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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • El-Rufai inaugurates poultry diseases diagnostic laboratory

    El-Rufai inaugurates poultry diseases diagnostic laboratory

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Wednesday in Kaduna, inaugurated a complex called ‘Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory’ to serve the 19 Northern States.

    The diagnostic centre, which is expected to reduce incidences of poultry related diseases, would do some poultry tests free for farmers.

    The governor on the occasion, encouraged poultry farmers across the 19 Northern States to patronise the laboratory in order to control poultry diseases.

    “This facility will enable poultry farmers to have a rapid response to any emergency poultry disease that might arise in the future.

    “This is a commendable investment by Olams Company, that offers some laboratory tests to their customers free, as its corporate-social responsibility,’’ he said.

    Read also: El-Rufai signs N216bn, 2018 budget into law

    El Rufai expressed appreciation to the company for its investment in the state and commitment to providing job opportunities to the youth.

    The General Manager of the centre, Rahul Khadurie, in his address said the gesture was part of the company’s support to the government to provide services for poultry farmers in the state.

    “We have the best equipment to provide services, aside from microbiology, we have PCM, which is among very few in Nigeria and the biggest integrated farm in the country.

    “The laboratory will have outreach free for all customers whether small or big,’’ he said.

    The manager highlighted some of the free services the company offered to customers to include, post mortem examination, micro-bacterial analysis of feed.

    Others are: minimum bactericidal test for antibiotics, hygiene audit for hatchery and poultry house among others.

    NAN

  • Udoma says labour matters high on FG’s priority matters

    Udoma says labour matters high on FG’s priority matters

    Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, says labour matters command high priority in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The information is in a statement signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Akpandem James, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    James stated that Udoma made the remark when he received a team from International Labour Organisation (ILO) led by Ms Cynthia Samuel-Olajuwon, the ILO Assistant Director and Regional Director for Africa.

    He added that the team’s visit was to brief Udoma on the implications of the just released World Social Protection Report to Nigeria, as well as intimate him about the centenary celebration of the organisation planned for 2019.

    He quoted the minister as saying “Federal Government attached high premium to labour issues, especially human capital development, as stated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “Investing in people is one of the three broad objectives of the plan.

    “ERGP is an ambitious four-year plan developed to dramatically turn around the economic fortunes of the country.

    “It is aimed at increasing the productivity of the Nigerian economy by improving on human capacity, as well as encourage private sector investment.”

    Read also: 2017 Budget: recurrent expenditure releases hit N4.24trn – Udoma

    The minister explained that the objectives of the plan were to restore growth, invest in the people and build a globally competitive economy.

    Udoma said government was determined to pursue its human capital investment efforts through social inclusion, job creation and youth empowerment, as well as improved human capacity.

    The minister added that Nigeria would draw from the expertise of the ILO on labour matters, noting that the country had been active in the organisation’s programmes as exemplified by the level of representation in the global body.

    He thanked the organisation for choosing Nigeria as one of the 10 countries in the world where the Global Social Protection Report was launched.

    He assured the organisation of Federal Government ‘s support, saying “ you can count on our continuing support and strong collaboration.”

    Earlier, Samuel-Olajuwon had told the minister that Nigeria was chosen as one of the countries to launch the organisation’s global report because of its importance to ILO globally and Africa in particular.

    The report was launched in Abuja on December 12, 2017.

    She said apart from the fact that Nigeria had strong representation at ILO, noting that it was the first country in Africa where the world body’s office was established.

    The official said the organisation’s collaboration with Nigeria was anchored on Medium Term Framework which emphasised issues of employment, social protection and labour market governance issues, among others.

    NAN

  • Motorists pay extra money to fill tank

    Motorists pay extra money to fill tank

    Motorists now pay between N500 and N1000 to petrol station attendants before they are allowed to fill their car tanks at some stations in Chanchaga and Bosso local government areas of Niger.

    A correspondent who monitored situation and sale of fuel on Wednesday, reports that apart from cost of product, petrol station attendants demand between N500 and N1,000 to fill the tank of motorists.

    A motorist, Hajiya Rabi Abdullahi in Bosso, said she had to pay extra N1,000 to petrol attendant to fill her car tank.

