Author: Isah Mukhtar

Awards

By Franklin Ohaegbu

Lagos, June 23, 2018 (NAN) The organisers of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards have commended the members of the Super Eagles for their victory over the European World Cup debutant, Iceland.

Ahmed Musa scored on the dot of the 49th minute and doubled the Super Eagles’ lead at the 75th minute to confirm Nigeria’s superiority over Iceland.

Shina Philips, the initiator of the awards who spoke from Volgograd Arena in Russia, congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, Amaju Pinnick and the football-loving people of Nigeria.

“”We congratulate the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Government of the nation.

“”We commend the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick and the Super Eagles crew members who have worked tirelessly from the qualification stages to bring the Super Eagles to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

““We are proud of the general performance of the team and especially of Ahmed Musa who was voted the Nigeria Pitch Awards Striker of the Year in 2014,’’ Philips said.

According to him, since then, Musa has remained consistent in his performance both for the country and club.

Philips added that Musa has now become Nigeria’s highest goal scorer in the World Cup with 4 goals and the only Nigerian player to score a brace in two World Cup appearances,’’ Philips said.

The Nigeria Pitch Awards held its maiden award ceremony in Calabar in 2013.

Winners on the platform are decided by votes cast by over 100 sport editors across the country in a process coordinated by SIAO Partners, a firm of accountants and auditors managed by Ituah Ighodalo, FCA. (NAN)

FOE/ENN/YAZ
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

DG sacks NAFDAC consultants over anomalies, irregularities

Revocation

By Biola Lawal

Abuja, June 22, 2018 (NAN) Directpr-General of  NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has revoked the appointments of NAFDAC consultants over allegations of anomalies and irregularities

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, Prof. Adeyeye noted that the activities of the consultants were detrimental to the Federal Government’s ease of doing business policy.

“The operations of the NAFDAC Appointed Consultants in recent times have been fraught with a lot of challenges and irregularities, which militated against the very purpose of their appointment  i.e. easing regulatory business of the industry with NAFDAC.

“NAFDAC, in this new dispensation under my watch, cannot allow these anomalies to continue,’’ Prof. Adeyeye declared.

“Therefore, I have directed immediate revocation of the appointments of NAFDAC Consultants,’’ the Director-General said.

Prof. Adeyeye said that industries and business organization with necessary dealings with NAFDAC should, henceforth, deal directly with the Agency through its designated officers.

“Each business management interfacing with NAFDAC especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s)/Academic Consultants and company Regulatory Officers can interface with our staff,’’

She directed NAFDAC officials to “ensure strict compliance,’’ with the revocation directive. (NAN)

BL/YAZ

Police arrest Pastor, 2 others over ritual killing of 19-year old girl

Ritual

Lokoja, June 22, 2018 ( NAN) Police in Kogi State have arrested a cleric, Oluwasegun Aturu and two others over the suspected ritual killing of a 19-year-old commercial sex worker, Miss Mercy Moses.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP William Aya confirmed the arrest of the suspects to newsmen in Lokoja on Friday.

He said that Aturu who claimed to be the shepherd in charge of Voice of Canaan Temple, Cherubim and Seraphim Aladura Church, Ozuri, in Adavi Local Government Area of the state was arrested on June 19.

He was arrested alongside Samuel Oluwasegun and Abdulmumini Yakubu, all of Ozuri area in the local government, he said.

According to the police, both Oluwasegun and Yakubu were said to have at about 10 pm on June 11 gone to a popular brothel in the council area to pick the late girl to an unknown place.

They were said to have conveyed the deceased out of the brothel on a motorcycle after exchanging pleasantries with the manager of the brothel simply identified as Mohammed.

“The two men then approached one Mercy Moses, one of the commercial sex workers’ residents in the brothel. After discussing with Mercy, she was seen being taken away by the men on a motorcycle.

“When after two days she did not return, the brothel manager, Mohammed reported at a nearby Police Station at Adavi from where the case was taken up by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lokoja,” the statement said.

He said that police investigation later led to the arrest of Pastor Otaru, Oluwasegun and Yakubu but they all denied the knowledge of Mercy’s whereabouts.

