Blog

NBMA DG says Collaboration necessary in GMO’s assessment
NAN-AE-6
GMO
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Oct.31, 2016 (NAN) Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says collaboration is necessary in the assessment of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
Ebegba made this known when declaring open a 4-day workshop on “Risk Analysis for the General Release of GMO’s” on Monday in Abuja.

The workshop was being organised in conjunction with the international Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were representatives from Australia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania among other countries.
Ebegba said that the impressive attendance at the workshop attested to the fact that Africa needs the necessary collaboration in the harmonization of GMO’s.
“The workshop is to encourage and build enough capacity among Africans to be able to handle Genetically Modified foods effectively.
“Although we are relatively new in this area, we are nevertheless very vibrant and are giving Nigeria and Africa hope in analyzing the risks and safety measures involved for the general release of GOM’s into the markets.
“The interest of Nigerians is paramount and the agency is there to protect it; so the agency is working round the clock and with relevant agencies to keep Nigeria safe,’’ he said.
Earlier, Dr Lucy Ogbadu, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), said that wide publicity should be carried out to create awareness on the proper status of GMOs.
“ We must make sure this GMO is given enough publicity and Africans are directly involved, so we need assessment and reassessment to be on top of the issue.
“Some people want the public to believe that the genetically modified foods are dangerous and that we don’t have the expertise and capacity to handle it. But this is far from the truth.
“It is for this reason that I am happy that this workshop is taking place and it means that things cannot be produced and forced down our throat because all relevant agencies and experts are working together,’’ he said.  (NAN)
EPA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Recession: British High Commission, Chevening Alumni brainstorm on Nigeria’s economy

NAN-HE-12

Summit

Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Oct 31, 2016 NAN) The British High Commission,  in collaboration with the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria (CAAN), is organising leadership summit geared towards Nigeria’s economic development as its contribution to efforts at boosting the nation’s economy.

The summit, according to a statement by the British High Commission Press and Public Affairs Officer, Joe Abuku, aims  at charting positive and productive way forward for Nigeria’s economy.

The summit is scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

Abuku said it was to reconnect and engage with Nigerians who were awarded the UK Chevening Scholarships between 1984 and 2015.

According to him, the summit with the theme “Economic  prosperity of Nigeria and the role of Chevening Alumni in contributing to Nigeria’s  economic growth”, is the first of its kind.

He said that the gathering would draw on key Chevening Alumni in business, government, the media and other sectors to discuss a way forward for Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

He reported the British High Commissioner to Nigeria Paul Arkwright  as saying that the summit would provide ideas to help to overcome economic challenges.

“The global oil price slump has put the Nigerian economy under immense strain, but has also focused attention on opportunities for diversification and structural reform to expand Nigeria’s non-oil export base.

“The UK is providing Nigeria with support in a variety of ways, one of which is drawing on our Chevening Alumni network.

“The network, made up of some of the brightest minds in different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, is expected to develop ideas to overcome the current economic challenges.”

According to Arkwright, solutions that are owned and driven by Nigeria and Nigerians will have the best chance of achieving lasting success.

Arkwright expressed confidence that the summit would be an excellent opportunity to chart a positive and productive way forward.

CAAN  was established in 2012 to provide a forum for members to network and make sound contributions to important national and international issues while promoting links between the UK and Nigeria.

The discussions at the summit, according to Abuku, will feature plenary sessions and panel discussions with alumni and external experts around current economic realities, policies and the Nigerian business terrain.

He said there would also be discussions around diversification into non-oil sectors, opportunities and challenges across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Some Alumni speakers and panelists expected include John Momoh ,CEO Channels TV; Adesola Adeduntan ,CEO, First Bank Group and  Sani Muhammed, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Kaduna State.

Others are former Minister of Youths and Sports Bolaji Abdulahi and Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, Amina Oyagbola(NAN)

IAA/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-H-20

Sanitation

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA) has appealed to residents of the state to take environmental sanitation seriously, to reduce the spread of diseases.

“Taking sanitation seriously will definitely reduce diseases among residents of Enugu State,’’ the Executive Director of the agency, Mrs Amaka Anajemba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.

She argued that regular environmental sanitation would reduce the amount of money spent by individuals, families and government on healthcare.

“It will also save the time spent on attending to the sick us,’’ she added.

The executive director commended volunteers, who participated in the last sanitation campaign in the state, pleading with other residents to join the campaign.

According to her, participating in sanitation should be everyone’s responsibility, to help government to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.

She also applauded members of the National Youth Service Corps for their contributions toward making the environmental clean-ups successful.

