also: Special patrol vehicles on highways soon, says IGP

    The governor said the government was consulting with security experts to implement a laudable forest guard security outfit.

    “Being the first state in the country to have forest guards, we do not want to make mistakes. That is why we are consulting security experts at every stage,” he added.

    The governor said the security architecture of the state would be such that hunters would be empowered with mechanical mobility.

    He added that his administration would to set up a security trust fund to be managed by experts.

    The fund would be modelled after that of Lagos State, Ugwuanyi said.

  • APC loses two seats

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has lost two federal constituency seats.

    The election petition tribunal II on Wednesday delivered judgment in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Tribunal Chairman Justice Jennifer Ijohor declared Aniekan Umanah and Pat Ifon winners of the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika and Eket federal constituencies.

    Read Also: APC repaid me with evil, says Okorocha

    APC’s candidate  Emmanuel Ekon challenged Umanah’s victory while his colleague Kufre Akpabio challenged Ifon’s victory for Eket.

    In their separate motions, the petitioners prayed the court to cancel the elections on the grounds that it did not comply with the Electoral Act.

    They asked the tribunal  to nullify the certificates issued to the first respondents on February 23 election.

    The court held that since it had already determined a motion on that subject by dismissing the petitioners’ application in July 9, the court could not sit on appeal over its decision as sought by the petitioner.

  • Building, prison fence collapse in Onitsha

    A three-storey building on Wednesday collapsed at No. 22 Nkisi Aroli Street, Onitsha in Anambra State.

    The building, said to belong to Chukwuma Njeka, reportedly collapsed in the morning following a downpour. No casualty was recorded.

    The rear fence of the Onitsha Custodial Centre (formerly  Onitsha Prison) also collapsed on Wednesday, about 6:30 am.

    Read Also: Many Lagos buildings distressed – LASBCA

    No casualty was recorded. Inmates did not also escape.

    Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said the scene was cordoned off to prevent looters and clear the rubble.

    He said Commissioner of Police John Abang had ordered the deployment of police personnel to secure the area.

  • Buhari’s victory: SANs hail Tribunal’s verdict

    Senior lawyers on Wednesday praised the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the February 23 presidential election.

    They said the judgment was unimpeachable and that the petitioners had only themselves to blame.

    Those who spoke include Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) Robert Clarke, Femi Falana and Rotimi Jacobs.

    The Tribunal dismissed in its entirety the March 18 petition by Atiku and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging INEC’s declaration that Buhari won.

    It said it came to an inevitable conclusion that the petitioners did not prove any of the grounds of the petition as known by law and consequently discarded the petition in its entirety.

    “And the petition is hereby dismissed in its entirety,” lead judge, Mohammed Garba said.

    Clarke agreed with the Tribunal.

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Buhari ‘eminently qualified’ to contest

    He said the petitioners failed to show why Atiku of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should have been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The petitioners failed woefully to prove their case,” Clarke said.

    He praised the tribunal for clarifying the Buhari certificate saga.

    According to him the PDP’s star witness that was supposed to prove that INEC transmitted results via a server, was unconvincing.

    Clarke said: “…They have an array of lawyers there. Why should they bring a man as their sole witness to talk about server when he knows nothing about it? That is their point, but they have to pay the price.

    “Secondly, on the question of certificate, the Constitution says you either have a certificate or you have attained certain training. Buhari went to the army and came out as a General. The school, even if nobody brought any evidence, the military (evidence) that was produced at the Tribunal was enough to indicate that he went to school, he sat for an exam and he entered an institution that was higher than a school certificate and he came out as a General. So, don’t let us beat about the bush. They have failed. It is their fault and they have to live with it.”

    Falana also agreed with the judgment.

    He said: “As far as the Nigerian electoral jurisprudence is concerned the judgment… is sound and unimpeachable.

    “In Buhari v Obasanjo the Supreme Court pointed out that it is virtually impossible to annul a presidential election in Nigeria. For 16 years the PDP didn’t allow any serious electoral reform.

