The Nation Newspaper

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  • Suicide bomb attacks: Officials arrest 16 more suspects in Sri Lanka

    Police have arrested another 16 people in connection to a series of bombings in Sri Lanka over Easter weekend which claimed at least 359 lives, officials said on Thursday.

    Fresh security measures, including a ban on the use of drones, were introduced as police and security forces continued in their efforts to crack down on the network of people involved in the bombings.

    The latest arrests brought the number of suspects in detention up to 76.

    Vehicles used by the suspects have also been seized in the operations.

    Teams from the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and from international police organisation Interpol were in the country assisting local investigators.

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also banned the use of drones and unmanned aircraft within Sri Lankan airspace until further notice.

    Tight security was maintained around hotels, places of worship and government buildings with authorities carrying out random checks on cars and passenger buses.

    Read Also: Sri Lanka attacks: Death toll hits 290

    On Wednesday, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena directed two top officials to step down amid allegations they failed to share intelligence reports with him about possible suicide attacks which were available to officials earlier in March.

    Sirisena claimed that Defence Secretary, Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector-General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara also failed to inform Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet.

    The country has been under a state of emergency since late on Monday.

    NAN

  • BBNaija: Fans impatient as new season delays

    Some fans of the Big Brother Naija (BBNAIJA) reality show have advised showrunners to start the new season or risk losing money from audience votes.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the appeal sprung up across social media after a viral twitter post by @Bidemi_brooke noting that fans were spending money on cars for old housemates might exhaust funds before voting for the new season begins.

    Her tweet was a direct reaction to fans buying a car for Bamike Omawunmi aka BamBam, one of the housemates of the ‘Double Wahala’ 2018 season. This made her the second exhousemate to get a car after Alex Unusual.

    Bidemi_Brooke said, “Hello sir @BBNaija see people are using they money they are supposed to use to vote for the new housemates, to buy cars for the former housemates.

    “The earlier you start this new season, the better for you. Else, you won’t see enough money this year. Just a piece of advise sir,” she said.

    Other fans agreed with her, with some trying to find reasons why the new season has not started despite being two months later than usual.

    @Mandychisom said, “it is the truth, the more they delay, the more people lose interest.”

    Read Also: BBNaija: Fans to vote for one more housemate

    @Officialjoysia said, “the only time they decided to do it in Nigeria, it’s like waiting on rapture.”

    @Dharmih_ wrote, “We are tired of waiting.”

    @Viktoriaisland said, “they have not found the right housemates yet.”

    @Bunni_elle wrote, “I think they are waiting for Game of Thrones to be over because that is taking a lot of social media attention. ”

    NAN reports that the show runners, Multichoice Nigeria had announced in January that the show will return for a fourth season to be held in Nigeria.

    Auditions held on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 across Nigeria with at least 4,000 people showing up per state. In March, a reunion was held for the season 3 housemates and fans were given the chance the vote one intending housemate into season 4.

    NAN

     

  • JTF confirms six suspected vandals of Nembe creek pipeline explosion dead

    The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has revealed the masterminds of the April 21 fire outbreak at Aiteo’s OML 29 oilfields died in the inferno.

    Rear Admiral Akinjidie Akinrinade, the JTF Commander, disclosed this shortly after inspecting the site of the incident in Awoba area along the 97 kilometer Nembe-Bonny oil export pipeline in Rivers.

    Akinrinade, accompanied by Rear Admiral David Adeniran, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, visited the site of the explosion which destroyed hundreds of metres vegetation stretch.

    He expressed regret over the fire which led to outage of crude supply from the high pressure 150,000 barrels per day Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

    The commander of the joint task force, Operation Delta Safe, however, noted that troops deployed to the area responded immediately the incident occurred.

    He explained that troops on surveillance at a nearby houseboat which arrived in the scene confirmed that all the vandals who breached the pipeline died from the explosion and fire that followed.

    On arrests, he said that although the vandals died in the act, efforts were underway to track their collaborators because the criminals involved in oil theft operated in groups.

    Akinrinade said that the joint military force would redouble its efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism and assured oil firms in the Niger Delta of safety of its personnel and facilities.

    “I am here for an on-the-spot assessment following the fire incident on the Nembe creek trunk line, which is a critical national asset and to restate our commitment to protecting oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

    “This incident has adverse economic implications and the military high command is concerned; that is why I am here with my component commanders and we shall continue to provide security to the oil firms.

    Read Also: Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF, others in Zamfara

    “I assure the oil firm of security to ensure that the breached point on the line is traced and fixed,” the commander said.

    The remains of the suspected vandals and oil thieves were being recovered in the creeks when the commander visited the area.

    Local divers were seen searching for more bodies along the creeks.

    Aiteo had shut oil injection from the line following the incident and absolved itself from liabilities of not meeting the contractual obligation of crude supply due to incident.

    The trunk line had earlier been shut on March 1 and restarted on March 6, following an explosion from a well head in Nembe creek which also resulted in a fire outbreak.

    NAN

  • Ondo Varsity shut over students’ rampage

    Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State Wednesday protested over what they described as “obnoxious” policy of the school management.

