Blog

NAN-H-91

Intervention

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) Mr Isaac Balami, President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has called on the Federal Government to provide an intervention fund to enable domestic airlines to acquire aircraft.

Balami made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He claimed that the previous intervention fund did not serve the intended purpose because airlines were already indebted to the banks, which made them (banks) to withhold the funds.

According to him, the intervention fund was meant to rescue the banks and not the airlines as was expected, and that was why the airlines could not acquire aircraft to operate with.

“We believe that this time around, we will get genuine intervention because what the airlines need is not intervention on paper but genuine intervention.

“I think that the minister has waded into the matter and he is going to hear from the real stakeholders like us; then we will tell him the truth.

“For example, Aero needs aircraft, Arik needs to have access to dollars and other airlines also need to access dollars.

“If other sectors of the economy or individuals in the country can have access to dollars, why can’t aviation do same?’’ he queried.

Balami also urged the Federal Government to give priority attention to the aviation sector by addressing all the issues surrounding the inability of domestic airlines to operate profitably.

He argued that if the sector was properly positioned, it would play a major role in bringing the country out of its present condition.

NAAPE President explained that the difficulty faced by domestic airlines in carrying out major checks and repairs on their aircraft was occasioned by non-availability of hangars in the country.

He, however, said that some companies were currently making effort to establish hangars.

“The major problem is that we don’t have a national hangar where we can carry out the C-check in the country except now that some of us are trying to come up with it.

“We have one or two companies coming up with hangars in the next few weeks or months.

“ I believe that that would take care of the problem because billions of dollars are being spent annually in carrying out C-checks overseas and that is not sustainable.

“Also, if those checks can be done locally, we will be able to create more jobs,’’ he said.

On the suspension of operation by Aero Contractors, Balami said that the airline currently had about five aircraft overseas for C-check, with each costing not less than 1.5 million dollars.

He added that if the management could not afford to buy 1.5 million dollars from the black market, the company’s operation had to stop, pending when the forex crises were resolved.

“We want to let the public know that we care about their safety first and that if it is not safe, we cannot fly.

“The point is that it must be safe before we can operate effectively and efficiently,’’ he said. (NAN)

OYS/NKO/NKO

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(Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-H-76
Vehicles
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The high exchange rate has reduced the volume of vehicles imported through the Nigerian ports, the Operations Manager, Ports and Terminal Multiservices Ltd. (PTML), Mr Jack Angrish has said.

Angrish told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, that most vehicle seats in the country were almost empty due to inability of the importers to access forex.

“Vehicle imports have reduced from 30,000 to 8,000 in the last six months with the attendant problem of loss of jobs by terminal officials.

“Many vehicle seats are empty and this is almost the last quarter of the year.

“It is very unfortunate that the loss of Nigeria in terms of revenue on vehicle imports has continued to be the gains of the neighbouring ports of Cotonu and Lome,’’ the PTML manager said.

He said that cars were being smuggled in and the revenue were going to ports of Cotonou and Lome.

Angrish said that Nigerians would have to make do with the available cars until the exchange rate improves. (NAN)
EUC/AJA
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(Controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

Exporters’ poor understanding of financing bane of agro-export business – banker
NAN-HE-5
Export
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016(NAN) The Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, on Wednesday attributed the inability of most exporters of agricultural produce to secure bank funding to poor understanding of the process.

In a statement in Lagos, Sekibo said that banks looked for certain criteria before financing which most exporters had failed to master.

According to him, there must be a history of previous performance in terms of volume of exports handled in the past.

sekibo said that these factor included frequency of export, payment methods, payment terms, how products are sourced and how risks were mitigated.

He said banks also looked at seasonality of the products, product destination, transaction cycle and buyer’s payment history.

Besides, he said most exporters faced challenges of inadequate infrastructure to control products’ quality and lack of dependable source of local product prices.

“There is the challenge of supplier information, too many players in the products supply chain and the challenge of fraudsters in the product supply chain.

“Other challenges are delay and risk of haulage due to bad roads, no exchange platform to facilitate product sourcing , reluctance of buyer to accept a secured payment terms and method like letter of credit,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Heritage Bank recently got 150 million dollars from the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) to assist agro exporters.

Sekibo urged the Federal Government to encourage the export of non-oil product in a period of recession.

He reiterated that some of the products included cocoa, cashew, groundnut, fish, horns, sesame seed, ginger, cassava, snails, tobacco, coffee, cotton lint and rubber.

He also identified bitter leaf, plantain flour, ground melon, ground crayfish, groundnut, maize among possible foreign exchange earners.

Sekibo said farmers and exporters of agricultural produce should seek more knowledge on how to increase the quality and quantity of their products.

The bank chief said the 10-year tenor export stimulation facility provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at nine per cent interest rate was a laudable incentive for exporters.

According to him, the banks will want the economy to grow by lending to farmers and other productive sectors of the economy.

