The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Buhari’s quest for vibrant textile sector

    From a cash cow, it became lame. Now, the Muhammadu Buhari administration is breathing life into the textile and cotton sector, writes CHINAKA OKORO

     

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele is usually nostalgic anytime he talks about the country’s textile sector.

    “The textile industry at that time was the largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the public sector, contributing over 25 per cent of the workforce in the manufacturing sector,” he said.

    The industry, he said, was supported by the production of cotton by 600,000 local farmers across 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

    He added: “This sector supported the clothing needs of the Nigerian populace, as our markets were filled with locally produced textiles from companies such as the United Textiles in Kaduna, Supertex Limited, Afprint, Texlon, Enpee and Aswani Mills, among others.

    “In addition, the cotton growing sector has gone dead, thereby depriving thousands of smallholder farmers the chance to earn a living. Furthermore, a large proportion of our clothing materials today are imported from China and countries in Europe.”

    The return to the good old days is key on the agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The Federal Government directed some of its agencies and uniformed organisations to patronise local textile industries. This is part of the efforts to promote local textiles and a return to the era when  the country was home to Africa’s largest textile industry, with over 180 textile mills, about 450,000 employees and more than 25 per cent of the workforce in the manufacturing sector.

    Now, only 25 textile factories are operating, and they function at below 20 per cent installed capacity and engaged less than 20,000 people.

    The fortunes of CTG sub-sector started dwindling in the 1990s as a result of some challenges faced by cotton farmers, ginneries and textile firms.

    Farmers and processors were confronted with low quality seeds, high cost of production, poor access to finance and smuggling of textile materials into the country.

    Buhari lamented the closure of textile factories especially in the North, and assured that his administration would revive the sector.

    “We promoted policies that will support local industries such as import restrictions.

    “We introduced programmes that provided affordable and accessible capital for both large and cottage industries.

    “We also introduced Executive Orders that encouraged the procurement of Made in Nigeria goods and services.”

    According to him, his administration will not allow Nigeria to return to the days of exporting jobs through the importation of food and clothing items, which can be produced locally.

    He said: “We will not allow Nigeria to return to the days of exporting jobs through the importation of food and clothing items which can be produced locally. We owe this to the over 200 million Nigerians.”

    According to the President, the textile and garment sector has the potential to create millions of jobs, and will therefore, remain one of the priority sectors for the administration.

    Referring to his recent directive to all government uniformed institutions to use locally produced garments, President Buhari said unbelievable number of jobs will be created when the military, police, para-military organisations, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), fully patronise local industries.

    Read Also: 2 million jobs coming as CBN plans N100b textile funding

     

    He urged state governments to key into this policy for their schools, hospitals and other institutions.

    According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), textiles worth four billion dollars were smuggled into the country annually.

    But there is renewed vigour by the present administration, to revive the CTG through CBN’s intervention.

    The present administration through the CBN is targeting engaging 300,000 farmers to achieve 450,000 metric tonnes of cotton in 26 states in the next three years.

    The bank is to achieve this through its Anchor Borrowers Programme, which had already commenced with the cultivation of 200,000 hectares of hybrid cotton seeds to be distributed to 200,000 farmers in 26 states.

    Part of the strategy is also to import 6,000 metric tonnes of improved cotton seeds, while additional 2,000 metric tonnes of cotton seeds had been sourced locally.

     

    We promoted policies that will support local industries such as import restrictions. We introduced programmes that provided affordable and accessible capital for both large and cottage industries

    The data released by the bank indicates that “total expected yield at the end of the current season is 302,440 metric tonnes. The distribution of inputs to cotton farmers was launched in Katsina on May 6.

    Twenty ginneries in seven states- Borno, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara were selected to participate in the CBN’s financed cotton project.

    According to CBN, ginners are to sell their lint to textile factories with the ultimate objective of producing textiles to meet the needs of the members of the uniformed services.

    Emefiele said the funds to operationalise the ginneries, had been approved and to be disbursed through the Bank of Industry.

    He added that about N19.18 billion had been approved by the bank to fund nine ginneries across the country.

