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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Ondo vows to deal with tax impostors

    Ondo vows to deal with tax impostors

    Ondo State Government says it will deal with all those impersonating government tax collectors constitutionally.

    Otunba Timehin Adelegbe, the ondo state Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, made the promise in Akure on Thursday while hosting market women and men in the state.

    Adelegbe said that his ministry had received information about some fraudulent elements parading themselves as tax collectors.

    According to him, all markets in the state will now be maintained and sanitised, while market leaders would be involved in revenue collection and maintenance.

    He called for cooperations in all the markets, while the markers users should play their expected roles.

    Adelegbe said that unauthorised hawkers around the markets would be flushed out.

    “Play your role by playing your levies and you will get value for your money.

    “Those hanging  around the markets will be removed,” he said.

    Earlier, Dr Dupe Eshofonie, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the markets were meant for all interested indigenes of the state.

    Mr James Yenyen, the Chairman of Igbokoda Market, said that the state government should allow the market users to be paying their levies to banks, rather than individual tax collectors to check tax impostors.

    Mrs Iyabo Adepoju, the Chairperson of Afunbiowo Market, urged the state government to renovate some facilities in the market, promising that she was ready to collaborate with the government.

  • 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.

  • Osinbajo endorses ACP endowment fund for growth

    Osinbajo endorses ACP endowment fund for growth

    The Vice-President, Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo, has endorsed the establishment an endowment fund for the African, Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) group.

    He described the initiative as timely to put members on the path of sustainable growth and development.

    The vice-president spoke in Abuja on Thursday when he received an ACP delegation, comprising its Chairman, Amb. Amadou Diop, the Secretary General, Dr Patrick Gomes, among others.

    “Setting up of an endowment fund like the one proposed will, in a way, guarantee an independent ACP.

    “Because if our development partners continue to give us the kind of support that they are giving now, they will definitely want to determine our course of development in the future,’’ he said.

    The vice-president pledged Nigeria’s unalloyed support for ACP, especially in its agenda on climate change and others, and urged member-nations to remain united in pursuit of the organisation’s objectives.

    “Nigeria remains firmly in support of the ACP because we have benefited so much from the organisation.

    “But I also want to emphasise the need for us to stay together.

    “The ACP has the potential to achieve a lot, especially in the focal areas of climate change, security and economic emancipation,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo, however, emphasised the need for the group to review existing international regulations as it strove to address challenges of terrorism and armed conflicts within ACP member-nations.

    He commended the leadership of ACP for the work done so far and promised to convey the group’s message to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In separate remarks, Gomes and Diop commended the role played by Nigeria in advancing the cause of ACP  on the African continent and the world.

    They solicited Nigeria’s support in the actualisation of ACP objectives, especially in the establishment of the fund.

    “The key of Africa and the region is Nigeria hence the respect accorded the country by the ACP,’’ Gomes said.

    The vice-president also received Mohamed Al Oraby, a special envoy of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

    The envoy who delivered a special letter from the Egyptian president, sought Nigeria’s support for Egypt’s candidate, Ms Moushira Khattab, in the November 2017 election for the Director-General of UNESCO.

  • Psquare’s split dominates Google search

    Psquare’s split dominates Google search

    The intention of Peter Okoye of Psquare to terminate contract with the Psquare brand dominated searches on Google Nigeria this week.

    Google’s spokesman, Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, made this known in a dispatch to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    “Psquare’s Peter Okoye is reported to have indicated intentions to terminate his contract with the Psquare brand.

    “The news was confirmed yesterday by his lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, who said that the identical twin brothers have had several feuds in the past, and efforts are being made to reconcile them.

    “Concerned fans searched Google for updates on the situation,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Peter and his twin brother, Paul, are hip-hop sensation with the popular stage name, Psquare, which dominated the Nigerian music industry for years.

    According to Kola-Ogunlade, celebrity news dominated this week’s top trending search terms on Google Nigeria, as the news of the death of a Nollywood actor and producer, Friday Ugwu, also trended.

    He noted that the actor, popularly known as Okaka De Don, was involved in a fatal road accident on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway last Friday.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the death, which was confirmed by the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, made the deceased’s fans to log onto Google to confirm the sad report.

