The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Turkey

  • TURKEY 0-3 NIGERIA: We lost to a better side, Menge admits

    After watching his team crumble 3-0 to Nigeria in their first group match of the ongoing ITTF World Team Championship, captain of Turkey, Gencay Menge believes their opponent have everything ahead of them.

    The 26-year-old told Sportinglife that having watched videos of the Nigerian team on youtube, he had thought he would win one of his matches, but he discovered that the Nigerians are talented particularly with their distinct style of play.

    “When I knew that we were going to play against Nigeria, I have been watching all their videos on youtube and I was confident going into the match but after losing the first two games, I lost concentration having discovered that they (Nigeria) are a very strong side,” Menge said.

    He, however, ruled out his team’s qualification from the group made up of India, Nigeria, Slovakia, Switzerland and Vietnam, saying, “I think what we can only fight for now is to finish in third position in the group. I don’t think we can be among the top two teams because we are a young team and we hope to improve in our next match,” he said.

  • Agbonlahor quits EPL for Turkey

    Agbonlahor quits EPL for Turkey

    Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is poised to join Turkish club Kayserispor.

    Both teams have opened talk over the move for the 29-year-old striker.

    Meanwhile, Villa manager Remi Grade has stated that he wants the experienced Nigerian-born striker to remain with the team beyond the winter transfer window.

    When asked if the Nigerian-born striker will still be with the team next week, Grade said: “I think so. When I arrived Gabby was injured and was not in training for long time. The time I spent discovering the team and players was not here. He has trained in the last week and seems better.

    “If he is in the right mood and okay physically, he could give us lift with goals.

    “Every player that is not playing is frustrated, you are a professional player, you want to play.”

    The forward has spent his entire career at Villa – making his debut win March 2006, scoring in a loss to Everton, but his time now looks to be nearing the end.

  • Hundreds of flights cancelled as Istanbul hit by heavy snow

    Hundreds of flights in and out of Turkey were cancelled for Thursday and Friday at Istanbul’s two airports after the city was blanketed by heavy snow.

    The weather condition also forced the closure of schools and brought chaos to the roads.

    Turkish Airlines cancelled 265 flights in and out of the main Ataturk airport and 37 at Sabiha Gokcen, Istanbul’s second airport.

    Budget airline Pegasus said it had cancelled 34 flights arriving or departing from Sabiha Gokcen.
    On Wednesday, city authorities said they had more than 1,000 vehicles and heavy machinery ready to keep roads open.

    They, however, warned residents against all but essential travel.

    More snowfall is forecast for much of Thursday.

    Ferries across the Bosphorus Strait bisecting Europe’s largest city were disrupted.

    Nevertheless, the waterway, the only maritime outlet for Russian oil and other commodities from the Black Sea, remained open to shipping.

  • EU backs Turkey’s migrant plan

    European Union states have backed an action plan with Turkey, which it is hoped will ease the flow of migrants to Europe.

    Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea this year, many of them travelling from Turkey, the BBC reports.

    The leaders agreed to speed up visa liberalisation talks for Turks if Ankara stems the influx and to “re-energise” Turkey’s accession dialogue.

    Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he felt “cautious optimism” over the deal.

    Meanwhile, a migrant thought to be Afghan was shot dead by a Bulgarian border guard after entering the country from Turkey late on Thursday.

    Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, left the Brussels talk on hearing the news.

    At Thursday’s summit in Brussels, European leaders agreed to:

    Accelerate visa liberalisation for Turks wanting to visit the EU’s borderless Schengen area – if Turkey complies with certain criteria.

    Turkey had also asked for €3bn (£2.2bn, $3.4bn) in aid, something German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU states were considering.

    Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said talks over the aid would continue with Turkish officials over the coming days.

    Mrs. Merkel will travel to Turkey at the weekend.

    “There is still a huge amount to do,” Mrs. Merkel said. “But you cannot say that we’ve achieved nothing.”

  • What Nigeria can learn from Turkey

    Despots are not born. They are made. History is replete with examples: Idi Amin Dada, Vlad III, Robert Mugabe, Kim Jong-Il, and many more. And according to a recent report by four senior British lawyers, President Recep Erdogan of Turkey has forced himself into the fold.

    The 95-page report was authored by Lord Woolf, the former lord chief justice, Sir Edward Garnier QC, the Conservative MP and former solicitor general, Prof Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC, the director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, and Sarah Palin, a barrister specializing in media law.

