Blog

Marketers kick over prolong closure of gas plant
Closure
By Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has expressed concerns over the prolonged and continuous closure of Second Coming Gas plant Nig. Ltd., by the Lagos State Government.

Mr Bassey Essien, the Executive Secretary of the association said that the gas plant had been closed for about nine months by an agency of the state.

He appealed to the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for the reopening of the plant in a statement issued and made available to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

NAN reports that the Second Coming Gas Nig. Ltd., located at Magodo area of Lagos, owned by one of the members of the association early in the year, experienced a fire incidence which recorded two casualties.

He called for urgent intervention of the governor to save the gas plant from indefinite closure, adding that the association’s was worried over the prolonged closure whether it is punitive on the owner and by extension on the association.

According to him, investigation panel and inquest set up by the state and Federal regulatory agencies respectively did not indict the company for negligence as the company had always taken adequate measures to ensure safety at all times.

“It is worthy to note that the company has been operating in that same location for over 20 years without any mishap.

“At the conclusion of investigations, the company was granted approval to commence reconstruction and renovation of the burnt plant albeit with strict compliance on standards.

“And further safety measures while each level of work was been monitored and approved by the relevant government appointed panel,’’ he said.

Essien said that the management of the plant had complied with all standard safety requirements given to it and the company was ranked among the most safety compliant gas plant in the country.

He said that while awaiting the final inspection so as to be given the final nod to reopen for business, the place was unceremoniously locked by another agency in the same state and has remained locked for nine months now.

He said that remarkable progress has been made in cooking gas utilisation and consumption in the country.

The association’s spokesman said that cooking utilization and consumption over the years was usually associated with the elites but now been embraced by food vendors and low income earners.

“This huge achievement has been attributed to private investments by committed indigenous entrepreneurs to establish gas bottling plants across the country.

Essien said that Nigeria was endowed with abundant gas reserves; however utilisation of cooking gas in the country has been abysmally low compared to neighbouring West African countries.

He said further that such countries include like Morocco and Egypt in the North, despite being the largest producer of LPG in the West African sub region and the 3rd in Africa.

“It is the concerted efforts of these indigenous entrepreneurs who have invested massively to erect terminals and gas bottling plants that have led to the growth in consumption from about 70,000 MT in 2007 to about 840,000MT as at 2018.

“The Federal Government is encouraging LPG expansion to a target consumption of five million MT by year 2030,’’ he said.

He said that to achieve this feat means more cooking gas plants springing up both in the urban and rural communities while massive awareness was being created in the usage and safe handling of gas and its accessories.

“Like everything in life, there is always safety precautions that have to be observed and adhered to, be it in daily lifestyles, travels etc,’’ Essien said. (NAN)
YO/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Strike
By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The organised labour on Thursday shut down offices of aviation agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to press home their demands for the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

However, this action did not affect flight operations at the nation’s busiest airport as airlines and passengers went about their respective businesses without harassment from the unions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) had called for the warning strike over non-implementation of the national minimum wage.

Their affiliates in the aviation sector, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) had shut down the agencies in compliance with the directive.

The union members had at the early hours of Thursday barricaded the offices of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Also shut down were the headquarters of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the Lagos airport.

Commenting, Mr Frances Akinjole, the Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN, told NAN that unions in the sector only carried out a “light” action.

According to him, this is because we are currently engaging on another important assignment outside Lagos.

“It is a decision we collectively took that there will be a strike, but unfortunately one of our sister unions, NUATE, is having its national delegates conference in Asaba today.

“So, we decided to make the protest very light because leadership of the unions are in Asaba.

“We did not want it to look as if the aviation unions are not in solidarity with the national labour movement and that is why we only shut down the offices,” Akinjole said.

He, therefore, urged the Federal and State Governments as well as employers of labour to accede to the demand of the unions.

Akinjole said that the implementation of a new national minimum wage was long overdue. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/GOK
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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Strike

By Mohammed Mamman

Damaturu, Sept.27, 2018 (NAN) Civil servants, the business community and parents in Damaturu, Yobe, on Thursday condemned the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) warning strike which began on Thursday,  describing it as grossly unnecessary and counter productive.

A cross section of the respondents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that  schools and other public institutions in the state were still providing services in spite of the directive by the NLC for workers to embark on warning strike.

Abdullahi Musa, a civil servant, said: “Time has come for the trade unions to be decentralised for every state to face its peculiar problems, to avoid holding the country to ransom of unnecessary strike.

