Blog

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Opportunity
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, said that the country had the best opportunity now to turn its economy around.

The vice president said this during policy dialogue at the ongoing 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

He said “we have the best opportunity for now to turn this country around; I think that without a doubt, we have some of the most committed people now.

“The President is committed, the President is honest, obviously one that can be trusted and relies on very competent people he has put together.

“I believe that in taking this important opportunity for the country, it can only be with the active collaboration of the private sector.”

Osinbajo added that everyone had a role to play and all must come together to make the nation work.

He declared that every member of the President’s cabinet was determined to ensure that they turned
the country around for good.

“There is determination to incrementally make things happen day-by-day.

“Sometimes, we may not be getting it right, sometimes it may be wrong and Nigerians are extremely engaging and they tell you that you can’t go wrong for too long.’’

The vice president expressed gratitude that the interaction was taking place “because this is not about anyone or any government; it is about our country.

“All of us should commit to working together to make these happen for our country.’’

He noted that the administration initiated the N-power project to bring in 500,000 graduates to work in the areas of teaching, public health and extension farming.

He added that the plan was to utilise technology to train people, adding that government was investing heavily in that sector as part of its social intervention scheme which was a N500 billion government policy.

On food security, he said government appreciated that there would be bumper harvest this year which could lead to drop in prices of produce.

Accordingly, he said, the federal and state governments were collaborating to build and operate many silos across the country for storage.

“We have a minimum price guarantee scheme and the Ministry of Agriculture has suggested that there will be a buy-back scheme.

“We are committed to silos and buy-backs because without them, the storage of farm produce won’t work.’’

Osinbajo recalled that government was investing the highest money on rail transportation, especially the Lagos-Kano standard gauge and the Lagos-Calabar standard gauge.

“We have already provided our counterpart funding to the loan that is coming from China; we are concessioning the existing routes to General Electric.’’

He said investment in rail was important because some of the nation’s roads deteriorated because of haulage of heavy duty items on the roads.

The vice president described the recession in the country as peculiar because of the lack of power caused by sabotage in supply of gas to the turbines.

He said the sub-sea pipeline project being undertaken was important “to avoid the temperamental nature of Niger Delta where today, there is peace and tomorrow people are blowing up the pipelines.’’

He noted that the administration was quite focused in its projections for power but acknowledged that there were a few problems in the power sector.

Osinbajo, however, expressed the hope that gas supply would stabilise but that the administration was also investing heavily on solar and other renewable energy sources.

“We have about 1,600mw of power projects coming from solar onstream,’’ he said, adding that the country had no choice but to use solar because of the abundance of sun in most states of the federation.

He also said that the administration was working on improving the River Basin Authorities and improving on the hydro capacity of the dams in the river basins to boost power generation. (NAN) DCU/AK/HA
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(Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-HE-21

Policy

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has called on the Federal Government to review policy direction on local content for the country to enhance economic growth.

The Chairman, NESG Board Committee on Research and Publication, Dr Adedoyin Salami, made the call at the 22nd edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of ^Summit is “Made-in-Nigeria’’.

Salami, who presented a paper on “the State of Nigerian Economy’’, said the review of the policy on local content would promote the production of ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods and services.

He said ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods and services would promote export value and discourage import value.

“We should learn to produce and patronise ‘Made-in- Nigeria’ goods because it is not a choice if we must create a global competitive economy.

“The call for ‘Made-in- Nigeria’ goods and services is a call to create and sustain a productive economy,’’ he said.

The expert said that absence of policy framework in all the sectors had contributed to the slow growth of the economy.

He, however, advised the government to articulate all road maps from the sectors and produce a development plan.

“There are road maps in various sectors- agriculture, education etc.

“These road maps need to be brought together and articulated and joined together into a development plan.

“It needs to be joined together so that the private sector can understand and take its lead from it. That is an imperative that should be achieved before the end of this year,’’ he said.

Salami further said that the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the Federal Government was a good plan, but that it lacked guidelines on how the investors could come in.

