The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • ‘Lack of incentives driving youths away from agriculture’

    GOVERNMENT at all levels have been advised to invest hugely in agriculture in order attract youths.

    An Anambra industrialist, Chief Walter Chigbo, gave the advice in a chat with newsmen in Awgbu, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

    Chigbo, owner of Nkeonyemetalu Farms and Agro Ventures in the state, said the merits derivable from agriculture are so numerous that youths in the country cannot afford to miss.

    He said apart from the economic factor, farming offers the opportunity to be closer to nature, as well as guarantee steady fresh and non-preservative foods for consumption.

    He identified lack of funds, access roads, electricity and other basic incentives as factors hindering many youths from engaging in any form of agriculture.

    “There are lots of people who are desirous of starting their own farms but are faced with so many hindrances including funds, scarcity of lands, power, access roads, among others,” he said.

     

  • Oyo to shut illegal schools

    Oyo State Government has promised to shut illegal private primary schools operating in the state.

    It said a task force would be set up to address the menace.

    The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, spoke yesterday during an inspection of schools in Ibadan.

    He said the government would set up a task force, to be headed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board.

    Adeniran said the task force would close down mushroom private schools endangering the quality of education.

    He urged parents and guardians to enrol their children and wards in public schools, noting that the free education policy by Governor Seyi Makinde was yielding positive results.

    Some of the schools the SUBEB chairman and his team visited include: People’s Primary School, Adeoyo; St. Williams School, Oke-Ado; AUD School, Foko; Islamic Primary School, Bode; St. David Primary School, Kudeti.

    Others are I.M.G. Primary Schools, Orita-Aperin and Ode-Aje; Ikolaba Community Primary School; Methodist Primary School, Bodija; and Methodist Primary School, Mokola, all in Ibadan metropolis.

  • Lagos Estate Home Owner writes EFCC, want CMB Boss, Mbagwu Prosecuted

    A Home Owner in Pearl Nuga Estate in Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos (name withheld) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to expedite action on the petition written by the Leadership of the estate against the Chief Executive Officer of CMB Building Maintenance Investment Limited, Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu.
    The Home Owner in a letter sent to EFCC Ag. Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu said the call was necessary so as to ensure that justice is done and his property and that of others in the estate is not taken over by a financial institution over an unpaid loan Mbagwu and his firm, CMB used their property to obtain.
    “I write you this letter on behalf of myself and some home owners in Pearl Nuga and Pearl Garden Estate situated at Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos over a petition submitted in your head office annex, Ikoyi, Lagos dated June this year against Mr. Kelechuchwu Mbagwu, the Chief Executive Officer of CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Limited for using the title of the properties we had bought and completely paid for from his Company to obtain loan in a financial institution without our knowledge.
    “We reliably gathered that Mbagwu has been grilled by detectives from your organization but as we write, our fate is still not known.
    “I call on you to use your good office to ensure that this case is not swept under the carpet. We want Justice. We want Mbagwu prosecuted.
    “Kindly find attached documents for your necessary information.” the letter reads.
    According to reports, the leadership of Pearl Nuga and Pearl Garden Estates had in a petition sent to EFCC, a alleged that affected home owners namely; Bridget Eko, Osagie, Ainiehnoho Jude, Mr. Akinola Alabi, Mrs Oluwadara Alabi, Nosakhare Igbinobi, Mr and Mrs Micheal Bassey, Mr Oyeleke Jegede, Mr Larry Amaraibi and Amos Gaga had paid Mbagwu and his company 100% for their houses and had taken possession years ago.
    They alleged in their petition that Mbagwu  fraudulently withheld the title deeds of the houses from the affected owners so that he could continuously be using them to carry out illegal bank transactions.
    The House Owners according to the petition said they got a wind of the matter when CMB started having issues with a Financial Institution.

     

     

  • Oyetola to Osun people: I will prioritise health

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has said his administration will continue to prioritise people’s health.