    The approval is to enable them retool their processing plants, while they are to access the funds at single digit interest rate.

    National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) General Secretary Isa Aremu lamented the closure of hundreds of textile factories, which used to employ “millions of workers, more than the workforce of the Federal Government in the 70s and 80s”.

    He praised the textile-friendly policies of the Buhari-led administration, such as the interventions by the CBN and the Executive Order on the use of local garments by uniformed organisations, among others.

    Aremu said the need to tackle the high incidence of smuggling of textiles, in order to protect the sector as well as boost job creation.

    The activist said the recent signing of MoU between the CBN and some major stakeholders was a gradual effort of lifting the sector from the state of hopelessness to hope.

    He added that the effort made by the CBN was commendable and would be supported by his union, and appealed to other relevant groups and indeed all Nigerians to do the same.

    Cotton Ginners Association of Nigeria President Salman Abdullahi commended the CBN for its commitment to revive CTG sub-sector.

    Abdullahi said when the stakeholders’ meeting was convened sometimes to work out ways to revive the sector, he thought it would be like similar gatherings in the past, that did not yield any positive result.

    He pledged that members of his association would live up to expectation, by ensuring quality production.

    An economist, Dr Arome Salifu, said the step taken by Federal Government was a welcome development.

    According to him, for any economy to thrive, a critical component like manufacturing sector must be given priority.

    “The CTG is a critical component in manufacturing sector, therefore, the apex bank has taken the right step in the right direction by choosing this component to support.”

    Salifu added that this kind of investment was needed at this time because of its jobs creation potential.

    He called for involvement of critical stakeholders, like civil society organisations, in the monitoring and evaluation of the project to ensure judicious use of funds.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the 50th convocation lecture at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the Funtua Cotton Cluster would help the sector. “The Funtua Cotton Cluster in Katsina State. Funtua has the largest aggregation of cotton ginneries in Nigeria. The cluster will aggregate cotton from 800,000 farmers in Northern Nigeria and become the largest integrated cotton ginning, spinning and weaving complex in Sub Saharan Africa. It will re-establish the cotton value chain from seed cotton to finished fabric and provide feedstock for domestic and export oriented garment manufacturing.”

    It certainly will be good for the country and the economy when the fruits of the Buhari administration’s efforts in the sector begin to yield fruits.

     

  • Health hazards of open defecation

     

    Today is World Toilet Day. Do you have one or do you defecate in open spaces? If you resort to open defecation, you contribute to the country’s health challenges. Our resolve to eliminate open defecation will engender health, nutrition, learning, social and economic benefits, writes CHINAKA OKORO

     

    Master Udechukwu Meregini has been hospitalised for the past two weeks after he was diagnosed of diarrhea.

    His parents took him for medical examination after which it was discovered that his faeces were mixture of blood and yellowish fluid.

    They were surprised as to what could be the cause of the illness. To them, the family’s toilets and birth rooms are always kept neat. They ensured that all they eat are well prepared; and any food remnants are well covered to prevent flies and rodents from perching and eating them. The cause of the ailment was mere conjecture.

    They decided to monitor what the young boy eats and drinks, so much so that one of Udechukwu’s teachers was detailed to keep a tab on his activities in school, including what he consumes.

    Mr. Chukwuka, Udechukwu’s teacher was committed to his assignment. One day, Udechukwu sneaked out with one of his friends, Chima and went into the nearby bush in search of udara fruits. In the bush, they strode on faeces. As they walked into their classroom, the atmosphere became malodorous. Udechukwu’s teacher discovered that the two lads had treaded on faeces.

    It was then that the school authorities learnt that the villagers defecate openly in the bush near the school as modern toilet was somewhat a luxury to them. It then dawned on the teachers and Udechukwu’s parents that filthy environment resulting from open defecation was the cause of the boy’s illness.

    Udechukwu’s case is one out of several cases where polluted environment had become inimical to human health.

    A writer has described open defecation as “the practice of defecating in the open environment rather than into a toilet. People may choose fields, bushes, forests, ditches, streets, canals or other open space for defecation. They do so because either they do not have toilet facility in their homes or due to traditional/cultural practices.”

