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Nigeria Customs seizes contraband worth N93m

The Compliance Team of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) said it has seized contraband with Duty Paid Value ( DPV ) of N93.7 million in the course of its operations.

The Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Ahmed Azarema, made this known while displaying the seized contraband to news men in Owerri on Tuesday at the Imo/Abia Command of the service.

Azarema said the compliance team, attached to the office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, confiscated 1,028bags of 20 kg foreign rice with a DPV of N8.22 million concealed with motor spare parts.

He said 1,258 bags of 50kg of foreign rice with a DPV of N74.8 million and 111 bales of second hand clothing with a DPV of N10.65 million was also seized by the team.

Read also: Customs destroys smuggled goods

He said all the items were seized along Aba/Umuahia/Port Harcourt axis adding that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods.

Azarema observed that because of the Yuletide season, smugglers are more desperate and always want to skim their way through but would always fail because of the dedication and ingenuity of the customs personnel.

He, therefore, charged Nigerians against ferrying contraband in and across the country, but to engage in legitimate businesses to avoid their goods being confiscated.

According to the compliance team coordinator, locally produced rice is more nutritious, better and cheaper than foreign rice which are preserved with chemicals.

He said that patronising locally made goods would help boost the country’s foreign exchange and provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

Azarema also urged Nigerians to desist from buying foreign rice to encourage the local producers.

NAN

December 5, 2017
Recruitment scam: EFCC raises alarm

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has raised alarm over alleged attempts by fraudsters to exploit its ongoing recruitment exercise.

The EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday that the fraudsters were soliciting payment from unsuspecting job seekers to facilitate their employment into the commission.

“This is a scam and members of the public are warned not to deal with anyone with such proposition as the agency does not collect money from job seekers.

Read also: Saraki blames EFCC, others for FG’s inability to retrieve looted funds

“Candidates that participated in the recent aptitude test by the commission should avoid falling prey to tricksters by shunning any promise of employment for a fee.

“The employment process in the EFCC is open and transparent and cannot be compromised through bribery,” Uwujaren said.

He advised members of the public to report anybody requesting for money for employment into the commission at the nearest EFCC office or police station.

NAN

Read: Navy apprehends recruitment fraudster

December 5, 2017
Kaduna Inferno consumes 700 shops – Market chairman

The Friday fire incident at Old Panteka Market, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, consumed about 700 shops and affected the jobs of about 30,000 youths, the Chairman of the Market, Suleiman Shehu, has said.

Shehu made the disclosure in Kaduna on Tuesday, when Dr Ja’afaru Sa’ad, ( Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau ), visited the market officials to offer his sympathy.

He explained that the fire, which started around 1 a.m. on Friday, affected mostly timber and building materials sections, and consumed an estimated 100 trailer load of timbers and 200 machines.

According to him, about 30,000 youths, doing all kinds of jobs lost their jobs and source of livelihood as a result of the fire.

He said that the estimated total loss to the fire was yet to be ascertained, but added that a committee had been set up to determine the exact lost in monetary terms to the fire incident.

“The committee will also determine the actual cause of the fire and how to avoid future occurrence.

“We are appealing to government agencies and well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid.

“Although Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency have visited us, we need assistance in cash and in kind to help our members recover from this unquantifiable loss “the chairman said.

Earlier, Sa’ad explained that he was at the market to sympathise with the market officials and the affected shop owners.

Read also: WAEC loses 10 computers to fire in Kaduna

He also called on the state government, NEMA, groups and individuals to come to the aid of the victims to alleviate heir sufferings.

“This is urgent, particularly as the market remains a source of livelihood for thousands of youths in the state and a huge source of revenue for the state.

“One would only imagine what could happen to the 30,000 youths who lost their means of livelihood to the inferno.

“We must do something fast, otherwise we will have a huge problem of youth restiveness in our hands’’, he said.

Sa’ad is a Technical Assistant in the office of the Executive Director of Finance and Administration for the Nigeria Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority ( NSPJDA ).

NAN

December 5, 2017
Enugu police pledge partnership with public

The Enugu State Police Command has assured the public of a closer and sustained partnership for effective crime control and safety in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, gave this assurance on Tuesday while inaugurating the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), at the Police Division in Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Danmallam, who was represented by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ebere Amaraizu, said that members of the public should see the police as theirs and work together with them.

