The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Supreme Court to rule on British Parliament’s closure today

    The United Kingdom (UK) Supreme Court will give its judgment today on whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend the parliament was lawful.

    The top UK court made this known in a statement on Monday

    “The Supreme Court has now heard the two prorogation-related judicial review cases.

    “These took place between Sept. 17 and Sept. 19, 2019.

    “The judgment hand-down will take place on Sept. 24 at 10:30,” the court said.

    The parliament is to be prorogued from Sept. 9 to Oct. 14.

    Read Also: Brexit uncertainty triggers first September fall in house prices since 2010

    Two separate legal challenges were filed in England and Scotland, with their respective courts reaching different conclusions.

    Scotland’s highest civil court ruled Boris Johnson’s suspension of the UK parliament was unlawful.

    A panel of three judges at the Court of Session found in favour of a cross-party group of politicians who were challenging the prime minister’s move.

    The judges said the prime minister was attempting to prevent parliament holding the government to account ahead of Brexit.

    The current five-week suspension of Parliament, a process known as proroguing, started in the early hours of Tuesday.

    On the other hand, England’s High Court said the parliament suspension was a political rather than a legal matter.

    It claimed that under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the suspension was a matter for politicians, not judges, to decide.

    A panel of 11 justices will pass the final judgment, which may reassert the parliamentary supremacy.

  • NYSC hands over 65 ‘fake graduates’ to police

    The National Youth Service Corps has handed over 65 fake graduates apprehended during Batch B Stream 2 orientation course to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    The organisation said the corps members were apprehended across the 37 camps for allegedly presenting fake certificates during registration.

    It said this was discovered by verification officers in some of the camps during registration.

    The NYSC disclosed this in a document obtained by The Nation at the scheme’s headquarters in Abuja.

    According to the document, three of the corps members claimed to have graduated from Istop University, Cotonou in Benin Republic, a claim the scheme said was  false.

    Some of the corps members facing prosecution include: Nasiru Yau, Sheu Muktar,  Iliyasu Usman, Offor Blessing Chinelo, Mezenwa Ngozi Chidinma, Nwachukwu Chimaobi Curtis, Ononuju Amarachi Nwamaka, Francis Joseph Arinze and Chigozie Evidence Chijioke.

    The paper reads: “The total number of fake corps members nabbed during the 2019 Batch B Stream II orientation course was 65. All of them were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

    “They were picked from different NYSC camps all over the federation.”

    Read Also: ‘NYSC didn’t post Corps members to religious organisations’

    In Kano State, the NYSC  last week said it rejected a total of 108 prospective corps members posted to the state for presenting questionable certificates among other infractions.

    The State Coordinator of the scheme, Mr Ladan Baba said 1,700 prospective corps members were deployed to the state but the office registered 1,592.

    “The most worrisome is the fact that some of them did not undergo any academic pursuits but obtained certificates through illegal means with allegations that some did so in Kano and environs,” he had said.

    Also on August 30, the NYSC had noted that it nabbed over 50 unqualified graduates who came with fake certificates to the orientation camps and attempted to be registered for the just concluded Batch B Stream II Exercise.

    The NYSC authorities said the fake graduates, from various tertiary institutions, “were decamped from the NYSC orientation camps and handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.”

    The NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi explained that the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim was stern in his warning that unqualified home-based and foreign-trained Nigerians would no longer pass through the scheme.

    “The NYSC is committed to stemming the tide of fraudulent mobilisation of unqualified home-based and foreign-trained Nigerians, especially those purported to have graduated from unaccredited universities in the West African sub-region,” she noted.