Sekibo said that farmers, borrowers and exporters on their part should know that banks wanted their monies back and that “there is need for competence, commitment and confidence in the process.” (NAN)
AWA/JI/TA
Edited by Joseph Idika, controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-75

Guard

By Chinyere Omeire

Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) A guilt-racked 19-year-old security guard, Samson Dennis, is to spend the next six months behind bars for breaking into a woman’s apartment and stealing N122, 50o cash, a Lagos court ruled on Wednesday.

An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court which handed down the verdict said the accused was guilty as charged.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olanike Olagbende, sentenced Dennis after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of house breaking and stealing.

She said Dennis should serve out his sentence without an option of fine and that it should take effect from the day the convict was arraigned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dennis was arraigned on July 21 and the case was adjourned to Wednesday for judgment.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Mameh told the court ‎that the accused committed the offences on June 25 at 2.00 pm at Plot 13, Furo Ezimora St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Mameh said the complainant, a lawyer, (names withheld) reported the incident at Maroko Police Station, Lagos.

“The accused unlawfully gained entry into the complainant’s apartment and stole the N122, 500 she kept in her room.”

‎He said during investigation the accused admitted to have committed the crime, saying he spent  the money on shoes, watches and others. (NAN)
OCC/EOB/DA
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(Edited by Edith Bolokor & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

NAN-H-68
Remand
Alex Enebeli
Enugu, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) An Enugu East Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded three men who allegedly destroyed property worth N10 million.

Chief Magistrate Denis Ekoh remanded Sunday Ukoede, Julius Akpa and Joseph Mmaduabuchukwu in police custody pending ruling on their bail applications.

 The accused were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, malicious damage and willful destruction.

They, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr C. U. Nwachukwu, had told the court that the accused, on Sept.10, destroyed a building under construction valued at N7 million and stole iron rods valued at N3 million.

The prosecutor said that the building, located at Agu-Ogbo Offia, belonged to one Mr Joseph Anayo.

 Nwachukwu said that the offences contravened the Criminal Code, Law of Enugu State, 2004.

The counsel to the accused, Mr Chinemere Okolo, prayed the court to grant them bail, claiming that the alleged offences had to do with land dispute.

The prosecutor, however, opposed the application, arguing that the case was that of malicious damage and stealing and not that of land dispute.

Nwachukwu said that granting the bail would jeopardize police investigation.

The court will give ruling on the bail application on Sept. 26. (NAN)
AAE/MNA/IGO
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and controlled by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-79
Landlord
By Tomisin Erogbogbo
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) A 52-year-old man, Ige Aruya, will spend six years in prison for posing as a landlord to defraud a nollywood actress of N820, 200,

A Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, presided over by Mrs Kikelomo Ayeye, sentenced Aruya after finding the convict guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

Ayeye said that all the evidence before the court showed without doubt that Aruya was guilty of the charge and  sentenced Aruya to prison with hard labour and without an option of fine.

“The Jeep found in the convict’s possession should be sold at the rate of N820, 200 and the money should be given to the complainant,” she held.

The Prosecutor, Insp Nurudeen Thomas, had told the court that the accused and two others still at large committed the offences on Jan. 22, 2015 at Lekki, Lagos.

He said the trio collected N820, 200 from Tamara Eteimo, an actress, with a promise of leasing a self-contained apartment to her.

“The accused and his accomplice are in the business of defrauding innocent accommodation seekers in Lekki, Ajah and Surulere Areas of Lagos State.

“Aruya posses as the landlord, while his accomplices pose as the agents. They take people to unoccupied apartments claiming that it is for rent to defraud them.

“The accused is also facing similar charge at a Surulere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the offences contravened sections 316 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)
TME/EOB/OFN
(Edited by Edith Bolokor//Felix Nwadioha)

NLC calls for national dialogue to address economic challenges

NAN-H-78
Dialogue
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The factional leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, has called on the Federal Government to organise a national dialogue that would address the country’s economic challenges.

Ajaero, who fielded questions from journalists on Wednesday in Lagos, said that such a national dialogue should include the organised labour and civil society groups in the country.

According to him, Nigerians need concrete steps to rekindle their hope and help them stand together collectively to weather the economic storm.

The union leader said that the president should address the people to reassure them of government’s programmes and actions with guarantees of meeting stated timelines.

“This will help rebuild the people’s confidence and trust and make them buy into government’s policies and programmes.

“We appeal to the president to seek ways of restoring hope to the citizenry, to encourage them to stand together to confront the numerous problems.’’

Ajaero said that people wanted to see a positive change in the economy through a decline in the cost of goods and services.

“The people want to be assured that the price of what they bought today will not change. They want to see that new jobs are created or a guarantee that the spate of job losses have ceased.

“People want to buy foodstuff and utilities within their reach and functioning. We want to see the cost of transportation reduced and the economy turning around for the better,’’ he said.

