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  • EU registers 10,000 cases of irregular migration in 2 months

    EU registers 10,000 cases of irregular migration in 2 months

    The European Union ( EU ), said it had recorded no fewer than 10, 000 cases of irregular migration within the last two months.

    The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karisen, made the disclosure on Monday at the Senate Round-table on Migration and Human Trafficking, holding in Benin, the Edo capital.

    Karisen , who said that EU’s illegal migration registration of the 10,000 took place in 2018, noted that it was recorded between January and February.
    He said that in 2017, EU registered about 187,000 cases, while number of deaths registered so far was 411, as against 116 reordered in 2017.
    He said that of the figure, Nigeria accounts for about 60 per cent, adding that in view of this there was need to correct worrisome error.
    The envoy, who said that the issue of migration and mobility were as old as the existence of man, and should not be an issue for worry.
    He said rather “what should be of worry and concern was the irregular migration and the conditions the victims were being migrated and causes for such migration.

    Karisen said the situation therefore called for urgent, immediate and long term solution to the problems of irregular migration.

    He also said that there was the need for shared responsibilities as well as bringing offenders to justice, adding that there was need to redouble efforts to dialogue on the best possible ways to adressing issue of migration.
    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his opening remarks, said that the issue of irregular migration and human Trafficking had become the bane of the nation’s existence as Nigeria currently ranked 23rd in EU irregular migration index.

    Saraki said the issue had become a Nigerian disaster reference point as a country, ranked fifth among countries crossing the Mediterranean sea, with an estimated 10, 000 reported to have lost their lives in the process.

    He said the roundtable was to serve as spring board to stem the tide, saying the summit would help identify reasons for irregular migration and human trafficking and profer solution on the way forward.

    The senate president said the government was doing its best to liberate Nigerians from the slave trade going on in Libya as many lives had been lost in the cause of irregular migration, noting that the time was apt to end it.

    He said that there was the need to urgently begin to address the issue as well as work and collaborate with the EU to stem the tide.

    He said that the effort by Edo government was the beginning of many steps that would be taking in bringing the issue and inherent problems to the fore.

    READ ALSO: Human trafficking: Edo plans permanent shelters for returnees

    Saraki expressed confidence that at the end of the summit, decisions such as improved collaborations, and how human trafficking would be stopped, would have been reached.

    He said that the summit would also address issues of how to improve policy legislation, funding to Agency like NAPTIP and how to fast track pending treaties.

    Earlier, Gov Godwin Obaseki of Edo, said that the issue of irregular migration and human trafficking in the country had become critical, noting that its magnitude had never been fully grasped.

    He said the Edo government considered it a variance to the culture and value of the people hence, a taskforce was set up in the state to handle the issue.

    He said the task-force had been working assiduously to achieve its objectives, as it had been receiving returnees, while offenders were being prosecuted with issue of stigmatization taking seriously.

    The two-day summit which was attended by various stakeholders, was organised by the Office of the Senate President.
    Newsmen also reports that dignitaries at the summit include, fellow senators, ministers, security chiefs, representatives from National Human Rights Commission, National Oriented Agency, and the Delta Government.

    NAN

  • China expects heavy air pollution during Lunar New Year

    China expects heavy air pollution during Lunar New Year

    Some regions of China could suffer heavy pollution because of fireworks and unfavourable weather conditions during Lunar New Year celebrations.

    This condition will be so in spite of a ban on firecrackers in more than 400 cities, the Ministry of Environmental Protection warned on Wednesday.

    “Some regions are likely to see heavy or even severe air pollution because of intense fireworks and firecrackers,” said the ministry in a statement late on Tuesday.

    Lunar, or Chinese New Year, which starts on Feb. 15 this year, is China’s most important holiday.

    Families and revellers traditionally celebrate with several nights of fireworks and firecrackers. The cacophony is believed to drive away bad spirits and usher in an auspicious start to the year.

    Read Also:Buhari congratulates China on Lunar Year

    More than 400 cities across China, though, have banned fireworks since last year to curb air pollution during the 15-day holiday and reducing deadly accidents, which are common.

    Smog-prone northern China, including the capital city of Beijing, is expected to see heavy pollution from Thursday through Saturday, said the environment ministry.