    She said “I feel it is better for me to pay extra to buy petrol at filling station than buy from`black marketers’ where I am not sure of the quality of the product.”

    Malam Bashir Isa of Maitumbi village said after spending the night at petrol station, he was able to buy the product after paying extra N500 to the attendant to fill his tank.

    He added that “this is pure sabotage because the product is available in most filling stations across the state but marketers are just exploiting us.”

    He called on Federal Government to take drastic measures against any marketer found hoarding product.

    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, a commercial driver at Abdulsalam Motor Park in Minna told NAN that “black marketers” had taken over most filling stations.

    He said “all the petrol attendants have their agents selling products at strategic locations in and outside the metropolis.”

    He called for the setting up of Mobile Courts to arrest and identify the source of the black marketers’ supply and deal with them accordingly.

    Read also: Motorists lament as fuel scarcity bites hard in Kano

    He said petrol was now being sold at between N130 and N160 per litre in Minna, depending on the location of the station.

    The petrol queues, which reappeared on December 4, are becoming unbearable for motorists in the state.

    Some of the filling stations operated by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had increased their pump price from N150 to N160 per litre.

    At the NNPC Mega Stations and other filling stations by major marketers, the queues were longer, as they maintained the official price of N145 per litre.

    A four-litre gallon of the product in the black market cost N1,300 in Minna town as transport fare had also increased due to the scarcity of product.

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)  Niger command had set up a task force to monitor the sale and distribution of petroleum products in the state.

    The 10-man task force was headed by ASP Peter Doma and Alhaji Abdullahi Jankara of the DPR Minna office.

    The task force was given the responsibility of ensuring normal distribution and sale of product at controlled price.

    NAN

  • Man in court for alleged laptop theft

    Man in court for alleged laptop theft

    A 38-year-old man, Samuel Urhuogo, on Wednesday appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged theft of five laptops worth N505,000.

    Urhuogo, who resides at Festac Town area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences with some others still at large on October 20 at Durbar Road, Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos.

    Kokoye said that the accused broke into the shop of the complainant, one Ada Opurozor, and stole the laptops.

    He said the accused was caught by some security guards while he was trying to escape with his accomplices.

    “The accused was later handed over to the police, while accomplices escaped with the laptops,’’ he said.

    Kokoye said the offences contravened Sections 287, 309 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

    Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 309 prescribes seven years imprisonment for burglary.

    Read also: Court remands man for tricycle theft

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty the charge.

    In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case until December 29, for mention.

    NAN

  • Military seeks community support to crush Boko Haram

    Military seeks community support to crush Boko Haram

    The Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole,  Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, has called on people in the North-East to support the military in the counter-insurgency campaign in the country.

    Nicholas made the call during a familiarisation visit to military units  in Maiduguri  on Wednesday.

    He said the call was imperative to enable the military to win the war against Boko Haram insurgents and enhance restoration of peace in the region.

    “It is high time for people in the communities support the military by providing useful information on suspicious persons in their respective communities.

    “We need the support of everyone in the society to successfully complete the campaign. Security is a collective responsibility; we must strive to stop the killings.

    “Even the Boko Haram insurgents, I call on them to renounce their heinous activities, surrender and embrace peace,’’he said.

    The theatre commander disclosed the military authorities had adopted effective strategies to end insurgency and facilitate restoration of peace in the war-ravaged region.

    He added that effective modalities had been put in place to improve personnel welfare, motivate and boost troops’ morale.

    While commending the troops for their gallantry, the commander urged them to be disciplined and dedicated to the fight against insurgency, noting that: “Boko Haram insurgency will be over soon”.

    Nicholas assumed duty on Monday following his appointment as the new Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He was accompanied by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, and other top military officers during the familiarisation tour of military formations in Maiduguri.

    Some of the areas visited include: the 7 Division Army Headquarters, Joint Intelligence Detention Centre (JIDC), Army Medical Services and Hospital and Artillery workshops.

    NAN

  • EFCC arraigns man for hacking Winners Chapel’s bookstore

    EFCC arraigns man for hacking Winners Chapel’s bookstore

    The EFCC on Wednesday charged one Chimezie Chuta before a Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged cybercrime.

