The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • APC gubernatorial aspirant’s brothers abducted in Zamfara

    Two brothers Yusuf, a staff of First Bank Plc and Abba, a graduate, were abducted in Gusau Zamfara state on Sunday.

    The two abductees were brothers to the APC gubernatorial aspirant in the last elections in Zamfara state, Hon. Dauda Lawan Dare.

    They are between 37- 39 years.

    Their elder brother, Alhaji Musa Lawan, revealed that two brothers were abducted in Gada Biyu Gusau metropolis last Sunday.

    He applauded the military for launching operation Harbin Kunama III, which gives him hope of reuniting with brothers.

     Lawan revealed his two brothers were abducted in front of their residence at about 9pm Sunday night in Gada Biyu in the heart of Gusau metropolis.

    Yusuf, according to him, is a staff of First Bank Plc in Kaduna and just returned for the weekend when the incident occurred.

    Abba, he said, is a graduate but yet to secure employment.

    He said: “I was terribly shocked and traumatised from the time I heard of the news of their kidnap.

    “So are all the members of our family. We are confused and praying that they are in good condition of health.”

    Read also: Air Force repels bandit attacks in Zamfara

    He lamented it was the same point that another of his brother’s wife vehicle was snatched about 9 pm.

    He urged the military to keep to their promise to rescue those abducted safely.

    He urged the military and other security to use all available means to curtail the activities of kidnapping and criminal activities in the state and the country at large.

    The Police Public Relation Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the incident.

    He disclosed the police have since dispatched team of professional officers and the command is doing its best to endure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

    There had been no communication from the abductors with the family as at the time of filing this report.

  • Daystar church gives UNHCR N10m for conflict victims

    Daystar Christian Centre has donated N10million to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in support of victims of conflicts in Africa.

    The donation was made on Tuesday at the Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos.

    Senior Pastor of the church, Sam Adeyemi, said that the donation was to support UNHCR in helping people forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence or persecution in Africa.

    He said it was the church’s commitment toward restoring the resilience of families forced to flee across the continent.

    According to him: “When people flee their homes and leave everything they own behind, their needs become critical and their coping mechanisms compromised.

    “Without help, they cannot access shelter, or even cooking utensils – let alone education and healthcare.

    “Some arrive with severe trauma after facing unimaginable ordeals before and during flights.”

    He added: “We need to do something like Jesus Christ did; he provided food for the hungry, he touch sick people physical and heals their sicknesses”.

    “So our church (Daystar Christian Centre) has been involved in practical interventions in the community, building schools for children, providing bags for families that cannot afford, school fees for family that cannot afford, hospitals bills etc.”

    He also pointed out the church has been involved in community development project since inception.

    “We at Daystar are happy to support UNHCR’s work on the ground to provide emergency relief and support to our forcibly displaced brothers and sisters,” Adeyemi said.

    He also challenged the church community to tackle humanitarian challenges around them like Jesus would have done.

    The Assistant Communications Officer, UNHCR Nigeria, Mr. Gabriel Adeyemo, said the donation, which was about $30,000 was handed over to the UNHCR team in Lagos by the church in Lagos.

    Mr. Jose Antonio-Canhandula, UNHCR’s Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS appreciated the church for the donation.

    He said the donation would be used to provide life-saving emergency assistance to families forced to flee their homes.

    “Nigeria is unfortunately affected by this phenomenon, not only in North-East, but also the Middle Belt.

    “Many displaced persons do not have where to sleep; no access to water; and access to healthcare facilities is very limited.

    “They do not participate in the economy and cannot fend for themselves,” Antonio-Canhandula said.

    Read Also: Daystar commences Ikorodu service

    He said the commitment of Daystar Centre to help uprooted families was truly appreciated and also demonstrated the spirit of sharing.

    He said that the “centre had paved the way for other civic organisations to support our brothers and sisters fleeing due to conflict.”

    Antonio-Canhandula noted that the world’s displaced persons had reached 68.5 million, adding an unprecedented level of over 25 million of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    He said that 76 per cent of the 68.5 million were women and children.

    Mrs. Needa Jehu-Mazou, the Head of UNHCR’S private sector partnerships in Africa, said Nigeria is a very hospitable country and as foster in our entire plans for refugees problems over the year.

    She also said “what Daystar has demonstrated today is phenomenal, really ground breaking.

