The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Breaking: Reappointment: Emefiele arrives Senate for screening

    Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Godwin Emefiele has arrived Senate for screening for renewal of his appointment.

    The Senate had on Tuesday referred the executive communication for the renewal of his appointment to its Committee on Banking for further legislative action.

    Read Also: Senate committee to screen Emefiele

    President Muhammadu Buhari had last Wednesday written to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, seeking the approval of the upper legislative chamber for the re-appointment of Emefiele for another five-year term as CBN Governor.

    Details shortly..

  • ‘Bad breath could lead to gum disease if unchecked’

    A Dentist, Dr Innocent Osazuwa, on Wednesday, said persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease.

    Osazuwa, a staff of a hospital in Benin, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said “gum disease is caused by buildup of plaque on the teeth caused by bacteria.

    “Bacteria causes the formation of toxins which irritates the gum and if gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gum and the jawbone.”

    The dentist said that bad breath, also called ‘halitosis’, could be embarrassing and in some cases might even cause anxiety.

    He added that “bad breath is often caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odour.

    “Cleaning between teeth daily once a day is very important.

    “This helps to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line too.

    Read Also: I targeted 370, says UTME best Ekene

    “Tooth decay-causing bacteria still lingers between teeth, where toothbrush bristles cannot reach.”

    He explained that brushing the teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle brush and replacing toothbrush every three or four
    months would help to eliminate bad breath.

    He noted that the symptoms of bad breath vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause.

    According to him, some people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odour, while others have bad breath and do not know it.

    He said the causes of bad breath include food, poor dental hygiene, use of tobacco products, the lack of balanced diet, wrong medications, dry mouth and the lack of drinking water.

    He advised anyone with such problem to see a dentist for treatment.

  • Lagos rescues triplets used for begging

    Respite came for three triplets used by their mother for alm-begging on Monday in Lagos.

    The Rehabilitation and Rescue Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development rescued them.

    The Head, Public Affairs, Mrs. F. A. Olabisi, in a statement explained a soldier, who pleaded anonymity, apprehended Uchechi Chi, the mother of the triplets, for allegedly using her children to beg for alms around Ikeja GRA.

    According to the statement: “The soldier took the mother and her children to Bond FM radio station on Adekunle Fajuyi Way, GRA, Ikeja, where they were rescued by the officials of the Rehabilitation and Rescue Department.

    “The mother was reported to have fled from Obosi in Anambra State to Lagos on Sunday evening for fear of being killed by suspected cultists.

    “Narrating her ordeal, Uchechi said she gave birth to the triplets on April 10 after dropping out of St. Monica College in Anambra State in SS3 and worked as a cook at a restaurant in Obosi after her parents’ death.

    “According to her, she fled Obosi on Saturday night and arrived Lagos on Sunday for fear of being killed by suspected cultists with her children.

    Read Also: LAGS tackle traffic gridlock at Allen with layby, slip road

    “She alleged that the father of the triplets belongs to a cult and abandoned her and the triplets due to ongoing clashes among rival cults.”

    Reacting to the operation, Youth and Social Development Commissioner Agboola Dabiri said the rescue was an attestation that the government was against any form of abuse on children as well as street begging.

    Agboola, who expressed displeasure at the fate of the children, directed officials of the ministry to take them into custody at the government’s rehabilitation home, while investigation continues.

    Chi and her triplets have been taken to a general hospital for treatment.

  • Defection: Akpabio faults suit against him, Saraki, others

    Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpbio has faulted a suit seeking his sack along with some other lawmakers who defected from their parties last year.

    Akpabio prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the suit for being incompetent on the grounds that the plaintiff – the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) – sued without possessing the requisite locus standi.

    Arguing Akpabio’s case on Tuesday, his lawyer, Sunday Ameh (SAN) contended that LEDAP, not being a political party or a member of the National Assembly, could not be seen crying for the political parties, from which the legislators defected.

    While tendering two exhibits, Ameh told the court that his client was suspended from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at his ward level and that he was later expelled from the same PDP at the local government level.

    He pleaded with the court to take cognisance of two letters of July and August 2018 by which the PDP conveyed his client’s suspension and later expulsion to him.

    Ameh argued that Akpabio opted for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in line with provision of Section 40 of the 1999 constitution, as the alternative party to actualise his interest.

