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Tag: inspection

  • 2019 election materials safe, open for inspection, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State yesterday said all materials used for the general elections were safe and ready for inspection by any party who followed laid down procedure for inspection.

    The state INEC gave the assurance while refuting allegations by some persons who claimed the commission colluded with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Essien Udium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to rig election by destroying ballot papers thumb printed in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Reacting to an advertorial titled  “Political Jobbers on the prowl,” published in this newspaper on March 16, spokesman for INEC in Akwa Ibom Don Etukudo described the allegation as deliberate falsehood, misinformation and the attempt to malign the commission and the person of the Resident Electoral Commissioner.

    Etukudo said INEC’s bus was involved in an accident in which the driver and three others became unconscious while on reverse logistics duty, adding that it was a directive from the commission’s headquarters in order to safeguard electoral materials.

    He said: “While the commission does not intend to join issues with anyone or group of persons on the conduct of the just concluded elections as it believes that the nation’s electoral laws have adequately provided due process for complaints, it is however pertinent to address the deliberate falsehood, misinformation and the attempt to malign the commission and the person of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), as contained in the said advertorial.

    “The commission refers here to the claim in paragraph 6 of the advert to the effect that its truck which was involved in an accident at Abak on March 12, 2019, was conveying “ballot papers earlier voted in favour of the APC and that they “were being transported to a location near INEC office in Uyo for destruction and subsequent replacement with ballot papers fraudulently thumb printed…”

    “This is not true. It is a clear mischief and a lame attempt to hoodwink the reading public and blackmail the commission for insisting on upholding the integrity of the electoral process in Akwa Ibom State.

    “On March 12, at about 4pm, the commission’s vehicle which was undertaking reverse logistics from INEC office Eastern Obolo, to the state office got involved in an accident at Oku Abak, a few meters away from the Abak Police Station.

    The accident was duly incidental in the Abak Police Station.

    “The driver of the vehicle and the other three occupants became unconscious owing to the accident and could not have responded to questions as alleged by the advertorial. The claim that “the driver of the truck on interrogation confessed that was the sixth trip that day shuttling to different PDP stalwart houses…” is therefore unfounded, spurious and mischievous.

    “Reverse logistics from LGA offices to state offices was a national directive from the commission’s headquarters to all RECs. It was not peculiar to Akwa lbom State. The exercise is ongoing nationwide. This fact is verifiable.

    “In the light of the failed attempts in some LGAs to disrupt elections in Akwa Ibom State by bombing and setting INEC offices and vehicles ablaze (as in Ibesikpo, Obot Akara and Mkpat Enin LGAs, for instance) before, during and after the elections, the directive of the National Headquarters is amply justified.

    “In implementing this directive, the commission in Akwa lbom State was careful to rigorously follow the laid down procedure. It duly informed the Commissioner of Police in the state who is also the Chairman of the Inter

    Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), a body made up of all security agencies in the state. It was therefore no secret that the commission was retrieving materials used for the elections from the field for safe custody in the state headquarters.

    “The commission hereby assures the public that materials used for the 2019 General Elections are safe and open for inspection by any party on application or as may be directed by an appropriate authority,” he said.

  • Institute to begin inspection of feed mills

    The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) is starting a nationwide inspection/audit exercise of feed business premises. Effective feeds contribute to the production and maintenance of healthy livestock.

    Head, Inspectorate Department, Mr. Olufemi Atunbi, said the exercise will start on November 5, in the Northwest zone of the country.

    NIAS inspectors have enforcement authority and routinely inspect commercial feed mills and farms involved in the production of feeds.  The requirements include the development and implementation of full hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) plans and prerequisite programmes for feed mills, verified through external third-party audits.

    Consequently, the Institute is calling on feed business operators who are yet to formally apply for registration to comply accordingly by forwarding their application with the institute.

    The statement warned that feed operators, who failed to register with the institute cannot practice feed business in Nigeria and a contravention of the regulation attracts penalty.

    The audit is designed for companies manufacturing feed across the country.