    Severe air pollution is also likely in Heilongjiang and Liaoning province in the northeastern China, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces in the east, Sichuan and Xinjiang region in the west, and also some regions in southern China, it said.

    Industrial plants would typically be ordered to cut production during days of heavy smog, though most factories would have already closed for the holidays.

    Some businesses will extend the holiday until March 3, although the official holiday period lasts through Feb. 21.

    NAN

     

  • Female banker, 27, bolts with employer’s N690,000

    Female banker, 27, bolts with employer’s N690,000

    For allegedly pilfering depositors’ money, a 27-year-old female banker, Ogunumoye Oluwaseun, was on Monday brought before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    To date, the accused had allegedly stolen N691,050, belonging to Astra Polaris Micro Finance Bank ( APMFB ), Abeokuta.

    The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of stealing.

    She denied the charge, but the Police Prosecutor Sunday Eigbejiale insisted that the accused committed the offence from May 2016 to August 2017 at Astra Polaris Micro Finance Bank, Onikolobo Branch, Abeokuta, Ogun capital.

    Eigbejiale said the accused,as a marketer, she collected money from customers and failed to remit same to the bank.

    READ ALSO: Forex: CBN intervenes in retail SMIS with $325.64m

    “The accused collected N691,050 from some customers at different times and failed to remit the money into the coffers of her employer.

    “When the theft was discovered by the bank, the accused absconded from work from Oct. 4, 2017 and all efforts to recover the money from her proved abortive,’’ the inspector said.

    The offence contravened Section 390 ( 9 ) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Adeola Adelaja granted her bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until March 21 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Kano Fire Service saves 158 lives, N809m worth of goods in January

    Kano Fire Service saves 158 lives, N809m worth of goods in January

    The Kano State Fire Service said on Monday that it saved 158 lives and goods worth N809 million from the 93 fire outbreaks in the state in January.

    The Public Relations Officer of the service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, however told newsmen in Kano that 12 lives were lost in the incidents.

    Mohammed said about 110 shops were affected in the fire outbreaks while property valued at N382 million were destroyed during the period.

    READ ALSO: Eight die in tanker explosion on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    The public relation’s officer did not give the actual number of residential houses that were affected.

    He said that the service received 89 rescue calls and 19 false alarms from the residents during the month.

    Mohammed attributed the major causes of the fire outbreaks to the use of inferior electrical materials, poor handling of electrical appliances, cooking gas and boiling ring as well as accidents.

    He advised the residents to always be careful with electrical appliances in their homes and shops.

    NAN

  • Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed the Officer-in-charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Saki Area of the Oyo State Police Command.

    The officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, whose name was not disclosed by the Command was said to have been macheted to death by the suspected Fulani herdsmen during an operation in a forest around Saki-Ogboro Road in the Oke Ogun area of the state.

    The incident is coming barely two weeks after the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude and other top officers of the Command held a stakeholders meeting to address issues and crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

    The meeting held at the Eleyele Headquarters of the Command in Ibadan.

    According to a top Source who pleaded anonymity, a combined team of police officers and men of the SARS operatives in the area had arrested some suspected Fulani herdsmen on the ground of disturbing public peace a day earlier, but that the men were ambushed by another gang of herdsmen during another attempt to arrest two other suspects involved in the public chaos.

    The source added that the development has led to palpable fear in Saki and its environs.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed the incident said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of the officer.

    He, however, added that the Command has commenced an investigation on the incident while assuring people in the area to remain law-abiding and calm.

  • 16 arrested in Ilorin as butchers, drivers clash

    16 arrested in Ilorin as butchers, drivers clash

    No fewer than 16 people were Wednesday arrested in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital as truck drivers and butchers clashed at the popular Mandate Market around Adewole area of the metropolis.

    During the free-for-all about two personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were wounded.

    Sources within the market claimed that the clash arose as a result of protest by some butchers against the way some trucks were parked as they pointed out that it was obstructing their customers from accessing them.

    During the fracas, truck drivers were alleged to have drawn out their knives and attacked a butcher while associates of the victim also rose to his defence.