  • Kuku, ex-MEND leaders to join APC

    There are indications that the leadership of the outlawed Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) is planning to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    At the centre of the plan is Kingsley Kuku, former Special Adviser on Niger Delta and chairman of the Amnesty Programme under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Leaders and ex-commanders of the disbanded armed group, hitherto led by Chief Government Ekpomupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, had strong affinity with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) up till the February/March elections, having openly backed its Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    Read Also: Timi Frank lied on alleged N90b cash gift to APC, says FIRS

    A source close to the group said Tompolo had already directed his foot soldiers to be involved in the plan which will crystallise shortly before the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    “We will soon witness what I call mass movement by the former commanders of MEND to the APC because we cannot remain aloof for too long. Already, our leader who we call GOC (referring to Tompolo) has even directed us to join the APC to help deliver David Lyon with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

    “As we speak, we are mobilising and very soon, you will see action across the entire Niger Delta. As at last week, our brother Shoot at Sight from Ondo State was with the minister with assurances that he will mobilise people in his state to join the APC.”

    It was gathered that the ex-militants have presented the return of Kuku to Nigeria as a condition precedent shortly after the Bayelsa election. “We have told Sylva that we will back him and indeed join the actors to help him deliver, but we want him to facilitate a soft landing for Kuku to return home. We want him and he has also agreed to join the APC as soon as he returns to the country. For now, his followers across the Niger Delta will be aligning with the APC pending his arrival,” the source added.

  • ‘Lawmaker raped me, promised to give me N20m if my husband divorced me’

    A businesswoman, Nkeiruka Cynthia Kamalu, has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that she was raped by a federal lawmaker, Uju Kingsley Chima, on August 9, 2015.

    Mrs Kamalu told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that following an incestuous relationship with Chima, the lawmaker offered to pay her N20 million if she was divorced by her husband, Mr Gabriel Igbibi.

    Chima is the Member, Federal House of Representatives for Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency of Imo State.

    She is seeking protection from Chima, who she alleged caused her to be arrested on 27th day of May, 2019 tortured, humiliated, detained for seven days by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and arraigned on a fictitious N40million theft charge.

    Kamalu made the allegations in a fundamental rights suit marked FHC/L/CS/1458/19 which came up on September 11, 2019.

    Her counsel, Chijioke Jiakponna, told the judge that Chima had been evading service. He alleged that when the bailiff called Chima on phone to inform him that he wanted to serve him, the lawmaker cut the call.

    Justice Oweibo adjourned till yesterday to rule on whether to allow substituted service.

    Monday, the court did not sit.

    When The Nation phoned Chima on Saturday evening for his reaction to the rape and N20m allegations, he said “I’m inside a court now, can we talk later? I’m inside a court.”

    Later that night and Monday, his number rang out.

    In her August 22, 2019 Affidavit of Urgency, Kamalu said she filed the suit due to the “intimidation, mounting surveillance and or illegal oral invitation threat of life and annihilation of property.”

    She said she had been living “in perpetual fear” of being further detained “indefinitely.”

    Kamalu is seeking several reliefs including a declaration that her arrest and detention “by the respondent at the State CID Police Headquarters, Owerri, Imo State (SARS) for seven days was unconstitutional.”

    Others include a declaration that her invitation by the police for another investigation while the case has been adjourned sine die at the Chief Magistrate Court, Owerri, violates her rights.

    She also wants an order restraining the Respondents, from further arresting, pursuing and intimidating her.

    “An order directing the 1st 2nd, 4th to 6th Respondents to release forthwith her Infinix Note 7 and lnfinix Note 8 illegally seized by the Respondents during the arrest and torture in Lagos.

    Read Also: I never raped anyone, my accuser is a liar, serial fraudster, says lawmaker

    “An order awarding damage in the sum of N50 Million to the Applicant for the unlawful arrest, torture, unlawful detention, insult, disgrace, intimidation and the embarrassing treatment meted out on the Applicant.”

    In her August 22, 2019 Affidavit in support of her application, Kamalu averred that she and Chima began dating in 1993 while she was in secondary school.

    “We dated for 10 years, after which he proposed marriage and we both agreed to settle down as husband and wife. Unfortunately, our parents kicked against our relationship on the ground that we are biologically related and that we were committing incest and could not get married, so I married another man called Gabriel Igbibi,” she said.

    The applicant said she reconnected with the lawmaker when she needed assistance to execute a contract she secured and that after she refused his advances, “he raped me.”