Anajemba charged individuals and groups to join hands with ESWAMA to make Enugu State a showpiece of cleanliness in the country. (NAN)

OJI/VIV/SN

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Silas Nwoha

NAN-AE-5
Ethanol
Calabar, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) Mr Augustine Oqua, the Special Assistant to Gov. Ben Ayade on Religious Matters, says the proposed Cross River Ethanol Processing Plant will be completed in December.
Oqua told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Monday that more than anything else, the state government is committed to the actualization of the project, which is located in Obudu Local Government Area of the state.

The aide said the ethanol project would serve as an alternative revenue source for the state.
He said: “We are on course. Right now the parts for the plant are being imported to the country.

“And I am sure that by December, everything about the plant will be completed and the ground-breaking ceremony with hold.
“The governor is not relenting on the project; he is the facilitator of the project and he is committed to ensuring its actualization.’’
Oqua, who is the state Chairman of Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria (CGAN), stated that as the second largest producer of cassava in the country, Cross River is ready to fully take advantage of its position to diversify its economy.
“Our government is targeting agriculture as the mainstay of the state’s economy and with cassava, we will definitely realise that target,’’ he said.
He explained that many countries of the world have used ethanol in many ways to grow their economy.
“We can also achieve that in Nigeria beginning with Cross River as a pilot state,’’ he stated.
NAN reports that the project is estimated to cost the state government more than N500 million. (NAN)
BEN/YEE/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-S-10

Experience
Dhaka, Oct.31, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) England captain Alastair Cook said a lack of experience on the subcontinent cost his team dearly, as they fell to a first-ever test defeat by Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

England suffered an astonishing collapse at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, losing 10 wickets in a single session in their second innings.

And were all out for 164, while chasing 273 for victory on the third day of the second and final test.

Next up for Cook is a five-match test series in India, starting on Nov. 9, on spin-friendly pitches similar to the one England struggled to come to terms with in Dhaka.

“Probably, today, we showed our inexperience in these conditions,” Cook said.

“We’ve got to learn fast, there’s a lot of talent, the experience will help us if we can take things out of it.

“We had our chances here. Yesterday evening, we didn’t bowl great and often lost too many wickets early.”

The skipper also pointed out how England had contributed to their own downfall with some uncharacteristic generosity in the field, but backed his team to get back on track.

“When the ball got rolling, we couldn’t stop it,” he added. If I’m honest they shouldn’t have been chasing 270, we had four or five chances.”

Cook said he had no regrets about the series, which was dogged by security concerns in the lead up, and made a case for England to keep visiting the subcontinent country. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-H-26

PDP

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Oct.2016 ( NAN) The Niger State Chairman of People Democratic Party ( PDP), Alhaji Tanko Beji, on Monday urged supporters of the party not to be intimated by the ongoing probe of the administration of former Governor Babangida Aliyu.

Baji assured party supporters that the former administration followed due process in all official transactions it carried out during its eight-year tenure.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna that the party and all former officials under investigation have documents to support their actions.

” We have documents to back up all our financial transactions for both state and local government projects executed by our administration.

” Our supporters have nothing to fear as we run a transparent government free from corruption and have absolute confidence on our judiciary ” he said.

Beji confirmed that commissioners, special advisers, and local government chairmen have been invited by the EFCC on several occasions over allegations made by the present administration in the state.

“We are fully prepared to answer any action taking by our administration as the records are always available,” he said.

He advised party supporters to remain focussed and continue to promote the lofty ideals of the party at the grassroots.

The state PDP chairman advised the ruling APC administration to work towards providing democracy dividends rather than embarking on probe of the last administration.

“We expect to see the provision of basic infrastructure that will improve the living condition of Niger people in the areas of qualitative health care services, water supply, job creation and sound education for our children,” Beji said.(NAN)
AAG/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

China urges EU to fulfill obligations under Beijing’s WTO accession protocol

NAN-F-6
Protocol
Beijing, Oct. 31, 2016 (Xinhua/NAN) China hopes the EU can fulfill its obligations under Article 15 of the Protocol on China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in due time, a senior diplomat said on Monday.

“These are the EU’s international obligations and promises,” said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing at a news briefing on the upcoming visit by Premier Li Keqiang to Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Russia.

During his stay in Latvia, Li will attend the Fifth Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (16+1) in Riga.

He stressed that China has fulfilled its promises since it entered the WTO in 2001

Liu said the EU has obligations to keep its promises, too.

“We hope the EU can neatly and cleanly fulfill its WTO obligations without any additional conditions by Dec. 11, we will wait and see,” Liu said.

WTO obligations require the EU to end its “surrogate country system” by Dec. 11, under which costs of production in a third country are used to calculate the value of products from non-market economies.

When asked whether China will “press” central and eastern European countries on the issue, Liu said China “will not press the 16 countries but negotiate with them.”

