The National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has urged the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to revive small scale businesses.
Its Executive Secretary, Mr Eke Ubiji, said in Lagos, that sustained policies on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) would enhance the economic development.
He said Buhari’s experience in governance was an added advantage to have a better understanding of the needs of the real sector and its strategic place in sustaining national development.
According to him, for Nigeria to attain its goal of becoming one of the top economies, special attention should be given to MSMEs, a critical sector that would drive the economy effectively.
He said:“The president-elect should give cognisance to MSMEs by addressing the various challenges facing it because that sector will help generate employment for its teeming unemployed youths.
“The challenges of infrastructure, transportation and power are critical to the survival and growth of viable MSMEs. The issue of multiple taxes should also be addressed. If you listen to entrepreneurs in different parts of the country, they are saying the same thing. Federal Government is charging tax, states and local governments are also charging, all on a sector that is not moving forward.”
Ubiji also urged Buhari to improve on President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts in rail transportation and access to finance for MSMEs in the country.
He said: “Most critically, the issue of access to finance is grinding MSMEs to a halt. President Goodluck Jonathan did something very spectacular on March 23, this year. He launched a new development finance institution for the country, called Development Bank of Nigeria.
“It is a good initiative and I expect the President-elect to pay attention to it because it is a bank that is set up to address the issue of access to finance as it affects MSMEs in the country. You don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.”
While pointing out that although Jonathan may have tried and failed in some areas and that there were some things he did that were good and commendable. He advised Buhari to constitute a strong and knowledgeable economic management team that would steer the economic affairs of the country to the desired change.
He urged Buhari to appoint people who know their onions with regard to economic issues to advise him properly so that they would be able to come up with good economic blue print for the next four years.
The Eket Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has held its law week. The guest speaker at the opening ceremony, a former NBA president, Joseph Daudu (SAN), identified how to reverse Nigeria’s underdevelopment. JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports.
Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), has said Nigeria’s underdevelopment should not be blamed on the leadership alone. He said the citizens are culpable too.
Both groups, he said, have shown a lack of understanding of democratic principles such as due process, rule of law, good governance and accountability.
Daudu spoke on The rule of law, democracy in Nigeria and good governance-matters arising at the opening ceremony of the NBA Eket branch’s Annual Law Week.
Daudu said majority of Nigerians are poor even though they are “in an ocean of plenty”.
“The people and even those who loot the nation’s assets are in poverty and bankruptcy of resources and ideas.
“What, then, is responsible for this state of affairs? Some have blamed it on our understanding of the concept of democracy, while some have ascribed it to absence of credible leadership. Some think that it is a failure of followership.
“The inability of both to comprehend these are democratic concepts have put them in jeopardy,” Daudu said.
According to him, corruption is the antithesis of democratic ideals; while the corrupt sees in every official act profit for himself. On the other hand, democracy expects that the service rendered is for the people.
“This irreconcilable conflict of interest between these two parallel ideals if it continues at this pace will comprehensively destroy the entity known as Nigeria.
“Unfortunately in all departments, the indices that a developing nation should be adjudged by do not add up for us.
“Our greatest assets, which are our teeming population and our diversity have become for us a disadvantage brought about by greed and mistrust. This has affected us in every sphere of department, infrastructural and human,” Daudu said.
First NBA Vice-President Francis Ekwere; Justice John Okoro of the Supreme Court and NBA Second Vice-President Taiwo O. Taiwo.
The former NBA president said it is not too late to change course. The corrupt, he said, should seek new pre-occupation where they can work for themselves and make profit.
“Even when working for themselves, they would soon discover that they are bound by the strict rules of corporate governance, which promotes accountability and sound ethics just as the rules of good governance promotes similar ideals in the public service,” he said.
In the legal profession, Daudu said corrupt behaviour has spread, thereby affecting the honour and dignity with which lawyers are held.
“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee continues to grapple with dozens of cases involving our colleagues who have unfortunately been accused of corrupt practices within the ambit of their professional expectations.
“It is hoped that both the central and state governments will tackle the spectre of corruption in the system as the legal profession through the Body of Benchers and the NBA have done.
“It is hoped that other agencies in the country both public and private will positively engage and join in the reversal process against corruption.
