Blog

NAN-H-79

Convention

By Taiye Edeni

Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016(NAN) The Minister of Transportation, Mr  Rotimi Amaechi, said on Tuesday that the Rotterdam Rules would create a uniform set of standards that provide fairness and balance of risks between carriers and cargo owning nations.

Amaechi said this at the opening ceremony of the Validation Colloquium on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly by Sea (Rotterdam Rules) in Abuja.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari, Amaechi said that the new Convention was not only meant to balance the interests of ship owning nations.

According to him, it is also meant to modernize the law on carriage of goods, taking into consideration modern practices of e-transactions, door-to- door delivery of cargo with multi-modal transportation of goods.

” The adoption of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods by Sea 2009, also known as Rotterdam Rules is the latest international convention on carriage of goods by sea.

” The rules seek to create a uniform set of standards that provide fairness and balance of risks between cargo and carrier owning nations, as it seeks to regulate contracts for the carriage of goods wholly.”

Earlier, Mr Hassan Bello, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), said that the Rotterdam Rules was signed by developed and developing countries with strong ship owning and traditional cargo interest nations.

He said that the rules made provisions for the regulation for international carriage of goods which was not considered and regulated by the previous carriage conventions.

“Many countries are going to ratify the convention and we want Nigeria to lead the role because the convention is good for Nigeria and its international trade.

“The benefit is to adopt a modern convention and it will take care of our inland shippers and our inland infrastructures like the dry ports. It comes under this very convention and if we, as importing nation, suffer loss.

” We will have more compensation from this regime than any other convention that is operational and that is why it is good for Nigeria and Africa to adopt and ratify this convention.

“Nigeria has always been part of international convention but this is a modern one and it has not come into law yet. Nigeria has signed it but yet to ratify it. Only Togo, Spain and Congo have ratified it.

He noted that the poor ratification profile of the convention had eroded the hope of operating a more unified, more balanced and modern carriage regime.

Bello, however,  said that U.S. and European countries  were expected to ratify the convention just as Nigeria was negotiating with other African countries on the same issue.

“So, I think the process of ratification will be set in motion by the Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Shippers Council.

“We cannot be a shipping nation without owning ship.We are very much on it. We have signed some MoU and we are receiving a lot of proposals from investors.

” So, we are on course and in the nearest future, Nigerians will be able to own and operate ships and thereby control the trade.”

Also speaking, Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja,  said the purpose of the gathering was to lay out strategies for the implementation of the Rotterdam rules in West and Central Africa.

He described the rules as revolutionary as they aimed at balancing the interests of both ship owning and cargo owning nations, noting that countries of West and Central Africa were invariably cargo owning nations.

The Chief Judge said that Federal High Court had been involved in laying down the principles of law, particularly in the area of carriage of goods by sea.

Auta further said that the court would collaborate with the courts in the two sub-regions in the area of Maritime Law reporting with uniform approach in the interpretation. (NAN)

TY/NKO/NKO

Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-S-20
Deadline
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Falconets’ Head Coach, Peter Dedevbo, has given Saturday as deadline for all invited foreign-based players to report to camp for final preparations for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

A statement on Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja indicated that Kazakhstan-based Chinwendu Ihezuo and other invited overseas-based players were yet to report to camp.

It said Dedevbo warned that any player who failed to comply with the directive should consider herself dropped from the team.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that there are presently 24 players in camp due to time constraints.

“It is important that the remaining six players make it to the camp quickly, to enable the technical crew integrate them into the team’s training programme.

“The spirit in camp is very good. The players’ level of physical fitness and cooperation is quite encouraging.

“If they continue like this, at the end of the camp, we would have a very good team for the World Cup.

“But we need to have all the players together as soon as possible to properly integrate everyone into the training programme because the time is short.”

NAN reports that the players expected in camp include Sweden-based Christy Ohiaeriaku and Uchenna Kalu of Orlando Kicks in the U.S.

Others are Valerie Awelewa of Genk FC of Belgium and Aminat Yakubu of Minsk FC of Belarus.(NAN)

(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-S-19

Camp
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) All the 23 players invited to the Super Eagles team have arrived camp ahead of Sunday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says.

The NFF, in a statement on Tuesday, said the countdown had already began for the match slated for in Ndola.

“In camp are: Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Nosa Igiebor, Abdullahi Shehu and William Ekong.

“Others are Alex Iwobi, Kenneth Omeruo, Anderson Esiti, Jamiu Alimi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chisom Egbuchunam, Uche Agbo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Brown Ideye and Godwin Obaje,’’ the federation said.

