The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Paramount Group launches marauder armoured vehicle, personnel carrier

    Paramount Group, the African-based global defence and aerospace company, has launched its marauder armoured vehicle and personnel carrier in partnership with the Nigerian Air Force.

    The move comes as Nigeria renews efforts to effectively tackle a wide range of threats posed by various terrorist and extremist groups.

    The Vehicle Marauder is a 15-tonne uniquely designed armoured land system.

    It can be reconfigured as either a troop carrier or combat vehicle, maintaining excellent cross-country agility while reaching a top speed of 120 km/hr over challenging terrains.

    The vehicle, which is popularly described as “The World’s Most Unstoppable Vehicle,” has lot of features like double-skinned hull throughout its cabin and crew compartment to protect it against a wide range of kinetic attacks such as protecting the crew against AK-47 attacks.

    Read Also: Police arraign man for forgery of vehicle auction papers

    The vehicle can also withstand a side blast (IED or roadside bomb) equivalent to 50kgs of explosives, which is critical for the assymetrical warfare experienced in Northern parts of the country.

    The marauder is further equipped with specially designed anti-blast seats, which prevent injury from the extreme acceleration of a side blast or mine blast under the hull.

    The marauder offers outstanding fire power to protect its crew against heavy attacks and can be fitted with a wide range of weapons systems.

    These particular Marauders are equipped with a Jordanian-made snake head turret fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun.

    Speaking on the partnership, the senior Vice President of Paramount Group, Eric Ichikowitz, said: “We are privileged to work alongside the Nigerian Air Force, commending, through the acquisition and deployment of the Marauder, their continued commitment to enhancing their continued commitment to enhancing their national defence and internal security capabilities and prowess.

    “Nigeria’s Government also understands not only the leadership role they play in international peace keeping missions across the ECOWAS but indeed how to effectively address the evolutionary nature of those Cross-regional challenges posed by threats such as organized Insurgences.”

    Paramount Group subsidiary Paramount Maritime notably received orders for dozens of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) in 2018 in a multipurpose effort by the Nigerian Navy to defend its blue economy and coastline.

  • Court restrains Kwara from deducting pensioners’ fund to pay teachers’ salaries

    Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital has restrained the state government from deducting a sum of N421.6 million monthly from pensioners fund to pay junior secondary school teachers in the state.

    The court also described the deduction of the funds by the state government since 2011 as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    Pensioners counsel ST Abubakar had sought the relief of the court declaring that the monthly deduction of the said amount by the state government to teachers’ salaries is capricious, arbitrary and constitutes abuse of power and discretion.

    Other reliefs sought are “a declaration that the local government fund is meant for the maintenance of primary and adult education, including payment of salaries and entitlement of local government staff (both serving and retires/pensioners; a declaration that the state government has no right or power to deduct and or convert the local government funds to maintain or pay junior secondary schools in the state or elsewhere; an order of perpetual injunction restraining the state government either by themselves, agents, privies or representatives or whatsoever name they may be described from deducting and/ or converting the state local government funds to maintain, finance and or pay the salaries of the staff of junior secondary schools or any secondary school staff in the state or elsewhere and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants (state government) jointly and or severally either by themselves, their agents, privies or representatives from using the local government funds for any purpose order than the one stated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Kwara PDP passes confidence vote on Saraki

    Abubakar alleged the 94- month illegal deduction from the local government funds amounted to N39.6 billion, noting that the state government’s indebtedness to the pensioners stands at N15 billion and N4.5 billion gratuities and monthly pensions respectively.

    In his judgement, Justice M.O Adewara said that state government’s action is antithetical to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Laws of the state.

    “There is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution and the Laws of Kwara state that gives the responsibility of junior secondary school to local government,” Justice Adewara ruled.

  • Davido, Mark Zuckerberg, Nike Okundaye share space at Lagos art expo

    Portraitures of popular Nigerian music act Davido, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and female Nigerian artist Nike Okundaye, topped the list of works on display at the ” O’Sagacity art exhibition underway at the National Museum, Lagos.

    The artist/exhibitor, Sunday Olaniyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that each of these people inspired his works, adding that he appreciated them for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

    Olaniyi said that the portraitures of the celebrities would be handed over to them immediately after the exhibition.

    According to him, 50 art works were on display, including bead portraitures, beads, paintings, mixed media, aluminium foil and sculpture.

    Read Also: Davido hits 10 million followers on Instagram

    “I have some of my works exhibited as: Tough time never last; Moderation; Nose can’t smell the good and bad people; Mind your business; Back to sender

    “Also, Davido (OBO); Mark Zuckerberg; Chief Nike Okundaye; Fingers are not equal; Springforth; Tolerance and more.

    “Sagacity means profound wisdom and it is this sagacious wisdom embedded in the Yoruba proverbs that lie at the heart of this exhibition.

