The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Nigeria needs $100b annual investments to bridge infrastructural gap

    The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex A. Okoh, has declared that Nigeria needs $100billion annual investments in to bridge infrastructural gap in the next six years.

    He said the next phase of the Reform and Privatisation Programme of the Federal Government is to focus on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with the view to correcting the infrastructural deficit in the country.

    According to a statement from the BPE on Wednesday, Okoh made the remarks when he received a delegation  from the  World Bank led by the senior Economist (Economics and Private Sector Development), Mr. Volker Treichel which visited  the Bureau in Abuja  recently.

    Okoh noted that the “country’s infrastructure gap is huge as it is estimated that Nigeria needs to invest more than USD Three Trillion in the next 30 years to bridge the gap; and average of $100 billion per annum for the next 6 years.”The Director General who was represented by Director, Infrastructure and Public Private Partnership Department of the Bureau, Mallam Sanusi Sule, said the new phase targets reforms mostly in the utility and infrastructure sectors which include; water resources, railways airports and highways.

    He stated the need for refocusing on PPP was borne out of the increasing budgetary constraints to fund the development of new infrastructure and effectively maintain existing ones; deteriorating infrastructure (dilapidated roads, schools, hospitals etc); higher public expectations in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure service delivery.

    According to him, the country’s infrastructure stock was too low for any meaningful development and that “the public sector cannot afford to provide the resources required to bridge the huge infrastructural gap”.

    He added that the most feasible option is to attract private sector investments and the Bureau is working assiduously with key stakeholders to come up with a robust framework and process for implementing and managing PPPs in the country.

    Leader of the delegation, Mr. Volker Treichel said the visit was part of the World Bank private sector diagnostic assessment of the Public sector in Nigeria.

    He added that the Bank was also looking for opportunities to provide short term assistance to the Bureau in the next three years.

  • Magic Johnson steps down as Lakers’ President

    Magic Johnson announced his resignation as Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Tuesday night at an impromptu news conference, before the team’s regular-season finale.

    Johnson, a Hall of Famer from his playing days with the Lakers, said he is resigning because he doesn’t enjoy the job.

    “I was happier when I wasn’t the president (of the Lakers),” the 59-year-old said.

    His announcement came on the heels of an ESPN report that he and Coach Luke Walton have not spoken for weeks.

    Johnson said team owner Jeanie Buss had not been told of his decision in advance. He expressed his affection for Buss, saying, “I knew I couldn’t be face-to-face and tell her. I couldn’t stand to tell her.”

    He was annoyed by being sanctioned by the NBA for tampering when talking to or about players on other teams.

    Johnson added about the day-to-day NBA business, “What I didn’t like is the backstabbing and the whispering. I don’t like a lot of things that went on that didn’t have to go on.

    “I hope that after (the season ends), the Lakers can head in the right direction, which we are.

    Injuries really hurt us, but I enjoyed working with Jeanie.”

    READ ALSO: LeBron James is first to hit 30,000 points

    Walton’s future is in jeopardy after he failed to lead the Lakers to the postseason in the first season with LeBron James on the team. The Lakers entered the Tuesday night game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a 37-44 record.

    Walton, 39, is set to wrap up his third consecutive sub-.500 season with Los Angeles. He entered Tuesday with a career record of 98-147 for a .400 winning percentage.

    Buss has been a strong proponent of Walton but previously said she planned to let Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka decide his future, according to ESPN.

    She said during a radio interview last week, “I will always defer to Magic.”

  • Toke Makinwa makes acting debut in ‘Makate Must Sell’

    On-air Personality (OAP), Toke Makinwa has made acting debut in a comedy movie, ‘Makate Must Sell.’

    The movie, directed by Don Omope, is a collaboration of Filmone Distribution, Screenart, See Fam and Ahh entertainment, is set to be in cinemas nationwide on May 3.

    It is not clear yet if Makinwa played principal role in the new movie.

    Meanwhile, teaser for the film shows the OAP interpreting a role different from her real-life personality.

    Popular Nollywood stars Blossom Chukwujekwu, Akan Nnani, Josh 2 funny, Wofai Fada, Daniel Etim Effiong, Greg Ojefua, and Charles Okocha also featured in the movie.

    Other stars include ace artistes ‘Chigul’ and Nedu, among others.

    Makinwa, a TV presenter and author of controversial book “On Becoming”, had recently announced also that she was venturing in to music.

  • Breaking: Supreme Court strikes out appeal by sacked Kwara APC exco

    The Supreme Court has struck out an appeal by members of the sacked executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, led by Ishola Balogun Fulani.

    A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, held in a unanimous ruling on Wednesday, that the appeal was without merit.

    Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, in the lead ruling, noted that the appeal, being on an interlocutory decision of a High Court in Ilorin, the record ought to be complied and transmitted within 14 days, as required under Order 7 of the Supreme Court’s Rules.

    Read Also: Court orders Nigeria Immigration Service to pay ex-staff N9.7M in 60 days

    Justice Ariwoola held that the appellants, having failed to comply with the court’s rules. when they transmitted the record of appeal outside the 14-day period, the appeal becomes incompetent.

    Details shortly..

  • Two injured in clash between Hausa labourers, Benin youths

    Two persons have been hospitalized following a clash between Hausa labourers and youths of Idunwin-Ehigie at Egba junction along the Benin-Auchi express road.

    The injured persons were identified as Osas, a Vulcanizer and Hameed.