“The command will continue to partner with the public to enable them have a good relationship and bring about improvement on the police-public relations as well as confidence and trust building.

Read also : Enugu CP warns officers against extortion

“For effective crime prevention and control, the public should get involved through strong partnership with the police in order to close the existing gap between them.

“This effective synergy will bring about effective crime prevention and control and lead to a secured and safe environment for all,’’ Danmallam said.

Responding, the Chairman of the PCRC, Airport Division, Mr Ikechukwu Ekeada, thanked the PPRO for establishing the PCRC platform.

“The PCRC platform will greatly assist us to improve the image and perception of the police by members of the public,’’ Ekeada said.

The high points of the occasion were the formal oath taking and group photograph of the executive members, who were drawn from within the airport community and its environs.

NAN

December 5, 2017
Enugu CP warns officers against extortion

The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, has warned officers and men of the Command against extortion, intimidation and all other forms of unprofessional conduct.

Danmallam gave the warning during his weekly engagement of the officers on Tuesday in Enugu.

According to Danmallam, any officer found wanting would be severely dealt with in line with the laid down rules governing the Nigeria Police Force.

He also advised members of the public to resist the temptation of being extorted by reporting promptly any unprofessional conduct by officers to his office.

“You can also report to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer or office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) nearest to
you.

“Even as the command’s X-squad and the Provost have been charged to fish out those in this negative tendencies as there will be no immunity for impunity,’’ he said.

The commissioner also advised members of the public to be law abiding, security conscious and partner with the police to ensure a crime-free and a secure environment.

Read also: IGP orders re-organisation of SARS nationwide

He also reminded members of the public on the need to constantly make use of the command’s distress call lines as follows: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 and 08098880172.

“You can also reach the command through its social media platforms of @PoliceNG Enugu for twitter and for facebook–Nigeriapoliceforceenugustatecommand,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, had embarked on sensitisation of members of the public using media platforms and seminars tagged: “First Impression Matters’’.

Amaraizu said that “First Impression Matters’’ was meant to dispel negative tendencies among police officers and men for improved reputation, trust and public confidence.

“The sensitisation programme is fashioned with a view to bringing an effective partnership between the police and members of the public,’’ he said.

NAN

December 5, 2017
NYSC DG warns corps members against travelling

Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General, National Youths Service Corps ( NYSC ), on Tuesday, advised corps members to desist from unnecessary and unauthorised travelling.

Kazaure gave the advice during facility tour at the Temporary Orientation Camp, Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The director-general said the visit and inspection of the camp was part of his 2017 camp tour to assess corps members’ comfort and security.

Represented by the NYSC Director, Audit, Mr Adeleke Abiodun, the director-generalsaid many corps members had died in auto crash in journeys which they embarked upon without permit during their service year.

Kazaure insisted that obtaining proper permission would do the corps members more good before travelling out of their duty post.

He added that “before embarking on any journey while in camp or places of your primary assignment, NYSC members should obtain permission because there are sanctions for not doing so.

“Members should only travel when it is necessary and approved; my visit to the camp here in Bayelsa is to see the condition of corps members.

“I am assuring corps members, not only in Bayelsa but across the country, that the management of the scheme and state governments are fully committed to their welfare.”

The NYSC boss also urged them to respect the religions and cultures of their host communities, saying “I also believe that you have been taught on the ways of life, custom and values of your host state.

“I urge you to respect them, be security conscious and don’t just pack your bag and start to travel up and down.

“Find a way to contribute your quota to building a better Nigeria; always pay attention to the skill acquisition programmes in camp and ensure that your life after service is better.”

Read also: NYSC to corps members: Shun acts inimical to culture of host communities

The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Loto Bolade, commended the director-general for the visit, adding that corps members were dedicated to serve their fatherland.

Bolade said that the orientation in the state had been hitch-free since the camp formerly opened on November 21.

She added that “I must say that this Unique Batch of the scheme has been dedicated to camp activities and I am very sure they are going to surpass their colleague’s achievement when they are posted to their host communities.”

Bolade, however, said that the camp was a temporary facility, noting that “it has limited amenities, facilities and water-logged environment due to the terrain of the state.”

NAN

December 5, 2017