“While the leadership have a responsibility to provide good and indeed, exemplary leadership, the people have a corresponding duty, nay social contract to obey extant laws and demand accountability from her leaders
“Failure or omission on the side of both parties to keep the faith as described above, will plunge Nigeria into unspeakable cataclysm. Our generation must not let that happen,” Daudu added.
In his paper titled: Insurgency in Nigeria, where did we get it wrong,’ Paul Erokoro (SAN) said there can be no development without peace.
According to him, insurgency has hampered Nigeria’s development and must be dealt with decisively.
He defined an insurgent as a person who, for political purposes, engages in armed hostility against an established government.
He said: “The United States Department of Defence in 2002 defined terrorism as: ‘the unlawful use of our threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce and intimidate government or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.
“Section 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004 (EFCC Act) defines terrorism, Section 15 of the Act also provides for the offence of terrorism and surprisingly prescribes a term of life imprisonment for any person convicted for either supporting terrorism, funding terrorism, or committing terrorist acts.
“From the two legislations, there appear to be conflicts with regards to the terms of imprisonment upon conviction. For the purpose of this paper, I will apply the words insurgent and insurgency to reflect the topic of discussion. Insurgency can be defined in its simplest form, as a rebellion against a constituted authority,” he said.
Erokoro said development could only thrive in a peaceful environment.
“Insurgency is inimical to sustainable national development. He urged the government to embark on poverty alleviation programmes, especially in the North, adding that these would impact positively on the lives of its citizenry,” Erekoro said.
Youth unemployment, he said, should be addressed by the government.
“Education must be a right not privilege and where possible, free/compulsory education should be implemented in the North.
“Government should intensify border control and intelligence gathering/promote information and computer technology training for our security forces.
“The government must eschew corruption in the fight against insurgency and improve the welfare of our security personnel.
“Merit system should be adopted in employment and distribution of natural resources. The military should stay off from partisan politics while ensuring good governance.
“There is need for government to urgently look into the take home pay of political office holders and drastically reduce their entitlements. By this only those who genuinely want to serve will contest for elections.
“There is need for urgent overhauling of the investigating and prosecuting authority on terrorism. The Judiciary should, as a matter of urgency, establish special procedures for the quick dispensation of terrorism cases. The case of Charles Okah, who was accused of October 1, 2010 bombing is still pending while his brother, Henry has been long tried and convicted in South Africa, he said.
He cited the case of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the April 14, last year Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast, saying it seemed to have suffered prosecutorial setbacks.
“The above recommendations are not exhaustive, but if government can urgently address them, we will be on the path to a better Nigeria where we can live the words of our national anthem and truly live in a “nation bound in freedom, peace and unity,” Erokoro said.
The branch’s chairman, Mr. Akpadiaha Ebitu, said the Law Week was unique because it included a lecture in honour of Senator Effiong Bob, the Pro-Chancellor of University of Benin.
The branch’s bar journal was launched, while a fund-raiser for N80million for the Bar Centre was held. The week ended with a dinner.
Among those who attended were the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua; Hon Justice Joy Unwana, past secretary of the branch and Founder, Heritage Polytechnic, Eket, Emmanuel Ekott, Mr. Scoot Tommy.
Three months after armed robbers unleashed terror on Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State killing no fewer than 20 persons during a bank robbery, another major town in the state has by men of the underworld.
A seven-member armed robbery gang struck in the ancient town of Owo last Thursday raiding four commercial banks and carting away an unspecified large amount of money. They also killed many people.
Among the victims were a bank manager and his deputy who were felled by the robbers’ bullets.
The dare devil armed robbers reportedly used dynamite to shatter the security doors to penetrate the banks to perpetrate their dastardly act.
It was learnt that the branch manager of a first generation bank in the town and his assistant were killed during the robbery operation.
Eye witness said the two officials failed to “co-operate” with the robbers when they stormed their bank.
The robbers, according to findings seized the town at about 4.00pm and shot sporadically into the air till they got to the heart of the town where they robbed the commercial banks.
Findings also revealed that the armed robbers carted away an undisclosed amount of money from the banks, while many workers sustained injuries.
It was also gathered from unconfirmed sources that some residents of the town were shot dead, while others sustained serious injuries.
The incident however caused pandemonium in the town as many residents who read political meanings to the incident protested round the town after the incident.
