Onitsha (Anambra), June 8, 2024 (NAN) Fire has destroyed a soap factory and plastic dumping ground at Amanato Street, Ugwuagba Obosi in Idemili Northampton Local Government Area of Anambra.
Mr Chukwudi Chiketa, Chief Fire Officer, Anambra Fire Service, confirmed this development to newsmen in Onitsha.
According to Chiketa; the Anambra Fire Service received a distress call at 01:40 a. m., about a fire outbreak in a mini soap factory and plastic waste ground at Amanato Street.
“The state firefighters and a fire truck were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident.
“They fought and contained the fire, and prevented it from hitting a four- storey building,” he said.
He said that the cause of the fire was still unknown and no life was lost.
He said that the firemen departed the scene of the fire at 03:40 a. m.
He advised people to take precautions to prevent fire incidents.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
We’re committed to youths development, says Archbishop
Commitment
By Joy Mbachi
Enugwu-Ukwu (Anambra), June 9, 2024 (NAN) The Archbishop of Province of Niger, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Alexander Ibezim, has pledged his church’s commitment to youth development.
Ibezim said this in a letter he issued in Awka to mark the 2024 Anglican Youths Fellowship (AYF) on Sunday.
Mr Joseph Onyinanya of St. Peter’s Church, Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra, read the Archbishop’s letter to the congregation.
Ibezim urged the youths to shun idol worship, ritual activities, robbery, lustful living and quest for ill-gotten wealth, amongst other vices.
Ibezim, who is also the Bishop of Awka Diocese, charged the youths to embrace godly living and and live meaningfully.
He said: “There is joy over a repented youth who lives according to the laws and rules of the land and God’s command.
“I charge the youths to make themselves available for God’s work, attend the schools of the diocese and be well tutored.”
Giving a Homily, entitled: “Be careful of the choice you make”, Onyinanya advised the youths to be always be constructive in their thoughts.
He said youths could take leverage technology advancement to develop themselves and become more productive in life.
Onyinanya advised the youths to pay attention to skills acquisition if they wished to be self-employed and employers of labour in the future.
“If we have youths gainfully engaged, the rate of crime and social disorder will reduce drastically,” he said.
Mr Chinaza Okoye, President, AYF St Peter’s Church, assured that they would continually seek God’s face in all they are engaged in.
Rev’d. Canon Nnamdi Ajaoku, the Diocesan Chaplin of AYF, said the church was making deliberate efforts to raise God-fearing youths.
He, therefore, urged the youths to learn from the teachings of the church and give themselves a better life. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Customs controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller, Timi Bomodi,
Trade
By Aisha Cole and Raji Razak
Seme, June 9, 2024 (NAN) The Customs command in Seme border said it recorded about 100 per cent increase in the volume of trade in the first five months of 2024.
The Seme Border Customs Comptroller, Timi Bomodi disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Seme on Sunday.
Bomodi said that the significant increase was due to improved trade facilitation in export and import of goods in the area.
He said that the customs command Seme border also recorded considerable increase of 272 per cent from import recorded in the last five month of 2024 when compared with 2023.
Bomodi said that on trade facilitation, the service recognised that Lagos-Abidjan corridor was strategically located and considered as the most viable trade corridor in the entire Africa.
According to him, Lagos-Abidjan corridor is viable to the nation’s economy while the European Union is ready to release money to develop infrastructure around the axis.
He called for telecommunication infrastructure and rail lines to boost legitimate trade along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
“We know that goods from Nigeria end up in other West Africa markets, we also know that goods that are originating from other West African countries come into the Nigeria market.
“So, there is that symbiotic relationship. Trade facilitation is important to us because without proper facilitation, there will be unnecessary encumbrances,” he said.
“We are mindful of the role that we play on trade facilitation at border areas, we want to be sure that our processes and procedures are well outlined, simplified, automated and easily accessible by the trading public.
“We have had a tremendous growth on export, we had over 100 per cent even in the area of import, we had significant growth too.
“We measure the volume and value of goods that move across the corridor, we noted significant increase in revenue generation,”Bomodi said.
He said that Seme command had been attracting more users due to customs enhancement on trade facilitation as well as collaboration with their counterparts in Benin Republic on harmonising customs procedures.
