Blog

NAN-H-23
Piracy
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Transportation is working toward domesticating international maritime convention to curb armed robbery and piracy along Nigeria’s maritime domain, a Director in the ministry, Mrs Ijeoma Chijioke.

Chijioke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the nation lacked adequate sanctions against sea robbery and piracy.

She said the ministry was liaising with the National Assembly to domesticate the international legal instrument to curb the activities of sea robbers and pirates.

“It is disheartening that the menace of sea robbery is still with us; causing economic set back to our country in spite of efforts by government operatives to halt the trend.

“The instrument in our law books seem to have become outdated to cater for the current sea crimes.

“It is morally unacceptable for offenders to be let off the hook and asked to pay a paltry sum as penalty,’’ Chijioke told NAN.

She said that with the AU’s recent Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security, hosted by Togo, countries would close ranks and fight a common enemy.

According to her, the nation’s blue economy, which can trigger development in other sectors, was under threat with pockets of sea robberies.

She said that potential investors could be scared away if sea robbery and piracy remained unchecked. (NAN)
EUC/AJA
=======

(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi)

Jigawa Govt. warns residents against selling, buying of illegal land

NAN-AE-3
Warning
Dutse, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government has warned residents of Babura Local Government Area to desist from selling and buying illegal plot of lands.

Alhaji Aminu Sani, the Chairman, Jigawa State Urban Development Board (UDB), gave the warning in Babura town on Monday.

According to the Information Officer in charge of the local government area, Alhaji Sunusi Sulaiman, the chairman gave the warning when he inspected a site where the state government planned to build Model Village (Estate) in the council.

Sani, however, accused some traditional rulers in the area of conniving with some officials of the council to illegally allocate plots of land to unsuspecting buyers in the area.

He added that the traditional rulers and the officials allegedly allocated illegal plots of land in Akuja and Mataya quarters.

According to him, the officials and community leaders also allegedly allocated land near Eid ground, grave yard and also around the Babura General Hospital.

The chairman warned that anyone who bought land in these areas did that at his own risk. (NAN)
MNB/AFA
Editing by Felix Ajide
================

NAN-H-37
Arrest
Dutse, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN)Hisbah, the Sharia law enforcement agency in Jigawa, on Monday said its raid of beer parlours in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state, had led to the arrest of 34 persons and confiscation of 916 bottles of beer.

Malam Sa’idu Aliyu, the state Commandant of Hisbah, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.
Aliyu said that the operatives of the command carried out the raid on Sunday at Gada and Kanti quarters in Kazaure town.
He said that in addition to the 916 bottles of beer confiscated, 673 empty bottles, four Jericans, two coolers and two jumbo-size pots used in brewing local beer, were also recovered.

The commandant told NAN that Hisbah would continue to fight against immoral acts, including consumption of alcohol and reminded the people that consumption of beer remained prohibited in all parts of the state.
He therefore advised residents to desist from engaging in vices and other immoral acts capable of destroying the society.

NAN recalls that the Hisbah, on Nov. 4, destroyed 238  bottles of assorted beer in same local government areas of the state. (NAN)
MNB/KOO/ASH
=========
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