It added that the team would train on Wednesday morning and in the evening face Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubside Plateau United of Jos at the National Stadium in Abuja.(NAN)

(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-ELS-5

Film

U.S., Oct.4, 2016 (NAN/Reuters) Slavery was officially abolished in the United States 150 years ago, but documentary “13th’’ argues that it was still alive in the form of mass incarceration that disproportionately affects black people.

Ms Ava DuVernay, the director used TV footage, music, and interviews with academics, politicians and former prisoners to portray African-Americans as remaining enslaved, dating back to lynching, the battle for civil rights.

Similarly, imprisonments for drug offenses stop and frisk laws and the current spate of police killings of unarmed black civilians.

The U.S. prison population rose from 357,000 in 1970 to 2.3 million in 2014, the documentary noted.

While black men accounted for some 6.6 percent of the U.S. population, they currently make up 40.2 percent of the prison population.

DuVernay, best known for directing the 2014 civil rights feature film “Selma,’’ grew up in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Compton, the birthplace of West Coast rap music.

“The community I grew up in; we don’t think of safety when we see the police

“So it’s always been on my mind, and as I was an African-American studies major at UCLA, I was able to put that experience into a historical and cultural context.

“It really solidified my deep, deep interest in the space and this issue. I always knew I would make a film about it.

“The documentary owes its title to the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which ended slavery in 1865,’’ she said.

It finishes with videos of the deaths at police hands of black men Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Philando Castile and others over the past three years that have given rise to the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

“The film deconstructs the 13th amendment, breaks down all of the repercussions, the echoes of that amendment throughout history to the present day.’’

The documentary received a standing ovation at the New York Film Festival last week and has a rare 100 percent positive rating on review aggregator   Rottentomatoes.com.

It made its debut on streaming platform Netflix on Friday, and DuVernay hopes it will serve as a call to action.

“You now can’t say, ‘gosh, I didn’t know that, that’s horrible;’ now you know; so what do you do about it? Do you ask your politician about it, do you push for answers?’’ (NAN/Reuters)

EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

Lalong’s audioAudio Attached

NAN-H-73
Tourism
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Plateau Government says it is taking steps to revive the ailing tourism sector in the area following a fact-finding tour of South Africa and interaction with investors.
Gov. Simon Lalong disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday after he paid a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House.

Lalong said that the state government would take advantage of its market rebuilding efforts to construct shopping malls that would serve as places of interest to shoppers and sightseers.

• Cue in audio 

“Plateau is the home of peace and tourism.

“So, we are trying to maintain the peace now; if we have the peace we are going into tourism.

“South Africa is one place that is very renowned for tourism.

“So, we went there to see some of the places and to also create partnership with them (so that they can) come to Plateau and invest in tourism.

“While we were there, we also explored opportunities to visit sites, like the headquarters of Shoprite.

“We need shopping malls in Plateau; we are rebuilding the main market and in addition we are also thinking of having so many shopping malls in the state.

“So, we also took opportunity to go to those areas.

“This week many of them are coming; some of them are even visiting Jos right now to confirm and look at things.

“Possibly we may sign MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with some of those investors.’’

• Cue out audio 

Lalong said his administration had gone far in ensuring ethnic harmony in the state, adding that Plateau was the only state that has inaugurated a bureau for conflict management in the country.

“This is the first of its kind.

“In addition to that, we invited an NGO, Humanitarian Dialogue, through the office of the National Security Adviser.

“They have done it in Plateau, they went to Kaduna and they are back to Plateau.

“I made an application and they are back to Plateau trying to ensure conflict resolution in the southern part of Plateau.

“After that I also made an appeal that they should come to the central zone so that we have a complete arrangement for peace.

“We are not joking with peace,’’ he added.

On the appointment of a Plateau indigene, Joseph Ari, as Director-General of Industrial Training Fund, the governor said President Muhammadu Buhari gesture was a pleasant surprise to the people of the state.

“All of a sudden the President surprised us with that very big appointment.

“I must say that I am very grateful to Mr President but we are still asking for more,’’ he said.

According to him, the appointment will cushion the effect of the removal of Plateau persons from federal administration.

“With this appointment we are also feeling a sense of belonging in this government,’’ Lalong said.

The governor said his visit to Osinbajo was routine and to felicitate with him.