    He argued that an uncommon situation was foisted on his client, having been thrown out of the PDP by the officials of the party.

    Read Also: Saraki begins exit plan, asks aides to submit handover notes

    Ameh urged the court to accept the peculiar fact that Akpabio did not willingly abandon the PDP that provided the platform for him to access the Senate in 2015, but that he defected because of the way the party treated him.

    He said Akpabio defected to the APC to prevent himself from becoming a political orphan and to actualise his political ambition.

    Mahmoud Magaji (SAN) who represented the Senate President, Olusola Saraki and other Senators named in the suit, described that case as an abuse of court process.

    Magaji argued that Section 40 of the Constitution allows the defendant to associate with any political party of their choice.

    Lawyer to the plaintiff, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) urged the court to discountenance the arguments by Ameh and Magaji and grant his client’s prayers, which include the sack of the defecting lawmakers.

    After listening to arguments by the lawyers, Justice Okon Abang adjourned till May17 for judgment.

  • CSOs appeal to FG to secure release of Leah Sharibu

    Several civil society groups and Non -Governmental Organisations across the country on Friday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to secure the release of Leah Sharibu from her captors.

    They urged him to present her release as a democracy gift to Nigerians before he begins his second term in office.

    The CSOs made the appeal at a rally held at the Unity Fountain, Abuja as part of activities to mark her 16th and second birthday in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents.

    They appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the safe and speedy return of Miss Sharibu to her family and the christian community.

    Founder, Funmi Para-mallam Peace Foundation, Rev. Godwin Para-Mallam, called on Buhari to prioritise security, unemployment, poverty and the revitalisation of the economy in his second term.

    He maintained that these were the drivers of the spate of kidnappings being witnessed in some parts of the country, especially in the north.

    He said: “Unless the court says something otherwise, ‪on the 29th of May‬ our President Muhammadu Buhari, is going to sworn in for his second term. Nigerians have gone through a lot, they have endured a lot in the area of security.

    “The number one priority as you move into your second term is to address the security challenges particularly in the northern part of Nigeria, the middle belt, the northeast, north-west; but of course there are pockets of security challenges in other parts of the country.

    “The economy, the poverty, the unemployment; these are very serious issues that in themselves generate other challenges for our nation. It will be helpful if you give attention to that.

    “The whole question of religion tolerance this is a reality in our nation and of course you need to do more as a father of a nation to unite Nigerians and Nigeria together during your second term and I will ask Mr President will it be possible for you to give Leah Sharibu as a gift to this nation by working and securing her release before you are sworn in as President ‪on 29th of May 2019‬.

    Read Also: Emotions as Christian groups celebrate Leah Sharibu’s 16th birthday

    “That is the appeal that is our heart cry and people have cried Mr President. Give us a gift, set Leah Sharibu free and others who are in captivity.”

    Also, the Founder, Mercy Ade-Davies Foundation, Prof. Funmi Adesanya-Davies, called on government to secure the speedy release of miss Sharibu from captivity, just the same way it was able to secure the release of a Muslim who was held in Saudi Arabia for an alleged drug peddling.

    “Leah was the only girl retained because she is a Christian and refused to denounce her faith. A spite to Leah Sharibu is a spite to me; that means I am not safe as a northern Nigerian Christian woman.

    “Releasing Leah Sharibu to us is a mark that Christian community in Nigeria is same as Muslim community. We want to ask the government are we all not equal, don’t we have the same rights are we all not Nigerians?

    “Our hearts are broken, we are depressed, we are sad, we are unhappy. Release of Leah Sharibu is a sign to this nation and the entire globe that the Christian community is acceptable but not releasing her is a sign of a very bad omen and this bad omen must be stopped,” she said.

    Miss Sharibu was kidnapped alongside 112 students of Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State by Boko Haram members on February 19, 2018.

    She is the only pupil who has been held captive by her abductors for failing to renounce Christianity.

  • NERC fines AEDC N250m for electrocution, violations

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) N250 million for all infractions/ violations, including electrocution, payable on May 20, 2019.

    According to the order the commission released to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, “AEDC shall pay the sum of N50million to the late Master Mohammed Arafat Jibril as compensation to his family and this compensation payment shall be made to the family formal presentation to be held at the commission on 28 May 2019.

