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  • Court remands suspected killer of police corporal

    A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of 23-year-old Ndifreke Jonah, for alleged murder of a police corporal, and armed robbery.

    Ndifreke and others at large allegedly shot dead Cpl. Godknows Iworima at an hotel, before snatching N4,000 from another victim.

    A court document obtained by our reporters showed that the incident occurred on March 7, 2018 at Varlin Hotel, Rumueke Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt.

    Iworima was reportedly shot on the left side of his chest by Ndifreke’s gang, who were armed with guns, including a locally made revolver pistol. He died from the gunshot wound.

    Read also: Court orders service of processes on Magu over detention of lawyer, ex-Senator

    The accused was also alleged to have dispossessed Obinna Irondi of N4,000.

    The suspect was charged with a three-count charge of murder and armed robbery, but the charges were not read to him; hence he did not take any plea.

    Magistrate Sunday Abel said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and ordered that Ndifreke’s case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

    He said the accused should be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case till May 2.

     

  • Mo Abudu is first African to win Medaille D’honneur award

    Nigerian TV Producer, and Media Entrepreneur, Mo Abudu, has made Nigeria proud as the first African to win the Medaille D’honneur award at the at Marché International des Programmes de Télévision (MIPTV).

    MIPTV, which takes place annually in Cannes, France is one of the most important trade shows for TV and media. This year’s edition runs from Monday, April 8 to Thursday, April 11, 2019.

    Mo, as she is fondly called, shared images of her receiving the award via Instagram.

    Captioning one of the picture in which she was with three other people, Mo, who has produced movies such as Fifty, Wedding Party 1&2, and others, wrote: “Most important of all, I had to Give God all the glory. Only HE makes all these incredible things possible in my life. Sharing the stage with 3 other incredible people honoured with this award tonight – US writer, showrunner and producer, Ilene Chaiken, chairperson of the Banijay Group in France, Stéphane Courbit, and UK managing director of Sky Vision, Jane Millichip.

    “Camille Bidermann, Executive Director of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, presented me with my award last night. Thank you so much Camille for your words of inspiration. Much love.

    “A major part of my acceptance speech was dedicated to the creative business leaders in the room and the need for a partnership between our respective continents, so that our stories can be told with authenticity and produced to the best international standards. If these stories are told from both our perspectives there is a captive audience on both sides of the Atlantic waiting to be entertained as never before and with creative business leaders adding significantly to their bottom line.”

    The MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur are awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the world of television and the development of the international TV community through their talent and leadership.

    Mo, one of Africa’s top producers and multiple award winner, launched EbonyLife TV in 2013 and has since then produced over 1,000 hours of original programming each year.

  • Government should make primary health accessible – Tonto Dikeh

    Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has said government should make primary health accessible to every citizen.

    She said this on World Health Day which held on Sunday, April 7, 2019, with the theme ‘universal health coverage.’

    “This year, the World Health Day focuses on “universal health coverage” meaning that all people have access to the quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. We believe this is possible and it starts with strong primary health care,” she said.

    Read also: Tonto Dikeh celebrates 4m Instagram followers

    “Primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health and well-being centered on the needs and preferences of individuals, families and communities. To make health for all a reality, governments need to invest in quality, accessible primary health care. Health workers need to care and advocate for patients and educate them on how to get and stay healthy. Individuals and communities need to be empowered to take care of their own health individually such as exercising, washing of hands, healthy feeding, self-examination of breasts in females for lumps, brushing of teeth at least once a day, keeping a clean environment to prevent diseases, regular check-up etc.

    “Health is a human right. Together, we can make health for all a reality.”

  • Garlands for Dangote at 62

    THERE is overwhelming empirical evidence of the brilliance and excellence in business leadership and uncommon philanthropy demonstrated by Africa’s richest man and President Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who clocks 62 on Wednesday April 10, 2019.

    From cradle to his looming presence and leadership in African entrepreneurship, Dangote has surpassed global imagination. In fact, in Africa and the black race, the Kano-born billionaire, who is affable and media-shy dwarfs all superlatives.

    His faith in the brand Nigeria and indeed Africa, despite all odds and damning negative economic indicators, has perhaps motivated the business mogul to invest massively and establish industries producing essential items required by the low and mighty in the society.