    According to the report, the corruption scandal which fingered then Prime Minister Erdogan and his cabinet members ignited the abuses. The scandal engulfed four principal government officers and their sons, and almost swept away Erdogan’s regime. But how did he survive the heat? He resorted to blackmail. Even though many officials were arrested during the scandal, he accused famous cleric, Fethullah Gülen of fuelling the crisis.  Thus, he immediately removed the prosecutors leading the investigations from their positions and reassigned 350 police officers, including many senior officers.

    The report said on 25 December 2013, the police refused to carry out orders for the arrest and detention of a further tranche of suspects and the prosecutor leading the second investigation was removed from the case. On the same day, the four ministers who were accused resigned from the Cabinet. Thousands of police and hundreds of public prosecutors, judges and civil servants, perceived by the Turkish government to be followers of the Hizmet movement, have since been dismissed or reassigned, and in some cases arrested and detained in custody.

    In September 2014, all charges against the suspects in the corruption investigation were dropped by the newly appointed public prosecutors. Mr Erdoðan attempted to deflect the accusations against him by ascribing them to Fethullah Gülen, and his followers in the state apparatus, mainly those in the police and the judiciary, and accusing them of an attempted coup d’état and of forming what he described as a “parallel structure” which had infiltrated the state to work on Mr Gülen’s behalf.

    Since December 2013, the report said, the government has taken unprecedented steps to exert executive control over Turkey’s judiciary, to interfere with and derail the corruption investigation, to stifle criticism in the media and on the internet and to purge supporters of the Hizmet movement from public life and to obstruct their humanitarian and educational institutions and business and professional associations. The government has brought the main institution responsible for the judiciary, the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, under its control by purging its members of anyone suspected of opposing the AKP government, including those believed to be supporters of the Hizmet movement and replacing them with loyal supporters. It has introduced a more restrictive internet law, and after leaked audio recordings supporting the corruption allegations emerged on Twitter and YouTube, blocked access to both sites throughout Turkey in the run up to local elections in March and April 2014 and the general election in 2015.

    The crackdown practically has its tentacle spread to all sectors in the country. Even members of the bench were not speared. In fact, two judges who released ‘suspects’ because they had no cause to do otherwise, where removed and branded terrorists. According to the report, on May 1, they were arrested and detained in custody by the Bakýrköy 2nd High Criminal Court on charges of “attempting to overthrow the Turkish government or hindering the government’s operation in part or full” and “being a member of an armed organisation”.

    Even the voice of the people, the media, was also attacked. The highpoint of this drama was the arrest of the editor of Today’s Zaman, the leading newspaper in the country. Deliberate attempts were made to gag the press. Any media practitioner or organisation that shows any independent spirit has itself to blame. Little wonder Turkey took the front seat among the league of countries that suppress press freedom.

    Other individuals also felt the cold firm grip of Erdogan, including members of the civil society. In fact, a young schoolboy that allegedly said uncomplimentary things about Caliph Erdogan was arrest and prosecuted!

    Of course Erdogan is doing this to get back at Gulen, the head of the Hizmet movement, a civil society movement consisting of a network of loosely connected individuals and religious, humanitarian and educational institutions. So he has not only called members of this group violent people, but has labelled it a terrorist organisation. And he is telling anyone who cares to listen to him, including Africans, and, if possible, Nigerians.

    But I know our people are wiser. Are we not witnesses of the benevolence of Hizmet and its affiliated organisations? Nigerian students have stood tall in international academic contests, particularly the world maths Olympiad, thanks to the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges. Hizmet-affiliated charity, Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, has tried to contribute to peace in the country by promoting interfaith dialogue and unity.

    Beyond this, Nigeria should learn from Turkey. Its present president, Erdogan, gained power through a popular mandate. And he initially kept faith with it. But he allowed his initial achievement to get into his head. Thus, he began to attack the very system that threw him up – democracy and the people. And he has taken the battle abroad. He not only called the bluff of the EU and other blocs, he is being accused of supporting international terrorism. And he is working very hard to confirm it.

     

    • Ibrahim writes from Lagos

     

  • Imo showcases potential in Turkey 

    Imo showcases potential in Turkey 

    Shortly after an economic summit in Owerri, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha led an entourage of farmers and industrialists to Turkey. The aim was not just to display the state’s business opportunities but also seal a partnership to launch its industrial plan. OKODILI NDIDI reports 

    They jetted off to Istanbul, Turkey shortly after a successful economic summit in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The trip was to implement the resolutions reached at the summit. No fewer than 120 people were on the trip to participate in a trade exhibition. Among them were farmers, industrialists and other stripes of small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs. The state governor, Rochas Okorocha led the delegation.