    According to the manager, Google birthday surprise spinner also got people’s attention online.

    “Google celebrated 19th birthday, and as part of the celebration, the company launched a Google Doodle inviting users to explore 19 of its most memorable doodles launched over the past 19 years.

    “Google users in Nigeria raced to Google to give the doodle a spin,’’ he said.

    He said that fans of American hip-hop artiste, Belcalis Almanzar, popularly referred to, by her stage name, Cardi B, also took to Google to watch the video of her record- breaking song, ‘Bodak Yellow.

    The manager noted that the artiste had officially become the first female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 19 years.

    He said that her hit ‘Bodak Yellow’ trended for months before finally climbing to the number one spot of the chat.

    The Google manager also noted that American reality television star, Kylie Jenner, was rumoured to be pregnant for current boyfriend, Travis Scott.

    “The couple sparked pregnancy rumours some weeks back when both shared insinuative messages on social media that got their fans suggesting that the reality star was pregnant.

    “Kylie’s fans in Nigeria took to Google to search for more pictures of the couple,’’ he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that Ghana’s 4-1 defeat to Nigeria on Sunday in the 2017 WAFU Nations Cup Final also dominated Google searches.

    “Football fans raced to Google to search for more details about the match,’’ he said.

     NAN reports that Google Trends launched in May, 2006, allows one to see how popular search terms and their  demography have been overtime on Google.

  • El-Rufa’i inaugurates N5bn animal feed company

    El-Rufa’i inaugurates N5bn animal feed company

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, has said that his administration would continue to create more job opportunities for the youth in the areas of agriculture and mining.

    The governor made the pledge at the opening of a new animal feed mill, constructed by Sunseed Nigeria Ltd, in Zaria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is the second animal feed mill unveiled in the state in last two weeks.

    “The state is gearing toward diversification of its economy away from dependence on government by developing its natural endowment especially in agriculture and mining.

    “While mining will take some time to begin to give us the results that we need, agriculture can bring immediate results and this is why our investment policy in Kaduna state is focused on agricultural industrialization.

    “Kaduna state is Nigeria’s leading producer of maize, Soya beans and Ginger, and we are also second in the production of Sorghum, Millet, Tomatoes, White beans and Potatoes.

    “Therefore every serious business in the world should be in Kaduna state,” he said.

    The governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i also stressed that the target was to create jobs and take the youth off the street.

    “As a government, the overriding economic imperative is to create jobs.

    “89 per cent of the population of Kaduna state consists of young people below the age of 35, and if we do not find ways to create jobs for them we will have a major social problem.

    “This is why this administration is committed to attracting investment into the state, so that we will have jobs for our young people.

    “This plant and even the hospital are the contributions towards creating jobs in Kaduna state.

    “Today we are commissioning a Five Billion Naira investment that will produce 100,000 tonnes of animal feeds yearly.”

    The governor disclosed that the administration was working to enhance the capacity of farmers to produce rice and wheat, as well as a special beans consumed in India, which would be exported to that country.

    He also said that the government was working with a group of investors to resuscitate the moribund Ikara Food Processing Company, adding: “we are working to privatise it fully to encourage investors and create more jobs.”

    El-Rufa’i commended the animal feed company for constructing a 15-bed hospital for use by its host community as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris said the opening of the company would add value to Federal Government efforts at diversifying the nation’s economy, as it would provide needed jobs to a large number of people in the agric value chain.

    The monarch called on government to reintroduce marketing boards which would purchase farm produce directly from farmers for export.

    He appealed to all Nigerians to live in peace with one another irrespective of tribe, creed, social and political affiliation.

  • Police assure of tight security, panic-free celebration in Kwara

    Police assure of tight security, panic-free celebration in Kwara

    The Police Command in Kwara says it will provide watertight security to the residents before, during and after the forthcoming celebration of Nigeria’s 57th Independence Day.

    The Spokesman for the command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin on Thursday.

    He said that measures had been put in place by the police to ensure public safety, while marking the 57th anniversary of the country.