    Open defecation pollutes the environment and cause health problems such as child mortality, poor nutrition, poverty and large disparities between the rich and the poor because of their different indulgences about environment and sanitation.

    Ecologists say open defecation has negative effects on human health. Water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and other problems associated with exposure to human waste affect children under the age of five most because they are very susceptible to diseases.

    Open defecation usually occurs next to water ways and rivers. When people use the water for drinking or cooking, it results in water-borne-diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhea.

    The environment also suffers as a result of open defecation because it introduces toxins and bacteria into the ecosystem.

    Read Also: Group moves to curb open defecation in school

     

    As a result of the dangers which the menace poses, the United Nations (UN) declared every November 19 as World Toilet Day. It was observed by spreading awareness about benefits of toilets and ill effects of open defecation.

    This year’s theme is “Toilets for All”. The day lays emphasis on the significance of adequate sanitation and the need for access to safe and clean toilets for all.

     

    Grim national situation

    According to statistics, Nigeria is said to be among countries with the highest number of people practicing open defecation.  It is estimated that 46 million people “shamelessly” defecate openly. Undoubtedly, the practice has had a negative effect on the populace, especially children, in the areas of health and education and had contributed to the country’s failure to meet the Millennial Development Goal (MDG) target on sanitation.

    This is because “access to improved sanitation in Nigeria has declined over time.

    “The decline in access is further pronounced for the poorest.

    “Improved sanitation and hygiene practices are fundamental to child survival, socio-economic development and well-being of the society. Eliminating open defecation has benefits from the health, nutrition, learning, social and economic perspectives.”

    National  action

    Recognising the public health risks associated with the phenomenon, the National Council on Water Resources at the 2014 council meeting was prompted to prioritise the development of a roadmap towards eliminating open defecation in the country, in line with the United Nations global campaign for ending open defecation.

    The initiative which was tagged “Making Nigeria Open Defecation-Free by 2025: A National Roadmap” was developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with invaluable support from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and other relevant sector players.

    In 2016,  the council noted that “Open Defecation-free (ODF) Roadmap is an attempt to clearly articulate strategies and investments needed to eliminate open defecation by 2025. Achieving an ODF environment implies having access to toilets not only in the communities but also within schools, health centres, markets and other public places.

    “The Roadmap also provides a basis for the development of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Sanitation (PEWASH) programme which was aimed at establishing a multi-sectoral partnership among government, development partners and the private sector to support the empowerment of rural dwellers.”

    In the circumstances, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was mandated to provide the required enabling environment, leadership and coordination in achieving this target by collaborating with communities, civil society groups, development agencies, private sector and government at sub-national levels.

     

    Need for behavioural change

    Peeved by the uncomplimentary allusion, the Federal Government showed some kind of commitment towards ameliorating the horrid situation, or at best end it.

    However, government’s efforts to causing apposite sanitation for the citizens have become somewhat futile due to, as an environmentalist puts it “the pusillanimous approach it adopted in tackling the circumstances.”

    Agreed that efforts towards tackling sanitation matters, including ending open defecation, have not fully been realised, certain frenetic policy guidelines which were aimed at bettering the condition have been evolved.

    For instance, government’s pronouncement that tackling open defecation in Nigeria to engender unpolluted environment for the health of all should be everyone’s business should not be seen as grandstanding.

    The Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, an Engineer, has noted during his paper presentation on “Stopping Open Defecation” at the first public lecture organised by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Abuja that “there is need for attitudinal change so as to attain Open Defecation-Free (ODF) by 2025.

    “Achieving a clean Nigeria devoid of open defecation and its attendant negative impacts requires all hands to be on deck; it requires everyone propagating the message and championing the cause.

    “The need for behavioural change in order to attain open defecation-free, which, indeed, translates to every household having toilet facility, is paramount in achieving quality access to basic sanitation and hygiene, health, education attainment, productivity and socio-economic well-being of the people.”

     

    De-urbanising

    sensitisation programmes

    Just as the defunct “Better Life for Rural Women” programme that had all its seminars, programmes and “empowerments” in the cities which were attended by wives of governors, ministers, Permanent Secretaries and other women who were within the corridors of power or its balconies, without poor women for who the programme was ostensibly enunciated, the sensitisation programmes of the government on realising healthy and clean environment are usually held in the cities and on university campuses.