    Just like the State Economic Summit, the reason and focus of the mission was clear: to create a platform for interface between the Imo State business community and that of Turkey, to seek areas of mutual collaboration and partnership in industrialising the state.

    Before the Turkey trip, the state government had designed and concluded plans to build the largest single industrial park in Africa, so part of the reasons for the overseas trip was to solicit the cooperation and expertise of Turkish investors in realizing the highly capital intensive project.

    Also, it was intended that at the end of the Trade Exhibition in the Asian continent, the businessmen from Imo State, would have learnt how the economy of Turkey was spurned from recess to becoming one of the most viable in Asia, so as to learn and implement the secret to develop their state.

    Also at the Trade Exhibition, were businessmen from Abia state led by their Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and others from Akwa Ibom State, who were also searching for partnerships to better the economies of their states.

    Welcoming the delegations, the President of KONSAID, a Turkish business conglomerate spanning all sectors of the economy, Mr. Mr. Abdullah Basci said that the industrial revolution in Turkey started 20 years ago by a group of young and determined businessmen and industrialists, which eventually evolved into the successful business conglomerate that is celebrated in the entire Asia continent.

    He assured that the Turkish business community will partner with the states in various areas of interest, like industrial, Agricultural and Tourism sector.

    He said, the trade exhibition is organised annually to bring investors from around the world together to discuss areas of possible collaboration.

    Governor Okorocha, while addressing the Turkish investors at a dinner, called on interested Turkish investors to take advantage of the abundant mineral resources in Imo and the proposed Industrial Park to invest in the state.

    He stated his administration will continue to build a robust business relationship with the Turkish business community in order to learn from the economic achievements of the country.

    According to him, the business trip was part of his administration’s plan to industrialise the state in the next four years, adding that, “in Imo state today we are building an enabling environment to attract and encourage direct foreign investments. We have a harmonised tax system and reduced the cost of doing business in the state, aside from other incentives which cannot be resisted, including the huge mineral and human resources”.

    He continued that, “my administration has adopted the industry! Industry!!Industry!!! Job! Job!!Job!!! Slogan to show our direction and commitment to the rapid industrialization of the state and this visit is in pursuit of that policy. We have brought our business community here to share ideas with their Turkish counterpart and most importantly attract investors to the state.

    “This resolve became necessary as a result of the dwindling oil fortunes, which has forced most of the states in Nigeria to look for alternative funding. In Imo State we have one of the best soil for agriculture, apart from the abundant mineral resources.

    His Abia State counterpart said that the state delegation were in Turkey to see possible areas of revamping the industrial sector of the state, especially the manufacturing sector in Abe, which he said can be turned into huge income earner for the state.

    The Acting Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, Ibrahim Issa, assured the Turkish investors of the friendly business environment created by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which he urged them to leverage on.

    He said that the current change going on in Nigeria, has repositioned the country as the destination of foreign investors coming to Africa, adding that, “with what the current administration of President Buhari is doing, Nigeria is now repositioned as an investment haven and Trade Exhibitions like this will unlock the opportunities for foreign investors to interact with the Nigerian business community to see ways of building mutual economic tiers”.

    The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, represented by the Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Emmanuel Enoidem, appealed to the Turkish investors to visit the state and avail themselves the opportunity to invest in the oil and gas sector and other untapped potentials of the state.

    After the opening ceremonies, the members of the delegation were taken to several exhibition stands where they met with manufacturers, businessmen and real estate developers. At one of the stands, where agricultural produce packaging machines where showcased, majority of the visitors took interest on how to import the machines to Nigeria and save farmers the trouble of preserving their produce.

    A member of the delegation and former Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibe, said that the visit has broadened the scope of the businessmen and will impact on the way they carry out their businesses.

    He said that, “this visit is certainly a solid step towards the industrialization of Imo State. We have had the opportunity to interact with the industrialists from Turkey on how to set up cottage industries and the cost. Already most of them have indicated interest to visit Nigeria and we are ready to continue the discussions from there.

    “We are indeed grateful to our visionary Governor for this initiative and we are going to deploy whatever experience we garner to industrialize our state”.

