The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Indian

  • Indian charged with damaging maid’s eye

    Indian charged with damaging maid’s eye

    The police yesterday charged an Indian man, Jay Keswani, with assaulting his personal assistant, Faith Nwaneri and injuring her left eye.

    The defendant was arraigned before Mrs B. O. Osunsanmi of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    In a one-count charge marked MLK/B/214/2016 the police accused Keswani, 62, of “unlawfully assaulting Nwaneri by hitting her face with a bag containing tools and inflicting injury on her left eye.”

    Prosecuting Inspector Simeon Imhonwa said Keswani was the Managing Director of Ethylene Products and Lubricants Ltd, Isolo, Lagos.

    He said the incident occurred on August 12, on the 19th floor of Block 4, Flat 18, Bille Vista, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Keswani pleaded not guilty.

    Defence counsel, Chima Nnaji, told the court that the defendant had lived in Nigeria for over 40 years and his children were all born in Nigeria.

    He said Keswani had substantial investment in Nigeria with over 500 employees.

    Nnaji urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms because he was “a responsible person who will not jump bail.”

    Magistrate Osunsanmi granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till December 15.

  • Indian varsities woo Nigerian students

    For Nigerian students seeking to get into school on time, the resumption of Indian universities for the 2016/2017 session in July/August may be attractive to them.

    Mr Badri Prasad, Chief Executive Officer of Edusoft Associates, a leading provider of university admission services, also said Nigerians can get the best education in the best universities in India for far less than the cost in other countries.

    “Nigerians have realised that they can actually study in world class universities at a fraction of the fees charged by schools in the United Kingdom and the United States. Since degrees acquired in universities in India are at par with schools in the UK and the US, we have in the last three years seen an upsurge in the number of Nigerians studying in universities in India,” Prasad said.

    He added that students can get scholarships. Those from the same family can enjoy siblings’ discounts in which one sibling pays the full fee and the other receives huge discount; while those seeking to change from schools in the UK and U.S. can transfer course credits to continue studying in India at a fraction of the fees.

    Prasad also said Edusoft guides students in choosing their programmes of study, in addition to visa processing and post-admission  services once they possess credit level passes in five subjects.

    “What we do at Edusoft Associates is to avail our professional experience to intending students to help them chose the course that best fits their career goal, and thereafter our wide network to select the school that best meets this need,” he said.

  • Indian trip not cancelled, says Presidency

    Indian trip not cancelled, says Presidency

    The Presidency has said Nigeria will be represented at the Indian/African summit billed for India.

    It yesterday faulted an online report which claimed that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has canceled the trip.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande said the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the summit.

    He said: “Nigeria has been invited to the Indian/African summit and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment will be leading a delegation to the event.

    “There is nothing like cancellation. Remember that the visit of the Vice President to any country is not treated in secrecy.

    “Whenever the Vice-President is to travel out of the country, we inform Nigerians.

    “So, this story in question is a bunch of speculation. There is no cancellation.”

  • NIBSS battles Chinese, Indian Customs over BVN tools at ports

    NIBSS battles Chinese, Indian Customs over BVN tools at ports

    •Partners telcos on BVN confirmation alerts

    The Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) said its plans to extend the Bank Verification Number (BVN) project to China and India is hampered by delays in clearing project kits from their ports.

    Speaking yesterday during the announcement of partnership between NIBSS and some telecom operators in Lagos, its Managing Director, Ade Shonubi, said some of the devices needed to commence Diaspora BVN registration in both countries are stuck in their ports.

    He said: “We have been unable to get the devices out of the ports. The Customs in those countries are not co-operating with us”.

    Shonubi said NIBSS is working in partnership with telcos to ensure that every one that has been enrolled on the BVN network gets his number through his phone by dialing specified code.

    He said the USSD-BVN Notification Service, will assist the banking sector achieve seamless Know-Your -Customer (KYC) documentation process, and will boost customers’ access to credit.

    The NIBSS boss also said the BVN will enable banks blacklist fraudulent customers and ensure they do not return back to the system.

    Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, Francesco Anjelone, said the firm is fully in support of the USSD-BVN Notification Service, describing it as an innovation. He said Etisalat keyed into the project because there will be a creation of value for both industries. “The collaboration will strengthen the BVN project,” he said.

    Senior Manager, Airtel, Adefolake Ogunbayo, said Airtel customers will start checking for their BVN from Wednesday next week. She described the partnership with NIBSS as a perpetual relationship that will lead to other services.