“Some state and local government workers have not been paid salaries for several months, NLC has never intervened but they drag every state into problems affecting federal civil servants; that is gross injustice.

“Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) does not fight for the staff of state owned universities but pull state universities into affairs of federal-owned universities, it shouldn’t be so.”

Alhaji Bukar Kaku, a businessman, said strikes had always been an exercise in futility, warning that it would affect the economy badly.

“We should concentrate on issues that would promote the economy and not harmful acts,” Kaku said.

Hajara Umar, a mother of five, said the strike would only have negative impact on the lives of the poor.

“We are currently faced with increased cases of cholera and malaria in Yobe, the strike would only worsen the situation.”

Mr Ibrahim Lawan, Yobe NLC Chairman, told NAN that although workers in the state had no pending case with the state government, the union issued the directive for the  strike because it was a national issue.

He said the union was wary of peculiarities and challenges of the state and would avoid issues that may spring confrontation.

“The peculiarities and challenges of the state are quite enormous; we have to be considerate, especially in critical areas of health, water supply and others to avoid total collapse that may invite chaos.

“We are looking at how we can manage the situation and we call on government to find a away of resolving the problem, we shouldn’t be talking about industrial action now, especially as we approach the general elections,” Lawan said.(NAN)

MM/YMU

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Idris Abdulrahman

Poll
Osogbo, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The rerun governorship election in Osun commenced on a peaceful note on Thursday with many voters defying an early morning downpour to participate in the exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Prof. Joseph Fuwape,  the Chief Returning Officer for the Osun governorship election, had described Saturday’s governorship election as inconclusive.

Fuwape, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), while announcing the results,  said Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 254,698 votes.

He said Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 254, 345 votes.

Fuwape said the election was declared inconclusive because of cases of ballot boxes snatching in some polling units during the election.

He cited the affected polling units to include Ife North (one polling unit),  Ife South( two polling units), Orolu (three polling units)  and Osogbo (one polling unit).

NAN correspondents monitoring the election across the affected polling units report a peaceful exercise amidst tight security.

At  Garage-Olode in  Ife South Local Government Area of Osun, voters defied an early morning downpour to participate in the exercise.

Adereti Polling Unit 012 in Olode, Ife  South Local Government Area has 812  registered voters while Alutu Erin Primary School Polling Unit 010 in Osi in the same council area has 502.

There are also 353  registered voters in Alapata Polling Unit 002  in  Oyere II, Ife North Local Government Area.

Voters at the Adereti Polling Unit 012 had arrived as early as 7 am to check their names on the voters’ register while voting and accreditation commenced at 8.am.

At the Ward 5, Unit 17  Polling Unit on Adewale Street at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, accreditation and voting commenced at exactly 8 am under a downpour.

INEC officials had set up their tents and cubicles  as early as 7 am while many of the voters had arrived for the exercise as early as 6.30am.

In Orolu, however, suspected thugs were said to have prevented some voters from reaching the three polling units in the council area although policemen were later drafted in to restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the  Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, has assured the electorate of adequate security.

Agbaje gave the assurance when he visited the polling unit at Ward 5, Unit 17  on Adewale Street, Alekuwodo, Osogbo.

He said INEC and its ad-hoc staff were well prepared to  conduct the election, adding that  deployment of  many security agents was assuring.

“INEC staff and ad-hoc staff are prepared  for the election and we have heavy security presence which guarantees the safety of everyone.

“Anybody coming to snatch ballot boxes is putting his or life in danger.

“Party agents should compose themselves while the electorate should remain peaceful, ” he said

Agbaje urged members of the National Youth Service Corps serving at the polling unit to critically examine the voter card before allowing anyone to vote.

He said  the election would  close at  2pm because of the limited units and voters, adding that he was optimistic of a successful outcome.

Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Attah, the State Coordinator of NYSC  in Osun, said INEC had assured him of the safety of corps members  participating in the re-run election.

“I came to check how my children (corps members) are doing and know if they are properly taken care of and secured.

“I am happy about how the whole election process is going and I wish the parties involved the best of luck.

“NYSC is apolitical and the corps members serving as INEC ad-hoc staff here are doing their duties without favour to any party, ” he said
ID/FOJ/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

2019: Ex-Ebonyi Commissioner, Okorie joins governorship race

Governorship
By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Dr Paul Okorie, a former Commissioner for Works, Housing and Environment, has declared his intention to run for the office of governor of Ebonyi in the 2019 general elections.

