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  • NNPC GMD tasks association on expansion of pipeline venture

    Pipeline
    By Edith Ike-Eboh
    Abuja, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation  (NNPC) has urged the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN)  to proffer solutions that could lead to a dramatic change and expansion of pipeline business in Nigeria.
    Dr. Maikanti Baru, NNPC  Group Managing Director challenged  the association  while Delivering  Keynote address at the Nigerian International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference (NIPITECS 2018) on Tuesday in Abuja.
     According  to a statement by its spokesman,  Mr Ndu Ughamadu,  Baru said  that such solution must be able to resolve the challenge, which has hindered the growth and viability of pipeline venture in the country.
    Baru explained that emphasis should not be on what had been done in the past but to seek quicker, better, cheaper and more effective ways of how things should be done to achieve the feat.
    ‘’The poser I will like the conference to address is: Is cost really an inhibitor or is it the security challenges or financial models that are not properly structured and above all how do we make the pipeline business a financially viable investment?
     “How do we build partnership with the required technical expertise to assemble new technology based-industries that are cheap to operate and can deliver products that are both locally and internationally marketable?” he said
    He also wondered if Nigeria had a financially capable environment that could provide funds at rates that would be competitive and low enough to produce adequate returns.
    He averred that the answer to these posers would enable NNPC restructure and develop policies that would encourage infrastructure development in the country.
    The GMD further noted the reason the corporation had resorted to contractor-financing of its pipeline was to get around the prevalent funding challenge in the country.
    He added that it would enabled the corporation to aggressively build the pipeline infrastructure within the Gas Master Plan as exemplified in the recent award of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and all ongoing downstream pipeline infrastructure rehabilitation effort.
    Earlier,  Mr Geoff Onuoha, Chairman of PLAN, expressed delight at the high level of support accorded the association by the NNPC management.
    He assured stakeholders that the pipeline professionals would not only pick up the gauntlet and tackle the challenge posed to the group by the NNPC GMD, but would continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure the in-country viability of pipeline business.
    Also,  Mr Chidi Izuwah, the Acting Director General Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), commended the NNPC Management for embracing the contractor-financing model in the AKK project.
    He noted that such an option should be replicated wholesomely in respect of other mega industry projects.(NAN)
    ENO/AFA
    =======
    Edited by Felix Ajide

  • Amaechi tasks Africa on development of acceptable own ports standard

    Amaechi tasks Africa on development of acceptable own ports standard

    Standard
    By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
    Abuja,  Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Transportation,  Rotimi Amaechi, said on Tuesday that African continent should come together to develop their own ports to compete with any other standard in the world.

    Amaechi made this assertion while chairing the session at the ongoing International Association of Port and Harbour (IAPH) African regional conference organised by Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) in Abuja.

    He said that trade and ports development was essential for the economic growth of any nation.

    He said that Africa can also develop their own global standard that can compete with European standard, which would stop every other countries forcing their standard on Africa.

    According to him,  the global standard will be such a one that will allow other continents meet up with the requirements that can facilitate trade within countries globally.

    “Trade facilitation is essential to economic growth and economic growth leads to employment; I have had an argument with Chinese company on rail about international standard and they ask what is international standard?.

    ” At the end of the day we realised that international standard was the European standard, from Canada upward they have their own standard, in part of Asian they also have their standard, so why can’t us as African have our own standard.

    “It is only important that the standard must be able to compete with other global standard,  once we can compete at that level it becomes international standard, but because we are not properly developed, everyone is forcing their own standard on us.”

    Amaechi said that the global standard would consider other tools for competition, so that port managers can trade effectively within and outside Africa.

    He said that IAPH is an organisation whose mission is to promote the interest of ports worldwide through strong member relationships, collaboration and information-sharing, which will help to resolve common issues and continually improve on service of ports to the maritime industries.

    The minister said some of the strategies the association employs to achieve its mission includes strengthening relationship among the member ports by facilitating interactions, dialogue, problem-solving and formulating of best practices.

    He said that the programme would create platforms, focused on resolving complex port and maritime industry concerns and building greater efficiency and sustainability for ports worldwide.

    Amaechi, however, listed scarcity of funds as the major challenges hampering the multi-modal connectivity in Nigeria from rail,  road and port expansion. (NAN)
    TY/OSA/AFA
    Edited by Shittu Obassa/Felix Ajide

  • PDP presidential primaries : Saraki, Bafarawa promise good governance

    PDP presidential primaries : Saraki, Bafarawa promise good governance

    Aspirants

    By David Adeoye

    Ibadan, Sept. 18,2018(NAN) Ahead of the People’s Democratic Party( PDP) presidential primary election, Sen. Bukola Saraki and Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, have promised to provide good governance if given the party’s ticket and eventually win the presidential election in 2019.