    It  stressed the importance of feed safety, adding that  institute is committed to ensuring that organisations  produce not only the highest quality feed, but mitigate the risks in producing feed.

  • CBN appoints inspection agents for non-oil exports

    CBN appoints inspection agents for non-oil exports

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced the appointment of Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs).

    The appointed agents already approved by the Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, are Cobalt International Services Limited, which will operate in South-West and Carmine Assayer Limited to operate in the North-West, North-East and North-Central. Also appointed is Neroli Technologies Limited to operate in South-South and South-East.

    The CBN in a circular to all authorized dealers, the Nigeria Customs Service, Terminal Operators and the general public said the appointment is on temporary basis, pending the appointment of new agents, or whenever their services are no longer needed.

    The CBN also warned Nigerians against investments in cryptocurrency, stressing that virtual currencies are not legal tender in Nigeria. The CBN reiterated that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, among others and exchanges such as NairaEx were not licensed or regulated by the regulator.

    The statement signed by the bank’s Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, emphasised that dealers and investors in any kind of crypto currency in Nigeria were not protected by law, thus may be unable to seek legal redress in event of failure of the exchangers or collapse of the business.

    The CBN therefore warned Nigerians against investing in cryptocurrency as doing so would be at their own risk.

     

  • SON trains workers, stakeholders in vehicle inspection, standards

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  has begun the training of its workers and other stakeholders in vehicle inspection and compliance with standards.

    The Director-General, SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, was represented by Mr Dauda Yakubu, regional coordinator, North West, at the training.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the two-day event holding in Sokoto, drew particpants from the 19  northern states.

    They included personnel of the organisation, vehicle inspection officers, security agencies, transport unions and other related stakeholders.

    Speaking at the ceremony, its director-general said the training was to acquaint the participants with the minimum requurements for insoection and testing procedures.

    “ These include causes of rejection of motor vehicle, trailer and semi trailer in relations to their safe operations on the road.

    “ It also requires the regulatory authorities with mandate to conduct and administer a system of periodic road vehicle inspection and testing to do so in compliance with standard.

  • SON trains workers, stakeholders on vehicle inspection, standards

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), on Wednesday commenced the training of its staffers and other stakeholders on vehicle inspection and compliance with standards.

    The Director-General, SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, was represented by Mr Dauda Yakubu, Regional Coordinator, North West, at the training.

    The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports that the two-day event holding in Sokoto, drew particpants from the nineteen northern states.

    They included personnel of the organisation, vehicle inspection officers, security agencies, Transport unions and other related stakeholders.

    Speaking at the ceremony, its Director-General, said the training was to acquaint the participants with the minimum requurements for insoection and testing procedures.

    “ These include causes of rejection of motor vehicle, trailer and semi trailer in relations to their safe operations on the road.

    “ It also requires the regulatory authorities with mandate to conduct and administer a system of periodic road vehicle inspection and testing to do so in compliance with standard.

  • Bricklayers, Police collaborate on inspection

    Efforts to eradicate incidents of building collapse in Lagos State has given birth to a collaboration between the Lagos State Bricklayers Association and the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Command. The partnership involves inspection to building construction sites. This was revealed during a courtesy visit the association paid the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, in his office recently.

    The President of the association, Mr. Abel Kayode, said as a quick solution to the menace, there is the need for setting up a task force of building artisans, backed by the police to visit and inspect sites in their localities. The taskforce, he further explained, would inspect foundation digging, block setting, concrete casting, and the use of bamboo in scaffolding, among others with the aim of arresting the activities of quacks. This collaboration is to avoid harassment and intimidation of artisans that would be involved in the exercise.

    “The frequent collapse of buildings in the state with its attendant loss of lives and properties have always been blamed on bricklayers. But bricklayers have been in existence almost since creation, providing shelter for everyone. Now, with the frequency of building collapse in the country, we are beginning to lose our integrity while quacks dominate our profession and if the nation fails to recognise the role of artisans, infrastructural development will be adversely affected,” Kayode said.