    ” The morals and values in ancient African history are the guiding forces in my works and their relevance to contemporary times.

    ” These works are presented in form of proverbs to drive home morals behind each of the art piece,” he said.

    Olaniyi said that due to the economic problems in the society, a lot of people had given up on their lives, engaging in frivolous activities and at the end becoming social defiant.

    According to him, perseverance, patience and tenacious attitude could concur all forms of discouragements, depression, loss of zeal towards life and any other circumstance anyone could be confronted with.

    ” I want people to know that patience, perseverance and tenacity are those virtues to possess to undo life challenges and be successful, likewise outstanding.

    He urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity to visit the exhibition to learn about Nigerian proverbs and virtues to possess in achieving remarkable goals in life.

    The week long art exhibition ends on Saturday.

    NAN

     

  • 180 Nigerians deported from Libya

    Over 180 Nigerians stranded in the North African Country – Libya, were on Tuesday deported to the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The returnees according to sources were received by official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The returnees , the source added were flown in aboard Buraq Air with flight number UZ 189- 190 .The aircraft was marked with registration number 5N- DMG. It departed MJI Airport Tripoli, Libya and landed at the cargo wing of MMIA.

    The Returnees comprised of adults female 82, female children two and female Infants 11 while the adults male were 79 with one male child and 5 five male infants making it a total of 95 females and 85 males.

    Read Also: I’ll do my best for Nigerians in my second term, says Buhari

    Welcoming the Returnees to Nigeria, the Coordinator, NEMA’s Lagos Territorial Office, Alhaji Idris Muhammed, enjoined the Returnees to make better use of their bitter experiences in positive ways by turning a leaf and forge ahead of the dangers and risks that they have escaped in the course of their unfortunately sojourn.

    He enjoined all the segments of the society to see the menace of irregular migrations as emergency situation. He said that any situation where a live is under threat is considered to be emergency risk and all hands must be on deck to stem to stop and prevent the threat.

    The Coordinator explained that in emergency situations, everyone has a role to play, the media, NGO, government agencies and especially parents must partner and cooperate to stem the menace of irregular with continuous enlightenment and awareness creation across the board.

  • Air Force kills Boko Haram leaders, others

    The Nigerian Air Force Tuesday said it has launched series of air strikes on the hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists at the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno state.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the operations led to killing of high valued Boko Haram members.

    He added the operations were carried out after intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout and neutralized some of its leaders and fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.

    “This was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted on Tuesday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the settlement on Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.

    Read Also: Air Force destroys insurgents’ logistics in Borno

    “Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over the weekend confirmed increased level of human activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high level leaders of the Sect.

    “Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the identified compounds within the settlement.

    “Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the vicinity of the compounds. The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded direct hits on the target compounds resulting in destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames. Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.”

  • Herdsman in police net for attempted murder

    A herdsman Salisu Garuba is reportedly being interrogated by Abia State Police Command for allegedly attempting to kill a woman whose name was given as Esther Ibenmecha with a machete.

    The incident, our reporter gathered, took place at No. 1 Pepples road in Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, Aba North Local Government Area of the state.

    It was gathered the herdsman, who had hit Esther with a stick after she insisted he must pull out all his cows from her business premises, later used the knife with him to make do his initial threat to cut off the throat of the single mother.

    According to sources, the attempt by the herder to kill Esther failed as the victim used her hand to block the knife from landing on her throat.

    Sources at the Aba General Hospital where Esther is receiving medical attention, who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity, disclosed the indigene of Ohafia LGA lost three of her left fingers.

    One of them said: “She was bleeding profusely when she was brought here. Two out of the three affected fingers were already dead by the time they brought here. The medical team could only stitch one that has little life in it.”

    Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, when contacted on phone by our reporter, said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

    A police source however disclosed though Garuba was brought to Eziama Division, he was later handed over to Azuka Police Division, Ogbor Hill, which has jurisdiction on the matter.

    The source hinted that the CP has directed that the victim should be arraigned in court as soon as investigation was concluded.

    The traditional ruler of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze S.A Egege was not on seat when our reporter visited his palace.

    But members of his community and residents of Pepples road who spoke to our reporter, described the activities of herdsmen in the community as worrisome.

    According to them, they have suffered economic losses in the hands of herders who invade their farms with their cows for grazing.

    They said their continued silence over the activities of herdsmen in the community should not be taken for granted.

    They called on government and leaders of the Hausa community in Aba to call their people to order.

  • Gov. Bello plotting to sack CJ, Kogi judiciary alleges

    The judicial arm of the Kogi State government headed by Justice Nasir Ajanah has alleged of plans by Governor Yahaya Bello to remove the former from office.

    The judicial service, in a statement on Tuesday by Saqeeb Saeed, Senior Information Officer, Kogi State Judiciary, alleged the plot being hatched by the governor to remove Ajanah as the state’s chief judge is to use the speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly to illegally remove the chief law officer.

