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  • 1,070 Nigerians died in road accidents – NBS

    1,070 Nigerians died in road accidents – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) said on Wednesday  that at least 1,070 Nigerians died in road accidents in the third quarter of this year.

    The NBS Road Transport Data for Third Quarter, 2017 posted on its website on Wednesday showed that 89 out of the victims were children.

    The report stated that 981 of the 1,070 Nigerians that died, representing 91.7 per cent of the figure were adults while the remaining 89 Nigerians, representing 8.3 per cent of the figure were children.

    The breakdown of the figure showed that 815 of the number were males, representing 76.2 per cent while 255 were females, representing 23.8 per cent.

    According to the report, 2,478 road accidents occurred in the third quarter.

    It, however, attributed the major cause of accidents to speed violation, which it said accounted for 44.51 per cent of the total accidents reported in the quarter.

    It stated that loss of control and dangerous driving followed closely as they both accounted for 10.41 per cent and 9.52 per cent of the total accident recorded respectively.

    Meanwhile, the report stated that a total of 6,803 Nigerians got injured in the accidents.

    Read also: Nigeria’s population hits 193.3m, says NBS report

    It stated that 6,419 of the 6,803 Nigerians that got injured, representing 94.4 per cent of the figure were adults while the remaining 384 Nigerians, representing 5.7 per cent of the figure were children.

    It further stated that 5,110 male Nigerians, representing 75 per cent, got injured in road accidents in the quarter while 1,693 female Nigerians, representing 25 per cent got injured.

    According to the report, estimated vehicle population in Nigeria as at third quarter was put at 11,547,236 with the total population of the country puts at 193.3 million in 2016.

    It stated Nigeria s vehicle per population ratio was put 0.06

    In addition, it stated that data on the category of vehicles involved in road accident reflected that 58 per cent of vehicles were commercial (2,000), 40.6 per cent were private (1,401), 1.4 per cent were government (48) and the remaining were diplomat (0).

    It stated that FCT recorded the highest number of road crashes in the quarter, closely followed by Kaduna and Kogi States while Borno and Bayelsa States recorded the least.

    The report stated that 200,565 national driver’s licenses were produced in the period under review.

    It stated that Lagos and FCT produced the highest number of driver’s licenses while Zamfara and Kebbi produced the least numbers of national driver’s license.

    Similarly, it stated that 75,958 vehicle number plates were produced in the quarter.

    It also stated that Delta and FCT produced the highest number of vehicle plate numbers while Ekiti and Rivers produced the least numbers of vehicle plate numbers in the quarter.

    NAN

  • FCT residents to pay for infrastructure – Minister

    FCT residents to pay for infrastructure – Minister

    FCT Minister Malam Bello Muhammad has said that residents of the territory may have to pay for infrastructure as government could no longer continue to fund it.

    Muhammad said this while on an inspection tour of ongoing road projects by the FCT, being executed by Gilmort Engineering Ltd. on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said, tremendous amounts are needed for the provision of infrastructure in many of the districts of the FCT.

    According to him, while it was possible in the past to develop the FCT, the reality now is that to develop each plot now requires tremendous amount of resources.

    “I think it is just a matter of time, we will have no option but to ensure that every plot has to pay for itself.

    “If you look at it on a plot to plot basis the cost of infrastructure for a plot is so high and if you look at what people pay to government it is so negligible,” he said.

    According to him, 30 years ago when Abuja was created and people were encouraged to come in, it made a lot of sense for government to provide infrastructure.

    Muhammad said this was because infrastructure had not matched the level of development, adding that this had to be so because government could no longer fund infrastructure, while allocating plot for free.

    Read Also: Minister woos light rail investors

    According to him, this is something that requires “all of us to really sit down as stakeholders and not just the FCT administration”.

    He stated that if residents of FCT craved for first class infrastructure, they have to be willing to pay for it.

    “That is why the development of the city without given due cognisance to funding and providing for infrastructure does not help the city.

    “That is why you see that the city has so many districts with 100 per cent houses without infrastructure,” he said.

    He commended the contractor for doing a good job based on the level of work on ground.

    Mr Ben Simon, Chief Engineer, Gilmor Engineering Ltd said the company is determined to complete the project in 20 months.

    He said that Phase I Guzape District HD has been completed and the company was working hard to ensure the completion of Phase II.