A source alleged that the Police officers who witnessed the robbery did not challenge the armed robbers while the operation lasted.
A resident of the town who spoke on condition of anonymity hinted that the armed robbers entered the town through the Owo-Abuja highway and moved straight to the heart of the town
where major commercial banks are located.
It was gathered that the armed robbers escaped arrest despite the presence of Police officers at the scene of the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Police command, Mr Wole Ogodo who confirmed the incident said policemen had been deployed to the town to enforce orderliness.
While condemning the incident, some residents of the town blamed the police for shying away from their responsibilities in resisting the robbers.
As the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections finally hold today, Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna and Ekiti States have been identified as potential flashpoints. This is going by the palpable and worrisome tension that trailed the build-up to the elections in the listed states.
Consequently, findings revealed that a number of the residents have either fled or made up their minds not to go out and vote to avoid being victims in the event that violence breaks out eventually.
Rivers State appears to top the list with the plethora of politically-motivated violence that took place in the state during the electioneering campaign. The intense rivalry between the incumbent governor, Rotimi Amechi and the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, has no less festered the wave of violence in the state. The level of violence in the state appears alarming as the number of people that have been killed in the build-up to the election has stealthily been on the rise. Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Obio/Akpor, Etche and Ogoni have been listed as local government areas that are prone to violence.
No fewer than 20 people were reported to have been brutally murdered in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area between November 2014 and January 2015.
The spate of murder has been largely blamed on the use of cult groups and hoodlums by power drunk politicians. Aside from other forms of attack, the hoodlums also took their bloodletting to political rallies.
In January, 24th to be specific, the All Progressives Congress governorship rally in Okrika Local Government Area came under violent attack which led to the destruction of the equipment being set up for the exercise.
Venue of a disrupted rally
The armed youths shot sporadically and threw dynamites into the National School Field venue of the party’s governorship campaign. A policeman, who attempted to repel the assailants, was hit by a bullet and later died in the hospital, while the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, narrowly escaped death.
Another wind of violence blew on the state on February 22, 2015, when Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was abducted in Kaani, Khana Local Government Area.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had four of its members killed within a short period of six days. Two chieftains of the party, Mr. Ibima Olunta and Mr. Goodfellow Bobmanuel, were shot dead on the 15th of March in Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. The two others Odinaka Wichendu and Nkanum Nwonkwo, were shot dead in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on the 21st of the same month.
Several persons were also injured when armed thugs shot sporadically at an APC ward-to-ward rally in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area recently.
Findings revealed that some terror -stricken natives and several strangers who reside in Port Harcourt started relocating to their home states since the beginning of the week.
Gloria Nnoke, an Ikwerre woman is one of the people that have relocated their families. In a chat The Nation, she said she relocated her family because she didn’t want to be a victim of election violence. “I am not the only one that has relocated from Omuku. The way party loyalists are parading in the area shows that there could be trouble on the election day.
“About 50 youths in the area lost their lives in the pre-election violence. I have no choice than to relocate with my children, though my husband is still there.”
As a result of the unbridled violence, The Nation gathered that many residents of Okrika have decided to stay at home on election day instead of going out to vote. There are fears among the people that the election could be hijacked by ex-militants.
During the week, a group under the aegis of Nigeria Democratic Forum (NIDAF) alerted politicians in the state that the agents of International Criminal Court (ICC) are beaming their searchlight on the troubled zones in Rivers State.
The President of the group, Comrade Obiajunwo Dike, told The Nation that the trouble makers and violent prone politicians may wish to reconsider their strategies as agents of ICC have spread their investigative dragnet to those local governments in the state identified as risk areas in this 2015 election, adding that their investigation is to ascertain the root cause of politically-motivated violence and those behind it.
However, Dame Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Commissioner, has said the commission is fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state.
She said INEC has done their part to stabilise the state and ensure that politicians do not see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters. She regretted that much innocent blood had been shed and pleaded with shareholders and politicians to allow peace to reign.
A torn campaign poster
“The commission is seriously concerned about the violent incidents before, during and after elections and we have been appealing to all stakeholders to prevail on our youths to shun all forms of violence and avoid being used by politicians to perpetrate acts that may lead to the disruption of the elections. The future of this nation belongs to them and therefore they must help to deepen our democratic process.”