    “I lodged the case first at New Owerri Police Station wherein he influenced it and I wrote a Petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Force State Quarters, Abuja. The petition was assigned to Zone 9 Police Command, Umuahia, Abia State.

    “The 1st Respondent settled the police and they brokered peace between the 1st Respondent and me, wherein he promised to take proper care of me because he cannot withdraw himself from me.

    She said following their reconciliation, they resumed their incestuous relationship “fully again”.

    Kamalu added: “My husband got wind of the relationship between the 1st respondent and myself,” following which he filed for divorce.

    When she informed Chima he allegedly gave her money to hire a lawyer for the case.

    “The 1st Respondent promised that if the divorce succeeds, he will be giving me N20 million every six months and also buy me a property in any designated place in Lagos.

    “The marriage was dissolved at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos. After the divorce, the 1st Respondent told me that before he will take the relationship serious, I will have to bear a child for him.”

    According to her, she took in for him, but had a miscarriage. He then asked her to adopt a baby which would be his and claim that the baby was born in Canada, but that the baby also died.

    She further claimed that he made her swear to an oath of loyalty, but she eventually caught him with another woman.

    “I became infuriated and he became furious and warned me never to visit him again, that he is no longer interested in the relationship. I reminded him of the oath he forced me to take that no man must have any relationship with me again and the promise to be giving N20m every six months, buy me a property in a choice area, buy a brand new car every six months, which he had never fulfilled.

    “I told him that I would tell the whole world how he has ruined my life and deceived me out of my marriage where I had four children.”

    She told the court that this was why the lawmaker used the police to arrest her on May 27, 2019 and detained for seven days.

  • Appeal Court headquarters groans under floods

    Like any other victim of natural disaster, the country’s Appeal Court is threatened by flood. ERIC IKHILAE writes that if nothing urgent is done to bring the situation under control; it would spell doom for an arm of the judiciary.

    When the engineering team at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by the Director, Engineering and Maintenance, Zailani Tijani, took the decision last year, to erect an embankment at the foot of the edifice housing the court’s headquarters and the Abuja Division, it was thought that a permanent solution to the recurring challenge of flood in the premises was found.

    The embankment, erected at the rear of the structure housing the Abuja Division which sits on the lower end of the building, was said to have cost about N30 million to put in place.

    But, as if it was sending a message to the effect that the team of engineers made an inaccurate diagnosis and applied the wrong drugs, the flood returned between September 16 and 17, with an enhanced ferocity.

    It spilled into offices, including the court’s archive, leaving case files, among other documents destroyed. It threatened the court’s “power section” – housing electricity transformers, huge power generating plants and other critical installations and left members’ of staff official vehicles submerged. They were only retrieved when the flood subsided hours later.

    When The Nation visited the premises last Friday, members of staff were still talking about the effect of the flood and how to prevent a recurrence.

    An official said: ”Some of our files were affected. We intend to work with lawyers in cases affected, for replacement. We have never had it so bad.”

    Another added: “We had to escape without our vehicles. We were only able to recover our vehicles the next day when the flood had receded. My car is currently with the mechanics. They are battling to fix it. The car was totally submerged in the flood.  Beside the engine that is said to have been affected, all the documents I had in the car were also affected.”

    One of the court’s members of technical staff, who conducted The Nation round the “power section”, said they were lucky it did not rain at night, because the impact would have been more devastating.

    “This place houses our critical electricity equipment. If it is flooded, the impact on the safety of occupants of the building would be grave. Power supply would be affected, in addition to the threat to the safety of occupants of the building. The transformers here are linked with those supplying power to the Force Headquarters, the Supreme Court and other critical institutions around here. We have complained to the people in charge.

    “They appear to be reluctant to act. Maybe they want the whole place submerged and people killed before they take action,” the official said as he led The Nation to the back of the premises, where the problem seems to emanate from.

    Besides that, the drainage network in the court premises requires attention. It was discovered that the rise in the water current experienced lately whenever it raised results from the impact of the road recently built behind the structure.

    With the embankment now unable to address the flood challenge, many members of staff and court users have queried the competence of the engineers and urged the court’s management to seek external help, by liaising with the relevant state’s agencies involved in flood control and disaster management.

