The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

FG saves $2m annually from local cement production – BUA CEO

The Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, has said that the local cement manufacturers produce over 25 million tonnes cement thus saving the country two million dollars annually.

He said this while addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting of the Presidential Industrial Advisory Council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

“The most important thing I think is that the cement industry in Nigeria will continue to save Nigeria a lot of foreign exchange.

“If for example, you look at what we have produced in Nigeria today, maybe 25 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes, if we quantify that in terms of foreign exchange it is almost two billion dollars per year.

“That is a lot of money being saved because if we do not have these cement plants definitely we have to import cement.

“And not only do we have to spend money in terms of foreign exchange import but the price of cement definitely would have been higher than what it is today,’’ he said.

Rabiu also spoke about the expansion of his company’s facilities in order to make more cement available for local consumption.

According to him, we will be inaugurating our Sokoto plant next quarter, early 2018, and also our Edo second cement line will come on stream probably by second quarter of next year.

Rabiu mentioned the reduction of price of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), and the appreciation of the local currency in the foreign exchange market as things that helped the sub-sector to grow.

“The foreign exchange has also come down; it is stable even though as we all know the cement industry does not really require a lot of foreign exchange.

“But the fall in foreign exchange rate has really helped in terms of the things that we import into Nigeria like spare parts, some raw materials like gypsum,’’ the industrialist said.

He acknowledged that a lot of issues to advance the industrial sector were discussed at the monthly Presidential Advisory Council meeting.

“As you all know this council is one that is trying to bring private sector together with the government to come up with ideas on how we can improve on a lot of things.

“Most especially infrastructure, power, roads and so many other things; I believe this is a good thing.

“The Council has made a lot of progress.

“A lot of areas have been identified that the government together with the private sector are going to work to see that work can start as soon as possible.

“In fact, I believe last week, one of the ideas that we presented was deliberated upon at the Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) meeting and approval was given.

“We are looking forward to another meeting and I believe in the next few months a lot of things will take shape as far as this council is concerned,’’ Rabiu added.

NAN

October 31, 2017
Police arrest burglar of Sen. Nwaoboshi’s residence in Asaba

The Police in Delta said they had arrested one Emeka Ezeonyi who allegedly broke into the residence of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi in Asaba and carted away cash and other valuables.

The Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ) in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Asaba.

According to Aniamaka, the suspect stole cell phones, laptop computers and cash from the residence of Sen.Nwaoboshi..

He said the suspect, who hailed from Umuchu village in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, had confessed to have burgled Sen. Nwaoboshi’s residence.

Aniamaka said the suspect had also confessed to partaking in many other robberies and burglaries in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu.

“The Delta Police Command, with effective collaboration of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team on Oct. 24, 2017 arrested one Emeka Ezeonyi for his involvement in series of burglaries and stealing.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to have burgled the residences of many identified prominent personalities in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu metropolis,” he said.

The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Zanna Ibrahim, had commended the officers who arrested the suspect as result of the effective deployment of tactical intelligence.

NAN

October 31, 2017
Rangers International FC to be on Nigerian Stock Exchange soon

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu will soon be floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), an official of the Administrative Commission of Inquiry on Rangers confirmed on Tuesday.

Based on the submissions mate by the commission, the Enugu State Government will likely divest its shares and stakes in Rangers soon.

About two months ago the state government had set up the Administrative Commission of Inquiry, which had been looking into the club’s activities.

The seven-time league champions who won the 2015/2016 title about 32 years after the last time had a poor outing in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

A member of the commission, Norbert Okolie, told NAN on Tuesday that putting the club’s shares at the NSE was part of the major recommendations made by the commission.

Okolie, who is also the Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN ), Enugu State, said the commission’s report was submitted to the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday.

He said the commission, after duly considering a deluge of memoranda submitted, noted that Rangers being a big brand in the football business should enjoy and leverage on this.

“This can only be, by lifting the burden of sponsorship from the state government.’’

Okolie disclosed that the commission also suggested that the club’s ownership should be spread to other South-East states and other lovers of the club.

“Thirty-five per cent of the shares will be reserved for the Enugu State Government, while 32 per cent will be for the four states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo at 8 per cent each.

“Twenty-five per cent will be for the general public, six per cent for the Amalgamated Traders Association, one per cent for Rangers Supporters’ Club and one per cent for Ohaneze Ndigbo.

“This is what was suggested by the commission headed by Prof. Gab Agu,’’ he said.

Okolie also said the formation of Rangers’ female football club and basketball team were equally recommended by the commission.

“This is for maximum benefits to be gained by the shareholders and teeming youths of the states in particular and the nation in general,’’ he said

Ugwuanyi, while receiving the commission’s 52-page report, had promised to present the document for State Executive Committee (SEC) deliberations and quick implementation of recommendations.