He said that the visit was also to update the vice president, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), on the operations of the company. (NAN)
DCU/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-ELS-3
Children

By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) on Tuesday marched to the National Assembly to create awareness on the association’s plans to clothe about 5,000 Internally Displaced Children and ‘Almajiris’ in the country.
FADAN then moved to the Gwoza and Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Durumi in Abuja and provided clothing to all the children in the camp.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ‘awareness walk’ took the group from ‘Unity Fountain’ in Abuja to the Federal Secretariat and National Assembly (NASS).
NAN also reports that the group was denied access into the NASS premises by some plain-clothed security personnel.
However, they were allowed to stay by the gate to continue the awareness creation.

The group then moved to the Gwoza and Bama IDP’s camp at Durumi and distributed clothing to all the children in the camp.
Mrs Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, the National President of FADAN told NAN that the reason behind the generosity was to “give back.’’

“We found out that there are so many people out there that do not have clothes to wear; we want people to be covered.

“We want to reach out to those who don’t have, knowing that we are sitting on a gun powder in Nigeria.

“When the children/youths are tired and have nothing to eat, they are going to come on the street and get us; so we need to show some love.

“I think the total of what we are doing is showing love; when government see all these, they also would be able to help in that regard’’ Ajila-Ladipo said.

The FADAN president explained that the gesture was going to be a continuous exercise, adding that it took one month for the designers across the country to make the 5,000 clothes.

Ajila-Ladipo stated that the clothes were made by members from different states of the federation.

She also announced the association’s plans to train youths in the camp on different vocational skills.

“Apart from giving them clothes, we are going to organise a skill acquisition programme for them.

“This will be a programme whereby they can learn skills on how to cut cloth, sow and do different things in the garment industry.

“On Oct. 8, we have our gala night; that is the grand finale where we are going to put some of the IDP’s children on the run way.

“We are going to do that to show the world that there is a brighter future and greater tomorrow in Nigeria; Nigeria is going to be great,’’ Ajila-Ladipo said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Le’atu Ayuba, the Women Leader in the camp expressed joy at the gesture by the indigenous designers.

Ayuba said that FADAN was in the camp on Oct. 1 to celebrate with the IDPs.

“They promise to provide clothes for all the children in the camp.

“Today, they have fulfilled their promise; they brought so many clothes for all the children in the camp.

“I am so happy; may God give her long life and prosperity in Jesus name, Amen.

“I want other Nigerians to emulate what FADAN has done here today; it may not be clothes, we need people to come comfort us with words that would make us happy.

“I am very happy at this thing that they did to our children today,’’ the women leader said.

Mrs Dorathy Bulus, a mother of three in the camp told NAN that she was very happy at the gesture and commended FADAN.

She said it was not easy for them in the camp, adding that they were living at the mercy of Non-Government Organisations and kind-hearted Nigerians.

“Proving our children with clothing is a welcome development; we appreciate FADAN and pray that God would bless them.

“However, we still need more of this type of assistance to our children including learning skills that will make them to be self-reliant,’’ Bulus said. (NAN)

CMY/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

Gambian Ombudsman seeks collaboration with Nigeria

NAN-H-75

 Investigation

 By Monday Ijeh

Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Mr Samba Bajie, the Deputy Ombudsman of Gambia, on Tuesday called for collaboration with Nigeria’s Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on private sector investigation.

Bajie made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Chief Commissioner of PCC, Chief Emmanuel Ogbile.

He said that the purpose of his visit to Nigeria was to identify areas of collaboration with the commission.

According to him, the mandate of the Gambian Ombudsman is to receive complaints and address administrative injustice in the public sector.

 `We are mainly tasked to look into the public sector`; so, our mandate limits us to administering administrative justice with the public sector not the private sector.

“There have been calls from Gambians including parliamentarians, that our mandate should be extended to cover the private sector.

“The private sector is where we have most of the challenges and we need to come up with something to protect  citizens working in the sector.”

 He said the visit would avail him the opportunity to explore ways on how best the Gambian Ombudsman could collaborate with the PCC in dealing with issues concerning the private sector.

 In his remarks, Ogbile thanked the deputy ombudsman for the visit.

He said that the PCC had recorded landmark achievements since its establishment 40 years ago.

He said the commission had concluded plans to engage some organisations, ministries, departments and agencies for collaboration and support.

 The PCC boss said the idea was to ensure speedy resolution of complaints as well as to enhance the capacity of members of staff of the commission.