    Owoseni, who was represented at the meeting by CSP Lewi Suleman, said the Nigeria Police Force was in support of the association’s attempt at reducing building collapse in the state, adding that all area commands within the state would be notified.

  • Stakeholders seek improved pre-shipment inspection of agro exports

    Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have urged the Federal Government to support pre-shipment inspection agencies to reduce rejection of the nation’s agro exports.

    The list of goods subject to inspections and quality testing is extensive, including food and agricultural products.

    They said providing an enabling environment for pre-shipment inspections is one of the corrective measures which need to be taken for compliance as their  activities  take place, prior to shipment to  export destination. Pre-shipment inspections are allowable under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as long as the requirements in the WTO Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspections are met – non-discrimination, transparency and review and appeals processes.

    Cocoa Association of Nigeria President, Mr. Sayina Riman, said such inspections  would ensure that the quality and safety of produce are in line with the domestic regulations of the importing country.

    He said  non-payment of of  pre-shipment inspection agencies  would affect  the growth of agro exports. He noted that the agencies have, since inception, demonstrated commitment and introduced sanity into non-oil export documentation in Nigeria. The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) has also contributed significantly to the nation’s earnings.

    Riman said a labourer deserved his wages. He called on the Minister of Finance to pay the agencies without further delay. “What we are seeing is not right. A labourer deserves his wages. The minister should pay these companies to forestall crisis in the non-oil sector, Riman. said.

    A Cocoa Consultant and Chief Executive of the Centre for Cocoa Development Initiatives, Mr. Robo Adhuze noted that an important aspect about agro produce to be exported is compulsory quality control and pre-shipment inspection.

    To this end, countries revert to pre-shipment inspections to guard their consumers and domestic producers against rejection at export destination due to capacity constraints relating to domestic standards and standard authorities and the lack of implementation of internationally accepted standards in the agric sector.

  • School scores 100% in UK inspection

    The Lagos Preparatory School (LPS), Ikoyi, is celebrating its success in the inspection by the Independent School’s Inspectorate (ISI), a well-recognised UK team that inspects schools following the British curriculum overseas.

    The inspection was carried out over  four days in February.

    The report signed by Mr Paul Brewster (Reporting Inspector), Mrs Sarah White (Team Inspector) and Mr Umeshchandra Raja (Team Inspector), noted that the school “meets all the requirements of the Standards for British Schools Overseas”.

    However, the school was advised to make the following changes: “incorporate ICT in teaching all subjects beyond computer studies; make  better  use  of  teaching assistants  to  strengthen pupil  learning; test bi-weekly to ensure a  balance of  teaching and testing; expand  the programme for  gifted and  talented pupils to challenge them more; and widen the curricular to  include  more child-initiated learning opportunities”.

    Headmaster, John Samuel, said the school was graded 100 per cent in pupil achievement, quality of teaching, leadership and management and the quality of pupils’ personal development.

    “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved 100 per cent Excellent and Good ratings in every single aspect of school life, the top two classifications awarded by ISI,” Samuel said in a statement sent to The Nation.

    A member of the LPS Governing Board, Mrs Habiba Balogun, congratulated the school, which has a population of 461 pupils aged 1-14, for the feat and urged them to do more.

    “Congratulations to all involved in the school – students, staff, parents and governors. This is a well deserved result and has been achieved by the hard work and dedication of our whole school community. I look forward to many more years of success for Lagos Preparatory School.

  • MAN bemoans lack of inspection facilities in Apapa ports

    •Customs’ inspection target drops from 200 to 60 containers per day 

    Lack of inspection tools and equipment in Apapa ports has led to a reduction in the inspection target  of   the   Nigeria   Customs Service (NCS)  from 200 containers per day to about 60 containers per day.

    This has resulted in the payment of avoidable demurrage and unnecessary delay  in manufacturing  operations,  the  Manufacturers Association of  Nigeria (MAN) has said.

    The Chairman of MAN, Apapa branch, Mr. Babatunde Odunayo, in his address at its  44th Annual General Meeting (AGM)  held in Lagos on  November 12, spoke on the theme. At the AGM: ‘The Nigerian Manufacturing Sector:  What   Future   for   Capacity   Utilization   and   Growth   under   a   New   Economic   Situation?