    “It is the first faith- based organisation in Africa to throw it weight and align publicly with the UN and commit funds to it.

    “9% of all our income comes from the private sector globally. It was 423 million dollars last year and I’m very proud to count Nigerians in Daystar Church in particular among this donors.

    “We also have incredible other donors in Nigeria like 2 baba who support us immensely, financially and so many other ways,” she stressed.

     

     

  • New ICPC chief pledges to live above board

    Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the newly appointed Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), has pledged to live above aboard in the discharge of his responsibilities.

    He made the pledge during his interaction with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Owasanoye, who is the fourth chairman of ICPC, was sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 4.

    Until his appointment by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Aug. 2, 2017, Owasanoye was the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

    He replaced Mr. Ekpo Nta, who was redeployed to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

    He said that the chairman and board members of ICPC would not push past their limits, but would live above board.

    “We won’t be the ones frustrating the efforts of the commission.

    “We will provide leadership. We will work within the confines of the law.

    “We will not be ambiguous in our statements and we will be an example to the staff members of the commission.

    “We will also work with integrity, absolutely,” Owasanoye said.

    He added that as chairman of ICPC, he would ensure that staff members were motivated.

    According to him, a mechanism is already put in place to achieve that.

    READ ALSO: ICPC recovers N594b from civil servants

    On divulging information to the public, the chairman said that a provision in the ICPC Act prohibited discussion on issues being investigated.

    “We are only allowed to make a public statements when we have done an arrest and have charged someone to court.

    “Sometimes some of our investigations are jeopardised when you expose them on the pages of newspapers.

    “I appreciate it that the media have a right to know and so every now and then we will let you know measure and steps we are taking.

    “But in terms of specific things about who, what – until we formally arrest the person,  charge them to court, we will not put a name to what we are doing,” he said.

    He further said that coordinating what the new management met on ground was one of the challenges.

    “The commission has been talking on some cases that in my view, could be easily dealt with by other agencies or by other methods.

    This, he said, included civil contract issues and land cases.

    “I do not think we have any business with those issues,” Owasanoye said.

  • 11-year-old girl dies in Anambra kerosene explosion

    An 11-year old girl has lost her life following a kerosene explosion in Etiti village, Ogidi, Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.

    The deceased, Makuochukwu Nkwunabo, reportedly died while attempting to light up the lantern.

    According to the father of the deceased, Mr. Nwoye Nkwunabo, the kerosene was bought four days ago before the daughter went for it.

    Read Also: 4 feared dead, 8 injured in Anambra auto crash

    He said, “As she poured the kerosene in the lantern and lit the matches, there was defeaning explosion and subsequent flame that enveloped the apartment.

    “She died instantly but we took her to a nearby hospital where she was confirmed dead because of severe burns and suffocation.

    “We have just buried her today. My daughter is now one of those killed as a result of adulterated kerosene we bought unknowingly from dealers.”

    He called on government and other spirited individuals to come to his rescue, saying she was the third of his children.

  • Senate may pass 2019 budget April 16

    The Senate may pass the 2019 budget by April 16 as the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki Tuesday gave the various standing and sub committees up till Friday to submit their reports to the Appropriation Committee.

    Following the Senate President’s directive, the Appropriation Committee will then submit its report to the Senate from April 9 to 11.

    Saraki, in an apparent move to ease workload on the senators who are chairmen and members of various committees, adjourned plenary session till April 9.

    This, he said, was to allow the senate committees complete their budget defence sessions with the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    Read Also: Senate uncovers ‘illegal’ firm under Industry Ministry

    The Senate’s decision to adjourn plenary followed a revelation by the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sunny Ogbuoji, that less than 10 committees had so far submitted their reports.

    Saraki said, “Let us agree that they (committees) will submit their reports by Friday. We will suspend plenary just for a week till 9th (of April). We should be able to reconvene here by Tuesday and lay the report by 9th, 10th and 11th of April. And pass this budget by the 16th. Because we have the Easter break coming as well. We don’t have that luxury of time.”

    He enjoined the various sub committees to submit their reports to the Appropriation Committee on schedule, failing which proposals submitted by affected Ministries, Departments and Agencies will be adopted and cleared.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had, on December 19, 2018, submitted the budget proposal of N8.83 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.