“Also, it doesn’t guide the economy on what our national preferences and what the development paths are going to be.

“A lot is said about diversification but let me put it in courtesy that Nigeria has 46 economic sectors, suggesting a decent level of diversification.

“It is not about diversification; it is about reducing the level of concentration on oil and output from key sectors that the economy depends on.

“Once you take agriculture, oil and gas, ICT, real estate and trade, other sectors are not vibrant and that cannot be good enough to boost the economy,’’ he said.

On the state of the economy, Salami said that the economy needed to come up with certain imperative such as global competitiveness and productivity, inclusive growth and value addition to address the economic crisis.

According to him, the current economy and business conditions are far from the ideal.

He said that the condition, however, offered a nation an opportunity to revitalise and to re-engineer the economy.

“As an economist, in those days, the worse scenario which economists feared most was stagflation- where you have stagnated growth, couple with rising cost.

“Our position is worse than that; what we have is an economy that is sinking in size. This year, it has sunk by one and half per cent, when you combine both quarter one and quarter two.

“It is sinking this year but the problem didn’t start this year, it started in 2013 and since then, the rate of growth has been slow and now it is contracted.

“Nigeria economy is driven by two impulses: it is driven by international events – things outside our control and those things that we do,’’ he said.

The official said that international events were not favourable to the country and have also affected the economy negatively.

“First, what has happened to the global economic policies? What has happened to global trade? What is happening to capital flows and finally what has happened to diaspora transfer to Nigeria?

“Of these four, only one remains favourable; the condition and output for the other three have worsened and unlikely to remain unfavourable for Nigeria perhaps in the life span of this administration,” he said.

In addition, he said that the dynamics of oil had changed as almost 72 countries in the world were producing oil, “so we must wean off ourselves from oil”. (NAN)

CIA/DO/IA

Edited by David Onilede/Idris Abdulrahman

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EFCC arraigns illegal polytechnic operator in Ado-Ekiti

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Arraignment

By Akeem Abas
Ado-Ekiti, Oct 10, 2016 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office on Monday arraigned in a Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti an illegal polytechnic operator

The alleged illegal operator, Johnson Babatola was arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo on a 7-count charge bordering on Advance fee fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.

Babatola, a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti branch
pleaded not guilty to the charges

The EFCC said that the suspect was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State.

The board said that the accused had allegedly extorted gullible students, who were not aware of the status of the institution.

The petitioner further alleged that some of the students of the Polytechnic had earlier reported the institution to the board and they had published the school as an illegal institution in some National Dailies.

It said that the accused failed to stop the fraudulent act and as such continued to fleece innocent students through the Polytechnic.

The petitioner said that Babatola had sometime between the month of August, 2013 and March 2015 intended to defraud Adakeja Thomas Olusola at Ilogbo Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the court.

The accused had intended obtaining the sum of N118,000.00 from Adakeja, having falsely represented that the money was tuition fees.

It said that the accused had told the victim that money was for the award of National Diploma Certificate by Teedek Polytechnic.

The offence contravened section 1 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006”.

His counsel, Mr Clatus Nachata, applied for his bail, which the prosecuting counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, opposed

The Judge after listening to the argument of both counsel, granted bail to the accused in the sum of two million Naira with two sureties in like sum.

Taiwo said that one of the sureties must be the traditional ruler of Ilogbo-Ekiti and the second surety must be one of those sureties during the administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC.

He said that both sureties shall depose to an affidavit of means and all the documents verified by the EFCC during his administrative bail shall be deposited with the registrar of the court.

The accused person shall deposit his international passport with the court and be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Taiwo adjourned the case till Oct. 18, Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 for hearing (NAN)

TAA/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

ECOWAS calls for reduction in population growth to enhance economic dev’t

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Growth
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Economic Community of  West Africa States (ECOWAS), has urged member states to sensitise communities on the need to reduce the number of children a family can cater for to enhance economic development and reduce migration.