NAN-ELS-1
Cinema
By Bababjide Awoyinfa
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has commended the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF’s) initiative to use cinema to revolutionise Africa’s social and economic life.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AFRIFF kicked off its sixth year of cinematic celebration on Sunday with the unveiling of a new movie, “Birth of a Nation”.
The star-studded event held at the Filmhouse, IMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos.
In his opening speech, Mohammed, assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s commitment to the growth of the industry.
“I congratulate the organisers of the Africa International Film Festival on what promises to be another successful event.
“I want you all to help me celebrate their commitment to the industry and laudable investment in Nigeria, year after year.
“This is the sixth one, and I am here to assure all the practitioners in the industry and the ever-growing customer base of this industry that the best days are here.
“Before now, maybe the Nigerian Government threw crumbs at the Nigerian movie industry in terms of infrastructure and human capital investment.
“However with the steady growth in the population, we have no choice than to turn to the creative industry,’’ the minister said.
He added that the current administration would ensure that Nigeria would no longer depend only on oil revenues.
“If that is the case, which industry do we turn our attention to? The creative industry, of course,’’ he said.
On employment, Mohammed said that the creative industry had provided a veritable platform for talented youths and entrepreneurs to ply their trade.
“The movie industry has fully accepted to be not just a great employer of labour, especially young people, but also a potential high foreign exchange earner because of its international appeal and demand.
“We are taking the bull by the horn. You have all done a fantastic job with all the support of government and partnership.
“Mr President has formally put his weight behind the creative industry and has promised to do everything that will make it possible for us to transit from a creative industry to a creative economy.’’
The minister gave the assurance that the government was taking proactive measures to provide necessary infrastructure for the development of the industry.
“To this end, we are already in talks with state governments and investors to build studio facilities that would equal those in Mexico, India and the U.S. to make filmmaking easier and increase the quality of our films.
“To make this industry a great success and attract investors and the best human skills, we are going to see not only to the expansion of distribution, but formalising it,“ he said.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Film One Distribution, Kene Mkparu, expressed delight at the large turnout of guests for the event.
“2015 was great, but in order to make 2016, bigger and continental, it is going to open the biggest silver-screen in the whole of Africa.
“In trying to find the right title to open this amazing film festival with, we spoke to our partners, 20th Century Fox.
“We met them just under two years ago, and they got this amazing plan and desire to work with Africa and play a part in what happens in the continental film industry.
“When we reached out to 20th Century Fox to say we wanted this particular title which happens to be an African story, a huge African story, written and directed by Nate Parker, they turned said yes, we will do it,’’ Mkparu said.
He hailed the Senior Executive Vice President of 20th Century Fox in Europe and Middle-East, Mr Paul Higginson, for the partnership.
“He is the most important person as far as distribution and marketing are concerned.
“We wanted the stars of this film to come for the opening, but because of timing and schedules, we couldn’t get Nate Parker, Gabriel Union and whole bunch of them.
“But there is somebody who played a part in this film and happed to be one of our own; I will like to introduce Mr Chike Okonkwo,“ he said.
In his remarks, Higginson praised Film-house and all those involved, for putting up a great show.
“The best way to see film is in the cinema, and the only way you are going to distinguish it from the mobile and home viewing is having great films in great environments.
“If I can borrow the last line of your national anthem, what this film does is it re-enforces why we must be a world that is bound together with freedom peace and unity,“ he said. (NAN)
BAG/ERO/IGO
============
(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/ Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-24
Oil
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) Five men, who allegedly stole 6,730 litres of vegetable oil worth N3.5 million, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The accused are Nnamdi Ezenwa, 52, Nnamdi Akandu, 37, Okpara Garvase, 48, Moses Ezeka, 37,  Ozioma Ejezie, 27, all resident in Onitsha in Anambra

They are facing charges of conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, said the accused, with others still at large, stole 6,730 litres of vegetable oil valued at N3.5 million, property of Transtel Ventures Nigeria limited.

Ayorinde said the offences were committed on Oct. 26 at about 9.10 p.m. at Transtel Ventures Nigeria Limited located at No. 178 Ipaja Road, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

He said that Ezenwa worked for the company as a driver while his accomplices were casual workers.

The prosecutor said the case was reported by the General Manager of the company, Mrs Chenonye Okoro.

Ayorinde said that when Okoro got to the office, she discovered that the mega tank containing the vegetable oil had been broken.

“They stole oil in gallons, but were caught while trying to run away with the stolen goods.

According to the prosecutor, the accused had been in the practice of siphoning oil to sell before they were caught.

“They were later handed over to the police,” Ayorinde said

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The five accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years in jail for stealing, while Section 409 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope, granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case to Dec. 2 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/AOS/TA

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-HE-5
Investors
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) Some capital market operators on Monday said that policies aimed at increasing the participation of local investors should be the priority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The operators told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews Lagos that SEC and NSE should pursue friendly policies that would boost local investors’ confidence, in view of the deteriorating low patronage of stocks.

Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, former President, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that market regulators should pursue friendly policies and strategies that would reinvigorate local investors’ confidence back to the market.

Unegbu said that the failure of SEC and NSE to develop local investors made them to shun the Nigerian capital market.

He said that emphasis by SEC and NSE on foreign investors, to the detriment of local investors, led to their low patronage in the equities market.

Unegbu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Maxifund Investments Ltd, said that the market regulators had not done much to ensure development of local investors, for increased participation.

According to him, market regulators should stop borrowing foreign policies that will have negative impact on the market.

He said that foreign investors were panic sellers that could exit the market at any slight economic challenge.

Unegbu stated that foreign investors were prone to currency fluctuation and price volatility and can exit at any given time, unlike local investors.

Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd, said that SEC and NSE should continue to develop the market to enhance the participation of retail investors.

Kurfi said that more companies should be encouraged to list on the exchange, to deepen the market and create activities.

He noted that foreign investors would not development our market for us because they could exit at any given time.

NAN reports that a turnover of 2.85 billion shares worth N7.42 billion were traded by investors in 16,065 deals last week, as against a total of 873.84 million shares valued at N8.02 billion exchanged in 15,944 deals in the previous week.

The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart with 2.63 billion shares worth N4.94 billion, traded in 10,882 deals.

The ICT Industry followed with 105.40 million shares valued at N52.70 million, transacted in 11 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 36.495 million shares worth N44.162 million, in 446 deals.

NAN reports that the NSE All-Share Index lost 810.72 points or 3.00 per cent to close at 26,170.88, against 26,981.60 posted in the previous week.

Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N9.288 trillion shed N279 billion or 3.0 per cent, to close at N9.009 trillion.

Airline Services and Logistics led the gainers’ table in percentage terms for the week, gaining 19.69 per cent or 50k, to close at N3.04 per share.

