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Tag: Abuja

  • Customs: Dealers rush for vehicle terminal N50m bond license 

    Customs: Dealers rush for vehicle terminal N50m bond license 

    The Public Relations, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Joseph Attah, on Wednesday revealed that dealers have started rushing to indicate interest to operate the N50 million bonded vehicle terminals.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja, he said “Yes. A lot have indicated interest and the process is on-going.”

    According to him, the Service was ready to begin issuance of the licence and that there are already positive responses from the public.  

    He said: “A lot of people have indicated interest and the process is on-going. NCS is ready for the issuance of licences to people who are interested, what it takes is for interested persons to acquire a big land, fence it and have Customs section within, a workstation with connectivity and computer system that can easily connect to the Customs server.

    “Such person will also be required to enter into a bank bond of N50 million. He will now apply through the Customs Area Comptroller of the command he wants to site the terminal to the Comptroller General.” 

    Asked to comment on the response of Customs officers to the recent upgrade of HND to level 08, he said that the announcement has restored the morale and dignity of the affected officers.

    According to him,  “The reaction has been positive; it has been morale lifting across the commands. By that singular decision, officers and men are saying that the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) has written his name in gold because he has restored dignity, integrity and pride of the affected officers.

    “In my own view, reducing the rank of an HND holder because he does h=not have a B.Sc was not a perfect decision. The CGC in keeping with his reform agenda has done what needed to have been done many years back. He has restored laughter and happiness and by the grace of God, we are expecting higher productivity.”

    Meanwhile a former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri has commended the reforms at the Service.

    He pointed out that “What we are witnessing now is an attempt to ensure that we conform to the provisions of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the rules of our country and that Customs serves the best interest of Nigerians.”

    He advised that importation of rice should not be banned out rightly but done in phases according to local production capacity. 

    He said: “Believe me, policies relating to agriculture in this country have been result-oriented. I must say that it is not just starting from this administration, it started from previous ones. 

    “Today, we are seeing revolutions in Anambra, Nasarawa, Kebbi with rice everywhere. So what we need to do is not an outright ban, but we should reduce the ban according to the level of production. If we are able to produce 10,000 tonnes and we are importing 20,000, let us cut off the 10,000 and bring in the other 10,000 tonnes so that we do not go hungry,” Omeri explained.

    He also urged consumers to patronise local rice saying, “So let us look at the nutritional value and begin to patronise made in Nigeria rice. Let us do phased withdrawal of import of rice in this country so that our people can grow more.”

  • Buhari denies harassing Jonathan’s family

    Buhari denies harassing Jonathan’s family

    • Says the law only taking its course

    The Presidency on Wednesday denied the allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari was harassing members of former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s family.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, reacted to the headline story in a national newspaper of Wednesday, entitled: ‘Buhari’s Govt Harassing my Family, Says Jonathan.’

    According to the report, former President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have made the allegation in a new book, “Against The Run of Play”, written by the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi.

    RELATED: Buhari’s govt harassing my family, says Jonathan

    Jonathan was also reported to have disagreed with the style being used by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in fighting corruption.

    The statement reads “We make bold to state unequivocally that President Buhari harasses nobody; he merely allows the law to take its course.

    “For the umpteenth time, we say that anybody without a skeleton in his or her cupboard has nothing to fear about the bared fangs of the anti-corruption initiative. Fear belongs only to those who have abused trust while in office.

    “Anybody who feels aggrieved is free to approach the courts to seek redress or justice. President Buhari believes in the rule of law and that is why his campaign against corruption is anchored on that plank.

    RELATED: Court orders forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s $5.8m

    “With regard to President Buhari’s anti-graft style, which the former president deprecates, given the scale of revelations and recoveries so far by the anti-corruption agencies, it is obvious that corruption had an uninhibited course during our recent past.

    “In any case, time will give the verdict on whose style of fighting corruption ultimately yielded the most dividends. For now, President Buhari is resolute and single-minded in the fact that his crusade against graft is not targeted at any individual or group.”

    Buhari, the statement said, firmly believed that national interest must always be placed above personal interest, no matter who is involved.

  • Anti-GMO group insists GMO is unsafe 

    • Advocates review of biosafety law

    An environmental group advocating against Nigeria’s adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) has advised the Federal Government to review the act that set up the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).

    ‎Executive Director of the group, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Mr. Nnimmo Bassey said during a media training, yesterday in Abuja that the call was important to address several complaints and controversies inherent in the act.