    Little wonder then that brand Dangote rings a bell in virtually every nook and cranny and won several accolades across Nigeria and beyond even though he has not held any public office including that of President or Governor.

    Deeply religious and one with a great passion for alleviating the plight of the most vulnerable members of society, Dangote before plunging into full business in 1981 in Lagos State, must have imbibed the American billionaire Warren Buffet’s wise counsel that three virtues namely intelligence, energy and integrity are a must for any man to succeed in any chosen endeavor in life even though the third is the most important.

    In other words even though he has become a role and business model for many across the globe, the billionaire at a young age realized that there is dignity in labour which clearly has been one of his abiding principles in life journey. Therefore, it is not surprising that he has never been a guest to any of the nation’s anti-graft bodies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

    His flawless business record so far should serve as a big lesson to all especially upcoming youths some of whom are currently very desperate to succeed in life by cutting corners and engaging in all manner of criminality.

    Reputed to be the second employer of labour coming after the Federal Government and the leader in indirect employment through his numerous business chain churning out wide ranging products like sugar, flour, cement and services in Nigeria and across the continent, his latest foray into the petrochemical industry through Dangote Refinery which is expected to bring permanent relief to the nation’s troubled petroleum sector when it comes on stream later this year, is outstanding.

    Aliko Dangote holder of Nigeria’s second highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON had an estimated net worth of US$10.6 billion as of March 2019. He is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 100th-richest person in the world and the richest in Africa.

    According to Wikipedia, “Aliko Dangote, an ethnic Hausa Muslim from Kano State, was born on the 10th of April 1957 into a wealthy Muslim family. He is the great-grandson of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, the richest African at the time of his death in 1955”.

    Dangote was educated at the Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa, and Capital High School, Kano. He has a bachelor’s degree in business studies and administration from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

    Speaking on his foray into the unpredictable world of business, he recalled: “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets (candy) and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time.”

    However, like the mustard seed, Dangote Group which was planted as a small trading firm in 1977, the same year the upcoming entrepreneur relocated to Lagos, the company has blossomed to the consternation of many. It is also on record that his path to stardom didn’t come easy as the young Aliko started his business with the NGN 500,000 loan he took from his uncle, Sani Dangote in 1977 after laying out his plan to establish a business outfit and his uncle’s decision to grant his request to start the business.

     

  • NIMASA donates relief materials to displaced persons

    The Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA), yesterday donated relief materials to displaced persons in Lagos state.

    The donation held at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Relief and Resettlement Camp, Igando, Lagos.

    At the presentation, NIMASA’S Director, Special Duties, Hajia Lami Tumaka, expressed the Agency’s sympathy to the displaced persons.

    “We are here to commiserate with you and to let you know that we are with you at this trying period of your life. God will settle you. You shall not experience this in your lives again. Only God and good government, which this present administration is providing, can help present hardship and disaster. Be assured that this present government is taking us to the next level,” she said.

    Tumaka explained that her Agency, as a socially responsible organisation, and following the directive of the federal government to all her Agencies and Parastatals to raise a hand to all displaced persons in the country, is by the gesture, complying to ensure some form of comfort get to the affected people.

    “This is our Corporate social responsibility (CSR). We are doing this in 20 States of the federation beginning with Lagos state today. We started last year and our concentration was mainly in IDP camps in the northeast. Nigerian organisations are caring but nobody beats NIMASA and we are spurred to do more,” Tumaka assured.

    Responding to the gesture, the General Manager, LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, thanks the NIMASA delegation for the donation. He described the maritime agency as “a wonderful partner.”

    “NIMASA has been a wonderful partner. Last year, they donated to disaster victims and here they are again, helping to bring succour to our people in this camp. We cannot thank you enough,” he said.

    One of the displaced persons, Risikat Olorunosebi, on behalf of other members of the camp, thanked NIMASA and government for not forgetting them at this period. “God will continue to guide and direct government. Your organisation will continue to grow and disaster will not be your portion,” Olorunosebi prayed.

    Items donated relief include food stuff, toiletries, beddings, among others.

