₦airaland Forum

The Dangote Group says upon completion of its refinery, it will dedicate 53% of the capacity to production of petrol. This translates to 344,500 barrels of its projected 650,000 barrels daily refining capacity.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said this at the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, according to a statement issued by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu. Dangote also said the group was not in competition with refineries owned by NNPC.

While the Dangote Refinery has a capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the consolidated capacity of the NNPC’s four refineries, according to the corporation’s latest operations report on its refineries, is 445,000 barrels per day. However, NNPC’s refineries for several years have hardly delivered up to half their consolidated capacity in terms of crude oil refining.

On Tuesday, The PUNCH reported exclusively that Nigeria’s four refineries under the management of the NNPC had made no profit since May 2018; rather, they posted losses consecutively since May 2018 till May this year. The country’s refineries under NNPC management include Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, two plants at Port Harcourt Refining Company and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

Dangote emphasised that the business approach of Dangote Refinery was to see the NNPC as a collaborator rather than a competitor, noting that the refinery would rely heavily on the corporation’s knowledge of the refining business in Nigeria to achieve its central objective. He aligned his company with the Federal Government’s aspiration to ensure adequate in-country refining capacity.

Dangote was quoted to have said, “The most important thing for us is to see how we can partner with the NNPC; it is not to see how we can compete with the NNPC. We would like the NNPC to be part of us and we also want to be part of the NNPC. I think that is the only way we can achieve a win-win situation.”

The NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, also stated that the national oil firm was not in contest for market share with the forthcoming Dangote Refinery. He added that the corporation was rather providing support to the promoters of the project to boost in-country refining capacity. Kyari stated that as the chief enabler of the Nigerian economy, NNPC had a duty to rally industry players like Dangote Group to achieve the long held target of making Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products.

The NNPC boss assured his guests that same level of support would be provided to other promoters of refineries, noting that the ultimate goal was to enhance in-country production to the point of self-sufficiency and ultimately for export.

SOURCE (abridged): https://punchng.com/dangote-dedicates-53-of-refinery-capacity-to-petrol/

A licence has been secured by a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria for the provision of financial services to millions of residents in Africa’s largest economy. With the new authorisation, the telecoms firm, through its arm, Yello Digital Financial Services Limited, would offer banking services in the country, taking part of the market share hitherto controlled by lenders already operating in the country.

Before now, MTN Nigeria had offered its platform for a defunct bank, Diamond Bank Plc, to provide financial services to customers. In March 2019, Diamond Bank and Access Bank agreed to merge to become a single entity. This deal was mainly done to allow Access Bank penetrate the retail market.

In 2018, it was reported that MTN Nigeria was seeking approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide banking services in the country. After the report, there were speculations that some financial institutions were making efforts to frustrate this. However, on Monday, MTN Nigeria, which listed its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in May 2019, announced scaling through by securing the authorisation from the CBN.

In June 2019, Business Post reported that the chief executive officer at MTN Group, Mr Rob Shuter, had said the firm applied for a Payment Service Banking (PSB) licence in Nigeria in December 2018, after the CBN released draft Guidelines for Licensing and Regulation of Payment Service Banks.

The aim of this licence granted to MTN Nigerian is to provide banking services Nigerians without bank accounts through mobile money services, a policy that has been successful in Kenya.

SOURCE: https://businesspost.ng/2019/07/30/mtn-secures-cbn-licence-to-offer-banking-services/amp/

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) has released its half year report for period ended June 30, 2019 and the company recorded a whopping N7.3 billion profit after tax. This was higher than the N2.6 bn PAT recorded in H1-2018, representing 180.8% improvement.

In same vein, profit before tax was N9.7 bn, nearly trippling the N3.7 bn PBT H1-2018. Revenue in the period under review improved by 166.12% to N32.2 bn from N12.1 bn recorded in H1-2018. Meanwhile, cost of sales ballooned to N17.8 bn, vs N6.6 bn in HY 2018. However, this did not stop the company from having a wider gross profit at N14.4 bn, vs N5.5 bn H1-2018.

Other income brought in N84.3 mn in HY 2019 vs N17.9 mn in H1-2018. But selling and distribution costs increased by over 50% to N1.99 bn from N557 mn registered in HY 2018. It was same for its administrative expenses which went up to N2.7 bn in period under review vs N1.2 bn H1-2018, with net finance costs rising to N45.7 mn in H1-2019 from N31.0 mn in H1-2018.

SOURCE (abridged): https://businesspost.ng/2019/07/31/ccnn-raises-post-tax-profit-by-180-8-in-six-months/amp/

Brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries Plc, has declared a 27.72% decline in its profit after tax (PAT) in the first half of this year, closing at N13.3 billion against N18.4 billion in the first 6 months of 2018. In the same vein, profit before tax significantly depreciated to N19.4 bn in H1 2019, from N27.6 bn.

Finance costs increased to N5.3 bn from N4.3 bn, while finance income declined to N198.5 mn from N219.7 mn, leaving net finance costs at N5.1 bn in the period under review, compared with N4.1 bn in same period of last year. Further look at the top line showed that net revenue generated went down to N170.2 bn in H1 2019 versus N172.7 bn.

Cost of sales increased to N98.5 bn from N96.6 bn, cutting gross profit to N71.7 bn from N76.1 bn. Other income dropped to N422.5 mn from N430.7 mn, while administrative expenses reduced to N9.5 bn from N10.3 bn. For marketing and distribution expenses, a total of N38.2 bn was used in H1 2019 compared with N34.6 bn in H1 2018, indicating an increased by 10.41%.

In the period under review, earnings per share (EPS) went down to N1.66 from N2.30 in the same period of last year.

SOURCE (abridged): https://businesspost.ng/2019/07/30/2019-h1-nigerian-breweries-suffers-27-7-reduction-in-net-profit/

A disgruntled employee shot dead two co-workers and wounded a police officer at a Walmart store in the southern US state of Mississippi on Tuesday, officials said. The gunman, who has not been identified, was shot and wounded by one of the police officers who responded to the shooting in the city of Southaven, police chief Macon Moore told reporters.

Moore said two Walmart employees were killed in what he described as a “senseless violent act.” He said the wounded police officer was “saved by his (bulletproof) vest.”

Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite told reporters the incident was “an isolated event.”

“It was a disgruntled employee,” Musselwhite said. “It’s someone that had a personal grievance with his employer.”

A Walmart employee told a local television station the gunman had worked at the store for 25 years before being fired.

In a statement, Walmart said it was “heartbroken by the loss of two valued members of our team.”

Southaven is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, which lies just to the north over the state line.

SOURCE: https://t.guardian.ng/news/disgruntled-walmart-employee-shoots-dead-two-co-workers/

At least six Managing Directors of Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) are currently in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody over alleged N2billion fraud. The EFCC operatives also arrested the Director-General of Kwara State Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Segun Soewu, in Ilorin, the state capital.

The arrested bank MDs are – Ogudu Samuel (Brightway Micro Finance), A.K. Imam Magajingari (Micro Finance Bank), Adeleke M.S. (Sincere Micro Finance Bank), Yusuf Muideen Balogun (Fulani Micro Finance Bank), Issa Abdulrasheed (KCMB Micro Finance Bank) and Oyebode Asimiyu (Apels Micro Finance bank).

The Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, said the anti-graft agency went after the suspects upon discovery that the N2 billion, which was meant to serve as soft loan facility to boost small scale businesses across Kwara State, was distributed to highly placed politicians, traditional rulers and other prominent people across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Orilade said 50% of the loan was shared to a selected group of businessmen and women, who failed to pay back, as was originally conceived. The EFCC spokesman added that the anti-graft agency was also probing five other persons over similar allegations.

According to him, those under the Commission’s radar are – Lawal Ayo (Omu-Aran Micro Finance Bank), Tope Eniola of Iludun (Micro Finance Bank), Lawal Folashade (Stockcarp Micro Finance Bank), Yusuf Tajudeen (First Heritage Micro Finance Bank, and Olawoye E.O. (Offa Micro Finance Bank).

Prior to the development, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had lamented that fraudsters in Nigerian banks were aiding criminals to perpetrate financial crimes. He said such fraudsters assisted politically-exposed persons to steal and launder public funds.

Magu added that there were “bad eggs” in the EFCC.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2019/07/30/six-bank-mds-in-efcc-net-over-alleged-n2billion-fraud/

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FALSE RAPE ALLEGATIONS

Kanin EJ. Arch Sex Behav. 1994.

AUTHOR: Kanin EJ1.
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1365.

CITATION: Arch Sex Behav. 1994 Feb;23(1):81-92.

ABSTRACT
With the cooperation of the police agency of a small metropolitan community, 45 consecutive, disposed, false rape allegations covering a 9 year period were studied.

These false rape allegations constitute 41% the total forcible rape cases (Total = 109) that were reported during this period.

These false allegations appear to serve three major functions for the complainants:
1. providing an alibi,
2. seeking revenge, and
3. obtaining sympathy and attention.

False rape allegations are not the consequence of a gender-linked aberration, as frequently claimed, but reflect impulsive and desperate efforts to cope with personal and social stress situations.

PMID 8135653 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

SOURCE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/8135653/

It is an ugly reality, but it is known to happen: petty people misusing the very serious charge of rape as a way to gain an upper hand, get revenge, or otherwise harm another person. Results of such a false accusation can be devastating, even if the person wrongfully accused is ultimately acquitted. So, what can the innocent person do in such a case? What are the consequences to the false accuser?

Unfortunately, the topic of rape is so touchy that many are unwilling to do anything about a false claim. Some prosecutors side with the false-accuser even after evidence clearly reveals the claim is false, believing it could be an honest mistake, a difference of opinion about consent, or a cry for help from someone suffering in other ways at the hands of the one they wrongfully accused. Moreover, prosecutors and law enforcement do not want actual rape victims to fear possible criminal sanctions for reporting legitimate rapes if it later becomes impossible to prove the case. As a result, very few false claims are ever prosecuted criminally.

Still, consequences of a false report of rape can be devastating to the life of the one accused. Often, the mere suggestion that a person has done something is enough to convict them in the court of public opinion. With websites that feature arrest mug shots and identify charges, there is no way for a wrongfully accused person to protect their reputation. This can have life changing effects, lead to loss of employment opportunities, public ridicule, and emotional harm.

As a result, it is usually possible for one wrongfully accused of rape to fight back. Typically, one will have to wait until exonerated, but once proved innocent of the false accusation, some jurisdictions allow them to bring a civil suit against the accuser. False statements to police, to the media, or to family and friends may give rise to civil liability. Additionally, in jurisdictions that recognize a civil cause of action for perjury, if the accuser provided false testimony, either in person or via affidavit (such as a police report) this may also form the basis for additional relief.

In 2011 in Maryland, a man was awarded $852,000 and full custody of his children after he was able to prove that his ex-wife had falsely accused him of sexually assaulting their daughters. The ex-wife had accused the man of sexually assaulting the children in order to gain an advantage in a custody dispute. This led him to lose his job and find it almost impossible to obtain another for 5 years while he fought the legal battle to clear his name. While much of the damage done by the false accusation can never be undone for the wrongfully accused man, the verdict does send a clear message that such conduct cannot be tolerated in the American legal system.

If you've been wrongfully accused of rape or another sexually based crime, you should immediately contact an attorney (lawyer). Not only will you need assistance in clearing your name in the criminal matter, you may need help pursuing remedies against the wrongful accuser. However, given the nature of laws protecting victims of rape, it will be a very difficult and highly technical legal battle to show that the accuser did not simply lack sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction, but actually engaged in malicious conduct designed to harm the reputation of the accused and subject him/her to possible criminal sanctions.

SOURCE (abridged): https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-can-you-do-if-someone-falsely-accuses-you-of-rape-31767

The Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) on Saturday stated that killings and abductions on Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway have resumed in full force by armed bandits.

Barrister Salisu Haruna, Chairman of BEPU, in a statement sent to DAILY POST, said on Saturday tgat criminals opened fire on some travellers along the highway, killing one person and injuring others. He lamented that the highway cannot be used before 9 am and after 9 pm on a daily basis, while there are no adequate security personnel.

Haruna said: “BEPUalso observes with dismay that some of the security personnel deployed at the highway do not come out for duty until when it is late and the armed bandits utilise such periods and when the security go for a break, to launch offensive attacks on travellers. BEPU also observes that the armed bandits operate more freely at the places where the road is full of potholes as a result of over a decade of decay of the highway. Recently, the FERMA have started some maintenance works on the highway only to abandon it after covering some few kilometres, a development that strongly contributed to the armed banditry.

“BEPU, therefore, reminds the government that there is apparently a spillage of armed bandits who refuse to drop their arms and accept the government’s offer of peace at Zamfara state into Birnin Gwari forests. This must be arrested in no longer time. BEPU urgently calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to boost the morale of military formations deployed to Birnin Gwari by providing them all necessary facilities needed in the proper discharge of their operations against the bandits.

“We call on the Kaduna State Government to mount more security check points along Kaduna - Birnin Gwari and support the Vigilantes and Police with everything they need to arrest the situation. This must be done with all seriousness, as the bandits continue to launch offensive attacks against travellers, especially now that Eid-el- Kabir is approaching.”

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/27/kaduna-bandits-open-fire-travellers-killings-abductions-resume-highway-bepu/

Chairman of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) Plc, Mr Abdulsamad Rabiu, has said the company was now in control of the cement market in North West Africa. Mr Rabiu, while addressing shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Thursday in Abuja, said the firm was able to dominate the market over there as a result of its merger with Kalambaina Cement, which has increased the installed capacity to two million metric tons per annum.

He said this combination also helped the cement manufacturer deliver an impressive 2018 financial year, which led to the payment of N5.25 billion as dividend for the fiscal year, translating to a dividend payout of 40 kobo per share, more than the N1.57 billion paid in the 2017 financial period.
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“The company recorded its highest domestic exports sale during the year. This was facilitated by the additional output from the enlarged entity. In 2019, we hope to have the full combined capacity of the two entities. With the new capacity, CCNN is now the dominant player in its home market of North West Africa,” Mr Rabiu, who is also the Chairman of BUA Group, said at the meeting.

Business Post reports that one of the main rivals of CCNN in the cement industry is Dangote Cement and both are fighting for the control of the market by coming up with different strategies. But Mr Rabiu believes that CCNN will continue to expand its presence at the market by “taking advantage of the proximity to the neighbouring West African borders, which has opened a new window for the export operations and revenue generation in foreign exchange.”

He said the merger between CCNN and Kalambaina Cement has led to the “introduction of new technology, reduction in operational costs and increase in the number of transport fleet.”