    NAN

  • Pharmacists Council seals 339 illegal premises in FCT

    Pharmacists Council seals 339 illegal premises in FCT

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria ( PCN ) on Friday says it has sealed 339 illegal pharmaceutical premises in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Registrar of the council, Mr Elijah Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the council’s enforcement team efforts to curb activities of illegal pharmaceutical outfits in the country.

    Mohammmed said enforcement exercise was carried out by the team on Nov. 20 to Nov. 23.

    He added that out of the 496 premises visited in the metropolis during the enforcement exercise, 20 pharmacies, 290 illegal medicine shops and 29 patent medicine stores were sealed for offences ranging from operating without registering with the council and failure to renew licences.

    He noted that other offences committed by some of the owners of those premises included dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions.

    Mohammed said areas visited included Kuje, Kubwa, Mpape, Gwarinpa, Idu, Karimo, Gwagwalada, Jiwa, Deidei, Kagini, Zuba, Tunga Maje, Bwari, Ushafa, Abaji, Durumi, Kabusa, Lugbe and Paduma.

    The registrar, who decried the unwholesome practices of some drug dealers thereby inflicting injuries on patients, said the council decided to step up enforcement activities across the country to curb their excesses.

    He emphasised that most of the facilities had no appropriate storage facilities, leading to deterioration of medicines which made them unsuitable for human consumption.

    He said “the enforcement exercise is line with National Drug Distribution Guidelines aimed at ensuring that medicines remain safe, effective and of good quality as they transit from one level of distribution chain to another until they get to the patients and other end users.

    “One of the weaknesses in the distribution chain is proliferation of illegal medicine stores and these facilities do not have appropriate storage facilities, leading to
    deterioration of medicines, thus making them unsuitable for human consumption.

    “These illegal outlets do not have trained personnel to handle the medicines in their premises.

    “This has contributed immensely to irrational dispensing of medicines, resulting in treatment failures and negative effects on patients and other unsuspecting members of the public who patronise them.

    “Also, the activities of these illegal outlets tend to encourage abuse and misuse of controlled medicines, with attendant negative social and security implications.”

    The registrar, however, said some owners of the sealed premises had expressed willingness to fulfill conditions for registration by upgrading their storage facilities.

    He added that some others had also pledged to employ pharmacists that would supervise the dispensing of ethical products.

  • EU backs immunisation in 23 states, FCT with N3.8b

    EU backs immunisation in 23 states, FCT with N3.8b

    The European Union (EU) has provided an additional N3.8 billion to support the Federal Government’s immunisation programme in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    This is as EU urged states to make adequate allocation in the 2018 budget to cover immunisation programme.

    Speaking yesterday at the commissioning and handing of EU-Sign works and supplies at the Primary Health Care Centre, GUI, Abuja, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and Economic Community of west African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Ketil Karlsen, said the fund was also to strengthen primary healthcare under its seven-year project, Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria (EU-SIGN)  (2011-2018) initiative.

    The project is in collaboration  with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
    Before the establishment of the Gui NPHCDA, which was commissioned yesterday, the resident of the community goes as far as 20 kilometer to get healthcare.

    Karlsen said: “The amount was used to fund the procurement of vehicles and solar refrigerators as well as the construction and renovation of health facilities and cold stores in 23 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.”

    Beyond the financial assistance, he said EU “is also concerned about the governance and management of health service delivery and the utilisation of available budgets in a transparent and accountable manner”.

    He said even if the EU is to provide assistance in this area, “but the main responsibility lies with the Federal, state and local government authorities”.

    On the need for states to make adequate budget for  immunisation, the envoy said: “It is, therefore, particularly important for the states and local governments to make adequate and predictable allocations in their annual budgets for recurrent immunisation costs for vaccine distribution, outreaches, regular power supply to the health facilities  as well as staffing these facilities with qualified personnel.”

    Executive Director of  NPHCDA Dr. Faisal Shuaib asked for continuous support from the EU, stressing that the country’s health system is not yet there.

    “I wish to draw the attention of the EU to the fact that Nigeria health system, especially the routine immunisation system is not there yet. With the recent outcome of the MICS and survey 2016, we still have a long way to go, especially now that the country faces economic challenges. Your further support for the continuous improvement of this system will come in handy,” he said.

    The 23 states are: Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osu , Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

     

     

  • VAIDS: Lagos, Osun, FCT to provide data on hidden assets, income

    The governments of Lagos, Osun and Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have promised to provide all transaction data required to identify tax defaulters at the expiration of the first phase of the tax amnesty programme in March.