President of the Commission,  Mr Marcel de Souza made the call when he received German Foreign Minister, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the commission on Monday in Abuja.

De Souza expressed concern that the demographic growth in the sub-region was equal to its economic growth, adding that such growth was not beneficial to economic development.

He also noted that migration of African youth from to European countries was on the increase.

“Our sub-region is under pressure; migration is increasing and the same goes for terrorism.

“We need to change this situation and for us to change this situation, we need to create conditions for the youths to stay home.

“We need to take a step and sensitise people on the need to have good control of our families.

“We must sensitise women in our sub-region to make sure that there is a limited number of children that can be taken care of,” he said.

He further expressed gratitude to the German government for its continued partnership with the sub-regional bloc.

In his remarks, the German foreign minister, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier commended the efforts made by ECOWAS in enhancing peace and security in member states.

Steinmeier, however, encouraged ECOWAS to enhance efforts in the establishment of the ECOWAS Standby Force.

He also reiterated the continued support of the German government in promoting security in the sub-region.

“We will continue our close cooperation with ECOWAS and also support ECOWAS in implementing security in the Gulf of Guinea.

The minister further called for improved cooperation to reduce the spate of migration of youths and prevent more deaths from migration.

He also said that increased intra-regional trade and investment would ensure development and create jobs for the youth.

“To attract investors, the right conditions must be in place; and the once the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is entered into force, it will create room for economic development.”

He, however, encouraged member states yet to sign the EPA to do so to enable to the agreement come into force.

Steinmeier earlier held discussions with the president of the commission to advance collaboration in the areas of peace, security and trade.

Matters of common interest covering a wide range of issues that border on human development and economic integration were also discussed.

The meeting was also being held in preparation for an upcoming German-ECOWAS summit.

This would be the second visit of Steinmeier following his earlier courtesy call in Oct. 2014. (NAN)

(Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Julius Enehikhuere)

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Returnees

By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct.10,  2016 (NAN) A Libyan Airline aircraft with registration number 5A-LAT on Monday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos with 154 Nigerians who had been stranded in Libya.

The spokesperson of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the return of the Nigerians to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Alabi said the returnees, comprising 58 male and 96 female , returned voluntarily to the country at about 4.00pm.

“One of them was seriously sick on arrival. His name is Tony Isaac. The officials of the National Emergency Management Agency quickly rushed him to their hospital for treatment.

“Their return was voluntary and I don’t think any of them has committed any crime over there to warrant prosecution,” he said.

NAN reports that the returnees were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.

Their details were taken by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) and the Police.

They were also received by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

No fewer than 550 Nigerians have returned in batches from Libya since March when the IOM started the voluntary return programme. (NAN)

ASO/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

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Food
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Dr Samuel Emeka, the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of foreign foods into the country to encourage local food production.

Emeka, who made the call during the presentation of the communiqué for the 45th/10th Biennial Conference of the Church on Monday in Abuja, said Nigeria had enough food.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was to honour capable men and women that are ready to portray and carry out God’s work diligently.

He advised government to work hard to diversify the country’s economy by producing instead of foreign intake of foods that might bring about health issues to the citizens.

He added that “I want government to ban foreign foods; we have enough food that will nurture us and make us proper Africans.

“I believe it is these foreign foods that cause diabetes, hypertension and other diseases; let us
produce our own food and eat.

“Our fathers were close to nature and they lived longer but since we started eating foreign foods,
we have been dying prematurely.”

The Prelate also called for the establishment of cattle ranches in the country instead of grazing reserves which he said could still bring about lost of lives.

He added that creating ranches was a global phenomenon, citing the UK, America and South Korea as places where animals were not allowed to move around.

According to him, animals are kept in a place where they are nourished and nurtured to become
of economic value.

Emeka, however, called on Christians and Muslims to be major agents of national rebirth not agents of disintegration, adding that the government should ensure that no religion was promoted above the other.