    According to him, the processes which led to the passage was faulty, thus needed an amendment.

    He added that a leading global GMO company had attempted to flood the country with GMO products which he described as unsafe.

    ‎However, he appealed to the Federal Government to revoke the permit issued to the firm for the health benefit of the people.

    Bassey argued that the NBMA had issued the license to Mosanto on Sunday, ‎May 2nd, 2016, when government offices do not open, adding that it was also on a  public holiday.

    His words: “Monsanto Tribunal in Hague has released its findings. They show starkly that Monsanto’s activities undermine basic human rights and that victims of multinational corporations need better protective regulations. The Tribunal also holds that international courts should recognize ecocide as a crime. Read the full press release from Seed Freedom.

    “We are calling on the government of Nigeria to revoke the permit given to Monsanto, repeal the National Biosafety Act 2015. These are the two key demands that we are making. The NBMA Act of 2015 was signed into law in the twilight ‎of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in spite of far-reaching importance biosafety matters to the citizens of Nigeria.”

    Bassey added that “the process that led to the passage of the bill and its eventual signing into law ‎was trailed by controversies and complaints from key stakeholders including farmers, consumers, and civil society groups.”

    He regretted that upon passage of the ACT, government agencies that out to regulate and check GMO produce in the country are the one promoting the technology.

    He expressed concerns of Nigerians over doubts about the effectiveness of the NBMA to have ‎granted GMOs approval in less than a year of its existence.

    “The NBMA Act has a lot of gaps and appears to have being drafted solely to set up the agency ‎as the name itself implies. Enormous amounts of discretionary powers ‎ have been vested in the agency with not enough mandatory duties in the operational provisions ‎ to ensure that the agency perform a stewardship role to ensure that GMOs do not pose harm to human and animal health, society and environment;

    “The Act does not have any clarity‎ about how this agency is subject to oversight by the parent ministry -the Ministry of Environment. Besides the lack of illegals in the drafting of the law, some provisions do not make sense at all; and in other places, references are‎ made to incorrect sections and to non-existence sections,” Bassey noted.

  • Man docked for N50,000 theft

    A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday remanded a 30-year-old man, Steven Daniel, in prison for alleged stealing N50, 000 and phones valued N31, 500.  Daniel, who lives in Tunwade village Lugbe, Airport Road Abuja, is arraigned for theft.

    The judge, Mr Garba Ugbede, said the defendant should be remanded in Kuje Prisons until May 12. Earlier, the prosecutor, Ndidi Ukoha, told the court that one Eze Maxwell of the same address reported the matter at Lugbe police station on April 20.

    Ukoha said that on April 20, the defendant went into the complainant’s compound at Tundwade village and stole two Itel phones worth N31, 500
    belonging to Maxwell and one Monica Lortyer. She also told the court that Daniel stole N50, 000 belonging to one Happiness Maxwell of the same address.

    The prosecutor said during police investigations, all effort to recover the stolen items proved abortive. Ukoha said the offence contravened section 288 of the Penal Code.

    Daniel pleaded not guilty to the charge, and further hearing in the case was fixed for May 12.

  • Buhari congratulates Peterside over election as AAMA chief

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside on his election as the new Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrators (AAMA).i

    The president’s congratulatory message was issued in a statement by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Buhari said: “Peterside’s unanimous election is not only a personal honour and affirmation of confidence in his ability to lead AAMA, but also places Nigeria in a pivotal position to rally other maritime administrations in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) toward safer global maritime activities.’’

    He acknowledged NIMASA’s encouraging performance under Peterside, especially in the fight against sea piracy through inter-agency cooperation.

    According to the president, Peterside’s new position provides him with an even bigger platform to forge ahead in doing the nation proud by meeting the objectives of AAMA.

    While wishing the new Chairman of AAMA successful one-year tenure, he expressed confidence that within this period, the Federal Government’s renewed focus on growing the Nigerian economy through increased maritime resources would be further enhanced.

    Dakuku Peterside emerged chairman of AAMA at the end of the 3rd Annual Conference of the continental organisation in Abuja on Friday.

    Peterside took over the chairmanship position from Sobantu Tilayi, the acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Maritime and Safety Agency (SAMSA), who has been the acting Chair of the association since 2013.

