Blog

FG should not allow companies in agric sector to fold up due to non access to Forrex

NAN-HE-12

Tomato

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja,Nov.14,2016 (NAN) An Industrialist, Chief Tomi Akingbogun  has called on companies in the agricultural sector to reconsider their decision to halt production due to  their inability to obtain Forex to import machines.

Akingbogwu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, while reacting to the decision by a tomato company to relocate to Kenya to continue production.

He said given the availability of abundant raw materials in the agricultural sector, there was still alternative means through which the company could package its products.

He said companies  in the sector should look inward to package their products, given the availability of plastic materials that could be recycled to package the finished products.

“An agricultural company should need minimal importation of raw materials; we have plastics in Nigeria that can be recycled to pack the tomatoes.

“Tomato is planted in Nigeria; we know they have to import the machines, but you don’t import machines every month for an industry.

“ Any country that is processing agricultural product  in Nigeria or any agricultural company should be able to look inward and see what can be done.

“Recycling of paper, recycling of plastic, recycling of so many materials can be used to package the products.

“So I really don’t think a tomato company should fold up just because it cannot access foreign exchange, because tomato is a product that should not be imported.

He, however, said it was important for the relevant government authorities to listen to the complaints of the company, due to numerous challenges encountered by industrialists .

He said it was not a good environment friendly indicator that a company that started business some few months ago would suddenly stop production.

Akingbogun said the major problem faced by industries was the issue of multiple taxation, noting that companies were unnecessarily molested and intimated by some security agencies to pay taxes.

He said that government was not paying much attention to the challenges of the industry operators.

“Immediately you open your company for production, the local, state and federal governments will come to shut you down.

“Many industries are going through pains in this recession,  sometimes  we go through situations while we are being attacked by some law enforcement agents  by shutting down hotels and eatery places  just because  they want to collect taxes

“There is so much silence on the part of the government when operators in the various industry cry out on some issues“.

Akingogun said that the Federal Ministry of Labour was not also doing much to protect the interest of the employers of labor, noting that government should intensify its efforts to create enabling environment for  the  industries to thrive.

He said government should encourage manufactures to continue to produce by accelerating enabling environment for industries to remain in the country.

This, he said, would help rescue the country back from recession. (NAN)

KC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-S-6
T/Tennis
By Kemi Ajayi and Modupe Oremule
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) says selected players for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)World Junior Championships in South Africa, will depart the country on Nov. 29.

Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare, Secretary of the federation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that eight boys and eight girls would participate in the event scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7.

“We are preparing to ensure that the country is well represented in Cape Town, where the World junior Championships will serve-off.

“Our players will leave the country a day to the competition,’’ she said.

The scribe added that the NTTF National Championships holding from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19 in Lagos would serve as the final medium to evaluate players’ readiness for the ITTF Championship.

She, however, said that players who failed to excel in the national championship would be dropped and replaced with players who perform brilliantly to represent the country.

“We are also using the national championships that will commence tomorrow to test-run the players to know how fit and prepare they are.

“Any of the players who perform woefully will be drop and replace in order to ensure that we have the best representative in the world championships,’’ she said. (NAN)
KOA/MJO/ENN/MO
========
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Morayo Omolade

NAN-HE-6
Revenue
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Port 2 Command, Ijora, Lagos State, generated N6,657,956,551.14 from January to October 2016.
This is contained in a statement by the command`s Public Relations Officer, Mr Godwin Andishu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
Andishu said N349,075, 728 was realised in January; N605,488,789 was generated in February;N245,151,966 in March; and N461,870,060 for April.
He added that N1,571,662,834 was realised in May; generated N661,330,604 in June; N531,814,240 in July and N453,513,197.14 for August.
The command spokesman gave the September and October figures as: N835,947,743 and N942,101,390 respectively.
Andishu said that the command, under the leadership of Alhaji Abdulkadir Dalhatu, was working tirelessly to improve its revenue profile in the face of falling revenue occasioned by low importation volume.

