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Tag: Nigerian news

  • OPIC generated N3.6bn in eight months – MD

    OPIC generated N3.6bn in eight months – MD

    Mr Babajide Odusolu, the Managing Director of Ogun Property and Investment Corporation ( OPIC ), on Thursday said the corporation generated over N3.6 billion revenue between January and August.

    Odusolu announced this during an oversight visit of the State Assembly Committee on Investments, Commerce and Industry to the corporation’s head office in Abeokuta.

    He said that N1.4 billion was generated from site services programmes, while over N1billion came from plot allocation and layout fees premium and N290 million was realised from sale of buildings.

    “Our revenue also came in from contractors registration fees, deed registration fees, survey /planning /building fees, change of ownership fees, earnings from sundry income and others,” he said.

    He said that the corporation received N2.3 billion for capital projects this year, while N1.5 billion was spent on construction and provision of housing.

    Odusolu said that OPIC had been able to initiate and complete many housing prototypes in its various estates.

    He said that corporation had established partnerships to ensure that it met its revenue targets.

    The chief executive promised that the corporation would continue to provide affordable housing units to the people of the state.

    He said that economic recession severely impacted on the corporation’s revenue projections, while topography issues were part of the challenges.

    Responding, the Committee Chairman, Mr Bowale Solaja, promised that the committee would soon embark on tour of the corporation’s project sites.

    He commended the corporation on its internally generated revenue, but said that OPIC should provide affordable houses to residents.

    NAN

  • Zimbabwe’s first lady sues in dispute over $1.35m ring

    Zimbabwe’s first lady sues in dispute over $1.35m ring

    Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe, has sued a Belgium-based businessman for failing to deliver a 1.35 million-dollar-ring she ordered for a wedding anniversary.

    Grace, 52, an influential figure in Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party and seen as a potential successor to her husband, is nicknamed “Gucci Grace” for her reputed dedication to shopping.

    She and her 93-year-old husband have kept their assets under wraps inspite of frequent local private media reports on Grace buying properties in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

    The Herald, a government-controlled newspaper, reported that Grace was suing businessman Jamal Hamed after a deal to have Hamed supply the First Lady with a diamond ring turned sour.

    Grace’s spokeswoman Olga Bungu could not be reached for comment on Wednesday while her lawyer Wilson Manase, who filed the papers at the High Court, was said to be attending court.

    In court papers seen by the Herald, Grace said she had in 2015 ordered the ring for her 20-year wedding anniversary last year but Hamed failed to deliver and refunded her only 120,000 dollars.

    The First Lady asked the High Court to attach properties and three companies owned by Hamed in Harare, the Herald said.

    Hamed told Reuters from Belgium that he had not been served with the court papers. His Harare-based lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said she had not seen the papers.

    “We have not received anything at all and I am not in Harare to be served any claim or false allegations,” Hamed said.

    In Zimbabwe, at least eight out of 10 potential workers are unemployed.

    The average national monthly income is 200 dollars and news of the million-dollar ring was immediately greeted with scorn on social media.

    Mugabe, who says he leads a frugal life, and Grace own a dairy company and several farms near Harare.

    The two have never responded to media reports that they own several properties.

    In 2016, Hamed accused Grace of seizing his Harare properties following the dispute and asked the High Court to intervene.

    He then said Grace had threatened her if he ever returned to Zimbabwe.

    Grace, through her lawyer Manase, denied all the accusations.

    NAN

  • Court remands two men for homicide

    Court remands two men for homicide

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded two men, Sani Audu and Ado Abdullahi, over alleged culpable homicide.

    The two are standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, contrary to section 97 and 221 of the penal code law.

    The police prosecutor, Insp. Ahmed Saidu, had told the court that one Fati Aliyu of Rafi Local Government reported the matter to the police on Sept. 25.

    Saidu alleged that the accused persons conspired with eight others, now at large, and killed her father, Aliyu Mohammed.

    Read: Court discharges, acquits nurse of murder

    When the charges were read to them, the accused persons pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency, saying they killed Mohammed in retaliation after he killed their own brother over a dispute.

    The magistrate, Mohammed Gabi, however, declined to take their plea as it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

    Gabi directed the Police to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

    He thereafter adjourned the matter to Nov. 14, for further mention.

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis most severe in the world – UNOCHA

    Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis most severe in the world – UNOCHA

    The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( UNOCHA ) has said that the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region is the most severe in the world.

    This is contained in its monthly North-East humanitarian overview reports recently released in Abuja.

    UNOCHA said the humanitarian crises in the region had left over 8.5 million people in dire need of assistance in the worst affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    It said the crises, which emanated from Boko Haram attacks, had made members of many communities in the affected states continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

    It also said that the conflict had resulted in the spread of forced displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, severe protection concern and food and nutrition crisis in large proportion.

    “The prolonged humanitarian crisis has had a devastating impact on food security and nutrition in Nigeria’s North-East.

    “About 450,000 children under five are in need of nutrition support and this has been compounded by the lean season between July and September.

    “Today, more than 1.7 million people are internally displaced in the three worst affected states with 80 per cent of the IDPs in Borno the epic centre of the crisis.