Bomodi said the purpose of harmonising customs procedures was to ensure that border areas were designed for a one stop shop for examination and release of cargos regardless of the destination.
He advised intending exporters and importers to be guided on export and import procedures, customs requirements and follow due process to avoid goods being forfeited (NAN).
Anglican Bishop calls for national unity, faith amidst challenges
Unity
By Philomina Attah
Abuja, June 9, 2024 (NAN) Bishop Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, has emphasised the need for national unity and steadfast faith amidst Nigeria’s current challenges.
Ndukuba, who is also the Bishop of Abuja Diocese, made the call on Sunday during his Episcopalian visit to St. Mathew Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Service witnessed the confirmation, induction of boys into the Anglican Boys Fellowship, and admission of candidates into Girl’s Guild, Priceless jewels and women’s Guild.
It also witnessed admissions into Mothers’ union for Maitama Archdeaconry and Mpape Missionary Archdeaconry.
Speaking to the congregation, he reaffirmed his commitment to encouraging and strengthening the faith of the brethren, while also addressing broader national issues.
Reflecting on the state of the nation, the Bishop acknowledged the widespread depression, challenges and afflictions faced by many Nigerians.
He urged the faithful to remain strong, emphasising that God would not abandon the country in its search for identity and direction.
“We want to encourage Nigerians to know that their lives are important to God. Difficult times will not last forever; as we hold to God, He will surely intervene in our situations and bring a turnaround,” the Bishop said.
Addressing the recent attacks on the military, the Bishop compared such actions to a “cancer” attacking the body, rendering it powerless and, ultimately, bringing calamity.
He pleaded for patience and dialogue, stressing the importance of justice and fairness.
“Attacking the military is like invoking calamity upon our nation. We plead with everyone to be patient and engage in dialogue where necessary,” he stated.
The Bishop called on national leaders to prioritise the needs of the people and engage in fair and just actions.
Ndukuba praised past efforts to dialogue with criminalised groups, highlighting the successful integration of many former militants into the mainstream.
“Without justice, there will be no peace. Leaders must consider why certain groups continue to recruit and influence people, and address these root causes,” he said.
The Bishop called on citizens to contribute positively to the nation’s future. (NAN)
Yusuf promises to reposition education sector in Kano State
Education
By Aminu Garko
Kano, June 9, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has promised to reposition education in the state to make it deliver on expected targets.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Yusuf spoke in Kano while declaring a State of Emergency in Education on Saturday in Kano.
He said it was unfortunate that the previous administration did not do much to provide a very conducive environment to teaching and learning in public schools in the state.
Yusuf said such action left no fewer than 4.7 million students sitting on bare floors in primary schools across the state.
The governor said there were deficiency of basic teaching tools, inadequate resources, and the struggles of teachers and students with outdated equipment.
Yusuf said with the support of critical stakeholders such as National Union of Teachers his administration would achieve the delivery of quality education by its institutions.
He said his administration would deploy enough resources to tackle the challenges of out of school children in the state.
“My administration is committed to making education a top priority and a lasting legacy for future generations”, he said.
He described the appropriation of school premises for private commercial ventures by the previous administration as flagrant breach of communal trust. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AAG/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne
By Ibironke Ariyo
Abuja, June 9, 2024(NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup imported from India.
Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, disclosed this in Abuja on Sunday.
Babafemi said that the seizure was made on Friday during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service and other security agencies.
He said that the seizure was coming barely a week after the agency seized a shipment of 175,000 bottles of the same substance at the Port Harcourt Port complex in Onne, Rivers state,
Babafemi said that the two seizures followed earlier intelligence which made the agency to request a 100 per cent examination of the shipment.
He also said that the latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles was weighing 26,250kg.
In a related development, Babafemio said that officers of NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation on Wednesday June 5 intercepted five different parcels containing illicit drugs.
He said that the drugs were concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair en route the United States and United Kingdom.
“Some of the seized drugs are 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine and other opioids, they were seized at a courier firm in Lagos,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Cost of governance:Aisha Yesufu wants Senate scrapped
Cost
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, June 9, 2024 (NAN) A renowned political and civil rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has called for the scrapping of the Nigerian Senate to reduce cost of governance.
