Blog

FG to pursue massive local manufacturing, production of goods  – Osinbajo

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Production
Abuja, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday that the Buhari administration would continue to actively pursue a plan for the massive manufacturing and production of goods in the country.

He gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of Chinese investors partnering with Innoson group to invest one billion  dollars in the country at the Presidential Villa.

Osinbajo said the Federal Government would collaborate with business interests who could facilitate the plan.

“Manufacturing in Nigeria is a primary objective of this government; it is a work we intend to do in the next few years to manufacture and produce in Nigeria as much as we can,” the VP stated.

He explained it was because of the administration’s commitment to spur manufacturing and local production in the country that the initiative of Innoson Group to work with Chinese partners was being addressed as a “strategic collaboration.”

Osinbajo hailed the partnership between Innoson and the three Chinese companies: Shangdong Broadcasting Group; Shangdong Cable Interactive Services and Inspur Group.

The initiative, the VP said, “is bound to yield very good fruits and do very well,” adding that the timing was right “as we are at a point that we must engage technological solutions in our development plans”.

Prof. Osinbajo explained the importance of competition and competitive pricing in such an effort.

“In all we try to do, we believe there must be competition, competitive prices and plans,” the Vice President noted, adding the Chinese firms must have taken that into consideration as well.

“We are looking forward to working with you in the next few months to realise the plans that you have laid out,” Osinbajo added.

According to Chief Chukwuma, the Chinese firms have decided to invest the amount in the Nigerian economy within the next 12 to 24 months.

Chukwuma gave the investments intended by the Chinese firms to include a credit facility of 300m dollars for local production and supply of five million to eight million Set-Top Boxes.

The boxes are to enable the country to meet the Digital Switch-Over target of June 2017  in broadcasting in the country.

He announced an investment of 100m dollars to establish technology-based Direct-To-Home Digital Bing Television Stations.

He also announced a further investment of 600m dollars for Smart City CCTV camera and IT solutions for taxation, both using Cloud Computing, and E-Education IT solutions with big data centres in all federal universities and polytechnics in the country.

According to the Chairman of Innoson Group, “every plan to make a success of all these projects has been concluded between our two parties.”

Shangdong Cable Interactive Services is regarded as leading TV operators, and Inspur Group said to be China’s foremost leader in Cloud Computing solution suppliers and IT service provider.

Mr Liu Baoju, the Deputy Minister of the Communist Party in Shandong Province and Chairman, Shandong Broadcasting Group, and Mr Huang Gang, Senior Vice President of Inspur Group, were among the business delegation.(NAN)
DCUIA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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Water
By AbdulFatai Beki

Ilorin, Oct 24, 2016 (NAN) The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Monday launched a N300 million water project in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was under both the low-lift and high-lift pumps scheme at Agba dam water works, GRA, Ilorin.

NAN also reports that some of the old components of the dam that were inaugurated in 1959 would be replaced under the scheme.

Saraki said the project, which was captured in the Federal Government’s 2016 budget, is being done to boost water supply to Ilorin Township.

Agba dam with capacity of three million galons per day is complementing the Asa dam with 25 million galons capacity per day.

The Senate President equally inaugurated the Pakata- Ubandawaki-Alaaya road project.

Saraki, who was represented at the two events by the Director-General, ABS constituency office, Alhaji AbdulWahab Issa, said the projects were in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the electorate.

He assured Kwarans that his intervention projects, especially road construction, will spread to every part of the state.

Shedding more light on the projects, a member of the House of Representatives, Ahman Bahago Patigi, said another N250 million would be spent on the repair of boreholes in Kwara central senatorial district.

He disclosed that N400 million has been earmarked for the provision of solar boreholes in the district.

He urged Kwarans to continue to support Saraki, saying the senate president’s passion for their wellbeing was unprecedented.

