The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • NANS blames Fayemi’s wife for killing of FUOYE students

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday condemned the alleged killing of two students of Federal University Oye Ekiti and injuring of others by security details attached to Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

    The students – Dada Kehinde Abiodun, a part one student at the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture and another were allegedly shot dead during protest on Tuesday by security personnel in the convoy of Mrs. Fayemi.

    In a statement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by Azeez Adeyemi, the National Public Relations Officer, NANS Azeez wondered what the Governor’s wife expected the students to do other than protest against a Governor that could not address the electricity challenges in Oye Ekiti, a bustling town in Ekiti State.

    The NANS image maker stated that troubled started when the protesting students sighted the wife of the Governor and wanted to explain their reason for the protest to her but one of her security personnel slapped the Students Union President in the process.

    Azeez added this sparked the anger of the students who then pelted Bisi Fayemi’s convoy with sachet waters, an action, he claimed further, impelled the Governor’s wife to allegedly order her security aides to be ruthless with the students.

    He stated: “A student, Dada Kehinde Abiodun, a Part 1 student of the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture was killed while some others were severely injured and are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre.

    READ ALSO: Fayemi’s wife escapes death, as FUOYE students allegedly attack convoy

    “One of the students placed under intensive care has also gave up the ghost during the early hours of today.

    “Meanwhile, so as to distort the truth before it gets to the public domain, the government quickly rushed to the press and fed them with lies all because they are in possession of the financial capacity to do and undo.

    “It is however important to note that although we do not have the financial muzzle to contend with you in the media but we shall explore every lawful means to communicate the anti – students attitude of Mrs. Fayemi to the world.

    “To this end, we have however declared the wife of Governor Fayemi a persona non grata anywhere 50meters of any university campus, as we request her to always keep 50 meters away from all our campuses in the country as she constitutes threat to the lives of our students.

    “We are not ignorant of the move of the government to kidnap our comrades when sighted anywhere in the state.

    “As a result of this unholy plot by the Ekiti state government, we would protest her wicked act in at least one state from each of the geo -political zones of the country, with effect from Monday 16, September, 2019.

    “We however appealed to mothers and other international communities to join force with us to condemn this inhuman act.”

  • GOC charges army officers to always exhibit high professional competence

    Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army Rukuba, Jos, has charged army officers to always exhibit high level of discipline and professional competence.

    A statement by Maj Ikechukwu Eze, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said  the GOC gave the charge on Wednesday at the close of a 3-day inter-brigade combat proficiency competition by the division which commenced on Monday.

    “As officers, let me remind you of the enormous responsibilities and critical role expected of you especially in times like these.

    “Apart from breaching the gap between senior officers and soldiers, you are required to exhibit the highest level of discipline and professional competence at all times.

    “This competition has therefore given you the opportunity to display your potentials and similarly develop your professional abilities.

    Read Also: Army, NEPAD engage stakeholders on terrorism, insurgency

    ‘I therefore urge you to take back to your units and formations the experience gained by putting it to good use for the overall benefit of the Nigerian army at large,” he urged.

    Angbazo said the inter-brigade competition  was   to among other things,  enhance  physical endurance, improve leadership traits, organisational ability, spirit-de corp and use of initiative amongst others.

    Angbazo added that it was the Chief Of Army  Staff vision to have a professionally responsive Nigerian army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    A total of 50 officers from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to Major drawn from five formations in the Division participated in the competition.

    The five formations that participated included; Division Garrison, 23 Brigade Yola, 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, 43 Engineer Brigade and 53 Signal Brigade.

    “The competition featured map reading and navigation,  weapon handling,  five kilometer combat run, obstacle crossing and tug of war.

    “At the end of the competition,  43 Engineer Brigade took the first position in order of merit while 3 Division Garrison and 53 Signals brigades took the second and 3rd positions respectively.

    “The fourth position went to 33 Artillery Brigade while 23 Brigade took the last position,” it added.

    (NAN)

  • Ajimobi: ‘Oyo APC still studying judgment’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State says it will take the appropriate steps after studying the judgment delivered on its petition challenging the victory of Sen. Kolawole Balogun (PDP – Oyo South).

    Dr Azeez Olatunde, the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

    NAN recalls that the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Ibadan had in its judgment  delivered on Tuesday upheld Balogun’s victory at the poll.

    Balogun defeated former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, who was the Oyo South Senatorial candidate of APC in the Feb. 23 National Assembly election.

    Read Also: Balogun floors Ajimobi in Oyo South

    “We are still studying the judgment. By the grace of God, we are going to take the necessary and appropriate steps after studying the judgment,” he said.

