The Nation Newspaper

Tag: warns

  • Uduaghan warns civil servants, contractors

    DELTA State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday warned employees of the state government, contractors and other officials in the line of service delivery to stop acts scuttling his administration’s people-oriented programmes or face the consequence.

    Speaking at the Iwere Kingdom 2013 Annual Thanksgiving Service held at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Olu palace ground, Warri, he said his administration had done a lot to improve the welfare of the people, but some unpatriotic personnel and contractors were undermining such efforts.

    The governor said his administration established the Urban Mass Transit Scheme to provide comfortable and affordable means of transportation to commuters and was subsidising the cost per passenger by 50 per cent.

    He said information at his disposal indicated that some agents, who were collecting subsidy from the government, had imposed unreasonable amount on the drivers, thereby depriving passengers of the subsidy.

    Uduaghan said he has directed the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ben Ibakpa, to probe the allegation and ensure that the agents violating the memorandum of understanding with government are brought to book.

    The governor also frowned at the attitude of medical personnel, including nurses and doctors as well as teachers, who despite the free medical and education schemes at state owned-hospitals and schools, are still collecting illegal levies and fees from patients and parents.

    He warned such unpatriotic and corrupt personnel and service providers to desist from their unscrupulous acts, stressing that his administration would not close its eyes to any infraction of its policies and programmes.

    Uduaghan also took a swipe at contractors, who after jobs are awarded to them, go ahead to sell such contracts or abandon them after collecting mobilisation fees.

    He said to ensure a good society, people should do what is expected of them.

    The governor hailed the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 11 and the people of Iwere kingdom for remembering to thank God always.

    Rev. Lucky Eruebe of the Church of God Mission, Effurun, said: “There is always a blessing when you give God thanks,” adding: “We must follow due process for our thanksgiving to be meaningful and acceptable in the sight of God.”

  • ATCON warns against backlash of NCC’s policy

    The Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has warned the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to be careful in the implementation of its open access model for broadband, warning that a similar policy of the regulator a few years ago led to the near-extinction of internet service providers (ISPs) in the country.

    Its President, Lanre Ajayi said whenever a project is to be executed, the first step is that study of its environment impact assessment (EIA), the result of which guides the people implementing the project.

    Ajayi said the NCC should undertake the impact assessment of the broadband policy on the operators so that it does not muscle existing service providers in the segment of the industry. He said there are usually a point of difference between the ‘good’ intentions of government and the backlash of the intentions.

    According to him, a policy of the NCC a few years ago that stopped ISPs from operating at a particular band depleted the number players in the industry from 92 to less than 30, adding that the policy of the NCC may also have similar ripple effect in the industry.

    “Have we done the socio-economic impact assessment the policy? I think we should do the socio economic impact of the policy before we jump into its implementation,” Ajayi warned.

    Under the open access model which the NCC intends to implement, a total of seven companies called InfraCos will be licensed to provide broadband services in the six geo-political zones of the country will one of the InfraCos will operate in Lagos.

    NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah, said the government will provide funding to the InfraCos based on their business plans.

    But some players in the sector say it is going to lead unfair practices.

    One of the stakeholders in the industry who spoke on condition of anonymity lamented that the NCC will be spending public funds on the companies the regulator will be licensing to provide broadband services to the citizens.

    “When you deploy public funds to a private investor, such funds will be used to have undue advantage over the players in the industry,” he said.

    But the EVC said there was nothing esoteric about government offering subsidy to investors, arguing that the earliest players in the mobile telephone services enjoyed tax holidays for about five years, adding that even after the expiration of the five years, some of them were not ready to pay.

    Juwah said since the project for which subsidy was being provided was for the public good, there is nothing wrong with providing such an incentive, arguing that fears of the players in the segment was baseless.

  • Oyo traditional council warns Ife

    The Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi) has warned chiefs in Ile-Ife, Osun State, to refrain from making statements capable of endangering the co-existence of the people and traditional institutions in Yorubaland.

    Three Ife chiefs – the Eredunmi of Ife, Matthew Akinyemi; Obadio of Ife Farounbi Fatola and Iyanfoworogi of Ife Adebola Fatunmise – told reporters that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s comment that Ile-Ife was part of the Oyo Empire was an abberration.

    Prime Minister of the Oyo-Mesi and the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Ayoola Layinka, yesterday in Oyo town, said it was unfortunate that Ife chiefs could attack the Alaafin.