According to him, this reflected in the revenue generated by CCNN in the 2018 financial year, which rose to N31.7 billion from N19.6 billion in 2017, with the profit after tax improving to N5.9 billion in 2018 from N2.9 billion in 2017. He said the company will continue to deliver value to its shareholders, assuring them that the 2019 financial year would be better than the previous.

SOURCE: https://businesspost.ng/2019/07/29/ccnn-takes-over-north-west-african-cement-market/

General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, said on Saturday that the Federal Government and labour representatives on the technical committee set up to negotiate consequential increase arising from the new minimum wage would resume negotiation this week.

After negotiation broke down between the government and labour on what workers at various grade levels would get as salary increase, the NLC, Trade Union Congress and the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council wrote separate letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, complaining of introduction of new terms of reference by the Federal Government team that were not in the document presented by the SGF when he inaugurated the negotiating committee on May 14, 2019.

On Wednesday, the SGF and representatives of JNPSNC met in Abuja where issues that led to the breakdown of negotiation were discussed.

While the Federal Government representatives in the technical committee had proposed 9.5 per cent salary increase for workers on Grade Levels 07 to 14 and five per cent increase for employees on Grade Levels 15 to 17, labour representatives were demanding 30 per cent salary increase for workers on Grade Levels seven to 14 and 25 per cent for workers on Grade Levels 15 to 17.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Ozo-Eson said, “We wrote a letter to the SGF. We understand he is stepping in and negotiation will reconvene during the week.”

Also in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, said the union would not support lowered demands during negotiation. He said labour’s demands from the Federal Government were not outrageous, blaming the Federal Government’s representatives for not coming up with what he described as a reasonable proposal.

He said, “TUC will not support lowering labour demands on the issue of the new minimum wage. We have to understand clearly that labour unions are not greedy in their demands. We don’t have to make a demand that will make governance difficult. But we have to recognise negotiation and understanding on both sides."

"If the Federal Government through its representatives on the technical committee that is negotiating consequential increase in labour wages comes up with a reasonable percentage increase, even if it does not favour labour, I don’t think we will have any option but to show understanding because of the present situation of the nation’s economy. It is not compulsory that all requests must be granted but it must be reasonable and there must be understanding before an agreement will be signed and sealed in a document.”

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/minimum-wage-labour-fg-resume-negotiation-tuc-rejects-lowered-demands/

Efforts by some state governments to obtain necessary safety and security clearances to launch Remotely Piloted Aircraft (drones) to tackle insecurity in their domains appear to be failing, no thanks to the strict conditions stipulated by Federal Government agencies responsible for granting the approvals. This is happening amid serious security challenges in various states across the country.

No state government, agency, organisation or individual is allowed to launch an RPA (drone) for any reason without obtaining approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the agency regulating safety and security in the country’s airspace, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

SUNDAY PUNCH checks show that some states have been in the process of getting safety and security clearances from the NCAA and the ONSA for almost two years now. Currently, some of the states that have made moves to deploy drones to tackle bandits, kidnappers, and killer herdsmen are Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Kaduna and Anambra.

Among other things, the drones are meant to monitor and record the activities and hideouts of criminals, including bandits, kidnappers and killer herdsmen. Officials of the NCAA and the ONSA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on security matters, said Lagos State had been on the process for about two years.

Osun State, which began the process under ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has yet to get the necessary clearance to launch the drones, according to the officials. According to the officials, Kaduna State also moved to get the necessary clearance to deploy drones following killings in the state about four years ago but has yet to obtain the final approvals from the NCAA and the ONSA. However, there are indications that the state has obtained End User Certificate from the ONSA.

It was also learnt that the Anambra State government suspended its move to get such a clearance after changing its strategy on security.

“The ONSA is very careful. They don’t want to just give approvals to state governments that will later abuse the privilege. Again, the ONSA office is reluctant because security agencies are under the Federal Government and as such, giving approvals to state governments to deploy drones is something that has to be done with necessary checks.

“Also, there is the need to carry out proper safety and security profiling on the security firms that will help the state governments to deploy the drones. So, it is a very detailed and important issue,” a top official privy to details of the state governments’ applications said.

Further findings revealed that many of the state governments had yet to train drone pilots who would fly the RPAs in line with the NCAA safety requirements, while security firms which would partner some of the states to train drone pilots had yet to get approvals from the NCAA.

“It is a long process. Before the states can be given RPA operating licence by the NCAA to launch drones, they need to come with End User Certificate from the NSA Office to the NCAA Office. We have since asked them to go and get that. Some of them have been in the process for about two years. Safety and security issues are involved in drone deployment and these must be cleared,” a top official at the Ministry of Aviation, who is privy to the development, told SUNDAY PUNCH.

STRICT SCRUTINY FOR DRONE DEPLOYMENT IS STANDARD PRACTICE – Aviation ministry, NCAA
When contacted, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA said that drone deployment required strict scrutiny, noting that it was the standard practice to ensure necessary safety clearances were done. The Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Aviation ministry, James Odaudu, said it was important to thoroughly scrutinise the move as it had to do with safety and security issues.

Odaudu also said the NCAA was the body mandated by the ministry to certify the use of drones in civil airspace.

He said, “Of course, the deployment of drones for purposes of securing any location is a security matter, which is why security agencies would be involved. Also, I would say it is standard practice to thoroughly scrutinise the move because it is one that would have an impact on national security, whether positive or negative. Although personally, I’ve not been informed about the requests by states on drones’ deployment and don’t know about it now.”

He added, “However, it is the NCAA that is mandated to certify the use of drones and there is a need to be cleared by the authority, as well as get the required clearance from other security agencies as may be required.”

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said the regulatory agency was working together with ONSA on issues relating to the deployment of drones.

“The NCAA is working in conjunction with NSA Office on the issue of drones. However, the ultimate security clearance is handled in the NSA Office. It is pertinent to point out that due diligence is done in view of the security implication,” he said.

NO EFFORT’LL BE SPARED TO TACKLE INSECURITY – Ondo, Osun, others
Meanwhile, some state governments have given various reasons why they have been working towards the deployment of drones. Some of the states, however, declined to give specific details, citing security reasons. A source in the Osun State government told SUNDAY PUNCH that the state had acquired drones before Aregbesola’s tenure expired but had not been able to deploy them because it had yet to get the approval from the ONSA.

The source said, “We have acquired drones now but we cannot deploy them. The drones can take pictures, can identify objects, and can take grandeur aerial maps apart from other uses. This requires a lot of security imprimaturs but we can’t say anything official now. Approval has to be given by the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with the NSA before we can deploy them. They have to be cleared before we can use them. The drones were acquired by the past administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Adeniyi Adesina, said the state would continue to work with appropriate agencies of the Federal Government to ensure safety.

He said, “The Osun State government is working with appropriate agencies and departments of the Federal Government to get things (drones’ deployment) done.”

Also, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the state government would not spare any efforts in tackling insecurity. He, however, said the state would not disclose the moves it was making regarding deployment of drones and other things for security reasons.

When asked what was delaying the state’s efforts to get approvals to deploy drones, Ojogo said, “No effort required to tackle the menace of insecurity will be spared by the Ondo State government. However, the planned security architecture of the South-West states cannot be disclosed at the moment. We appreciate your concern and eagerness to know what Ondo State, in particular, is currently doing to tackle insecurity.”

When contacted for comments on the matter, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, declined to make comments, citing security reasons. He said whatever he said about the security of the state would compromise the efforts of the government in tackling crime in the state.

“The question is clearly undermining and compromising the security of our citizens and we cannot compromise their security on the pages of newspapers. No comment.”

The Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, when contacted, said he would get back to our correspondent on plan by the state to get approvals to deploy drone in the state. However, as of the time of filing this report, he has yet to do so.

The Anambra State government on Friday said it had discontinued its plan to use the drone for criminal surveillance. In its place, the state government said it occasionally hired police helicopter for aerial battle against criminals. The state government had last December procured a drone for air surveillance of crimes in the state.

The state had then said, “The drone would be used to monitor movement of individuals and even cattle. It will provide reports constantly to appropriate agencies for prompt action,” the state said.

But speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, said the state had discontinued the move, citing two reasons.

He said, “One, the battery of the drone does not sustain it for a long time in the air and secondly it does not capture a good human image while airborne.” Adinuba said the state had resorted to hiring police helicopters occasionally for aerial surveillance.

Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Kaduna and Anambra are among dozens of states battling insecurity in the country. Following the reoccurrence of crisis in Kaduna State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, had vowed to put an end to the killings. The development, it was learnt, led to the state to take various security measures

Ondo has remained a major corridor where killer herdsmen have been operating. Aside from the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, recently, several people had been kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the past.

END-USER CERTIFICATES MUST BE SCREENED BY DSS BEFORE APPROVAL – ONSA
The Office of the National Security Adviser has stated that all End-User Certificate requests or applications are subject to screening by the Department of State Services before approval or otherwise. The ONSA noted that state governments wishing to import equipment to support security agencies must go through the agency to get approval. The ONSA stated these in its “Guidelines for application for EUCs” published on its website.

When our correspondent contacted the ONSA office in Abuja, a source said the office had no spokesperson and all information could be obtained from its website.

“I am not aware that state governments made any application, but if they follow the guidelines, which are stated on the EUC website, their requests will be treated accordingly,” he said.

The ONSA on its End-User Certificate website highlighted “five easy steps” to apply for the certificate.

It said, “One, read the guidelines on supporting documents required for the EUC application. Two, create an account by filling the sign-up form. You will be notified via an electronic mail and a short message service immediately if your account is approved or disapproved. Three, apply for the EUC by logging onto the portal and providing the relevant information as required. Four, wait for a notification for approval or disapproval of your application. Five, collect your EUC at the Office of the National Security Adviser. EUC applications are free of charge at every stage.

“All EUC requests and applications are subject to screening by the Department of State Services before approval or otherwise. State governments wishing to import equipment to support security agencies must go through that agency to make such application.”

SUNDAY PUNCH observed from the website that the categories of the equipment listed as requiring the EUC included; military hardware, chemicals, explosives and explosive devices, fireworks, arms and ammunition, remotely piloted aircraft and lawful intercept equipment.

ONSA IS RIGHT TO GRILL STATE GOVTS – Experts
The President of the African Council on Narcotics, Mr Rekpene Bassey, said state governments might not be able to put the drones to effective use because they did not have control over the security forces in their respective states.

He said, “Drones can be classified under structural measures and they are as useful as the humans. If you do not have an adequate and capable human factor, the capability of drones is limited. Those states that intend to use these drones in question would also need to have ground forces to back up the intelligence surveillance at their disposal.

A security analyst, Mr Chigozie Ubani, said given the level of insecurity in the country, intelligence gathering should be decentralised so that states, working with the Federal Government, could gather intelligence through aerial surveillance.

Meanwhile, a Fellow, International Institute of Professional Security, Mr Jackson Ojo, said some security equipment could be bugged by their manufacturers, saying that was why the NSA or the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should check where the equipment would be procured from and give approval before purchase.

POLICE GO AFTER ILLEGAL DRONE OPERATORS
As part of efforts to ensure security in the country, the police have decided to go after illegal drone operators. According to Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, they have been going after individuals who operate drones illegally and in unauthorised areas like airports, security zones and other restricted areas.

Mba added, “We don’t need anyone to tell us to do our job, we have been going after illegal drone operators. Drones are not permitted near high security zones like the airport or military formations and other places. You are not even permitted to fly a drone over someone’s residence, that is a clear privacy breach.”

This came just as police are holding talks with the Federal Government and vendors on the acquisition and deployment of high-tech drones in parts of the country. Our correspondent learnt that the use of technology was part of the three-pronged strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, including intelligence-led policing and community police.

A top security source stated that the government was considering the costs and other technical issues before giving the nod for the acquisition of highly sophisticated drones for security operations.

“You need to look at many things, including funding. Very good drones are quite expensive, they have multiple functions and they don’t come cheap. We are having a whole lot of discussions at government to government level and between government and vendors.”

The source further said, “The new police approach to crime fighting is predicated on intelligence, community policing and technology; The police Air wing, ICT department and intelligence unit will manage and coordinate deployment of drones, after everything has been finalised.”

Mba declined to comment on the planned acquisition and deployment of drones by the police.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/kidnapping-crisis-fg-frustrates-states-plans-to-deploy-drones/

There was palpable fear in Oworonshoki and Gbagada areas of Lagos State during the week, as fresh violent clashes broke out in the neighbourhoods between two rival cult groups – Eiye and Aye confraternities. It was learnt that renewed hostilities began last Sunday evening and lingered until Wednesday, claiming four lives.

A trader at Fogo Junction, Iyana Owonroshoki, identified only as Iya Igbo, was said to be one of the victims. She was reportedly hacked to death by cult members who exploited the fights to rob innocent people. City Round learnt that some cult members had trailed a member of their rival gang to a bar at Kiniun Ifa Junction in the Sawmill area of Gbagada, around 6 pm on Sunday and shot him dead.

Three hours later, a gang believed to be on a revenge mission, unleashed terror on Fogo Junction during which the Igbo trader and another woman selling slippers, were attacked with cutlasses. The latter reportedly escaped with injuries. The women had reportedly resisted the hoodlums who wanted to dispossess them of their money and phones.

Our correspondent gathered that on Monday, some suspected cult members shot dead a barber, one Olorunwa (aka Injection), in his shop on Oyegunle Street, Oworonshoki. The clashes were said to have disrupted commercial activities in the areas and caused panic. Olorunwa’s shop was locked on Thursday when our correspondent visited the street.

A shop owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told City Round that the assailants rode on a motorcycle. She added, “They shot the barber and fled immediately. He died on the spot. It was policemen from the Alonge division who came to pick his corpse. On Wednesday, we have to close shops quickly when the cult boys started chasing one another again.”

A community leader, Mr Agboola Bakare, said lives had become worthless to the hoodlums, noting that their violent activities had denied people of peace in the neighbourhood. Bakare, who also confirmed the barber’s murder, said there had been calm in Oworonshoki for some time, until a week ago when the “uprising” began. He urged the police to intensify patrols in the neighbourhood.

He said, “We live in fear every moment; the fear of children in the age group of our grandchildren. We understand some of them are in secret societies. We don’t know who to trust and discuss this issue with. The fear is that the elders you want to discuss it with may have their children in those circles. We don’t move freely again, especially when night falls. We meet with the police from time to time to find solutions to the problem. Maybe prayers will be the ultimate solution to the horror we find ourselves in. Some people blame it on joblessness. But are children in secondary schools qualified to take up appointments? Some of them are involved in this crime.”

A resident of Kiniun Ifa Street, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the area had become so charged that people now stayed indoors as early as 8 pm. He said it took a combined team of policemen from Ifako and Bariga divisions to disperse the rampaging gangs on Sunday evening.