    “More than half of them are living outside the IDPs camps in local communities who are themselves among the world’s poorest people.”

    UNOCHA also said that insecurity, especially in Borno, continued to hamper humanitarian operations.

    It said the situation had, however, improved through coordinated logistics and civil-military coordination efforts as humanitarian teams can now access some areas that were previously inaccessible.

    “Humanitarians have also noticed encouraging signs that the food and nutrition situation in some areas was stabilising, especially with the support from donors, food and nutrition emergency aid that significantly scaled up since late 2016.’’

    It said that presently, nearly two million people are receiving in-kind or cash-based food assistance every month.

    “Nutrition partners have reached nearly 500,000 children, pregnant and lactating women this year through supplementary feeding programmes.

    “For 2017/2018, the strategic focus of humanitarian partners is on integrated and coordinated life-saving assistance, strengthened protection of civilians, enhanced humanitarian access and durable solutions.’’

    It said that this would be put in focus especially for those returning home after the period of displacement.

    NAN

  • AfDB to invest $24bn in agriculture in 10 years – Adesina

    AfDB to invest $24bn in agriculture in 10 years – Adesina

    The African Development Bank ( AfDB ) says the bank will invest 24 billion dollars in agriculture over the next 10 years to help unlock its potential and assure food security in Africa.

    Akinwumi Adesina said this at a side event of the ongoing Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, USA on Wednesday.

    Adesina said there was need for supportive public policies and significant investments in infrastructure, especially for roads, irrigation, storage, warehousing and agro-processing.

    He said that AfDB would provide support to strengthen African agricultural research and development systems to play significant roles in the transformation processes.

    The former Agriculture Minister said the support was to ensure that valuable research no longer simplied gathered dust on the shelves of academia.

    The president said that AfDB’s Feed Africa strategy had launched the Transformation of the African Savannah Initiatives (TASI) to help unlock the potential of the Savannas of Africa.

    He said that the initiative would start by bringing approximately two million hectares of savannah in eight African countries – Ghana, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Mozambique.

    These countries come under the cultivation of maize, soybean and livestock production in optimum conditions.

    “Success in this endeavor requires that we wake up the savannas of Africa.

    “When we do so, African agriculture will indeed rise up from its slumber.

    “Let’s wake up Africa’s savannas and turn them into the new wealth zones of Africa and unleash Africa as a global powerhouse in food. Together let arise and feed Africa.

    “Valuable research must meet the needs of farmers and agri-businesses in ways that exponentially increase productivity and improve the quality of lives of our rural poor.

    “Africa must learn from the experiences that have worked elsewhere, while tailoring the interventions to the specific realities of Africa.

    “We must ensure that small, medium scale and large-scale commercial farmers co-exist in a way that allows opportunities for all.

    “Partnerships in research and development will be crucial,” Adesina said.

    According to him, the bank has engaged to work with the strongest possible organisations with proven track records in tropical agriculture from South America.

    He said that this included the Brazilian Research Corporation ( EMBRAPA ), the Agricultural Corporation of Brazil ( CAMPO ), and others with long experience in conservation agriculture.

    Adesina that the research institutions would work closely with the universities and the national agricultural research systems across the savannas of Africa to enhance agriculture.

    NAN

  • Reps want FRSC officers to bear arms

    Reps want FRSC officers to bear arms

    THE House of Representatives said yesterday that officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) should bear arms in a bid to effectively carry out their responsibilities of saving lives.

    The Green Chamber noted the increasing cases of violent attacks, harassment and intimidation of personnel and officers of the FRSC by highly placed individuals, motorists and hoodlums across the country, particularly in Zamfara, Jigawa, Abia and Lagos states.

    The members noted that from 2015 to date, there have been 149 cases of attacks on personnel and 201 cases of damage to properties and equipment of the commission.

    They, therefore, urged the Federal Government to facilitate the procurement of arms and ammunitions for FRSC officers.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by Hon. Solomon Maren titled: “Need to Curb Incessant Attacks on Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)”.

    Maren while moving the motion noted that despite Section 19 of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, which stipulates that personnel of the commission who are exposed to high risk in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, shall have same powers, authorities and privileges, including power to bear arms, as are granted by law to members of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government has not provided road safety officers with arms to enable them protect themselves in the course of performing their duties.

    When he Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed without dissent.

    The House subsequently mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission to investigate cases of attacks on personnel of the FRSC and also ensure implementation of the resolution to arm the officials.

    The committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Senators to banks: release Jonathan’s wife’s cash

    Senators to banks: release Jonathan’s wife’s cash

    Senators yesterday directed two commercial banks to unfreeze some accounts belonging to companies linked to former President Jonathan’s wife, Patience.

    The accounts, domiciled with Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC and others, were said to have been frozen on the orders of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The senators, at a hearing by the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, declared that the accounts in question were not encumbered by any legal processes and as such be unfrozen without delay.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, observed that some of the accounts were frozen based on certain administrative lapses.

    The lawmakers described the methods used in freezing the accounts as arbitrary, insisting that the EFCC failed to comply with due process in closing the accounts.