He also advised that religious leaders should play advisory roles to government on issues of national unity and development, noting that “God did not make a mistake in making Nigeria as
one nation.

“It is our duty as religious leaders to bring stability to Nigeria, to promote national rebirth, nation cohesion, national integration, to promote love and unity, tolerance, forbearance among our people.

“The conference appeals for tolerance and harmony among the various faiths with a view to using religion as instrument for peace.

“Unity does not mean uniformity but what makes unity to be very rewarding is the various colours.

“We need to be together in order to build a virile nation.’’  (NAN)
OYS/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NJC hols emergency on arrested judges Oct. 11

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Arrest
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Oct.10, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has said the National Judicial Council (NJC) will hold emergency meeting on Tuesday to review the arrest of some judges

The Department of State Service (DSS) on Saturday arrested two Justices of the Supreme Court and a number of Federal High Court judges on allegations of fraud

Mohammed disclosed this when he delivered his address at the valedictory sitting in honour of Justice Suleman Galadima on Monday in Abuja.

“It is indeed very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing and unfortunate incident which occurred on Friday Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8

“However, I must ask all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, as an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, which will take place tomorrow, will comprehensively look into the matter

“Furthermore, I must express my sincere appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Bar Association ably led by the President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), and indeed, all members of the legal profession,’’ he said

The CJN said he was delighted by the prompt action and continued support of members of the legal profession

On the contributions of the outgoing Justice of the apex court, Mohammed said the country’s judiciary was indebted to him.

“ I am sure that the teeming numbers of the legal profession that have benefited from your mentorship will concur when I opine that your contribution to our jurisprudence has been inestimable.

“Our nation’s judiciary will always support you and we are confident that when we knock on your door, you will answer

“To young members of our noble legal profession, I say that Justice Galadima is an embodiment of hard work, dedication and a single-minded devotion to his maker and calling,’’ the CJN said.

Mohammed further said: “I am therefore, encouraging those inspired by this wonderful jurist to follow the path of his distinction that he charted throughout his long and distinguished career,”

In his address, the NBA president said the association was still yet to recover from the shock that enveloped it from the arrest of the serving judges.

“We, therefore, urge President Muhammadu Buhari to release those senior judicial officials without further delay.

“The association is completely committed to the defence and protection of its members from any seeming intimidation and illegal crackdown,’’ Mahmoud said.

Mahmoud described Galadima as an incorruptible judge, adding that his contributions to the country’s jurisprudence remained legendary.

Responding, Galadima expressed satisfaction on the honour done him by the management of the apex court that deemed it fit to organise the valedictory session which marked his official retirement from the bench.

“It is an honour to have served my country and indeed the judiciary to this capacity as Justice of the Supreme Court.

“I am particular grateful to God Almighty that gave me sound life and wisdom to serve mankind as a judge,’’ Galadima said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Galadima was born on Oct.10, 1946 in Shafa Abakpa Village, in present day Nasarawa State.

His Lordship attended the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he first bagged a Diploma in Law in 1969.

He embarked upon mainstream LL.B degree before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos,where he was called to the bar in 1978.
Galadima was appointed to the Supreme Court on Sept. 16, 2010. (NAN)
OMO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

Nigerian-German bilateral trade nose dive by 50 % in 2015

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Trade
Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The volume of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Germany has decreased from 5.4 billion Euros in 2014 to 2.9 billion Euros in 2015, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister of Foreign Affairs has said.

Steinmeier who announced this on Monday at the end of Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the German delegation and Nigerian counterparts however expressed worried over the 50 per cent decrease.

Nigerian delegation at the meeting was led by Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama,

Steinmeier said that Nigeria remained Germany’s second most important economic partner inn Sub Saharan Africa.

He said that there was the need to strengthen on this development in the interest of both countries.

“Both sides believe that open markets are the most important prerequisite for free and rules-based trade to everyone’s mutual advantage. That includes also security in general and safe maritime transportation.

“Nigeria and Germany agree that investment is crucial in order to boost prosperity, employment development and security, and to improve education.

