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  • Navy fully equipped to provide hydrographical charts, data – Hydrographer

    Navy fully equipped to provide hydrographical charts, data – Hydrographer

    Hydrography

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Hydrographer of the Federation, Rear Adm. Ayodeji Olugbode says the Nigerian Navy is fully equipped to produce up-to-date navigational charts and hydrographical data for the development of the nation’s blue economy.

    Olugbode, who is also the Hydrographer of the Navy and Chief Executive Officer, National Hydrographic Agency, said this while briefing newsmen on the 2024 World Hydrography Day Celebration on Friday in Abuja.

    He said the theme for the 2024 World Hydrography Day is “Hydrographic Information: Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Marine Activities.”

    Olugbode said the Nigerian navy had since the acquisition of its OCEA-built vessel, OSV 190 ‘NNS LANA, delivered in 2021 and recent OSV 115, had been able to boost Nigeria’s hydrographical data.

    He said that Nigeria no longer rely on foreign charts, adding that the navy had over the years, developed capability in house and could rapidly get data updated.

    According to him, we don’t need to wait for anybody to validate our data anymore and we no longer need to send data abroad for validation.

    Olugbode said the field of hydrography was crucial for safe navigation, marine resource management, and environmental protection.

    “This year, we continue this journey by focusing on the significance of accurate and up-to-date hydrographic data in ensuring safe navigation, optimising operational efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices in the maritime industry.

    “This theme resonates deeply with the core principles of hydrography. Safety is paramount for all maritime stakeholders, and it hinges on accurate hydrographic data.

    “This data allows seafarers to navigate confidently, mitigating risks associated with navigation hazards and ensuring the safety of lives and property at sea.

    “For example, our surveys have been crucial in planning and constructing new ports, such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, transforming our trade landscape and enhancing our capacity to handle increased cargo volumes,’’ he said.

    The hydrographer said that the navy had also been working with key stakeholders to ensure that its products were properly utilised, to sustain the nation’s blue economy.

    He said the 2024 celebration would commence on June 14 to June 19, featuring awareness lectures on hydrography to selected secondary schools in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

    The lectures, according to him, is aimed at inspiring young minds to consider careers in hydrography, ensuring we have the human capacity to provide quality hydrographic services to Nigeria’s policymakers and mariners alike.

    He added that there would be a one-day seminar to exchange knowledge and foster collaboration on the critical role of hydrographic data in promoting maritime safety and sustainable practices.

    “Additionally, we will introduce the Catalogue of Nigerian Charts, enhancing accessibility to maritime resources, cataloging existing charts, and detailing future productions.

    “This ensures that the maritime community has updated information for timely and effective decision-making.

    “The activities lined up for the 2024 World Hydrography Day celebration aim to create awareness and elicit the right response for the sustainable management of hydrographic information.

    “These efforts will harness the full potential of hydrographic data for the benefit of Nigeria’s Blue Economy, supporting maritime safety and fostering economic development,’’ he added.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    OYS/EBI/AMM

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    Edited by Benson Iziama and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • SUNU Health reiterates commitment to human health, well being

     

    Commitment

    By Abiodun Azi

    Lagos, June 14, 2024 (NAN) Dr Faith Nwachi, Chief Operating Officer, SUNU Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to human health and well being.

    Nwachi said this in Lagos on Friday when the HMO hosted Cute Kids Haven Foundation (CKHF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

    She said that SUNU Health was a subsidiary of SUNU Group with  presence in 17 African countries.

    “SUNU is all about everything good with dedication and passion to human existence well being.

    “We are happy to associate with CKHF NGO, the smiles on the children faces on the occasion of their day brings us joy.

    “We hope to continue to partner with you in your future endeavors” she said

    Earlier, Mr Ayodeji Fadipe, CKHF NGO Administrator, said that support from organisations like SUNU Health HMO helped to keep the NGO going.

    Fadipe said that it was not about giving alone, but the relevance the NGO got from the HMO.