    Sources hinted that students were protesting the ‘No School Fee, No Test’ order by the management.

    Consequently, authorities of the University have asked the students to vacate the campus and proceed on Mid Semester break.

    Read Also: Ondo Varsity graduates 5,252

    Sources said the move was to avoid any breakdown of law and order within the campus and school community.

    The statement by the school Register, Dr Sunday Ayeerun said; “The Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, has approved a Mid-Semester break for all students of the University.

    “All students of the university are, therefore, advised to proceed on the Mid-Semester break with immediate effect.

    “Students are to resume to campus on Monday, May 20”.

  • 9th NASS: Speakership contestant rejects open ballot voting

    The call for the adoption of open ballot voting system for the emergence of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly has been described as mischief by the promoters.

    A group of civil society organisations under the aegis of Advocates for Good Governance (AGG) had Wednesday morning started a protest at the National Assembly demanding that the election of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly be conducted in the open through open ballot.

    One of the contestants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Umaru Bago (APC, Niger) however said the call was an act of intimidation.

    He urged his colleagues not to succumb to the intimidation but go out to vote on 10th of June according to their conscience.

    Bago, while speaking at a media interactive session in Abuja Wednesday also said the statement credited to the Niger State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday was misrepresented.

    He said: “The call for open ballot voting during the election of the leadership of the National Assembly is crude, if the group behind it is serious, they should have asked that open ballot be adopted for the 2019 general election.

    “This agitation is pure mischief. If I may ask, who’s afraid of secret ballot?

    Read Also: 9th NASS: North-Central govs endorse Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    “If any contestants has the number and confident of victory, why the complaint over the system that is enshrined in our House rules and expecting the House to change its rule on the eve of election.

    “I will advise our members not to bow to intimidation”.

    Bago, who also denied reports that he has withdrawn from the race noted that reports credited to the Nigerians State APC Chairman that he (Bago) would not enjoy the support of the members elect from the State was not correct.

    “All the Chairman said was that the parry in the State will toe the Party line, which is ok.

    “What I will say is that it is 360 of us that would be on the floor on that day to vote,” he added.

  • Police arrest two for theft of pants

    The police in Lagos have arrested two men, Friday Emmanuel, 21, and Obiora Nwabueze, 29, for allegedly stealing female panties.

    The suspects were arrested by operatives of Satellite Division on April 20, under the Mile Two Bridge while fighting.

    It was gathered that a fight had broken between the men after Nwabueze failed to pay Emmanuel N30, 000 agreed upon for him to steal the pant.

    Read Also: Man charged with beating up policeman

    According to a statement by spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), when Emmanuel brought the pants, instead of paying him the agreed amount, Nwabueze attempted to take them by force and that caused a fight.

    “During interrogation, Emmanuel regretted listening to his friend Nwabueze, who was pestering him to get him female underwears he desperately needed to become rich.

    “Both suspects were Wednesday charged to Magistrate Court 23, at Mbah Road, Ajegunle, Lagos for conspiracy and stealing,” he said.

  • ‘Adult education centres will curb human trafficking in Edo’

    Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Gender Issues, Ms. Efosa Uyigue, has expressed confidence that the state government’s initiative in re-opening adult education centres across the state will reduce the incidence of girl-child trafficking in the state.

    Uyigue made the submission at the flag-off of sensitisation campaign on girl-child education in Esan North East and Esan West Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    The governor’s aide said, “I am impressed with the turn-out of women for the campaign and their enthusiasm to learn is very encouraging. This shows how eager the women are, as if they have been waiting for the opportunity to get an education.”

    She commended local council chairmen for their commitment to supporting the state government in reactivating adult learning centres in their council areas, adding that the turnout will translate to improved education outcomes.

    Read Also: Edo 2020: PDP, APC in battle royal

    Uyigue said the campaign will encourage more girls from rural areas to enroll freely in the adult education centres where they will also acquire knowledge to guide them against the antics of human traffickers.

    Chairman, Esan West LGA, Hon. Patrick Aguinede, said his administration is committed to supporting objectives of the initiative by improving the standard of the centres in the council area, which will enable more women in the area benefit from the laudable initiative of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

     

  • Unemployment: Nigeria needs skillful youths – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said that Nigeria at this point requires the youths to be highly skilful in order to solve the problem of unemployment, security and youth restiveness.

    The President, who was a Visitor at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), stated that the era of handing certificates to graduates without self-sustaining skills is no longer sustainable.

    Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Educationb (State), Prof. Anthony Anwuka, observed that the growth and establishment of new industries to absorb the graduates is rather too slow.

    According to him, “there is a need to re-double efforts in turning out graduates with self-sustaining, globally competitive skills and talents for the realization of national goals of building a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society, a united, strong and self-reliant nation.”

    He continued that, “our universities are also challenged to key into modern trends in Computing and Information Technology,    Cyber security, artificial intelligence, solar and alternative energies and modern biomedical technology, which is where the future is headed.”

    The President assured that, “on our part as government, we remain committed to changing the negative narratives of our universities by making effective and efficient policies that will place our higher education at the right pedestal”.