The Nation Newspaper

Tag: enforce

  • Agip to enforce London Court award

    After five years of legal battle, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an application by the Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited to enforce an award made by the London Court of International Arbitration in a dispute with Allied Energy Plc and Camac International (Nigeria) Limited.

    Justice Hadiza R. Shagari gave the order following an application by Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited. Allied Energy Plc and Camac International (Nigeria) Limited are the respondents.

    The applicant prayed the court to grant leave for the final award made in London Court on February 14, 2017 between it and the respondents to be recognized and enforced in Nigeria.

    The application was brought pursuant to “section 31 (1) and (2), Section 51 (1) and (2) and Section 57 (1) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act CAP A18, Volume 1, laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”

    Ruling, Justice Shagari granted the application as prayed. She held: “It is hereby ordered that leave be granted to the Claimant/Applicant that the London Court of International Arbitration Final Award made in London between Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited and Allied Energy Plc, Camac International Limited and Camac International (Nigeria) Limited be recognised and enforced by this honourable court.”

  • NNPC to enforce N133.28 ex-depot price

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday said it  has deployed more of its depots and other throughput facilities to enforce the N133.28 Ex-Depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, to marketers directly.

    A press statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the Managing Director of PPMC, Umar Ajiya as saying that the measure became necessary to resolve the price differentials between some of its stakeholders.

    He said the throughput facilities, along with some of its coastal depots would go a long way in ensuring that marketers access PMS at the approved government price, saying the Corporation has adequate supply of petrol, and advised against panic buying.

    “As at today, I want to confirm that the NNPC/PPMC has more than 20 days sufficiency both at marine and land depots and we are still operating 24 hours at the depots and all NNPC Retail Outlets to wet the nation with PMS,” Mr. Ajiya reassured.

    He added that the corporation received between one and two PMS laden ships per day, adding that there were days that the NNPC/PPMC took delivery of four cargoes of ship laden with petroleum products.

  • Enforce standards on block moulding, govt urged

    Stakeholders in the block moulding sub-sector of the country’s building and construction industry have called on the Federal and state governments to institute a body empowered by legislation to monitor the quality of building blocks being produced in the country. They are convinced that such effort will help prevent cases of collapsed building in the country.     The consensus was made last week at a workshop organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Igando-Ikotun Cell, Lagos. The theme of the workshop was: “Economic Recession and Inflation: Sustainable quality in the production of Sandcrete Blocks and Allied Products.”

    At the workshop, the BCPG Ikotun Cell Coordinator, Mrs. Adekemi Okusaga, a quantity surveyor, said the theme was carefully selected to address one of the main challenges in the built environment.

    The General Manager, New Towns Development Authority, Lagos, and Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola, urged all stakeholders to close ranks and work towards forestalling collapse building in the country. He said it was wrong for anybody to wait for disaster to occur before rising up to the challenge. He urged all stakeholders to be proactive in their efforts to having a better country and safer building industry.

    In his keynote address, president BCPG, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, noted that in times past, the quality of blocks used for construction was not in doubt. However, he regrets that the story is not the same in the present times- a development that has become a source of concern for construction professionals.

    Awobodu, a builder, lamented the absence of a regulating body for blocks’ production, adding that the time had come for the governments to rise the occasion. “Lack of regulation in the production of blocks has been the major source of this problem. Block making business has become an all-comers affair. The machine for manufacturing blocks is easily fabricated in all nooks and crannies without strict specifications and standard. There is no monitoring system for the quality of sand and water being used for block production,” he lamented. He however assured that the BCPG would not relent in its efforts towards having a safer building industry in the country.

    The President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, however said apart from regulation issue, some block moulders are also in the habit of looking for cheaper blocks, which in turn leads to inferior block production. A former president, Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, Dr. Victor Oyenuga, submitted that block production is an engineering business.

    “Block making is not an all comers affairs, it is a serious engineering business and must be taken as such. It becomes imperative when the building is to be a load bearing form of construction which is the most widely used method here for bungalows and two storey (one suspended upper floor) buildings,” he said, adding that all efforts should be made to meet the standard requirements of the Code in the  production of sandcrete blocks.

    The Head of Department of Building, University of Lagos, Prof. Godwin Idoro, identified four main factors affecting block making in the country. These are: government-related causes, design-related causes, construction-related causes and material-related cause.

    According to the Don, a study by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), suggested that that only five percent of Nigerian blocks are produced (moulded) to specifications. This, he said, presupposes that 95 per cent of the sandcrete blocks in circulation or that are used for construction are substandard.