     

  • Pandemonium at Abuja Airport as irate passengers attack Air Peace duty manager

    Pandemonium at Abuja Airport as irate passengers attack Air Peace duty manager

    •We’ll no longer tolerate attacks on our staff, airline warns

    Pandemonium broke out last night at the departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NNIA), Abuja, when irate passengers attacked the duty manager of Air Peace over cancelation of Abuja-Benin flight.

    The passengers got angry when the airline announced the cancellation of the flight.

    The aggrieved passengers, according to eyewitnesses, vented their anger on the duty manager and the airline’s facilities.

    A source said it took the intervention of some men of the Nigerian Air Force, who were invited, to save the duty manager from being killed.

    Confirming the development, the spokesman of Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, said : “While we were making effort to resolve the challenge with the decision to commence our operations very early on Friday, a truck operated by SAHCOL rammed into another of our aircraft at the Benin Airport and the aircraft was again declared unserviceable.

    “The aircraft involved in the Benin incident was scheduled to do seven sectors, including our Abuja-Benin service.

    “Given the development, we had no choice but to cancel our Abuja-Benin service and asked those who were willing to reschedule for Saturday to do so, while others should be immediately refunded.

    “Some passengers, who were to fly with us from Abuja to Benin, however, went violent. They attacked our staff in Abuja and almost killed our duty manager.

    “It took the intervention of Air Force personnel, who were reportedly called in by the airport authorities, to rescue our duty manager from the mob.

    “But that did not prevent the passengers from destroying our facilities. The menacing passengers also prevented others from boarding their own flights, thereby complicating the situation.”

    Meanwhile, Air Peace has condemned the attacks on its staff by some unruly passengers in Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and other parts of the country, warning that it would no longer condone members of the public endangering the lives of its workers.

    A statement issued by the Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah, regretted that security agents had failed to halt the trend of members of the public invading airport facilities to attack airline workers.

    The airline said: “On Thursday, April 20, 2017, the winglet of one of our aircraft, which was being towed within the very limited space at the ramp of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to position for departure, had a partial contact with the stabiliser of another of our aircraft.

    “We subsequently declared the two aircraft unserviceable in line with our high safety standards.

    “We were, therefore, compelled to adjust our schedules to close the gaps created by the two aircraft, which were scheduled to do 14 sectors.

    “While we were trying to salvage the situation, some unruly passengers took the law into their own hands, preventing passengers from boarding and making it impossible for our aircraft to fly.

    “In Abuja, a former number three citizen of this country, whose flight returned to Abuja when it could not land in Enugu due to the closure of the airport at 7 p.m., refused to disembark and incited others to join him in his lawless action.

    “The aircraft was eventually detained overnight in Abuja.

    “The action of the former federal lawmaker and other unruly passengers in our different stations worsened the already difficult schedule we were making effort to save.

    “Some flights we were prepared to operate despite the challenge we were facing were eventually cancelled.

    “In Lagos, some other passengers attacked and almost killed our station manager.

    “Also in Calabar, unruly passengers had an unchallenged day, preventing our aircraft from flying.

    “On Sunday, April 16 our staff were also attacked at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

    “It is surprising all these attacks could take place at the nation’s airports, a high security environment, without any challenge whatsoever from security agents.

    “The situation has, therefore, left us with no choice but to resort to our right to self-defence to prevent our staff from being killed.

    “We can no longer tolerate unruly passengers maiming our staff simply because we have chosen to provide service in a very challenging environment.

  • CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    • Ayokunle accuses government of insincerity over Southern Kaduna killings

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Friday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the fight against corruption to those around him to avoid been partial.

    Ayokunle said the government should also show sincerity in strengthening the local currency so that: “the siege of economic hardship that has almost crippled the lives of Nigerians and increased the rates of suicide might be lifted. Salaries owed the workers all over the nation must be paid without delay. My Bible says that the wages of the workers must not be delayed overnight.”

    The CAN boss who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), spoke in Abuja at the 104thAnnual session of the NBC.

    The theme of the session: ‘moving forward, overcoming the challenges of life through Jesus Christ will hold Saturday 22nd to 27th.

    His words: “Government should be more broad-minded on the issue of the fight against corruption because corruption in Nigeria was not restricted to any particular political party or any religion.

    “As President Muhammadu Buhari is outward looking he must be inward looking because the church is against corruption and like the former president of Gambia said, let us chase out corruption like mosquitoes. Let us chase corruption out of our country.

    “Government should know that they are not dealing with infants. The people that elected them into office have the right to call them to order and call them to account for all their actions. The executive, legislative and Judiciary are not immune from our questioning and we need to audit them.

