The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Kano/Jigawa customs impounds donkey skin, contraband worth N150.4m

    The Kano/Jigawa Area Customs Command has impounded large donkey skin and assorted contraband goods worth over N150, 462, 709.00, along Babura and Daura routes leading to Kano through Katsina State within one month of its operations.

    Giving an update on the seizures made by the command to reporters at his headquarters in Bompai, Kano, yesterday, the Customs Area Comptroller of the Command, Nasiru Ahmed, said his men and officers were able to intercept 678 packages of 25 kilogrammes of unfinished leather of donkey skin with a duty paid value of N70.1 million, which were prepared and labelled to be exported to China.

    Also, over 4, 114 jerry cans of foreign 25-litre vegetable oil were seized, valued at N56.5 million; 490 bags of foreign rice were also intercepted which value was put at N11 million.

    Read Also: Customs impound N501.6m worth of contraband

    Ahmed said his men were able to impound 19 units of assorted smuggled vehicles valued at N7.7 million, adding that 223 compressed blocks and a bag of Indian hemp estimated at N3.3 million, concealed inside a black Jeep heading towards Kano, was also intercepted.

    According to him, “This cannabis sativa which is called Indian hemp is part of the hard drugs our children are taking and it will be easy for them to engage in kidnapping and banditry. It is valued at N3 million; and we have concluded arrangements to hand it over to NDLEA.”

    Other items impounded include 110 cartons of foreign soap valued at N802, 340; 16 bags of 50 kilogrammes foreign sugar worth N328, 560; and 132 cartons of foreign spaghetti put at N570, 145.

    Ahmed said six suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggled goods and have been granted administrative bail.

    The Customs had earlier had a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of Kano marketers, where it urged them to stop patronising smuggled goods, pointing out that such action is detrimental to the economic development of the country.

  • NUJ to partner police in fight against fake journalists

    The Kano State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is ready to partner with the Nigeria Police in the fight against fake journalists.

    Chairman of the council, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, expressed the need for the collaboration, when he led other executive members of the union on a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner of Police,  Ahmed Iliyasu, in his office.

    Ibrahim, who expressed disgust at threats being posed by fake journalists ridiculing the profession, noted that journalism is a noble  profession of ethics and decorum.

    Read Also: NUJ President urges FG to tackle insecurity

    He called on the commissioner to enforce the relevant sections of cyber Act 2015 in curtailing hate speeches and fake news that are capable of causing chaos in the society.

    He hailed the commissioner for his track record in fighting crime and criminality in the state.

    In his remarks, Iliyasu noted that journalists are significant forces in making sure society remained in peace.

    He said: “Society will not develop in chaos and disorder,” noting that most conflicts emanate from hate speeches.

    He said the police will do everything possible to support Nigeria Union of Journalists in discharging its responsibilities, stressing that “Communication is integral part of society, it needs to be propagated according to the ethics.”

  • Okene-Lokoja road an eyesore, says Yahaya Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has described the deplorable condition of Okene-Lokoja federal road as an eyesore.

    He therefore called on the federal government to immediately commence the rehabilitation of the road to alleviate the sufferings of commuters.

    The governor, who made the call on Saturday, while on his way to Okene, said his administration has intervened in the maintenance of the road in the past.

    He lamented that such maintenance work cannot stand the test of time due to heavy vehicular traffic on the road.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello sprays money, causes gridlock in Abuja

    According to him: “Constant damage done to the road by heavy vehicles cannot be sustained through maintenance by the state government, due to dearth of funds.”

    He expressed displeasure over the hardship suffered by commuters on the road.

    “They are citizens who have fulfilled their civic rights by electing their leaders at all levels of government; therefore, they do not deserve to spend days on a journey they would have made in hours,” he said.

    He appealed to the Minister of Works and Housing, to, as a matter of urgency, look into the condition of Lokoja-Okene-Ekiti road, saying that “As the major road that connects the north and the southern parts of the country, the road suffers heavy traffic and so, millions of Nigerians suffer the deplorable condition of the road.”

  • Katsina NYSC wants more Army posting

    The Katsina State NYSC coordinator, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, has called on the Nigerian Army to increase its number of personnel deployed to camps, which he said has been very inadequate compared to the number of corps members mobilised to the state

    He said: “Things were moderately controllable when NYSC was mobilising just about a hundred thousand plus, nowadays the scheme is mobilising between 350,000 and 400,000 corps members every year.”