    The accused was charged for allegedly hacking into the online bookstores of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel.

    Chuta, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The EFCC in the charge marked, FHC/L/441C/17, alleged that the accused committed the offence on March 8, 2016.

    The accused was alleged to have altered the online data of Dominion Bookstores platform belonging to Living Faith Church Worldwide and created a counterfeit platform.

    The alteration was said to be for purposes of conferring economic benefits on himself.

    The EFCC said that the actions of the accused had caused the church to lose its publishing unit.

    It said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 14 and 16 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act 2015.

    After the plea of the accused, the Prosecutor, Mr Ahmed Yerima, asked the court for a trial date, urging it to remand the accused in prison, pending trial.

    The Defence Counsel, Mr A. Osagie, also urged the court to order the remand of the accused in EFCC custody.

    Read also: EFCC freezes N905m in suspected slush account

    He told the court that he was only briefed as counsel on Tuesday, and this had made it impossible for him to file the bail application earlier.

    The trial judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, adjourned the matter until February 26 and 27, 2018, for trial, and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

    The judge however said that the bail application will be given a date for hearing

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s export value hits N3.57bn in Q3 – NBS

    Nigeria’s export value hits N3.57bn in Q3 – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) has said Nigeria’s total exports in the third quarter of 2017 stood at N3.57 billon, showing 13.19 per cent increase over the amount recorded in the second quarter.

    The NBS stated this in “Foreign Trade Statistics for the Third Quarter 2017’’ posted on the bureau’s website.

    The bureau stated the value (N3.57 billion) in the third quarter of 2017 represented an increase of 35 per cent over the amount recorded in the same period in 2016.

    The report stated that raw material exports value increased by 16.88 per cent in third quarter of 2017 against the level in second quarter of 2017 and 70.42 per cent higher than third quarter of 2016.

    It noted that solid minerals exports value increased by 85.3 per cent in third quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter of 2017 and was 78.72 per cent higher than third quarter of 2016.

    Meanwhile, NBS said total imports value of N2,348.6 billion in third quarter of 2017 which was 10.51 per cent lower than second quarter of 2017 and 4.68 per cent lower than third quarter 2016.

    According to the report, value of imported agricultural goods were 0.05 per cent higher than the value recorded in second quarter of 2017 and 16.91 per cent higher than third quarter of 2016.

    Read also: Nigeria’s capital importation rises to 147.5% in Q3 – NBS

    The report stated that the value of raw material imports were 4.77 per cent lower than second quarter, 2017 and 2.80 per cent lower than the value in the third quarter, 2016.

    It further stated that solid minerals imports in the third quarter 2017 decreased by 1,220.48 per cent compared to second quarter but was 8.69 per cent higher than third quarter 2016.

    The report, however, stated that energy goods imports in third quarter were 92.17 per cent lower than the second quarter and compared to third quarter 2016 when no energy goods imports were recorded.

    It stated that manufactured goods imports value was 4.08 per cent higher in third quarter than the level in second quarter and 2.79 per cent lower than third 2016.

    In addition, it state that other oil products imports value were 17.54 per cent lower than in second quarter and 28.81 per cent higher than third quarter 2016.

    NAN

  • Travel Agent docked over N1.3m visa scam

    Travel Agent docked over N1.3m visa scam

    A travel agent, Wasiu Arikeuyo, 45, was on Wednesday brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court in Ibadan over an alleged fraud of N1.3 million under the pretext of procuring an Australian visa and ticket.

    The accused, who resided at No. E7/721B Oremeji, Agugu, Ibadan, is charged for allegedly defrauding his customer of the sum.

    Arikeuyo is facing a two – count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and convention.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Fatola, insisted that Arikeuyo allegedly obtained the sum of N1, 300,000 from one Tosin Olofinbimi, under the pretence of obtaining an Australian visa and ticket for him.

    Fatola said Arikeuyo knew same to be false and he was alleged to have converted the same sum of money to his own use, property of Olofinbimi of 5, Adagbada Arola , Apete, Ibadan.

    “Olofinbimi had approached Wasiu Arikeuyo on Aug. 20 to process a travel visa and a ticket to Australia for one Mrs Amusan.