    It will be recalled that the Lagos state government immediately relocated victims affected by the collapsed school building in Epetedo area of the state, last month.

    Tiamiyu explained that the relocation is for an initial period of three months until the victims are resettled.

     

  • PTAD pays 103,710 civil service pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has approved immediate payment of N2.60 billion to 103,710 Civil Service pensioners.

    The payment is the final tranche being made to Civil Service pensioners for six months’ arrears of 33 per cent pension increment, in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare.

    It will be recalled that in July 2010, the Federal Government announced a 33 per cent pension increase for pensioners.

    Read also: PTAD pays N2.6bn as arrears to pensioners

    The Federal Government began the payment of this increment from January 2014 leaving arrears of 42 months outstanding. Out of the 42 months outstanding as at 2014, 24 months was paid in 2016, six months was paid in 2017, while six months was paid in November 2018.

    Based on this, the directorate has now cleared the backlog of the 33 per cent pension arrears of three main departments of Civil Service Pension Department, Police Pension Department and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department.

    The Directorate has further assured that the backlog of 33 per cent arrears owed parastatal pensioners will be cleared in due course.

  • CSO trains undergraduates on technology

    A pan-African social enterprise working on digital rights and digital inclusion, Paradigm Initiative (PI) has commenced a tuition-free programme to empower undergraduates with Python programming skills.

    The first edition of the training was held last Saturday with 36 trainees from three higher institutions in Lagos – University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Lagos State University (LASU).

    Paradigm Initiative said the training is in conjunction with the Python Nigeria group.

    A statement by PI Communications Officer Sodiq Alabi quoted its official, Olayinka Taiwo, as saying: “We are pleased to welcome 36 students to the first edition of this important training program. 12 students will be trained on Python for Data Science while 24 undergraduates will be trained on Python for Web. The training is under our Techtiary programme which is dedicated to helping undergraduates acquire technical expertise before they graduate.”

    Taiwo added: “By learning Python, beneficiaries can position themselves for various opportunities in the ever-expanding information communication technology space. Python has been lauded as one of the most lucrative programming languages to learn and its applications are wide-ranging. With the faculty support from the good people of Python Nigeria, we are excited to be introducing this language to more young Nigerians.”

     

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    JIMOH: Dear ma, my name is Jimoh. I retired as Head Messenger on grade 4, step 15 from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency on  September 7, 2005. I was duly verified at the PTAD liaison office in Lagos in August 2018. My complaint is that I have not been paid my pension salary since April, 2018. Please kindly come to my aid. Thank you.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s pension benefits have been computed and is awaiting Federal audit clearance. He should receive his payment soon. Thank you

    JOHNSON:  I, Johnson, wish to complain of non-payment of pension salary as from August, 2008. My pension salary since August, 2008 is yet to be paid till date.  Help appeal to PTAD to check its records and make the said amount payable to alleviate my financial burden.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s pension benefits have been computed and is awaiting Federal audit clearance. He should receive his payment soon. Thank you

    GENESIS: My name is Genesis. I retired from the service of National Orientation Agency (NOA) on February 28, 2007. I was paid part of my gratuity on July 17, 2008. Since then, I have not heard anything about the balance from my former department of NOA or from PenCom. My question is: who is responsible for the payment of the balance of my gratuity?

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    JOSHUA: My name is Joshua. I retired as a Force man in 1997. I did my verification with PTAD ABUJA, but not paid my pension till date. I travelled to Abuja twice to complain, yet nothing happened. My rank is Sgt, Grade Level 05 Step 4. Date of first appointment was January 1986. Please, I am in penury, help  tell pension boss that.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    GHEGHOR: Thanks for helping pensioners. I wrote before. My pension was reduced from N10,024.70 in May 2018. I retired on March 1, 1986. I was asked to send my statement of account. Kindly oblige me with PTAD email address. From Benin City. Edo State.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    AKUTSE: My name is Akutse and I am from Plateau State. I retired on grade level 14/11. My first appointment was August, 1975. My last promotion was in 2003 and I retired in August, 2010. My complain is that I have not been paid my gratuity for about nine years since I retired.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    YOHANNA: My name is Yohanna, I retired from the Nigeria Police in 2006. My gratuity was paid on September 7, 2015 without nine years’ arrears. I submitted all the documents requested in Januray 2016 and October 2018, but to no avail. I was on step 6 but was placed on step 4 after spending nine years in the rank of ASP.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    NICHOLAS: My name is Nicholas. My problem is no payment of gratuity after retirement.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

    ANONYMOUS: I was promoted to the rank of ASP Police after the pension verification in July, 2017.  I sent my submission of evidence of promotion after verification dated December 2017 through  the South-South  Zonal Office of  your commission  in  Calabar, Cross River  State,  but I was paid  below  my grade  and step.  what can I do now?