    Zenani told reporters on Friday that it could not be said that the embankment did not serve its purpose, but that the court requires assistance of relevant agencies in flood control and disaster management.

    It was learnt that the court’s President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, wrote to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mohammed Bello the previous year on the issue, but the court had not heard from either the minister or his agents.

  • Power lights up Kebbi community

    Kare-Dadin Kowa, an agrarian community in Kebbi State has joined the growing solar-powered communities in Nigeria. Last week, the Federal Government inaugurated a 98.8KW solar hybrid mini-grid power plant. For a border community which produces the best rice and millet in Nigeria, the facility will not only improve their ways of lives, it will also boost their trade and end the long dark years, writes CHINAKA OKORO.

     

    For Kare-Dadin Kowa, a small riverside community in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, things are no longer the same. The tiny community with a total population of about 3,180 people has agriculture and fishing as its main economic activities.

    Residents of this agrarian community have been in darkness for decades and had resigned to fate until the ‘unexpected’ happened.

    Power supply is a major problem in Nigeria, which the Federal Government has battled unsuccessfully to fix. Successive administrations’ efforts to remedy the situation have proved futile. But, solar power is coming to the rescue.

    The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is trying its best to fix the power sector. One of the ways through which it’s tackling the problem of power supply is the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through which electricity is provided for universities and rural communities.  Kare-Dadin Kowa, an agrarian community in Kebbi State is the latest beneficiary.

    So, on Tuesday last week, there was a new vista for this community that has been in the dark for years. That was the day the Federal Government inaugurated a 98.8KW solar hybrid mini-grid power plant for the community.

    The ecstatic members of the community rolled out the drums to celebrate an end to long years of darkness. As the inauguration lasted, the people watched in amazement as they were about to experience a new lease of life.

    They, including the old and the young, were excited as they lined the streets to witness the historic event. The traditional troupes added colour as they sang and danced to the rhythm of the traditional music to the admiration of the guests.

    Determined not to rest on its oars until the unserved and underserved communities across the regions of the country have equitable access to uninterrupted and sustainable power through an off-grid independent power plant, the President Buhari-led administration again fulfilled one of its mandates  on Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

    The entire Kebbi State literally converged on Kare-Dadin Kowa community to witness the historic inauguration  of a 98.8KW solar hybrid mini-grid power plant.

    Read Also: Electricity market and unfavourable, helpless regulator

    The newly inaugurated solar hybrid mini-grid plant would provide clean energy to 483 residential buildings, schools, places of worship, health centres, 82 commercial buildings which would also serve over 3,000 inhabitants of Kare-Dadin Kowa community.

    Implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under its Rural Electrification Fund (REF), the fund strives to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of rural electrification grants to promote off-grid electrification and to stimulate innovative approaches to rural electrification.

    The first call of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) will energise 12 communities and deploy 19,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS). REF projects are administered using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

    Praising President Buhari’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of people living at the grassroots, Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, an Engineer, congratulated members of the community in particular and Kebbi State in general on the success of the inauguration. He further stated that the ministry under his leadership is committed to electrifying  Nigeria.

    “Under my leadership, the Ministry of Power will continue to provide requisite policy interventions to ensure that transformative projects such as this will have the desired impact of electrifying Nigeria,” he said.

    In his remark read  by the   representative of Kebbi State Governor and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development Aminu Umar,   Governor Abubakar Bagudu  commended President Buhari-led administration’s  Next Level Roadmap in rural electrification.

    He said: ”The solar hybrid mini-grid will expand and transform the economic landscape of Kebbi State. Small businesses such as welders, cold room operators as well as processing mills can now operate more effectively with reliable and clean electricity as a result of this project. This solar installation has 380 panels that will provide electricity to over 3,000 residents of this community. We are the land of equity and this project is further ensuring the distribution of equitable power to the people of Kebbi State.

    “My vision is to industrialise Kebbi, making it an economic hub. This is why we have focused on the provision of electricity within Kebbi State by partnering and supporting on-grid providers, with new transformers and injection of funds to stabilise and ensure constant power supply to the state.