    In separate meetings with the Oyo State delegates of the party in Ibadan on Tuesday, the duo said they possessed intellectual and administrative capacity to lead the country.

    Saraki said it was time for Nigerians to elect leaders that have the ability, capacity and courage to lead Nigerians.

    He said other countries of the world choose their leaders based on ability to lead, ”not on sentiment, religion or tribe”.

    He promised to provide effective leadership and rule the country in a way that every Nigerian would benefit from his administration.

    “I know that other PDP aspirants have visited Oyo State but let them be aware that Bukola Saraki is your son and you will all vote for him during the party primary,” he said.

    Earlier, Bafarawa said he was not seeking the presidential ticket to acquire wealth but to serve Nigerians and revive the nation’s economy.

    He said his achievements during his tenure as the Governor of Sokoto State remained unbeatable, saying his experience would make him to rule the country successfully.

    He appealed to all the delegates from Oyo State to cast their votes for him during the forthcoming party presidential primary.

    The Chairman of PDP in the state, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, commended the two aspirants for their maturity in wooing the delegates.

    Mustapha urged them to put the interest of the party above other things, saying the success of the party in 2019 general elections should be the priority of all PDP members.(NAN)

    DAK/GOM/AMY
    ==========
    Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam and Abdullahi Yusuf

  • Levy: Oyo govt. shuts  Obasanjo Farms, 12 others

    Tax
    By Akeem Abas
    Ibadan, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Oyo State Government on Tuesday shut down  Obasanjo Farms and 12 others for defaulting in the payment of environmental levy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the business premises were shut by a combined team coordinated by the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue.

    Other companies shut were MRS Oil, Black Horse, Heinemann Educational Books, Lister Flour Mills, University Press Limited, Evans Brother and Brooking House.

    Also shut were Group Medical Hospital, Butterfield  Bakery, Chicken Republic and Rasmed Publicity.

    Mr Bicci Alli, the Chairman of  Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, said the exercise was inevitable due to the failure of the affected firms to comply with the state’s tax laws after series of formal communication.

    He stressed that the enforcement exercise would be continuous, warning all corporate organisations in the state to do the needful.

    “The exercise we carried out today is not something new and not outside the law. It is within the law.

    “We went to restrain some corporate organisations that failed to pay what is due to Oyo State Government after giving them due notices.

    “So we went to those places to restrain them from having access to their premises and it’s going to be a continuous exercise, all through the week and even next week,” he said.

    Alli said that the affected companies were guilty of not paying environmental development levy to the state, adding that some of them had defaulted for two years.

    “We wrote to them and gave them notice to pay, but they refused to pay. It was as a result of their failure to pay that we now embarked on the needful.

    “But it’s so sad that it is not until we have to take this step against the firms that they are now actually coming out to pay.

    “Government is not interested in disrupting the business of these corporate organisations.

    “ Our business as a government is to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and which we have done tremendously in the last few years.

    “That is why you see businesses springing up on daily basis in the state. The government cannot disrupt their businesses unless where it is absolutely necessary,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that the team had on Monday shut 13 banks in the state for the same offence.

    Among the banks affected were Diamond, Stanbic IBTC, Skye, FCMB, Heritage, Unity, Ecobank, UBA, Keystone, First Bank and Union Bank. (NAN)
    TAA/OJO
    =======
    (Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

  • Imo APGA tasks new members on party secrets 

    Imo APGA tasks new members on party secrets
    Members
    By Victor Nwachukwu
    Owerri, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) Mr Peter Ezeobi, the state Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo, has charged new members to respect the rules and regulations of the party and refrain from divulging its secrets.
    Ezeobi gave the charge on Tuesday in Owerri while receiving no fewer than 50 persons who defected to the party from other parties.
    He also urged them to be loyal to the party and join hands with old members to strengthen the party ahead of the 2019 elections.
    He further admonished them to protect and preserve the party’s legacies.
    The chairman assured that the party would provide a level playing ground for all card-carrying members, both old and new.
    “No group ever succeeds without unity of purpose,” Ezeobi said, adding, “I hereby urge you to be loyal to the party and desist from divulging party secrets to non-members.”
    He decried the spate of backbiting among party members, saying that the development was capable of polarising the party.
    He encouraged them to feel free to express their views on any party issues, saying that party interest superceded personal interest.
    The new members who took an oath of allegiance during the brief ceremony, pledged to be faithful and uphold the tenets of the party.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a majority of the defectors were also members of the Imo State Amalgamated Markets and Traders Association. (NAN)
    USO/AMY
    Edited by Sam Oditah and Abdullahi Yusuf

  • NYSC lauds KEDCO for reconnection of camp to national grid

    Electricity 

    Kano, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano state, has commended the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for reconnecting the Orientation campaign in Kusalla to the national grid.

    The state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ladan Baba gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.