The story has not been too different in Lagos State where political violence has been taking different forms and shapes. From the mutilation of political opponents’ posters and billboards, hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have unrestrainedly attacked convoys of party candidates, burning their campaign vehicles in the process. A number of party faithful have equally been killed in some of the attacks.
For example, three people were gruesomely murdered in Lagos Island late last year when members of the APC and the PDP clashed.
Three people were also killed early last month at Ajegunle area of the state when supporters of the two leading parties clashed; 20 people sustained different degrees of injury in the clash .
Also, in Agege, an APC supporter, Mr. Eyitayo Peters, aka Abona, lost his life on January 22 after being shot in the face on Orile Road. Another supporter, Lanre Ogunjimi, was shot in the waist in the same area.
Going by the spate of violence that has trailed the campaigns of the candidates for the Lagos-West senatorial district in the state, political watchers have expressed fears that the area is one of those to watch. Recently, the supporters of the two major contenders for the soul of area, Hon. Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) of the APC and Segun Adewale (Aeroland) of the PDP have been locked in a fierce battle .
Recently, the campaign office of Hon. Adeola came under heavy attacks. The assailants reportedly fired shots into the office damaging the rear windscreen of his Toyota Land Cruiser and the exterior of the office room.
The incident led to heated argument between the feuding candidates with Aeroland claiming that it was Yayi’s supporters that attacked his campaign team when he was passing through Yayi’s campaign office’s area.
Allegations and counter-allegations about the destruction of posters and billboards erected at strategic positions have also generated heated argument between the parties and their supporters.
While the APC on its part is saying that the PDP and its supporters have been responsible for removal of posters belonging to candidates vying on its platform, the PDP says otherwise.
Few days ago, protesters suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples Congress heightened the tension in the state when it took to major roads in the city to demand for the sack of INEC boss, Prof Attahiru Jega. They allegedly brandished all manners of dangerous weapons and destroyed APC campaign posters and billboards they could lay their hands on. Their action created massive gridlock and apprehension in the state.
Like their Rivers State counterparts, the residents of the state have been living in the fears that the election may be accompanied by some degree of violence.
“We have heard that some politicians have armed their supporters with dangerous weapons. I am really worried by the development and that is not encouraging me to go out and vote. From what I have seen so far, there is little or nothing the security agents can do to check these people. It is unfortunate that these depraved politicians are poised to make it a do-or-die issue,” Bade, a resident of Alimosho area said.
Hounded by the orgy of violence that swept across the state in 2011, residents of Kaduna State appeared to have made up their minds that the election could be violent. Even though they fervently pray against it, the people have already started stocking their homes with foodstuff to avoid suffering from hunger if there is violence and a dusk-to-dawn curfew is imposed.
The figure of casualties recorded in the 2011 violence put the state as the worst hit by the crisis and thereby responsible for tension in the state presently.
Out of a total of 943 deaths recorded across the country in the 2011 post-election violence, Kaduna alone recorded 827. Also, all the property that was lost was put at N40.6 billion across the country, and Kaduna alone lost N23.3 billion.
One thing that makes election violence worse in Kaduna State is that, it often quickly turns religious.
This has made religious leaders in the state to be educating their members on the need to stay away from acts that could lead to violence. A cleric, Bishop Idowu-Fearon, told the residents: “We must work hard to ensure that the 2011 crisis does not repeat itself in 2015 election. We must not allow the politicians to use us to kill fellow human beings and destroy properties that people struggled to acquire.
“So, my advice is that we are created by one God, whether you are a Muslim or Christian, Hausa or Nupe, Igala or Gwari, etc. God wants us to live together and develop Kaduna State and the country in general. God wants us to work together; tell the politicians not to divide us. You have your religion, I have my religion.
“You cannot force a Christian to become a Muslim; you cannot force a Muslim to become a Christian. We need to tell ourselves that we do not need a Muslim or Christian President or governor. What we need is a President who fears God, whether he is a Muslim or a Christian. In Kaduna State, we don’t need a Muslim or Christian governor, but we need a governor who fears God because we are created by one God.”
Alluding to the holy books, he added: “The Bible and Quran are clear about what is expected of our leaders. They must be just, honest and accountable to the people and seek advice from the people. So let us use our Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) to elect credible leaders. Your PVCs is your power, use it wisely, and vote according to your conscience.