    He said: ‘’What the chiefs ought to have done is search for the public document, which had become sacrosanct having spanned over 30 years without any controversy, rather than making derogatory, parochial and unfounded comments against Oba Adeyemi.

    “Were the laid-down constitutional procedures duly passed through? Was the promotion approved by the House of Assembly? Are the ministries of Justice and Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters aware or instrumental to the overnight upgrade? When did the installation and coronation take place?

    “Also, since the Eredunmi of Ife now claims to be an oba of the whole Ife Kingdom, where then is the Ooni’s domain? Since it is indisputably on record that the position of keeper of the temple and groves did not exist during the reign of Oba Adesoji Aderemi as the Ooni of Ife, how then did the strange title originate?

    “Hence, these posers need to be urgently addressed by the state government in order not to ridicule or portray it as a laughing stock before the entire world.’’

    Layinka urged the Ooni of Ife and Eredunmi of Ife to clear the air on the contradictions between them on the position of the Oranyan as the Ooni of Ife.

    He said: “While the Ooni insisted that Oranyan was the sixth Ooni of Ife, Eredunmi told the world in his advertorial that Oranyan was on the fourth list of Ooni’s roll calls in Ile Ife. We want to know from them who is saying the truth.’’

    On the son of Ooduduwa, Okanbi, who gave birth to seven children, Layinka said: ‘’What the Ooni of Ife is just admitting had been consistently stressed overtime by the Alaafin. But the Ooni has failed to tell the world which of Okanbi’s son was his father.’’

  • 2015: Cleric warns against external agents of disintegration

    THE Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Archbishop Metropolitan, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, yesterday warned politicians against actions that can cause Nigeria’s disintegration.

    The cleric noted that Nigerian politicians need to avoid actions that tend to support foreigners who expect the country to fall apart.

    Rev. Okoh spoke at the Standing Committee meeting of the Bishops’ Conference of the Church holding in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    The cleric also called for the disbanding of the national body of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    He said the methods the union adopted to press for its demands was immoral.

    Rev. Okoh accused ASUU of enriching itself.

    The cleric cautioned politicians against working for external detractors who he said predicted the disintegration of Nigeria in 2015.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure honesty and transparency in its responsibility.

    Rev. Okoh said: “INEC should rise above regional, ethnic, religious partisanship and deliver to Nigerians the truth, the whole truth and nothing short of that.”

    The cleric insisted that despite the ongoing power play, leaders must maintain the unity of the country.

    He urged the youths to avoid thuggery and other vices whenever they participate in politics ahead of 2015.

    Rev. Okoh said: “We make a sincere appeal to politicians as they plan, disagree, challenge one another and engage in high political manoeuvring, to ensure that the entity called Nigeria is spared from harm.

    “We should not walk into the traps of our external detractors who have already predicted a break-up of the country in 2015.

    “We appeal to our youths to take part in politics but steer clear of political thuggery. You should not allow yourselves to be used for assassination, arson, kidnapping, maiming, looting, intimidation of opponents.”

  • ASUU warns Suswam over utterances

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam to be mindful of his utterances on the strike.

    Suswam, when hosting the National Union of Benue State Students last week, said the ASUU strike was becoming politised, adding that it was no longer an agitation for the improvement of the lecturers’ welfare.

    But ASUU denied any political connection to its strike, saying there was nothing political in asking for the full implementation of a four-year-old agreement.

    The union said if at all, it was the Federal Government through its propaganda machinery that was politicising the issue by refusing to implement the agreement it signed with the union.

    A statement by the ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, made available to reporters, urged Governor Suswam to guard his utterances and limit his comments to the mandate given him by the Federal Government.

    Ajiboye quoted Suswam as saying: “ASUU has no business continuing with this strike because the Federal Government has met its demands. There is nothing on the list of their demands that government has not touched.”

    According Dr. Ajiboye, ASUU has a legitimate agreement with the Federal Government since 2009, which the government has refused to fully implement.

    He asked the leaders to demonstrate the love they have for the country by withdrawing their children from private universities in the country and abroad and stop travelling abroad for medical treatment, adding that they should use the health facilities in the country.

    The ASUU leader said as members of the intellectual community, they were surprised that the leader of the Federal Government’s Needs Assessment Implementation Committee was losing sight of the reality that there was a difference between an agreement and a demand.