    “The impact of this power project will also be felt in other sectors such as tourism. With an available supply of clean energy, commerce and industrial activities will increase in the state. We all aspire for a fully electrified Nigeria and we will achieve this with your continued support and dedication.”

    In his address, the representative of the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency and Executive  Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Dr Sanusi Ohiare praised the commitment of the Federal Government by staying through to its words.

    “Kare-Dadin Kowa community is the second of 12 communities earmarked to benefit from Rural Electrification Fund (REF) grants. The project being inaugurated is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, with the goal of providing equitable access to electricity across Nigeria. These days REA provides electricity to 82 commercial businesses, 482 residences and over 3,180 residents (including women and children).

    “I must state that these are exciting times because history is being made in Kare-Dadin Kowa, Kebbi State and in Nigeria as a whole.

    “Not only have the people of Kare-Dadin Kowa been provided with access to stable electricity, but also, this project provided job opportunities for the industrious people of this community in engineering, construction and project management.  Thanks to the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Next Level Roadmap, more Nigerians can look forward to a Nigerian dream, where access to stable power is no longer dependent on alternative sources of electricity that are harmful to our health and the environment.”

    Ohiare expressed his appreciation to the Kare-Dadin Kowa Community for their openness and support, the private sector developer, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited for delivering the project to its full capacity and also his team in the Rural Electrification Agency, particularly to the MD/CEO, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi for the guidance and tenacity in ensuring that the various initiatives earmarked under the Rural Electrification Fund come to fruition.

    Expressing his delight to the initiative which has brought his community out of perpetual darkness, the District Head of the community, Alhaji Musa Maina Jantullu said he recognised the significance of the project and was delighted to be one of the beneficiary communities. “This community has been in darkness for too long and this is why my subjects and my community are grateful to the Federal Government and the people of the Rural Electrification Agency for counting us worthy to benefit from solar technology.

    “There is no doubt that the electricity will improve the way of life of my people, intellectual ability of our students by having electricity to read. This is an agrarian community which produces the best and largest rice and millet in Nigeria. As a border community, this will, undoubtedly, develop our community. I am elated, my subjects are joyous and we promise to protect and sustain it,” he said.

    In his goodwill message, the Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samaila Muhammed Mera, who was represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, said: ”This is especially gratifying for us and our rural communities in Kebbi State.  We can now experience what we would normally refer to as city life now that we will have access to reliable and stable electricity.

    “We are a small fishing and agricultural community. So, this is a major development as new business opportunities in milling, processing, storage and fishery will now become a reality for our industrious people. I appreciate the dedication of the Federal Government in ensuring that Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical locations, can now have access to constant electricity.”

    In line with REF’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, private  sector participation and investment was also critical to the successful implementation of the project.

    The MD/CEO, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited, Anayo Okenwa said the installed solar hybrid mini-grid was constructed in line with international standards and best practice.

    “As an indigenous firm, we are proud to have leveraged the skills and capacity of our host community, in addition to providing the enabling environment for skilled labour and job creation,” he said.

    The Director, Rural Electrifcation Fund, Bulus Maiyaki commended  President Buhari for ensuring that Nigerians have increased access to clean and reliable electricity in their homes, businesses and schools. He also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Power, the National Assembly and their Committees on Power in creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of Rural Electrification Fund projects across Nigeria.

    He acknowledged the outstanding leadership role of the MD/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Kebbi State Governor Bagudu for his support, the Emirs and district heads for creating enabling environment for the project to be executed. He also thanked Nayo Tropical Technology Limited for its incredible efforts and professional expertise demonstrated on the project with the state-of-the-art installation.

  • Buhari ensuring better livelihoods for Nigerians, says SGF Mustapha

    The Federal Government has kick-started activities to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence Day celebrations on October 1.

    Nigeria got independence from Britain on October 1 in 1960.

    Addressing reporters yesterday to announce activities form the celebration at the Radio House in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, thanked God for preserving the nation to witness its 59th anniversary.

