Blog

Court adjourns AVM Mamu alleged bribery scam till Nov. 2
NAN-H-27
Adjournment
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) An FCT High Court has fixed Nov. 2 for the definite hearing of the case of alleged bribery scam against AVM Alikali Mamu, a former Air Officer Training Command and a member of the Committee for Procurement in the Ministry of Defence.

Mamu was on June 21 arraigned on a three-count charge of bribery.

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) had alleged that Mamu collected a cash gift N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque and also 300, 000 US dollars about N147 million.

He also collected two vehicles -Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon – valued N15 million and N12 million, respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

These allegations contravened Sections 17 (a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

On July 1, he was admitted on bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety in the like sum who must have property within Abuja.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Slyvanius Tahir, informed the court that the prosecution could not commence the trial because Mr Cosmos Ugwu, the counsel handling the matter was transferred to the Ibadan office.

Tahir informed the court that he just got the case file, and applied for an adjournment to enable him study the case file for the commencement of the trial.

Counsel for the Defendant Joesph Daudu did not oppose the application, adding that Tahir had approached him professionally and he understood his predicaments.

Daudu, however, informed the court that they were ready for the trial.

Justice Salisu Garba, who adjourned the case for definite hearing, advised the prosecution to be ready for the commencement of the trial at the next adjourned date . (NAN)
NEO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-HE- 12

EPA

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) Mr Fillippo Amato, an European Union (EU) official, says the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and ECOWAS will help Nigeria to achieve its diversification drive.

Amato, Counsellor, Head of Trade and Economics Section in EU, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the agreement, yet to be signed by Nigeria, would boost its non-oil exports.

“First, all duties on exports from Nigeria to the EU will be brought to zero from the first day of the entry into force of the Agreement.

“Signing the agreement will dramatically reduce the cost of Nigeria’s products exported to the EU thereby making them more competitive.

“Second, duties on imports from the EU of machinery, capital goods, intermediate good (inputs) and raw materials will gradually be removed over a period of 20 years,” he said.

He said machinery, capital goods, immediate goods and raw materials are inputs needed by the Nigerian industries to process and produce their raw materials to finished products.

According to him, reducing duties on such imports will reduce a component of the production costs of the local industries.

Amato added that duties on the import of agricultural products and on most consumer goods which the local industries were able to produce would not be removed under the EPA.

He listed such categories of goods included the textile sector, the automotive sector and the construction sector.

“For these products, Nigeria will still be able to apply duties up to 35 per cent (the highest band of the ECOWAS Common External Tariffs).

“Also, under the EPA, the EU is committed to abolish any form of export subsidy in favour of its agricultural products,” he said.

According to him, the EPA contains a number of safeguard measures (including an infant industry clause) that West Africa can trigger to protect the local industries.

He said the safeguard measures in the EPA would allow the agricultural sector and the local manufacturing sector to be protected from potential competition of goods imported from Europe.
Amato emphasised that the EPA would improve and make more flexible the so-called rules of origin to enable products qualify as Nigerian products when exported to the EU.
He said that products from Nigeria would enjoy duty-free access to EU market.
“This will attract the interest of potential investors who will consider West Africa as a production hub to export products duty-free to Europe.’’

To promote West Africa industrialisation and sustainable economic and social development under EPA, Amato said EU had committed 6.6 billion Euros to fund the first five years of the EPA Development Programme.

This, he said, was aimed at improving basic infrastructure in West Africa (energy, transport, etc.) and the quality of West African goods, to make sure they comply with international standards.

“Similar amounts will be committed by the EU and its member States for each five years cycle of the EPA Development programme at least for the next 20 years.

“In short, the EPA aims at reducing the costs (of imports and exports) for the local industry and to protect sensitive sectors from competition.

It also aimed at improving the quality of West African infrastructure and products through targeted development cooperation projects.

“The EU is the main export destination of West Africa for non-oil products and the EPA aims at increasing the quantity and quality of these exports,’’ he said. (NAN)

CIA/APT/WOJ
(Controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

Economic recession: selling assets is selling Nigeria’s future –Lawyer

NAN-HE-14
Economy
By Ajayi Toba
Ilorin, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) An Ilorin based legal practitioner, Mr Yomi Kehinde, has described the government proposal to sell national assets as a way out of the ongoing economic crises as “selling the Nigeria’s future’’.

Kehinde, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday, said that it was not the best option to address the current economic woes.

He said that selling of national assets now would send wrong signal to the international community.

“For the sake of the future, we need to have a rethink on the plan to sell our collective assets as it may later lead to total collapse of the economy.