“Many traders now close their shops once it is 7 pm to avoid being caught up in the violence. A man was killed on Sunday in front of a beer parlour. I also learnt that they (cult members) killed a rival group member in Odo Eran, Oworonshoki,” he added.

The Chairman, Kiniun Ifa Residents’ Forum, Mr Jagun Adebowale, urged the police to beef up security in the area. He lamented that most times, the hoodlums would have caused huge damage before police arrived the scene.

“The atmosphere is not friendly. What we have is graveyard peace. People ply their trade in panic,” the chairman added.

At Fogo Junction, some plain-cloth policemen were seen searching some men suspected to be cult members. They arrested a man and took him away in a Sienna car.

The Chairman, Somolu Central Taxi Park, beside Fogo Junction, Mr Ade Emmanuel, said he lost his phone while running to safety during the Wednesday clash. He stated that the hoodlums injured the slippers seller on the shoulder while she was dragging her bag with them.

He said, “On Sunday around 9 pm, there was outage. We suddenly saw those boys with cutlasses and they were shooting indiscriminately. They attacked an Igbo woman in her shop and collected money from her. The woman later died from injuries she sustained. They also injured another woman selling slippers.’’

The chairman expressed worry over the late response of the police to distress calls.

He said, “Most times, it is after they leave that police will come. And if some of them are arrested, they will be released some days after. We used to leave the park at 10 pm, but now we close at 7 pm.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said two persons died in the clashes, adding that 14 suspects had been arrested.

“We have restored normalcy to the communities and launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects,” he added.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/four-feared-killed-as-cultists-turn-lagos-communities-to-battlefields/

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned the general public to be careful of the consumption of animal hides, known as Ponmo.

A statement signed by the Director General (DG) of the agency, Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that most of those animal hides were meant for industrial use. Adeyeye added that some of the animal hides were pre-treated with industrial chemicals, which were not of food grade and were toxic and injurious to human health.

According to the her, investigations have revealed that some companies legally imported hides from countries like Lebanon and Turkey, while majority of the product were smuggled into the country through the porous borders.

“The Management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to alert the general public and in particular consumers of animal hides popularly known as Ponmo on the activities of some unscrupulous business men and traders. These imported animal hides are meant for industrial use by leather industries for the manufacturing of items such as shoes, bag, belt and others.

“Health hazards inherent in the consumption of such animal hides include risk of liver, kidney and heart damage, increased risk of Aplastic anaemia, central nervous system toxicity, cancer and many more,’’ she said.

The DG also said live stock farmers were also advised to note that industrial animal hides could not be used to manufacture animal feed.

“The associated chemicals will be stored in the tissues of these animals and will eventually end up in humans when consumed with the attendant effects. NAFDAC, therefore, encourage the general public to be vigilant and exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides, PONMO and indeed other food items’’ Adeyeye said in the statement.

She stated that NAFDAC was fully alive to its responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of processed foods offered for sale to the public.

“The agency has increased the tempo of targeted and aggressive routine and unannounced inspections to monitor activities of animal hide merchants.”

SOURCE: https://www.stelladimokokorkus.com/2019/07/nafdac-warns-against-consumption-of.html?m=1

The days of having children so they can take care of you in your old age are over, start planning your life now- Pastor warns parents

Popular Lagos pastor and founder of the Livingspring Chapel International church in Lagos, Femi Emmanuel, has warned parents to stop seeing their children as their social security for their old age. According to the pastor, the days of having children hoping that they will feed and take care of you in your old age are over as some children now cannot even feed themselves.

The pastor stated this while preaching in his church recently.

Preaching, he said

"The days of using your children as social security are over. That when they grow they would now be feeding me...Ah...they have not fed themselves. Those days are over. You better labour for what you will live on till the end of your life. You better set yourself right now. You better establish an outfit. You better build your life in such a way that if any child brings anything in your old age, the child brought it to receive blessing and not because you are hungry".

"The days of having children to take care of you in your old age are over, start planning your old age now- Lagos pastor warns parents".

SOURCE: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2019/7/the-days-of-having-children-so-they-can-take-care-of-you-in-your-old-age-are-over-start-planning-your-life-now-pastor-warns-parents-2.html

Bandits on Tuesday evening blocked the Ajebo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and kidnapped three persons.

The Chief Medical Director of the Lafia Hospital, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Oladipupo Sule, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday said his son, Kayode and two members of staff of the hospital were kidnapped during the attack. According to him, the kidnapped members of staff are Opeyemi Abifarin and Dele Adigun.

Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers blocked the road around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and abducted their victims. The hospital’s vehicle, a Toyota Sienna car, in which the victims were travelling as of the time of the incident, was abandoned by the kidnappers.

The CMD said the vehicle had been recovered by the policemen at the Ogunmakin Police Station in Ogun State. The family is still waiting for the kidnappers, who were said to be 15 in number, to contact the families of the victims.

Sule said, “I’m presently in Ogunmakin police station as I talk to you. I am distressed and seriously devastated. My son and two others went to Lagos to buy drugs for the hospital and were on the way back when they were ambushed and kidnapped. The driver said one of the kidnappers communicated in English and others were speaking in Hausa or the Fulani language. They have yet to talk to me for us to know what their real identities and intentions (are),” Sule added.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/updated-bandits-block-lagos-ibadan-road-kidnap-cmds-son-two-others/

The drive to bring Nigeria out of its environmental and energy problems received a major boost last week when budding innovators and inventors from 23 Nigerian tertiary institutions converged on Civic Centre, Lagos to compete and showcase their works. In what turned out to be a tough contest, the students laid bare the scientific processes for their inventions, seeking help to advance the projects.

For two days, chief executive officers, professionals and experts from different firms, pored over the works, interrogating the presenters and the project prospects. In the end, representatives of the Covenant University, Ota, emerged winners, beating their closest rival, Ahmadu Bello University, to second place.

By winning the competition organised by Enactus, a global non-profit organisation, Covenant University will represent Nigeria at the Enactus World Cup in San Jose, California, USA in September 2019. The panel of judges was impressed by the team’s PetCity and Toles, projects addressing environmental pollution while creating jobs for many.

According to the Covenant University team leader David Iyiola, PetCity focused on the reduction of plastics and nylon from the environment. The initiative is about collecting used plastic and nylon wastes, and turning them into sustainable building materials that are cost effective and durable for use. The group concentrated on interlocking bricks to address the problem of bad roads in the country, starting with their academic community.

“We started fully in May 2019 when we produced our first brick in the foundry, at the mechanical engineering department, where most of our production takes place. During this period, we also visited the civil engineering department to perform various tests on our bricks to see the level of durability. After concluding on the price of our innovative bricks and blocks, we laid the interlocking bricks at one of the Covenant University walkways,” he said.

However, the group had a challenge: their method could not produce a large number of the needed bricks daily. To resolve the problem, they decided to build a machine that could produce the bricks in large numbers. This further meant more people would be needed to lay the bricks.

“We decided to employ people and seek partnerships to scale our project. We are in talks with the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research for partnerships and sponsorship to produce 85,000 interlocking bricks for the repair of the Ota-Idiroko Road and also in touch with Pertinence Company to supply interlocking bricks for the conclusion of their real estate project at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos,” Iyiola said.

The team leader said the PetCity could reduce plastic waste in Lagos and Ogun states by 96 per cent in 2022, as over 19 million interlocking bricks had been projected for production by then.