    “AEDC shall pay a fine in the sum of N250million to the commission for all infractions/violations identified in this order: This fine shall be due and payable by 20 May 2019.

    “AEDC shall conduct a detailed safety audit of the network and the findings of this safety order shall be sent to the commission within 90 days from the date of this order.

    “AEDC shall send the commission a detailed remediation plan to address the issues in the safety audit in the short, medium and long term.”

    The order signed by NERC chairman, Prof. James Momoh and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, said that section 63 (1) and (2) of EPSRA imposes an obligation on AEDC to take all reasonable steps to protect persons and property from injury and damage that may be caused by the licensee when carrying out the licenses business.

    The order, however, disclosed that “AEDC’s negligence in complying with the terms and conditions of its licence, distribution code and HSC resulted in the death of a 4-year old boy, Master Mohammed Arafat Jibril, on 11 April 2019 at Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.”

    NERC submitted the AEDC failed to take reasonable steps to protect the public from injury by ensuring that distribution systems are maintained in accordance with standards in the distribution code thereby leading to the fatal electrocution of Master Mohammed Arafat Jibril, contrary to the provisions of section 71(5) of EPSRA .

    The commission accused AEDC of not sending preliminary report of the accident within 72 hours, contrary to the provisions of section 5.3.1 of the HSC.

  • NLC threat: Police assure Ngige’s family of safety

    The Police in Anambra on Tuesday promised to protect lives and property of relations of Minister for Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, in his Alor community the state.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Haruna, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.

    Haruna advised members of the family to report any incident of insecurity, at the nearest police station in the state of insecurity.

    He assured that the command would provide adequate security in the community.

    “The command will provide security at the minister’s village and ensure that nothing happens there but they have to report to the nearest police station to the community,” he said.

    Read Also: Niger Police halt cult initiation of Bida Poly students

    Meanwhile, a member of local vigilance group in Alor, who craved anonymity, told journalists said the group had strengthened security operations in the area to forestall breach of peace.

    Nwankwo said that the group feared that there may be an invasion of the town by labour officials following the threat of the national leadership.

    “We may call it rumour but we cannot leave anything to chance as some people may cash in on the statements of the labour union to cause trouble.

    “Besides, he is our brother and we cannot allow this to happen in our community,” he said.

  • Why we recorded revenue shortfall in 2018, by NIMASA DG

    Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on Tuesday blamed high rate of crime for the revenue shortfall the agency recorded in 2018 fiscal year.

    The NIMASA boss spoke in Abuja during 2019 budget defence session of his agency before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.

    Peterside who made the submission in response to a question on why NIMASA’s contributions to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2018 reduced by N6billion noted that maritime crimes were largely responsible for the reduction.

    He explained that since monies remitted into the consolidated account on yearly basis are directly percentages of revenues saved, shortfalls in remittances were as a result of low revenues largely caused by maritime crime or piracy on high sea.

    He said, “Our own problem here is more of maritime crime and not piracy which is committed on high seas, but within the sector, Nigeria is largely seen as headquarters of piracy in the world.”

    Read Also: NIMASA DG donates books to pupils in Rivers

    The agency’s remittance into the consolidated revenue fund in 2017 was N22billion while that of 2018 was N16billion, giving a shortfall of N6billion.

    As a way out, the NIMASA boss appealed to the committee to facilitate the process of the Senate giving concurrence to the Maritime Security Bill already passed by the House of Representatives.

    He said, “We need adequate security on our water ways, the very reason why the Anti- Piracy law already passed by the House of Representatives is urgently needed.”

  • FG seeks ECOWAS resolve to tackle influx of firearms – Dambazau

    The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau has urged Police chiefs in West Africa to collaborate more in order to tackle transnational crimes within the sub-region.

    Dambazau who said the fight against crime required collaborative efforts of countries and security agencies explained that transnational crimes cannot be won by a single country or a security agency.

    Speaking in Abuja at the 16th Annual General Assembly of West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO), Dambazau attributed the proliferation of firearms in the region to the instability in Libya.

    He said: “The proliferation of firearms is a big challenge in this sub-region particularly because of the flow of these firearms from unstable countries like Libya. After Gaddafi, Libya went into conflict and it is still in conflict and some of those weapons were trickling down through Mali, Niger and others.