“Being the giant of Africa and one of the most buoyant economies on the continent, it is better we hold on to our precious assets that attract envy from other countries,’’ said the lawyer.

Kehinde called on Federal Government to resolve to borrow from the Western to get the country out of the present economic recession.

According to him, foreign loans will be the best option for the country’s survival as the nation cannot continue to witness economic downturn.

“Nigeria’s assets worth are more than gold, therefore, government should ensure that it is properly preserved,’’ he said. (NAN)
LEX/GOM/GY
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By Gregory Mmaduakolam/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-19
NAFDAC
By AbdulFatai Beki.
Ilorin, Sept 30, 2016 (NAN) The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has again warned the public against the consumption of contaminated food and drugs in the country.
NAFDAC Coordinator in Kwara, Roseline Ajayi, gave the warning at a sensitisation programme for market women on the consumption of quality products in Ilorin on Friday.
She urged the traders to sell edible products that were duly registered by NAFDAC to ensure safety of the citizenry.
Ajayi said that NAFDAC was determined to rid the country of unregistered food and drinks and urged consumers to always check expiry dates of products before purchasing them.
She said the agency would not hesitate to ban sales and consumption of any products that failed to meet NAFDAC standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured a drama by members of the National Youth Service Corps on the consequences of consuming fake or unregistered products. (NAN)
BEKI /MNA/WOJ
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-18
Communique
Katsina, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The National Council on Works has urged the three tiers of governments to encourage Public Private Partnership (PPP)in road development to serve as a source of fund for road infrastructure.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Abubakar Magaji, made the plea in a communique issued after its 22nd meeting which ended in Katsina on Friday.

The council urged the 36 states of the Federation to identify their road corridors for the purpose of private sector participation.

It also urged the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the National Road Sector Reform and Electronic Road Pricing bills as source of funding of roads projects through the PPP.

The council further urged governments at all levels to make adequate budgetary allocation and ensure prompt release of funds for roads maintenance.

The council said that, ‘’Inadequate funding and lack of maintenance of roads infrastructure has adversely affected the national economy.’’

The communique urged both Federal and State Ministries of Works to ensure that contractors comply with the guidelines on road construction.

“The Federal Road Safety Commission and other relevant agencies should enforce the safety regulations at the construction sites,’’ the communique said.

The council also urged the three tiers of governments to consult meteorological departments for experts’ advice before road construction.

“The contractors must provide evidence of taking a minimum of Workmen Safety and Inquiry Compensation Policy to protect workmen employed at construction sites,’’ the council said.

It also urged the governments to place streetlight poles behind the road setback rather than at the centre of the road.

The communique approved the use of standard armoured aluminium cables in street lighting installations to cut costs and reduce vandalism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Council of Works is a forum where the 36 Federal Controllers of Works, Commissioners of Works and other stakeholders brainstorm on issues concerning road development in the country. (NAN)
ZI/AJA
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(Controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-DS-3
Accidents
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says error of judgment on the side of motorists who overtake is the highest cause of accidents on roads.

Asst. Corps Commander, Austin Ekele, FRSC Ijebu-Ode Unit Commander made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun on Friday.

Ekele said that narrow roads, bad roads and multiple sharp bends were obvious features on the nation’s road network, which “makes overtaking a risky and dangerous venture’’.

“Error of judgment in traffic has been identified as the deadliest error in driving and this error has led to many crashes on our roads.

“This occurs when a driver fails to calculate correctly the speed of an approaching vehicle while attempting to overtake a vehicle ahead of him.

“Where an assumption is relied upon for judgment, there are bound to be fatal mistakes which could lead to road traffic crashes.

“As a driver, you must exercise extreme caution and patience before committing to overtake as the manoeuvre can backfire with any slightest misjudgement,” he warned.

Ekele said that the only way to safeguard oneself was to adhere to prescribed speed limit, while calling for attitudinal change on the side of motorists and cyclists.

The FRSC boss also warned drivers against driving ‘one way’, in the direction prohibited by law as a way to cut corners or create short cuts.

He described the act as being insensitive to the safety of other road users, who would be forced to face the oncoming vehicle thereby causing head-on collision.

“It is important we recognise that there is no short cut to safety other than to obey traffic rules and regulations for us to stay alive,” he said. (NAN)
TDS/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

NAN-ELS-2

Challenges

By Ebere Agozie

Abuja, Sept.30, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, a Tourism Consultant on Friday said that Nigerians must work collectively to tackle the challenges being faced by the tourism sector.

Ndu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the challenges faced by the industry should not be left to practitioners in the industry alone.

“The conscious effort is to get to the bottom of the problem, identify issues and figure out solutions to attract tourists to Nigeria.

