The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Mission not collecting cash from South Africa returnees

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday honoured the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, for patriotism.

    The Green Chamber, in a motion moved by Abdulrasak Namdas (APC), also recommended Onyema to the Federal Government for a befitting National Honour for doing the nation proud.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, hailed the Air Peace chief executive for conveying many Nigerians from South Africa, following the xenophobic attacks.

    There were echoes of “Chief Onyema, thank you, sir! Chief Onyema, thank you, sir! Chief Onyema, thank you, sir!” in the Green Chamber yesterday.

    The lawmakers expressed appreciation to him for giving succour to Nigerians in their time of need.

    The Speaker instructed the Clerk to ensure that a copy of the House resolution on the businessman’s good gesture was forwarded to the Federal Government immediately.

    He also directed that a letter of commendation from his office be sent to Air Peace office as well.

    Gbajabiamila said the House was honouring Onyema for his high sense of patriotism.

    The Speaker said Onyema was invited to appear before the House yesterday in recognition of his magnanimous decision to volunteer the use of his aircraft to evacuate Nigerians who were attacked in South Africa.

    According to him, Onyema’s airline had already conveyed over 498 Nigerians from South Africa, and had returned to South Africa to airlift more returnees.

    Gbajabiamila said it was a rare show of patriotism and that the House would recommend him to the Federal Government for further honour.

    On his motivation for the gesture, Onyema said his decision was spontaneous: to mitigate the hardship being faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

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    The businessman said additional 319 Nigerians had just “checked in” from the former Apartheid enclave.

    He hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the mature manner he handled the xenophobic matter with South African authorities.

    Members who spoke yesterday included Majority Leader Tahir Mongonu, Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, Deputy Whip Nkiruika Onyejeocha, Jerry Alagbaoso, Abdulrasak Namdas and Haruna Dederi.

    They said the honour was well deserved as the airline boss had shown his unalloyed love for the country and its citizens.

    The lawmakers added that Onyema’s action had brought respect to the country and Nigerians.

    They also noted that he had come up with greatly beneficial initiatives in the past which had impacted on the lives of Nigerians.

    Dederi said: “Allen Onyema has always been in the forefront of positive change in the country. He was one of the initiators of the Amnesty programme in Nigeria, and Almajiri school system in the country.”

    Also, Nigerian Mission in South Africa yesterday denied the report that its officials collected money from Nigerian returnees.

    A video, which has gone viral, alleged that consulate officials were collecting 500 rand to process Nigerian passengers on Air Peace flight.

    The airline management had offered to convey Nigerians wishing to return home, following the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners and their businesses by the South African youths.

    Reacting to the claim, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, South Africa Mr. Godwin Adama said the claim was false.

    Adama said it was a ploy by some people to frustrate the evacuation process.

    He added: “The Mission works with Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa.

    “The same people sent notice to Nigerians from across the provinces to park their luggage and go to the Consulate to travel the same day.

    “This created serious logistics challenges and I had to accommodate all the women with children.

    “Everything has gone on well, despite attempts by these groups of discredited individuals.”

    The President of Nigeria Citizens Association (NICASA), South Africa, Ben Okoli, also said no such thing happened.

    He said: “These crops of diplomats that are working in the Consulate are just great and are the best we have ever seen.

    “There is nothing like money being collected by anyone; not NICASA, not even the Consulate. These services were rendered free of charge. No one has ever said anyone collected money from him.

    “So, I am unhappy with this fake news that people are just circulating. It is a lie.

    “We are discountenancing the lie and it is unacceptable.”

  • Oba of Benin: Edo will benefit from Buhari’s govt

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewaure II, has said Edo State will benefit from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The monarch said Edo would not be left out in the current administration.

    The monarch spoke when chairman-designate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Pius Odubu visited him at the palace.

    According to him, everyone should cooperate, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliation, to attract more federal presence to the state.

    Oba Ewuare II assured the people that the current political tension in the state would soon become a thing of the past as the palace was working to resolve the impasse between the political gladiators.

    Read Also: African American tourists visit Oba of Benin

    He described the appointment of Dr. Odubu as a landmark in the state, and maintained that the palace was keen at ensuring development of the kingdom and the state.

    Odubu said the NDDC board would ensure citizen participation, transparency and accountability in the execution of projects.