    “The findings of the Court on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s nationality and Alhaji Buhari’s qualification to contest the election tally with the provisions of the Constitution.

    “Since President Buhari has said that the victory belongs to the Nigerian people, then the federal government should be retrieved from western and Chinese imperialism and manned by the genuine representatives of the Nigerian people.

    “Furthermore, the  Buhari administration should implement the recommendations of the Uwais, Lemu and Nnamani panels on electoral reforms.”

    For Rotimi Jacobs SAN, the “judiciary has done well.”

    “It has, within the shortest possible time, within the time allocated, the tribunal was able to sit within the period, made sacrifices, not going on holidays despite the fact that the period fell within the annual vacation of judges, they made the sacrifice and didn’t go for the holidays.

    “It’s good for us, we were able to see the end of the case, now, either party is at liberty to appeal to the next level, which is the Supreme Court. So, I think it is good for us, at least some areas we were in doubt were clarified, particularly as to transmission of results by server. That has been resolved. “

    He added: “I’m looking forward to a situation where elections will no longer be challenged in court. That is where other countries are leaning towards. It shouldn’t be that after every election, courts will be flooded with election petitions. It is not good for our development.”

  • Why I created Police Affairs, Special Duties ministries, by Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday explained why he created new ministries and merged others.

    He created the ministries of Police Affairs, Power and the Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and merged the Ministry of National Planning Ministry to Finance.

    The Power Ministry was created out of the Ministry of Power, Works & Housing.

    Presiding over the maiden Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President said: “To enhance service delivery, we decided to restructure some functions which led to the creation of new ministries to achieve our goal of economic diversification and inclusive growth.

    “For example, we merged the Ministry of Finance with that of Budget and National Planning, we also created a ministry for humanitarian affairs and disasters management and social development to fully institutionalised our various interventions that support some of the poorest and most distressed citizens of our country.

    Read Also: Governors hail Buhari

    “Furthermore, we split the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Ministry of Transportation and Aviation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our infrastructure delivery programmes and projects.

    “On security, keeping in mind the need to improve on our achievements we created the Ministry of Police Affairs with the purpose to oversee the development and implementation of strategies that will enhance Nigeria’s internal security in synergy with other security and intelligence agencies, this will include supporting the re-establishment of civil authority in the liberated areas of the Northeast.

    “We also created a new Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Affairs, this ministry will manage key projects and initiatives of the presidency.

    “The minister’s role will include coordinating of multi-agencies and inter-ministry functions as designated by the President.”

    Opening the weekly meeting, Buhari urged the ministers brace for the challenges of delivering the Next Level mandate to the citizenry. He reminded them that his administration cannot afford to fail Nigerians.

    Reminding them of the oath they took three weeks ago, he urged them to give selfless service to the nation.

    The President said: “Let me make a few remarks at the maiden Next Level Federal Executive Council Meeting. The safety, security and prosperity of Nigeria’s 200 million people are our responsibility, we must not fail them.”

    The President said that Nigerians voted for him on February 23 to accomplish three major areas of securing the nation, diversifying an inclusive economy that will end poverty and fighting corruption.

  • Only 1.78% Nigerian workforce captured in pension net

    Only 1.78 per cent Nigerian workforce is captured in the pension pot of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and have a secured life after retirement, a report obtained by The Nation has shown.

    The report released by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) indicated that the 1.78 per cent represents 8.79 million workers captured under the Scheme.

    Besides, the number of workers in the country increased from 8.63 million contributors at the end of the preceding quarter of 2019 to 8.79 million during the second quarter of 2019.

    The membership growth however represents only 29 per cent of about 30 million work force under the formal sector, out of the 200 million population of the country.

    It also represents 8.7 per cent of the overall 100 million working population of the country.

    Read Also: Pension reform: so far, so good

    Meanwhile, the country’s total pension fund assets hit N9.32 trillion in June 2019.