He called for the establishment of a regional chapter of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association in West Africa as it was in the East, North and Southern Africa. (NAN)

IMC/GOM/NKO

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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakola/Nkechi Okoronkwo

NAN-HE-21

Investment

By Emmanuel Acha

Enugu, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Guinness Nig. Plc., makers of numerous beverages, has expressed willingness to continue to invest in its areas of growth, in spite of the current economic recession in the country.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Peter Ndegwa, gave the assurance in Enugu on Tuesday during the launch of its latest brand, ‘Malta Guinness Herbs Lite’.

Ndegwa said that the company would only invest in a business that would survive the future and bring hope to job seekers.

He said that though the Nigerian economy was going through turbulence, it would not stop the company from investing in the country.

“Our brands have been here for 66 years and we will continue to invest and innovate in years to come.

“Guinness malt drink has been here for 25 years and it is the oldest,” the MD said.

He said that Guinness was working towards ensuring that 75 per cent of the contents of its products was sourced locally, adding that such would promote industralisation and agriculture in the country.

“Currently, 55 per cent of our raw materials is sourced locally but our commitment is to increase it to 75 per cent by 2019.

“Innovation is very important and we are always looking for choice and value for our consumers,” Ndegwa said.

Unveiling the product, the Director of Innovation, Mrs Jody Ike, said the Malta Guinness Herbs Lite was for a segment of people that would prefer low sugar intake.

Ike said with eight grams of sugar, the product was the only less sugar malt product in the country, adding that the product complied with quality assurance specifications.

“This product has a classic taste and would offer consumers more choice. It is a brand in the malt family and we are offering our consumers at an affordable price,” Ike said.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the State Coordinator of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Qasseem Yahya, said the organisation would commence the local certification of the product.

Yahya said that Guinness was an international brand that complied with international standards, adding that the product was fit for consumption. (NAN)

EOA/MNA/IA

(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Idris Abdulrahman)

NAN-S-16
Injury
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen of El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri says he is looking forward to seeing injured striker Ifeanyi Egwim of Rangers International FC back on his feet and playing again.

Yekeen, while reflecting on Tuesday on the incident which led into Egwim being carried off in an ambulance, said it was a regrettable incident which he was however hopeful about.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Egwim had been injured in the 89^th minute of their Match Day 38 fixture of the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Yekeen insisted that there was no contact between him and Egwim before he (the latter) fell, and that Egwim fractured his leg while trying to avoid a contact with him.

“It is a regrettable incident, because Egwim got injured while trying to avoid a clash with me, and I believe that was evident and clear to the officials when they saw the replay,’’ he said.

The goalkeeper who until that incident had been outstanding in spite of conceding three goals however said he was still very disconsolate about the event.

“I feel very bad about the injury and I am not happy over it. In my entire football career, I have never inflicted on a fellow player a small cut not to talk of handing anyone an injury,’’ he said.

Yekeen also expressed his personal grief about Egwim’s injury in view of the fact that injuries to players could be career-threatening and affect the concerned individual’s economic well-being.

“I feel very sorry for him because I am also a footballer and this is where we all feed our family. It’s very rare in Nigeria for us to get proper care when we are injured.
“But I wish him quick recovery and pray that he get back to his feet and start playing again as soon as possible,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that Egwim had only lasted six minutes on the pitch after replacing Ocheme Edoh in the 83rd minute.

The incident had led to Yekeen being sent off by referee Ferdinand Udoh and a penalty kick awarded to hosts Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The penalty kick, which was scored by Chisom Egbuchulam for the match’s fourth goal in the 4-0 win by the hosts.

The match had capped Rangers’ impressive performance for their first league title in 32 years.(NAN)
(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-AE-4
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Wednesday with early morning isolated thunderstorms over Jalingo, Markurdi, Mambilla and environs.

NiMet gave the predictions in its Weather Outlook issued by the Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Tuesday in Abuja.

It added that prospects of localised thunderstorms would prevail over the high ground areas of the region in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 27 to 33 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience increased cloudiness in the morning with prospects of localised rains over Lagos, PortHarcourt and Calabar.

It also predicted localised thunderstorms and rain showers over Warri, Yenegoa and Lagos, Benin, Akure, Oshogbo, Owerri and Enugu during the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius.

NiMet predicted partly morning cloudy conditions over the northern states with prospects of thundery activities over Sokoto, Kebbi and Yelwa during the evening period and temperatures of 32 to 38 degrees Celsius.

According to the prediction, rainfall activities are expected to occur over some parts of the country with varying intensities in the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)