    He said: “The board will promote citizen participation, ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of projects within the nine oil producing states that make up the Niger Delta.

    “The board will effectively discharge its duties to the utmost benefit of the oil producing states. The NDDC board, under my leadership, will experience a huge positive difference and significant impact. We will have a different NDDC; one that will have value for money, one that accountability will be the watchword, one that we will go to the people to ask them the project that they want.

    “We will not force projects on the people. We want to make a difference and by God’s grace that will happen.”

  • Dickson disengages special adviser

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has dismissed Mrs. Helen Bob as a special adviser.

    A statement by his Chief Press, Fidelis Soriwei, said Mrs. Bob was dismissed for repeated acts of gross misconduct, indiscipline, irresponsibility.

    It was gathered that Mrs. Bob’s sack might not be unconnected with her public outburst over Dickson’s choice of candidate and running mate for the November 16 election. Bob had condemned some of the governor’s decisions, describing them as  a recipe for failure.

    She said she was ready to be relieved of her duties as a government official.

    The former aide described a stakeholders’ meeting proposed by the governor to seek a possible substitution of Erwujakpor as unnecessary.

    Read Also: Dickson warns PDP leaders against issuing unauthorised statements

    Mrs. Bob has warned Dickson of the catastrophe awaiting the PDP at the November 16 election if the party failed to address members’ grievances.

    Bob, who accepted her punishment in a statement yesterday, said: “No amount of sack will stop the flood that is about to submerge the PDP come November 16 if the party does not redress the issues I have made known to you.

    “With all due respect, I enjoyed the great privilege to have served the Bayelsa State talented youths you never cared for from the point you directed that the Talent Development Centre (Peace Park) be demolished, yet you have no intentions of developing the said centre for over a year now. Too bad, may be because I’m from Okpoama.

    “That is the day I relieved myself from this appointment that has been so useless to you but today you make it sound very important as if it existed. However, as the political prophetess of the State, I bless His Excellency and the entire core Restoration Family to have made me a subject matter all through last night and hating the truth.

    “I am a daughter from the Atlantic. We respect but don’t tolerate injustice. Let me thank you immensely for giving me the great opportunity to serve our dear state as the Special Adviser to your office on Talent Development and gender Promotion. Frankly speaking I am a woman of truth and will always stand by it. You have done very well not to have ignored my comments which of course I know must have touched your heart. And the gods of the land will be so proud of a true Izon daughter.”

  • Ex-Bayelsa PDP senator joins APC

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Nimi Amange, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Amange, who represented Bayelsa East in the Senate, said he joined APC because Governor Seriake Dickson arrogated PDP to himself.

    His intention was contained in a letter he sent to the Chairman of Ward II in Nembe Local Government.

    Amange said his romance with APC started before the 2019 election when he helped the party win his senatorial district and the House of Representatives seat.

    He said: “When I was in PDP, we were enslaved by only one man who regarded himself as emperor. There were no political activities, even if you want to be a councillor. The 105 councillors were nominated by him. The eight chairmen were nominated by him. I cannot be part of that.

    Read Also: Kogi, Bayelsa polls: PDP steps up efforts to unite aggrieved members

    “I was one of the founding fathers of PDP in Bayelsa State. I did not join the PDP; I was part of the formation in August 1998, and I have been there since. But I have never seen this kind of authoritarian rule. So, I have decided to pitch my tent with a party that can uproot the party from the ground so that Bayelsans will be freed. I promise you Bayelsans will be freed come November 16.

    “Today, I can tell you that the APC candidate, David Lyon, comes from Southern Ijaw council; that is the council with the highest voting strength. Definitely, that council is for APC. I come from Nembe and by joining APC, Nembe has fallen into the hands of APC.

    “Brass is where Timipre Sylva comes from and Brass normally is for APC. Those three councils are gone and we can give Kolokuma/Opokuma, the smallest council, to PDP because their candidate is from there. Sagbama, where the present governor comes from, will be donated to him because his running mate is from there.

    “Where the governor comes from is where he picked his party’s deputy governorship candidate from. The question is what will other councils do? We can still donate that to him. We are taking three, they are taking two. The remaining councils are 50/50.”

  • Ruling on Abia governorship tomorrow

    The Abia State election petition tribunal will rule tomorrow on the suit between All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate Alex Otti and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Anambra Central: I will challenge tribunal ruling, says Umeh

    Although the tribunal is yet to release a statement, Otti’s media aide Ferdinand Ekeoma confirmed the information.