Yesufu, Co-founder, Bring Back Our Girls Movement, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
She was reacting to calls in some quarters that the country should jettison its bicameral legislature and adopt a unicameral legislature to reduce cost of governance.
NAN reports that unicameral legislature is a system with one chamber or house, as opposed to bicameral legislature which has two chambers(Senate and House of Representatives).
Some countries with unicameral legislatures include China (National People’s Congress), Sweden (Riksdag), Norway (Storting), Denmark (Folketing), and Portugal (Assembly of the Republic).
The activist said Nigeria could, alternatively, consider re-introduction of the parliamentary system of government to reduce the heavy funds spent on the National Assembly.
According to her, until something is done about the cost of running government and corruption, Nigerians would not feel the dividends of democracy.
“We need to really and critically examine our democracy and look at what fits us and serve the ordinary people and the masses. The one that will not be too expensive.
“What we have now is too expensive. We need to cut cost and not just continue what we have that has not been working for Nigerians.
“I totally support the call for us to have a unicameral legislature. It is very important because the kind of governance that we are practising is very expensive.
“As a country, we really don’t have that kind of money. Apart from this, the fact is that both Senate and House of Representatives end up duplicating functions in terms of what they do,” Yesufu said.
She said the Senate had been turned into “a retirement home for a lot of incompetent and failed governors who didn’t do anywhere well for the people in their state”.
She said that Nigerians had continued to bear the brunt of the hit on resources annually allocated to these political ‘retirees’ in the Senate.
Yesufu added: “It (Senate) is a joke ground; we cannot say what Senate does is in a really sense different from what the House of Representatives do.
“They (Senators) do nothing special and at the end of the day, they are paid humongous amount of our money and such huge allowances for doing nothing different.
“We found out that a good number of them, especially those that are former governors, while they get this humongous salary, they are as well collecting pension from their respective states.
“There is no way democracy can work for the masses with this kind of waste of public funds that could have been directed to put happiness to the face of the common man.”
According to her, Senegal is practising a unicameral legislature, after abolishing Senate for the second time in September 2012.
She said : “The House of Representatives is capable of taking care of the law making aspect of the nation, oversights and other things that the legislative arm of government does.
“Unicameral legislature should be adopted in Nigeria because bicameralism is too expensive apart from the fact that it slows down business of lawmaking.
“It is not working for us, we don’t have the kind of money to run it and maintain this, especially at a time the masses are suffering.
“Having a single legislative arm will pay us better in terms of reduction of cost of governance,” she said.
Yesufu decried that Nigeria had not in real sense been practising true federal system of government.
Speaking further, the activist said the country could also adopt the parliamentary system of government to also reduce cost to governance.
She said that Nigeria could not longer sustain the current presidential system of government.
“This will also pay us in terms of reduction of the cost of governance because whoever is leading the country is the one that is the first among equal.
“Ministers in this system are selected from members of the parliament that are elected.
“So, that reduces the cost of governance drastically and better than what we have now where separate people are brought in as ministers,” she said.
The activist said that both bicameral legislature and presidential system of government had brought a lot of pressure on the nation resources.
“We can have a parliamentary system of government, we shall be reducing cost of governance drastically well.
“The Prime Minister would not be this powerful and exercise control over everything, including the appointed ministers, because ministers are also members of the parliament,” she said.
Bullying
By Joan Odafe and Nojibat Adebayo
Lagos, June 9, 2024 (NAN) Some educationists have called on parents, guardians to help stop the rising trend of bullying in the society, particularly in public and private schools.
The educationists made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
They noted that many times, children expressed and exhibited what they had learnt from home in the larger society.
They said that children did not learn the act of bullying in their schools, rather a product of negative behaviour they had already been exposed to at home.
A Guardian and Counsellor, Mrs Edith Nnalule, said many parents and guardians bullied their children and wards without even realising the damages being caused to both the child and the society.
The counsellor said most times, children grew up knowing parents with what they did, saying that if a child was bullied at home, he would go back to the society to practice such act.
“Most of these children that engaged in bullying in schools or those who bullied in the workplaces didn’t learn the behaviour there.