    He argued that there must be development of codes and standards on sandcrete blocks by government agencies in collaboration with research institutions and professional bodies and regular training of block manufacturers on the standards.

    “Governments should make it mandatory for blocks to carry the name of producers, brand name, date of manufacture and expiration like other manufactured products.  Development and adoption of standard production flow chart by block producers. The issue of task force is a government responsibility and no private body can do that all alone,” Idodo said.

  • ‘Enforce court order on electricity tariff’

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has urged the Federal Government to enforce last Wednesday’s Federal High Court order annulling the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC’s) 45 per cent increase in tariff.

    Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, Wabba advised NERC to obey the court order.

    He said: “We urge the regulatory body to comply with this judgment. The Presidency must prevail on the regulatory body.

    “If indeed this is a democratic government that respects the rule of law, the illegal tariff hike must be reversed, as we will not hesitate to bring contempt proceedings against whosoever is to comply or ensure compliance,” he said.

  • Fed Govt seeks states’ support to enforce compulsory insurance

    Fed Govt seeks states’ support to enforce compulsory insurance

    •Collaborates with Ogun State

    The Federal Government is  working with state governments to key into compulsory insurance, the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Alhaji Mohammed Kari, has said.

    Kari,who spoke during the Annual seminar for Business Editors and Insurance Correspondents in Abeokuta, over the weekend, said NAICOM was collaborating with the Ogun State government, noting that more visits to other states would continue within the year.

    He said the enforcement of the compulsory insurance at the states’ level would open big opportunities for the industry and the economy in employment, resources and, most importantly, protection of public assets of the states and public interest.

    Citing the various fire outbreak and collapsed buildings in the country, he said such risk could have been protected by the compulsory insurance.

    The NAICOM boss affirmed that insurance losses would reduce drastically if the issue of compulsory insurance is taken seriously.

    He said: “Discussions are already going on with some state governments on the need to adopt compulsory insurances, of which Ogun State is part of. The commission will extend such crusade to other states of the federation, as this would ensure that the motive of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) is achieved.

    “Our motive is to ensure that all the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), comply with these insurance.”

    He also disclosed that the commission was working with the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and other relevant operators to create additional distribution channels aimed at increasing insurance penetration to all sector of the population.

    He added that instead of relying only on brokers and agents these new additional channels would help to increase access to insurance across the country.

    “The commission is equally discussing with insurance market operators, to see how the industry can be expanded using other additional channels to sell insurance products and services. Sakeholders are seriously working to deepen insurance market, in a bid to contribute more to economic growth of the country,” he noted.

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has urged NAICOM to stop fake insurance policies in circulation.

    Amosun stated this when the top management of the NAICOM  visited at his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office.

    He expressed concern that Nigeria has not taken full advantage of the sector.

    “We need to beef up the contribution of the sector to the nation’s economy. We have not taken full advantage of the insurance sector in Nigeria,” he said.

    The governor added: “Nigeria is not bereft of ideas. The problem is that of implementation. For instance, we need to stop fake insurance policies in circulation. It will be in the best interest of the nation if NAICOM enforce the laws appropriately.

    “We are ready to complement your efforts in the area of enforcement. It is more in our interest to collaborate with you, we will be the better for it.”

    The governor urged members of the team to seize the opportunity of the retreat to visit different parts of the state to appreciate the spread of developmental projects put in place by his administration.

    He urged NAICOM to ensure that insurance companies live up to their responsibilities, adding that failure to observe their duties would be inimical to the public.

    He also called on journalists to educate the public on the benefits of insurance to their daily activities.

  • ‘Enforce hygiene regulations in abattoirs’

    Experts have called for the enforcement of hygiene regulations at abattoirs nationwide.

    Scoring table of abattoirs, they noted, should be a major part of the government’s policy to drive up hygiene standards.

    Emphasising the need for scoring of individual abattoirs and meat cutting plants, the  President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola, said the food industry and consumers would see evidence of the efforts of the government and the meat industry to improve and maintain standards of hygiene.

    He called for measures to ensure that abattoirs and cutting plants who put consumer safety at the heart of their business have nothing to fear.

    He added that there should not be any hiding place for operators who damage the reputation of the meat industry.

    Egbesola urged the government to publish hygiene scores for individual abattoirs in a bid to push standards up. He urged the government to directed local bodies across the nation to observe hygiene and compassion at slaughterhouses.

    He advocated engagement with butchers’ for capacity building and improvement of their facilities as per standards.

    Former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, said meat must be inspected and passed fit for consumption.

    He said such meat must carry health mark before it can enter the food chain. This, according to him, guarantees that it has been produced according to statutory hygiene standards, under veterinary supervision and has been declared fit for human consumption.