“However, following diligent interrogation by the Homicide Detectives of the State CID, both Oluwasegun and Yakubu opened up to the gory details of how they were hired by the pastor to bring a female for him.

“They confessed that Otaru hired them to bring a female for ritual purposes, promising them N700,000.

“The arrested suspects thereafter led the investigators to an area called Uhodo in Ogaminana area of Adavi where the torso of the remains of Mercy Moses was dug out from a shallow grave,” he said.

According to him, police in a well scripted move was able to track and arrest Pastor Otaru who had since the arrest of his accomplices, fled the neighborhood.

He said that the exhumed remains of the victim were deposited at Okene General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. (NAN)
KKA /MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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Company urges FG to ban importation of corn starch

Starch

By Kudirat Musa

Abuja, June 20, 2018 (NAN) A company, Harvest Feed and Agro Processing Limited (HFAP), has urged the Federal Government to encourage cassava starch producers in the country by stopping the importation of corn starch.

Mr Goke Adeyemi, the chairman of HFAP, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the move would that would encourage local production and boost industrialisation.

Adeyemi said that government needed to protect local industries that produced cassava starch, and stop those  importing corn starch into Nigeria to the detriment of local production.

“The corn starch is going to affect the sell of our product which is not what we desire.

“Nigeria is the leading cassava producer in the world, producing a third more than Brazil and almost double the production capacity of Thailand and Indonesia which is opportunity for us to stop corn starch importation.

“We have enough raw materials to produce edible cassava starch for local use and exportation to earn foreign exchange but government need to help local producers.

“Cassava has the potential to industrialise Nigeria more than any other product if its potentials are properly harnessed; it is a key instrument for job creation and catalyst for development,’’ he said.

The chairman commended Fadama III AF for its intervention in the agricultural sector and described its  partnership with off-takers as wonderful.

“We are into cassava processing into edible starch, we have wonderful relationship with Osun State Fadama, which they cultivated 300 hectares of cassava.

“The Fadama in Osun state are well organised and on top of their games; they supervise their farmers properly and facilitated interface between the off-takers and farmers very well, we have seamless relationship,’’ he said.

Adeyemi, however, urged the Fadama National office to increase the farm sizes allocated to farmers because it was too small to meet off-takers demand.

“Fadama should develop commercial farmers, like those that can go for 10-50 hectares.

“It will help industrious users like us in HFAP rather than just smallholders farmers that are doing less than five hectares.

“Though the farmers that are doing less than five hectares are also good for food market, but Fadama needs more to help both farmers and off-takers,’’ he said.

Adeyemi added that Fadama should work on getting the farmers more working tools like tractors, harvesters, planters, plough among others rather than depends on hoes and cutlass.

“This is the only way the youth can be interested in the agriculture and get involved fully in farming.

“We can go into partnership with Fadama in this area of agricultural equipment, but not in a short term relationship, it must be a long time relationship like five years, such that we can recap our equipment in a very short time.

“We started with Fadama sometimes last year by off-taking cassava from their farmers and we are able to solve transportation issue by off-taking directly from their farms instead of waiting for them to bring their produce to us.

Adeyemi added that “the challenges we encounter sometime is that of price issue; cassava price has started dropping from what we signed with them.

“Even though we agreed on a certain amount but the price we agreed to pay was too high compared to present market price, we had to do some negotiation again.”

He added that the company was also involved with cassava farmers in Ogun.

“We provided inputs to the farmers and they do the farming and after a year, we buy from them and deduct whatever we had spent on them.

“My challenge is that our farmers still need enough education because there is a lot of side selling.

Adeyemi said that the company is planning to go into farm ownership which they would allow farmers to cultivate under an agreement.

According to him, the new approach would give the company more control on output.(NAN)

ROK/GOM/MZA
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Maharazu Ahmed

Substandard
By Biola Lawal
Abuja, June 19, 2018 (NAN) The National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is partnering with Benin Republic’s business community as part of efforts to prevent exportation of substandard and falsified products to Nigeria.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC made this known at a Business Forum held in Cotonou in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The forum was also attended by the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mr Kayode Oguntuase.

Adeyeye highlighted NAFDAC’s processes and registration requirements for certification of products by the agency.