He said the command had put in place measures to block revenue leakages and woo port users to achieve the objective.
The spokesman explained that the recent redesignation of the command from Lilypond to Tin Can Island Port 2 was a strategy to improve the image of the command for increased patronage.(NAN)

BHB/AOS/PAD
============
Edited by Bayo Sekoni, controlled by Peter Dada

Rivers Election: Ex-militant leader preaches peace

NAN-H-39

Militant

By Azubuike Okeh

Port Harcourt, Nov. 14, 2015(NAN) Ex-militant leader in Rivers, Chief Ateke Tom, has called on the people of the state to be peaceful during the Dec. 10 re-run elections in some parts of the state.

Tom, who made the call in Port Harcourt on Monday while fielding questions from newsmen,  said that peace remained crucial for a successful re-run elections in the state.

He said that it was undemocratic for political parties to promote issues capable of igniting crisis, adding, “ politics should not be a do or die affair’.’

Tom, former leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante, called on youth in the state not to be lured into indulging in violence for whatever reason.

He said that it was more beneficial to encourage peace because violence was capable of making people to shy away from exercising their franchise.

“Parties should be free to hold their campaigns anywhere in the state without fear or favour.

“I am ready to support the holding of party campaigns even in my bedroom, in my village too, every party is welcome,’’ he said.

Tom further called on the security agencies to be very thorough in their responsibilities so that criminals would have no hiding place in the state.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed Dec. 10 for re-run elections into some State and National Assembly positions in the state.(NAN)

AZU/ASH/ASH

NAN-H-29
Adjournment
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over alleged money laundering at a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday suffered a setback, following his continued remand at the Kuje prisons in Abuja.

Fani-Kayode, who was also former Director of Media and Publicity, Campaign Committee of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf.

They are charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 17-count bordering on money laundering.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.

In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

Meanwhile, in counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, now large were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

The EFCC said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

But all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Mr Wale Balogun, informed the court that his client was not in court because the operatives of EFCC arrested him at the last sitting on Oct. 21.

He said EFCC had since then incarcerated his client in Kuje prison.

“My lord, I recall that on Oct. 21, I informed this court that the EFCC were planning an arrest of the second accused.

“And I remember that my lord advised that in view of his pending trial before the court, he should be invited here whenever the need arises.

“My lord, on the said day, after the court had risen, the second accused was arrested within the court’s premises.

“I requested for an arrest warrant from the leader who informed me that there was none to that effect but told me that the order was `from above’.

“The second accused was taken to the EFCC Lagos and kept till 5 p.m. when another other order came from `above’ to move him to Abuja immediately.

“My lord, the second accused was kept in custody of the prosecution for 21 days without any word,’’ he told the court.

“He was finally arraigned on Nov. 10 before your learned brother Justice John Tsoho in Abuja, on a five count charge bordering on N26 million.

“He was subsequently remanded at the Kuje prisons and in view of this, we are helpless, as his bail conditions have not been perfected in spite of frantic efforts by family and friends.’’

Responding, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he was aware of the arraignment of the second accused but added that his arraignment before the Abuja division of the court had nothing to do with the instant case.

He argued that the subsequent arrest of the accused was with a view to serving him with the charge and not to disrespect the court.

Oyedepo urged the court to grant an adjournment so as to allow the accused appear and stand trial.

Justice Muslim Hassan then ruled that “I will refrain from making any comment in relation to the arrest of the second accused in the court’s premises in spite of being granted bail.

“This case is adjourned at the instance of the prosecution to Dec. 12, while the earlier date of Nov. 15 is hereby vacated,’’ he ruled. (NAN)
UNS/KOO/PDE
===========
(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Peter Ejiofor)

Nasarawa Govt. needs N22bn to pay backlog of LG pensioners’ gratuities

NAN-HE13
Gratuity
By Awayi Kuje
Lafia, Nov.14, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Nasarawa state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, says the state government needs over N22 billion to pay the backlog of gratuities to local government pensioners.
Ahmed made this known on Monday when the state House of Assembly committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs paid an oversight visit to the ministry in Lafia.
The commissioner said the money was needed to pay local government pensioners who retired from 1991 to date.
According to him, plans are on top gear commence payment and start reducing the back log of gratuities of local government pensioners in the state.
“There was the need for all stakeholders to collaborate with the government to make the system attractive, workable, attainable and sustainable.