    Speaking at the inauguration of eight of the newly renovated Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) across the state, he linked a peaceful and prosperous state with good health

    Former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole noted that the governor’s decision to construct, renovate and revitalised 332PHCs at a go is unprecedented in the history of the country.

    He hailed him for raising the bar of governance through the provision of quality service across all sectors.

    Last week, the government announced that it would begin the inauguration of 100 newly-renovated PHCs.

    The project is in fulfilment of the governor’s electoral promises to construct, renovate and revitalise 332 PHCs one-per-ward across the state.

    Read Also: Oyetola seeks monarchs’ support on tax payment

    Yesterday, the governor launched the inauguration, with PHC Sabo, Olorunda Local Government Area, PHC Odi-Olowo, Osogbo Local Government Area and PHC Adejuwon, Ede-North Local Government Area, being inaugurated by him, while PHC Odesan and PHC Fayemi Ikija, all in Ife-South Local Government Area were inaugurated by Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi.

    PHC Anwo, Irepodun Local Government Area, PHC Akinorun, Ifelodun Local Government Area and PHC Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local Government Area were inaugurated by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, Head of Service, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji. In all, 25 of the PHCs are expected to be inaugurated between Monday and Wednesday.

    Speaking at one of the inauguration ceremonies, Governor Oyetola said the state’s revitalisation initiative was a holistic programme that covered renovation of facilities, provision of modern equipment, supply of drugs, training and retraining of workers and employment of technology to power health care delivery for optimum results.

    The Supervisor for Works, Remi Omowaye, hailed the efforts of the government at ensuring that every citizen has access to quality, affordable and adequate health facilities.

  • NGO appeals to Imo governor to grant amnesty to condemned man

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Global Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC) has appealed to Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha to consider  granting amnesty to one Paul Egboluche who is on death row in Enugu Maximum Correctional facility.

    All convicted persons in the Southeast are taken to Enugu to serve their sentences.

    The South East/South-South Regional Director of the organisation, Mrs Amaka Nweke said Egboluche has been on death sentence since January 27, 2014 when he was convicted.

    Nweke said Egboluche, a native of Akokwa in Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State was convicted alongside his father, Celestine Egboluche.

    Read Also: Ihedioha: I have done my best in 100 days

    “Through our intervention, former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha granted state pardon to the senior Egboluche who at the time was the oldest prison inmate in Nigeria,” she said.

    She said the senior was 100 years of age at the time of his amnesty.

    Nweke said Egboluche is the only surviving child of his father.

    “The long incarceration of the centenarian worsened his health condition due to lack of proper care. Currently, the sick old man is in admission in an Enugu-based hospital. We believe that his release will facilitate the psychological recovery and healing of his sick father,” she said.

  • Four arrested for ‘murder’ in Edo

    FOUR persons have been reportedly arrested over the murder of a woman, her daughter and her grandson.

    The victims were identified as Mrs. Alice Omorogbe aged 52, Mrs. Blessing Efe, 25, and her six-month-old baby boy.

    They were killed last week Thursday at their residence at Iguadolor community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    A two-year-old daughter of the late Blessing identified as Gift Efe was spared as he was seen in the apartment where the three mutilated bodies of the victims were discovered.

    Among those arrested is Pa Iguma Amasowomwan, the Deputy Odionwere Assistant village head) of the community.

    Sources in the community said Pa Iguma was picked up by operatives of Ogida Divisional Headquarters following allegations of complicity leveled against him by the deceased’s family.

    He was interrogated at the anti-cult unit of police headquarters in Benin City, the state capital.

    Eldest son of Odionwere of Iguadolor Community, Mr Enaruna Omorogbe said the victims were the wife and children of his late brother.

    Read Also: Fire razes 15 shops in Edo

    He said the Okaighele (youth leader) of Iguadolor Community, one Perrick Egbon, recently threatened to eliminate his late brother’s wife for having the guts to report him to some elders in the community for demolishing her uncompleted building with a bulldozer.

    Egbon who denied the allegations appealed to the police and relevant authorities to unravel the killers and prosecute them.