    Reiterating the resolve of the body to get full implementation before going back to the classroom, Ajiboye said ASUU would not allow the Federal Government to mortgage public education.

    He said the political class has been selfish.

    Ajiboye said it was laughable that Governor Suswam could ask ASUU to consider the nation and students when it was ASUU that was fighting to save the nation from maladministration.

    “Are Nigerians heating up the polity when they say roads are bad, health facilities are in comatose and that politicians are sucking the nation dry? Are these not visible everywhere? How can a governor say we should soft-pedal and stop heating up the polity?

    “Our leaders should show leadership and faith in the country by withdrawing their children in foreign and private universities. Governors and other political office holders must also show Nigerians that they can vouch for the quality of health facilities and roads by patronising our hospitals and travelling by road. The roads are so bad that it has become fashionable for our leaders to buy jets. Nelson Mandela was ill and was treated in a Pretoria hospital. Our Governors, President’s wife, Senate President and other political office holders travel out to treat Malaria and undergo medical check up. Yet they do media hype, claiming they have revived the health sector.

    “People die on a daily basis due to insecurity. Who is then heating up the polity? We are patriots in ASUU. We believe Nigeria must work and our children deserve the same quality education, health, and roads, which our leaders and their children have access to abroad, using our collective patrimony,” the union boss said.

  • U. S. warns citizens against travel to North before Sept. 11

    U. S. warns citizens against travel to North before Sept. 11

    Worried about likely violent protests ahead of the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2011 attacks on the twin towers and the World Trade Centre in New York, the United States has issued travel alerts to it citizens.

    “Because of safety and security concerns, the U.S. mission in Nigeria is enforcing a restricted travel policy for U.S. Embassy personnel to the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara,” the US Embassy in Nigeria posted on its website yesterday.

    “U.S. citizens should be mindful of this and consider taking similar steps when planning travel,” added the online statement.

    The embassy said the restriction is to prevent American citizens from being hurt in the event of “spontaneous demonstrations” that could occur on the 9/11 anniversary.

    “Spontaneous demonstrations are also likely to occur in these and possibly other areas within Nigeria in response to heightened tensions in the Middle East, as well as the lead up to September 11,” said the statement.

    “US citizens should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” it added.

    “US citizens should also remain vigilant around churches, mosques, other places of worship, and locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, markets, malls, and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, particularly as the anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches.”

    The North is known to stage demonstrations against policies considered anti-Islam. The latest was the demonstration in Kano last month, against the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi by the military.

  • 2014: Osun deputy governor warns against thuggery

    Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori has urged parents to ensure that their children are not used as thugs in next year’s governorship election.

    She spoke at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital, at a campaign rally for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election.

    The rally was organised by the Osun Barbers/Hairdressers and Cosmetologists’ Association (OBAHCA) in collaboration with the De Raufs group.

    Condemning thuggery in politics, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori urged members of the association to always conduct themselves peacefully and reiterated the administration’s commitment to creating jobs.

    She urged youths to take full advantage of employment opportunities created by the government in agriculture, culture and tourism.

    The deputy governor said: “I urge our people to shine their eyes well during the forthcoming governorship election and vote for Aregbesola. Before this administration came on board, the state was not peaceful and people were living in a brutish. Now, the state is peaceful and residents can sleep with their two eyes closed.

    “I encourage you to form cooperative societies, so that you can access government’s loans. I pray that your association will prosper and you will all experience progress individually.”

    De Raufs Director-General Worldwide Comrade Amitolu Shittu said the group would continue to support the Aregbesola administration’s policies.

    The State President, Mrs. Funmilayo Taiwo, said the group, with its over 5,000 members across the 31 local government areas, would canvass and vote for Aregbesola.

  • Ohanaeze warns branches against misrepresentation

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned its affiliates which make statements on its behalf without clearance.

    The group spoke during an Ime Obi meeting in which members brainstormed on issues affecting Ndigbo.

    The President-General, Gair Igariwey, deplored the situation whereby branches issue inciting statements, which they credit to the national body.

    He said: “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo branches in Kano and Lagos states are particularly guilty of this.

    “We have resolved that a circular should be issued that all national issues regarding Ndigbo must come from the national secretariat.

    “There was misrepresentation of facts by the leadership of Ohanaeze Kano branch on the recent bombings in Kano that killed some Igbo.

