Author: Isah Mukhtar

Navy hand over 8 suspects nabbed for hemp trafficking, illegal fishing

NAN-H-12
Navy

By Henry Oladele

Lagos, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday handed over three suspects arrested with a boat conveying 559 kilogrammes of cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Commodore Maurice Eno, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, handed over the suspects and exhibits in Lagos.

Eno said that the three suspects were apprehended with the cannabis during routine patrol.

“The boat was conveying three men and 11 packages of substance suspected to be cannabis.

“The three suspects, along with the exhibits, are now being handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.

Eno said the navy would continue to patrol the waters to ensure a secure environment for law abiding citizens.

Mr Isiaka Lawal, who received the suspects and exhibits on behalf of the NDLEA, commended the effort of the navy at reducing criminality to the barest minimum in the nation’s waters.

Lawal, who confirmed the exhibit as cannabis weighing 559kg, said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

In a related development, the navy also paraded five suspects and a fishing trawler, FT Stephanie, they apprehended around Ikare waterways in Lagos for engaging in illegal fishing.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fishing permit of the vessel has expired and had no permit to fish in the Nigerian waters.

“In line with the standard practice, the suspects are now being handed over to the Federal Department of Fishery for investigation,’’ Eno said.

Eno warned perpetrators of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities to desist, saying that there was no hiding place for them in his area of operation.

He advised the public to be vigilant and report anyone involved in criminal activities to appropriate security agencies for necessary action.

Eno restated the resolve of the NNS BECROFT to tackle all forms of criminalities in the area of operation. (NAN)

HOB/WOJ
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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-DS–11
Kidnap
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Feb. 7, 2017 ( NAN) The Police in Kogi on Tuesday said six persons had been kidnapped in Okene area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that the victims were traveling in a commercial bus from Okene to Onitsha when their vehicle was stopped by unidentified gunmen.

According to Aya, the incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday at Ochoze village on Okene-Auchi road.

He said the bandits were 10, saying that the Police Commissioner had dispatched trackers to search the bush for the victims.

Aya said that the police were on top of the situation and that the victims and their abductors would be found very soon.

Meanwhile, the Administrator of Okene Local Government, Mr Abdulrazaq Muhammad, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Okene and its environs.

Muhammad said in a statement that the curfew was in response to the growing wave of crimes in the area, urging residents and shop owners to comply.

He also said that activities of commercial motorcycle operators had been restricted to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., while movement of persons and goods was scheduled for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. till further notice.

The administrator said in the statement that was signed by his media assistant, Mr Abdulmumini Abubakar, that hotels, beer parlours and other related outfits would henceforth operate between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He urged residents and visitors to strictly comply with the order as security agents had been directed to enforce it to the latter. (NAN)
KKA/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-90
Synergy
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Feb. 7, 2017 (NAN) The President, Society of Testing Laboratories Analysts of Nigeria, Dr Femi Oyediran, has called for proper synergy between it, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC, to get rid of fake products in the country.

Oyediran stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 1st Nigerian Food Safety and Investment Forum on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that all the safety agencies needed to work together to help the country to eradicate consumption of fake products.

Oyediran attributed the rejection of Nigerian goods by European countries to improper synergy among the safety institutions, occasioned by improper analysis.

He said that each agency needed to play it’s role for the country to move forward in terms of safety.

The President said that the association was working toward testing and analysing of samples of products to help the government in its fight against fake products.

Oyediran added that lack of awareness was contributing to the rise in fake products in the country, noting that Nigerians were not aware that even water could be tested before consumption.

He, however, called on NAFDAC to ensure proper monitoring of products after registration, to protect Nigerians.

Oyediran said that procurement and maintenance of laboratory equipment were a  major challenge being faced by the association.

“We use high-tech and very expensive equipment and these are very expensive to bring into the country,” he said.

He said that quality of chemicals that lead to wrong analysis was another challenge affecting the association.

Oyediran said that the association needed financial intervention from the Federal Government to compete favourably with their counterparts in other parts of the world.

NAN reports that the association is a professional body that analyses food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and water, among others. It is an offshoot of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria. (NAN)
JNC/ENN/PIO
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Idonije Obakhedo)

Plant Quarantine moves to improve agro produce for export

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Quarantine
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Feb. 7, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has stressed the need to observe stringent inspection and certification procedures in processing Nigerian vegetables for export.

Dr Vincent Isegbe, NAQS Coordinating Director, made the remark during a workshop on Plant Health Inspection and Certification of Vegetables for exporters and farmers.

In a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, Isegbe said that the two-day workshop centred on vegetables because it remained one of Nigeria’s most exportable commodities.

“ Vegetable is a delicate product and because it is almost ready to eat, it needs more stringent inspection and certification procedures; so, such ready-to-eat commodity will need special attention.

“That is why we are emphasising that the process that will enable our commodities to be accepted internationally have to be put it in place,’’ Isegbe said.

He said that the European Union ban on Nigeria’s beans had affected the economy along the value chain.

“We have had issues in the past concerning beans where the EU suspended Nigeria for three years for beans export.

“That is not good for us because it means that all the farmers who are producing beans can no more export the quantity that they used to export.

“There is the need to avoid future rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural commodities,’’ Isegbe said.

According to him, the EU promised to reverse the ban if necessary measures are put in place before 2019.