“If you vote for a corrupt person, a person who is not honest and just, God will ask you questions. So vote for credible leaders, and by the special grace of God, there will be no crisis in 2015 elections”, he said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner( REC), Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta, and the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu, have assured of their readiness to ensure peaceful elections.
The REC said: “INEC has made and still making tremendous efforts towards ensuring that the general elections are free, fair and credible, and to also ensure that nobody is deliberately disenfranchised.”
In the same vein, the police assured that it will do all within the ambit of the law to protect lives and property of the citizenry, before, during and after the polls. It said it is ready to secure the lives and property of the people by deploying enough men to the field, especially the flashpoints.
But some residents, who spoke with The Nation vehemently stated: “The best way to prevent violence is to ensure free, fair and credible elections and at the end, announce result that reflects the wish of the people.”
Ekiti is another state that is feared to record some pockets of violence following its unbroken record in this regard in recent times. Whenever elections are around the corner, the residents are often afraid that the ugly trend could rear its head.
Some of the high profile assassinations that had taken place in the state in the past included the killings of a World Bank consultant, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola; an Assistant General Manager, Finance and Administration of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Kaduna State, Mr. Kehinde Fasuba; Mr. Tunde Omojola, Mrs. Eunice Omojola and Mr. Yemi Oni. One Mr. Foluso Ogundare of Emure Ekiti, was also murdered during a meeting at Ward 3 in Emure, in the Emure Local Government Area of the state.
Pockets of violence were recorded in the wake of the 2007 general election but it assumed a frightening dimension in 2009 when the court ordered the governorship rerun election.
During the rerun poll, the Ido/Osi Local Government Area office of INEC along Ipere Road in Ido-Ekiti was set ablaze by unknown arsonists.
Apart from the razing of INEC office, politicians cutting across various parties were attacked sustaining varying degrees of injury with property worth millions of naira vandalised.
A member of the defunct Action Congress (AC), Segun Ajayi, had his leg shattered by shots fired by people suspected to be political thugs.
The build-up to last year’s governorship election also witnessed lots of violence across the state as politicians and their supporters unleashed violence on one another, causing tension across the land.
As the 2015 poll draws nearer, tension has heightened in the state as all manners of violence that erupted marred electioneering campaigns by the political parties.
A vandalised car during an electoral violence
There have been reports of attacks on the homes of some politicians, while billboards and posters of many candidates have been vandalised by suspected thugs.
A civil servant, John Ogundare, expressed concern on the violence being unleashed by politicians through their thugs. He feared that it may scare the electorate away from polling booths.
He said: “I am seriously concerned about the level of violence witnessed in the last couple of months. Politics should not be a do-or-die affair and if the trend continues, I may not vote at the election because I value my life and I don’t want to lose it.”
Mrs. Dupe Esan, a resident of Ikere-Ekiti, said she would relocate to her hometown of Igbemo-Ekiti during the elections because of what she called “fear of the unknown”.
“Although I was registered to vote in Ikere, I will travel to my hometown two days before the elections because of the fear of the unknown.
“Nobody knows what would happen and you know that politics is always hot in Ikere here. I will come back after the elections would have been concluded”, she said.
Following the upsurge in violence, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, organised a peace meeting where parties and candidates signed an accord to maintain peace at the polls.
Speaking at the peace accord forum, Lakanu, who was joined by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Christopher Dega, said the Police would not tolerate violence during the general elections.
Lakanu, in a statement, declared that the command had made adequate security arrangement for the forthcoming elections.
“The Commissioner of Police has held series of interactive sessions/meetings with political stakeholders and traditional rulers on the need to eschew violence and ensure that their wards/supporters are not allowed to partake in any form of thuggery/violence.
“The heads of other security agencies under the aegis of Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) have assured the command of their full collaboration with the police to ensure violence-free elections in the state,” he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the state has commenced moves to prevent the polls from being marred by violence by organising forums to sensitize Nigerians to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
The agency urged political parties and other stakeholders to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and avoid election-related violence which it fears may worsen humanitarian crisis in the country.
The Head of Operations, Mr. Saheed Akiode, said: “Violence is now a means used by group seeking power, by groups holding on to power and by groups in the process of losing power.