    “Members were amazed at the exaggeration of the number of Ndigbo killed as claimed by the Ohanaeze leadership in Kano.

    “Contrary to what was being dished out by the Ohanaeze leadership in Kano, many other ethnic groups were killed in the bombings.

    “The Yoruba, he said, were the next that suffered heavily in the bombings as well as Edo and Kano indigenes.”

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday presented a cheque of N2 million to the Anambra State Chairman, Chris Eluemunor, for accommodation and other logistics.

    Obi thanked the group for the sacrifice in promoting the Igbo cause but appealed to it not to relent even in the face of great odds.

    He called on all Igbo sons and daughters of taxable age to contribute to the running of the organisation.

    “I suggest that everybody pays the annual levy of N100, while the rich ones should contribute according to their riches,” the governor said.

    He added that the time was ripe for Ohanaeze to chart a new course for the people by evolving a plan that will include getting a permanent secretariat.

  • Oyo lawmaker warns Yerima

    Senator Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State has been warned to halt his support for the controversial underage marriage bill and focus on bills that will bring development to the country.

    The warning came yesterday from the lawmaker representing Ibadan North in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Segun Olaleye.

    Olaleye spoke when members of the Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA) visited him.

    The controversial bill is in the Senate and championed by Yerima. If passed into law, the marriageable age for girls will be reduced.

    Olaleye recalled that it was the same Senator Yerima who introduced sharia law, when he held sway as Zamfara State governor.

    The lawmaker said: “Yerima made the headlines for the wrong reasons when he married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl.

    “And now, he is about to smuggle this immoral act into the constitution. What young girls need today is qualitative education and not early marriage.”

    He also urged the National Assembly to thread the path of honour by thrashing the bill and focus on how it could reduce poverty through development-oriented legislation.

    Olaleye said: “Section 29 (4b) of the 1999 Constitution already gives enough protection to young children and any attempt to go further will encourage people to take advantage of young girls.”

    The project Director of HAPSTA, Yemi Ademowo, , called on Olaleye to appeal to lawmakers from the state in the National Assembly not to follow the decision to legalise the bill.

    He said the organisation had collected over 5,000 signatures from people who are opposed to the bill at Ibadan North Local Government.

     

  • LMC warns match commissioners

    LMC warns match commissioners

    The League Management Company (LMC) has stated that match commissioners were wrong to prevent accredited journalists from covering Glo Premier League matches.

    Sports journalists were barred from two match venues of the premier league last weekend on the orders of the match commissioners at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan and the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri when 3SC entertained Dolphins and Heartland played at home to Warri Wolves.

    When the journalists at Owerri and Ibadan asked why, the two match commissioners stood their ground and only allowed the players and top officials of the four clubs to enter. The referees, ball boys and the medical officials, were, of course allowed in, while others were shut out.

    A top official of the LMC who spoke to SportingLife in anonymity said no match commissioner received orders to bar any accredited journalists from covering league matches, be it closed door or open encounters.

    He said the match commissioners should not have carried out such actionss without consulting the LMC.

    “I am shocked to hear the information you have just told me. It is shocking to me that match commissioners do not know their duties again.

    “I see no reason why they should disallow journalists from covering league games because it is closed door.

    “They are supposed to meet with the media officers of the punished clubs so that he could help identify true journalists through the normal accreditation tags or their press identity cards.

    “It is disheartening that at this stage match commissioners could make such mistake. They ought to ask questions that they are not clear about.

    “I am going to prepare a letter that will be circulated round to all the match commissioners reminding them of their duties and also to tell them not to disturb identified journalists from doing their job,” the source revealed to SportingLife.

    3SC and Heartland were handed three-game closed door bans and started their suspension last weekend during the Week 22 clash against Dolphins and Warri Wolves.

    The game ended goalless in Ibadan while the Naze Millionaires pipped Warri Wolves 1-0 at Owerri.

    Both clubs are serving bans because of the unruly behaviour of their fans and officials during their Week 20 ties against Kwara United and Enyimba which ended 1-1 in Ibadan and 0-1 in favour of the People’s Elephant at Owerri.

    Ajibade Babalade, Philip Asuquo (3SC) and Promise Nwachukwu (Heartland) were also placed on six-match bans for their alleged involvement in the ensuing violence after both matches.