Blog

NAN-AE-3

Farmers

By Kudirat Ogunyemi

Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The National Coordinator, Zero Hunger Nigeria Commodity Association, Dr Tunde Arosanyin, on Friday advised the Federal Government to provide special funds to buy farmers’ products across the country.

Arosanyin, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, urged the Federal Government to buy up these products in order to have a reserve in case of shortage and to avoid high prices.

He said that essential commodities like rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea among others should be mopped up and put in silo to be sold to the public in times of scarcity.

”If Government fails to do this, it means the farmers are exposed to sell directly to people that are coming from Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Benin Republic and other neighbouring countries.

”Though we have been supporting them (neighbouring countries) over the years; but it should be regulated so that we do not sell all our produce and then starve as a nation.

”We should work with data that is precise and accurate on our population and we must know our consumption capability, and if we are able to meet up our capability we can now sell our surplus,” he said.

The national coordinator said the measure would cushion the effect of the current inflation rate which the National Bureau of Statistic put at about 18.3 per cent.

He said that stakeholders should use the opportunity of the ongoing harvest period of crops by the farmers to plan for the future.

”The produce can be stored for the second quarter next year. From March to April, government can begin to release again to the market at subsidised prices to citizens.” (NAN)

ROK/MOL/IS
==========
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-HE-5
Insurance

By Wunmi Ashafa

Lagos, Nov.25, 2016 (NAN) The Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, has appealed to the management of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) in the country to pay their premium contributions promptly.

Ibrahim made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at the NDIC’s 2016 Sensitization Workshop for operators of Primary Mortgage Bank (PMBs) on Friday in Lagos.

The workshop has “Implementing Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS) in Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) in Nigeria” as theme.

He said that the appeal became necessary because records indicated that 15 out of 42 PMBs were yet to meet their premium obligation.

The managing director said that achieving sustainable growth and development for insured institutions depended largely on the premium contributions of PMBs.

Ibrahim said that the corporation was the sole agency empowered to guarantee depositors’ funds in deposit-taking financial institutions in the country.

He expressed the commitment of NDIC to sustain efforts to put insured institutions on the path of sustainable growth and development.

The managing director said that the corporation would continue to review the NDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage (DIC) from time to time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workshop was organised to create awareness on the deployment and implementation of DPAS.

It is also to acquaint operators with modalities for the implementation of DPAS to enhance sound enterprise risk management practice in the operations of PMBs.(NAN)
AWA/DUA/SOA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-34

Women
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organisation (ILO), said on Friday that ending violence against women was about guaranteeing their basic right and liberating them from the ties of prejudice.

Ryder said this in a message to commemorate this year International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

He said that violence and harassment might prevent women from entering the labour market, especially in male-dominated sectors and jobs.

“When a woman is harassed, humiliated or assaulted at work, the very notion of decent work for all is jeopardised.

“The ILO will continue its work until the world of work is free from violence.

“When a woman comes to work bruised in body and spirit, we must all take a stand,’’ he said.

The DG said it was regrettable that workers, particularly women, are at risk when they are expected to provide sexual services or endure harassment in exchange for getting a job or promotion.

He also said that women were disproportionately represented in low-wage jobs, especially in the lower tiers of the supply chain.

“They are also subject to discrimination, sexual violence and other forms of workplace violence and harassment.

“Violence and harassment cannot be considered part of the job, neither for women nor for men,’’ Ryder said.

He advised governments to focus on transforming gender stereotypes and unequal power relations between men and women that underpin such violence.

Meanwhile, some workers in Lagos have supported the call by the ILO to eliminate violence in work places and urged all stakeholders to take a stand against it.

The workers made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Ms Maltida Ogundele, a gender activist, said that assault against women should be eliminated to protect lives and save many homes.

“As a single mother, I escaped from my home because of the constant battering, humiliation and assault both at home and on the street,’’ Ogundele said.

The gender activist said that government at all levels must take action to protect women against domestic and various kinds of violence.

Mrs Nkeiru Okafor, a civil servant, said that gender violence was a challenge that has led to death and maiming of many women across the country.

Okafor said that continuous campaigns and enlightenment should be done to prevent or warn men against molesting or humiliating women, not only at home but in work places.

Mrs Maria Ayeni, a mother of four, decried gender violence and called on both the ILO and the Nigeria governments to ensure that culprits are prosecuted.