“Focus will be to expand coverage and develop new offerings, facilities and incentives and deliver a hassle-free experience to tourists.

“Nigerians must think of alleviating stress factors for travelers whether it is the airline, airport, immigration, transportation or accommodation services providers,’’ he said.

The consultant said that the challenges of lack of capital, poor government support, poor infrastructure, political instability and natural calamities was hindering the growth and development of the sector.

“Lack of capital is normally a big challenge because any individual that wants to invest in this industry must have capital in terms of money as well as other resources.

“The government does not give enough support to this industry, especially in terms of allocation of funds and also poor encouragement from the government to the people to invest in tourism.

“In addition to that, Nigeria has very poor roads that hinder the access of areas rich in wildlife and this has made the industry hard to develop.’’

He said that political instability in the country had been an issue of concern to tourists as it scared international tourists from visiting the country.

“Insecurity issues like tribal clashes, Boko Haram and herdsmen and farmers have also posed serious threat to the industry, and have caused fear among the tourists making Nigeria not a favourable destination.

“Lack of social services such as hospitals, sports and other recreational facilities have also hindered this sector from thriving.

“Most of the tourist sites are located in the remote areas of the country far from access to these facilities, therefore making it difficult for the tourists to get the services,’’ he said.

Ndu said that low levels of technology had also contributed to the challenges, as tourists from developed countries would find it too hard to cope.

“ This is because these tourist areas are not covered with things like mobile phone network, internet, radio and television networks.’’

He noted that destruction of wildlife was another issue of concern in the tourism industry.

“This is repeatedly reported from the national parks and game reserves where poachers kill the animals for their meat as well as for trade.

“Lack of education and skills are not helping matters, as many people do not know the importance of wildlife.’’

According to him, the challenges can be addressed if all stakeholders join hands and work together in order to find a lasting solution. (NAN)

EPA/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-H-14

Support

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept.30, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to support the safety and security initiatives of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Capt. Hadi Sirika, Minister of State, Aviation, made the pledge while speaking at the ongoing 39th ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, Canada.

The ICAO Assembly is the organisation’s sovereign body which meets at least once every three years, and is convened by ICAO’s governing body, the Council.

ICAO’s 191 Member States and a large number of international organisations are invited to the Assembly, which establishes the worldwide policy of the organisation for the upcoming triennium

A copy of Sirika’s speech at the Assembly was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

“We are here to reflect on the developments that have taken place in aviation industry and to seek new ways of improving them beyond the next triennium.

“These new strategies should make air transportation more safe, secure, efficient, and above all, environmentally friendly so as to ensure the growth and sustainability of the aviation industry globally.

“In light of the above, Nigeria fully support the ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative,” he said.

Sirika called on member states and donor agencies to support the initiative with a view to assisting the implementation of ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practices.

According to him, prior to this initiative, Nigeria has been collaborating with ICAO and African Civil Aviation Commission, AFCAC to promote safety in the West Africa sub-region.

He said this was through the continuous hosting and sponsorship of ICAO’s safety, security, air transport and environmental programmes, including comprehensive regional implementation plan of aviation safety in Africa.

Sirika said: “Within the last two years, we have made major strides to promote safety in our airspace. This was confirmed with the success recorded by Nigeria in the ICAO audit. We have also successfully retained FAA Category One rating.

“Presently, we are reviewing the primary aviation legislation, Civil Aviation Act 2006, to ensure that Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority continues to exercise requisite power and full autonomy to regulate aviation safety without political interference.”

He said Nigeria had equally recorded significant improvement in the area of aviation security with the installation of modern security equipment at airports and continuous implementation of its national aviation security programme.

The minister said:”Only recently we carried out vulnerability analysis of our airports and put in place measures to curb any act of terrorism.

“Nigeria’s excellent outing at the last ICAO security audit which took place in June 2015 attests to our efforts in this area.

“We, however, believe that ICAO and member-states must continue to put in place proactive measures to curb ever-increasing threat to security of civil aviation.”

According to him, Nigeria is also in consultation with the United Nations to establish aviation security training schools, which will serve not only Nigeria, but the entire sub-region.

NAN reports that the 39^th Session of the Assembly, which opened on Tuesday, is scheduled to end on Oct. 7.

According to ICAO, each Member State is entitled to one vote on matters before the Assembly, and decisions at the sessions are taken by a majority of the votes cast – except where otherwise provided for in the Convention.(NAN)

ASO/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-13
Bumps
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The National Council on Works has approved the removal of all illegal and inappropriate speed breakers on the nation’s highways.

Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), made this known to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that speed bump is a hindrance to speeding created by a crosswise ridge in the surface of a roadway.