    Meanwhile, President Buhari had rejected eight of the bills passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to him for assent.

    The bills include the Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill; Nigerian Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill; Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill; National Biotechnology Development Agency Bill; National Institute of Credit Administration Bill; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill; and the Chattered Institute of Training and Development of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill.

  • Breaking: JAMB releases results of 2019 Mock UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of its 2019 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted on April 1.

    JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    According to him, a total of 157,631 candidates sat for the examination in 698 centres across the country.

    Read Also: JAMB: we have de-registered 14 CBT centres

    “We have just released the results of the mock examination taken on Mon., April 1, nationwide.

    “Candidates should only use the outcome of the results to prepare harder for the main UTME, scheduled to commence on April 11.

    “They should also note that the results are not for the purpose of admission or matriculation consideration.

    “Candidates are now free to visit our website for their results, using their registration numbers,” Benjamin said.

    According to him, the printing of candidates’ examination slips ahead of the main UTME, which was earlier scheduled for Tue., April 2,  has now been moved to Thur., April 4.

     

  • Court dismisses case against Borno governor-elect, Zulum

    The Federal High Court, Maiduguri on Tuesday dismissed a case seeking nullification of governorship primaries of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The case was filed before the court on Dec. 19, 2018; by a chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Mamman Durkwa.

    Durkwa challenged the emergence of the Borno governor-elect, Prof. Babagana Zulum, as the candidate of the party in the primaries conducted on Sept. 30, 2018.

    Those joined in the case were the APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Delivering judgment; the trial judge, Justice Jude Dagat, said the court dismissed the case due to the inability of the plaintiff to file it within the 14-day period, as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

    Dagat said the case is a pre-election matter that must be guided by the provisions of the law.

    He noted that the case was brought before the court after the expiration of the time frame provided by the electoral act.

    Read Also: Why I endorsed Zulum

    The judge, therefore, dismissed the case and ordered a 30 day grace within which to appeal.

    The Defense Counsel, Abdulwasiu Alfa, expressed joy over the judgment, while representative of the plaintiff, Mr. Usman Abubakar, said they would appeal the judgment.

    NAN

  • PDP opponent to Ndume: you are not fit to be Senate President

    The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno South senatorial district in the 2019 general elections, Kudla Satumari popularly called Haskey has asked one of the candidates for the position of Senate President in the 9th Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume to forget his ambition.

    Satumari said Ndume is not the right candidate for such a high leadership position, describing him as a self- centred person who has contributed nothing to the development of his constituents.

    He accused Ndume of working against his party in favour of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP in 015

    Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Satumari also warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to nominate Ali Ndume as Senate President because he will reclaim his mandate at the Election Tribunal.

    He alleged his victory at the polling units was upturned between the polling stations and collation centre where the results were rewritten in favour of Ndume.

    Read Also: Ndume joins Senate Presidency race

    He said: “What people don’t know is that I have worked assiduously for him to become the senator in 2011.

    “I was among those that worked hard to ensure that he won the election. I even named a primary school I built in area after him. The fight is not personal but we should not reinforce failure”.

    On whether he will consider the option of an out- of- court settlement, he said: “Never. Out of court settlement is never an option.

    “It is not about me but my people because the level of insecurity in my area has gotten to alarming stage. I doubt if we still have men to stand for the people.”

    He went on: “Our problem is that nobody is bringing the issue to the centre stage. My over 80 year-old mother slept in the bush last week.

    “It pains when the federal government claims Boko Haram has been degraded yet the kind of insecurity we are experiencing on daily basis before, during and after the general elections has never been so under Goodluck Jonathan.

    “It was better under him because they can take control over a Local Government but the kind of hit- and- run we are having now and the seeming lack of concern or tangible effort made by the appropriate authority to curtail the attacks, make us to wonder if we are still part of this country.

    “That is why I will never accept any out of court settlement. Let the court decide and confirm his victory.

    “I will appeal and if the Appeal Court still gives it to him, I will accept and leave for God.

    “My life has been threatened and there has been nothing that has not been done.

    “There is nobody on this earth, including my mother, I cherish and respect so much that can prevail on me to step down for whatever consideration.

    “I will never concede and even if lawyers refused to defend me, I will defend myself”.