    How are rural dwellers carried along? Has government at all levels tried to sensitise them to the dangers of going to the bush to defecate? Or are they immune to diseases that result from open defecation? How does government encourage rural dwellers to have toilet facilities which will discourage them from defecating in the bush?

    So, government should not concentrate its sensitisation efforts in the urban or semi-urban areas. It should use its agency such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to disseminate information to those who live at the grassroots.

    Former Minister of Water Resources Bunu Sheriff Musa, an Engineer, puts it succinctly when he said: “The people who are largely within the rural communities are suffering from poor hygiene. They defecate in the open because of lack of toilet facilities”.

     

    Solving the problem

    Mindful of the dangers open defecation and lack of adequate sanitation pose to people’s health, government must intensify efforts in sensitising the populace to why they must show greater commitment to issues of environmental cleanliness and safety by appreciating government’s efforts towards open defecation-free country.

    Individuals, non-governmental organisations, corporate entities and government should collaborate to address the cultural, economic and social challenges that inhibit attainment of success with regard to open defecation-free nation.

    First, there is need to provide enough toilets for the people living in the rural areas since they are poor.

    Construction of pit and other toilet options such as compost toilets is necessary in solving the problem of lack of sewer systems. Governments should also provide incentives for people to build their own toilets through subsidies and building public toilets in strategic locations.

     

    The need for behavioural change in order to attain open defecation-free, which translates to every household having toilet facility, is paramount in achieving quality access to basic sanitation and hygiene, health, education attainment, productivity and socio-economic well-being of the people as well as development of a nation

  • Sanwo-Olu reaffirms government’s commitment to public health

    By Daniel Adeleye

    The wife of Lagos State governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the current administration in the state of its readiness to give prompt attention to public health.

    SanwoOlu stated this recently when a team of Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) paid an advocacy visit to her office in Lagos.

    The wife of the governor intimated the team of her plan to meet with all the 57 chairmen where they will be charged to step up efforts in delivering quality health care services to their people.

    Acknowledging the work of NURHI 2 in the health sector of the State, the first lady regretted that NURHI2 project is winding up at a time when the new Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration is gearing up.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu’s wife disowns ‘Health Trust NGO

    She stressed that it is now a challenge as a concerned government to practically own the health interventions even when NURHI2 and other implementing health partners have gone.

    High point of the visit was induction of the first lady as the FP/ LPAY Champion in Lagos State.

    She thanked PHSAI for not giving up in government objectives and assured the team her willingness to always partner with the group.

    Speaking earlier, the chairman of Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), Barr. Ayo Adebusoye, said the core objective of the visit to the first lady was borne out of her passion and interests in public health having served as a medical director at Shomolu General Hospital and to advocate for ways to improve sexual and reproductive health of young people in the state.

  • Self medication can cause miscarriage

    The Medical Director, Jericho Hospitals, with branches at Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos and Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Dr. Adebayo Boye, in this interview with Omolara  Akintoye, explains why pregnant women should avoid self-medication and why they need to take their routine drugs during pregnancy

    IGNORANCE, people say, is a silent killer and even in this present age, it is still affecting a lot of individuals. Some pregnant women are still ignorant as recent developments have it that most of them still have miscarriages, which could have been avoided if they are adequately informed. Miscarriage, according to Boye, refers to the spontaneous ending of a pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. Recent reports have it that miscarriage happens in 10 to 25 percent of all pregnancies.

    Causes of miscarriage, Boye said, are numerous, ranging from gross malformation of the foetus (baby in the womb). Example is gene abnormality occurring in either parents or abnormal implantation of the foetus; general medical diseases of the mother, such as severe fever (malaria and typhoid fever), syphilis, diabetes  (uncontrolled),  severe hypertension, chronic kidney diseases, gross malnutrition; hormonal insufficiency – some chemicals essential for growth and stability of pregnancy may not be enough, like progesterone. Thyroid deficiency may also cause miscarriages; womb abnormalities – (a) hereditary malformation like double womb, multiple fibroids, injury to the cervix, either during dilatation for painful menses (dysmenorrhoea) or operation for incomplete miscarriages or termination of pregnancy.