The second project of the team, Toles, a social enterprise, focused on recycling used tyres into durable footwear. Iyiola said the project was to solve the problem of tetanus among children in rural communities. He noted that through the one-for-one business model, the group had produced over 3,922 footwear.

Representatives of the Ahmadu Bello University had a different idea of recycling plastic waste to solve the problems of environmental degradation and flooding. This was through conversion of the waste to wax and shoe polish to save the environment and promote well-being of community members. To create jobs, beneficiaries of the project were empowered to be involved in marketing, production and sales of the product, the team leader, Joseph Onaji said.

The team from Bayero University Kano invented Project Zazoo, an innovative solar-powered smart tricycle. The tricycle, which uses a PV solar panel, charging controller, DC motor, was built to aid mobility and create jobs for persons with disability. The team leader, Olumide Areo, said, “Compared to tricycles that are powered by fuel, Zazoo smart tricycle uses green energy and in situations of power breakage, the tricycle has an inbuilt manual drive that uses a simple handheld reciprocating motion, instead of the circular chain drive in conventional manual disabled tricycles,” the team said.

For the team from the University of Makurdi, Benue State, their prison entrepreneurship and reform project could equip prisoners with academic and agricultural skills that would help reintegrate them back to the society. Team Makurdi, according to the leader, Vincent Okeke, is interested in reducing recidivism to nil in Nigeria.

INTERVENTIONS IN POWER, ENERGY CONSERVATION
Our correspondent observed that while the main competition was on, some of the varsities also competed in sub-competitions sponsored by different companies. One of such was the energy challenge of the Sahara Group.

Students from the University of Port Harcourt milled around a device they called Terlux, a fuel-less and fumeless power-generating machine.The machine is made up of DC motor, coil, armature and DC battery. As the battery powers the motor, the motor is connected to the coil through a linkage made up of metal and rubber. This then turns the armature, thereby generating AC current, the team leader, Stephen Batombari, told The PUNCH.

According to him, the biggest strength of the machine is that it does not emit carbon. “You may ask if the battery will not run down too quickly. The answer is that we have an alternator inside the system which recharges the battery, like you have in a car. The only warning about this machine is that you must not exceed its power capacity,” he said.

The 300-level Mechanical Engineering student said Terlux could be used both indoors and outdoors.

Batombari, while insisting that it was high time Nigeria moved from combustible fuel to renewable energy, said the group fought setbacks and frustrations while building the machine.

The team from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, built what they termed the Quantum Energy System. Describing how the system works, the project leader, Obinma Philemon, said the machine’s projection was infinite.

“It starts off from a battery, which powers a motor. The motor is designed to work as an alternator armature. The motion of the alternator generates power. We have divided the output from the alternator to two sources: 240 and 12 volts. The 12volts is rectified by some network of circuits. The power from the rectifying circuits is fed back into the system to keep the battery recharged. This way, it maintains a circular motion while giving some amount of electricity. The whole idea is to eliminate the use of fuel,” the 400-level Surveying and Geoinformatic student said.

Philemon, who noted that he was inspired by the free energy works of Serbian-American inventor, Nicola Tesla, said his team had been working on the project since 2017. He explained that the result of the several improvements was the system, which he said he hoped could help Nigeria’s power need.

“Everybody has need for power. But not everybody can afford it. Not everybody has money to keep buying fuel or paying for regular servicing. These are the variables we have tried to eliminate with our free energy system. It does not have a fuel tank or exhaust. With the right investment, we can have this kind of systems in homes not connected to the power grid,” he added.

The team from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, had an energy conservation device they called the I-sense. The group’s leader, Abdultoheeb Ilori, said I-sense could save up to 40 per cent of energy being consumed in homes. Ilori, a 500-level student of Electrical Engineering, said the device comes with Wi-Fi modules, GSM modules and a central brain.

“If you have a phone, you can remotely control the lighting system of your home without an internet connection. You can switch off your lights, sockets, extensions after connecting the device to your distribution board. The production cost per unit is N19,350. We built it in one week. We are about 63 students who constructed it. If we were to supply people, it would take just two days to produce,” he said.

Students from the Kaduna Polytechnic also created what they described as a conservative light floss for the purpose of energy conservation. The team leader, Gibson Emmanuel, a final-year student of the Computer Engineering Department, said the device had 100 per cent efficiency in the reduction of power consumption.

He said, “The incandescent bulb uses 10 per cent of its energy for illumination and 90 per cent for heat. The compact florescent bulb uses only 45 to 50 per cent as light and the rest is wasted as heat.

“So, we came up with a means that has 100 per cent efficiency, so that you can light up your environment and not waste any iota of electricity. That is why we came up with the conservative light floss. It does not convert the energy to heat. It uses 90 per cent of its energy to illuminate and the remaining 10 per cent is used as heat. It is a similar to a 40 watts incandescent bulb.

“We are trying to curtail the amount of money spent on electricity bill. The conservative light flux is highly scalable, user-friendly, made from recyclable materials, waste spoons, compact disk and spoons. People can hang it on their walls or ceilings.” Emmanuel said the device was designed for small and medium scale enterprises to reduce the money spent on power.

The Tai Solarin College of Education developed the Project I-Power, a moveable kiosk through which students recharge their phones and laptops. The project leader, Mustapha Oluwatomilola, said his team assembled solar panel, battery, charge controller and an inverter to power the kiosk.

“It is to provide power for students to recharge their laptops and phones and also reduce students’ exposure to social vices. Your phone may get stolen while recharging it at a friend’s place and as a lady you could get raped in the process of recharging a phone at night. These are the stories we hear from our student affairs unit and we decided to solve the problem with this, which we have also turned to a business. We have a spot we use on the campus and we charge N50 per phone. We are trying to partner network providers so they can use our platforms for adverts. If they did this, students using their services would not pay to recharge,” he said.

Oluwatomilola said 45 to 50 per cent of profits from the project were channelled to providing power for Sagbokogi and Gbelejo, two communities in the Apapa area of Lagos that had not had power supply in more than 100 years. “We make over N44,000 in a month from this business. In three months, we raised the value we used in building a kiosk. We have lit up about 69 homes in the two island communities already and we hope to do more,” he said.

Our correspondent learnt that the energy projects would be taken to a lab for tests to determine their value and if the technologies were new or already in existence.

Judges who evaluated some of the works commended the initiative of the students, saying it showed that Nigeria had a great future ahead.

The Director, Business Process and Technology, Prime Atlantic Ltd, Foluso Gbadamosi, said, “The experience of having to challenge themselves to identify issues and problems and come up with creative and resourceful solutions will count a lot for many lives.”

A public affairs specialist with Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr Edidong Peters, described as impressive the “skills, talents and entrepreneurial spirit of the students. The students were very bold, confident and impressive. This is my first time judging and I am honestly very impressed,” said Chief Financial Officer, Transport Service Limited, Olusike Bamisebi.

The Chief Executive Officer, AfricanFarmer Food Chain Ltd, AfricanFarmer Mogaji, said the students were developing exceptional skills that would make them stand out in team work, decision-making, problem-solving and self-confidence.

The Country Director, Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, said with over 10 million Nigerian children reported to be out of school, it was important to make investments in intellect development and training that would help to leapfrog and accelerate the human capital development of the youth. He said such development was necessary if the country would transit from being a developing nation to becoming globally competitive and globally relevant.