    “In the process all hell was let loose”, said a woman who said merely escaped being a victim. It was feared at a point that the fight would escalate into an ethnic conflict as most of the truck drivers are from the north while the butchers are mainly Yorubas.

    Although initial reports claimed one life was lost to the mayhem, security sources later denied the report. Market stalls and shops were hurriedly closed during the mayhem even as motorists plying the route stayed back until normalcy was returned to the area.

    The situation was brought under control by the arrival of men of the NSCDC who began to shoot into the air to scare the warring groups.

    They were said to have helped several women trapped between the fighting groups to escape and it was in the process that two of them were injured.

    Spokesperson of the corps in the state Henry Bilesanmi confirmed the development as well as the reported cause of the incident.

    “As I am talking with you I have just returned from the hospital to see our wounded men”, he said and assured that the corps would continue to work for the peace and stability of the state,” he said.

  • Unregistered firm carries out ground handling operations at Lagos Airport

    Unregistered firm carries out ground handling operations at Lagos Airport

    An unregistered ground handling company, Menzies Aviation Wednesday carried out ground handling operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos without regulatory approval.

    Investigation by our correspondent indicated that the ground handling company was still undergoing certification processes with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), before it carried out the alleged illegal ground handling operations.

    An NCAA source told The Nation  that the ground handling agent  handled Air Cote d’Ivoire at Lagos Airport.

    The flight departed from Abidjan.

    Investigations revealed that the ground handling company has its headquarters in Dublin, Scotland, but has its base in Accra, Ghana.

    In a swift reaction, spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye,  in a telephone interview  confirmed the development, .

    He said the NCAA has commenced investigations on the issue.

    A source close to NCAA told The Nation that  the unregistered company used the license of Precision Aviation Handling Company Ltd (PAHCOL), which was issued certification by the regulatory body some few years ago, but could not commence operations due to lack of equipment.

    Besides, it was gathered that Menzies Aviation used the ground handling equipment of Arik Air to carry out ground handling operations on the West African carrier. Arik Air is not licensed to do ground handling for another airline, but has the right to handle some of its operations.

    The source said: “The handling company came in without an operating license and they rendered handling services to Air Cote d’Ivoire today (yesterday). It indicates that our airports are porous to the extent that an unregistered ground handling company will operate in our airport. They borrowed Arik Air equipment to commence handling meanwhile Arik Air is not a ground handling company. How did their staff get to the ramp?

    “The company used PACHOL license, which NCAA has already told them that it is not transferable. NCAA actually told them to do the proper thing that if they want to come into Nigeria, they should go and register while the agency carries out security checks on them. They know that if they use PACHOL name to operate, the company cannot attract foreign and big airlines. So, they claimed to be Menzies to clients in order to attract airlines.

    “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) did not give them apron pass; they now went to use Arik equipment to get to the apron area to commence operations. They are using PACHOL licence and Arik equipment to deceive clients and FAAN.”

    A security source said such act was a breach of security standards and should attract severe sanctions from the regulatory agency.

    The security source said before any company could carry out operations at the airport, it ought to go through security checks, which he said the company had violated with commencement of operations without due approval.

    Adurogboye said the regulatory agency was investigating the issue and confirmed that the agency had been reported to the management.

    He said: “The matter has been reported to us. I have been able to confirm that and NCAA is looking at all angles on the matter. We will look at the aspect of registration. Do they have the appropriate clearance to do what they did?

    “We know they applied to NCAA for ground handling business, but what we are looking at is whether they were certified to start operating. We are investigating their operations.”

     

  • FEC okays $2.5 billion external borrowing for refinancing

    FEC okays $2.5 billion external borrowing for refinancing

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved USD2.5 billion Eurobond external borrowing for refinancing.

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    On the potential savings on the proposed USD2.5 billion refinancing, she said that the estimated proceeds of N762.5 billion will be used to redeem Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB).

    She said “At estimated current NTB rates of 15% (following mop-up operations by the CBN), the savings from the refinancing of N762.5 billion of Domestic Debt using external capital raising is about  N64 billion per annum.”

    On the impact of the use of the proceeds of the USD500 million issued in November 2017, she said “The proceeds about N162.50 billion were used to redeem NTBs which matured in December 2017.