At the inauguration of pakata road project, the Head of the community, Alhaji AbdulGafar Ubandawaki thanked Saraki for his kind gesture. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide
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NIMASA

By Sandra Umeh

Lagos, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) A former Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro and two others facing N304.1 million fraud charges in a Federal High Court in Lagos, have indicated intention to enter into a plea bargain.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, before whom the accused are being prosecuted, fixed Nov. 21 for a report on the plea bargain process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, confirmed to the court on Monday that the accused had approached the anti-graft agency to explore the option of a plea bargain.

Jauro, Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd., were arraigned on a 19 count on April 12.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of Five million Naria each with two sureties each in like sum.

Jauro assumed the leadership of NIMASA following the sack of an erstwhile Director General of the agency, Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is also being prosecuted alongside others for alleged multi-billion naira fraud.

At the resumed proceedings of the case on Monday, Jauro’s lawyer, Chief Babajide Koku (SAN), told the court that his client had decided to enter into plea bargain with the EFCC.

Koku said his client had already commenced talks with the EFCC.

The prosecutor, Oyedepo, confirmed the development to the court.

Consequently, Olatoregun directed the parties to proceed with the plea bargain and ensure that the process went on without delay.

The court adjourned till Nov. 21 for the parties to return to court to give a report on the process.

The EFCC had earlier accused Jauro and others of conspiring among themselves to defraud NIMASA of N304.1 million between January 2014 and September 2015.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused converted the sum to their personal use.

The prosecution told the court that the offence contravened Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012. (NAN)
UNS/JEO/HAS/OFN

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka//Felix Nwadioha

Addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit requires increased leverage on PPP – Expert
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Deficit
By Angela Atabo
Abuja , Oct. 24,2016(NAN) MrEdward Marlow of Credit Suisse ,London, UK, said Nigeria must leverage on public private partnership to address its infrastructure deficit and attract foreign investments.

Marlow, who is a delegate from UK, said this at the ongoing first International Transportation Growth Initiative Conference (TGI)in Abuja with the theme: “Improving Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Transportation’’.

According to him, the importance of quality infrastructure cannot be overlooked since it is essential for the economic growth of Nigeria and it can only be achieved through the private sector influence.

“The transport infrastructure in Nigeria is a high potential sector and a priority for the economy, thus Nigerian fundamentals will need to provide long term demand for transportation infrastructure projects.

“This is because with a population approaching 180 million and growing number of middle class; many will need more houses, power and road infrastructure which the government alone cannot provide.

“With this, Nigeria’s need to collaborate with the private sector on infrastructure development is becoming more and more important in the current economic environment,’’ he said.

Marlow said that a concise transportation mode was vital to the growth of any economy because a limited transportation structure would definitely be an obstacle to economic growth.

He urged the Nigerian Government to leverage on the private sector to sustain the current level of economy and the rising population and keep investing in the infrastructure sector .

Mrs Joyce Mogtari ,Deputy Minister of Transportation ,Ghana, who spoke on `Intermodal Transportation Infrastructure and Funding in a Developing Economy’’, expressed worry over Africa’s pronounced infrastructure deficit, particularly in transportation.

Mogtari said that these deficiencies constrained gains in domestic productivity and hampered regional integration .

She said Africa needed a transport system that responded to the needs of the society and capable of strengthening global integration in attracting foreign investment while making the region very competitive .

“This will also help Africa to tap regional markets and benefits from globalisation through investment
and trade.

“Thus, we must seek innovative ways to secure sustained funding in the provision of transport infrastructure and services .

“The private sector also needs to play an increased role since they are seen as the engine for growth of the economy, ‘’she said.

She called for the need to seek more proactive and innovative funding mechanisms to ensure that investments in infrastructure and service were sustained to drive the competitiveness of the continent.

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, reiterated the commitment of his commission to support a better transport system that would facilitate safe movement from one point to another.

Oyeyemi said this would in the long run translate to positive effects on the economy, life expectancy, social and political spheres as well as preserve lives.

He said the ideal situation would also facilitate employment, trades and enhance the nation’s public outlook to fast track Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). (NAN)
ATAB/AMY/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-F-21

Suspension

Johannesburg, Oct. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) MTN says it had suspended dividends payouts from Nigeria, where it runs the biggest wireless phone network and which generates a third of its annual sales.