    He said he travelled out of town and did not even know the victims.

    “All they are saying are allegations. It is not true that I killed those people.

    “The world will soon know the truth about the incident and I call on the police to investigate the matter.”

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached for comments.

  • Makinde: my victory triumph of truth over falsehood 

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday described his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as the triumph of truth over falsehood.

    He thanked the people for standing by him before, during and after the election, and urged the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to forget politics for now and join hands with him to work for the good of the state.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that he didn’t expect anything less from the tribunal, “because truth is always constant.”

    He said: “We want to thank the people of Oyo State who have stood behind us before, during and after the election and since we have got into office. We didn’t expect anything else, because truth is constant. No matter how far a lie goes, the truth will always come out.

    “We have remained focused on the task the people have committed into our hands. Today, we went to Bishop Philip Academy to kick-start our programme for the provision of textbooks and exercise books for the pupils who resumed after the long vacation. We didn’t break any sweat over the petition, we have remained focused and we are pushing on with our agenda for Oyo State.

    Read Also: Election Petition Tribunal changes sitting date

    “What I will say to the APC is that they should let us forget politics for now. We can pick up politics again by 2022. For now, let us all work together for the good of the people of Oyo State. Let us key into our agenda to bring prosperity to Oyo State; let us tackle poverty and ensure that our good intentions for the people of Oyo State are realised.”

    The tribunal sitting in Ibadan had earlier reaffirmed the election of Governor Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship poll and dismissed the petition filed by Mr. Bayo Adelabu of the APC as lacking in merit.

    In dismissing the petition, the three-man tribunal chaired by Justice Sirajo Mohammed unanimously agreed that the petition filed by Adelabu and APC challenging the victory of Makinde lacked merit.

    They were of the opinion that the petitioners were unable to substantiate claims of over-voting and electoral malpractices pleaded against Makinde’s victory.

    The tribunal averred that the petitioners, Adelabu and the APC, failed to prove the allegation of corrupt practices, over-voting, improper accreditation, inaccurate ballot counting and non-compliance with the 2010 electoral act as amended.

    One of the counsel to Adelabu, Akin Oladeji, said he and his other learned colleagues, who are Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), shall study the full judgment to know the next line of action after discussing with Adelabu.

    The Oyo State Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, has congratulated Governor Makinde on his victory at the tribunal.

    Mustapha, in a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, said the judiciary should be hailed for upholding the wishes of the people as demonstrated by the pattern of voting in the last governorship election by declaring Makinde as the winner.

    But Oyo State APC said it received the judgment with dismay.

    The party in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr. Azeez Olatunde, said the State Working Committee of the party in its proactive manner has decided to refer the tribunal ruling “to our team of legal experts for necessary recommendation, which the party hopes to follow appropriately.”

  • Rescuers of Bayelsa accident victims kidnapped in Rivers

    GUNMEN at the weekend abducted four travellers, who rushed to an accident scene in Elele, Rivers State, to rescue the victims.

    It was learnt that victims of the accident were persons from Bayelsa State, who were returning from a traditional wedding in Mbaise, Imo State.

    They were reportedly travelling on a Toyota Sienna car when the vehicle crashed into another.

    A popular Ijaw youth and social media activist Prince Elayo Ekete and the driver of the Sienna car were said to have died on the spot.

    Eyewitnesses travelling  from Bayelsa were said to have rushed to the scene to rescue the victims when kidnappers seized them and took them away.

    Another source said the kidnapped victims were abducted after they had successfully rushed other victims of the accident to a hospital.

    Read Also: No mosque was demolished in Rivers- Northern youths

    A source, who witnessed the incidents, said, “The wedding was attended by most social media activists from Bayelsa across political party lines. Ekete and seven others were returning from the occasion and they got to Elele when their vehicle had a head-on collision.

    “Ekete and the driver died on the spot. But five others were rushed to a hospital in the area. But four of the rescuers were abducted by kidnappers.