“Germany welcomes Nigeria’s efforts to diversify the economy which also provides business opportunities for Germany companies.

“Both sides see potential for more efforts to be made, especially in the infrastructure sector,” he said.

According to him, to this end German Government offers an Export Credit Guaranteed Scheme as a means of providing support for German export transactions with private buyers in Nigeria.

He added that the scheme offered investment guarantees for German investment in Nigeria.

“In order to deepen our bilateral economic relations, the German Government also supports market exploration missions by business delegation,” he said.

He said that in 2016, Germany had committed eight million Euros for vocational training programme and is prepared to keep promoting vocational training as the recent intergovernmental consultations on the bilateral development cooperation have shown. (NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

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Centre
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Rev. Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), says a pilgrim centre will be opened in Israel to provide a rallying point for those participating in the spiritual exercise.

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the commission’s Head of Media, Mr Celestine Ogugua, said the proposed centre would also help to project the image of the country in Israel.

The statement said that Uja made the disclosure in Goshen City, FCT, during the medical orientation programme for the Federal Medical Team for the 2016 pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece.

Uja said that the commission had a fully equipped medical centre at the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel-Aviv, Israel, to cater for the medical needs of pilgrims.

He explained that the objective of the medical orientation exercise was to provide training and synergy for those who would be handling pilgrims before, during and after the pilgrimage.

The NCPC boss said the Federal Medical Committee, which supervised the medical team, were made up of 15 experienced and seasoned medical personnel.

He explained that their primary duty was to organise, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the Federal Government’s health policy on pilgrimage.

Uja added that the selection process for medical team members was done electronically by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and supervised by NCPC.

The secretary expressed satisfaction with the performance of the medical personnel, saying that it met international standard.

The NCPC boss said that with the calibre of the medical personnel, Nigerians should no longer embark on medical tourism to foreign countries.

“The result of the medical examination showed that we have qualified medical personnel in this country.

“Nigeria must be proud of their medical personnel because they have what it takes to deliver,’’ he said.

Uja, however, urged the medical team members to ensure that they participated in all activities during the pilgrimage.

“NCPC is currently reviewing the approved pilgrimage sites to ensure spiritual excellence, especially sites that were biblically true and relevant.

“NCPC is exploring options of pilgrimage beyond Israel, Rome and Greece,’’ he said.

In his address, the Chairman of the Federal Medical Committee, Dr Joseph Amedu, said that the Federal Government had constituted the committee to coordinate, organise and supervise the overall medical programme of the entire pilgrimage process.

Amedu explained that the essence of the medical orientation exercise was to form a forum for group chat on how to handle the pilgrims’ medical needs.

He said that the orientation programme would afford them the opportunity to ensure that all Nigerians who travelled to Israel were medically fit.

According to him, pilgrimage should not be seen as tourism, but a serious spiritual exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day medical orientation programme for the 2016 Christian pilgrimage had as theme: “Health and Spiritual Management of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims.’’

No fewer than 170 medical personnel from across the country participated in the programme and they included medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical laboratory scientists. (NAN)
OYS/MNA/OJO
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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

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Ban
Katsina, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Katsina State Police Command has banned all forms of processions, rallies and unlawful assemblies by ‘religious groups or any group of people’ in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Salisu Agaisa, and made available to newsmen in Katsina on Monday.

Agaisa said that “any person(s) caught violating this order will be arrested and prosecuted”.

“The command wishes to inform the general public that it has banned all forms of processions, rallies, gatherings and unlawful assemblies under any guise throughout the state,” he said.

The command urged parents and guardians not to allow their children to be involved in such acts.

“We are calling on parents and guardians to closely monitor their children and prevent them from taking part in such acts, as they could easily be influenced by unscrupulous elements to threaten the relative peace being enjoyed in the state,’’ the police spokesman said. (NAN)
ZI/DO/AMY

Edited by David Onilede and Abdullahi Yusuf