NAN

October 31, 2017
2, 045 corps members to pass out Thursday in Kwara

A total of 2, 045 corps members are expected to pass out from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after the completion of the mandatory one year national service in Kwara.

Mr Oladipo Morakinyo, the State NYSC Public Relations Officer, via a statement issued on Tuesday in Ilorin, said the ceremony would be low keyed.

“The management of the scheme scheduled a low-key passing out ceremony for the 2016 Batch B, Stream 1, for Thursday, Nov.2,’’ Morakinyo added.

He added that adequate arrangements have been made to issue certificate of national service to the deserving corps members at some designated locations across the state.

Morakinyo said that three Nysc members that distinguished themselves during the service year were nominated for the NYSC State Honours Award, while another eight will receive commendation certificates.

He added that 25 Nysc members would be sanctioned for committing various offences during the service year.

“They were sanctioned for various offences committed during the service year; some out rightly absconded from the service, while others contravened various sections of the NYSC bye laws.”

Morakinyo announced that three corps members lost their lives during the service year.

NAN

October 31, 2017
MTN calls $4.2bn claim by Turkcell opportunistic, baseless

MTN on Tuesday called a 4.2 billion-dollar claim by Turkcell in a South African court over a disputed Iranian mobile phone licence “opportunistic” and “baseless”, the company said on Tuesday after filing a defence plea.

Turkcell first sued MTN in a U.S. court in 2012, alleging the company used bribery and wrongful influence to win a lucrative Iranian license that was originally awarded to Turkcell.

It dropped the suit in 2013 after U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a separate case made clear that U.S. courts would not have jurisdiction in a claim involving two foreign firms in an overseas dispute.

In 2916, it filed in South Africa, where the case has been stuck in procedural wrangling since.

“Turkcell’s claim is opportunistic, an abuse of the process of Court, baseless and without merit,” MTN said in a statement after filing a defence plea.

Turkcell was not immediately available to comment.

MTN obtained the license in Iran in 2005 and maintains that Turkcell missed out because it would not comply with an Iranian rule that caps the shareholding in the license at 49 percent.

Iran is MTN’s third largest market out of the 22 countries the company operates in.

MTN previously appointed a retired British judge to lead an external investigation into Turkcell’s allegations. That probe dismissed the accusations as “a fabric of lies, distortions and inventions”.

NAN

October 31, 2017
Police arrests man for raping 85-year-old woman

A 29-year-old man, Kehinde Ariyo, has been arrested by the Osun Police Command for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman to coma at Ilesa town in the state.

The police commissioner in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Osogbo.

Adeoye said the incident happened at Ogudu area in Ilesa, where the suspect forcefully had canal knowledge of the old woman after gaining access to her residence around 11pm on Oct. 27.

He added that the woman sustained various degrees of injuries on her body, including her private organ, and eventually passed out in the process before she was resuscitated at a private hospital.

According to Adeoye, the suspect lives in the same area where the victim resides, and had gone on errands for the old woman severally in the past.

“The woman passed out during the rape, but came back to life after some hours, the suspect was arrested the next day.

“This is the height of wickedness in our society. The boy injured the woman in the process, but she has been treated”, Adeoye said.

The suspect admitted to have committed the act, claiming to have been drunk at the time of committing the heinous act.

“Mama asked me to sleep on a couch in the passage. I was already drunk and did not know what happened afterwards,” he claimed.

NAN

October 31, 2017
Anambra Poll: Group urges candidates to embrace issues-based campaign

The Democrat, a Non-Government Organisation, (NGO), has urged political parties and their candidates in Anambra to embrace issues-based campaign and shun comments that could incite their followers during campaigns.

The organisation’s National Leader, Mr Kehinde Ojuawo, who made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, said it had become necessary as the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state draws closer.

Ojuawo maintained that the political parties and their candidates should refrain from abusive utterances and hate speeches, so that the electorate can know what candidates want to do if elected.

He called on the people to use the period of the campaign to assess the candidates and also shun any form of financial inducement from the candidates or their agents.

According to him, the relevant authorities should begin voter education, so as to ensure that there large turnout of the people on the election date.

Ojuawo urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to monitor the electioneering in the state and evoke necessary sanctions on political parties and candidates that cause violence during the campaign.

“Disqualification of the political parties and candidates that cause violence should be enforced,” he said.

NAN

October 31, 2017
UNFPA urges FG to fight high fertility, maternal mortality

The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) on Monday advised Nigeria to fight high fertility, maternal mortality rate and migration problem to end poverty and boost prosperity in the country.

The UNFPA Country Representative, Ms Diene Keita, gave the advice at the 5th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS) with the theme: “Achieving Demographic Dividend: Strategic Tool for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development’’ in Abuja.