    “He said Arikeuyo charged him the sum of N1,300,000 for both visa and ticket which is fully paid for as agreed, and he gave Olofinbimi assurance that it will be ready in seven days.

    Read also: Reps probe alleged sharp practices in U.S. visa issuance

    “Arikeuyo, however, failed to bring the ticket to enable his client travel as planned,” said Fatola.

    He said the offences were committed at Agugu, Ibadan at about 2: 00 p.m. on Aug. 20.

    The offences were contrary to Section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Modina Akanni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Akanni ordered that one of the sureties must have three years tax clearance, while the second surety must be a Civil Servant on grade level 10.

    She, thereafter, adjourned the case until February 13, 2018 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Woman bites Ikeja Electric workers over power disconnection

    Woman bites Ikeja Electric workers over power disconnection

    A 28-year-old trader, Kemi Shopade, who allegedly assaulted two Ikeja Electric workers that wanted to disconnect her electricity wire, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Shopade, resident of Alaguntan, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and assault.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, said that the accused committed the offences on November 24, at her residence.

    Awase said that the accused and two others, who had yet to be apprehended, assaulted two workers of Ikeja Electric — Mr John Oluwole and Mr Uwaoman Ibiam.

    “The accused beat up and bit the complainants while performing their duty,” he said.

    He said that the complainants disconnected the electricity supply of the accused over unpaid electricity bills from January.

    “The accused, who had not paid for electricity since the beginning of the year, descended on the complainants when they disconnected her power supply.

    “The two other men who are still at large joined her in beating the complainants, and in the process, the accused bit the complainants.

    “The case was reported to the police and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    The offences contravened Sections 174 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

    Section 174 prescribes three years jail term for a person guilty of assault.

    Read also: Court jails man, son for attacking Ikeja disco worker

    The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N20,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adigun, said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    He adjourned the case until January 5 for mention.

    NAN

  • Absence of DSS stalls hearing on Wike ’s suit against IGP, others

    Absence of DSS stalls hearing on Wike ’s suit against IGP, others

    A Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday could not hear Rivers Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike ’s application for an injunction against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and two others.

    The development was due to absence of Director of Department of State Service.

    The other respondents are: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Service (DSS).

    Wike, in his application, is seeking to ask the court to restrain the respondents from searching any of his houses.

    However, the matter could not be heard due to the absence of one of the respondents, DSS in court.

    The Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, declined to proceed with the matter following the disclosure by the registrar of the court that there was no proof that the DSS had been served with hearing notices.

    According to the judge, it is the law that all parties in a suit must be served hearing notices, adding that unless any party elects not to attend court after having been served, then the matter can go on.

    Read also: FSARS: Wike, other campaigners are crime beneficiaries, says Peterside

    “The important thing here is that, I ordered that hearing notices be served on all the parties.

    “If the registrar had said that the fourth defendant had been served and they elected to stay away, that will be their business,” he said.

    However, Mr David Igbodo, counsel to the inspector-general of police, prayed the court to proceed with the matter, arguing that it was mainly between the governor and his client.

    “I think we can proceed with the matter in the absence of the fourth defendant, “he said.

    The Counsel to other defendants in the matter, Mr O.M Atoyebi and Mr Aliyu Usman, however, conceded to an adjournment, adding that proper thing be done.

    The judge adjourned the matter until February 22, to enable the plaintiff effect service on all parties.

    He also ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on the fourth defendant and asked the registrar of the court to ensure that the defendant was served.

    The suit was filed in June by Mr Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN) on behalf of Wike.

    Among other reliefs, Wike is seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 308 of the Constitution, the IGP, the EFCC and the DSS could not apply for, obtain, issue or execute any court process compelling his presence.

    He also sought relief “whether the defendants can, by the combined effect of Section 308 of the Constitution and Sections 149 and 150 of the Administration of Criminal Justice’’ among others.

    Again, whether the defendants can“apply for, obtain, issue or in any manner or form, effectively execute a search warrant at the residence of Wike in Abuja.

    The relief also include or any of his residences without his physical presence in the course of the execution of such search warrant.”

    NAN