    A mosque and the Nasrul Lahi L Fatih Society (NAFSAT) Education Centre in the area were vandalised.

    The Hausa boys involved in the attack were those looking for menial jobs and they used to gather at Egba junction.

    It was gathered that they were there on Tuesday when Osas and other youths asked them to leave to another place.

    The labourers who were armed with their working tools like cutlasses, shovels, diggers resisted them and in the melee, Osas was stabbed.

    Other youths peeved by the stabbing unleashed attack on the labourers which made motorists and shop owners scampered for safety.

    Read Also: Hairdresser stabs friend with broken bottle over cassava flakes

    The youths chased the Hausa labourers away.

    Chairman of NAFSAT Benin branch, Dr. Isiaka Mustapha, who led other members to ascertain the level of destruction said the perpetrators would be arrested.

    Odionwere (Village head) of the community, Pa. John Aghimien, said the daily increase of the Hausa labourers is causing problem in the community.

    Pa Aghimien said they were armed and took over the junction in search of jobs.

    Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident said three persons have been arrested.

    He said peace has been restored to the community.

    Checks by our reporter showed that many shop owners were still afraid of opening their stores while the labourers were not seen around.

  • Ondo to provide succour for rainstorm victims

    Ondo State government has pledged its determination to provide immediate relief to victims of the recent rainstorm in Akoko communities.

    The Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi visited the affected area and sympathised with the affected people in Supare and Ikare-Akoko,headquarters of Akoko Northeast local government.

    The rainstorm wreaked havoc on almost 500 buildings in Supare and Ikare Akoko Communities.

    Ajayi who said he received the news of the destruction with sadness, described it as a clear case of a natural disaster.

    READ ALSO: Ugwuanyi directs resettlement of rainstorm victims

    He added that the state officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were already in the affected communities to ascertain the damage caused by the rainstorm in order to ameliorate  the plights of the victims.

    He assured that the State Government will provide immediate response in order to cushion the effects of the incident.

    Stressing the need for the residents of the state to be vigilant and conscious of the fact that the rainy season has just begun, Ajayi advised that attention should be geared towards adequate protection of lives and property.

    The deputy governor however, urged the citizenry to desist from dumping refuse and other irrelevant items that could  hinder easy flow of erosion.

  • Breaking: Communal clash at Fadeyi

    Details shortly…

  • Osinbajo presides over FEC

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The meeting started around 11am at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    After rendition of the National anthem, the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello offered the opening Muslim prayer.

    Read Also: Osinbajo asks new NDIC board to sanitize banking system

    The Christian opening prayer was said by the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu.

    President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja late Tuesday night after official trip to Jordan and Dubai.

  • No Chelsea decision until end of season, says Hazard

    Eden Hazard has told ESPN that he will make a decision on his Chelsea future at the end of the season — and that it would be “hard” for the club to miss out on Champions League football for a second year running.

    Hazard has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid, with his Chelsea teammate Gonzalo Higuain telling ESPN that it would be hard to stop the Belgian from leaving Stamford Bridge if he has his mind set on a move to the Spanish giants.

    Chelsea have reportedly set a price of £100 million for the forward, although manager Maurizio Sarri said following Hazard’s sensational performance against West Ham United on Monday that £100m would be “too cheap” for the 28-year-old.

    “I’m just focused on Chelsea,” Hazard told ESPN.

    “One month to play, top four, try to win the Europa League. For the fans I think the most important thing is when they see me on the pitch they just think that my head is with Chelsea.

    “So we’ll see after.”

    Chelsea face a battle to get back into the Champions League ahead of next season.

    Hazard’s two goals against West Ham sent Chelsea third in the Premier League table and back above Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for the top four but the side have a difficult run in with trips to Liverpool and Manchester United to come.

    The club could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where they face Slavia Prague in their quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.

    If Chelsea miss out it would be the second year in a row that had failed to qualify for the competition — after they finished 5th under Antonio Conte last season.

    And with the club unable to sign any players until July 2020 due to a two-window FIFA transfer ban, Hazard said Chelsea would be at a disadvantage if they are left playing in the Europa League again next season.

    “Two years in a row not playing Champions League is hard for the players but also for the club,” Hazard said.

    “Chelsea has to play in Champions League every year, but it’s hard because we are not the only team that is trying to play Champions League.

    “But that’s why we are doing everything at the moment to try and stay in the top four.” (ESPN)

  • Breaking: Kidnapped Lagos Fire Service boss, others freed

    Kidnapped Director of Lagos State Fire Service Rasaki Musibau and six others have been released, the police said Wednesday morning.

    They were released at about 11:45pm inside the forest where the kidnappers kept them by a joint security force.

    Already some suspects have been arrested in the operation still ongoing in the forest at the time of this report, The Nation gathered.

    The victims were kidnapped at about 8pm on April 6 along the Ikorodu-Epe Expressway while on their way to Lagos.

    According to the statement by police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), they were released unhurt and have been reunited with their families.

    Read also: Police confirm killing of 21, rustling of 50 cows in Kajuru Attack

    “The victims have since reunited with their families. The command’s tactical teams are still in the creeks and forests combating the hoodlums.

    Water-tight security measures are emplaced across the state to forestall future occurrence. “The command deeply appreciate the supports of Lagos State Government and the good people of Lagos who stood by us and also provided useful information that facilitated the prompt rescue of the victims. Together we will continue to make Lagos State one of the safest states in Nigeria,” he said.