ENACTUS, an acronym for Entrepreneurial ACTion US, is an international community of students, academic and business leaders who use entrepreneurial action to create a better world. The group, which is in 36 countries, including Nigeria, is active in over 1,730 tertiary institutions.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/nigerian-youths-turning-environmental-power-problems-into-opportunities/

Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja’s one-stop leisure, restaurant and retail destination, brought to the market by Actis, a leading emerging market investor, today announced an agreement with CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) to become the first solar-powered mall in Nigeria. Actis previously collaborated with CBE on implementing the largest solar carport in Africa at Garden City Mall in Nairobi.

CBE will finance the 600kW rooftop solar plant and will sell power to Jabi Lake Mall through an innovative 15-year Power Purchase Agreement. The power offers a cheaper energy alternative and will reduce the shopping centre’s CO2 emissions by over 13,000 tonnes.

Funke Okubadejo, Director of Real Estate and Head of Actis’ Nigeria office commented: “We were looking for a solar solution that could produce clean power for the mall and be a sustainable, self-sustaining alternative to grid and diesel. We are thrilled to partner with CBE to achieve this as we continue to encourage the integration of solar infrastructure across Nigeria. We hope that future generations of Nigerians can enjoy the serenity of one of Abuja’s remaining blue spaces and an important water harvest area.”

Femi Fadugba, Head of Business Development for CBE, stated: “We’ve reached a point in Nigeria where solar is transforming how businesses and everyday people are powering their lives. We’re incredibly proud to be supporting Actis in achieving its savings and sustainability goals with this landmark project.”

James Mittell, Principal in Actis’ Energy Investment Team, added: “Recognizing our responsibility to wider society is central to our business and embedded into our investment processes. Cheaper and cleaner power through solar provides an unmissable commercial and environmental opportunity and is fundamentally aligned to Actis’ belief that values drive value.”

Soventix will manage all engineering, procurement, and construction activities for the project, which is expected to create up to 30 new jobs. Support for the project has come from the Shell Foundation and the Solar Nigeria programme, an initiative implemented by Adam Smith International with funding from UK Aid.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/07/22/actis-jabi-lake-mall-to-become-nigeria-first-solar-powered-mall/

An indigenous Nigerian Company, Tamaidukka Group, known as TMDK, with interest in Real Estate development, oil and gas, and the agro-allied sector, has indicated interest to develop an agro-based industrial park which will use soya beans and cottonseed to produce vegetable oils for domestic/industrial use and export.

The Company’s Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman Leda, stated that the processing plant upon completion will have a daily processing capacity of 500 tonnes of both soya bean and cotton, adding that it will also produce 280 tonnes of animal feed.

He also revealed that the company’s plan is to create indigenous jobs by sourcing its raw materials from local farmers, this move alone will create up to 500 jobs directly and another five hundred indirectly, and will guarantee a reliable market for a hundred thousand farmers in Kaduna and neighboring states”

Leda further explained that they have decided to invest in Kaduna because of the unprecedented efforts of the administration of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai in the state that made Kaduna an investors' haven, and the favorable disposition of the government to attract industries that will not only create job opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers but also a sustainable market for the farm produce of many farmers”.

The Industrial park is to be located in Sobawa layout Rigachikum, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna State and is expected to fully commence operation by January 2020. The Kaduna State Government through its Investment and Promotions Agency, KADIPA, the state’s Urban Planning Development Agency KASUPDA and Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) have given all required approvals for the project.

The site measuring about 100,000 Square Meters was successfully handed over to the company (TMDK Industries) on Friday, 12th June 2019, and the company has already started deploying workers on-site for implementation of the project.

SOURCE (abridged/updated): https://brandspurng.com/2019/07/22/tmdk-group-to-invest-25m-in-agro-allied-industrial-park/

Indications have emerged that the country may reap bumper harvests of crops and allied farm products in the next harvest season. This follows cultivation of over 477,642.18 hectares of land across the states of the country by 416,835 farm families with rice, maize, soya bean, cassava, wheat, and cotton, the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme of the government office has revealed.

Other enterprises benefiting from the fund include poultry, fish farming, groundnuts, and soybeans, while tree crops, sesame, tomato, and livestock productions, which are currently on the drawing board, would be implemented soon.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, of Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Kabir Adamu, disclosed this at Umuahia, Abia State, during the inauguration ceremony of the 2019 farming season by the bank in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Abia State government.

Adamu, who was represented by the BOA Executive Director, Partnership/Strategy, Professor Gabriel Okenwa, said at the ceremony that BOA “has taken up the challenge to boost local production of food to revive the rural economy, reduce, if not eliminate, the country’s dependence on food imports and expand export earnings.” According to him, that was in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the government.

He said, “with the huge agricultural potential of over 84 million hectares of land, the abundant water bodies, all-year-round favorable conditions and a variety of agro-ecologies suitable for agriculture, Nigeria is positioned to feed its population and provide for export.”

The state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, described the inauguration as apt saying, “any state desiring development and sustainable growth must not ignore agriculture. Hence, such a state must embrace agriculture.” Abia State would take advantage of the BOA location to further boost its efforts in agriculture, he said, adding that “there is no crop that cannot do well in our soil. We have done 90 percent of what ought to be done in poultry cluster production which will engage over 10,000 youths when they come on stream.”

Meanwhile, to effectively regulate the market and make quality seeds more available to farmers, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has said it accredited 314 seed entrepreneurs of various categories across the country. It also created the seed inspectorate department, inaugurated seed inspectors nationwide, effected migration from visual diagnosis to scientific diagnosis, introduced a seed tracker, electronic authentication of seed quality and created farmers’ helplines.

These were made known by NASC Director-General, Dr Philips Ojo during a one-day sensitisation meeting with seed dealers and farmers in Umuahia, Abia State to educate stakeholders in the seed industry on the do’s and don’ts in seed businesses, check the sale of adulterated seeds to farmers and point out the basic distinguishing features between seeds and grains.

Ojo, who was represented by NASC Director of Seed Inspectorate Department, Mr. Agboola Adebayo, also explained that NASC is an agency with the mandate to regulate the seed market.

SOURCE: https://t.guardian.ng/features/farmers-cultivate-477642-hectares-as-nation-expects-high-yields/

Kwara State House of Assembly has revoked the acquisition of Alimi Chalet by the immediate past Senate President and former governor of the state, Dr Bukola Saraki. The revocation followed the voiding of the acquisition, valuation and certification of land title (Right of Occupancy) in respect of the chalet in the personal name of Dr Bukola Saraki for non-compliance with provisions of the Pensions Law 2010.

This was part of resolutions by the House, following presentation of the report of the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development by its chairman, Omotayo Awodiji, on the floor of the House. Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker, Yakubu Salihu, said the revocation became expedient to ensure an enduring end to all forms of illegalities and abnormalities to pave way for meaningful development of the state. The House then urged the state government to immediately explore every available legal process to recover the chalet from the former governor.

Awodiji had, while presenting his report, observed among other things that the Alimi Chalet was purposely built by the state government as a guest chalet for the sitting governors and not transferable as exit package for any outgoing governor while the chalet, according to him, does not fit into the recommendations of the Pension Law of 2010.

He, however, explained that the House was not probing former Senate President but mandated its standing committee to investigate ownership of Alimi Chalet.

SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/07/kwara-assembly-revokes-alimi-chalet-acquired-by-saraki/

See attached graphic....


SOURCE: NSE/Arthur Stevens Asset Management

A female passenger aboard a Turkey-bound flight has been fined a whopping $106,000 for attempting to open the door of an aircraft during flight, while threatening to kill everyone along with herself.