“First and foremost, I want to commend the committee for touring the 13 local government areas of the state in order to get first hand information on the challenges facing the system.
“The state government is also doing its best to address the challenges facing local government system in the state such as absenteeism, corruption, ghost workers, indiscipline, and non-chanlant attitudes to work in order to restore its lost glory.
“On the issue of delay in the payment of salaries and pensions, every body is aware of the economic challenges facing the country.
“At times, local government staff salaries are not being paid in full and we have to calculate the percentage that is going to each local government and to each worker.
“I want to disclose to you today that the state government requires N22billion to settle the backlog of gratuities to local government pensioners in the state who have retired between 1991 to date,” he said.
According to him, transparency and accountability is the watch word of Gov.Tanko Al-Makura administration in order to bring the much needed dividends of democracy to its citizens.
He said that was why there was monthly briefing of allocation and workers salaries in the state.
The commissioner also called on the people of the state to continue to pray for an improved economy as well as for the country to overcome its present economy challenges.
Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Mr Saidu Galadima-Shafa (APC-Toto/Gadabuke), said the visit was not to witch-hunt anybody, but to enable the committee assess the 2016 Budget performance of the ministry with the view to addressing any challenges if discovered.
“It is only when the committee knows the budget details or performance of the ministry in the 2016 fiscal year that it will serve as a guide for the 2017 fiscal year,” he said.

He told the commissioner that the tour of the 13 local government areas of the state was aimed at tackling the decaying nature and to revamp the local government system.
The lawmaker assured the ministry of its collaboration with the state government to push for solutions to some of the challenges facing the ministry and the local government areas. (NAN)
AKW/ESAN/AFA
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Felix Ajide
=========================

NAN-H-38
Lunatics
Abakaliki, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) Chairman of a  Human Rights group, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Ebonyi, Mr Emeka Anosike, has decried the continued incarceration of lunatics and other mentally deranged persons at the Abakaliki prisons.

Anosike, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Monday that there were a lot of mentally deranged persons and lunatics in Abakaliki prisons.

He said that keeping such persons alongside mentally sound prisoners in detention facility, endangered the safety of the latter.

He added that the idea of sending to prison, persons convicted of criminal or other offences, was to reform them and not necessarily for punishment.

According to him, prison officials are not adequately trained to manage psychiatric cases, adding that it is improper to allow an inmate, certified mentally ill, to remain in prison.

“By their training, the prison officials cannot manage the psychiatric problems of these inmates and as a result, it is a violation of their fundamental rights to deny them access to proper medical attention.

“We are therefore appealing to Gov. David Umahi to direct his committee for the Prerogative of Mercy in Ebonyi, to look at the cases of inmates who are lunatics or mentally deranged.

“The release will not only decongest the prison, but also reduce the dangers posed to others who are mentally sound, as well as offer the incarcerated lunatics, the opportunity to access proper medical attention,” Anosike said. (NAN)

ODO/ENN/ASH
========
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu)

NAN-H-11
Transfer
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) A former minister of finance, Nenandi Usman on Monday informed a Federal High Court, Lagos of her application seeking severance and transfer of a criminal charge pending before the court.

Usman is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside, a former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and Danjuma Yusuf, on a 17 count charge bordering on the offences.

Fani-Kayode who was also Director, Media and Publicity of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, was on Monday, absent in court.

His counsel, Mr Wale Balogun said the accused absence was due to his inability to perfect bail conditions, after his arraignment over criminal charge before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

However, counsel to Usman, Mr F.O Orbih (SAN) informed the court of his application, seeking severance of the criminal charges while praying for a transfer of the case to Abuja division.

Orbih said that his application was predicated on the basis of logistics and bearing in mind that the offence was committed in Abuja.