    Olatunde, however, wondered why the court which agreed that there were irregularities in the election did not give the mandate to the person who won with regular votes or order a rerun.

    He cited a similar ruling given at the Osun State Governorship Tribunal which was upturned by the appellate court.

    “Somebody who has been accused and found guilty of irregularities must not benefit from the irregularities. That is the moral standard,” he said.

    He said the party had grounds for appeal and urged members to remain calm and united.(NAN)

  • Poverty, unwanted pregnancies keep 51 percent Adamawa children from school

    Fear of fees by poor parents has been identified as a leading reason why most children of school age in Adamawa State are not in schools.

    Only 49 percent of school-age children in Adamawa State are in school, according to a nongovernmental organisation, African Centre for leadership Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), which did a research of school enrolment in the state.

    The acting Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Monday Osasah, who made the disclosure in Yola during a training conference for education sector stakeholders towards raising school enrolment, especially for girls, said girls are particularly affected.

    This, she said, is because they suffer from a widespread impression that education for girls is a waste as they would sooner than later be married off.

    Osasah, who delivered lectures to community leaders during a two-day workshop in Yola on enhancing school enrolment, drew his conclusions from a research initiated by his NGO and published with funding from Malala Fund, with focus on three LGAs: Maiha, Song and Numan.

    Read Also: How poverty keeps girls out of school

    The report on the research, which our correspondent obtained, shows that while total population of persons of school age in the state in 2018 was 1,736,546; only 849,912 (49%) were enrolled in primary and secondary schools.

    The report shows that while the total population of females aged 5-19 in the state was 843,024, only 383,380 (45.5%) were in school, leaving 459,644 out of school.

    The research, which paid particular attention to girl-child education in the state, also listed fear of being captured by insurgents, early marriage, unwanted pregnancy and indifference to western education as other reasons for high number of out-of-school girls.

    The research report recommends in-depth engagement of stakeholders to facilitate community action in favour of girl-child education, and critical interrogation of identified barriers by government and community stakeholders as some of the solutions to low school enrolment.

    Osasah, who fielded questions from newsmen during the conference for community and education leaders from Maiha, said similar train-the-trainer conference had been held for stakeholders in Numan and Song LGAs.

    The trainees, who are leaders with access to members of their communities, he said, would be expected to pass the education enrolment message to their people.

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

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The meeting, which is the first under the second term administration of President Buhari, started around 11am in the Council Chamber with rendition of the National anthem.

    In his brief remarks at the beginning of the meeting, the President charged the ministers that they cannot afford to fail Nigerians.

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

    He 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 in February 2019 to accomplish three major areas of securing the nation, diversifying and inclusive economy that will end poverty and fighting corruption.

    According to him, the ministers’ policies, ideas and projects should mainly be tailored to these areas.

    He said; “For the new cabinet members, this weekly meeting presents an opportunity to know your fellow ministers and exchange ideas with a goal of perfecting our stated policies which will positively impact on Nigerians. In the recently concluded elections, the majority of Nigerians who voted for us gave us a clear mandate: A. to enhance the security of lives and property across the entire country, B. to create a diversified and inclusive economy that will bring prosperity to all, and C. to install governance and accountability in our systems and processes, thereby eliminating corruption.

    “Therefore, all ideas and projects that will contribute to achieving these goals shall be foremost in our deliberations,” the President said.

    Buhari also gave reasons why he created some new ministries and merged others.

    He 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 institutionalized our various interventions that support some of the poorest and most distressed citizens of our country.

    “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 enhanced 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 north east.

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

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

    Stressing that the ministers, who were reappointed, got the job based on merit due to their performances during the first term of his administration, he urged all the ministers to redouble their efforts.

    “For returning ministers, my decision to appoint you is best on merit. During our first term, you executed your mandate diligently in a patriotic manner. I expect you all to double your efforts in this second term,” he stated.

    The President added; “I have instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to draft a schedule of ministerial responsibilities for my review and final approval.

    “As I said during the recent retreat, we must work in harmony with each other. Communication and team work are the hallmarks of success.

    “I will conclude by tasking you all to keep in mind the oath you took in this very room three weeks ago. As a government our focus must remain that of selfless service,” he said.

    At the meeting were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

    After confirmation of the appointment of the 43 Ministers by the Senate and two-day retreat in the Banquet Hall, the ministers were sworn in by the President on the 21st of August, 2019.

    Since the swearing in, the President gave the ministers some weeks to familiarize themselves with their ministries.