“Some of them, because they are not well guided, you know, they grow with it.
“When they enter the upper class or workplaces, they begin to bully and see it as a normal thing,” she said.
Nnalue said those that engaged in the act of bullying sometime regarded their actions as instilling authority while those who lacked self-confidence saw it as protecting their self-esteem.
She urged parents and guardians to promptly recognise the signs of bullying so that the children could be properly checked and consequently reduce its spilling into the society.
Mr Johnson Ologundudu, President, National Association of Proprietors of Public Schools (NAPPS), Amuwo Odofin Chapter, said past experience had shown educators that the act of bullying was learned by engagers from home.
Reacting to viral videos and reports of various forms of bullying at schools, Ologundudu said the major cause was a spillover from the society.
“These children are from different homes with different backgrounds and orientation,” he said.
He said the ‘Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy’ (LSSCPP) served as a guide for schools in setting up structures to tackle the menace of bullying.
Ologundudu, who is also the Proprietor of Jomal Schools, urged sister institutions to domesticate the LSSCPP and set up structures to help reduce the menace of bullying.
He further urged various institutions within the society, including families, schools and religious organisations to work together to reduce bullying in schools. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
JOJO/ISHO/AJA
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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Adeleye Ajayi
Kano, June 9, 2024 (NAN) The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission says that it has commenced investigation into the alleged scam that characterised the recent disbursement of empowerment funds to street hawkers by governor Abba Yusuf.
The Commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kano that the commission was investing the matter to identify and bring those responsible to justice.
“The commission is investigating the matter and anyone found involved would be brought to justice.
“The commission is determined to prevent corruption from undermining the integrity of the empowerment initiative of the government and ensure that justice is served,” Rimin Gado’’, told NAN.
The probe follows a viral video showing where some officials allegedly coerced beneficiaries into surrendering a significant portion of the N50, 000 grants each of them received during the disbursement ceremony.
NAN reports that Yusuf had recently presented N50,000 each to 465 street hawkers to boost their businesses.
However, in a 60-second video, one of the beneficiaries, Malam Nura Isa, alleged that he was coerced by officials to return N45, 000 from the N50,000 cash given to him.
Isa alleged that he was part of about 100 beneficiaries cornered by officials, who demanded that they must comply “in their own interest.”
It was also gathered that most of those shortlisted to benefit from the scheme were denied access to the venue of the event while their benefits were handed over to impostors. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
NCS’ Trade Modernisation Project to create 15,000 jobs – official
Jobs
By Martha Agas
June 9, 2024(NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), will create more than 15,000 jobsU, its General Manager, Mr Ahmed Ogunshola, has said.
Ogunshola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the TMP, which has three phases, is a 20-year concession agreement signed on May 27, 2023, between the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the NCS Board, and the Trade Modernisation Project Ltd.
The TMP is the automation of the business processes of the NCS to simplify the experience of stakeholders in the trade value chain.
It is expected to ease export and import clearances, payment of duties and the release of goods.
The GM said that more NCS personnel would be engaged for the implementation of the project.
He added that its investment would require local expertise and skills, which would, in turn, develop the local economy.
“More NCS personnel will be required. For the concession agreement, an additional 15,000 personnel will be needed to fully implement it
“ TMP will bring in investments in billions of dollars that will require local expertise and skills.
“As concessionaire, we are building a national operation that will be required to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of all the technology platforms,” he said.
Ogunshola further explained that with the introduction of any disruptive technology, new jobs would be created through the new service points required for the project to function effectively.
He said that the project would also facilitate professionalism, especially in technical and information technology skills, as those involved in the implementation were being exposed to the use of modern technology infrastructure.
According to him, it will provide organisation-wide capacity building for NCS, to ensure the sustainable implementation of the project.
“The project will create a new set of professionals who will help end users navigate the system.
“Studies of similar projects around the world have shown that the ripple effects lead to creation of new jobs across many industries.
“The project also grows businesses which, together, contribute to wealth generation and sustainable developments,” he said.
NAN reports that the project is expected to generate in excess of 250 billion dollars for the Federal Government over the life of the concession.
The concessionaire is expected to invest 3.2 billion dollars to deliver the project over the 20-year period.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
MAA/ETS