    According to him, it is such relevance and recognition that propels the NGO to put smiles on the faces of children.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AGE/AYO/VIV

    ====

    Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Vivian Ihechu

  • Putin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal in exchange for peace

    Putin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal in exchange for peace
    Troops
    Moscow, June 14, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territories annexed by his country is a prerequisite for any settlement of the ongoing war.
    Putin said this during a visit to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow ahead of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland at the weekend.
    If Ukraine also renounces membership of NATO, Russia would be prepared to cease fire and enter negotiations immediately.
    His speech was clearly aimed at the current G7 summit in Italy and the Ukraine event opening on Saturday in the Swiss mountain hotel resort of Bürgenstock.
    The affiliation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson to Russia is no longer in question, Putin said.
    Ukraine should withdraw its army from the parts of these regions that it still controls, he added.
    The Kremlin leader said he was stating Russia’s minimum demands in order not to freeze the conflict but to resolve it once and for all.
    At the same time, Putin repeated the demands he made when he ordered the invasion of the neighbouring country in February 2022: The creation of a neutral, non-aligned and nuclear-free Ukraine.
    The country should also be disarmed and “denazified,” said Putin, using a term widely interpreted in the West as meaning the instalment of a Russia-approved leadership in Kiev.
    Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.
    Ukraine has so far adhered to its stated goal of retaking the occupied territory, including Crimea.
    President Volodymyr Zelensky is also calling for the prosecution of Russian war crimes and Russian reparations for the destruction caused. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/EAL
    ======
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Court remands 5 over alleged armed robbery

    Remand
    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
    Ibadan, June 14, 2024 (NAN) An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Friday remanded five persons in a correctional facility in Ibadan over alleged armed robbery.
    The defendants are: Abeeb Salami, 24; Toheeb Lamidi, 26; Kayode Faleye, 32; Abass Adeniji, 29 and Ridwan Oladoyinbo, 26.
    The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, are being tried for conspiracy and armed robbery.
    The Magistrate, Mrs M. Olagbenro, did not, however, take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.
    She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the case till July 30 for mention.
    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Tellang, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 10 at about 1a.m. at Adegbayi area of Ibadan.
    Tellang said that the defendants robbed many residents of the aforementioned area while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
    He said that they robbed the residents of their valuables including: phones, laptops, power banks, cables, electrical gadgets and cash worth millions of naira.
    According to him, the offences contravene Sections 6(B) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Laws of Nigeria, 2004. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    CC/KOO/WAS
    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • FRSC deploys 500 personnel, 17 patrol vehicles in Kogi

    Deployment
    By Thompson Yamput
    Lokoja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 500 personnel, 17 vehicles and three ambulance vehicles to check accidents on the highways during Eid el-Kabir.

    Mr Samuel Oyedeji, Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, announced this while briefing newsmen at the command’s premises in Lokoja on Friday.

    He explained that the deployment follows the order of Corp Marshall Shehu Mohammed, who he said was worried over the level of road  accidents in the country.

    “This is in line with the Operational order for 2024 Eid- el- Kabir Special Patrol operations from June 14 to June 21, hence the deployment of 500 personnel throughout the state with special marshals.

    “Also 17 patrol vehicles, one heavy tow truck, three ambulances and one  motorbike to help guarantee safety of motorists  and those transiting through the state during the period.

    “The enforcement shall focus on speeding and dangerous driving/overtaking, lane indiscipline/route violation, road obstructions, use of phone while driving, overloading, seatbelt/child restraint use violations and loading of articulated vehicles with goods and passengers, among others,” he said.

    Oyedeji said that to achieve this milestone, the state command and all its component unit commands had put in place measures to  engage the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes.

    He added that the command would ensure an effective patrol operations, as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.

    Oyedeji advised road users to guide their conducts and maintain good behaviours on the highways.

    He cautioned the drivers of commercial vehicles, trucks and articulated vehicles to avoid  night travel and overloading.

    “This is why FRSC is in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and state judiciaries for timely prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners caught in the act of contravening established traffic regulations.