    He said that the company also supplied the camp with a new 500kva transformer as an intervention to reconnecting the camp with the national grid.

    Baba explained that the 2018 Batch B stream II orientation course ended Sept. 17, 2018, adding that Corps members were equipped adequately with discipline, endurance and security consciousness.

    According to him, “Corps members have been posted to four key areas of education, health services, agriculture and rural infrastructure as decided by NYSC ‘s posting policy.”

    He charged the Corps members to contribute positively to the ongoing INEC Voters education and other adhoc election duties.

    The NYSC boss commended the Kano state government for the support it has been providing to the scheme.

    NAN reports that the 2018 Stream B orientation of the Corps members ended on Monday, where Corps members for Borno and Kano states had a joint orientation.  (NAN)

     

    AAA /MTM

    =========

    Edited by Tukur Muntari

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains activities for Wednesday

     

    Weather
    By Sumaila Ogbaje
    ABUJA, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that thunderstorms and rainfall activities would prevail over most parts of the country on Wednesday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Tuesday, predicted morning thunderstorms over the central cities like Abuja, Lokoja, Bida, Minna, Ilorin, Mambilla Plateau and their environs.

    It also predicted scattered thunderstorms over Abuja, Jos, Bauchi, and Lokoja in the afternoon and evening with day and night temperatures of 25 to 31 and 15 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that there were prospects of thunderstorms across the region with day and night temperatures of 25 to 31 and 15 to 22 respectively.

    The agency predicted morning thunderstorms over the northern cities such as Sokoto, Kebbi and southern Maiduguri with cloudy condition over some parts of the region.

    It further predicted scattered thunderstorms over the region in the Afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 30 to 35 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, southern states will experience scattered thunderstorms over Abakaliki, Enugu, Awka, Umuahia, Owerri, Shaki and Iseyin with moderate rains over
    Uyo, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, Yenegoa and Eket in the morning.

    “Thunderstorms and moderate rains are likely over the entire region in the
    Afternoon and evening period with day and night temperatures of 28 to 31 and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
    OYS/AFA
    =======

    Edited by Felix Ajide

     

  • Apapa gridlock hampers export trade — NARTO

    Apapa gridlock hampers export trade — NARTO

    Export
    By Uchenna Eletuo
    Lagos, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) on Tuesday expressed concern over the Apapa gridlock in Lagos.

    Mr Abdullahi Mohammed-Nura, the Vice Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of NARTO Dry Cargo section, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the situation was sabotaging call for Nigerians to embark on export trade.

    According to Mohammed-Nura, export bound produce get damaged on transit to Apapa, adding that exporters were loosing fortunes to the inaccessible ports roads.

    He recalled that 2017 witnessed a boom in produce export with many of the exporters smiling to the banks.

    He said that the success recorded then inspired many people to borrow money to shore-up their business in order to make bigger impact on the global export trade in 2018.

    “Most of them have totally lost their fortunes in transit.

    “As a transporter, I interface with many of them and they keep lamenting on the ports roads.

    “If the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) can make use of the Lilypond Ijora, Brawal and Kirikiri Terminals that are empty for trucks to pack, it will help clear the mess on Apapa road,” Mohammed-Nura said.

    He said that those terminals owned by the government could contain over 3,000 trucks instead of them being packed on the roads as has been the case for sometime.

    Also commenting, Mr Abbey Lawal, a cashew nut exporter, said that the road had become a menace for them.

    Lawal said that most of his colleagues who could not contend with the harsh environment had opted out. (NAN)
    EUC/AOM/NKO
    ===========
    Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Nkechi Okoronkwo

  • Alleged N1.6bn fraud: “I acted only as account officer” Dudafa’s co accused tells court