Wema Bank followed with a gain of 10.53 per cent or 6k, to close at 63k, while Livestock Feeds increased by 9.59 per cent or 7k, to close at 80k per share.

Conversely, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria topped the losers’ chart in percentage terms, dropping by 14.34 or 75k, to close at N4.43 per share.

National Aviation Handling Company trailed with a loss of 14.18 per cent or 38k, to close at N2.30, while Cadbury dropped by 14.13 per cent or N1.83, to close at N11.12 per share. (NAN)
JNC/PIO/PIO
==========
Edited by Idonije Obakhedo

Police in Niger adopts measures to ensure peaceful Xmas

NAN-DS-1

Police

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Nov. 14, 2016 ( NAN) Niger State Police Command has taken proactive measures to ensure hitch free Christmas celebrations, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, has said.

Muazu said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna on Monday, that various police divisions had been briefed on appropriate steps to take ahead of the event.

The police commissioner added that the command was working with other security agencies to ensure peace and harmony across the state.

He said the early preparation was to ensure that residents move about freely and carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance during the period.

“All that we expect from members of the general public is vital information about bad elements living in their midst,” the police chief said.

The commissioner also solicited the support of stakeholders in mobilising residents to volunteer information that would aid the command arrest and prosecutes criminals.

“We are battle ready to confront any form of security threat, as long as members of the general public are ready to supply us with required intelligence information,” he said. (NAN)
AAG/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-19

SSG
By Deborah Ogedemgbe

Benin, Nov 14, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday sworn-in Mr Osarodion Ogie as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Obaseki, while administering the oath of office, said both he and Ogie had been an integral part of the Edo Project, which they started together nine years ago.
The governor who said that he would always be comfortable and secured with the SSG, described the Edo Project as God’s own project.
Obaseki said he understood the citizens of the state’s high expectations from his administration especially during this present economic recession.

He said that it would require hard work, commitment and sacrifice from all to surmount the challenges and deliver the promises he made during his electioneering.
The governor disclosed that his administration would place more emphasis on governance and would work closely with the Permanent Secretaries in the next six weeks to cut down cost of governance.
Obaseki said that the state government under his administration would not sack any of its staff but rather, would try and get more inputs from them through optimal productivity.
Responding, Ogie said that the Edo Project was still on course.
He urged the governor not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state that voted him to power. (NAN)
DCO/KOO/PAD
============
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa, controlled by Peter Dada

NAN-H-8
Training
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia, Nov.14, 2016(NAN) Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission on Monday acknowledged receipt of over N63.2 million for training of local councils’ workers in 2016.

Alhaji Abdullahi Umar-Waziri, Permanent Secretary of the commission, made the disclosure in Lafia, during oversight visit by the State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He said the fund represented one percent monthly deduction from local government accounts between January and October 2016.

The permanent secretary said that the money went into the payment of regular courses for staff on in-service training, workshops and seminars.

“It may interest you to note that the commission exists on the one percent training fund deducted directly from the account of local government and development areas monthly.

“And for some time now, the amount accruing to the commission has been dropping, reflecting the downward trend of the economy.”

He told the committee that the commission was responsible for appointments, transfers, promotion, discipline, training and manpower development of local government unified staff on GL.07 and above.

Umar-Waziri also said that the commission had acquired a piece of land in Lafia for the construction of its permanent secretariat, and solicited the assembly’s support for the project to be included in the 2017 Budget.

Earlier, Mr Saidu Galadima-Shafa, Chairman of the committee said the visit was not to witch hunt anybody, but enable the assembly assess level of implementation of the 2016 budget.

“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. (NAN)
BAB/KOO/MZA
============
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-15
Theft
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 14, 2016 (NAN) A 36-year-old Sales Representative, Abiola James, was on Monday in Lagos docked over alleged theft of employer’s goods worth N 1.15 million.

James, a resident of No. 9 Bukola St., Dalemo- Sango in Ogun, is facing one-count charge of stealing at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp. Nwosu George, told the court that the accused committed the offence between July and October 2016, at No. 1, Olayinka Johnson close, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

He said that the accused was employed by the complainant, Mrs Johnson Olayinka, as a sales representative, with responsibility of managing her supermarket.

The prosecutor said that the complainant discovered that proceeds from the supermarket were not being remitted into her account by the accused between the period in question.

“Audit of goods was taken and the accused could not give satisfactory account of the short fall,’’ the prosecutor said

George alleged that the accused took the money and converted it to her personal use.

“All efforts made to make the accused refund the money proved unsuccessful as she was nowhere to be found until she was later arrested by the Police,’’ the prosecutor said.

The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 285 prescribes a 3-year jail term for stealing if convicted.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr. A.A. Adesanya, granted the accused N 200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Adesanya said the sureties must be blood relation of the accused with two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The magistrate adjourned the case till Dec. 12. (NAN)

LAW/DEB/AJA
============

Edited by Debo Oshundun and Adeleye Ajayi)