Represented by Mr Osaretin Adonri, the Assistant Country Representative of UNFPA in Nigeria, Keita said that if Nigeria wants to tackle poverty, enhance prosperity and promote sustainable growth as envisaged in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, it was of prime necessity to address diverse population issues.

She said that problems including high fertility, high maternal mortality rate, migration and the special issue of youth development must be addressed.

“The theme of this year’s lecture is in line with the African Union Road Map on harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth and the country’s road map on harnessing Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth launched in July, 2017.

“It is relevant to the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020), which in recognition of the risk factor of the high population growth rate in Nigeria prescribed the integration of population dynamics in development programmes.

“With a large population of young people accounting for 31.7% of the population, the country should urgently generate a large number of productive jobs for the growing working-age population.

“Also there is the need to adopt a strong social welfare system for the aged which will in the near future contribute substantially to the dependent population.

“The country must implement appropriate policies on small families, and capital inflow to grow the manufacturing bases and consumer markets, especially to support investment and employment growth in order to take advantage of its demographic situations for sustainable development,” she said.

However, the UN official lauded the federal government through the National Population Commission and other partners for their hard work, consistency and collaboration in ensuring the success of this year’s lecture.

She appealed to policy makers and programme managers to make the best use of knowledge about population issues at the APLS and similar opportunities for development planning; ensuring that policies and programmes were guided by data on population issues.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of Advocacy Nigeria, Hajiya Saudatu Sani, said that the time of planning on the management of Nigerian population was over and it was now time for implementation.

Sani also urged government to invest in the youth, women and girl child education to achieving demographic dividend.

The gender advocate advised the government to adopt the model used in China where there was huge investment on the youth for sustainable development.

“Nigeria must do that now, the time of planning is over, it is time to implement and government must do that now to fight poverty,” she said.

NAN

October 31, 2017
NAFDAC moves to ease registration of products for MSMEs

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) has concluded arrangements to ease registration of products for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs ) in the country.

Mr Ademola Mogbojuri, its Acting Director-General made this known in Minna on Monday during a stakeholders consultative forum for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs).

“NAFDAC is to streamline the registration process to make it easier for MSMEs to register their products with the agency without compromising on quality and safety.

“I wish to reiterate that NAFDAC is fully committed to the development of MSMEs in Nigeria because a number of efforts have been made and are being sustained,’’ he said.

Mogbojuri, who was represented by Dr Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDAC Director Special Duties, said that there was need to comply with the Federal Government’s directive to ease establishment of small businesses in the country.

“It was perceived that a number of the agency’s regulatory processes are stalling the ease of doing business hence the need for more efforts toward addressing the issue.

“Therefore, I have approved the composition of an in-house committee to harmonise all these processes and drive the implementation of the presidential directive within a specified timeline,’’ he said.

He called on affected stakeholders to accord the committee the necessary support to enable the agency restructure its operations toward easing the establishment and operation of MSMEs in the country.

The Acting NAFDAC Boss said that on May 21 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo issued the Presidential Executive Directive on ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He explained that the directive was premised on transparency, in ministries, Departments and Agency of Government, default approvals, one government directive, entry experience of visitors and travellers and ports operations.

Earlier, Mr Anikoh Ibrahim, Niger Coordinator of NAFDAC, said that under the Federal Government’s directive 50 per cent discount from the original tariff for registration of products would be applied to companies with staff strength of five and below.

Ibrahim said that under the arrangement the entire process of attaining NAFDAC registration license would not exceed 90 days.

He said that the measure would ensure that registration process for bakery license would not exceed 30 days, adding that before now these processes of registration would take a year or more.

The State Coordinator of the agency said that regulated products under the category include food, drugs, cosmetics, herbal medicines and packed water.

Also, Malam Abdulwaheed Abdulkadir, chairman Association of Table Water Producers in the state appealed to the agency to ensure that the 30 day new policy for renewal of licenses for existing businesses was extended to newly established businesses.

Abdulkadir said that such gesture would encourage establishment of new MSMEs across the country and in turn boost the economy.

NAN

October 31, 2017
Kogi United resumes training for new NNL season Nov. 18

The management of Kogi United Football Club of Lokoja on Tuesday said the team would resume camping on Nov. 18, ahead of the 2017/2018 Nigeria National League ( NNL ) season.

The club’s Team Manager, Ameh Henry, said in a statement in Lokoja that the players have been directed to arrive at the club’s camp on or before 11 p.m. of Nov. 18.

“This is for training to commence the next day,’’ he said.

Henry added however that the club would not tolerate lateness to camp by players.

“Such an attitude will attract a fine as the club intends to intensify preparations for the new season early,’’ he said.

Kogi United’s coach Tunde Abdulrahman has already expressed delight at the team’s performance in the 2016/2017 season.

NAN

October 31, 2017