    The commission attributed the growth in scheme membership to the increased level of compliance by the private sector.

    It stated that the compliance by the private sector is as a result of the various steps taken by the commission to improve compliance and coverage, as well as marketing strategies of the pension managers, the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    Suffice to state that the informal sector constitutes an estimated 70 million work force in the country and represents an estimated 88 per cent of Nigerian workers that lack pensions and safety nets for their old age.

    To capture more workers under the safety nets, the Federal Government through PenCom said her goal is to achieve coverage of 30 million people in the informal sector by 2024. This according to the commission will be achieved through the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) launced by President Muhammadu Buhari in March, this year.

    Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the Acting Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar said the MPP which is an initiative of the commission is aimed at the provision of pension services to self-employed persons in the informal sector and employees of organisations with less than three staff.

    She said: “The commission planned extending pension coverage to 30 million contributors by 2024, thereby ensuring that 40 per cent adult Nigerians are covered under the CPS. President Mohammadu Buhari, in March, 2019, launched the micro pension scheme to provide the informal sector with a veritable means of securing old age income.

    “We believe that the implementation of the MPP would yield positive results for Nigerians and the industry. We have put in place requisite infrastructure to facilitate seamless implementation of MPP. The Enhanced Contribution Registration System (ECRS) has been deployed to facilitate seamless operations of the MPP. This system has so far aided the smooth registration of micro pension contributors.”

  • Gbajabiamila congratulates President, APC on tribunal’s victory

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

    The Speaker also congratulated the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the victory.

    The tribunal in an eight-hour long judgement dismissed the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Read Also: Lawan, Omo-Agege applaud verdict

    The Speaker applauded the judiciary, especially members of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, for doing its job without fear or favour.

    In a statement he personally signed, Gbajabiamila felicitated with the Nigerians and the entire members of the APC family nationwide for the victory.

    “I am elated to congratulate the President on his victory at the tribunal. Ab initio, I had no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the President would come out victorious, considering the massive support Nigerians gave the president before and during the February 23 Presidential Election.

    “May I also congratulate the Nigerian Judiciary for living up to expectations by doing the right thing. With this judgement, a precedent has been set for electoral matters in the country,” Speaker said.

  • Lawan, Omo-Agege applaud verdict

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan, his deputy Ovie Omo-Agege on Wednesday night congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the president’s resounding victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    Lawan, in a statement by his media adviser, Ola Awoniyi, said: “The judgment of the tribunal has again put a judicial seal on the mandate freely given to the President by the Nigerian people in the February 23 presidential election.”

    Lawan urged the President to accept the affirmation of his election as a reminder of the confidence of Nigerians in his capacity to continue to lead Nigeria towards its manifest destiny of greatness.

    The Senate President said Nigerians have great expectations from the Next Level Agenda of the President. He pledged the full cooperation of the National Assembly with the Executive in the pursuit of the best interest of the Nigerians.

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Buhari ‘eminently qualified’ to contest

    Lawan also commended the petitioners for using the judicial window prescribed by the constitution in seeking redress for their grievances and urged them to join hands with the government and the people in the task of nation-building.

    In his message, the Deputy Senate President described the development as victory for democracy.

    He said: “I join the millions of Nigerians in congratulating you on your overwhelming electoral victory won on the basis of a populist mandate as well as today’s judicial victory won on the strength of  our constitution, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal today.

    “Your victory and that of the governing APC at the February 23 presidential election was not only visible to the blind but audible to the deaf as our progressive ideals resonate profoundly with the genuine hopes and aspirations of our people.

    “Today’s (yesterday) judgement only affirmed the conviction of many who have consistently maintained that with the over three million votes’ margin between you and your closest challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was glaring that they were merely embarking on an academic exercise at the tribunal.

    “It was no surprise, therefore, that the petition of Atiku and the PDP was torn to shreds and dismissed unanimously by the five-man panel. Like we were taught in law, you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”

  • Tribunal spoke the minds of Nigerians, says Fasuan

    Elder statesman Deji Fasuan on Wednesday said the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has spoken the minds of Nigerians by upholding President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the February 23 presidential election.