    “They are responsible by law to all of us either we are at the religious section or circular. Nigeria belongs to all of us and Government must act with transparency and fairness. Otherwise, it will be to your tent oh Israel.

    “All must be done in political appointments and in the conduct of government business to reflect Federal Character not only on ethnicity but equally ensuring religious balance. The suspicious of favouritism by the government of one religious group to the detriment of others must be avoided. The more government adheres to these admonitions, the more coherent we would be as people and the greater the peace and development.”

    Ayokunle expressed sadness over the recent alleged killing of 13 people by the Fulani herdsman in Southern Kaduna adding that government has not been able to act decisively on the issue of the killings.

    He accused the Federal Government of not being in control of the situation.

    His words: “When there was a clash between the indigenes of lle-Ife and the settlers there, the northerners; immediately that happened government was so swift and active to arrest suspects but the same government with all the same state apparatus have not been able to act decisively on the issue of southern Kaduna.

    “When the Federal Government was sometimes accused, it was saying that they were liaising with the governor of Kaduna State, he was the one briefing the president but why didn’t they liaise with the governor of Osun State so that actions might be delayed as it is delayed in the case of Southern Kaduna?

    “All partial alibi or actions that were delayed trying to satisfy him, it is an unnecessary defence mechanism which the government must avoid.  Act with sincerity so that all might know that there is justice and fair play. It is in that way that all of us as Nigerians can do a successful pilgrimage together as a nation.

    “Just in February this year, the United States House of Representatives cited Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world. Certainly, this is a most unpleasant classification for a country that is a democracy and the giant of Africa. What type of giant are we? It is a classification that should not make patriotic Nigerians glad in a country where the population is roughly divided equally between Islam and Christianity. It is essential for the Federal Government in whose care instruments of cohesion lie to quickly remedy this situation. We appeal to the government to desist from giving excuses anymore why the killings are still occurring, we want an end to be put to the killings henceforth. Enough is enough.”

    Ayokunle commended the Federal Government for waging war against Boko Haram sect and for sustaining it and that: “we equally salute the courage of our gallant military and we shall continue to pray for them over this good work of defending the people on this matter.

    “Equally, the release of the 21 of the several Chibok girls kidnapped three years ago is commendable but more efforts are solicited for the release of the rest before their lives are completely ruined for no sin of theirs.”

  • Corruption: Blow whistle on Police – IG urges Nigerians

    Corruption: Blow whistle on Police – IG urges Nigerians

    The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has asked Nigerians to expose any trace of corruption and misconduct amongst officers and men of the Force.

    The Police Chief also assured that any police officer found wanting would be punished, adding that public assessment of the Personnel of the Force was necessary.

    Members of the public are expected to report any police officer by using the various social media platforms set up for the purpose.

    Idris said this on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the partnership project between the police and Akin Fadeyi Foundation on an anti-corruption initiative titled, “Corruption, Not in my Country.”

    The IG who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, said he had instituted various  programmes to make the police more accountable, responsible and reliable.

    He said: “Nigerians should blow the whistle on police corruption through the various platforms we have set up on WhatsApp, Instagram, email and GSM telephone numbers.

    “Please do the whistle-blowing and see what action the police would take, we will do the right thing and ensure justice.”

    As part of moves to totally rid the Force of corruption, he also disclosed that his administration has so far promoted over 33,000 personnel from various ranks.

    He said the promotion has boosted the morale of those affected adding that it has made them discharge their duties professionally.

    According to him: “Since the inception of this administration, 4,410 senior officers and 28,627 Inspectors and Rank and File have been promoted. In all, 33,037 have been elevated to their next ranks.”

    He added that additional list of those yet to be promoted will be considered soon.

    Also speaking, the Director of the foundation, Akin Fadeyi said he was motivated to initiate the anti-corruption advocacy to engender an efficient police force that is public friendly, reliable and responsible.

    “The police have had tainted image as an institution  for such a long time and we feel it’s time to change the narrative”.

    Fadeyi also called for a change of attitude among policemen and Nigerians.

  • Customs redeploy 48 officers

    Customs redeploy 48 officers

    In an ongoing reform at the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), The Controller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) has approved the redeployment of some controllers of customs.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by The NCS Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah.

    According to the statement, in a major re-jigging of the Service for effective and efficient service delivery, the Comptroller-General of Customs approved the redeployment of 48 Comptrollers of the service. 