    “The kidnappers went to the accident scene, recovered personal effects of some of the victims and called one of the rescuers asking him to come to a particular place to collect them. When they got there, the gunmen seized them”.

    One of the injured victims of the accident, Dina Adiva, confirmed that some persons, who came to rescue them were kidnapped by unknown gunmen and prayed for their freedom.

     

     

  • Mobile court for traffic offenders takes off in Oyo

    IT is no longer business as usual for motorists in Oyo State. Henceforth, any traffic offender caught by the men of the state Road Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA)  will face the wrath of the law immediately.

    This is because a special court set up to try traffic offenders will start sitting as early as Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

    The Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Dr. Akin Fagbemi revealed this after meeting with Chief Magistrate of State Mobile Court, Magistrate Moruff Mudashiru visited him at his Ibadan office on Monday.

    Fagbemi charged the court to ensure fair and speedy trial of offenders to minimise what he called the culture of indiscipline by some road users in the state.

    The OYRTMA Chairman said motorists whose vehicles were impounded by the officers of the agency would face the mobile court and get speedy trial.

     

  • U.S Embassy, others seek protection of intellectual property

    The United States of America (U.S.) Embassy in Nigeria yesterday urged the Federal Government to provide appropriate legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in Nigeria.

    The call was echoed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pharmaceutical companies, pharmacists and lawyers, among other stakeholders.

    They said such framework would address the protection and enforcement of IPRs in economic sectors.

    The stakeholders also said it would promote creativity and innovation, investment in research and development and encourage local knowledge and production, instead of importation of counterfeit and pirated products.

    They spoke at an Intellectual Property Symposium at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme: The Bane of Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals and Piracy: Building Respect for Intellectual Property Rights As A Strategic Resource for Economic Growth.

    Read Also: Edo Property Protection agency hands over imposter to Police

    The U.S. embassy expressed its support for intellectual property rights protection in the country.

    Its Chargé d’Affaires Kathleen FitzGibbon said IPR protection would encourage innovation and creativity needed to bolster economic growth.

    “This is not just an American issue, this is a global issue. As Nigeria moves ahead with goals of diversifying and shifting to a knowledge-based economy, a strong intellectual property rights regime will help attract investment and protect Nigerian ideas and Nigerian businesses,” she said.

    An intellectual property scholar and former Director General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Professor Adebambo Adewopo (SAN) said the progress of Nigeria’s development policies would be measured by its commitment to a national IPR policy that would recognise the strategic importance of its legal framework, the needs and goals of national development.

    “Clearly, counterfeiting and piracy have continued to destroy the fabric of the economy: in the pharmaceutical, creative and other important sectors. Because intellectual property system also enables access to the products of creativity and innovation in order to ensure public welfare, whether in the form of providing access to educational materials to the teeming young population in schools or to affordable medicines or in achieving food security for both the young as well as the aged, the framework will also align education, health and other strategic national policies with the broader development goals of the country,” he said.

    Recalling that the IP debate was not new to the country, the expert said one of the missing elements had been effective collaboration and cooperation.

    These, he said, are essential to drive the debate and build momentum not only for achieving reform but also to combat the domestic and worldwide industry of counterfeiting, piracy and cybercrime.

    He said: “Building strategic alliances within and outside the country is, therefore, critical, considering the global nature of digital technologies that are readily available to this formidable industry. In these alliances, we are also seeking to strengthen key institutions responsible for protecting IPRs and combating counterfeiting and piracy.

    “As the global recognition of Nigeria’s creative industries continues to ride on the wings of digital technology, the gains of that industry are best secured and sustained through strategic alliance with its counterpart in Hollywood and elsewhere.

    “For example, Nollywood’s rise in global reckoning strongly demonstrates how creativity can contribute to the promotion of cultural heritage as well as economic growth.

    “It is important to note that the creative industries should be able to yield better dividends for its creators, operators and economy; the same for the pharmaceutical and other corporate sectors that rely on IP system.”

    But Adewopo stressed that “the challenge has been how to engineer an IP system that will perform and deliver better in concrete economic terms”.