    Aside China and India, the NIBSS also is working on extending the BVN project to Washington DC, Johannesburg, and Atlanta. Other cities participating in the scheme are Guangzhou, London, Leicester, Houston and New York City.

    The OIS Services, handling the Diaspora project, is expected to capture necessary data for online transmission to NIBSS, which would thereafter generate the BVN and communicate same to the customer. The Diaspora customer are expected to forward their BVN to their local banks for linkage with their accounts.

    The CBN has also reiterated its support for the BVN project. The regulator said the new guidelines on the BVN enrolment has authorised bank customers in Diaspora to present themselves for enrolment by using foreign based Nigerian banks.

    “The first option is the customers of Nigerian banks to present themselves to the offshore branches or subsidiaries of any Nigerian banks for the BVN enrollment. The deployment of scanners and other devices to these locations have started in earnest,” it said.

  • Police foil kidnap of Indian in Lagos, nab suspect

    The police said that they foiled an attempt yesterday in Ikorodu, Lagos State, to kidnap an Indian.

    A suspect was arrested in connection with the crime.

    The state command’s spokesperson, DSP Patricia Amadin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that an employee of a metal company in the town and others still at large were in involved in the alleged plot.

    She said the Divisional Police Officer at Sagamu Road Station in Ikorodu got a tip-off of the kidnap and swung into action.

    “A man simply identified as Timothy, 35, an old employee of the company, had planned with three other men to kidnap an Indian national working in the company in order to demand a ransom from the company.

    “Immediately the report was received, the DPO swung into action and began investigations to get the details.

    “On Aug. 6, police detectives from the station visited the company and Timothy was arrested.”

    Amadin said the suspect had made some useful statements to the police on the kidnap bid.

    The spokesperson said a man-hunt had been launched for the fleeing members of the gang.

  • How my houseboy, others robbed me, by Indian

    Lagos High Court  heard yesterday how a housekeeper, Peter Maina, robbed his Indian boss, Aja Bikram, of cash and property worth N3.2million.

    Led in evidence by a state counsel, Afolabi Sholebo, Bikram told Justice Aishat Opesanwo that Maina and three others gagged him, his wife and 15 year-old daughter and threatened them with a knife last November 10.

    Bikram, who works with Euro Global Food Distillage Limited in Lekki, Lagos,said that the defendants wanted to attack him on November 9, but postponed it till the next day because he had visitors.

    He said: “On that fateful day, Peter our housekeeper of eight months who lived with my family rang our door bell, my wife opened the door for him after she looked through the security viewer of our home.

    “He was followed immediately by three accomplices who forced their way into our house.

    “I, my wife and 15-year-old daughter were shocked to see the strangers in our house. One of his accomplices pulled out a jack knife and held it to my throat.

    “Peter ran to the kitchen to take our household knives to arm his accomplices during the ordeal.

    “They ordered us with knives on our throats to remove our jewellery and wrist watches and we were also ordered into the toilet where my wife was forced to bring out all the cash in the house.

    “I and my wife were tied with ropes while my daughter was tied with the dog leashes used for our two puppies.

    “My mouth was also gagged with a red handkerchief and I was locked in the toilet while my wife and daughter were left in the bedroom,” he said.

    The Indian said the ordeal last 45 minutes, adding that the defendants planned to kill him and also abduct his daughter for ransom.

    “I overheard them plotting to kidnap my daughter, after collecting N265, 000, an IPad, our Iphones, three laptops and our household ornaments which amounted to N3.2million.

    “Peter and his gang also wanted to kill me but changed their plan after they heeded to the pleas of my wife and daughter.

    “After they left, my daughter was able to set herself free from the dog leash used to tie her and she untied my wife and they unlocked the toilet door and released me.

    “We raised alarm and our neighbours who live in the boys quarters came to our rescue and called the police.”

    Explaining how Maina was apprehended, Bikram claimed it took the intervention of the Presidency, following his report at the Indian High Commission when he realised the police were unable to get the prime suspect 10 days after the incident.

    “After I lodged a complaint with the Indian High Commissioner who in turn spoke to the Presidency, the matter was taken up by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

    “Peter who was already working as a security guard at Anthony area of Lagos was arrested by the police as well as his accomplices.

    “Some of the phones that were stolen from us were found in Peter’s possession. The phones are currently in possession of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” he said.

  • Top Indian scholar joins AUN

    Arenowned academic and founder of India’s Shanti Business School, Dr. Vrajal Sapovadia, has joined the American University of Nigeria (AUN) as an Assistant Dean in the School of Business & Entrepreneurship with effect from spring 2015 semester.