“Thus, electoral violence has been described as all forms of organised acts or threats physical, psychological, and structural, aimed at intimidating, harming, blackmailing a political stakeholder before, during and after an election with a view of determining, delaying or otherwise influencing an electoral process.”
The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikole-Ekiti Branch, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, lamented the fact that perpetrators of violence are hardly prosecuted in Nigeria despite the provisions in the Electoral Law.
He suggested the deployment of enough security personnel to areas that have history of violence.
“Areas that have history of violence should be identified and security forces deployed there to maintain peace during elections. If adequate security forces are not available, then phased election schedule is suggested,” Adeyemi said.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is leading a coalition of global bodies in a project to check attacks on journalists. Journalists working in the Southeast alongside their counterparts in the Southsouth attended a workshop in Calabar, Cross River State where organisers enunciated the safety project. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was also part of the event, as is the United Nations Development Programme’s Democratic Governance and Development Project. Over 300 journalists attended.
The activities under this safety project include: Establishment of a national monitoring committee on journalists’ safety and 36 similar committees at state levels; development of safety a code for journalists; training of journalists in safety especially in relation to the electoral period; and general public awareness on the importance of journalists’ safety ahead of the elections 2015.
In a keynote address, a university don, Des Wilson lamented that journalists are fast turning into endengered species all over the world adding that “journalism practice is increasingly becoming a high-risk profession with stories of harassment, arrests, detention, battering, killing and other forms of violence assaulting the ears and eyes daily”.
The situation he said is worst in countries where there is civil war, where terrorism is holding sway or where there is war between two or more countries.
He listed some of the safety and security challenges frequently reported in the media to include the following:
“Acts of impunity, including indiscriminate arrest and detention of journalists without charge; intimidation and harassment by security operatives in homes and offices; threats of arrest: seizures of publications, whole or in part at entry points and sale points.”
Others include: seizure of working tools such as cameras, computers and machines while on duty; closure of offices by police or SSS; abductions, kidnappings by police, SSS or militant groups; violence- battering and killing of journalists, bombing of offices
“Prevention of journalists from carrying out their duties especially in public places; exploitation and abuse of judicial processes to impede journalists from working and judicial harassment, intimidation and jailing”.
“It has been documented by UNESCO that more than 600 journalists have been killed in the last ten years and that, on the average, journalists are now being murdered at the rate of one each week. Such statistics are scary given the fact that the situation does not seem to abate”
“The attitude of government is puzzling as journalists are left to the vagaries of the Nigerian Judicial system and the law as many mystery murders remain unsolved. Sometimes, the impression is given that the government itself with the situation as agents of state also organise their own regime of violence-physical and verbal-against journalists”.
The varsity don said varying forms of infringement have been meted out on journalists in the zone over the years.
He said, “In June 2014, the police stopped the Bayelsa chapter of the NUJ from holding its congress. They harassed and threatened to arrest the NUJ chairman. Again in July 2014 when the congress was rescheduled, the police returned to re-enact their show of shame”,
“In Imo State, a political group harassed one Mr Iheanacho working for a global tabloid. In Delta State, so-called militants kidnapped fourteen journalists. This non-governmental organisation criminal group was said to be Tom Polo group. The journalists had been invited to inspect NDDC projects at the time of their kidnap. They were later released”.
“Two years ago, a Punch newspaper correspondent was arrested by the SSS for carrying out his lawful duties. In Akwa Ibom, there has been frequent harassment, arrest and detention of journalists working for the Global Concord newspaper”.
“Across the nation, the following journalists have lost their lives in the line of duty: Eneche Akogwu (2014), a staff of Channels TV; Sunday Gyan Burede, Nathan S. Dabok (all ofThe Light Bearer) and Ikechukwu Udendu (Jan 12 2013), a staff of Anambra News”.
“Also in 2011, Akwa Ibom State Government gave the State Vendours Association N10 million to stop circulating Global Concord. On occasions, newspapers coming from Lagos and elsewhere are seized at the entry points and paid for when they are known to carry reports deemed to be negative to the interest of the Government”
“The Nation is known to be a frequent victim of this and in 2013 there were reports of seizures of some editions of this newspaper. Earlier in 2012, there was the case of harassment of one Kazeem of The Sun newspaper during Governor Akpabio’s birthday”.