    Ahidjo, who made the request when he visited the Brigade Commander in charge of the 17 Brigade Nigerian Army, Katsina State, Col. WB Idris, said increased security challenges in the state and other attendant pressure on the camp require that the army beefs up its number of personnel to ensure adequate security.

    Read Also: NYSC warns corps members against abuse of social media, indecent dressing

    He further told his host that he was in his office to thank him for the existing wonderful synergy between the Army and the NYSC.

    He also tasked the management of the scheme on the promotion and teaching of national integration, cohesion and nationality to corps members, particularly at orientation camps.

    Also, a corps member in the state has taken up the teaching of entrepreneurial development skills to primary school pupils.

    The corps member, Obinna Valentine Emeredike, serving with Government Science Secondary School, Ajiwa in Batagarawa LGA, told newsmen in Katsina yesterday, that having observed the noticeable failure in the provisions of quality education by successive governments in the state, particularly in the rural communities, he had no choice but to take up the challenge to bridge the existing gap.

    He noted that in most rural communities, many children drop out of schools for lack of funds, while a number of the population have become nuisance and threat to security in most of communities.

    “I have discovered that these drop-outs need basic entrepreneurship development skills to empower them and remove them from the streets so as to establish peace and security for rural dwellers,” he said.

    The basic skills taught by the corps member include: food processing, soap making, barbing skills etc, which he noted could help them engage in meaningful ventures.

  • Delta lawmaker to J/Berger: speed up work on Ujevwu bridge

    A member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive has charged the management of Julius Berger to expedite action on Ujevwu Flyover Bridge in Udu local government area in Delta State.

    The lawmaker, while inspecting the failed bypass constructed by company at the foot of the flyover bridge in the Ovwian-Otor-Udu road, frowned that poor work done by the Julius Berger, noting that a world class construction can do such poor work.

    Read Also: Rely on construction sector for economic prosperity, Fed Govt told

    While decrying the sufferings his constituents who ply the road are going through daily, he tasked management of Julius Berger to urgently fix the bypass while working on the flyover bridge in order to reduce the suffering road users are passing through daily.

    According to him, “It is very sad that the good intentions of the federal government is being sabotage by the contractor, in Germany and other parts of the world you won’t see something like this.”

  • Abia lawmakers screen commissioners Monday

    The Abia State House of Assembly (ABHA) will on Monday, begin live broadcast of its legislative activities, through its social media handle.

    This is even as it has invited all the 24 commissioner nominees to the Assembly Complex for screening by lawmakers.

    Notable persons on the list were former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  Cosmos Ndukwe, former Commissioner of Works and one-time member House of Representatives for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo federal constituency, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, immediate past commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, Dr, Hagler Okorie, former immediate past Accountant-General of the State, and Gabriel Onyendilefu.

    Read Also: Service chiefs upset Reps, shun meeting with lawmakers

    Other commissioner nominees include  Chimaobi Ebisike, Chief John J. Okoro,  Ugbaja Theophilus Odionyemfe, Onyema Wachuku, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu, 11.  D. K Uduma, Barr Ekele Nwaohanmuo, Mrs. Ukachi Amala, Prince Ezekwesiri Ananaba, Dr. Solomon Ogunji, Chief Ikpechukwu Onuoha, Prince Dan Okoli, Barr. Suleiman Ukandu, Dr. Aham Uko, Chijioke Paul Madumere, Dr. K. C. K Nwangwa, Chief (Mrs.) Uwaoma Olenwengwa, Dr. Joe Osuji, and Engr. Emma Nwabuko.

    Uzoma Okoro, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji in a chat with The Nation in Umuahia, the Abia State capital said that the essence of the live transmission of the plenary is to ensure that Abians in the State and elsewhere can be able to follow the activities of the House regardless of their locations.

  • Residents protest alleged SARS shooting in Ughelli

    Following the alleged shooting of a young man, simply identified as Mr. Patrick, by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Ughelli, Delta state, residents of the area have taken to protest.

    SARS operatives had reportedly pulled the trigger on the victim’s leg for refusing them access to his phone.

    The incident was said to have happened on Thursday morning, around Makolomi Street near Upper Agbarho area of Ughelli.

    The SARS team was further alleged to have left the victim at the scene with blood gushing out of his wounds.

    The Nation gathered it was policemen from the Ughelli station who later rushed the victim to the Ughelli Central Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

    According to an eyewitness, “The young man did not do anything. SARS operatives who were patrolling the area on Thursday stopped the victim and demanded that he must open his phone for them but he declined.