Okorie who officially declared his interest on Wednesday in Abakaliki, is contesting under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorie, popularly call Action, said his decision to run for the position of governor, was predicated on his desire to restore the lost glory and image of the state as well as restore confidence in political leadership.

Okorie decried leadership ineptitude of the present leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and assured that his administration would deliver credible, qualitative and transparent governance.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, party faithful and our supporters, this declaration is not about me. It is about Ebonyi and all of us; it is about what we can do together.

“It is the vehicle of our hopes and dreams; it is about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense of common purpose and realising that few obstacles cannot withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.

“This is why I am in the race. I am not just in the race to hold office, but together with you to transform the state.

“You will recall that I have held public offices before and I used each of the positions to improve the lots of Ebonyi people.

“In both public and private life, I have always maintained high level of integrity and prudence, ” Okorie said.

Okorie said that his administration would pursue seven key agenda, including infrastructure development, security, health, agriculture, sports development, education, economic and social development, if elected governor.

He promised to restore public water supply which had gone comatose in both urban and the rural areas of the state.

The former commissioner who also was a general manager of the defunct Ebonyi State Water Corporation, added that the declaration was a declaration of freedom, a declaration of prosperity and economic emancipation of Ebonyi.

He pledged to combine physical infrastructure development with stomach infrastructure development to give every citizen a sense of belonging.

Okorie said though the party leadership had opted for indirect primary to choose its flag bearers for different positions in the 2019 elections, he had always preferred direct primary election to give party members free hands to elect their candidates.

He told the crowd of supporters and party faithful who gathered to witness the declaration that nothing would stop the ambition.

“And I want to remind us that in spite the zone of anyone contesting, it will not stop our journey half way.

“During the 2015 election, when as a PDP aspirant I saw that the system had been hijacked from Abuja, I wasn’t discouraged.”

He warned the people of the state never to repeat the mistakes they made during the 2015 general elections.

He urged the card carrying members of the party to be very careful as some politicians were already out to buy their conscience as they prepared for the Saturday, Sept. 29 governorship primary.

“We have to be very careful this time around. We are already in a mess as a people. So, let us not allow people to come and  throw us into deeper mess.

“We have heard that some politicians want to buy delegates and lodge them in a hotel ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary in the state.

“They will be pleasing your body; don’t allow them please your conscience.

“If you allow them please your conscience and make you do the wrong thing, the sufferings of our people will continue”, he cautioned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorie is from the same Ohaozara Local Government Area where the incumbent governor, Chief Dave Umahi hails from. (NAN)

ODO /OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Workers shun nationwide strike in Kaduna

Strike

By Maharazu Ahmed

Kaduna, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Government offices have remained open in Kaduna in spite of the nationwide strike began by the Organised Labour over new national minimum wage, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.

A correspondent of the agency who went round public offices in Kaduna, the state capital, reports that workers were at their duty posts, including Obasanjo House, the state government Secretariat.

Also opened were schools, some banks including the Central Bank of Nigeria, hospitals and other public sector offices in the state capital.

A nurse at the Barau Dikko Hospital, which witnessed high number of patients, told NAN in confidence that there has been no formal notice from the state labour unions to commence the strike.

“We only heard of the strike order in the media, there has been no formal notice yet either from the Nigeria Labour Congress or our union, the nurses union, but we are waiting,’’ she said.

NAN also reports that normal activities at the state High Court were going on, although local union officials there said they will meet today to agree on whether to join the nationwide strike.

At the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress officials were in a meeting on ways to enforce compliance to the strike. (NAN)

MZA

Letter

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Benin, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN)  Ward nine (9) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo has disowned the letter expelling  the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr Pally Iriase.

Messrs Kehinde Ehimiaghe and Chief Ahonsi Ohiokede, Chairman and Secretary of the ward, respectively ,denied knowledge  of the letter in a statement issued in Benin on Thursday.

The ward executives described the purported letter of expulsion as “embarrassing​ and misleading, and a calculated attempt” to tarnish the image of the lawmaker.

“It is a brazing subterfuge and deliberate falsehood to desperately attempt to tarnish the image of the respected leader with unsubstantiated and never sustainable allegations of anti-party activities.

“Ward 9 executive committee of APC is totally at a loss as to  how and why such allegations are concocted to bring the reputation of our leader to public odium and disrepute.

“We completely disclaim the action since the allegations are false and the purported expulsion illegal and unconstitutional,” it stated.

The statement further said  that  no complaint was received from any person or any organ of the party against the person of Iriase, in breach of article 21 (B1) and(B2).