She said that NAFDAC’s guidelines for registration would be translated into French language in order to promote Federal Government’s ease of doing business with Benin Republic and other francophone countries.

She said that the business forum became necessary as part of the organisation’s efforts to ensure that drugs, food and cosmetics products billed for export to Nigeria met required standards.

The NAFDAC boss noted that with the existence of ECOWAS treaties governing trade and investment across West Africa, discussions at the forum would makes it easier to do business with neighbouring countries.

She called for harmonisation of products registration process across Africa to standardise product quality on the continent, adding that such meetings were necessary to promote trade between West African nations and Africa as a whole.

Responding, Mr Houssou Epiphone, the Head of the food and drug regulatory body in Benin Republic urged the D-G of NAFDAC to “do everything possible to set up the machinery that will facilitate trade between Benin and Nigeria’’.

Epiphone noted the difficulties encountered by his country’s businessmen during registration process, suggested some initiatives, including signing of MOU with NAFDAC to ease registration of products and create framework for further meetings.

Mr Soule Yacoubou, the Vice President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Benin Republic, led a strong representation of businessmen and women to the forum. (NAN)
BL/KOO/MZA/GY
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Edited by Kelvin Okonzua/ Ahmed Maharazu/Grace Yussuf

Muslims

Aledare Akinwale

Lokoja, June 15, 2018 (NAN) Chief Peter Akefe, a politician and philanthropist, has congratulated Muslim faithful across the nation on the occasion of the Eid el Fitri.

Akefe, who spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, on Friday, said the celebration was a time to show love to one another.

The philanthropist said he was optimistic that the end of the holy month would usher in good things to the state and the nation at large.

He noted that this year’s Eid was an occasion to reflect on the importance of religious tolerance and to recognise the positive role that religion had played in ensuring peaceful co-existence.

Akefe prayed God to use the just concluded prayers and fasting to wipe away all the problems of our nation and bring allow peace to reign in the country.

He congratulated all Muslims; urging them to continue to ensure peaceful coexistence with the adherents of other religions and to continue to pray for the prosperity of the nation. (NAN)

WAL/YEMI

Workers
By Dada Ahemed
Lokoja, June 15, 2018 (NAN) A cleric, Malam Musa Bello, has advised workers in Kogi  to always make alternative financial provision  while in service to avoid the  consequences of non payment of their salaries.

He gave the advice on Friday while preaching to Muslims who turned out  to observe the special prayer commemorating the  Eid-el-Fitr  at the Gadumo praying ground in Lokoja.

Bello noted that many of the state’s  workers who claimed that their salaries had not been paid for  months had tough time coping  with the reality of their situation because they failed to save for the rainy  day.

“ As a worker, begin to save part of your salary  so that if your salary is no longer forthcoming as and when due, you can fall back on something,’’ he said.

Bello also called on the workers not to rely on their  civil service job alone but venture into other profitable vocations  such as farming to augment their salaries.

The Islamic scholar further  called on Muslim workers in the state to be close  to Allah, saying  only Him has the permanent  solution to their problems.

He also called on them to allow the lessons of the  Ramadan to permeate their lives and  in their relationship  with other members of the society  irrespective of  their affiliations.

The cleric counselled Muslims to eschew immorality and toe the path of moral rectitude to seek the favour of Allah on the Day of Judgment.

He described fasting as not just one of the five pillars of Islam but also a lesson to  rich Muslims to enable them feel the pangs of hunger and motivate them to assist the needy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many Muslims clad in new attire  turned up for the two-rakat prayer   and were seen exchanging pleasantries at the end of the religious exercise.(NAN)
DUA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

INEC
Lokoja, June 13, 2018 ( NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says  it has  suspended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in some communities in Bassa and Dekina Local Government Areas of Kogi.

The state’s  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam,  who announced this during a press conference in Lokoja on Wednesday,  blamed the development on persistent violent clashes within  the affected communities.

Apam also disclosed that the commission has had cause to suspend the exercise in Omala Local Government sometimes  this year for similar reason

He said that the communities where the exercise was  being put on hold were unsafe for  INEC staff to work there.