    He said abattoirs scoring low marks in hygiene inspections should be named and penalised. Adeloye said abattoirs, which failed to hit target hygiene scores should face tougher inspections.

    He insisted that back-up checks on every piece of meat should be  enforced  to ensure safe meat.

    Adeloye urged abattoirs and meat cutting plants to do a lot to ensure that levels of disease-causing bacteria are suppressed.

    Scoring, according to him, is one way of demonstrating how far plants are using best practice to achieve this goal.

    He said there were large abattoirs where food safety and hygiene are not of a high standard.

  • Lagos to enforce rules for boat operators

    The Lagos State Government will embark on aggressive campaign and enforcement of guidelines for commercial boat operators to stem boat accidents.

    A statement by Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Managing Director Mrs Abisola Kamson said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would ensure that water transportation, remained the most efficient and cost effective mode of transportation.

    Kamson, who spoke on the backdrop of last weekend’s boat mishap at Oke-Ira Nla, Ajah-Bayeku in Ikorodu, said LASWA was notified of the accident involving a Bayeku Ferry Association commercial boat carrying 20 passengers and two crew members.

    She said upon receiving the notification, the Authority’s Water Guards were immediately deployed to assist in rescue operations.

    Kamson said she later led a delegation of state officials and the Baale of Baiyeku, Chief Saheed Aleje Ajibode to visit the site of the incident.

    She confirmed that all passengers onboard were wearing life jackets, revealing that 17 of them were rescued alive while five who were earlier rushed to the nearest General Hospital, died afterwards.

    The LASWA boss said preliminary investigation by the Authority revealed that aside the mechanical fault that developed when the steering cable connected to the engine propeller cut, the captain of the boat was possibly also over-speeding, adding that he is presently being questioned by the Marine Police.

    She said: “The Lagos State Government in its drive to promote a multi-modal transport system, especially the movement of passengers, goods and services on its waterways, will under no circumstances compromise safety standards and the protection of lives and property. As such we restate our commitment to the promotion of all safety measures and ensure that all operators comply with all safety standards in line with global best practices.

    “You will recall that on Wednesday September 23, at Sabokoji Jetty in Amuwo Odofin local government, the Lagos State Waterways Authority commenced the distribution of 2,400 life jackets to students of riverine areas.”

  • Enforce that order

    •Policemen and doctors who fail to heed the IG’s order that victims of gunshot wounds be treated unconditionally should be punished

    The age-long directive that has denied victims of gunshot wounds treatment has been lifted by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase. Reacting to the lives lost in the process of seeking police report, and the relentless cries by families of the victims and the general public, the IGP said lives must be saved first.

    Till date, no one has produced the directive that has seen doctors turning away patients, many of them victims of horrendous attacks by armed robbers, cultists and hoodlums. Many hapless citizens have been caught in the crossfire between gangs, and in some cases as the policemen engage criminals in shoot-outs. Hospitals turn down the victims based on experiences they had in the hands of policemen and the gangs.

    Unfortunately, the experience is not limited to private hospitals. Even general and teaching hospitals are known to have come up with flimsy excuses to dodge the responsibility of saving lives. While they do not directly ask for police report, they are known to hide behind non-availability of specialists and bed space.

    It should be realised that every life is precious. No doctor should be told that they swore to the Hippocratic Oath to save lives at all times. It is therefore untenable to avoid the sacred duty under any excuse.

    We also call on the IGP to go beyond this fresh directive. We remind him that this is not the first time such an order would be issued. One of his predecessors, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had similarly warned policemen against harassing doctors for performing their duty. The instruction was backed by former health minister, Unyebuchi Chukwu, who called on doctors to focus more on caring for all patients before attending to the requirements. The minister assured them of the support of government at all levels. Yet, doctors appear too frightened to heed the call.

    We call on Mr. Arase to go beyond the verbal order, to send signals to the commands and institute punishment for violators. Nigeria cannot afford the needless loss of lives. The ministries of health and police affairs should also collaborate in organising seminars to promote good relations between the two services. The police force in particular has a duty to improve on its public image. Many citizens refuse to accept them as friends. Rather, they are regarded as fiends who must be avoided at all cost. The people refuse to pass information to the law enforcement agents for fear that it would be leaked to criminals or that the complainant, when they seek solace, could be turned to the accused.

    For the same reason, accident victims have been left unattended to by the public. Many tell stories of woes in the hands of the police for merely lending helping hands to accident victims. This is particularly so when such victims die in the process of caring for them.