  • Kano Tribunal strikes out PDP’s petition against APC’s candidate

    The National and State House of Assembly Tribunal sitting in Kano, on Wednesday struck out the petition by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, representing Ajingi/Gaya Federal Constituency, Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya.

    The three-man panel, led by Justice Ajoke Adepoju held that the petitioner, Usman Mahmud Adamu, failed to prove the allegations on corrupt practices, over-voting and allocation of votes to non-participating parties, filed against the respondents.

    Read Also: Tribunal judgment victory for Nigerians, says Buhari

    The petition was dismissed on the grounds that the Petitioner did not give sufficient evidence to warrant the appeal to dismiss the APC’s prayers.

    Counsel to the Petitioner, Rabiu Sadiq, said, “our prayers is for the Tribunal to annul the election of Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi Federal Constituency because some political parties that were not on the ballot paper were ascribed with some votes, as reflected on the result sheet, which is their main ground.

    “We may head to the Court of Appeal after consultations, with our client.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Kogi miners’ boss

    Gunmen on Sunday abducted the chairman of Kogi State Miners Association, Yunusa Oruma, from his residence in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The victim’s brother, Prince Oruma, told our correspondent on Wednesday that his brother was relaxing in his house when gunmen, numbering eight, invaded the place at about 8pm on Sunday and began shooting.

    He said that in the process, they seized his brother and drove away with him, adding that no information has been heard since he was abducted.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill two in Plateau

    He said that the incident has been reported to the police and other security agencies in Ankpa, and appealing for their concerted efforts to secure the brother’s release.

    When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. William Aya, confirmed the incident, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim.

  • PHOTOS: Presidential election Tribunal

    Counsel to PDP Mike Ozekomhe SAN(middle) and others at presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja
    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong,(right) Former Governor of
    Bauchi State, Bar. Mohammed Abubakar and others Election Tribunal in Abuja

    L R: APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole,Counsel to APC, Chief. Charles Edosomwan SAN Minister of Work and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Omoruyi Augustine SAN APC Counsel at the Presidential election Tribunal

  • UPDATED: Fire razes NNPC, Ibadan depot

    The Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Apata, Ibadan, Oyo, depot was on Wednesday gutted by fire, leaving about seven persons injured.

    A section of the loading point was completely damaged by fire, while three petrol tankers were also burnt.

    One of the persons injured, simply identified as Moji was caught in the raging fire, sustaining severe burns.

    Activities at the depot have been suspended forthwith, as the usual loading of fuel has been shut down.

    There was pandemonium when people around the NNPC depot, including the staff , saw pillows of fire, causing the people to start scaling the fence, and running helter-skelter to avoid been caught by the fire.

    Read Also : U.S. court rules in NNPC’s favour in $2.7b suit

    The immediate cause of the inferno could not be ascertained, but a source attributed the afternoon fire to an electrical surge which sparked off the fire.

    A driver of one of the affected tankers, who would not want his name in print, however, disagreed that the fire was caused by electric surge, saying that the fire was caused by one of the tanker drivers at the loading point.

    He said ” I was there when one of the tanker drivers was removing his battery and using another truck’s battery to kick start his truck. It was when he put the battery and was hitting the head of the battery, trying to fix it that fire sparked from the battery and the next thing we say was a pillow of fire, trapping everyone available. ”

    The fire, which lasted for about two hours, was, however, quenched by a team of the Oyo State Fire Services and men of the NNPC for fighters who struggled to put off the fire.

    Members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS and team of policemen were seen at the scene of the fire , to maintain law and order.

  • BREAKING: Court strikes out Atiku’s Kenyan ICT expert’s evidence on server

    The PEPT has struck out the evidence given by the Kenyan Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert, David Njorga invited as the 59th petitioners witnesses to establish their claim that INEC transmitted results to a server during the last presidential election.

    In the judgment still being read in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, the court held classified the evidence by Njorga as hearsay evidence because he claimed to have sourced the information about s supposed INEC server from a third party website: www.factsdontlieng.com.

    Justice Mohammed Garba said the court cannot rely on such unbelievable evidence as presented by Njorga to hold that there actually exists a server.

    Read Also:  Court strikes out Atiku’s Kenyan ICT expert’s evidence on server

    The judge also dismissed the evidence by the petitioners’ witness number 60 (Gbenga Joseph) who claimed to be a statistician.

    He noted that Joseph admitted during cross-examination that he has no professional certification.

    Justice Garba said the evidence by both witnesses, who the petitioners described as their expert witnesses, did not qualify as such.