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

  • Buhari condemns latest violence in Kaduna

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent violence in Kaduna State, which led to the death of 20 members of the Adara community.

    These unfortunate deaths are the latest incident between the Adara and Fulani peoples in the state, who have a long history of mistrust between them.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also condemned the resurgence of cultist killings in Rivers State and ordered for increased community and law enforcement action against its escalation.

    He appealed for peace and decries the on-going culture of ‘an eye for an eye’ that has fuelled a number of attacks and reprisal attacks, with the two communities at different times, suffering casualties in Kajuru and Kachia local governments in Kaduna States.

    The President also appealed to indigenes of Kaduna and other Nigerians to refrain from comments in the traditional and social media, especially by people who have little knowledge of the history of the longstanding conflict.

    Such comments, he noted, can fuel further conflict in the area and between the two groups.

    Read also: Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: expect more successes

    Buhari made a special appeal to traditional and religious leaders to be cautious with their comments on the conflict, insisting that whatever words they share publicly should not be inflammatory but be inspired by an interest in peace.

    The President condoled with those who lost loved ones in the attacks: “The entire nation grieves with you. The Nigerian army and police are already in the area to ensure that peace and security are restored.”

    In response to reports of the resurgence of cultism leading to loss of lives in Rivers State, President Buhari called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to end the menace before it further escalates.

    The President urged quick and effective intervention by community and civic leaders in support of law enforcement efforts, in all such areas bedeviled by cultist attacks and inter-communal violence.

  • DMO: Sukuk, green bonds’ll promote financial inclusion

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday said the issuance of Sukuk and green bonds, also known as ethical investments, by the Federal Government will promote financial inclusion and increase investment in ethical financial products.

    Speaking at a business rountable in Abuja, its Director-General, Ms. Patience Oniha said based on the experience garnered from issuing oversubscribed Sukuk bonds in recent times, government was favourably disposed to invest in ethical products to swell its investment products base.

    “The experience from the issuance of Sukuk bonds has been beneficial to the government. The Sukuk is one of the landmark achievement not only in terms of fund but the projects being implemented. We will like to do more with Sukuk because it’s transparent but the major issue for us now is to increase the investor base for ethical products,” Oniha said.

    Another speaker at the roundtable and Managing Director of Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu called for the broadening of ethical investments in the country to help government achieve its financial inclusion drive.

    Uduanu said:  “While there have been increasing penetration of financial solutions, the ethical investment space had yet to be fully developed. Despite the under developed nature of ethical investments, there are significant opportunities for growth and innovations in that segment of the economy.”

    He highlighted some of the opportunities and benefits of ethical investment to include: “vibrant ethical financial system will help crowd in a new class of institutional and retail investors into the Nigerian financial system which will help deepen the breadth and sophistication of the fund management industry.

    Read also: Finance, DMO approve N195bn to exporters for EEG settlement

    “A key tenet of robust financial markets is the existence of many players on both demand and supply having diverse opinions, desires and needs which allow for a more efficient price setting mechanism.

    “It will help drive greater financial inclusion and pension enrollment. Nigeria’s financial exclusion rate at the end of 2018 was estimated at 37 per cent with large exclusion observed in the northern regions.

    “Among other reasons, the reluctance towards the formal financial sector in the north likely reflects unease with conventional products.

    “With the option of retirement savings products suited to ethical preferences, it is easy to see a ready outlet for raising financial inclusion.”

    Holding the roundtable discussion he said has become necessary “to provide a platform to attract fresh investors and drive increased market participation by investors looking to maintain their values and principles while building their portfolios.”