    “These unacceptable acts led to the flag-off of the Inter-Agency Joint Task Force (JTF) to enforce compliance against use of trailers conveying passengers as well as mitigate road traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries emanating from the lawlessness of articulated vehicle drivers,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    TYC/EOB
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    Edited Edited by Edith Bolokor/Kayode Olaitan

  • Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC prepares 200 mobile courts for traffic offenders

    The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Malam Shehu Mohammed

    Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC prepares 200 mobile courts for traffic offenders

    Offenders

    By Ibironke Ariyo

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it has set up over 200 mobile courts operations to prosecute traffic offenders during the Eid-el-Kabir special patrol operations across the country.

    The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, said this during a press briefing on the Corps’ preparations ahead of the Sallah celebration, on Friday in Abuja.

    Mohammed said that recent developments on the roads, revealed some of the challenges confronting safe use of the highways, which he said the Corps had stepped up to confront on all fronts.

    He said that the challenges include the ugly trend of using trailers and trucks to convey human beings, night trips, fatigue, speed violations, driving under influence, as well as overloading of vehicles.

    He also said that the Corps had introduced some key safety initiatives to tackle the menace and combat the ugly trend, as well as meet up with the changing times, especially developments coming from the unsafe behaviours.

    According to him, one of these is the result oriented efforts that have been directed towards effective collaboration with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and State Judiciaries.

    “This is for timely prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners caught contravening established traffic regulations like overloading, dangerous driving, and use of phone as well as speeding.

    “These violations will be tamed through the instrumentality of mobile court operations.

    “To this end, we shall carryout aggressive enforcement including conducting over 200 Mobile Courts operations, with the aim of checking the following offences.

    “Speeding and Dangerous Driving/Overtaking, Lane indiscipline/Route violation, Road Obstructions, Use of Phone while Driving, Overloading, Seatbelt/Child restraint Use Violations,

    “Others are Passenger’s Manifest Violation, Operation of mechanical deficient and rickety vehicles, loading of trailers with passengers and Illegal use of the Spy Number Plates, “he said.

    The FRSC boss called on drivers to imbibe the culture of courtesy, civility and consideration for other road users.

    He said “they must learn to do the right thing at all times because, as you have the right to use the roads, so do others.

    “As such, drivers must drive with the consciousness that members of their families, friends and loved ones are waiting for them at home, whenever they are on the road.

    “At all times, they must be conscious of the fact that those they carry are breadwinners, family and friends to other people whose lives are precious to them.

    “We must therefore exercise restraint and show respect to each other while on the road, “he said. (NAN)(http://www.nannews.ng)

    ICA/AMM

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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

  • Putin denounces G7 deal on frozen Russian assets

    Putin denounces G7 deal on frozen Russian assets
    Assets
    Moscow, June 14, 2024 (dpa/NAN)  Russian President Vladimir Putin has on Friday blasted an agreement by G7 leaders to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine as “theft” and promised retaliation.
    He said Western powers were still trying to “create at least some legal basis” for the decision taken on Thursday.
    “But in spite all the fuss theft will remain theft. It will not go unpunished,” he said in a speech at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
    The G7 summit began on Thursday in southern Italy with a deal to lend Ukraine 50 billion U.S. dollars using the interest generated from frozen Russian state assets.
    The money is to be made available to Ukraine by the end of the year.
    The U.S. government says around 280 billion U.S. dollars of Russian central bank money has been immobilised in Western countries due to sanctions imposed since the full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine more than two years ago.
    The bulk of the money is within the European Union.
    Kiev is set to use the money to strengthen its defence, pay for the reconstruction of infrastructure and fund the state budget.
    But before it can be disbursed teams from the G7 countries Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States must clarify the outstanding technical and legal details.  (dpa/NAN) (www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/EAL
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    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Man, 35, bags 3 months imprisonment for stealing goats, ram worth N300,000