    Another member of the delegation and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, stated that the Lawmakers are poised to make enabling laws that will fast track the proposed industrial revolution of the state, haven seen how it was achieved in Turkey.

    An industrialist who was also part of the delegation, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, said that such exhibition is imperative to encourage industrialization of the various states and move them away from a mono economy and dependence on Federal Allocation.

    He said, “What the governor is doing is good for the state, especially the business community. Industrialisation of Imo state will certainly transform the state by creating wealth and job opportunities and I think this is how it starts. For instance, Turkey 20 years ago was still struggling to survive but that is no longer the story today, so with knowledge and commitment and the right leadership, like what the Governor is doing, Imo State will get there sooner than expected.

  • Edo: Customs destroy 600 cartons of frozen poultry products

    Edo: Customs destroy 600 cartons of frozen poultry products

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit Zone C, on Saturday destroyed 600 cartons of smuggled frozen turkey and chicken in Benin, Edo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the NCS Comptroller of the zone, Mr Victor Dimka, saying in a statement that the items were seized on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, along the Benin-Ekiadolor road in Edo.

    “The duty paid value (DPV) of the items are N5.76 million and the items were destroyed at customs house destruction site, in compliance with Federal Government policy on importation of frozen products (chicken and turkey).’’

  • Turkey detains 22 IS suspects

    Turkey detains 22 IS suspects

    Turkish police detained 15 Islamic State (IS) suspects in Ankara and another seven in southern Turkey on Monday according to media report.

    The report said that the Turkish police raided several houses in Hacibayram District, Ankara, where the households of the IS members were reportedly located.

    It said the police also detained seven suspected IS members in Mersin province in southern Turkey.

    Monday’s operations were part of a series of such kind since a week ago after a suspected IS suicide bomber killed 32 people in southern Suruc of Sanliurfa province in southeastern Turkey bordering neighbouring Syria.

    Over 600 suspects have been detained since Friday in the police’s anti-terror operations against the IS, outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front.

    On Thursday, a Turkish soldier in southern region bordering Syria was killed by gun fire opened from across the border.

    Turkey has carried out its first ever military operations against the IS on the Syrian side of the border and destroyed several IS targets.

  • Man docked for alleged theft of turkey, sausage

    A 22-year-old unemployed, Emeka Ifyjerike, was yesterday charged before a Badagry Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a carton of turkey and some sausage valued at N9,500.

    The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Innocent Uko told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 7 at about 4pm at Olowololowo Market at Morogbo area of Badagry.

    Uko said the accused stole the carton of turkey and sausage from the complainant, Mrs Bola Osan at her shop.

    “The accused went to the shop and when he noticed that no one was there, he took a carton of turkey and some sausage from the shop.

    “Before he could run away with it, the complainant saw him and he was caught with the help of some people,” he said.

    Uko noted that the offence contravened Section 285.

    Counsel to the accused, Mr Ayo Makun, pleaded with the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.

    In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 with a surety, who must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for August 12.

     

  • Chemstar expands to Turkey, Ghana

    PAINT manufacturers, Chemstar Paint Industry, said it has extended its operations to Ghana and Turkey.

    Its Group Managing Director, Remi Awode, made this known during the firm’s yearly GMD/CE Annual Merit Awards at its premises in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb.

    He also said the firm would take its products to other parts of Africa and become a pan-African brand.

    He said the quality of the products of the firm has made it the choice of both corporate and individual customers in the country and abroad.

    He noted that the company started 20 years ago from a room and parlour with just two workers, adding that the company has grown, producing over 27 brands of paints with over 1,000 workers.

    “We have taken the business to Ghana and Turkey. We are not resting on our oars as we intend to become a preferred pan-African brand.

    “I have passion for the industry. I studied Industrial Chemistry and I worked with a paints company for about two years, where I developed interest in paints production. I love what I’m doing here. The company is also blessed with well-qualified and motivated staff. So we work as one big family,” he said.

    He lauded the workers for their commitment, hard work and dedication to duty, adding that without these qualities, the firm would not have gone this far.

    Awode said some workers  excelled in the last financial year. The awards came in categories: Category One was for staff members who served  for 10 years.

    Fifteen staff smiled home with  LED TV sets, chest-sized refrigerator and cash prizes.

    Category Two has two staff members who served for 15 years. They went home with a DVD home-theatre system, an LED TV set, a refrigerator and cash prizes.