    “There is no  security threat in Kwara. Everything is intact as we are at alert to ensure panic-free celebration.

    “Our traffic patrol unit, security dogs, bomb disposal unit will be unleashed for security on Independence Day.

    “We want to assure the people of Kwara to come out en-masse to grace the celebration.

    “We want the public to enjoy lively atmosphere on that day,” he said.

  • Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), says the swearing-in of Sen. Andrew Uchendu is a triumph of people’s power and resilience over violence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uchendu was sworn-in as a Senator to represent Rivers-East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Peterside, in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt, said that the victory of Uchendu at the tribunal and subsequent swearing-in had put a stop to election manipulation.

    “As Sen. Andrew Uchendu mounted the podium and took oath of office, it has marked the collapse of the manipulation of our electoral system.

    “The swearing-in of Sen. Uchendu also marks real victory of the people’s power and conquest of resilience and determination over violence.

    “I salute Sen. Uchendu for his moment of glory and our leader, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, for offering leadership that strengthens our resolve, courage and gives hope to ordinary people,” he said.

    According to him, those who celebrated the shortlived victory of electoral manipulation will definitely fear God and also know that there is a limit to which they can manipulate our weak institutions.

    “Sen. Uchendu represents the true spirit of the ‘Riversman’ and the state, and his victory marks a new beginning and never again will darkness becloud our land again.

    “I join all Rivers people and particularly the thousands of young men and women who are ready to go to any length to defend their conviction to celebrate this new era,” he said.

    Peterside, who was the Rivers APC Governorship candidate in 2015, thanked supporters of the party who made necessary sacrifice to be in Abuja to witness the historic swearing-in.

    “I thank those who invested resources to celebrate our brand new Senator in both newspaper publications and various massmedia platforms,” he said.

    The National Assembly Appeal Tribunal for Rivers on Aug. 24 sacked Sen. George Sekibo of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to issue Certificate of Return to Uchendu.

  • NLC against proposed amendment of Pension Reform Act 2014

    NLC against proposed amendment of Pension Reform Act 2014

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday kicked against the proposed amendment of the Pension Reform Act 2014 to exclude some agencies of government from the contributory pension scheme.

    Mr Issa Aremu, NEC member of NLC, made this known on Thursday in a statement issued in Kaduna.

    Aremu urged stakeholders on pension matters to reject the proposed controversial bill seeking to exclude members of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Prison Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    He said the bill is sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke and has passed its second reading.

    “Pension reform Acts of 2004 and 2014 were outcomes of executive bills, which addressed the delicate interests of the pensioners, government and the economy.

    “In principle, a private member bill informed by narrow and vested interest consideration cannot do justice to all.

    The labour leader also said that any private member bill, which seeks to erode the gains of the 13-year-old Contributory Pension Scheme in terms of coverage and resource pool is “counterproductive” and should not be encouraged.

    Aremu said pensions of the nation’s working men and women in security services are better secured in a national contributory Scheme than the old “unfunded and unsustainable discredited ‘Defined Benefits Scheme’ ( DBS ).

    According to him, until the recent contributory pension reform “all stakeholders bore witness to ugly features of corruption, inefficiency and share looting”.

    He added that this characterized the old Defined Benefits Scheme ( DBS ), adding that to return to the old era would mean bringing back corruption to pension administration through the National Assembly.

    Aremu advised the National Assembly against what he called “the pitfalls of frequent self-serving out sourced amendments” of the Pension Act.

    He observed that the pension Act has just been amended through executive and all inclusive review two years ago.

    The labour leader said with all its globally acknowledged successes, the contributory pension covers only 7 million workers.

    Aremu lamented that to ask for exclusion of the security agencies will undermine the scheme with all the attendant negative implications for Nigerian economy just coming out of recession.

    He, therefore, called all members of the Assembly to reject the private bill, which will return pensioners to the bad old days of non-payment of pensions.

    Aremu urged legislators to through their oversight ensure appropriate budgetary appropriation for the accrued benefits arising from the old unfunded scheme is paid.

    He also said that 60 million workforce in both informal and formal private sectors and states civil services are covered in the compulsory Contributory pension scheme.