    Ekeoma, who said he would not want to pre-empt the ruling, said Otti’s legal team had done what they should and was waiting for the judgment.

  • Fed Govt urges governors to ensure internal security

    Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday urged governors, particularly those in the Northeast and Northwest, to fight insecurity.

    This, the minister said, could be through the deployment of modern technology to support the efforts of the Federal Government and security personnel in combating all forms of crime and criminality in the zones.

    Aregbesola spoke in his office in Abuja when he hosted Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i on a courtesy visit.

    He pleaded with other governors to emulate the Kaduna State government’s model on security.

    The minister said crime had become complex across the world and that it could best be tackled with the use of modern technology to protect life and property in the country.

    Read Also: Nigeria security situation critical, says Naval Chief

    “Through the use of modern technology, the menace of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other vices bedevilling the country will be put behind within the shortest possible time,” Aregbesola said.

    The minister said this would influence the development of an effective strategy on a regional basis for curtailing insecurity and its attendant challenges.

    A statement by the Director (Press and Public Relations) in the ministry, Mohammed Manga, said the minister stressed that security is the key to effective, meaningful and social interaction.

    He added that the nation’s economy depends on its internal security.

    Praising El-Rufai for seeking collaboration with the Federal Government in the fight against insecurity, Aregbesola noted that the security challenges facing the country required collective effort to handle.

    He urged governors to collaborating with the Federal Government in order to provide safety and security for Nigerians.

    El-Rufai said he was at the ministry to congratulate the minister on his recent appointment and to seek collaboration on how best to tackle insecurity in his state.

    He said the Federal Government had done well towards in securing the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway with the deployment of security personnel from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in charge of national security.

  • Minister tasks foreign firms on job creation for Nigerians

    Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo on Wednesday urged foreign firms seeking to invest in the country to create jobs for Nigerians.

    Adebayo spoke in Abuja when the leadership of some foreign firms visited him.

    The firms are: Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), from Korea and Datasonic Group Berhard from Malaysia.

    The minister expressed satisfaction that foreign firms were for investment opportunities in the country.

    He urged them to use their investment to create jobs for Nigerians.

    While Samsung came for business expansion and vessel fabrication in Nigeria, Datasonic is seeking government’s support for a $100 million investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution services in the country.

    Adebayo said: “Such investment plans should give top priority to job opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youths. The government is also not relenting on creating an enabling environment for businesses as long as they would create jobs.

    Read Also: President reappoints Imoukhuede SSA on Job Creation

    “As a government, we are excited that you are here seeking investment opportunities in our country. The fact is that it is the priority of President Muhammadu Buhari to create jobs for our youths through direct foreign investments (DFIs).

    “It is also exciting that you are coming now at the right time when we are settling into our new functions to take the nation to the Next Level, which makes your coming part of our plan. As you progress with setting up of your businesses, staff from the ministry will assist in your areas of needs.”

    The Managing Director of SHI Samsung Limited, Mr Jejin Jeon, told the minister that his firm had invested about $500 million in Nigeria in the last six years.

    He proposed to site a factory in Nigeria to make the country the vessel fabrication hub in Africa.

    Also, the Chief Executive Director of Datasonic Group Berhad, Mr Chew Ben Ben, told the minister that his firm, in partnership with Chrome Group of Nigeria, had a multimillion dollars ICT project plan for the country.

    The project, he said, would cover production of secured passports, chip-based driver’s licence, international passport, integrated security, surveillance systems, auto-gates with facial recognition systems, all of which would create several jobs for Nigerian youths.

    The Chairman of Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCI), Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, expressed confidence that the project would further drive the economic diversification agenda of the current administration.

    He said the firm, as one of the foremost ICT companies in Malaysia, was poised to establish a world-class range of technology products in Nigeria within the next 24 months.

    Adetokunbo added that the firm looked forward to government supports in the form of top-level incentives and waivers to upscale government’s agenda in job creation.

  • Ogun begins low cost housing scheme

    Ogun State Government has begun the construction of low cost mass houses in Abeokuta and other parts of the state, to provide decent accommodation for the people at affordable prices.