    Officials of the banks who appeared before the Senate panel however said the court order vacating the freezing of the said accounts had not been received by them.

    They however promised to reopen the accounts, based on the information made available by the senators.

    The committee members expressed worry that the banks could freeze accounts based on letters received from the EFCC without valid court orders.

    Also yesterday, the Federal High Court in Lagos was told how a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa allegedly laundered about N5.1billion for the former president’s wife.

    The EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    They are on trial for alleged conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013, among others.

    Justice Idris adjourned till October 24 for hearing of the application to travel.

    Trial will continue on November 14 and 15.

  • We won’t breed irresponsible students – OAU VC

    We won’t breed irresponsible students – OAU VC

    The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ) Ile Ife Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, has said the institution would not condone any indiscipline from any student.

    According to him, the university is for learning and moral but not a platform for thuggery where students fight themselves with broken bottles and exchange of blows.

    “The school management suspended some students who went ahead in destroying and vandalising buses belonging to the National Union Of Road Transport Workers and also destroying valuable items at the police station. Before then we suspended two student Union Leaders, Jacob Tosin and Adedayo Emmanuel who broke bottles on themselves and this made her to be hospitalised at the Seventh Days Adventist Hospital Ile Ife for about three weeks when she received an headbutt from Emmanuel and this led to their indefinite suspension”.

    “It was that same Jacob Tosin aka Emerald that spearheaded the protest embarked upon by some Union guys which led to destruction of Valuables. This led to the suspension of some students in the likes of Omole Ibukun who has been suspended before but wrote a promissory note to the University to be of good behavior, Oluwalade Babatunde was also suspended and Osungbade Akeem”.

    “Some of those that were suspended are not even a student of our school, student like Osungbade Akeem the Chairman of Angola Hall but has been rusticated from school a semester ago due to a bad GP. We should know we are not dealing with students but with the enemies of the school”.

    “I was once in the Student Representative Council for 3 years and I don’t want anything that will cause the proscription of the student Union, all what we need do is to correct all those who needs corrections. Any student that is expelled from this school would not be admitted back into this campus again. If the suspended students are remorseful then they will be reinstated back” he said.

    ” As regards the issue of the poor welfare of the school we are trying our best to put things in order.  We believe the Ife Modakek war is over,so students can all stay in town so with there we make sure that in all our halls of residence we have only 4 occupants in a room instead of 12 occupants in a room” he added.

  • There’s light at end of the tunnel – Catholic Archbishop

    The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, says despite the hardship many are facing in the nation, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Martins spoke on Wednesday at a news conference on the Marian Year celebration at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.

    The  celebration is to mark the centenary of Mary’s apparition to the Three Shepherd children of Fatima in Portugal 1917.

    Pope Francis, in view of this, had declared a Centenary Celebration running from Nov. 27 2016 to Nov. 26 2017.

    In Nigeria, the Marian Year is dedicated to the blessed virgin Mary as the Queen and patroness of Nigeria.

    Martins said Nigeria was in need of healing in several areas, and assured the faithful that their prayers were not in vain.

    ”I have good news for all my fellow countrymen, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The prayers of God’s children in this last one year will not be in vain.

    ”He will surely restore the glory of the nation and bring to shame all those who have consistently worked to hold us in perpetual bandage.

    ”Our assurance that God will restore the glory of the nation requires that we also rededicate ourselves to living lives of righteousness, shun sin and embrace the truth,” he said.

    The archbishop regretted that innocent lives were being lost to Boko Haram and  herdsmen attacks, among others, praying that God would help the nation to overcome the problems.

    Martins said that the Marian Year celebration was to give all Christians in the country the opportunity to give special honour to the blessed virgin Mary.

    He said it was also to seek her maternal intercession with her son, Jesus Christ, for the needs of families, individuals in the nation, and the nation as a whole.

    According to him, this is to pray God to save the nation from the moral, economic and political problems facing her.

  • ‘NAFDAC will continue to safeguard public health’

    ‘NAFDAC will continue to safeguard public health’

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) said on Tuesday in Osogbo that it would continue to safeguard public health in the country.

    The South-West Coordinator of the agency, Mrs Ayeduni Adenuga, made the pledge when he received operational vehicle donated to the agency by the Osun Chapter of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (AIPN).

    Adenuga said that the agency would continue to ensure that only safe and quality food, drugs and other regulated products were certified and made available for public consumption.

    She added that only genuine manufacturers of regulated products would be allowed to operate in the south-west region and the country at large.

    She commended members of AIPN for their gesture, saying it would help the agency to improve its monitoring and surveillance activities .

    “This is a corporate social responsibility from your society and it is highly laudable.

    “This vehicle will help to improve our monitoring and surveillance activities to fight against drug counterfeiters and other unscrupulous element who engage in producing unwholesome regulated products.

    “We want to use this opportunity to encourage other stakeholders to emulate this group by supporting and collaborating with government agencies to achieve a better society as government cannot do it alone,” she stated.

    In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the association, Mr Samuel Olawoye said the bus was donated to the agency as part of the association’s corporate responsibility.

    Olawoye said the association would continue to partner NAFDAC in its critical role and operations in safe guarding the health of the citizenry.

    NAN