He, therefore, prayed for a long date to enable parties tidy their processes, and ensure the presence of the second accused for the applications to be argued.

Meanwhile, the prosecution, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who confirmed the arraignment of the second accused, said his arrest and detention was based on a different charge being handled by a different prosecutor.

In his ruling, Justice Muslim Hassan, adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for hearing of the application seeking severance and transfer of the charge, and vacated an earlier date of Nov. 15.

The judge, however, held that the court would not make any comment as to the arrest of the second accused after being granted bail.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.

From counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

From counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

While from counts 15 to17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, allegedly made cash payments of N30 million in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
(NAN)
UNS/AOM/MZA
=============
(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Maharazu Ahmed)

Jigawa Govt. trains 192 health workers on childhood diseases

NAN-H-26
Training
Dutse, Nov 14, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government says it has commenced the training of 192 health workers on Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses.
The Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Kabir Ibrahim, disclosed this at the inauguration of the training programme in Dutse on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were selected from various health centres in the 27 local government areas of the state.
Ibrahim said the health workers in rural areas would receive training on how to diagnose illnesses among children.
According to him, the training will also educate participants on appropriate drugs prescription for sick children.
He said that the workshop would focus on common diseases among children such as malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition.
“The training is necessary because a child under one year cannot talk or explain what is wrong with him/her.
“But a good health worker will be able to detect the right medicine to prescribe,“ he said.
Ibrahim stated that the training would help to improve the health status of children and reduce infant mortality in the state.
NAN reports that the training was organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with UNICEF and Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency. (NAN)
MS/MOL/WOJ
(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi / Wale Ojetimi)

 
NAN-HE-3
Commendation
By Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Senate Committee on Privatisation has commended the management of Egbin Power Station over the improvement recorded in power generation and the ongoing transformation of the plant.

This is contained in a statement issued by the company’s head of media communications, Mr Kingsley Okotie, and made available to news men in Lagos on Monday.

The statement said that the Senate Committee Chairman on Privitisation, Sen. Murray-Bruce, gave the commendation during the committee’s oversight visit to the facility.

Murray-Bruce said the turnaround of the facility was indicative of the huge impact the private sector could bring to the quest of transforming businesses, it said.

It described Egbin Power Station as a well-run world class facility.

The statement quoted Murray-Bruce as saying, “We are pleasantly satisfied with the state of the facility which is a first class one and shows the difference the private sector can play in our quest for economic growth and development.

“The task before us now is to examine how the challenges of the sector can be solved with all stakeholders working together to ensure we achieve a stable and reliable power sector.”

Murray-Bruce said in the statement that the privatisation of the sector remained a move in the right direction

He said that the committee was committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the optimisation and efficiency of all privatised assets in the nation, it said.

The statement also said that Mr Dallas Peavey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the facility, listed its post privatisation achievements.

Peavey said that prior to the privatisation of the plant in Nov. 2013, Egbin averaged generation of below 300 megawatts, it said.

Peavey said that the low generation capacity was due to the dismal operational state of its six units and at its lowest point, only two of the six units were partially operational, it said.

It said that the plant had recorded significant achievements in the last three years of privatisation following the successful operational restoration of Unit 6 which had been out of operations for 10 years.

It said that the company had also utilised modern technology in the total overhaul of other units and upgraded the Distributed Control System (DCS).

This had enabled the unit to attain its present peak of 220 megawatts, it said.

It said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was ongoing for Egbin Phase II expansion project aimed at increasing generating capacity with an additional 1,800 megawatts to the grid.

It also quoted Peavey as saying that there had been a significant reduction in unscheduled shut-downs, unit forced outage occurrences, and improvement to unit efficiency making Egbin capable of generating an average of 1,100 megawatts.

“It said this would be achieved with gas availability and restoring the power plant to its installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts by the end of 2016.

Okotie said that the committee was accompanied by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Vincent Akpotaire, and other top BPE officials. (NAN)

YO/BOLA/PAD
=============
Edited by Bola Akingbehin, controlled by Peter Dada