    Others include: trauma – miscarriage may follow abdominal operation to the womb or the eggs (ovaries) – operation like myomectory for fibroid and oophorectomy of egg tumour/growth; accidental injuries like road traffic accident from cars, bus or motorcycle or domestic accident – slip on the floor at home.

    Emotional disturbance – miscarriage sometimes appears to follow emotional disturbance such as fright or sudden bereavement and finally drugs that induce strong womb contraction in early pregnancy (names withheld). “From the above, there are avoidable/unavoidable causes. By trying to prevent febrile infection during pregnancy most especially malaria, control of diabetes and hypertension and prevention of malnourished state, also to try as much as from accident-prone situations (b)pregnant women should be advised to stay off drugs without prescription from doctors and avoid self-medications,” he warned.

    Read Also: LUTH walks against self medication

     

    But recent causes of miscarriage have it that lifestyle factor such as living in the city can trigger miscarriage.

    To prevent miscarriage, Boye said the risk of women having miscarriages can be reduced if women do the following: Not smoking tobacco during pregnancy; not drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy; eating a well-balanced and healthy diet; avoiding contaminated foods while pregnant as these may cause food poisoning and increase the risk of miscarriage; attaining your healthy or optimum weight before conceiving; treating the identifiable causes such as antiphospholipid syndrome or weakened cervix may also prevent miscarriage.

    This leads to why pregnant women to an extent need to take their routine drugs as prescribed. Boye said routine drugs should forestall complications or morbidity during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery.

    According to him, the benefit of taking their drugs both mother/child especially in pregnancy will contribute to a wholesome development of the child. “Folic acid supplement for instance is very effective for embryo development. Haematinics containing iron, multivitamin, folic acid, nicotinamide, copper, calcium, manganese and magnesium sulphate are all essential for the growth of the baby and prevention of anaemia during pre and post delivery.  Magnesium sulphate is for the prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension, while prophylaxis is for the prevention of malaria at six months and eight months respectively,” he concluded.

  • Group moves to curb open defecation in school

    By Omolara Akintoye

    OUR children belong to the classrooms and not on the streets. They deserve education and not hawking and idling away. Each child is a potential future leader of this state and this country. Getting the right education will only get them closer to that dream and aspiration, and to place them in their rightful positions in the society.”

    These were the words of the president, Build A School In Africa (BASIA), Dr. Victor Ukorebi, at the inauguration of a new block of four classrooms, two renovated blocks of six classrooms, a borehole, and eight rooms of modern toilet facility to St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

    Then project was the initiative of BASIA in conjunction with Latter-day Saints Charities and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    The launch which began with the group’s courtesy visit to the deputy governor of Ogun State, (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, was led by the president of BASIA, Dr. Victor Ukorebi.

    The deputy governor commended the initiative as well as applauded the gesture of giving back to the society.

    She said the group’s effort has brought hope to the people and is putting smiles on their faces. She went on to affirm the readiness of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun to continue the partnership with BASIA and Latter-day Saint Charities in order to alleviate the suffering of their people in getting clean drinking water and, reducing the number of out of school children in the state.

    Read Also: What education can do to a man

    Ukorebi pledged BASIA’s commitment in helping United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to achieve its goal of reducing the number of out of school children in Nigeria.

    On his part, the National Director of Public Affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Nigeria, Mr. Ikpe Nkanang, pointed out that the Church of Jesus Christ Charities has within the last five years executed thirty-seven projects, with additional five on-going projects to be completed before December 2019. He enumerated the projects to include the renovation of public health institutions and supply of medical equipment, provision of clean drinking water to twenty-eight communities and schools through sinking of boreholes, the curbing of open defecation through the provision of modern toilets in schools, motor parks and markets, amongst others.

    “The current infrastructural upgrade in St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta, is a testament of shared responsibility and demonstration of commitment to global cause. I call on well meaning Nigerians and organisations to join hands with Governor Dapo Abiodun to touch the lives of these young ones,” she noted.