    Agencies of government at all levels like the departments of information, the National Orientation Agency and the ministries of health should step up campaigns to get the people to be more compassionate in attending to accident and gunshot wound victims.

    As is the case in developed countries, the ambulance service in all states of the country should be adequately funded and equipped to cater for victims of any form of accident – domestic, motor, collapsed building, fire or gunshot within reasonable time. This has the twin advantage of affording the victims first aid treatment and shutting out the fear of victimisation by public-spirited individuals who first reached them. This also connotes that there should be functional short-code emergency numbers on which the ambulances and emergency services could be reached. We note here the good work done by the Lagos State government and commend same to other governments.

    If Nigerians wish to be treated as members of the decent and humane world, public officials have to treat the public with utmost decorum.

  • Enforce printing laws, govt urged

    Enforce printing laws, govt urged

    The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers (CIPPON) has urged the Federal Government to enforce laws on printing.

    One of them is the CIPPON Act of 2007 which empowers the institute to regulate printing in Nigeria.

    At a press conference in Lagos which has as theme: Industrialising a nation through printing: Using the provisions of the law, the institute’s President Mr Wahab Muhammed Lawal sought the support of law enforcement agencies, especially the police and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    “Nigeria can only be industrialised through printing if the government could strictly comply with the provisions of the law on patronage of local printers, while the law enforcement agents enforce positively on regulation of practice,” Lawal said.

    According to him, it is the government’s duty to enforce laws it made, adding that the provisions of the Printers Act No. 24 of 2007 enjoins the government and print buyers to patronise local presses.

    “If the government is strictly complying with the law it assented to, there should be no capital flight of printing jobs to foreign countries without the professional input of a regulatory body established by an Act of parliament, which is CIPPON,” he said.

    The CIPPON president said adequate enforcement of the laws on printing would empower employers of labour to expand their investments by setting up paper mills, ink manufacturing companies, which will employ more people. “Government alone cannot provide employment,” Lawal said.

    The institute said print operators need government’s support through tax incentives as the industry is capital intensive. He recalled that Malaysia, for instance, once declared a tax-free period for its printing sector.

    CIPPON wants applicable laws applied to ensure correct payment of duties/tariff on printing materials as approved by the government; strict enforcement of payment of duties on importation of printed books; enforcement of the Local Content Act, as well as provisions of the Printers Act.

    Lawal urged the government reduce tariff on raw materials that cannot be produced in Nigeria, adding that while the country’s paper mills are dead, Malaysia has no fewer than 30 mills, which makes it difficult for Nigerian printers to compete with their counterparts abroad.

    “It is possible that people are benefiting from importing printing papers; maybe that is why they want to kill the local industry. The only functioning paper mill produces craft papers. People cannot invest without the government’s support. The government should support employers of labour. Issues like double taxation, power problem, high import cost must be addressed,” he said.

    Lawal said printing can be a vehicle for national development if an enabling environment is provided for employers of labour to manage their investments, and if the relevant laws are adequately enforced.

    On why the industry needs support, the CIPPON president said: “Printing is one of the highest employers of labour due to its many facets. It is the beginning of civilisation. Eighty per cent of what we know come from the printed word.

    “Printing lubricates the operational wheels of a nation’s economy and is the engine-room of qualitative and productive education. The most economical way to disseminate information and preserve knowledge is through printing.”

     

  • Enforce protocol against forced labour, govt told

    Textile Garment and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN) has called on the Federal Government to enforce the global protocol against forced labour.

    The protocol, adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at accelerating action against modern slavery.

    TGTSSAN’s National President, Comrade Ambi Karu, made the declaration while interacting with reporters on how the protocol has put other world leaders on the alert in the efforts to combat forced labour, which is rampant in the private sector.

    He said: “We are very comfortable with the new ILO Protocol on forced labour that will put government of member states of the ILO on alerts. This is because the private sector is responsible for 90 per cent of the estimated 21 million victims of forced labour, reaping about $150 billion from some of the most severe forms of exploitation in existence.”

    According to Ambi, the call became necessary to prevent  jobless youths from being usurped by the political class to create political crisis in the country as the nation prepares for 2015 general elections

    “We are more comfortable because over 92 per cent of, employers and workers’ delegates at the recent ILO Conference voted in favour of the protocol, which the ILO described as bringing one of its longest-standing instruments, Convention 29, into the modern era.

    “We are optimistic that the new ILO protocol, if taken seriously by the three tiers of government, the federal, states and local governments, will revitalise action to ending forced labour, especially in the textile and Garment industry, as the new rule will put those who make money from anti-workers’ activities on notice,” he said.