“Global Concord continues to face the wrath of the Akwa Ibom State Government like co-wives haggling over family inheritance. The issue is not as if the safety issues of journalists are in any way connected with issues of defense of democracy or the security of the state”.
“It is largely a matter of the rulers, governors, ministers, commissioners, and politicians fighting to maintain secrecy and ensure their self protection and survival while their criminal deeds go unreported or remain secret”.
While urging the general public to insist on preservation of freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitution, he also called for a legal scheme to be set utodos journalists.
He however maintained that journalists must be ethical in their practice and keep strictly to the ethics of the profession even as he maintained that proprietors must be ready to run their media outfits as professional institutions.
“Sine journalists are pen soldiers, they should be given training in security and safety so that they can defend themselves in emergency situations. For example in covering wars, they are usually embedded with soldiers, therefore they need some kind of paramillitary training”
“ But it is not that simple anyway. Journalists themselves must begin to build a wall of respectability around them. A journalist that does not show self-respect cannot in all honesty expect respect from others”.
“The reckless quest for money, especially cheap, filthy lucre, is largely responsible for the challenges within the profession. Some of us give ourselves out cheaply to irresponsible and lying politicians, so when these nonentities come to power, they employ the same illegal strategy which we used against their opponents in order for them to achieve their goals against us”.
“At this point, there is already mistrust and politicians always find that journalists who engage in u professional practices cannot be trusted. This, then, forms the basis of their relationship with us, believing that all of us are the same. This is a case of one bad egg spoiling the rest in the basket”.
The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) is to establish a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to combat bank frauds.
NeFF comprises the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Police, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and banks.
Its Chairman, ‘Dipo Fatokun, said at its first quarter meeting in Lagos last weekend, that the centre would be owned by the banks but controlled by CBN. It would be carried out of the Nigeria Banking Risk Information Centre (NIBRIC).
Fatokun, who is CBN’s Director of Electronic Payments Unit, said NIBRIC is a model of the South Africa Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC).
NIBRIC, he said, would start small, think big and scale up fast with the first phase focusing on commercial crime, setting up of a forensic laboratory and a SOC Centre.
The centre would be not-for-profit and be dedicated to managing banking risk, with special focus on fraud.
Fatokun said, there is need to copy what is done in other countries in order to tackle the menace at home.
The SOC, which will be real-time, is a byproduct of an understudy by NeFF team of SABRIC and its successes in combating financial crime, he said.
According to him, the project will create a safer payment system, increase user confidence and facilitate collaboration among players in the payments ecosystem.
NIBSS’s Head, Information System Security Olufemi Fadamo said there is a rise in across the counter and insider-related bank frauds, attributing it to the growth in the use of mobile banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), e-commerce, Point of Sale (PoS) machines, cloud computing and social media.
He said between 2013 and last year, reported attempted frauds stood at N26.9 billion, putting the actual loss at N6.9 billion. He added that the figures are only for transactions processed through the Nigeria Central Switch.
This year, Fadamo said, it is expected that fraudsters would shift their target from banks to Other Financial Institutions (OFIS), such as microfinance banks, primary mortgage banks, deposit non-financial institutions, among others, because commercial banks are strengthening their processes and technologies.
General Manager, Union Bank Plc and President, Information Security Society of Africa- Nigeria (ISSAN), David Isiavwe, said banks were attractive targets to cyber-attackers because the world is a global village with no boundaries to communication.
He said an effective security strategy, like SOC, is required to consolidate security solutions in banks, such as Antivirus, firewalls, intrusion detection system, web application firewall, network access control (NAC) among others. The SOC, he said would optimise the productivity and the efficiency of users managing these solutions.
Isiavwe described a SOC as a centralised unit that can be used to manage information, applications, databases internet security to provide continuous prevention, protection, detection and response capabilities against modern internet attacks. A SOC within a building or facility, he said, is a central location from where staff supervises the site, using data processing technology.
The Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi will on Friday at Finotel Hotel, Awka, Anambra State honour Governor Willie Obiano and others.
The occasion is the fourth Annual Chief Judges’ Dinner and maiden Award Night.
Others to be honoured are Abia State Governor Theodore Orji; Pioneer Chief Judge of new Anambra State, Justice Anthony I. Iguh (JSC) rtd; the Pioneer President, Anambra State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Chinwe Amechi; Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) and nine other exemplary workers of the Anambra State Judiciary.