  • Lagos fights gastroenteritis epidemic

    By Omolara Akintoye

     

    THE Lagos State Government has confirmed that the outbreak of Gastroenteritis has killed 11 people in the state while out of 400 cases 370 have been treated and discharged.

    The ailment is called gastroenteritis and it is the name for the inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

    Gastroenteritis according to reports is a bacterial or viral infection which causes vomiting and diarrhea. Its symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

    Symptoms may also include feverishness, a lack of energy and dehydration.

    Patients with gastroenteritis present severe acute watery diarrhea and excessive vomiting. Those infected with microorganisms causing the disease show signs and symptoms within 12 hours to one week after ingesting contaminated food or water. The disease affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.

    In an interview with the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, he said the situation was under control as a result of the policies and interventions already put in place by the state government.

    In a statement, Abayomi said gastroenteritis cases had been reported in some local government areas, particularly in Mushin, Ajeromi and Lagos Island since mid-October.

    Unfortunately, we have also recorded 11 deaths due to the outbreak. The spike in the number of gastroenteritis cases is directly connected to the recent flooding of some local government areas in the state.

     

    Read Also: No plan to stop Basic Healthcare Fund — Senate

     

    “It is crucial that everyone wash their hands with soap and running water thoroughly especially after defecation, before eating or food preparation and when they have been in contact with a sick person or touch any item or surface that may have been contaminated.

    It is advised that you wash fruits and vegetables squeaky clean before eating; cook food thoroughly; dispose of waste decently, avoid open defecation and keep water vessels clean.

    Washing your hands thoroughly, avoiding roadside eateries and drinking clean or safe water.

    “Health workers are also advised to take universal safety precautions when dealing with patients, practice good hand washing techniques and report any alarming increase in cases of gastroenteritis-vomiting and diarrhea to the Medical Officer of Health in their local government or the Directorate of Disease Control.

    “For reports, clarification and more information on the outbreak of gastroenteritis, citizens and health workers can contact the Directorate of Disease Control through these lines: 08023169485 and 08023608195,” Abayomi added.

    The Lagos state government says it has scaled up surveillance in communities within the affected local governments as it strives to stop the spread of the infection.

  • Supreme Court okays 21 contentious cases in Ondo, says AG

    Damisi Ojo, Akure

    About 21 contentious cases decided by judges in Ondo state have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

    The State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Adekola Olawoye (SAN) gave the cheering news while delivering a lecture titled: “Searchlight On The Effectiveness of Criminal Justice Law 2015 Thus Far: Feedback From Stakeholders” at the 2019 Judges seminar in Akure, Ondo state.

    The AG who attributed the stride to diligence, hard work and dedication to duties by the judges also commended the staff for maintaining harmonious working relationship with the management

    In the 21-page lecture, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) explained the need for the review of the 2015 Criminal Justice Law of the state to cure some identified lacuna in the OSACJL to enable take care of peculiarities of the state.

    He said “It has been observed that the state has not been adequately captured in the administration of criminal justice 2015 hence the need to amend it.”

     

    Read Also: Centre investigates 100 criminal cases, 300 paternity matters

     

    Speaking on the practicability of the reviewed criminal law, the legal luminary said the law only saddled all relevant agencies especially the security agents with additional responsibilities to protect fundamental rights of suspects as entrenched in section 10 (1) & 12 (3) of the ACJL.

    According to him, the two sections required that confessional statements of suspects must be video recorded and tendered as evidence before court to minimize the alleged use of force to obtain statement and dehumanization of police suspects in police, DSS & NSCDC detention cells.

    He said the law is not only intended to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice promotes speedy dispensation of justice, protects the society rights and interests of all parties to dispute but to put an end to the alleged indiscriminate arrest and others associated with obtaining statements on trial within trial in criminal justice sector.

    While lauding these innovative provisions, the AG however frowned over poor level of compliance by the security agencies with the mandatory recording of suspects’ statements, arrest and quarterly report of data base of arrested persons to the office of the AG as provided in the law.