    The houses, when completed, will cost about N4 million each, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    Speaking a thanksgiving and praise worship to mark his victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the governor noted that the project was embarked on to address housing deficit.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to fund firm’s mass housing projects

    Governor Abiodun, who described shelter as one of the basic needs of man, said the project would employ the services of artisans such as bricklayers, carpenters, painters and other auxiliary workers.

    “I have told our people that the houses should not be more N4million each. This is to enable people have access to them,” he said.

    Prince Abiodun, who used the occasion to inform the people of his stewardship in the last 100 days, said besides reconstituting the State Security Trust Fund and handing over its management to the right combination of people, 100 patrol vans and 200 motorcycles were purchased, with an helicopter from the Federal Government to tackle insecurity.

  • Funding gaps stalling road projects, says Fashola

    Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola has said budget funding gaps stalled the completion of road projects across the country in the last four years.

    Fashola was addressing reporters on the poor state of roads in the land against the series of approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during the current administration’s first tenure.

    At the post-FEC briefing on Wednesday, the minister explained that not all the over N300 billion budgeted was released.

    He said his office had not got any money since he was reappointed.

    According to him, there are paper work processes being done.

    Fashola said some of the road projects were based on goodwill.

    Stressing that there had been criticisms against borrowing during the first tenure, the minister said community support was needed to facilitate the construction of roads across the country.

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

    He gave an instance of over N10 billion as compensation to be paid on the Second Niger Bridge.

    Fashola said: “First of all, about abandoned projects. It’s important we all speak the same language. I think there is a very clear distinction doing a project that is uncompleted and a project that is abandoned. They mean two different things.

    “If you ask me, you say there is a report about 20,000 abandoned projects. My ministry doesn’t have 20,000 projects. I think there was a report from the previous administration that did a compilation.

    “What are we doing about abandoned projects? One of the things we have done, including what we have done today finding out why projects have not been completed in some cases, the rates have become obsolete. So, the price of cement has changed, the exchange rate has changed, inflation has gone into the quantities in which it was awarded before we came.

    “So, we are trying to resuscitate some of those projects because we know that the contractors will not go back to work if the pricing is not right. That is one thing we are doing.”

    He added: “It is the government policy to ensure that we complete as many projects as possible. Unlike in the past, this government has focused on completing projects.

    “In addition to that, we have increased the budget size so the budget size for all of the Nigerian roads in 2015 was N18 billion. Those are accumulations that we now have to manage and overcome as a result of under-budgeting and under-funding.

    “Now, there is a distinction. We have increased the budget to roughly about N300 billion, but we still can’t fund the N300 billion.

    “So, when we get the approval, that is, the one half of the story, the other half of the story is that we don’t get all of the cash. So, your investigation must include how much is being released against how much is being approved in the budget.”

  • Police operatives killed FUOYE students, NANS alleges

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has alleged that the police were responsible for killing of two students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

    The President, Comrade Bamidele Akpan, alleged that the report of the students’ body’s fact findings showed that the undergraduates were shot dead by men of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the police.

    The students last Tuesday protested in Oye-Ekiti over incessant power outage in the host community, leading to an attack on Erelu Bisi Fayemi’s convoy while on an empowerment tour of the town.

    They were said to have engaged the security operatives detailed with the governor’s wife in a ‘mortal combat’, resulting in the alleged shooting of the students.

    Read Also: Stop politicising killing of FUOYE students, Ekiti elders warn politicians

    Two undergraduates, a 100-level student of Crop Science and Horticulture, Oluwaseyi Kehinde and Joseph Okonofua, a 300-level student of Biology Education, died. Several others were injured, with over a dozen of vehicles vandalised by the students.

    Akpan spoke during a meeting with the FUOYE management, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, on Tuesday.

    He said the visit was to review the past event that led to the tragic incident and unravel its immediate and remote causes.

    “We are here on a very sad note first to sympathise with the management and students of the school on the unfortunate incident.

    “We have been in Ekiti for three days doing fact- finding. We have sent an advanced team to see if, and to ensure that students with capacity to foment trouble are not allowed to do so. No students have been seen fomenting any trouble.

    “We sympathise with you in this time of grief and assure you of our support. We have identified those who shot the students. They are men of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police,” Akpan alleged.

    Prof. Soremekun hailed NANS for its effort in promoting the interest of the students across the country.

    He said the issues at hand would be resolved soon.