    It also revealed that some of the officers who have been moved includes:Comptroller Madugu, M.J from Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara to Ogun Command, Comptroller Udo-aka, E.A from Investigation to Oyo/Osun Command and Compt. Isiyaku, K from Tariff and Trade to Port Harcourt 1 among others. 

    According to the statement, the Comptroller-General’s Compliance team has been disbanded and a new team reconstituted. The new Compliance team is divided into three. Team A for Western Axis, B for Northern axis and C for Eastern axis. They are to complement the Federal Operations Units in order to vigorously crackdown on all forms of smuggling activities nationwide with particular focus on the enforcement of non-importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders.

    The new CGC’s Compliance team will be coordinated by Comptroller Azarema, A.A who before now has been the Comptroller License and Permit at the NCS HQ. The Axis will be led by Assistant Comptrollers of Customs.

    While calling on relevant stake holders to support the service by being compliant, the CGC expressed his determination to strategically re-position the Service as a crucial contributor to the success story of the nation,he added that all revenues must be collected, leaving no room for leakages. 

  • FAAN, Airport car hire operators clash as airport reopens

    FAAN, Airport car hire operators clash as airport reopens

    There was a clash between Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Abuja Airport Car Hire  Association (AACHA) on Wednesday.

    FAAN alleged that five of its workers were injured and one in a coma after they were attacked by members of AACHA.

    The clash also resulted in the destruction of some property belonging to the car hire operators including canopies and some vehicles.

    Commenting on what transpired between both parties, the Legal Adviser of FAAN, Clifford Omozeghian said: “the problem we have is with the car hire people.

    “They took us to court and the court gave the judgement against them. The court gave some specific order that they should be removed from this premise because they are not registered with FAAN.

    “The court empowered the airport manager to act as a bailiff in order that this order be executed. We have tried all possible means when we sought to execute the judgement.

    “These people who are so violent. They came hard on our staffs, they broke some people’s head, some people were rushed to the hospital, we had some persons who fell into a coma.

    “So we had to send a petition to the Inspector-General Police because we were being intimidated and harassed.

    He further said: “The IGP immediately ordered that his men be on the ground to investigate the issue. They were here yesterday, and some persons were arrested and the place evacuated.

    “We had to barricade the main carpark in order to maintain sanity but by this morning, these same persons who have constituted themselves as a menace to the authority came again in full force and forcefully removed the barricade that was placed there.

    “When some of our security men approached them, they lynched some of them, they beat them up seriously, and this is embarrassing to us.

    “You can not force yourself on us, the law is so clear about that. They are not registered with us, the court has said that, but they said they must impose themselves on us. So that is where we are now.

    On the number of FAAN officials affected, he said: “We have about five men beaten this morning, we have one in coma and we have one on admission right now.

    Some of them were arrested on Thursday, we do not know what is happening right now but we expect the policemen to continue their investigations and invite us to come for further briefings.

    Reacting to the allegations raised by FAAN, one of the Board of Trustees of the association, Chief Uche Chinese said FAAN was only trying to intimidate some of its members.

    He denied having any physical confrontation with officials of FAAN.

    According to him: “They came here with personnel of SARS  and you know that they carry arms. It’s only a mad man that will want to fight someone who was carrying arms.

    Also speaking, Mr. Victor Chuba said: “We were here at the car park and they came to us with a team of SARS and they asked for Alhaji Dele, when they chained his legs and hands.

    “They arrested four other people and asked every other persons to remove his or her cars that we are not supposed to be at the airport because they said we are not legitimate concessionaire but we told them we were but we were forcefully removed and they went ahead to destroy our canopies and spoilt some of the cars.

    On what he suspects to be responsible for the clash,  Chuba said: “FAAN wants to impose other companies on our association.

    “We are concessionaire and the space we occupy presently was given to us by FAAN but now they want to intimidate us.

    “The painful thing is that members now carry one turn per week, we find it difficult to fend for our families and now they are trying to impose N2000 daily payment on us.”

    On whether the clash in any way affected the security of passengers, the Chief Security Officer of the airport, Akewusola Adisa said: “The actions did not affect the security of our passengers.

    “The security of our passenger is intact and our men are on ground to ensure that there is law and order. We have registered car hire and they are fully on ground doing their business. Everything is intact, the runway completed.

    “If you look around you will see that there is business as usual. We have come to term with the period we said we were going to use even before the day; you saw that we commenced operations on Today.”