    The SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs in the Office of the SGF, Gabriel Aduda, said efforts had been made to keep the nation united over the years, despite its diverse challenges.

    But he stressed that the country ought to be far ahead where it is today, if not for the numerous challenges.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he said, was doing its best to ensure better livelihoods for the citizenry and leave long-lasting legacies.

    Read Also: Buhari unfolds plans to reverse climate change effects in Nigeria

    Mustapha said 10 youths will win N1 million each during the youth concert on Monday, September 30.

    According to him, it was the result of intellectual prowess, patriotic zeal, as well as love of country that enabled the nation’s forebears to succeed in their struggle.

    “Nigeria’s leaders, since then, have made varied contributions to building our nation state.

    “Above all, efforts have been made to ensure that the country remains united, despite diverse challenges, which are not un-expected in a multicultural society such as ours.

    “Independence Day for us is a joyous occasion, but also a sobering one because we are beset with a lot of developmental challenges, looking at how far we have come.

    “Ideally, we should be far ahead of where we are right now as a people. But nevertheless, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is not sitting on its oars but working to ensure better livelihoods for the Nigerian people,” he said.

    The nation’s chief scribe said it was Mr President’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation a long-lasting legacy of improved infrastructural facilities and a better economy across the length and breadth of the country.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that other activities lined up for the celebration include a Juma’at prayer in the afternoon and a special lecture on Friday, September 27, at the National Mosque in Abuja earlier at 10 a.m.

    An interdenominational Christian service will come up on Sunday, September 29, at the National Christian Centre by 3 p.m.

    Also to be featured for the celebration is the National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit and youth concert on Monday, September 30 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m at the International Conference Centre and Millennium Park.

    On Tuesday, October 1, there will be Independence media broadcast by President Buhari at 7 a.m and Presidential change of guards at 9 a.m at the State House Forecourt.

    Also, a public lecture gala night will take place at State House Conference Centre at 6 p.m.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Gekpe, said Nigeria had gone far as a nation at 59th celebration.

    “God has kept us for this 59th years and it is our belief that we will wax stronger even as we move on to the Next Level.

    “It is a good thing that we have clocked 59th years. We’ve gone far as a nation and God has been so faithful to us.

    “It is our belief that a lot of things will happen in this anniversary celebration. There will be a lot of policies and programmes that will be implemented effectively beyond this 59th anniversary,” Mohammed said.

  • Okoh predicts end to Nigeria’s problems

    Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s numerous challenges will soon become history.

    He urged Nigerians to put their trust in God, stressing that the Almighty is alive and working.

    Okoh spoke on Monday in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the New Bishop’s court.

    “The security problems, economic hardship, the non-release of the kidnapped Christian girl, Lear Sharibu, and all the things Nigerians have been complaining against under the present administration, I want Nigerians to believe that its well,” he said.

    The cleric described members of the Diocese on the Niger as one of the engines and pillars on which the Church of Nigeria stood.

    He advised them not to feel disturbed when certain demands are made of them.

    Okoh said: “The demands Church of Nigeria makes from you is according to your age. After the Diocese of Lagos, the next is the Diocese on the Niger.

    “You must meet the demands we make because you form part of the engine of the Church of Nigeria. Do not say we are demanding much from you.

    “We are happy you are equal to the task because you are not using your time to quarrel and write petitions and insult your leaders but building the church with spiritual and structural activities.”

    The retiring Primate advised the clergy to use their time to serve God to the best of their ability, adding: “We do not abide; we come, pass away.

    “As I stand on the threshold of my retirement, we must look back. The time is running very fast. Whatever you want to do that will keep your name, do it now. Otherwise, you will regret.”

  • Fed Govt to fight sleeping sickness with sterile tsetse flies

    To effectively fight the scourge of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in the country, the Federal Government has approved the construction of a modern tsetse fly mass rearing facility in Vom, Plateau State.

    The facility is to generate millions of sterile male tsetse flies for field release to mop up populations that may persist after suppression to achieve eradication.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who broke the news yesterday in Abuja, said tsetse fly poses serious problem to livestock production in Africa as well as to human health.