“As there are 11 EU members among the 16 central and eastern European countries, these countries will certainly state their stances within the EU.

“We hope they will make the right decision and prompt the EU to fulfill the obligations in due time,” Liu said.

As for granting China market economy status, Liu said China holds that Article 15 of China’s WTO accession is unrelated to the issue of China’s market economy status.

“The status of market economy is a political decision. There is no international standard for this,” Liu added.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Oct. 21 after a two-day EU summit that the EU member states “have to” comply with Article 15 of the Protocol on the Accession of China to the WTO.

Currently, the EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second largest trading partner after the U.S. (Xinhua/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-17
Kalu
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday charged former Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia with money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Kalu is charged alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., and his former Commissioner for Finance, Jones Ude, on 34 counts bordering on money laundering.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the plea, counsel to the accused, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), urged the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, to allow the accused to continue with an earlier bail condition.

Ozekhome informed the court that the accused had earlier been arraigned before Justice Nyako, Adamu Bello and Uweh, all of Abuja Federal High Courts before they were re-arraigned today.

The prosecutor, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi, did not oppose the submission of defence counsel.

Adebisi, however, added that EFCC was only interested in the justice of the case which included the trial of the accused persons.

Idris consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 12 and 13 for trial and ordered that the accused continue with the subsisting bail terms.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005.

Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, now FCMB, N200 million.

The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

In one of the counts, his company (Slok Nig Ltd) and one Emeka Abone, who is said to be at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account N200 million, on behalf of the first accused.

They were alleged to have utilised Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Finland Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

In counts one to 10, the accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia State Government.

Cumulatively in all the counts, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the Abia State Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005.

It is also said to have contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering Act of 1995 as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990. (NAN)
UNS/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-16
Robbery
Akure, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered the remand of a 20-year-old student, Segun Adeoye, at the Olokuta Prison’s custody over an alleged armed robbery of goods worth N3,675,000.
Adeoye is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and possession of firearms.
Magistrate Sunday Adedapo ordered the accused to be remanded pending the receipt of legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).
He also ordered that the original copy of the case file should be sent to the State Chief Registrar for safe keeping.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Pelumi Adejuwon, had told the court that the accused and others at large were armed with a locally-made single barrel gun and other offensive weapons when they carried out the attack.
“The accused and others at large attacked and stole a Toyota Yaris saloon car marked as BX 244 RBC valued at N3,500, 000.
“Other items stolen by them are: a Nokia Lumia handset valued at N25,000, a Samsung camera valued at N50,000 and N100,000.
“Some food stuffs and other valuable, property of one Mrs Faturoti Sharon,’’ he said.
Adejuwon said that the accused failed to give satisfactory account of how he came about the locally-made single barrel gun found in his possession.
The prosecutor alleged that the accused committed the offence on March 30, 2016 at about 9 p.m., at Palmgrove Street, Ondo town in Ondo State.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 6(a) & (b), 1 & 2(a) & (b) and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearm (special provision) Act Cap Rii Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The plea by Mr Habib Bidmus, counsel to the accused, was not taken by the court.
The court then adjourned the case till Nov.28 for first review and legal advice. (NAN)
OMA/DEB/PAD
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Edited by Debo Oshundun, controlled by Peter Dada

NAN-H-15

Security
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Monday said it had commenced the perimeter fencing of public primary schools in the state, to beef-up their security.

Mr Seye Adelusi, Public Relations Officer of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the fencing was part of the strategy of the board to tackle insecurity in the schools.

He said work had begun in most of such schools either in the outskirts of towns, villages and the riverine areas of the state and would be extended to all nooks and crannies.

The Public Relations Officer said that the board was also working to ensure that all schools in the state would be manned by security guards, both day and night.

“We have begun the construction of perimeter fencing in some of our schools in the rural areas, to beef-up their security.

“The board is working on recruiting security guards in all our schools, as well as increasing the personnel in schools, where they are short-staffed,’’ he said.

Adelusi also told NAN that the board was strategising to recruit security guards in schools where none existed, as well as increasing the number, where needed.

He said the board was also collaborating with the Nigerian Police, to ensure adequate security in and around the schools.

Adelusi said that some officials have been assigned to carryout daily monitoring of the schools.

“The board is also planning to recruit security guards in public schools where they are lacking, to protect the children in such schools.

“We are also collaborating with other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, Neighborhood Watch and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to boost security in the  schools,’’ he said.

NAN reports that some of the schools under construction include the African Church Primary Schools I and II, Ile-Iwe, Meiran, and Community Primary School, Agbado-Okeodo. (NAN)
OOG/PIO/PIO
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Edited by Idonije Obakhedo