    Alleged N1.6 bn fraud: “I acted only as account officer” Dudafa’s co accused tells court
    Evidence
    By Sandra Umeh
    Lagos, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) An accused, Joseph Iwejuo, on Tuesday, told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that he only acted as an account officer to some companies joined in a N1.6 billion fraud charge preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    Iwejuo, a staff of Heritage Bank, is standing trial alongside Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former presidential aide, on charges of N1.6 billion fraud.
    Also charged are some companies namely: Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Ebiwise Resources Ltd, and Rotate Interlink Services Ltd.
    EFCC arraigned them before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N5.1billion on June 11, 2013.
    The prosecution closed its case on March 16, but the accused opted to make a no-case submission in its defence and urged the court to dismiss the case, on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish any case against them.
    Justice Idris in a ruling delivered in August, dismissed the no case submission of the accused, on the grounds that they had some explanations to make on the exhibits and evidences tendered by prosecution.
    He, consequently, ordered them to enter a defence.
    When trial resumed on Tuesday, the second accused (Iwejuo) stepped into the witness box in continuation of his evidence, after he was reminded of his oath by the court’s registrar.
    His lawyer, Mr Ige Asemudara, resumed examination in chief as follows: “Witness, on the last adjourned date, you mentioned some companies with accounts in your bank; take a look at exhibit A, what can you tell the court about it,”
    The witness told the court that the exhibit represents document brought by directors of the company (Avalon) on the day the account was opened for the company.
    He said that some of the directors as listed in the mandate form of the company includes one Oluwole Isaiah, Michael Agbo among others, adding that the names were then sent to the legal department of the bank for authentication.
    According to the accused, when the corporate account was opened at the time, there was no requirement for a Bank Verification Number (BVN), but when a BVN became necessary, he drew the attention of the directors to the fact, who subsequently provided a BVN.
    The accused told the court that he is not a shareholder of the company, and that the BVN was not generated from his bank, adding that the first deposit into the account was N100,000.
    He also told the court that the said exhibit also showed inflows of payments into the account by some directors like Abubakar Murtala, and one Olugebenga, but said he knew nothing about the inflows.
    The witness said that one of the conditions for corporate account opening is the verification of the addresses of the companies, which he did in Lagos and Yenogoa.
    According to the accused, he was taken to the three different offices of three companies including: Avalon, Seagate and Pluto, and was introduced as account officer.
    He said that such verification visit was conducted only once, “except where there was a change of address or such other necessary changes which would require another visit.’’
    The accused told the court that he was surprised when after seven days in custody of the EFCC, he was taken back to the addresses of the same companies and he discovered that the addresses had changed.
    He said that Seagate, which occupied No. 200 as its office address had what looked like a large hall, and the office space occupied by Avalon had A1 Global Integrated Driving School in its place, while Pluto was replaced by a BDC office.
    The witness told the court that he had no knowledge of the changes in address as the company had not written to the bank to inform it.
    He told the court that he only acted as an account officer in these scenarios, and urged the court to discharge him of the charges.
    Under cross examination the Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the witness, “when were you born” and the witness replied March 24, 1972.
    Prosecutor: “But your school certificate bears June 7, 1974, how come?
    In response, the witness told the court that the date was an error which was immaterial.
    Oyedepo: “I put it to you that prior to April 10, 2003, documents emanating from your school shows you were using documents containing June 7, 1974 as your date of birth.
    Witness: “No, I have said it’s a mistake,”
    Oyedepo asked “who is Micheal Ahunnaya to you and the witness replied “he is my brother from the same town.
    Oyedepo: “He made an age declaration for you before a customary court in Ogun, and you presented this bearing June 7, 1974 as your date of birth to your employer at the time”
    The witness replied Yes.
    The continuation of trial will resume on Sept 25.
    The offences for which the accused are being tried, contravene the provisions of Sections 17(a), 18 (c), and 27 (3) (c) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004. (NAN)
    UNS/AOSMZA
    =========
    Edited by Bayo Sekoni

  • NPA to complete port concession agreement review in 3 mths’ time

    Review
    By Aisha Cole
    Abuja, Sept.18, 2018 (NAN) The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, on Tuesday said that the review of ports concessioning agreement would be completed in the next three months.

    Bala-Usman, who is also the Vice President, International Africa Ports and Harbour (IAPH) stated this in a presentation on “Ports Governance Models- Our Experience” at the ongoing First Regional Conference of IAPH in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government concessioned the ports to private operators in 2006 to encourage Public Private Partnership and facilitate shipping business.

    Stakeholders, including the terminal operators and regulators have been clamouring for a review of the 12 year-old agreement in a move to bridge loopholes in the existing agreement and enhance port operations.

    She said that NPA was meeting with the terminal operators to get their inputs on the review of the agreement.

    “We have an inter-agency which has all the agencies of government that are part of the concessioning process.

    “Also included in the review of the concession process are the Office of the Attorney-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Federal Ministry of Transportation, NPA and technical support from World Bank.

    “Nigeria should expect a supplementary agreement that will be signed with the concessionaires,” Bala-Usman said.

    The NPA boss said that there would be deliberate deployment of multi-modal transportation modes into all ports in Nigeria.

    She said that the mandate of the authority was focused on the business of carriers by land or sea, stevedore, wharfinger, warehouseman or lighterage man.

    According to her, NPA also constructs and develops ports, docks, harbours, wharves, canals, water courses, embankments and jetties.

    Bala-Usman said NPA could enter into agreement with any person for the operation of port facilities provided by the authority.

    On the way forward for improved port operations, Bala-Usman said there was need for strategic decisions on the future of NPA as the ports landlord, while government should provide attractive conditions for direct foreign investments.

    She stressed the need for the implementation of a 25-year Port Master Plan, massive investments in the upgrade of port infrastructure as well as digitalisation of ports operations in the country. (NAN)
    AIC/IS
    ======