The company reported a slight fall in third-quarter user numbers due to a weaker showing in South Africa, where it vies for market share with Vodacom and Cell Companies.

The telecoms company announced this in Johannesburg on Monday, as the firm faces allegations it illegally moved 14 billion dollars out of Nigeria.

MTN Group’s next chief executive will take over three months ahead of plan.

Rob Shuter, Vodafone European boss, was due to start in July 2017; however, MTN said in a statement that accompanying its quarterly updates that the new officer would now start on March 13, 2017.

South Africa-born Shuter, a banker with risk management background, will inherit a company that is the subject of a parliamentary investigation in Nigeria if it unlawfully repatriated 13.97 billion dollars between 2006 and 2016.

“MTN Nigeria continues to refute the allegations that it had improperly repatriated funds from Nigeria.

“Consequently, MTN Nigeria will strongly defend any action that would be prejudicial to its interest”, the company said in its quarterly update.

The crux of the allegation is that MTN did not obtain certificates declaring it had invested foreign currency in Nigeria within a 24-hour deadline stipulated in a 1995 law.

It, therefore, said that the repatriation of returns on those investments was illegal.

MTN this year agreed to pay a reduced fine of 1.08 billion dollars (N330 billion) to end a long running dispute over unregistered SIM cards in Nigeria.

Shares in the company have fallen by more than 14 per cent to their lowest level in more than six years since the latest issue surfaced on Sept. 27.  (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Idahosa Asowata

FG to develop efficient transport sector, says Amaechi

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Transportation

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to develop an efficient transport system that would encourage investment into the country.

Amaechi spoke on Monday in Abuja at the 1st International Transportation Conference organised by the Transportation Growth Initiative (TGI), with the theme, “Improving Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Transportation.”

He said that the current investment climate of the country was not good enough to encourage foreign investments, adding that an efficient transportation system was imperative to favourable investment climate.

The minister said that the government was determined to open up every state of the federation to rail lines by linking the existing line with the new ones to be constructed.

He explained that the Lagos- Kano standard rail gauge, the Lagos-Calabar coastal line and Port Harcourt narrow gauge were expected to link all the state capitals.

According to him, ”the fulcrum of the diversification process of the current government is that we must develop our transportation system because if we don’t, we cannot diversify the economy.

”You cannot even deal with the issue of solid minerals if you ignore transportation.

”One of the main reasons why most of these investors are not interested in the Nigerian investment climate as it ought to be is because the transport infrastructure is not there.

”We are doing intermodal transportation, but we are conscious of our responsibility as a government to ensure that Nigerians are able to move their goods around and outside the country.

”An investor has agreed to invest over three billion U.S. dollars to take the central line from Abuja to Warri and build a deep seaport there under the Public Private Partnership arrangement,” he said.

Amaechi also disclosed that the government was doing its best to provide infrastructure in the maritime sector, explained that the construction of the Lekki seaport would commence in January 2017.

He said that the government was also addressing the problem of insecurity in the coastal lines to encourage investors to go to other coastal regions to develop seaports.

According to the minister, the Federal Government has contacted a coastal security outfit to handle the issue of sea pirates.

Mr Osita Chidoka, Chairman of TGI and a former Minister of Aviation, called on the government to develop a road map for the provision of efficient transport infrastructure.

According to him, strategic investment in infrastructure will produce a foundation for long term growth.

Chidoka urged government to use infrastructure to stimulate the economy in this time of recession.

He also said that the road transport sector, which constitutes the dominant mode of transportation in the country, was in poor state and lacked regulation.

According to him, both rail and water transport systems are currently underperforming considering the expected rise in population of the country which is estimated to hit 300 million by 2050.

”I want us to, first of all, have a mind-set that we need to use infrastructure to stimulate the economy as Nigeria is talking about recession.

”Government must endeavour to create smart roads and develop drones for small scale delivery and supervision to save lives.