    The Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration (VAIDS) office in the Federal Ministry of Finance which stated ths in a statement yesterday, said states that provide the required information will get enhanced Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    This is because the obtained data will lead to considerable recovery of otherwise lost revenues and yield reliable information on eligible taxpayers.

    The VAIDS office said at the beginning of this month that it has commenced the collection of data on the income and assets of high net-worth individuals and companies in the country.

    According to VAIDS office, useful data of all payments and receipts of over N100millionhad been obtained from the Nigerian Customs Service. Also, data on all beneficiaries of payments above N100million were obtained from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Export-Import Bank Over.

    Vital information has also been received from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and land registries.

    The VAIDS office is also looking to derive more data from treasury bills, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and payment platforms such as Remitta.

    “This is the first step in collecting intelligence that will provide information on corporate entities and individuals who may refuse to take advantage of VAIDS. The data being collected is on individual and corporate liquid as well as fixed assets and income over the last five years, both within and outside Nigeria. Data collected will be profiled against tax payments made by such individuals and corporate entities,” said the VAIDS office.

    VAIDS, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, provides a time-limited opportunity for taxpayers with liabilities to regularize their tax status by truthfully declaring previously undisclosed assets and income. Taxpayers who take advantage of the window will avoid penalties and interest on taxes owed, tax audits and prosecution for tax offences.

    The Federal Government expects through the implementation of VAIDS to generate $1 billion, raise the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio from a meagre 6 per cent, one of the lowest in the world, to 15 per cent by 2020 and provide improved tax education to boost voluntary tax compliance.

  • FCT ranks top in sexual violation – Report

    A new report released by a group of lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers Alert on Friday, ranked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high among states with prevalence of sexual assault.

    Second in the ranking was Benue followed by Lagos States in violation of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

    President, Lawyer’s Alert, Rommy Mom revealed the findings at a national roundtable for Judges on rights based perspectives in maternal health adjudications. The event was organised by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), in Abuja.

    According to the report, the FCT ranked top with 42 percent while Benue and Lagos State shares between 26 and eight per cents respectively.

    In her presentation, Mom described the report as an outcome of data collected from across the country with focus on 12 states.

    The states are; FCT, Lagos, Benue, Nasarawa, Oyo, Sokoto, Ondo and Anambra, Kebbi

    The report stated that various forms of violence against women remains high at 11 percent while rape cases are often times not reported.

    These violations included verbal abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, personal security, freedom of movement, forced detention, harassment, rape and sexual exploitation.

    Earlier, the Founding Director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi in her presentation on ‘the need for adjudication of maternal health issues in Nigeria’, stated that one third of global maternal deaths are concentrated in Nigeria and India.

    Quoting from the 2014 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) report, she said Nigeria was reported to have an estimated 40,000 maternal deaths.

    She noted that the high incidence of maternal mortality in Nigeria has medical, political, economic implications among others.

    However, Afolabi disclosed that the Centre in an effort to improve maternal health ensured case documentation, strategic litigation in national and international courts as well as the ‘Not Again Campaign’.

    “The Judiciary is critical in reversing violations and we must step up to the challenges of culture, religion ,morality, dwindling resources and see human rights from what it is…non-negotiable and non-reversible.

    “The project therefore aims to use the law and social advocacy to advance maternal health,” she said.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of ex-minister’s 14 houses

    Court orders interim forfeiture of ex-minister’s 14 houses

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 14 houses in “choice areas” of Abuja. They are believed to be owned by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Bala Mohammed and his son, Shamsuddeen.

    The judge gave the order yesterday while ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Dimgba ordered the EFCC to publish a notice in a newspaper and on the EFCC’s website “inviting all persons/bodies, who may have interest in the properties to show cause why the said properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    The EFCC stated in the ex parte application that Mohammed and his son have denied either owning the properties or having any link with them.

    The commission said the preliminary investigation it conducted revealed that the properties listed on the schedule, attached to the application, were unlawfully acquired through corrupt practices by Mohammed and his son, when he was in office as Minister of the FCT.

    The properties, according to the EFCC included one “mansion” located at Sunrise Estate, Asokoro; three sets of four-bedroom semi-detached duplex at Green Acres Estate, Apo-Dutse;  two sets of four-bedroom fully detached duplexes each with a boys’ quarters on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, close to Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    The EFCC also listed a four-bedroom detached duplex with boys’ quarter located at 9, Platinum Luxury Home White Estate, Asokoro, Abuja.