 According to Ayeni, violence against women has continued because those involved are not punished and except action was taken, the problem would continue. (NAN)
CHIN/FF/PIO
===========
(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idonije Obakhedo)

NAN-H-33

Theft
By Tomisin Erogbogbo
Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) A 50-year-old woman, Editha Alimario, who allegedly defrauded her friend of 4,500 dollars, was on Friday brought before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Island.

Alimario, who is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and theft, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Nurudeen Thomas, the accused committed the offences between March 11 and May 30 at Cooper Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He said that the accused defauded her friend, one Abisola Kola-Daisi, of 4,500USD, which is equivalent to N1.8million, under the pretext of helping her to get a domestic staff.

He said that the accused refused to render the service and did not return the money given to her for it.

Thomas said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 (1)(a) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs F.O. Ikobayo, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case to Dec. 1, for hearing. (NAN)
TME/PIO/PIO
===========
(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

Erdogan hints controversial underage sex abuse law will be reworked

NAN-F-11
Law
Istanbul, Nov. 25, 2016 (dpa/ NAN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, suggested on Friday that a controversial bill allowing sex offenders to see their convictions overturned by marrying their underage abuse victims would be reworked.

The original bill was discarded this week by parliament amid protests from civil society groups, secular opposition parties and the United Nations.

“I believe that it will come to our parliament again with a broad consensus,” Erdogan told a women’s conference in Istanbul, saying the original draft bill was “well-meaning” but poorly-prepared, leaving it open to misuse.

The one-off measure, proposed last week by members of Erdogan’s ruling Islamic-conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP), was meant to affect some 3,000 men either in jail or awaiting prosecution, according to figures from the cabinet.

The government said the law is needed in order to resolve existing instances of underage marriage and insisted it was not an amnesty for abusers who used force. Critics argued it would retroactively legalise cases of statutory rape.

Under pressure from various corners of society, including conservative women’s rights campaigners, Erdogan had called on parliament to seek a wider consensus on the issue, clearing the way for the government to slam the brakes on the draft proposal.

Report says the legal age for marriage in Turkey is 17, but a court can allow a 16-year-old to marry. The legal age of consent is 18.

There are thousands of underage marriages in Turkey each year, according to estimates by activists, though exact numbers are hard to determine. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-H-31
Rape
By Boboye Moronke
Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) For allegedly raping a teenager, an unemployed man, Quadri Giwa, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at Tele Odunloye St., Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for rape.

The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed at the residence of the accused.

Inuoha said that the accused raped a 15-year-old girl, whose mother sent on an errand to his compound.

“The victim’s mother had sent her on an errand to the compound of the accused, who called the girl inside and raped her,’’ he said.

The offence contravened section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. O. Osunsanmi, granted the accused a bail of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi adjourned the case to Jan. 12 for mention. (NAN)
MTO/ORO/AJA
============
(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-ELS-10
Cakes
Oluwakemi Oladipo
Lagos, Nov.25, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Amid the economic recession in the nation, some confectioners in Lagos have described cake-making as a thriving business that needed dedication to manage, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The confectioners in interviewers on Friday said that though they spent more to purchase items needed to bake cakes, their clients were still placing orders for one event or the other.

Mrs Hope Haruna, the owner of “Cake Buxe’’ in Lagos, told NAN that the requests from her clients for important events or anniversaries still remained the same.

Haruna, who started her business in 2012, said that maybe they would have spent less than they currently were spending if the economy was stable.

“My major customers are parents and guardians who order cakes for their children, nephews, nieces and so on.

“Highest cake charges depend on the type of cake the customer ordered for, while the lowest charge is N10, 000,’’ the entrepreneur said.

She advised upcoming confectioners in the business to be patient and not to expect quick money from the word go.

“They must be patient, creative, willing to work for little or no profit sometimes and be hard working.

“Government should encourage startups and small businesses by reducing taxes and unrealistic expectations.

“They adopt skill acquisition because they cannot cope with the influx of graduates into the already weak system, small and medium scale businesses are the industry’s future,’’ Haruna said.

Mrs Ese Akinbode of “To’Da Cakes’’ said that she officially registered and started “To’Da Cakes’’ in 2015.

She said that the current economic recession had affected the cake business which has made most people to be stringent with funds.

“But real lovers of good tasting cakes will always patronise our business.

“Pricing, taste and variety of flavours are factors that will affect the level of patronage one gets from clients.

“I am a home baker and for now I operate on a small scale, my customers are everybody and those that want to appreciate their loved ones.

“My cake pricing depends on the complexity and simplicity of the cake, but generally, you can get a cake as low as N3, 000 if it’s not iced.

“I don’t think I have found my niche yet, but I will say what makes me special is my eagerness to improve on my skills and knowledge, so I can wow my clients,’’ Akinbode said.

She advised people in the cake business not to give up easily and urged them to continue with the trade.

She also urged the government to organise workshops to encourage small businesses and to also direct banks to support small businesses with low interest loans.

Miss Ayobola Adesina, the proprietor of “Simply Elegant Cakes’’ in Lagos, said that cakes were usually symbolise important events like weddings and anniversaries.

“Even if there will not be anything available on the special day, there has to be a cake to take pictures to remind them of the occasion.

“Even though the recession has made cakes to be less important to some people, others still see it as important and request for smaller sizes,’’ the confectioner said.

Adesina urged bakers not to reduce the quality of their products since it’s their area of core competence.

“Eating quality cake makes your customers to remember the person that baked it.

“My major customers are mostly the middle class.

“The smallest cake ranges from N1, 500 and N2, 500, while others ranged between N100, 000 and N150, 000 and these are mostly wedding cakes,’’ she said.

Mrs Aramide Agbetoye, of “Havilah Catering Services’’ said that she officially registered and started catering business in 2008, but discovered her passion for cakes in 2009.

Agbetoye told NAN that in the course of going about her trade, she realised that the location of the business premises was very critical in the pricing of items produced.

“When a business is situate in a low income area, there is a limit to how you price what you produce.

“Also, no matter how your cake tastes or looks, some customers are just rigid due to their mentality and exposure to pay the normal price.

“I started from home initially until 2010 that I was able to get a good shop for my business.

“Recession to me has nothing to do with my business because it is what I buy that I sell. Everybody knows things are very expensive now.

“Most of my customers come for consultation and how much they can afford on the choice of their cakes,’’ Agbetoye said. (NAN)
OKG/ERO/PDE
===========
(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-30

Competition
By Olayinka Olawale and Egbogota Clara

Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) Students of Olaitan Zion College, Offa, Kwara State on Friday emerged the overall winner of the 14th edition of  the National Secondary School Bible Quiz competition held in Lagos.

The competition, which had participants drawn from the six geo-political zones, was organised by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 100 schools participated at the zonal levels, while six schools qualified for the final.

The winning students, 16-year-old Juliet Udoye and 15-year-old Favour Mustapha, defeated their counterparts from five other schools to come tops with a total of 170 points at the end of the competition.

NAN reports that students of First Baptist Academy, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State emerged second, while Mary Summer Juniorate, Okpofe, Imo State came third.

The General Secretary, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) Mr Dare Ajiboye, urged the students to live exemplary lives in the society.

“You should practice what you have learnt from the bible quiz. You should set example to your peers and conduct yourselves well, so that people will see you as awesome.

“You should love one another and not lust after one another.

“Everything around you should be pure, so that at the end when you go back to your various homes, people will see a change in you,” Ajiboye said.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr Timilehin Tairu, also urged the participants to be agents of change.

“As youths, you should stay away from bad company, so that you would not be influenced.

“You should strive to win the heavenly crown, which cannot be destroyed,” he said.

Mr Olayinka Gbenle, School Administrator, Olaitan Zion College, Offa, commended the organisers of the competition for imparting the word of God in the youths.

Gbenle said the competition, which was highly competitive, would improve the memory of the students and help them become better citizens.

“I am very happy because this is the first time we will participate in the national bible competition.

“I am very proud of the students for their outstanding performance; the bible is not a very easy thing to read and memorise, but the students gave their time and energy to it.

“This is the type of competition that will help reform our society and reduce crime, cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery.

“It is a good thing to teach the young generation the way of the Lord,” he said.

The winners received plaques, bibles and undisclosed cash prizes.(NAN)

ECO/OOG/SOA

==============

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-39
Parties
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it had received requests from 60 associations for registration.

Mr Nick Dazang, the Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that as soon as the commission was through with the processes, it would meet and take a decision.

Meanwhile, some of the deregistered political parties had criticised INEC for re-registering some of the parties it deregistered in 2012 instead of all the parties.

In separate interviews with NAN, the parties said it was wrong for INEC to still allow parties it deregistered to remain, yet it planned to register new associations.

The National Chairman of the Progressives Action Council (PAC), Chief Charles Nwodo, said that the party would head to court again on the matter.

“We went to court at a particular time and along the way, the Judge ruled that we come with a group of political parties.

“He said if we had come as a single party, he would not have granted us, and eventually granted only the parties we joined to head to court.

“But some other parties still went to court and among all the rulings both at the High Court and Appeal Court was that INEC has no legitimate powers to deregister political parties.

“What INEC wish is that if they make any pronouncement, you have to head to court to make them reverse it. That is the situation we find ourselves.

“I believe that if an Appeal Court had ruled on a case, automatically, it has opened doors for mass reregistration of political parties; when a court says you have no right, it means you have no right at all.

“So the alternative for us is to head to court again,’’ Nwodo said.

The National Chairman of African Renaissance Party (ARP), Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, said his party was not ready to go to court for now.

“INEC re-registered only political parties which went to court to contest their deregistration.

“We have not gone to court and we are not in a hurry to do so now. 2019 is coming, we will be back before then.

“However, all the ones that have been re-registered what impact are they making? When we come back Nigerians will know that this is the party that will bring succour to them,’’ Ndu said.

Mr Bala Shittu, INEC Director for election and party monitoring told NAN that INEC had re-registered 10 out of the 28 political parties it deregistered in 2012.

NAN reports that a Lagos Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, Abuja had in 2015 ruled that INEC lacked power to deregister political parties.

Shittu stated that the 10 re-registered political parties were joined in the court proceedings.

“As you know, it is part of the court judgment that ordered INEC to reinstate them, so they were part and parcel of the proceedings and so they were joined.

“The other remaining deregistered political parties were not part of the process.

“There were actually two judgments, one by three and the other by seven; so they were two separate proceedings,” Shittu said.

Shittu said that those parties planning to take INEC to court, perhaps were doing so for different reason.

He said that there was a time frame as stipulated by law within which a political party could take the commission to court concerning deregistration, adding that the period had lapsed.

“You may recall that these court proceedings were not entered last year or even year before last, so the court process has been on but finally it brought this judgments,’’ Shittu said (NAN).
LED/EEE
=======
Edited by Ese E. Ekama

Women activists want violated women to speak out
NAN-HG-6
Women
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The President, African Women Lawyers Association Nigeria (AWLAN) Abuja branch, Mrs Olanike Bakrin, on Friday called on women who have been violated or sexually abused to speak out to avoid suffering in silence.

Bakrin said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of violence against Women.

She said women undergoing any form of violence should open up in spite of the intimidation or threat from their aggressors.

According to her, violence has a significant impact on the health and well being of women in the immediate and long term, hence the need to alert the appropriate authorities for action.

“The long term health impacts of such act include gastro- intestinal disorders associated with stress, headaches, back pains, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure.

“Anyone experiencing any form of violence should speak out, because you can be assisted when you call for help, but if you keep quiet, such violent conduct will continue,’’ Bakrin said.

She said the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP 2015), constituted all forms of violence in private and public life and prohibits the different types of violence.

Bakrin said the law covers physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices and discrimination against persons.

She said it provides maximum protection and effective remedies for offenders with commensurate offences committed.

Bakrin said the day would be celebrated globally for 16 days of activism against Gender-based violence campaign, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10th.

The theme, ‘Strengthening the Nigerian legal framework for effective prosecution of gender based violence’` is aimed to bring together various stakeholders and members together to discuss on way forward.

The President of Partnership for Rural Women Development in Nigeria, Hajiya Zainab Mohammed, who also spoke, said there was need for more awareness of the VAPP bill among women as many are dying ignorantly.

She said that the psychological consequences could be as serious as the physical effects, adding that immediate health impact may include physical injuries, miscarriages, hearing or vision loss.

Mohammed advised victims should always call appropriate authorities when neighbours and children are in danger.

“As neighbours at home, there may be many reasons you can suspect violence act, you may have heard noises which have alarmed you, incidents or injuries which have caused your suspicion.

“Therefore, the Nigerian Police, Religious institutions like mosques, churches, and traditional rulers should create an enabling environment to help and intervene in matters regarding women who are oppressed in their communities,’’ Mohammed said.

She said the law had boost the confidence of the citizens to seek help against all forms of violence regardless of sex, age, culture tribe or religion, adding that more still needs to be done.

The Coordinator , Change Managers International Network (CMI), an NGO Mrs Nendi Ohah. said the women and girls are particularly vulnerable in situations of conflict and emergency, when violence, extortion, trafficking, exploitation and many forms of gender-based violence escalate.

She added that most victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation are women and girls, adding that all hands must be on deck to put an end to violation of women. (NAN)
(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)