    Read Also: Stray bullet kills cleaner as SARS, armed robbers battle in Lagos

    “The operatives started beating him until they collected the phone from him but he refused. He is a very humble boy in the area. When the incident was happening it was the women in the area that were bold enough to challenge them. When others were still flogging him, one of the operatives opened fire on his leg. They jumped into the vehicle and left.

    “It was other police officers from the Ughelli Police Station that came to rush to the man to hospital. He is there at the hospital as we speak.”

    However, the development has caused many people, including women and youths from the area to protest against the activities of SARS operatives and the alleged shooting of the victim.

    It was learnt that the protesters who set fire on tyres on major roads leading to the Ughelli Area Command, called for an end to SARS operatives, positing that several innocent persons have died from their onslaught.

    One of the protesters, who only gave his name as Igho called on police authorities in the state to ensure that justice is served the victim.

    He said, “We no longer move freely because of SARS in Ughelli. Once they see two or three youths walking together, the next thing you will see is SARS operatives searching their phones.

    “We cannot continue like this. The police authorities should investigate the incident and stop their men from maltreating people.”

    When contacted on the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, said it was not clear if it was a policeman that shot the victim.

    “Somebody was shot, but we do not know if it was a policeman that shot the person,” the CP stated.

  • 2021 is end of your reign in Anambra – Says Ngige to APGA

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, says the dominance of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA in Anambra State, will come to the end in 2021.

    The former governor of the state, and Senator who represented Anambra Central senatorial zone, spoke with The Nation at the weekend.

    Read Also: Igbo presidency: Ngige, Sagay disagree on zoning

    He declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had made mistakes in the state before and would not allow such to repeat itself again during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Ngige took APGA government in the state to the cleaners, adding that in the party’s many years of leadership everything had collapsed including roads, hospitals education, among others, noting that only the roads his administration built in the state were the only ones standing.

  • APC’s wind of change in Bayelsa governorship election

    THIS is not the best of time for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State as the November 16, 2019 governorship election draws close.

    The signs are ominous that for the first time in the history of PDP, it is heavily hit by the soaring wind of acceptability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the length and breadth of the state to replace the PDP.

    PDP in Bayelsa State is fast becoming a shadow of itself. On daily basis, its membership is depleting as they are leaving the party in droves to the APC which has become the beautiful bride of the electorate.

    Only few days ago, Senator Barigha Nimi Amange, a PDP chieftain and strong ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, dumped the party for APC at a colourful ceremony. Those who are familiar with the political calculus in the state know that Amange is a force that cannot be ignored.

    This was shortly followed by Gabriel Jonah, younger brother to Governor Dickson’s Deputy, retired Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah, and leader of a political group known as “Otita-Force,” who left the PDP for APC along with thousands of his supporters. They are leaders in their own right and no mean forces to reckon with.

    For the PDP, it is the battle of life to save the party from being swept off by the party it once derided and written off. For the APC, it made strong attempt at pulling the PDP off the strung in 2015 with its standard bearer and current Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva. PDP narrowly escaped defeat by stroke of luck.

    The Timipre Sylva-led APC, which has a lot of youths appellation in its fold, retired to the trenches and appeared in the 2019 General Election with a result which stunned the ruling PDP in the state.

    Out of the five members at the House of Representatives, APC secured two members, while out of the statutory three members of the senate, APC got one. At the State House of Assembly, APC got four members and more are being expected.

    This modest outing had since sent a clear signal that there is a dangling Sword of Damocles on the PDP in the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

    There are a number of issues that will define the outcome of the governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    One, the personality and character of the candidates will go a long way to determine the choice of the electorate.

    For the APC, the emergence of Mr. David Lyon as standard bearer of the party was received with spontaneous jubilation across the state, regardless of party leanings.

    Earlier, just hearing of Lyon’s intention to contest, the PDP was compelled to hold meetings severally to strategise on how to contain the osmosis forces coming with the candidacy of David Lyon.

    According to reports, PDP allegedly sponsored someone at the APC primary to secure an Experte order restraining the party from adopting the “direct” mode of primary approved by the National Working Committee of the party. The matter, which was presided over by Honourable Justice Omukoro in Yenagoa High Court, was later vacated, paving way for the APC primary where Lyon emerged as the flag bearer of the party.

    Lyon’s candidacy had since altered the entire political calculations of the PDP and other contesting parties. A graduate of Mathematics and Chemistry at Rivers State College of Education, now Rivers State University of Education, his leadership quality and high academic performance were spotted way back in his days at Community Secondary School Olugbobiri by both teachers and students. This earned him the enviable appointment as Senior Prefect or Head Boy of the school, coming at a time such appointments were based on academic merit and character in learning,

    After his graduation from the Rivers State University of Education he had choice and opportunities to work in the Multi-national oil companies but he took the part of self-reliance.

    Worried by the frightening scourge of unemployment in Bayelsa State and in the Niger Delta, David Lyon registered a security network company called Daylon Nigeria Limited with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    Daylon Nigeria Limited which came in the wake of rising cases of oil pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, sea piracy and threats to the smooth operation of oil companies in Bayelsa State has since become a house hold name.

    He has carved his name in the place of history in the Niger Delta. Apart from Chief Timipre Sylva, who initiated the amnesty programme which brought about the relative peace in the Niger Delta, Lyon remains the second individual who has contributed enormously to the peace and security of oil producing communities as well as creating an enabling environment for oil companies to operate.

    He believes that there cannot be sustainable development without peace and security. This is why when he got the endorsement of the APC to fly its ticket, the unanimous verdict of vast majority of stakeholders were clearly expressed with excitement, that “with David Lyon, the disturbing security indices in the state will soon become a thing of the past, being known for his dexterity in the business of community policing.”

    Other factors that have attracted electorate’s goodwill to Lyon’s candidacy include his generous and humble nature. His generosity, according to people who have come across him in one way or the other, “knows no bound”. According to a social media influencer, Miss Esther Aron-Kune, “David Lyon may not be an orator as some people do, but he is a good man who loves the common man, regardless of where you come from, as he sees himself as one of them; he is humility personified. This is why he is regarded as the coming of a true countryman governor and not the fake one that had deceived the people over seven years”.

    Apart from late Zebulon Abule of the Old Rivers State, there is no living politician that has demonstrated the capacity for philanthropism the way Lyon has done in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta in general. These are qualities which no candidate has in the contest.

    For the first time in the history of Bayelsa State, the issue of choice of Lyon has transformed into a mass movement like that of the Mao-Mao movement.

    The anger of the electorate is further fueled by the failed performance indices of the incumbent governor Seriake Dickson who unleashed a reign of impunity of which Bayelsans are fed up.

    For instance, before the Seriake Dickson-led government came on board, Yenagoa, the state capital, was beautifully illuminated at nights with functional street lights. Today, Yenagoa has become the capital of darkness, while activities of men of the underworld take advantage of it with increasing crime wave, especially at night.

    The functional independent power project called gas turbine was providing electricity to compliment the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company. It is sad to mention that such a good infrastructure became moribund under him.

    Also, before now, bursaries were paid to students of Bayelsa State origin in higher institutions while both local and foreign scholarships were awarded same, but all that stopped under the self-acclaimed Government of Restoration of governor Dickson.

    In the civil service promotions, leave bonus, promotion arrears and Christmas celebration bonus, some of which are statutory rights and some are privileges enjoyed by workers under successive administrations, were stopped by Dickson for about eight years and just to mention but few instances which have become the nemesis of the PDP candidate, Senator Douye Diri.

    This is why Bayelsans have strong resentment against the candidacy of Senator Douye Diri who is regarded as Governor Dickson’s third tenure project or as some people would call it, as a continuation of his political dynasty to suffocate the people of Bayelsa State.

    It is therefore understandable that the wind of change that is blowing like the North-East trade wind, heralding the gale of defection from PDP to APC is natural and spontaneously reflecting the general will of the people.

    Therefore, any reference to Federal might in the contest by the PDP is a mere imagination and mischief. From all indications, the choice of David Lyon represents the people’s own natural revolt against Governor Dickson.

    Bayelsans are really fed up with the PDP government led by Seriake Dickson. It is like the aphorism that you can deceive the people several times, but you cannot deceive them all the time.

    This is why Bayelsans have crossed the Rubicon for the first time and resolved to align with the APC to meet the general development aspirations of the people and that is the reality on ground in the forth-coming governorship election in Bayelsa State

    .• Agala is a public affairs analyst

  • ‘Companies must invest in waste management’

    Mr. Baker Magunda is Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, a Diageo company. Magunda who was the convener of the CEO Roundtable on Sustainability, a yearly event organised by the Lagos Business School, joined over 70 other upwardly mobile executives to generate debate and chart a course of action aimed at turning the tide in the quest to build a clean environment, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

    Increasingly, the desire to build a livable and sustainable environment is one goal many individuals and corporate bodies are striving to achieve but this is at great cost.

    The cost, notwithstanding, there is a consensus among many individuals that this uphill task must be achieved.

    This and many more formed the crux of discussion at this year’s edition of the CEO Roundtable on Sustainability, the brainchild of the Lagos Business School.

    The various interface and discussion sessions whose overarching theme was, ‘Action to Mitigate Plastic Pollution,’ with players in different public and organised private sectors, bankrolled by Guinness Nigeria Plc, a leading beverage alcohol firm, was engaging as well as intellectually stimulating.

    “As a business, we are very conscious of the global initiative towards waste reduction and possibly, eradication. The idea of a circular economy combines three key goals in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are good health and wellbeing, clean water and sanitation and affordable and clean energy. When we reduce plastic waste pollution, we would be addressing the issue of non-degradable waste, for which plastic wastes contribute immensely. Presently, the tons of plastic wastes that flows into our waters also raise concerns over our hydrological cycle, including the safety of our aquatic life and what eventually comes down as rain to fertilize our farm produce. Consequently, to enjoy good health and wellbeing, we can no longer wait, but to act against the potential hazards of increased plastic waste,” Magunda stated.

    The top brewer, who delivered the convener’s remark, noted that there is need for a call to action. “What is required of us as companies, government, civil society groups and the general public to begin to take specific steps towards tackling the issue of plastic pollution. The world at large is dealing with this global epidemic, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics are dumped into the ocean every year which literally is the equivalent of a garbage truck dumping its load into the ocean every minute.

    “Mitigation of plastic pollution is pertinent because environmental pollution is one of the most pressing challenges societies and business face today. It is no longer news that plastic pollution, in particular, has confirmed adverse effects on the health and well-being of humans, aquatic life and society at large.”

    Magunda, who was quick to observe that the federal government has since introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy to promote total lifecycle and environmental improvement of production systems, said the initiative has the imprimatur of support of the National Environmental Standard & Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

    According to him, NESREA, which is the implementing agency of the EPR programme is also building a synergy of cooperation with the organised private sector.

    NESREA, he noted, has since extends “The responsibility of the manufacturers to various parts of the entire lifecycle of their product. This means businesses must play an active part in the take-back, recycling and the final disposal of their product.”

    On Guinness’role in the scheme of things, he said the company considers it a bounden duty of sorts and takes this responsibility very seriously and such is ready to implement it through its waste management strategy called the 4Rs, Reduction, Reuse, Recovery and Recycling.

    Magunda added that “presently, the global trend is driving a waste to wealth initiative. For circular economy to thrive, the government must be deliberate in creating awareness about the opportunities that are available in proper waste management, such as the huge potentials of job creation. In terms of energy generation, geocycle is the way to go- turning waste into energy and recycled materials. By this, we contribute to a reformative circular economy to achieve a zero-waste society. For instance, Guinness supports the effort of the government through our ‘4R’ waste management strategy, which are Reduction, Reuse, Recovery and Recycle. To this end, we will continue to advocate improved waste management practices, contribute to increased collection and recycling rates countrywide, and provide employment opportunities through scalable recycling solutions.”

    “Our goal is simple: to create a closed-loop, sustainable system for all our packaging materials. That means finding innovative ways to minimise our environmental impact and thinking holistically across the entire lifecycle of our products.”

    Going down memory lane, Magunda who was named the CEO of Guinness Nigeria in 2018, recalled that “In April 2018, Guinness Nigeria signed up Wecyclers, a for-profit social enterprise that promotes environmental sustainability, socio-economic development, and community health to support Guinness’s waste management agenda by collecting household waste across different formats such as PET, cans and glass, this effort is not restricted to only Guinness branded products.”

    Expatiating, he said, “At the regional level, Diageo alongside other Multinationals such as Coca-Cola and Nestle have formed the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance (APRA) and are working with key stakeholders to strengthen and accelerate the collection and recycling of all kinds of plastics packaging.

    “It has become clear that this issue will not resolve itself, it will require the collective efforts of everyone in this room through personal action, corporate programs, and government strategies to address the global challenge of single use plastic pollution and the harm it inflicts on our environment. I strongly believe that a proactive approach to establish new, and leverage existing, multistakeholder partnerships which support the collection, processing, recycling of plastics will lead to the transformative solutions needed to not only tackle the issue of plastic pollution but also help protect the environment on which our very lives and the businesses we run depend on.”