    He therefore called for proper funding of all relevant agencies responsible for the administration of criminal justice sector, public education and awareness to enable them these statutory duties efficiently.

  • Customs seizes contraband items in Katsina

    Bym Augustine Okezie, Katsina

    The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, katsina/Kaduna Area Command on Monday recorded a big haul in the seizure of various contraband items at various checking points and border routes between katsina and Niger Republic.

    The Acting Deputy Controller of the Command, Dahiru Abdullahi Musa kirawa who conducted newsmen on Monday at the headquarters in Katsina on inspection of the seized items condemned the attitude of some business men who chose to smuggle banned items and evade tax payments on duty bound goods.

    Some of the contrabands seized from the smugglers include 1365 bags of foreign rice, 295 jerry cans of vegetable oils, 53 bags of foreign sugar, 14 cartons of tiger battery, 8 J5 vehicles and 1 Truck of used second hand clothes and foot wears, 6 cars loaded with foreign macaroni.

    Others include 6 used vehicles entering the country through land borders and a 30 seater bus arrested on unapproved routes and on land border with Niger Republic. Also some exotic cars like Mercedes C430 and 2015 models were equally seized alongside a Toyota Corolla 2019 models.

    Another seizure made by the Agency is a fuel tanker carrying 33,000 liters of PMS that was arrested 16 km to Mar Bara border with Niger Republic in katsina state. The Vehicle was scheduled to discharge its contents in Jigawa state but was diverted to Katsina state to be smuggled across the border.

    Read Also: Customs impound N501.6m worth of contraband

    The Customs boss wondered the owners of the seized items evade using legal routes to import the items to enable government generate revenue to render social services to the people.

    He said ’’if you have the money to purchase these types of vehicles and goods, why couldn’t you pay the legitimate taxes and rate to government to generate revenue’’

    ‘’use our ports which is user friendly, I am calling on those who have vehicles in detention to come forward and pay duty on them and collect them. Why don’t we take advantage of these laudable opportunities so that we can improve our economy?’’

  • Obaseki congratulates Lyon, Bello on victory at guber polls

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello, on their victory in the Saturday, November 16, gubernatorial polls.

    The governor, in a statement, said the victory of both governors-elect is a triumph for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and has once again proven the party to be the peoples’ choice.

    According to him, “I want to congratulate governors-elect, David Lyon and Yahaya, of Bayelsa and Kogi states, respectfully, for securing the mandate of their people and swelling the ranks of the APC. It is refreshing that the good people of Bayelsa State have decided to join the ranks of the APC in the South-South and we are indeed delighted to have them in the fold.

    Read Also: Lawan congratulates Lyon, Bello

     

    “I also extend congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, whose policies and reforms has endeared our great party to more people across the length and breadth of the country.”

    He noted that the victory in Bayelsa is most significant for the APC as the feat underscores the party’s growing acceptance in the South-South, adding, “Before now, Edo was the only state bearing the flag of the APC in the South-south. But now, we have a new addition to the fold, ensuring that more people in this part of the country benefit from the impactful policies of the APC.”

    The governor said he is committed to working with the new governors-elect to share ideas and deepen the development strides of the APC across the country.

  • Lawan congratulates Lyon, Bello

    By Sanni Onogu, Abuja

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Monday congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates on their victory in the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

    Lawan in a statement by Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, particularly rejoiced with the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on his re-election and David Lyon for making history as the first governor Bayelsa has elected on a platform different from the outgoing ruling party in the state.

    He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing field that enabled the people to assert their sovereignty and choose their leaders.

    “The impressive turnout of voters in the two states is a ringing endorsement of democracy by Nigerians as their preferred system,  notwithstanding its current challenges,” Lawan said.

     

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    Lawan also thanked the security personnel for their sacrifices for peace and order in the face of great difficulties.

    The Senate President enjoined the winners to be magnanimous in victory by accommodating all sections of the state in their governments and development agenda.

    Lawan also admonished the electoral umpire to learn from the challenges experienced in the two states with a view to constantly improving its institutional performance and the electoral process.

    The Senate President called on the relevant agencies to ensure thorough prosecution of the electoral offenders in the two states to serve as a deterrence to others.