    The statement read: “Events in the last few days have made it necessary for the Kogi State Judiciary to issue this press statement.

    “The Kogi State Judiciary is aware of clandestine moves by His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to use the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly to illegally remove the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Nasiru Ajanah, from office over some trumped up allegations.

    “This dangerous and ill-advised move is coming from the executive inspite of the fact that the matter is now before the National Judicial Council (NJC), and there is a subsisting court order restraining the governor from doing so.

    Read Also: Bello lauds military support to internal security

    “The governor is advised not to do anything that will plunge the state into an unnecessary constitutional crisis. Rather, he should obey the rule of law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he swore to uphold.

    “Meanwhile workers of the judiciary should remain calm, as the rule of law shall prevail at the end.”

    As at the time of filing the report, activities at the Assembly indicated moves were in the offing to ease Ajanah out from office as Kogi CJ.

    Judicial staff members on Monday marched through some major streets of the capital, Lokoja, protesting the alleged plan to sack Ajanah as CJ.

    The speaker, Prince Mathew Kolawole, had however denied knowledge of such plan.

    Kolawole, who was at the government house on Monday, said he was unaware of the name(s) of such person(s) making the allegations.

  • Police reveal cop-killers of Kolade Johnson

    The Lagos State Police Command has revealed the identities of the anti-cultism unit officers whose stray bullet killed Kolade Johnson, a soccer fan on Sunday night at Ikeja.

    The officers currently in detention were identified as Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sergeant Godwin Orji.

    Eyewitnesses stated a police team, which stormed Olu Aboderin Street in Onipetesi to arrest a suspected cultist, had released sporadic shots into the air after picking their target and one of such bullets hit Johnson, an only child, said to be watching Liverpool match at the time.

    Although the policemen were arrested and detained after the incident, a statement by spokesman Bala Elkana on Tuesday disclosed that Commissioner Zubairu Muazu had paid a condolence visit to the family.

    He said the police boss reassured the family that justice would prevail, adding he was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Police Commissioners (DCPs) Administration, Operations and State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Ayuba Elkanah, Mohammed Ali and Yetunde Longe, respectively.

    “The Commissioner of Police was received by the head of the deceased’s family Alhaji Remi Lukman in their residence at 1, Beco Street, Onipetesi, Mangoro bus stop.

    “The Commissioner of Police condemned the action of the members of the Anti-Cultism team suspected to have carried out the shooting and reiterated his commitment in ensuring that justice is done in the matter.

    “He stated that the men suspected to have carried out the shooting have been apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary procedures. He revealed their names as Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sergeant Godwin Orji attached to Anti Cultism Squad

    “The CP prayed for the repose of the soul of Kolade Johnson and also prayed that the Almighty God will grant the family, friends and well- wishers the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” said Elkana.”

    According to him, the family head expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for visiting them and his assurances of justice.

    He commended the CP for the bold steps taken in exposing those behind the shootings.

    He said: “I thought it is going to be a one man’s fight but seeing the Police high Command joining our family in this fight has shown that justice will not only be done to Kolade but to the entire Nigerian youths. I am glad that we have a new police force which believes in Justice.

    “He described his late son as a peace- loving person and called on well- wishers to remain calm and allow the law to take its cause,” Elkana stated.

  • Fayemi sends list of commissioner-nominees to Ekiti Assembly

    Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi on Tuesday forwarded a list of 14 Commissioners- nominees to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

    Fayemi transmitted a letter to the Assembly, requesting for legislative approval to constitute the state executive council.

    The Speaker, Adeniran Alagbada, who read the Governor’s letter to his colleagues at plenary, said the governor’s action was in consonance with section 192 of the 1999 constitution.

    The commissioner-nominees are: Dr Adio Afolayan; Dr (Mrs.) Moji Yaya Kolade; Chief (Mrs.) Moji Fafure; Mr. Emmanuel Foluso Daramola; Mr. Folorunso Olabode; Engr. Dele Faparusi and Mr. Gbenga Agbeyo.

    Read Also: Fayemi: Oluleye’s death colossal loss to humanity

    Others are Mr. Olusoga Davies; Mr. Sola Adebayo; Mr. Michael Awopetu; Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua; Mr. Femi Ajayi; Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu and Mr. Febisola Adewale.

    The Speaker also read another letter from the governor on the reconstitution of the board of the local government service commission.

    Chief S A Abejide will serve as chairman while other members are Mrs. Abiola Adeosun, Barrister Dele Oloje, Comrade Bisi Dada and Alhaja Mariam Bimbola Ogunlade.

    The commissioners designate and local government service commission members will face the lawmakers on Thursday, April 4, 2019 for screening.

  • Photos: Lagos CP visits family of slain Kolade Johnson

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, on Tuesday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Kolade Johnson.

    Johnson was shot dead by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Squad at Mangoro area of Lagos State.