”In the face of increasing population and budgetary constraints, the government should leverage on Public Private Partnership arrangements to deliver modern infrastructure,” Chidoka said. (NAN)
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Obike Ukoh

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Judgment

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, Oct.24, 2016 (NAN) The Supreme Court on Monday fixed Jan. 20, 2017 to deliver judgment on appeal filed by AKAHALL & Sons seeking payment of 265,077 Pounds Sterling (N38.4 billion) owned it by NDIC.

Justice Tanko Mohammed led four other Justices of the court to fix the judgment date after counsel to parties had adopted their addresses.

It was an appeal by the appellant against the decision of the Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal delivered on June 29, 2006.

In the said judgment, the Court of Appeal affirmed it to the effect that the trial court was competent to sit on appeal over its judgment entered based on undefended list procedure.

Chief Chris Uche (SAN), counsel to the appellant, argued that the judgment was set aside notwithstanding that the trial court found out that the case was properly on the undefended list.

In his statement of facts, Uche said that the respondent (NDIC) was a statutory corporation and the official liquidation of Allied Bank of Nigeria Plc whose Bank licence was revoked by the CBN.

He said the Bank was later wound up by an order of court.

Uche submitted that the respondent, among other statutory responsibilities was empowered to take over the affairs of failed and wound up Banks, recovering debts owned by such Banks.

He averred that the respondent was further mandated for dealing with or sorting out the staff, judgment creditors and sundry claimants in order of statutory priority.

Uche said the appellant who had an account with the Allied Bank of Nigeria Plc took out a writ of summons at the Federal High Court, Calabar on Aug. 17, 1998.

“The plaintiff’s claim was for the 42, 500 Pounds Sterling being money due to the appellant as a result of the sale of 50 tonnes of Cocoa.

“This was transaction by the appellant to overseas customers in respect of which payment was made to appellant’s Bank, the Allied Bank of Nigeria Plc.

“This amount was, however, not remitted to the appellant by the said Bank until it went into liquidation,’’ he said.

The appellant had also claimed 21 per cent interest on the said amount from Jan. 9, 1998 to July 31, 1998 amounting to 265,077 Pounds Sterling (N38, 436,212,000).

Uche further said his client had also claimed 21 per cent interest on the whole amount until final liquidation of the debt.

The appellant brought an application ex parte seeking various reliefs, including leave to sue the respondent as a liquidator and to also place the suit on the undefended list for hearing and determination.

The Federal High Court did grant all the reliefs on Aug.12, 1998 and placed the matter on the undefended list.

Before the matter could be heard, the respondent filed a notice of preliminary objection to the suit challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court to entertain it.

The trail judge entertained arguments on the motion and over ruled it and proceeded to enter judgment in favour of the appellant.

The respondent appealed against the decision of the trial court, challenging the competence of the appellant’s action.

The respondent argued that the court ought to have given it time to file a notice of intention to defend after over ruling its preliminary objection.

The respondent’s appeal was decided on Feb.17, 2003 and reported as N.D.I.C. v AKAHALL (2003)31 W.R.N 125 at page 158.

By this judgment, the Court of Appeal had upturned the initial judgment it gave in favour of the appellant and made a fresh order for a retrial

By this time, the Uyo Judicial Division had been created in Akwa Ibom from the Calabar Judicail Division of the Federal High Court.

It was to this new division that the case was remitted.

The court presided over by Justice Gladys Olotu after satisfying itself of proper service on the respondent entered judgment in the appellant’s favour on July 29, 2004.

The appellant, by an exparte motion sought from the trial court, an order of garnishee to attach the sums standing to the credit of the respondent/judgment debtor in its account with CBN.

The application was granted on Feb.2. 2005, and the respondent immediately made an application to set aside the judgment and also to discharge the garnishee order.

The court on July 29, 2005, setting aside its judgment of July 29, 2004 made in favour of AKAHALL & Sons.

The appellant being dissatisfied with the ruling of the trial court approached the Court of Appeal.

In a judgment entered on June 29, 2006, the appellate court dismissed the appeal on the grounds of two acclaimed recognisable errors.