    Odunayo said because of lack of inspection facilities at the ports, raw materials, plant and machinery, and spare parts are not released efficiently by Customs.

    “Presently, trailers also queue up on port roads leading to loss of man-hours and contribute to the cost of doing business in Nigeria,” Odunayo lamented, adding that already the deplorable state of roads within Lagos metropolis and the consequent traffic gridlock at the Tin-Can Island   and   Apapa   Ports   have   led   to   closure   of   and   relocation   of   some   manufacturing companies from Apapa to other neighbouring states.

    While noting that the Lagos State Government’s rail transportation project appears to have stalled,   Odunayo   calling   on   the   State   Government   to   fast-track   the   completion   of   the proposed Trailer Pack at Tin Can Inland, which, when completed, would promote an orderly and traffic-free conduct of business in that area.

    The Man chief also expressed hope that the NCS will improve on the facilities and processes at the ports in order to achieve the 48-hour clearing mandate, while also improving on the Pre-Arrival Assessment  Report (PAAR) procedures  in   order   to ensure  that   PAAR-related challenges such as complaints arising from Free on Board (FOB) values are minimized.

    This year’s AGM,  according to   Odunayo,  was  aimed  at engaging  with some  established economists and  technocrats in  further  understanding the  strategies  required   to  rescue  the manufacturing sector from imminent danger in the prevailing macro-economic and currency controls environment.

    He noted, for instance, that the controversial exclusion of 41 items from the official foreign exchange (forex), and the shortage of forex to finance imports is threatening operators in the manufacturer sector. “This unfavourable business environment poses serious threats to the survival of the manufacturing sector,” he said.

    According to Odunayo, “The Central Bank of Nigeria may have stampeded itself into the removal of the 41 items from the official forex window if you consider that the list includes essential raw material inputs for manufacturing, which do not have local substitutes.”

  • Wike fails to stop inspection of poll materials

    Wike fails to stop inspection of poll materials

    The Rivers State governorship election petitions tribunal has rejected the prayer by Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the governorship election, Dakuku Peterside, from inspecting election materials.

    The tribunal, yesterday, dismissed Wike’s motion, seeking, among others, an order staying the execution of the June 11, 2015, leave granted the petitioners (APC and Peterside) to conduct forensic inspection of materials, pending Wike’s appeal.

    The petitioners, were, by the June 11 ruling, required to inspect and obtain certified true copies of the materials, to be tendered as exhibits in support of their case that the election was marred by irregularities.

    The tribunal held that Wike’s motion was deemed abandoned because his lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), chose to “dilly-dally” when given the opportunity to move it on Monday.

    “The motion is deemed abandoned. He (Ukala) preferred to dilly-dally with the case. It is our considered view that in the circumstance the motion will not be determined on merit and same is hereby struck out,” tribunal Chairman Justice Mu’azu Pindiga said.

    It also dismissed another motion by Wike, asking the  tribunal to strike out the witness statements on oath made by some witnesses.

    In another ruling, the tribunal refused the petitioners’ motion for an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transfer materials used for the election to Abuja for ease of inspection.

    The petitioners had complained that INEC was working with Wike and the PDP to frustrate their inspection despite the order it granted on June 11.

    It said granting the motion would amount to it (the tribunal) varying its June 11 order allowing the petitioners to inspect materials, noting that they did not file any motion seeking to vary the order.

    The tribunal also refused another motion by the petitioners seeking an order directing that notices of preliminary objections, filed or intended to be filed, by the respondents, should only be allowed in their final written addresses.

    The tribunal held that the motion had been overtaken by event, because some of such notices of preliminary objection had been heard and decided.

    It rejected a motion by INEC for an order striking out the reply of the petitioners to its (INEC’s) response to the petition.

    Justice Pindiga, who adjourned till next Monday, said two pending applications by INEC and Wike would be heard during hearing of the main petition.