“The good news is that the EU said if we can put the process in place earlier than 2019, they will reverse their decision,” he said.

Samuel Ikani, NAQS South West Zonal Coordinator, said that vegetables from Nigeria were being intercepted by the importing countries, especially U.S., due to the menace of White Flies.

He said that such constant interception was fast becoming an embarrassment to the agency and the nation as a whole.

“Hence, the training for farmers and exporters to be more experienced in the process involved in the production and handling of vegetables from the farm down to the port of exit.

“By so doing, ameliorating the incidence of White Flies and thereby add value to our vegetables and making them acceptable in the international market,” he said.

The training coordinator, Mrs Stella Nonyem, said NAQS was working to mend fences not only with the EU countries but with the entire international community.

Nonyem said the training would expose the farmers and NAQS inspection officers to the required local and international standards of food safety. (NAN)
AIC/WOJ

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-19
Protest (Re-open)
By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, Feb. 6, 2017 (NAN) A group of anti-government protesters on Monday took to the streets of Lagos in demonstration against what they described as unbearable hardship being faced by Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters started their peaceful march at about 10.20 am, from the National Stadium, Surulere through Ojuelegba to the National Theatre Complex, Iganmu.

Some of the protesters carried placards with inscriptions like: “This is not the Nigeria I want for my kids.’’ “Food, medicine, everything is three times more expensive, but salaries haven’t increased,’’ among others.

NAN reports that two notable activists, Charles Oputa alias Charly Boy, and Seyi Law, a comedian, were part of the protest.
Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was also part of the protest.

NAN reports that at the National Theatre, the hundreds of protesters were addressed by several activists on the need for good governance in the country.

Charly Boy said he was pleased that the protest took place in spite of the decision of Tuface to back out from the action.

“I thought when Tuface decided to back out from the protest I won’t see people turning up for the protest.
“I am happy for the gathering. This is just the beginning, this protest will continue until there is good governance, until things change for the best in the country,’’ he said.

For comedian Seyi Law, the protest should not be for activists alone as the economic situation was affecting everyone.

Another activist, Olu Martins, said Nigerians had no reason to be facing hardship as God had endowed the nation with abundant resources.

NAN reports that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Fatai Owoseni, led officials of other security agencies, including Directorate of State Security, Civil Defence and the Army.

Owoseni expressed satisfaction at the peaceful conduct of the protest, saying that “at the end, everyone was happy’’.

NAN reports that the protest momentarily brought traffic to a halt on the ever-busy Funso Williams Way.

Tuface had called for nationwide protest against what he claimed as the worst economic crisis in the country which saw the costs of goods and services skyrocketing, with many families struggling to survive.

The popular musician, however, cancelled the protest on Sunday citing “security concerns and public safety consideration’’.

However, some groups vowed to go ahead with the protest in spite of the cancellation by its initiator but it attracted a lean turnout in Lagos. (NAN)
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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

28 Ships laden with petroleum products, food items, to arrive Lagos ports

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Ships
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Feb. 6, 2017 (NAN) Twenty eight ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from Feb. 6 to Feb. 25.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said in its publication – `Shipping Position’, – that five of the expected ships would berth with diesel and petrol.

NPA said that the remaining 23 ships contained buck wheat, general cargoes, base oil, frozen fish, bulk salt, steel products, diplomatic, bulk sugar and containers.

The document noted that eight ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, bulk wheat, diesel and petrol.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 17 other ships are at the ports discharging empty containers, bulk wheat, bulk gas,  fertiliser, containers, bulk corn, soya beans and petrol. (NAN)
AIC/WOJ
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NAN-H – 15

Statements

Lokoja, Feb. 5, 2017(NAN) Rev. Sunday Oladeji of the Redeemed Christian church of God, Lokoja has urged Nigerians stop making inflammatory statements that could jeopardize the peace of the nation.

Oladeji, who spoke in his sermon “Peace of a Nation” in lokoja on sunday, said peace brings unity among nations.

He noted that most of the crises among Christians and Muslims in the country was as a result of preachings amongst religious leaders and urged leaders to always watch and guide their utterances.

Oladeji noted that ‎if there was love among religious faith, the nation would be more at peace with each other and there won’t be room for any form of crisis among faith.

He prayed God to help Nigeria move stronger out of every challenge it was facing, stressing that with prayers and supplication peace would return to the nation at large‎.

Oladeji said ‎the church has been praying for the nation so that every agitation for breakup would seize and God himself would intervene in the affairs of the nation. (NAN)

WAL/MUYI/MTM

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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Tukur Muntari.

NAN-S-5
Baseball
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Feb. 4, 2017 (NAN) The Little League (LL) International has restructured the little league in Nigeria into four districts to aid baseball development.

Kehinde Laniyan, District Administrator for District 01, said in a statement that the approval was conveyed in an e-mail by Beats Baszuka-Baker, Head of Regional Office of LL in Europe and Africa.

It said that the new development has increased the number of districts in the country from one to four.

The statement said that the district administrators for the three new districts were Jacob Dede for South-East District 02, Sunday Oladele for North-Central District 03 and Aminu Sa’ed-Beli for North District 04.

It added that the new district officers had done all the necessary documentation and were fully registered by LL International.

NAN reports that the role of the district administrator is, basically, one of effective liaison between Little League Headquarters and organising local leagues and competitions in the district.

The LL International is a non-profit organisation based in U.S. which organises local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world.
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)