Accordingly, “The breach of this would have necessitated the panel to investigate the the so-called allegations. Iriase was never invited to defend the allegations in breach of sacred rule of fair hearing.

“The local government area chapter of the party in Owan East, acted ultra vires its power to wit: by making public pronouncement in flagrant violation of article 21 sub A(v) of the party’s constitution.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Secretariat of the APC, had on Wednesday, also declared the purported expulsion of the deputy chief whip of the lower chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), null and void.

The party’s State Vice-Chairman in  Edo North, Chief Sunny Okomayin, who made the declaration, had said, Iriase, a member of the National Executive Committee remained  a respected leader of the party, both at the state and national level and a bonafide member of the party.

NAN also reports that the Owan East local government chapter of the party had on Monday, in a letter to the state secretariat, announced the expulsion of Iriase.

In the letter signed by  Messrs Zuberu Shabah and Theophilus Aigboje, Chairman and Secretary of the chapter, respectively, stated that it merely ratified the expulsion of the lawmaker by the ward executives over an alleged anti-party activities. (NAN)
ESI/OSA/AMY

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Abdullahi Yusuf

Strike: Benin Airport gates shut against passengers, workers

Airport

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Benin, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN)Activities at the Benin Airport were grounded on Thursday as both entry and exit gates were locked, with hundreds of intending passengers stranded, arising from nationwide strike called by leadership of organised labour.

Organised labour had on Wednesday directed all its affiliates to commence an indefinite warning strike on Thursday to press home its demand for a new national minimum wage.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the strike caused gridlock within the axis of the Airport Road as motorists had hectic time trying to meander the area.

While hundreds of intending passengers milled around both entry and exit gates,  security personnel struggled to control both human and vehicular traffic.

Edo Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Emmanuel Ademokun, who spoke to NAN, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance.

He told NAN that he and his team, were going round to ensure total compliance with the stay at home directive of the NLC.

“We want to ensure that workers in the state comply with the directive of the NLC of industrial action.

“We are not just sitting, but going around to monitor things ourselves.

“I am quite satisfied with what I have seen so far and this will continue until there is a directive from the national secretariat,” he stated.(NAN)

ESI/KOO/OU

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Obike Ukoh

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Gov. Dickson approves N50m to assist flood victims in Bayelsa

Flood
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has approved N50 million to assist flood victims in some parts of the state, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
In a statement, Iworiso-Markson explained that the governor gave the approval at a meeting with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and chairmen of the local government councils.
He descried the flood, which submerged homes in many communities, including Adagbabiri and Trofaniin in Sagbama Local Government Area, as “another pathetic disaster”.
Others communities affected by the flood were Egwe-ama, Brass Local Government Area, Imiringi, Ayama, Otuobhi in Ogbia Local Government Area and Edwarie in Southern Ijaw Area.
Also affected were Ekeremor main town, Abukoegede in Tamogbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Kaiama and Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Anibeze Community in Sagbama Local Area.
Dickson urged the officials of SEMA to work with the council chairmen for the distribution of relief materials to victims to ameliorate their sufferings.
He also directed the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, to mobilise health officials to provide immediate medical intervention in order to avoid any possible outbreak of epidemics in the affected areas.
The governor appealed to those living in flood prone areas to immediately vacate and move to safer places or camps that were already set up by SEMA. (NAN)
OOC/PD/JCE
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Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Chukwudi Ekezie

NSCDC arrests 21 suspects for various offences in Edo

Arrest

By Deborah Coker
Benin, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Edo says it has arrested 21 suspects for various offences in the state from July to date.

State Commander of the Corps, Makinde Ayinla, disclosed this  in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Thursday         .

Ayinla said that three of the suspects were arrested for vandalising the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) cabbles in Uromi in Esan North East Local Government Area.

He said the other 18 suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from cult activities to car snatching and armed robbery.

He said that the command had within the period also sealed two Private Guard Companies (PGC) for illegal operations.

The commander also said that the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit of the command  had resolved four out of the five cases it handled, with one ongoing.

He said that the Anti Vandal Unit of the Command had within the period seized and destroyed 23,000 litres of adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products.

He said that the Anti Fraud Unit of the command too recovered about N2.5 million from victims of fraud, and that the unit handled 25 cases which led to the recovery of the amount.

Ayinla also stated that the Anti Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration unit had rescued a six-year-old minor who attempted to commit suicide due to maltreatment from her mother.

He said the victim had been handed over to the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, due to the confession of the mother of being a single parent with no means of livelyhood. (NAN)
DCO/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf