Blog

NAN-HE-21
Port
Maiduguri, Nov. 22, 2016(NAN) Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Tuesday promised to work with the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to establish the Maiduguri Dry Port which was conceived in  2006.

Shettima  made the promise when he met members of the NSC led by the Executive Secretary, Malam Hassan Bello in Maiduguri.

He said the port would  help in revamping the state’s economy which had been devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He added that “if we are serious about addressing the Boko Haram insurgency, we have to fix Borno and the rest of the North East.

“Some may see the Boko Haram crisis as Borno’s problem but there is always a ripple effect when a population centered within a region is either hot or cold.

“Borno is to the North-East what Kano is to the North-West; Borno is to the Northeast what Lagos is to the South-West and what Port Harcourt is to the South-South.

“If the economy of Lagos boils, the southwest will catch the cold.

“Borno is gateway to export of goods to Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Sudan and Central Africa.”

The governor, who said that Borno had the chunk of the northeast population, added that he was glad
that the NSC was committed to the dry port project in the state.

He noted that the project was capable of making huge impact on the economy of Borno, with multiplier effects to the rest of the northeast.

“We will support the NSC to ensure the success of the project,” he said.

The News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) reports that when established, the port will have all the features of an international port with agencies similar to those at the ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country, for import and export of goods to countries such as  Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Sudan and  the Central African Republic. (NAN)
ABI/OSA/HA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Agriculture: women group urges FG to implement Malabo declaration

NAN-AE-11

Agriculture

By Martha Agas

Jos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to implement the Malabo declaration to boost agricultural production in the country.

The declaration, made by Heads of African States in Malabo, Equitorial Guinea, suggests that every member country should invest “at least 10 per cent of its annual budget in agriculture”.

Mrs. Mary Afan, the Plateau Coordinator of SWOFON, made the call on Tuesday in Jos, at a forum organised to review Plateau state’s policy on agriculture.

She observed that budgets of Plateau, and the country in general, had not complied with the Malabo declaration, a situation she said had led to shortage and high cost of food items.

According to her, a section of the declaration also specified that women small holder farmers should be involved in policy formulation and implementation

“We contribute at least 80 per cent of the labour force in the agricultural sector, so our relevance in policy formulation cannot be undermined,’’ Afan said.

She alleged that women were being frustrated from accessing agricultural loans and inputs for rural farming.

“ We, the real farmers are left out; policy makers prefer to give the loans to ‘political farmers,’’ she alleged.

In an address at the forum, Mrs. Rufina Gurumyen, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, tasked women to empower themselves rather than wait for government.

The commissioner, who was represented by Mrs. Charity Dimlong, Director for Women Affairs in the ministry, expressed worry that some women groups were sabotaging the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.

Gurumyen explained that the programme had facilities for micro credits without collateral.

Mrs. Lyop Wanson, a participant at the forum, urged relevant authorities to reduce the levies on cooperative societies so as to boost their participation in the food production chain. (NAN)
MAA/ORO/ECN/ETS

Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye and Ephraims Sheyin

NAN-DS-12

Sentence

Maiduguri, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) A General Court Martial (GCM) of the Nigerian Army has sentenced an army private, Macdonald Chukwu, to 18 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of 89 ammunition while on a pass.

The President of the court, Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, gave the verdict at a sitting in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Adeniyi said that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict committed the offense, contrary to the Armed Forces Act.

“We looked at both punishment provided by both Section 57 sub-section one of the Armed Forces Cap Laws as well as Section 119 of the Armed Forces Act Laws.

“The court, hereby, sentences you to 18 months imprisonment subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided for by Section 141 (2) of the Armed Forces Cap Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Adeniyi said that the court considered the need to maintain discipline in the Operation Lafiya Dole Theater with the ongoing war against terrorism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecutor had told the court that the convict was arrested in May at a motor park.

He was said to have been trying to travel out of the state with the ammunition concealed in his bag.

The court also found one Maj. Usman Inya guilty of abandoning his blocking position against Boko Haram terrorists in Tukumbere village near Bits in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

Inya was sentenced to 15 months forfeiture of his seniority on the rank of Major for the crime.

For a similar offense, one Maj. Muhammad Bello was sentenced to two months forfeiture of his seniority of the rank of Major .

Also one Capt. Christopher Leche, was sentenced to two years forfeiture of seniority on the rank of captain for the same offense. (NAN)

ABI/MAS/LDA

Edited by Moses Solanke/Lawal Ado

NAN-H-112

Council

By Edith Nwapi

Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Legal Aid Council (LAC), Nigeria has launched a “National Legal Strategy” and “Guidance Manual for Enhancing Stakeholders Engagement in Pro Bono Services in Nigeria” to mark its 40^th anniversary.

Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel, the Director General of LAC Nigeria said that the articulation of the strategy and manual was the most outstanding success recorded by the council.

She also said that LAC owed its success to partnerships with international development agencies, especially those that offered technical support through capacity building and trainings.

“In implementing justice sector reform to enthrone international best practice, a more coordinated access to justice and the provision of legal aid to indigent of Nigerians, the most outstanding interventions we had were from partnerships with development agencies.

“These partners assisted the Council to take ownership of the expanded scope of its mandate as stipulated in the LAC Act, 2011.”

Bob-Manuel explained that the mandate necessitated a restructuring of the council itself and with technical support from its partners, was able to acquire the required skills to handle its mandate.

She also said that in 2013, LAC and Justice for All (J4A), in conjunction with Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), restructured in order to coordinate and expand legal aid services in Nigeria.

“The council did not have the funding or human capacity to meet the needs of indigent Nigerians; however, our partners came to the rescue.

“These partners initiated a clearing house system whereby the council collaborates with private law practitioners to expand legal aid services.

“The partnership resulted in the publication of the Nigeria Legal Aid Service Pro Bono Providers Directory, 2015,” she said.

Bob-Manuel listed the partners to include the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), PRAWA and the World Bank.

She explained that UNODC and PRAWA provided LAC with technical support and funding for capacity building in areas such as paralegal and ICT trainings’

“For its part, the World Bank supported the council with capacity building to improve skills, mediation and alternative dispute resolution, paralegal and non-legal training for staff, among other things,” Bob-Manuel said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the idea of “Legal Aid” in the country was initiated by the late Mr Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN) in his book entitled “Legal Aid for the Poor in Nigeria” in 1961.

NAN also reports that in 1974, the Nigeria Legal Aid Association was formed with Ikeazor as one of the founding fathers which this led to the crusade for legal aid provision in the country’s law.

On Nov. 10, 1976, the then Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo promulgated the Legal Aid Decree No. 56 of 1976, which formally introduced the legal aid scheme into Nigerian law.

NAN also reports that one of the mandates of the council is to provide free legal services (pro bono) to poor and indigent Nigerians. (NAN)
NEO/HAS/YAZ
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-111
Bill
Kano, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) ‎Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has signed the Anti-kidnapping, Abduction and Forced Labour Bill into law after its passage by the state’s House of Assembly..

Ganduje signed the bill‎ on Tuesday during the weekly State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the Government House, Kano.

He said that the signing of the bill into law would reduce rampant cases of kidnapping and abduction in some areas of the state.‎

He added that “I am happy to assent to this anti-kidnapping bill as it will help the security agencies in the fight against kidnappers and their sponsors in the state.

“The law has been in existence since colonial era, but it did not provide serious punishment for kidnappers, therefore, the house has to amend it to suit the current situation.”

He explained that under the new law, any person found guilty of kidnapping would face life imprisonment without an option of fine.‎

‎Ganduje also signed the 2016 supplementary appropriation bill of N20 billion into law.

The governor commended members of the state assembly for putting the interest of the state first in considering bills.‎ (NAN)
MNT/DUA/HA
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Edited by Dada Ahmed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-HE-18

Shares

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday lost N13 billion, amid profit taking embarked by investors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation shed N13 billion or 0.15 per cent to close at N8.764 trillion against N8.777 trillion recorded on Monday.

In the same vein, the All-Share Index which opened trading at 25,499.38 lost 38.04 points or 0.15 per cent to close at 25,461.34.

A breakdown of the price movement chart indicated that Total led the laggards’ table with N13.45 to close at N255.58 per share.

Forte Oil came second with a loss of N8.05 to close at N74.62, while PZ dipped dropped 50k to close at N14.49 per share.

NASCON dropped 36k to close at N7.55 and UAC Property decreased by 13k to close at N2.67 per share.

Conversely, Mobil Oil led the gainers’ chart with a gain of N5 to close at N195.01 per share.

Flourmill trailed with 85k to close at N17.85 and Champion Breweries improved by 0.19k to close at N2.45 per share.

Afriprudential Registrars garnered 13k to close at N2.78, while GT Bank chalked up 6k to close at N21.06 per share.

NAN reports that in spite of drop in the market indices, the volume of shares traded closed higher as investors bought and sold 120.93 million shares worth N1.19 billion exchanged in 2,397 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 112.44 million shares valued at N858.54 million traded by investors in 2,532 deals on Monday.

Diamond bank emerged the toast of investors with a total of 18.33 million shares valued at N16.56 million.

Access Bank accounted for 14.64 million shares worth N80.76 million and Transcrop sold 13.71 million shares valued at N9.20 million.

Skye Bank exchanged 10.12 million shares worth N5.07 million, while FBN Holdings traded 7.65 million valued at N23.06 million. (NAN)
JNC/YAZ

NAN-HE-8
Investment
By Raji Rasak/Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The management of Ikeja Electric (IE) says it has invested about N11 billion on the expansion project of its network and replacement of vandalised equipment in the last three years.

Mr Aigbe Olotu, the company Chief Finance Officer, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of ongoing challenges facing distribution companies.

Olotu said that funding was one of the main challenges facing the distribution companies as the price of gas was based on international gas pricing denominated in dollars.

According to him, in the last three years, the company invested about N11 billion on customers enumeration, metering of distribution transformers, asset mapping and Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI).

Olotu said, “Status quo metering which is trading point metering, consumers metering, AMI metering, asset mapping, and all the consumers meters including replacement of vandalised equipment, gulped about N11 billion.

“It is difficult to estimate what has been spent on the replacement of vandalised equipment.

“What vandalism does is that it increases cost of maintenance and replacement; 50 per cent of what we spent is on the replacement of vandalised equipment.

“If my total maintenance gulped N6 to N7 billion in the last three years, half of it went to replacement of what has been vandalised.’’

He said that metering exercise does not end because “as you are covering that gap, new communities are developing.

“Overtime, estimated billing will be decreasing until you get to a point where only new structures will be estimated for the period they are awaiting metering.

“This is because, the law actually says nobody should be connected to the grid until it is metered.

“Going forward, no new estate will be connected without a meter.

“The commitment by the investors is to meter all backlog within five years,’’ Olotu said. (NAN)
YO/ROR/GOK
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Olagoke Olatoye

NAN-H-106
Convocation

By Akeem Abas
Oyo (Oyo State), Nov. 22, 2016(NAN) Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, at its 8th convocation ceremony will confer honorary doctorate degrees on a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and four others.

Prof. Dapo Asaju, the Vice-Chancellor, said this at a news conference in Oyo on Tuesday.

Asaju  listed the  other awardees as  Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkungbe, Chief (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija, Dr Oba Otudeko and retired Justice Timothy Oyeyipo of Kwara State.

He explained that the recipients were carefully picked on the basis of  their contributions to the institution, the nation and humanity in general.