    The tribunal dismissed in its entirety the March 18 petition by Alhaji Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that Buhari won.

    Fasuan said: “Buhari’s confirmation by the tribunal, the tribunal has spoken the minds of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Governors hail Buhari

    “Nigerians decided that they wanted Buhari back and they made that decision earlier in the year, which has now been confirmed by the tribunal.

    “In the last five or six months, the judiciary has blackmailed and called all kinds of names, except it affirmed Atiku, their man on the Presidential throne. But this is not to be because Atiku plainly lost the election.

    “It is regrettable that a leading lawyer for Atiku could tell the world on television that it is either appeal to the Supreme Court or death for them. That is regrettable and unfortunate, but it shows the low to which our politics has sunk. As things are, those people will not die, but they will lament for a long time.

    “Nigerians have spoken and, believe you me, the Supreme Court of the land will affirm the truth again. Congratulations to Nigerians.”

  • Xenophobic attacks: After seven hours’ delay, 187 Nigerians land in Lagos

    It was harrowing experience for some Nigerians who were airlifted from the OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg.

    Their flight, which was scheduled to take off at 9:10 am, was delayed for about seven hours. Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that immigration issues triggered the delay.

    But the many hours of waiting and anxiety ended as the Boeing 777 aircraft belonging to Air Peace landed last night at the Lagos Airport.

    The aircraft touched down at 9.37pm and taxied to the premises of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with returnees recounting tales of regrets.

    Relying on the flight manifest, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said 231 males and 86 females were preparing to return home yesterday.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: Arrival of Nigeria returnees from South Africa

    As they alighted from the aircraft they expressed bitter experiences in the hands of their South African hosts.

    They were received at a temporary camp opened for their profiling by Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, who said the government has available to each of them N40, 000.00 recharge card to enable them communicate with their family members.

    In appreciation of the gestures, the returnees rose in euphoria to sing the national anthem.

    An Osun State indigene who identified himself as Saheed, lamented how he was sacked from work for being a Nigerian.

    He narrated how he was subjected to discrimination despite working in Pretoria for more than five years.

    Another returnee from Edo State, who identified himself as Anthony Joshua, described his trauma as unfortunate.

    He called on the government to cut ties with South Africa because of the maltreatment of Nigerians.

    Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said the offer to air lift the trapped Nigerians  was the least he could do to assist .

    He lamented how South African authorities delayed the flight for over 12 hours just to punish Nigerians.

    In her remark, Mrs. Dabiri Erewa praised the airline for its patriotic act.

    As at 10.45 pm, the profiling of the returnees was ongoing by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa spoke of an arrangement with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to offer entrepreneurship programmes to those willing to learn.

    She said: “The BoI will also be here to offer some entrepreneurship programmes and some support to start a small business and there would be some stipends for transportation to take you home and we will profile them and for those who want to get any training, they will decide what kind of training they want to do and the Bank of industry will be there to provide it.”

    According to Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, 320 Nigerians were scheduled to be evacuated yesterday.

    It was learnt that a second plane would arrive in South Africa tomorrow to bring the second batch of 320.

    Six hundred and forty Nigerians signed to be evacuated back home following unending attacks targeted at foreigners in South Africa.

    Heidi Giokos, a reporter with eNCA who has been monitoring events at the airport in South Africa, also tweeted that the plane took off at 3:30pm, South African time.

    She wrote: “188 Nigerians have boarded the @flyairpeace plane. The plane was brought in for Nigerians who wanted the evacuation plan offered by @flyairpeace. The board is now ready to take off. It was scheduled to leave at 9:10 am. Over 7 hour delay.”

    According to her, the delay was caused by cases of expired documents from some Nigerians going through the South African immigration.

    She also reported earlier that some Nigerians were not allowed to board as they couldn’t provide travel documents for their children.