    From some documents attached to the application by the EFCC, facilities in ?some of properties include “excellent road and drainage network; dedicated transformer; borehole for constant water supply; fitted kitchen, bedroom cabinet and wordrobes; ample parking space; and children playing ground”.

    Read Also: Judges, AEDC move to curtail electricity theft

    The rest of the properties are plots of land in six different locations in Abuja. They include the one located at Karasana West, Abuja, measuring 84,657.30m2; Industrial Area 1 Extension, Abuja, measuring 1.45Ha; and Guzape, Abuja measuring 2.7Ha.

    Others were located at Industrial Area 1 Extension, Abuja, measuring 1.26Ha; Karasana West, Abuja measuring 64,507m2; and Dakibiyu, Abuja measuring 1,251.15m2.

    Before yesterday’s order, the EFCC had previously seized some properties from Mohammed and his son, who are both being tried in separate courts in Abuja. Mohammed is being tried before a High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT), while his son is on trial before Justice Dimgba.

    The EFCC stated in an affidavit supporting its ex-parte application that “the crux of the application is that the respondents are being investigated for offences bordering on abuse of office, fraudulent land scams, corruption and corrupt practices, money laundering an?d diversion of revenue of government while being the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.

    It also stated that the properties traced to the father and son were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and crimes, kept and concealed in the names and proxies and nominees of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohmmed, and his son, Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed and for their benefit have been recovered and seized”.

    The EFCC said the properties were held in the names of different companies and one Maimuna S. Aliyu.The commission described Aliyu as Bala’s proxy allegedly used to the houses 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street Maitama, Abuja.

    The companies in whose names some of the properties were said to be held are Intertrans Global Logistics/Bird Trust Agloallied Limited, Gal Vac Mining Limited, and Diakin Telecommunication Limited.

    Giving the details of its investigation, the EFCC maintained that the former minister and his sons are the owners of the of Diakin Telecommunications Ltd, Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, Bird Trust Nig Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd  in whose names some the properties were acquired.

    The commission also alleged that Mohammed, while still being the FCT minister appointed JemilaTangaza as Special Assistant and, thereafter, Director of Abuja Geographic Information System (A018) “to facilitate fraudulent allocations of plots of land to her and her proxies and nominees in choice areas”.

    The EFCC alleged that the plots of lands were sold and their “proceeds laundered in the acquisition of some these houses like House No 9 Plantinurn White Estate Abuja, acquired in the name of Mohammed Musa.”

    It said Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd was linked to the son of the former minister, Shamsuddeen.

  • Judges, AEDC move to curtail electricity theft

    Judges, AEDC move to curtail electricity theft

    The Abuja Electricity Distribution Companies (AEDC) and judges of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Monday moved to curtail electricity theft in Abuja, Niger and Nassarawa States.

    Speaking in Abuja during a two-day workshop organized by the AEDC on electricity theft and related matters for judges in the FCT, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, said that the company and judges could share information that would curtail electricity theft.

    According to him, liquidity is the major problem that the sector is grappling with, which is consequent upon electricity theft and energy that is unaccounted for.

    He recalled that while privatizing the power entities, capability to reduce losses was an important consideration.

    Mupwaya said that: “A major problem that we are facing in the sector is characterized by liquidity challenge. But if we analyze further the main reason that underpin the liquids challenge can be traced to the theft of electricity and unaccounted for energy in the sector.

    “Because in order to have attained improvement in the sector there has to be efficient in the way the energy is being accounted for. There have to be deliberate processes that should curtail theft of electricity.

    “Theft of electricity is real. It is for that reason that when the bidders for this these privatized entities put in their bids, the most important consideration for winning or procuring an asset was the aggressiveness of the program of addressing the losses.”

    He said there is a relationship between the electricity consumed in a country and its level of development.

    The Managing Director noted that if electricity theft is not addressed, it will continue to negate all the improvement efforts of the company.

    Describing electricity is a national asset FCT Chief Justice, Justice Ishak  Bello, promised that the judiciary will support the company to protect its facilities.

    He said that it was a moment to stimulate the mind of the service provider that  reawakens the judiciary towards the organization, it is also a moment to see to so many situations such as abrupt power outage, installation that lead to fire outbreak.

    He asked the power firm to fashion ways of averting such occurrences, stressing that if AEDC is not rising to its responsibilities litigations may come for claim.

    The Chief Justice informed the judges that that the workshop was to for them to understand the workings of the AEDC for them to be able to follow the sequence of argument when the subject matter comes to their court.