    Sapovadia, who was introduced to the AUN community at the spring 2015 orientation for new students and parents in January, has also advocated family business and small and medium enterprise as having potential to increase Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

    The author of eight books and more than 90 articles, has conducted research in family business and corporate governance that has influenced state policies and been a major contributor to India’s GDP.

    He presented a lecture at the Atiku Centre lecture series towards the close of last semester on the topic “Strengthening Nigerian family business to promote socio-economic development”.

    AUN President Dr Margee Ensign said Sapovadia would add value to the university.

    “We are so fortunate to be able to have a scholar of Dr Sapovadia’s caliber as part of the AUN community.  Dr Sapovadia is internationally respected for his expertise in international business development. He is a fantastic addition to AUN’s already strong School of Business & Entrepreneurship and I am sure he will make his mark not only on our students, but in our nation and region,” she said.

    Recently, Dr. Sapovadia was a keynote speaker at the International Cooperative Summit in Quebec, Canada, as well as a keynote speaker in several conferences hosted by the World Bank.  He has also been a member of AUN’s online faculty, teaching undergraduate and MBA courses in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

  • Coal shortage looms as Indian workers strike

    Coal shortage looms as Indian workers strike

    In one of the biggest direct industrial protests in recent times, over 500 000 coal workers across India went on a five-day strike as negotiations failed.

    Trade union representative said talks between the unions and government lasted for several hours yesterday, with discussions taking place until midnight, but unions said that the government officials had nothing to offer to reverse the “denationalisation of the coal sector”.

    The government, in turn, said that the trade unions were “adamant” on their stand.

    “Negotiations at the secretary level have failed. But we are open for discussions at the political level either with the Prime Minister or the Coal Minister,” Indian National Mineworkers’ Federation secretary general S Q Zama said after the failed talks.

    “We did our best to arrive at a solution but the coal secretary has its own limitations and around 350 000 workers of Coal India Limited (CIL) commenced their strike today,” CIL chairperson Sutirtha Bhattacharya said.

    Significantly, yesterday was the second day at the office for Bhattacharya after he took charge as chairperson of CIL.

    Government estimated about 75 per cent of the country’s daily coal production of around 1.5-million tonnes was affected by the strike.

    The direct industrial actions, the biggest in the country since railway workers’ went on strike in 1977, was to protest the proposed restructuring of CIL, divestment of government equity holding in the largest mining company and trade unions’ apprehensions of “denationalisation of the Indian coal sector” through the government’s recent liberalisation of coal mining with the proposed permitting of private investors into the sector.

    The strike impacted production at major government-owned and -managed coal mining companies like Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Neyveli Liginte Company Limited, as well as CIL, with the latter accounting for over 80 per cent of domestic coal supplies.

    The strike was being supported by all major trade unions representing coal mine workers in the country including, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Centre for Indian Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), All India Trade Union Congress and Hind Mazdoor Sangh. Ironically, BMS was the labour arm of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which headed the current Indian federal government in New Delhi.

  • Adopt Indian model for elections

    SIR: Nigerian electoral history is filled to the brim with malpractices, irregularities, thuggery, and rigging. This is so because, in Nigeria, political power is seen not as a means to an end but an end in itself. This explain why the craze for power and its appurtenances always take Machiavellian tactics.

    From 1946 till date, there has never been an election in Nigeria that is not controversial. Nigeria’s election is usually a do or die and / or a fight to finish  affair. Hence the accompanying post electoral crises.

    The electoral crisis that followed Western Region election of 1964 and general election of 1965 were one of the reasons why Nzeogwu and his men struck. The return to civilian rule after 15 years of military interregnum didn’t go without electoral crisis, in fact, it laid the foundation stone of judiciary being the last electoral  umpire in Nigeria.

    The 2011 general election was epoch making in Nigeria’s electoral history. It shows the world that we know our problems and can independently solve them. The latitude Goodluck Jonathan’s administration gave the Jega-led INEC was the reason INEC conducted an election second to June 12 1993 presidential election- though not without controversies and crisis.

    This silver lining in the Nigeria’s electoral sky could be sustained if we emulate the Indian electoral approach.

    Indian electoral commission considered the geographical vastness of their country as well as its teeming population in evolving a method for organizing free, fair and credible elections.

    India which is today, the world’s largest democracy with – according to this year general election indices – 815 million eligible voters scattered along its vast geography. Indian Government, knowing the irregularities, logistical problems  as well as complications that will mar their general election when conducted in a day, structured their general election into phases (2004, it was four phases, 2009, it was four phases, whereas in 2014 it was nine phases) which involved step by step announcement of the election dates and declaration of results at the end of each phase. This method does not just  bring transparency to bear but also force also-rans to concede defeat.