Ajaero said that the present government was elected into power for the people to experience a departure from the decadence of previous governments. (NAN)
CHIN/COF/NKO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/ Nkechi Okoronkwo)

Economy: FG targets micro enterprises for economic growth

NAN-HE-20
Economy
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Sept.21, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is making efforts to resolve challenges faced by micro enterprises, in order to provide avenue for them to thrive and contribute more to national economy

Dr Dikko Radda, Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said this on Wednesday at the National Economic Advocacy for Growth of Local Enterprise, Summit, organised by GIZ in Abuja.

The theme of the of the summit is,“Sustainable Business Environment for SMEs as a Backbone of the Nation’s Economy’’.

Radda, represented by Mr Wale Fasanya, Director, Enterprise Development Promotion, SMEDAN, said the agency would lift the micro enterprise through its business challenges support programme.

He said the programme entailed reaching out to small business owners, identifying their problems and proffering solutions to them.

“ We visit them, ask them what their problems are and then how we can come in to solve their problem, and that was why we have established the business clinics.

“We already have this business clinic in the head office but want to have it replicated in the state offices.

“So if you visit the clinic, we will diagnose your business problem and then recommend solutions.”

He explained that, although the agency was set up to build the capacity of SMEs, some Nigerians did not value it because they were more interested in getting monetary support.

“Most Nigerians, once you do not give them money, they do not value what you give.

“Most of the small scale businesses established die because people do not take time to build their capacities before they start the business.

“They just feel `my neighbour is selling bread and making money so let me also do the same’ which is not proper,’’ he said.

He said the agency, had since inception, tried to sensitise people to first identify their potentials and develop knowledge of running a business before venturing into it.

According to him, SMEDAN is ready to offer business management skills to budding enterpreneurs, to enable them succeed.

Radda further said the agency also recommend small business owners to institutions such as the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture to access funds to run their businesses.

Mrs Margaret Joshua, Senior Adviser, Business Enabling Environment Reforms, GIZ, said the summit was organised to bring stakeholders together to identify ways of sustaining dialogue in the sub-sector.

Joshua said the summit would examine efforts made by both the private and public sector, and identify what needed to be done to enable small businesses in the country to grow.

She said that the major challenges of SMEs were centred on illiteracy and funding, adding that it was also part of the GIZ problems.

“ Sometimes we have activities that we have to put on hold because we cannot get the funds needed to continue the activities,’’ she said.

“ And for people in the grassroot, there are so many people that cannot read or right, even if they are responsive or interested, they want to grow but that limitation is always there.

“Most of them cannot access the funds because they do not have the wherewithal, also do not have the collateral to use to get these funds.

“So what we have done is to bring in the micro insurance, so that they can get something through that and be able to access funds.

“And also we ensure that they come into groups like cooperatives and work within associations in order to be able to use it as a form of collateral to access funds.”(NAN)
LCN/GOM/MZA

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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NHF pledges to partner NLC to resolve workers’ issues in Kebbi
NAN-H-70
NHF
Birinin Kebbi, Sep.21, 2016 (NAN) The National Housing Fund (NHF) has pledged to continue partnering with the Kebbi State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resolve all issues concerning workers in the state.

Alhaji Sadiq Abdullahi, the NHF National Coordinator for 19 states in the north, gave the pledge at a stakeholders meeting comprising NHF, NLC and other stakeholders at the Federal Mortgage Bank office in Birinin Kebbi on Wednesday.

Abdullahi said that the aim of his visit to the state was to resolve issues relating to non remittance of deductions from workers’ salaries.
Earlier, Alhaji Ahmed Ka’oje, the NHF Zonal Coordinator, North-West, reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to bring sanity to the system.

Ka’oje described the past experience as unfortunate and promised that such would not recur.

He called on the workers in state to stay calm and give their support and cooperation so that the NHF would perform its functions effectively. (NAN)
SZT/TA
Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-HG-5
Malaria
By Maureen Ojinaka
Enugu, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) A laboratory scientist, Mr Chinenye Nwekpe, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to always comply with the national policy on malaria that stipulates medical test before receiving treatment.

Nwekpe, a former Chairman of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Enugu State chapter, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

According to him, this will reduce unnecessary and irrational use of anti-malarial drugs.

“Malaria policy states that every suspected malaria case must be tested and confirmed before treatment can be administered on patients.

“This policy has been in force for many years in the country, but with little or no compliance by people,’’ he said.

Nwekpe said that implementing the policy might take time, but would save many lives at the end.

The laboratory scientist also urged pharmacists and medicine store owners to desist from attending to any patient that refused to go for test before requesting for malaria treatment.

He recommended the use of long-lasting insecticidal net, indoor residual spraying and environmental management as other methods of reducing the burden of malaria in Nigerian communities.

Nwekpe said that keeping clean environment and eliminate mosquitoes breeding place would ensure low incidence of malaria.

The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) says, “In Nigeria the disease is responsible for 60 per cent outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 per cent childhood death.

“Twenty-five per cent of death in children under one year and 11 per cent maternal death.

“The financial loss due to malaria annually is estimated to be about N132 billion in form of treatment costs, prevention, loss of man-hours, yet it is a treatable and completely evitable disease.’’
OJI/DUA/GOK
(Edited by Dada Ahmed/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)
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