     

     

  • Gang member kills colleague for protesting sharing formula

    The Police in Bayelsa State are searching for a suspected armed robber identified as Oginivie, who allegedly killed a member of his gang, Gialaemi Ben, for protesting an unfavorable sharing formula.

    Police Commissioner, Sholla David, explained on Tuesday the manhunt for Oginivie was following the arrest of other members of his gang after the murder of the 19-year-old Ben.

    David, who paraded 15 suspects arrested for various criminal activities in the state, named other arrested members of Oginivie as Victor Meremunya 30, Isaac Ogan 22, Pereowei Ibiagbe 23, Tibolayefa Louis 23 and Gift Samuel 22.

    He said: “They burgled a house and stole a generator. They sold the generator and shared the money.

    “One of the suspect Gielaemi Ben ‘m’ 19yrs protested that he was given smaller amount.

    “The principal suspect one Oginivie ‘m’ surname unknown shot him dead.

    Read Also: Police arrest one-chance robbery gang in Ogun

    “In the course of investigation operatives went to arrest one of the suspects, Isaac Ogan who engaged the police in a shoot-out.

    “He was shot on the leg and a locally made pistol was recovered from him.

    “The suspects are detained, while the principal suspect Ogilivie is at large. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect”.

    David further said the police foiled an attempt by kidnappers to abduct an eight-year-old daughter of one Mrs. Amara Diekedie.

    “The Command Control Room was alerted and responded swiftly.

    “The kidnappers were pursued and one of them was gunned down. The 8- year old victim was rescued.

    “Upon a thorough search of the surrounding premises two unserviceable locally fabricated AK 47 Rifles where recovered. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

    In another incident, the police boss said policemen on a stop and search operation intercepted a tricycle conveying Santus Berekeme ‘m’ 24yrs, Ebi Egbe ‘m’ 25yrs and Ebiereke Dunatus for a search.

    “The suspects quickly jumped out of the tricycle and took to their heels, the policemen pursued them and in the process, the suspect opened fire one the officers.

    “The officers fired back and shot one of the suspected Ebiereke Dunatus lucky on his leg.

    “The other suspects were rounded up and arrested and one locally made revolver pistol, one locally made pistol, two live cartridges and one expanded ammunition were recovered from them.

    “Investigation further reveals that the suspects had on 27/03/2019 robbed one Izuchukwu Nwabu of two Tecno phone valued at N32,000 and N20, 500 respectively, a cash sum of N84,000, in his shop at Opolo-Epie , Yenagoa. The suspects have confessed to the crime. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

    David said the buildup to the concluded general elections created security challenges and lamented proliferation of small arms in the state.

  • Why Nigeria cannot eradicate malaria now, by Onu

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has declared Nigeria can only eradicate malaria completely in the future but not right now.

    He said although Nigeria possesses the bio and nuclear technology that can control and eradicate malaria from its boarders, it can only be sustainable when it is eradicated in the continent as a whole.

    Onu added that the eradication of malaria in Nigeria will not be sustainable because after Nigeria eradicates the mosquito vectors, new ones will simply fly in from border countries.

    The Minister stated these on Tuesday in Abuja, while receiving the report by the technical Committee set up on the proposed national project on the eradication of malaria in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Onu donates science kits to award-winning school

    He said: ” There are many countries in the world that have eradicated malaria but in a country like Nigeria, if we want to eradicate malaria, even if we do it completely in Nigeria at any given time it will not be sustainable because we have so many countries whether it is Cameron, Chad, Niger and Benin Rebublic as boarders and we have other neighbouring countries that mosquitoes can easily fly in from with the parasite and make the achievement not sustainable.

    “For Nigeria to really be free from malaria, we must aim to make sure that the whole of Africa is free.

    “From what this report has indicated, the parasite and the vector are critical in the eradication of malaria.”

    He added: “The issue of eradication of malaria from Nigeria is very important and we need to take the first step, which is what we are doing.

    “It is a long journey, which is going to take many years but we cannot because it is difficult say that it cannot be done, we must take the first step.

    “If others can do it, then yes we can do it. We have the capacity of both bio and nuclear technology that can help us control and eradicate the parasite and the vector.

    “It doesn’t matter how long it takes, what matters is that one day in the future, malaria will be eradicated in Nigeria and Africa so that the eradication in Nigeria will be sustainable.”