    Sentence
    By Joy Akinsanya
    Abeokuta, June 14, 2024 (NAN) An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 35-year-old man, Kabiru Lawal, to three months imprisonment for stealing goats and ram.
    Lawal, who resides at Olomore area of Abeokuta, had pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of stealing and conversion.
    The Magistrate, Mrs V.B. William, convicted Lawal, following his guilty plea to the charges preferred against him.
    William, thereafter, sentenced him to three months each for the first and second counts, saying that the sentence must run concurrently.
    She, however, gave him an option of restituting the amount of the goat and ram to the complainant.
    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that Lawal committed the offences sometime in June 2023 at No. 47, Kuforiji Olubi drive, Abeokuta.
    Olu-Balogun said that the defendant fraudulently obtained eight goats and one ram, all valued at N300,000, property of one Mr Ibrahim Akanbi, under the pretence of helping the complainant sell the goats and ram.
    “The complainant gave the defendant eight goats and a ram to help him sell them, but the defendant sold all of them and converted the money to his personal use.
    “After committing the crime, he ran out of Ogun state without remitting the money to the complainant, but was later caught,” he said.
    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Section 419(b) and 390(3) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006 (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    IOJ/WAS
    Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • I-G warns against acts undermining merit-based promotion

    Merit
    By Monday Ijeh
    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, has warned against acts to undermine merit-based postings and promotions in the Nigeria Police Force.
    Egbetokun said this on Friday in Abuja during the decoration of 27 newly promoted senior officers.
    He said the leadership of the current police administration had been committed to standardisation of promotion process in the force.
    According to him, the current promotion exercise, like those preceding it under this administration, adhered strictly to the fundamental principles of seniority and merit.
    “I will like to take this opportunity to sound a note of serious warning to unscrupulous officers who are attempting to undermine our merit based promotion process for personal gains.
    “I urge them to seize lobbying for special promotions through influential persons and external forces.
    “From now on, severe disciplinary action will be taken against any officer found guilty of soliciting for undeserved promotion through illicit means, masquerading as special promotion.
    “This also applies  to officers soliciting for preferential postings,” he said.
    The I-G pledged that promotion process in the Nigeria police would continue to be transparent and fair to all officers.
    He said no officer, eligible for promotion would be denied their rightful advancement.
    Egbetokun said the current police leadership had at inception, announced the suspension of special promotions to ensure a fair, equitable and transparent promotion process.
    “While we acknowledge that exceptional circumstances can warrant special promotion, we will take appropriate and expedient action when necessary.
    “We will revisit the decision at the right time and make exceptions where deserved, balancing individual merit to ensure fair and equitable process,” he said.
    The I-G congratulated the senior officers being decorated and urged them to see their promotions as a call for more dedication to duty.  (NAN)
    IMC/CHOM/EAL
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    Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • FRSC expresses concern about drivers’ conduct on highways

    Vehicle at the accident scene
    FRSC
    By Ibironke Ariyo
    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Shehu Mohammed, has expressed concern about what he describes as alarming rate of recklessness among drivers on highways.
    According to him, the drivers have continued to contravene established traffic regulations, causing undue harm to lives and unprecedented destruction to property.
    The corps said in Abuja on Friday that in spite of the efforts put in place by the corps to reduce accidents on the nation’s highways, drivers were still adamant.
    The Corps Marshal stated this in the wake of a fatal road accidents that occurred at Kanbi village, Jebba road in Kwara on June 13.
    Mohammed said that Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred as a result of excessive speed and wrongful overtaking.
    He said that two vehicles; a blue articulated vehicle with no trace of registration and a white bus marked LSD363YE were involved.
    He explained that 25 people were involved, comprising 13 male adults, five female adults, two female children and five male children.
    “From this number, five people were injured (three male adults and two female adults) and 19 victims killed (11 male adults, three female adults, three male children and two female children.
    “The injured victims have been rescued to Orisun Ayo hospital, one body was deposited at the morgue of the same hospital while the remaining 18 bodies were claimed by the families of the deceased.
    “You will recall that in recent time, apart from setting up an Inter-agency Joint Task Force (JTF) to tackle the excesses of articulated vehicle drivers, the corps equally enhanced its enlightenment campaigns.
    “The corps also ensure robust engagement of stakeholders, especially the various transport unions, all in a bit to curb accidents.
    “It is, therefore, unfortunate that irrespective of all the efforts in place, some drivers have decided not to adhere to safety standards as such compromising the safety of innocent road users,” he said.

    In line with his 2024 agenda for drastic reduction in road accidents,  the corps marshal has directed commanding officers to intensify special patrol operations against these identified violations.(NAN)(http://www.nannews.ng
    ICA/KAY
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    Edited by Kayode Olaitan