    The minister said the country was willing to lead Africa in the fight against tsetse fly and work closely with other nations on the continent to reclaim land occupied by the insects.

    Onu spoke at the 35th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) and the 18th meeting of Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control (PATTEC).

    He said: “This Conference is very important for Africa’s search for food security. Africa, as the second largest continent, has enough arable land for Africans to feed the world. Hence, Africa should not suffer from hunger and poverty. The tsetse fly has posed very serious problems to livestock production in Africa, as well as to human health.

    “Its effective control has become absolutely necessary for us in Africa to attain self-sufficiency in livestock production as well as maintain human health. Effectively controlling tsetse fly is a task that must be done, in view of the fact that Africa is made up of young people with an increasing population. Achieving this will help us feed ourselves, remain healthy, grow our economy and create jobs for our people.

    “I am very happy that Nigeria played a very important role in the decision of the African Heads of State and Government that endorsed the PATTEC initiative. My ministry, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, has always given PATTEC-Nigeria the much needed attention it rightly deserves.

    Read Also: FG to release millions of sterile tsetsefly to fight trypanosomiasis

    “This will continue. Many effective measures were taken in the past. We have just approved the construction of a modern tsetse mass rearing facility at Vom to generate millions of sterile males for field releases to mop up populations that may persist after suppression to achieve eradication.”

    “I am happy to inform you that with the measures already put in place, Nigeria will indeed lead Africa in the fight against the tsetse fly. We want to work closely with all other nations in Africa so that together we can reclaim our land presently occupied by tsetse flies.”

    The Director of African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Prof. Ahmed El-Sawalthy said the tsetse fly, which is only found in Sub-Saharan Africa, causes sleeping sickness in humans and affects animals.

    He said: “This problem exists in Africa and we need to sort it out as Africans. This disease is trans-border; no one country can control the disease. All efforts must be put in place by member-states in the region. This meeting is one we hold every two years. But this year, we are here to review what we have achieved, the challenges and how to move forward.

    “Trypanosomiasis is one of the parasitic diseases proptosis transmitted by the insect tsetse fly and the insect is present in Sub-Saharan Africa and it affects animals and humans. It causes sleeping sickness in humans. It is not an easy disease that can be treated as others.”

  • Abiodun inherits N32b gratuities

    Ogun State government on Monday said it inherited N32.8 billion gratuities and death benefits incurred between August 2011 and June 2019 under its Transition Pension Scheme.

    The state lamented that the debt piled up during the previous administration, but said the new government would offset the bills.

    Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Local Government Pensions Mrs. Irene Kokumo spoke while hosting members of the House of Assembly’s Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    Kokumo said the state pays an average of N791 million to retired local government workers and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) retirees monthly.

    Also speaking at the bureau’s budget assessment, she said the scheme caters for 11,616 retirees in the pre-1991 category.

    Read Also: Abiodun signs Ogun Investment Promotion Agency, 3 other bills into law

    According to her, records  showed that the administration had been facilitating prompt release of retirement savings account balance to retirees, who had disengaged from the Contributory Pension Scheme, to ensure that senior citizens enjoy a better life after service.

    Besides the N791 million paid monthly, the bureau also pay N4.6 billion monthly pensions between January and June, 2019.

    Kokumo said the bureau had been managing the benefits of the ‘Pay as you Go’ scheme and the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    She added that the bureau’s primary responsibility was that of the pre-1991 retirees, comprising local government and SUBEB personnel, as well as officials still in service.

    Kokumo listed other achievements as computation and compilation of outstanding gratuities and death pensions till date, maintenance of records for easy access, facilitation of remittances of contributory pension deductions as and when released, among others.

    She added that the state government was already taking steps to address the challenges confronting the Bureau regarding the renovation of its offices and provision of befitting infrastructure, full digitization and computerisation of its activities, among others.

    Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Akeem Balogun, who applauded the management team for maintaining standard in the discharge of its duties, tasked the Bureau to come up with strategies that could assist in offsetting the outstanding gratuities of local government councils and SUBEB retirees.