  • Borno agency unveils operation zero pothole

    Borno agency unveils operation zero pothole

    The Borno Road Maintenance Agency ( BORMA ) on Thursday said it unveiled “Operation Zero Pothole” to repair roads in the state.

    The Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Satomi Ahmad, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the road repairs project was on major towns in the state.

    Ahmad said the agency had completed arrangements to commence work on the roads in Maiduguri metropolis, adding that similar projects would be executed in Biu town.

    He listed some of the roads to be fixed to include Post Office-Industrial Court, Jidari-Polo and Pompomari-Jidari.

    The chairman said that a surface dressing work would be on the Gomari-Pompomari-Tashan Kano road to control flood in the area.

    He added that “BORMA will repair potholes and failed sections on major roads in Maiduguri metropolis and major towns.

    “We will use the curfew period in Maiduguri to work on the roads to avoid causing traffic congestion during the day.”

    The agency boss disclosed that BORMA would resume work on Biu township roads by direct labour.

    He explained that the agency would establish a zonal office in Biu to facilitate coordination of rehabilitation work in southern parts of the state.

    According to him, the agency plans to introduce toll gates and initiate commercial ventures to enhance its operations.

    “We will introduce toll gates and engage in commercial viable activities to boost revenue sources to
    enhance our operations.

    “The agency has fleet of heavy duty equipment including pay loaders, excavators and tippers, which can be leased to sister organisations to generate income,” he said.

    He reiterated borno government’s commitment toward road development projects to open up the state and ease movement of goods and services.

  • Batshuayi strikes late to give Chelsea win

    Batshuayi strikes late to give Chelsea win

    Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to snatch a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with the last kick of the game.

    The result took Antonio Conte’s side top of Champions League Group C.

    France international Antoine Griezmann rammed a penalty kick beyond former Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to give the home side a barely-deserved lead in the 40th minute.

    He was scoring the first European goal at their new stadium after striking the first Liga goal there this month.

    Former Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata, who also spent time in Atletico’s youth system, pulled Chelsea level by glancing in Eden Hazard’s cross in the 60th minute.

    This was after the visitors had failed to make their first-half dominance count.

    Batshuayi replaced Morata with seven minutes remaining and inflicted a first home defeat on Atletico since September, 2015.

    It turns wide a Marcos Alonso cutback from close range deep into stoppage-time.

    “It’s very difficult when Atletico score [first] to come back, but in spite of this we deserved to win. We continued to play with good personality, we kept our heads on the pitch in every moment,” Chelsea coach Conte told a news conference.

    “We must be pleased with the performance and overall the personality we showed.

    “I always tell my players that it doesn’t change when you play at home or away, you have to play with the same personality and desire to play and try to deserve to win.”

    Atletico coach Diego Simeone has likened his side’s new home to the Circus Maximus in Rome.

    The club’s famously vociferous fans made a noise fitting of the biggest game in the stadium’s short existence, but Chelsea soon calmed the crowd.

    Hazard, without a goal in the Champions League since March 2015, was Chelsea’s chief creator.

    He dashed through the middle to lay the ball off for Morata to screw wide and then hitting the woodwork himself with a ferocious long-range strike.

    “Chelsea felt more comfortable than us and won the game deservedly,” said Atletico coach Simeone.

    “They were superior tactically and physically. They are a very competitive team, they showed more maturity than us and we have to congratulate them.”

    Atletico struggled to get into Chelsea’s half but capitalised from their first real foray forward.

    A deflected shot from Saul Niguez earned a corner kick from which David Luiz hauled Lucas Hernandez to the floor, leaving Griezmann to score a third goal in four games.

    Simeone’s side could have grabbed a second on the cusp of halftime when Courtois could only hold Koke’s stinging shot but Saul slotted the rebound just wide of the near post.

    A two-goal deficit would have been grossly unfair on Conte’s adventurous side, who also had the better of the second half.

    Morata wasted a chance to strike again when he skipped towards goal unchallenged, scuffing the ball wide of Jan Oblak’s goal.

    But Belgian international Batshuayi needed just one chance to grab the win that was as dramatic as it was deserved.