“ We believe that the security agencies and traditional rulers are aware of these security breaches and are taking steps to bring them to an end,” Apam said.

According to him, a quick return of normalcy to the communities will enable INEC officials to go and capture the particulars of eligible voters and replace lost voter cards.

The commissioner,  however, said that 245,195 new voters have been registered in the state since the commencement of  CVR in April last year.

Apam said that the new registrants were made up of 123,877 males and 121,318 female while the commission had also treated 9,774 applications for transfer and  12,123 cases of damaged or defaced permanent voter cards.

The REC further explained that 59, 078 voter cards had been issued to those who registered before the 2015 general elections, adding  that 200,429 cards were still lying uncollected.

He said that the office had also  taken delivery of newly printed 112 , 333 permanent voter cards as well as cards  for those who had newly registered  and those who applied for inter-state transfer of their cards from April to December 2017.

Apam regretted that only 7,943 of the newly printed 112,333 voter cards had been collected as at Tuesday,  appealing to traditional  rulers, press and registered political parties to assist in mobilising Nigerians to collect their cards.

He also said that the INEC was making arrangements to take  issuance of  PVCs  closer to the people. (NAN)
KKA /OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Russia

By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, June 12, 2018 (NAN) The Kogi Government says it has concluded arrangements to establish 25 viewing centres where people can watch live World Cup matches in Russia.

The government said on Tuesday in Lokoja that the centres would be located at the headquarters of the each of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General, Media and Publicity to the state governor, who made the disclosure, said that the centres would be located in areas that were easily accessible and secured.

According to him, all the centres will be equipped with cable TV subscription, projector, screen, standby generator and other accessories.

He added that the government had already taken delivery of all the items for onward delivery to the designated centres in all the localities.

“The government will also ensure constant fuel supply and train attendants to man the centres.

“The Nigeria Police and other security agencies have been contacted on the need to provide security for viewers at the centres and forestall any form of violence,’’ he said in a statement.

He urged football fans to look forward to an uninterrupted entertainment throughout the Coupe de Mundial, courtesy of the government.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in Group D alongside the Albiceleste of Argentina, Iceland’s Strákarnir Okkar (Our Boys) and Vatreni of Croatia.

They play their opening game against Croatia on Saturday at 8.p.m. (NAN)
KKA/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

NSCDC parades suspected fake army officer, 7 oil pipeline vandals in Lokoja

Suspects

Lokoja, June 12, 2018 ( NAN) Eight suspects, including a man who claimed to be an army officer, have been paraded by the Kogi  Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC).

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Everestus Obiyo who paraded the suspects in Lokoja on Tuesday, said that the alleged fake army officer was arrested on June 6.

Obiyo who identified the alleged fake soldier as Bartholomew Paul, said he was arrested at a military checkpoint at Ayere, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, Paul was arrested by vigilant soldiers who stopped, searched his vehicle and discovered military uniforms, two military identity cards and other incriminating items.

He said that the army later handed over the suspect to the NSCDC, adding that investigation into the matter commenced immediately.

The commandant said that the suspect had been using the uniform, identity card and other items to smuggle cars into the country through Seme border.

Obiyo listed other items recovered from him to include a black Lexus jeep; two military passports and a dependent military identity card.

He said further that the other seven suspects were arrested for vandalising oil pipelines, electric and telecommunication cables and being in illegal possession of firearms.

The commandant said that all the suspects had made useful statements to the NSCDC.

Meanwhile, the alleged fake army officer has said that he has in the business of buying vehicles from Benin Republic for his clients in Nigeria.

He said that the military items recovered from him were meant to evade security checks.

He, however, said that he ran out of luck on the fateful day when soldiers at the military checkpoint insisted on searching the car.

“When they searched the vehicle, they discovered where I kept the military uniform inside the booth with my fake military identity cards.

“My friend advised me to do the fake military identity cards to prevent security men from stopping me whenever I leave Nigeria to smuggle cars into the country from Cotonou,” he said.

He disclosed that a sergeant attached to 323 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, facilitated for him, the procurement of the military items.

The NSCDC boss said that all the suspects would be charged to court very soon. (NAN)

KKA /EMO

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Edited by Ejike Obeta