    “We are here because it is a regional issue. It is an issue that has to do either trans-border criminal activities, smuggling and terrorism. A country or a security agency cannot deal with these crimes on its own. This is the reason why we have come together as a region to assess the situation and deal with it accordingly.”

    He also said there was need for collaboration and information sharing amongst security agencies in the region.

    Police Chiefs in the sub-region have also asked the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to upgrade it to a directorate position.

    The security chiefs under the aegis of WAPCCO lamented that its current structure has made it difficult for it to perform its roles optimally.

    The Chairman of WAPCCO and the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu said constant meeting would avail the security chiefs opportunity to tackle proliferation of firearms, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of crime within the region.

    Adamu also noted that the inability of the Committee to meet in the last five years has restrained it from tackling some of the security challenges witnessed in the region.

    On some of the challenges confronting the region, he said: “We are having security challenges in the whole of West African sub-region and there is need for Police chiefs and other heads of other security agencies to come together to see how we can bring down the level of crime within the sub-region.

    Read Also: Banditry: Dambazau debunks allegation of N1b bribe to Miyetti Allah

    “If you look at the 15 countries in the West African sub-region, you will see that they have one challenge or the other. We know that in Nigeria, we have challenges that involve kidnapping and we know that arms and ammunition are coming from outside the country but within the region. There is need to stop the influx of arms and ammunition within the country.”

    On the porous nature of the borders, he said security agencies during the meeting will see how to fortify the borders in order to prevent infiltration by criminals.

    On it being upgraded to directorate position, the IG said: “I respectfully submit without pre-empting your minds that it will not be difficult to come to the inevitable conclusion that the WAPCCO as currently situated within the border structure of ECOWAS is inhibiting the ability of the body to optimally attain its mandate.

    “It is my humble suggestion that a review of the status of WAPCCO within the ECOWAS secretariat has become evidently necessary. Consequently, it is suggested that WAPCCO be upgraded to a Directorate in ECOWAS.

    “This will guarantee the regularity of WAPCCO’s thereby enhancing the dynamism and effectiveness of the Committee.”

    On whether the inability of the Committee to meet in the past five years had connection with some of the security challenges witnessed in the region, Adamu said: “The last edition of this meeting was held as far back as 2014. This gap has impacted on the ability of member countries to constantly and effectively review the security situation in the region and proffer solutions.

    “I would not link lack of the meeting to the security challenges but if we have had the meetings, at least, we would have checkmated some of the challenges we are seeing.

    “We would have organised joint operation to prevent them but now that we are meeting, we will make sure that we deal with the issues.”

  • EFCC counsel’s absence stalls Fayose’s N1.2b, $5m fraud trial

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned till May 21, the alleged corruption trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, following the prosecution counsel’s absence.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun fixed the date after waiting for over an hour, during which the case was stood down for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to make an appearance.

    Fayose is on trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million allegedly stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through a former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

    He was arraigned by the EFCC on an 11-count charge on October 22, 2018, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd.

    He pleaded not guilty and was granted N50 million bail with one surety in the like sum.

    The EFCC opened its case on November 19, 2018.

    At the last adjourned date, on May 10, Jacobs obtained an adjournment, after telling the court that his 13th witness, Adewale Aladegbola, seemed to be hostile.

    The court granted his prayer to enable the prosecution to decide on its next line of action.

    Read Also: Better days ahead for Nigeria – Fayose

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, the ex-governor and his defence team were in court, but no member of the prosecution team was available.

    Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) announced appearances for the defendants and informed the court that prosecution was absent and had not told them why.

    Olanipekun said: “In the circumstances, we want to apply for a stand down, if my lord will graciously oblige them for one hour, to see if we can make contact with them.”

    Ojo added: “I associate myself with the position of my learned brother for a stand down. I have not received a phone call or text message from Mr Jacobs.”

    Justice Olatoregun granted their prayer, following which the matter was subsequently adjourned.

    According to the EFCC, Fayose and Abiodun Agbele, who is facing a different charge, took possession of N1,219,000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    The agency said Fayose, on the same day, received a cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution.

    The commission said the sum exceeded the amount authorised by law, thereby violating the Money Laundering Act.