The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge failed to consider certain statutory provisions that were not brought to his notice before the judgment was entered to justified it dismissal.

The appellant dissatisfied with the decision approached that Supreme Court by way of notice of appeal filed Sept.25, 2006.

The appellant had asked the apex court to decide whether the court of appeal was right in affirming the decision of the trial court in setting aside its judgment entered on undefended list.

It also urged the court to decide whether the court of appeal was competent to “Suo Motu’’ raise and decide that the service on the respondent was improper.

Uche, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the decision of the lower courts by upholding the appeal.

In his respondent brief of argument, Mr Ikani Agabi, counsel to NDIC, urged the court to dismiss the appeal on grounds of inconsistency and lacking in merit.

Agabi said that appellant had failed to fulfill a condition precedent to instituting the action, adding that it denied the trial court of jurisdiction to hear the claim under the undefended list procedure.

He argued that the appellant’s nature of claims, especially the claims for interest that was never agreed by the parties also robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to hear the matter under undefended procedure. (NAN)

OMO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

Kano Govt engages rural communities to end polio

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Polio
By Aisha Ahmed
Kano, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government says it recorded success in combating polio because it involved rural communities in the campaign.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Getso, made this known while briefing newsmen as part of activities to mark the 2016 World Polio Day in Kano on Monday.

He said that Kano has not recorded a single wild polio virus case in the last two years, an achievement he attributed to corporate responsibility by all stakeholders.

Getso, however, urged communities to sustain the tempo by continued mobilisation to ensure that all children were immunised to avoid reoccurring cases.

He lauded the efforts of traditional institutions, development partners and the media, in the success recorded over the past years.

The commissioner noted that though some communities were still resisting the vaccine, government has done its best to resolve the issues related to resistance.

Kano joined the world in celebrating the World Polio Day with this year’s theme being: “End polio now”. (NAN)

AAA/OIF/MST

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Stealing

By Ugochi Ugochukwu

Abuja, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday sentenced a 24-year-old housemaid, Margarm Geoffrat, to one month imprisonment for stealing her employer’s jewelries .

Geoffrat, who resides at house 47, 5^th Avenue Gwarinpa, Abuja, was sentenced on a one-count charge of theft,

She had pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for leniency, saying that she was duped by “419” conmen.

“I’m so sorry for what I did. 419 people deceived me and collected all the money and the jewelries, please forgive me,” she said

The Area court senior judge, Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict an option to pay N5,000 as fine.

Sadiq said that the punishment would have been more severe if she had not pleaded guilty, and saved the court the pains of prolonged prosecution.

He warned her against taking to crimes again.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that on Oct. 15, Dosie Iheanyi of house 47, 5^thAvenue Gwarinpa reported the matter at the Utako Police Station.

Zannah said the convict was employed to assist the complainant’s wife in some domestic work but she dishonestly stole her jewelries worth N400,000 and N30,000 cash.

He said that the convict made a confessional statement, and that the offence contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
UGO/ORO/OFN

Edited by Razak Owolabi//Felix Nwadioha

NiMet predicts cloudy, rainy weather conditions for Tuesday
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Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Tuesday morning.

NiMet gave the prediction through its Central Forecast Office (CFO), Weather Outlook, on Monday in Abuja.

The agency predicted isolated thundery showers over Lokoja, Makurdi, Bida and Abuja during evening and night hours with night time temperatures of 28 to 34 degrees Celsius.

It stated that the southern states would experience cloudy morning with possibility of localised rains over Lagos with night time temperatures of 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.

It also predicted localised thunderstorms over Akure, Osogbo, Owerri and Enugu as well as coastal areas of Port Harcourt, Calabar, Lagos, Eket and environs in the evening and night hours.

According to NiMet, northern states will have moderate dust haze conditions in the morning with visibility between 2 to 5 kilometres and temperatures of 34 to 38 degrees Celsius.

”Moderate dust haze condition is expected to prevail over the Northern cities while the Central cities down to the coastal areas may experience isolated cases of weather activities,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Felix Ajide
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