    He added that “you will easily comprehend the argument and understand and at the end of the day you will be able to know the sides fairly and justly decide.”

    He told the judges that the workshop was for them to see the type of services being delivered by the service provider and the penalties that are there.

    Bello described electricity as the most vital of the critical infrastructure and key resource that support the society, noting that “it will not be out of place to describe it as a national asset and it must be protected.

    Bello said that “As an arm of government, we in the judiciary are glad with major stakeholders like AEDC to collaborate in ensuring that this essential commodity is available to all and of course that power investments are well protected within the ambit of the law.”

  • Abdusalami tasks Nigerians on peaceful co-existence

    Abdusalami tasks Nigerians on peaceful co-existence

    A former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another.

    Abubakar said this on Thursday in Gusau, Zamfara, while responding to questions from journalists.

    He advised those agitating for the restructuring of the country to follow due process and the rule of law.

    Abubakar said that Nigeria had evolved through a long history which began as a region, expanding to additional regions up to what are now the 36 states and the FCT.

    He said that the present administration was doing its best to restore the country’s lost glory and that this could only be achieved through the support of all Nigerians.

    He said that he was in the state to check on his mining site in order to boost its potential, especially, now that the Federal Government was focusing on the non-oil sectors.

    The former head of state commended the state government for the provision of infrastructure in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar was earlier received by the state deputy governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, who assured him of the state government’s willingness to support investors by providing them an enabling environment.

  • Police uncover illegal firearm factory in FCT

    Police uncover illegal firearm factory in FCT

    The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Sadiq Bello, said the Command has arrested three suspects in connection with an illegal firearm fabricating factory in Shenagu village near Zuba, FCT.

    The suspects are: Philip John, owner of the factory, Mr Onyegabueze Okpara, supplier of ammunitions and Joseph Bulus, distributor of the arms.

    Bello made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on arrest by operatives of the command on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that items recovered from the suspects include: locally fabricated revolver pistol cylinder, four Dane guns, one double barrel gun, one single barrel gun, two caliber live cartridge and  six Dane gun muzzles.

    Others are: four single barrel muzzles, six barrel gun frame, two gun muzzle spring, one manual motor drill, one dice for retread and various implement used for manufacturing locally made weapons.

    He said that during interrogation, John confessed to have been in the illicit business for 17 years and selling the fabricated single-barrel guns and Dane gun for N20, 000 and N10, 000 respectively.

    The commissioner said that the Okpara, who disguise as a bicycle spare parts dealer was arrested at Kaita market with the items which he concealed and sells to criminals.

    He said that Okpara had been in the illicit deal since 1997, sells a pack containing 25 pieces of live cartridge for N12, 000, while single cartridge goes for N500.

    Bello said that Bulus, the major link, who connects the principal suspect, John, with potential buyers of the fabricated firearms was arrested in Zuba.

    He said that the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

    Bello said that the command also arrested five armed robbery suspects at Apo roundabout and Kabusa areas of the FCT.

    The suspects are: Hashiru Isiaka, 30, of Kuruduma, Umar Adamu,20, of area 1 Garki, Tukur Bala, 25, also of area 1 Garki, Bashiru Mohhamed,25, of Durumi  and Benjamin Jatau, 29, of Kabusa.

    He said that Jatau was arrested by operatives of the command on Sept. 15 during a stop and search at Dantata bridge in Jabi.

    Bello said items recovered from the suspect are: one revolver pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, one revolver pistol and one locally made pistol, Nokia cell phone, Indian hemp, charm and screw driver.

    “The exhibits were discovered by the police during a search conducted on the bag the suspect was carrying while on transit from Jabi to Kabusa in a tricycle,“he said.

    He said that the suspect who was an ex-convict confessed that the guns, which he bought for N50, 000 was to be used for a major robbery operation around Kabusa and environs.

    “The suspect and exhibits have been transferred to the command Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) for discreet investigation and prosecution,“he said.

    He said Isiaka, Adamu, Bala and Mohammed were arrested on Sept. 20 by the command SARS while responding to a distress call about a robbery at Apo roundabout.

    The commissioner said that Adamu was arrested at the scene of the crime while his cohorts who fled on sighting the operatives, were later arrested on Sept. 9.

    He said that the suspects robbed and dispossessed two of their victims of N120,000.

    Bello said that suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

    He said with the support and cooperation of the public, the command would continue to track and arrest criminals in the territory.

    “This arrest goes to show that the command will not go to sleep, residents have a stake and should feel free to give police information“he said.