    “The immediate impact was a significant drop in the Bid Rates at the Auctions of both NTBs and FGN Bonds. In December 2017 and January 2018:

    “NTBs dropped from about 16% to 13%. FGN Bonds dropped from about 16-16.50% to 13.50%

    “This translates to savings for Government on new borrowing while also making the cost of borrowing for the real sector cheaper since the sovereign rate serves as a benchmark for other borrowers,” she added.

     

  • EFCC’s witness to court: Oluwatosin Dokpesi got over N100m

    EFCC’s witness to court: Oluwatosin Dokpesi got over N100m

    The trial of businessman, Raymond Dokpesi resumed before a Federal High Court in Abuja Wednesday with a prosecution witness, Abubakar Madaki disclosing that Dokpesi’s  wife Oluwatosin received over N100m from the N2.1bn allegedly paid to DAAR Investment company by the office of National Security Adviser (NSA).

    Madaki, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said investigation did not reveal the existence of any contract between Dokpesi’s company and the office of the NSA to have warranted the payment of N2.1b to the defendants.

    Dokpesi and DAAR Investment are being tried before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N2.1b from the office of the NSA for an unknown contract.

    Madaki, who was led in evidence Oluwaleke Atolagbe, Wednesday, the witness Abubakar  Madaki  told the trial court that “there was no contract and no reason for the payments.”

    The witness gave details of how Dokpesi allegedly disposed the money paid by the office of the NSA.

    He said that the EFCC traced part of the fund from DAAR Investment’s account to the Presidential Debate Group.

    The witness said Dokpesi, who allegedly transferred the fund, claimed it was his contribution to the Presidential Debate Group.

    The payment was captured in a letter by Abuja Investment Company, which the court later admitted in evidence.

    The witness also named Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa as one of the beneficiaries of the fund. He said Jijiwa confirmed, in his statement to investigators, that the N100m was given to him from the fund, as a soft loan, although the 1st defendant allegedly claimed that Jijiwa was paid as a resource person.

    Madaki said one Timawus Martins was paid N20m, as a resource person, while Matthias, a staff of AIT Yola office received N8.1million as payment for political jingles .

    The witness also told the court that Mathias, who was in charge of Yola office of AIT, received N4.5m as compensation for his vehicle that had an accident.

    He added: “The sum of N4.3m and N2.3m was used for extension of electricity installation for AIT office in Yola and another N1.3m for borehole in AIT office in Yola.”

    Madaki also named Mrs Oluwatosin Dokpesi, who he said got over N100m and  “other various sums.”

    He also told the court that two personal assistants to the 1st defendant (Dokpesi),  Gabriel Agoyin and Godfrey  Usifoh, received N40m and N30m.

    He said the EFCC obtained responses from  Silverbird, Punch newspaper,  Guardian newspapers, Kiss Fm, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Capital FM, Leadership newspapers, Abuja Broadcasting, Media Trust and Nigerian Pilot Newspapers.

    The court later admitted the letters from media houses as exhibits.

    Madaki said when the EFCC wrote the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to ascertain if there was a contract for which the money was paid; BPP responded that there was no contract and no reason for the payments.

    The witness, who concluded his evidence-in-chief Wednesday will be cross-examined by the defence when proceedings resumes in the case on March 9.

     

  • Air Force bombs Boko Haram weapons in Sambisa

    Air Force bombs Boko Haram weapons in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force Wednesday said it has destroyed artillery guns belonging to the Boko Haram Terrorists in Sambisa forest with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement supported with a video clip that the operation was conducted after an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform had confirm the presence of the terrorists weapons in the area.

    AVM Adesanya said: “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), on 6 February 2018, successfully destroyed an artillery gun belonging to the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the vicinity of Sambisa Forest.

    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted the artillery gun while on a routine surveillance around the outskirt of the Sambisa general area.

    “Consequently, the surveillance ISR aircraft requested for an immediate air strike and a NAF RPA was deployed to interdict the target.

    “Overhead the target location, the RPA acquired and attacked the target, completely destroying the artillery gun and setting it ablaze.

    “NAF aircraft continue to survey the Sambisa Forest and environs as part of the ongoing coordinated air and land operations aimed at ridding the nation of the remnants of the insurgents”