Obiano will be the guest of honour while Chief Williams will be the guest speaker.
He will speak on the theme: Enhancement of the legal profession: the role of the Bench and the Bar.
As oil inches back to $60 per barrel Nigerian, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian officials are leading the calls for an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ministers to haggle over the cartel’s production quota to the wider oil market.
According to Forbes’ report, which quoted a recent article in the Financial Times, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and OPEC President Diezani Alison-Madueke, expressed open frustration at the attitude of the OPEC kingmakers –Saudis to the current oil market situation. “Almost all OPEC countries, except perhaps the Arab bloc, are very uncomfortable….We are very cognisant of the Saudi position,” she said.
Forbes analysis maintained that the Saudis, and by extension most of the Arab bloc comprising of Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, won’t not give ground in the current almighty tussle for market share.
OPEC ministers are next scheduled to meet on 5 June, 2015 at their Viennese secretariat following the organisation’s international seminar for 2015. Forbes stated that anecdotal evidence I have from reliable contacts suggests that is not changing and for one reason alone – the Saudis won’t have it, and by extension neither would the Qataris, Kuwaitis and Emiratis. So what is the intention of non-Arab members in calling for it?
According to Forbes, first motive is to get a reaction out of the market. For example, after the FT published Alison-Madueke’s quotes, Brent rose albeit for a precious few moments but not nearly as meaningfully as she would have wanted. Given the supply glut, these things no longer have the impact they used to. Second motive is to put out their blindingly obvious unease to the Saudis, hoping against all hope for a shift in position.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has suspended Enugu-based capital market operator, Elyon’s Asset Management Limited and its directors and staff from all capital market operations. The suspension, which took effect on February 12, is indefinite.
A circular released yesterday by SEC indicated that Elyon’s Asset was suspended for breach of extant capital market rules and regulations.
With the suspension, Elyon’s Asset, its directors and sponsored individuals-staff registered for capital market operations, will not be able to undertake any activities relating to capital market until further notice.
While the brief circular from SEC did not elaborate on the suspension, The Nation’s check that Elyon’s Asset had been operating with expired fidelity bond for the past six years among other breaches. The company was first registered on July 3, 2006 and its fidelity bond of N50, 000 expired on July 21, 2009.
The Nation’s check also indicated that those that the directors of the firm that have been suspended included Mr. Obinna Okoye and a compliance manager, Mrs Anuili Ilechukwu. Elyon’s Asset was listed as a fund manager by the SEC website.
However, Elyon’s Asset, which indicated it has four offices in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Awka, stated that the company operates comprehensive capital market operations including stockbroking services, portfolio management, personal fund management, equity research and financial advisory.
The company’s website also indicated that it engages in several money market operations and other financing and training activities. According to the company, it offers tailor-made products and services across a broad spectrum of financial services including commercial paper investment, fixed tenor deposit, call investment, trade and commodity financing, asset-based lending, project management and property development, corporate consultancy, LPO and other short-term finance, training, fiduciary products and venture capital and joint venture operations.
According to Elyon’s Asset, it provides equity participation for the purpose of investment in viable business organisations which are limited by inadequate funding.
AS the year 2015 enters its second month, it is looking to be an interesting one for the TV entertainment. Joining the list of new productions is an exciting TV series titled Plus 234. With its focus on the upwardly mobile, the new television sitcom prods into the life of working class Nigerians and how they cope with being in an environment with same people for a minimum of eight hours a day, five days a week and every week and every year.
Explaining the concept behind the movie, writer of the script, Lani Aisidi, says that it is basically about a call centre where they win accounts for corporate brands, especially telecom networks.
“As different people come together with different personalities and different backgrounds, their personal lives begin to intertwine with the work environment. This naturally creates bonds, conflicts and drama. It breeds love, betrayal, office politics and laughter all of which is captured in the television series,” he said.
The drama is created by Lani Aisida and Soji Ogunnaike, and is co-produced by Oje Unuigboje. According to Unuigboje, airing for the 13 episode series begins next quarter.
Plus 234 features Kiki Omeili, Tope Tedela, Tosyn Bucknor, Anthony Monjaro, Paul Alumona, Whochey Nnadi, Paul Utomi, Judith Audu and Bimbo Ademoye.