Asaju said that the convocation ceremony, scheduled to hold on Nov. 30, would feature the award of First degrees to 319 students and the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees.

“Of these students, 16 graduated with first class honours, 66 in second class upper division, 126 in second class lower division and 111 in third class division.”

He said that the institution had adopted the top-up programme for students who graduated with third class from the institution to be re-admitted to make better grades.

Asaju stated that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) had also approved the institution’s post-graduate school while enumerating the giant strides recorded by the institution.

He said that the institution would in 2017, establish its faculties of Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Agriculture, while the Faculty of Medicine would start in 2018 at the permanent site.

According to him, the convocation programme includes a medical outreach to Akesan Market, Nov. 25, Holy Communion and Thanksgiving Service on Nov. 27 and the Alumni Lecture entitled “Ajayi Crowther University Brand: The Impact Pathway” on Nov. 28

A former Alumnus of the institution, Mr Olaoluwa Olotu, is expected to deliver the Alumni Lecture while the convocation lecture entitled “Go the Extra Mile”, would be delivered by Dr (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija on Nov. 29.

He further said that a convocation play entitled “Murder in the Cathedral” written by T.S. Elliot would directed by Bode Sowande same evening. (NAN)

TAA/OSA/NKO

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-DS-10

Arrest

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested four armed robbery suspects operating on Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road in the Nsukka axis of the state.

The command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the four suspects were nabbed through intelligence information and that an AK47 rifle and English pump action gun had been recovered from them.

Amaraizu said that the suspects were tracked down by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command.

“It was gathered that the suspects identified as Friday Nwafor and Nweke Lebechi who belonged to a notorious kidnap syndicate operating with an AK47 rifle in Nsukka and its environs.

“They were nabbed by the police with their AK 47 Riffle at a place identified as one-man village, Kwakwa, Abuja, after a serious gun duel on Sunday at 7 a.m.

“While one Umar Garba and Adamu Ibrahim were nabbed by police at their hideouts at  Gariki Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area and Asaba, Delta, respectively on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 in the early hours,’’ he said.

The command’s spokesman said that police had continued their manhunt for the other members of the gang.

“The command has renewed its onslaught against criminals terrorising members of the public to keep the state calm and quiet throughout the yuletide,’’ he added.(NAN)
OJI/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-103
Cars
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) A Lagos-based lawyer and activist, Mr Malcom Omirhobo, has asked the Federal High Court to declare unlawful the purchase of exotic cars by the National Assembly.

Joined as defendants in the suit number FHC/L/CS/1598/16 are the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly.

Omirhobo, who sued for himself and on behalf of the people of Nigeria, raised different questions for the court’s determination.

He asked the court to decide whether the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, applied to all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the government.

He also sought to know whether the Senate and House of Representatives had complied with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 in the procurement of their official cars.

Omirhobo also asked the court to determine whether in the face of the Public Procurement Act, it was lawful for the defendants to refuse to patronise and purchase affordable locally manufactured cars for official use.

He also asked the court to determine whether it was lawful and legal for the Senate to acquire cars at prices twice their market value.

Also of concern to the activist is whether in the face of the 1999 Constitution, it was lawful for the defendants to use tax payers money to purchase exotic and expensive cars considering the country’s economic situation.

He sought a declaration that by the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, it was unlawful for the defendants to purchase their official cars without complying with the provisions of the Act.

The plaintiff also sought a declaration that it was wasteful for the defendants not to have purchased made-in-Nigeria cars as their official vehicles.

In addition, Omirhobo wanted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from purchasing their official cars without compliance with the Public Procurement Act.

He also sought an order compelling the defendants to purchase affordable locally manufactured cars as their official cars instead of importing foreign, exotic and expensive cars.

No date has been fixed for the hearing. (NAN)
UNS/AIB/MVO
(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Mbadiwe Okwor)