    This approach when applied in Nigeria will help to make our electoral processes more transparent and well monitored so as to curb the irregularities that have characterized our electoral system. The National Independent Electoral Commission could structure our Presidential election into six phases (based on six geopolitical zones of Nigeria) and organize it within a space of six weeks.

    This approach when merged with Jega’s novel televised reporting of results of presidential election by state’s resident electoral commissioner, will ensure more focus and easy election monitoring. And, it will minimize all sorts of electoral malpractices.

    • Asikason Jonathan

     Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

     

  • Dear Nollywood,Indian entertainment revenue may double by 2018

    WHILE Nollywood is still being spoon-fed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s largesse, the Indian entertainment industry, according to a new study, is soaring in commercial maturation, and is expected to double its revenue to $37.2 billion by 2018, growing at a compound annual rate of 15 percent.

    An annual report by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers India and the Confederation of Indian Industry said that in 2013, the Indian entertainment industry recorded revenue of about $18.3 billion, a 19 percent gain over the previous year.

    The entertainment industry has contributed strongly to India’s economy, according to other recent reports. And interestingly too, while TV is predicted to be a big growth driver, the film business reportedly will also grow steadily.

    Against the backdrop of digital migration in 2015, one begins to wonder what will happen in the Nigerian entertainment space when the spectrum is further enlarged for more contents.

    As laudable as the interest of the Federal Government is in the entertainment industry, everything seems to me like a political romance. And as directors, producers and distributors jostle for their shares of the N3billion film intervention fund, actors, who may not have logical reason to access the fund, are playing smart by going into politics where they can tap directly into what they have come to see as a national cake regime.

    Nowadays, films like Being Mrs Elliot, which has no direct national significance, are finding their ways to Aso Villa in the name of presidential premiere. This film, I have on good authority, is not doing well in the cinema, despite hype by its promoters.  I honestly believe that we have lost it, and there is no effort from any quarters to call us back from this path of mediocrity.

    Back to the forecast for India, it is said that the subscription trends are robust, as television continues to dominate the overall industry pie. Total TV revenue (including advertising) reached $7 billion in 2013, up about 15 percent from $ 6.1 billion in 2012. By 2018, TV revenue is expected to double from existing levels to about $14 billion. International production companies have taken note of the growth and looked at opportunities in India.

    The film industry was estimated at about $2.06 billion in 2013 and is projected to grow steadily at a compound annual growth of 12 percent by 2018 to touch $ 3.6 billion. The report states that higher domestic and overseas box-office collections and cable and satellite TV rights for movies will continue to propel film revenue.

    The fastest growth is seen in the digital space, with Internet access revenue touching about $4.2 billion in 2013, up 47 percent over the previous year, thus becoming the second highest revenue generator for the overall industry after TV. Internet access revenues were slightly higher than total print revenues (advertising and subscription), which hit about $3.8 billion in 2013, signifying the growing dominance of digital over traditional media in India.

    Similarly, Internet advertising revenue is also a strong contributor, growing at 26 percent. It is slated to become the third largest segment, with a 16 percent share of the overall advertising revenue pie by 2018.

    Total advertising revenue reached $5.73 billion in 2013 and is expected to rise to $9.8 billion by 2018, registering a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent.

    Given the growth of new media, the report predicts that the share of print revenues in the overall industry pie is likely to fall from 20 percent in 2013 to 14 percent by 2018. Similarly, the share of the film industry is also expected to drop slightly from 11 percent to 10 percent over the same time period.

    Here at home, practitioners seem to have succeeded in blackmailing the government with their chorus of “We got Nollywood to this stage without government support”. I no longer hear that phrase, and it is just an error to imagine that the kind of support we are talking about here is by giving filmmakers money to go and make commercial films, when the most realistic aspect of support could have been policies that support co-production treaties, subsidising the importation of film equipment and instituting auditable structures through proper distribution framework.

    Although we keep hearing that plans are on to direct the larger chunk of the N3billion grant on distribution, there are no visible marks of seriousness on this aspect from the fund managers like the training of filmmakers on short courses abroad and giving producers money to make films. What becomes of these films without the distribution frameworks, which is the only hope for returns on investments? Isn’t this another case of putting the cart before the horse?

    Trust me; the money spent on training directors may not yield good results. I believe too that only few producers would use their share to make good films, if they ever make the films. The reason is simple: most Nigerian filmmakers are tired and only desire shortcuts to make a living.