Kazeem said that a task force has been set up to assess the correct location and the type of speed bumps to be erected on the highways.

According to him, this was borne out of the council’s observation that most of the crashes on the highways were traced to the presence of inappropriate speed breakers.

He said that this was part of the memoranda submitted by FRSC and the resolutions arising from the 22nd meeting of the National Council on Works held in Katsina.

“Most of the road crashes which occur on the highways can be traced to the presence of inappropriate speed bumps, which do not comply with the contemporary global standards on road markings and signage.

“The council, therefore, endorsed the constitution of a special task force to be led by the Federal Controllers of Works in each state, FRSC, Nigeria Police, State and Traffic Management Agencies.

“This is to sensitise and facilitate removal of illegal and inappropriate speed bumps from the highways in addition to determining the exact location and type of speed bumps to be erected.

“It will serve as part of the measures to reverse the trend of avoidable road traffic crashes,’’ Kazeem said. (NAN)
ATAB/JI/GOK
(Editing by Joseph Idika/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)

WHO trains 80 Borno health workers on Early Warning and Alert System
NAN-HG-4
WHO
Maiduguri, Sept. 30, 2016 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has so far trained more than  80 Borno health professionals on Early Warning Alert and Response System (EWARS).

The organisation’s Acting Country Representative, Dr Rex Mpazanje, stated this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Friday.

Mpazaine further said the latest batch of health workers were trained in Monguno Local Government Area on Sept. 27.

He explained  that 33 of the beneficiaries were Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers and assistant DSNOs while 50 were  Surveillance Officers and IDP Camp Coordinators from targeted health facilities in Maiduguri.

“WHO has so far trained 33 Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and assistant DSNOs, 50 Surveillance Officers and Camp Coordinators from targeted health facilities in Maiduguri, and will train more health personnel in other states.”

The acting country representative said  that EWARS was a disease surveillance, alert and response initiative for early detection and containment of disease outbreaks in humanitarian emergency settings.

He pointed out that over 3.7 million people were in dire need of urgent health assistance in the affected states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe.

“Consequently, one of the most immediate responses for WHO in this emergency is “that of setting up EWARS, to detect and facilitate rapid response to suspected disease outbreaks in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and host communities in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states.”

He added:“For over six years, the North Eastern part of Nigeria faced insecurity that left most health facilities and infrastructure damaged, many health workers either killed or abducted while others fled to areas of safety.

This negative fallout, he said,  had left millions of people with limited or no access to any basic primary health services, exposing them to risks of diseases and other health complications.

“The aim of EWARS is to strengthen and expand the existing national Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system in an effort to reduce the number of cases and deaths due to epidemic prone diseases and other health conditions.”

Mpazanje said that 56 health facilities and 16 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps were being covered by EWARS in five local government areas of the state.

“A total of 56 health facilities and 16 IDP camps are currently being covered by EWARS in five partially accessible LGAs of Maiduguri, Jere, Konduga, Mafa and Kaga, we hope to cover approximately, 1.2 million IDPs in these area.

“The EWARS combines mortality and morbidity surveillance for a total of 17 diseases/health events including all those in the existing national Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response weekly reporting of diseases such as cerebrospinal meningitis, measles and cholera among others,” he said.

Mpazanje added:“WHO will assist the State Ministry of Health to conduct an initial assessment of Health Resource Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) in all targeted health facilities in 16 LGAs.

“This will assist in establishing baseline indicators on the capacity of health facilities to deliver primary health care services to IDPs and host communities.

“The results of the assessment will be used to guide the SMOH and partners to appropriately deploy scarce resources and technical support.

“Meanwhile, the current rainy season coupled with overcrowding, poor living conditions lack of adequate nutrition have placed the IDPs in camps and host communities at heightened risk of communicable diseases, such as measles, acute watery diarrhoea and malaria.

“To ensure broad coverage including in hard-to-reach areas, WHO has further increased the EWARS coverage to Monguno LGA where 15 health facility surveillance focal points were trained and the health facilities enrolled on the EWARS platform.

“These 15 health facilities include 12 IDP camp clinics and three host community health facilities including a secondary health facility (General Hospital Monguno). In addition, mobile phones and surveillance reporting tools were provided to ensure a smooth take-off of the project’.”

According to him, WHO is working with the Monguno LGA primary health care department and health sector partners to ensure timely verification of alerts and risk assessments originating from the EWARS.

It gave the assurance that health sector partners and WHO will continue to support the SMOH to ensure a sensitive surveillance system”.(NAN)
ABI/OSA/OFN
(Edited by Shittu Obassa// Felix Nwadioha)