Several media outlets reported that the woman tried to open the aircraft’s door mid-flight and had shouted, “I’m going to kill everyone,” when passengers and cabin crew tried to subdue her. According to Daily Sabah, last June, the passenger was accused of severe misbehaviour on a Jet2 flight, bound for Turkey, that had to return to London’s Stansted Airport under escort of two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets.

The airline had accused Ms Chloe Haines of “aggressive, abusive and dangerous behaviour” on the flight. She was also banned from flying the airline for the rest of her life. The 25-year-old British woman was arrested by Essex Police when the plane landed and has since been free on bail, the medium has reported.

Ms. Haines was arrested on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and endangering an aircraft, and is scheduled to be in court on August 21.

The medium quotes Jet2’s CEO, Steve Heapy, as saying on Thursday that the airline will try to recover the costs incurred as a result of the diversion.

ARTICLE SOURCE: https://punchng.com/airline-bans-suicidal-passenger-for-life-fines-her-106000/

See her photos below...

39-year-old Kenechukwu Eze, a native of Amoli Edem in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Wednesday, said his gang members killed one Emmanuel Agundu because he withheld the N18m they realised from Internet fraud. The money was reportedly paid into his Nigerian bank account.

Agundu, who was the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Udenu branch, was shot on August 15, 2018, at Obollo-Afor in the Udenu Local Government Area of the state by unidentified gunmen around 7pm, but he survived the attack. However, on September 2, 2018, he was trailed to Uru-Uwani Edem in the Nsukka Local Government Area around 2pm and shot dead.

Although one of the gunmen was arrested and remanded in prison custody, Eze, a member of the five-man gang of Internet fraudsters based in Morocco, was apprehended on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, by the personnel of the Enugu State Police Command.

Parading the suspect at the state police headquarters alongside 18 others who were arrested across the state for various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, vandalism, cultisim, unlawful possession of firearms and murder, the state Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, said Eze was arrested with the help of credible intelligence, adding that the police had been tracking him since Agundu’s death. Balarabe said his arrest was part of the command’s efforts to rid the state of criminals.

“We are also striving towards reducing crime to its barest minimum through proactive measures without losing sight of the respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the CP stated.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro during the parade, Eze confessed that his group killed the legal practitioner, adding that the person who shot Agundu had been arrested and remanded in prison.

He said, “I didn’t know the lawyer in person, but one of our members brought him to join us in the business. His job was to supply a bank account to pay the money we realised into. So, we paid a total of N18m into the account he supplied and when we asked him to provide the money, he rebuffed us. Instead of making the money available for us to share according to our agreed formula, he started threatening to report the matter to security agents. That was why we decided to end it once and for all.

“I was arrested because of the death of that lawyer that we did a fraudulent transaction together. He spent N18m and was killed because of that. The person, who shot him, is already in prison. We were five in number; Emmanuel Ebonyi, one Valentine and his younger brother, Agundu and I.

“It was an online business ,but the barrister supplied the account that we paid into. We paid a total of N18m into his account and he kept all the money.”

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/we-killed-nba-chairman-for-withholding-n18m-internet-fraud-proceeds-suspect/

One of the clearest signs that Egypt is starting to reap the economic benefits of a currency float almost three years ago came last week. Nigeria, which took a different path when faced with similar problems, is still struggling.

Inflation in Egypt, Africa’s third-biggest economy, slowed to single digits for the first time since the pound was floated in late 2016. It had rocketed as high as 33% soon after. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s administration said a devaluation was needed to ease severe shortages of foreign exchange and get a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Though the decision was painful for Egyptians, it turned the Arab nation into a darling of bond and carry traders. And it set Egypt apart from Nigeria. Africa’s biggest oil producer was also suffering from a dollar squeeze, but opted instead to keep a tight grip on its currency via a system of multiple exchange rates and import restrictions. Foreign exchange is no longer scarce, though Nigeria’s inflation rate was 11.2% in June -- one of the highest levels on the continent -- and has been above the central bank’s target of 6% to 9% for four years. gypt's inflation fell below 10% for the first time since 2016.

EGYPT'S ECONOMY IS EXPANDING AT DOUBLE THE RATE OF NIGERIA'S
Egypt is also looking the healthier of the two in terms of economic growth. Its output will expand 5.5% in 2019, more than twice as much as Nigeria’s and the most among Middle Eastern nations, according to Bloomberg surveys of analysts. Portfolio flows into Egypt soared following the devaluation and the start of IMF-supported reforms, which included cutting subsidies that soaked up much of the budget. And it got more foreign direct investment last year than anywhere else in Africa, according to the United Nations.

Nigeria has attracted plenty of hot money by keeping bond yields high and pledging not to let the naira weaken, but FDI has plunged. The IMF says the Nigerian currency regime deters investors and hurts the economy, which is growing more slowly than the population. President Muhammadu Buhari argues it’s needed to boost local manufacturers and stop inflation accelerating.

Those hot-money flows and rising oil prices have caused Nigeria’s local and external bonds to perform solidly in 2019. But weak growth has turned investors off stocks. The main equity index in Lagos has lost 10% in dollar terms this year, one of the worst performances globally. Egyptian stocks have fallen along with others in emerging markets since April, but they’re still up 13% year-to-date. That’s partly down to the pound appreciating 8% against the greenback, a performance bettered only by the Russian ruble.


EGYPT'S ASSETS, ESPECIALLY STOCKS, ARE OUTPERFORMING NIGERIA'S
Political and security risks remain high in both countries, according to Bloomberg Country Risk Scores. Egypt’s risk has climbed since El-Sisi came to power in 2014. His administration is trying to quell an Islamic State-linked insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula and has jailed tens of thousands of political opponents. Lawmakers passed a constitutional change in April that allows for him to remain in office until 2030. In Nigeria, which is also battling Islamic State militants and experiencing deadly clashes between farmers and herders, political risk is deemed higher.
Egypt's getting riskier from a political perspective

Nigeria’s reserves have risen almost 9% since late last year to $45 billion. That gives central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele plenty of firepower to defend the naira, which Renaissance Capital estimates is about 20% overvalued. Still, stresses on the currency are rising, according to Citigroup Inc.’s Early Warning Signal Indexes. The opposite is happening with the pound. Analysts at Societe Generale SA said last week it could strengthen another 4% to 16 per dollar this year.
Stress on the pound is dropping and rising on the naira.

SOURCE: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-15/after-a-painful-float-egypt-reaps-benefits-while-nigeria-stalls?srnd=premium-africa

China will soon welcome Access Bank into its financial market, as the Nigerian bank is in search of a new market to penetrate. This consideration started after the bank’s United Kingdom subsidiary announced a 36% growth in its balance sheet for the year ended December 2018.

The Managing Director of Access Bank UK, Jamie Simmonds disclosed at the Access Bank Polo Day at Guards Polo Club Windsor, that the development to build a representative office in China is in the pipeline.

“We have offices here in the heart of the City of London, Dubai and Lagos and are building our presence in China through a representative office there.”

Apart from recording another success through its partnership with UNICEF by raising funds to support education projects in northern Nigeria, the bank in a statement noted that the 2018 witnessed its emergence as one of three key UK clearing systems. The bank said that the year also saw to its recognition as the best African Trade Finance Bank by both International Finance and CFI. This indicates another year of outstanding international business growth.

THE BIG DEAL
Reviewing the bank’s corporate activities for year 2018, its four strategic business units reportedly returned double digit growth. With only 2 years of operation in Dubai, a 200% increase in its income goes a long way to reflect promising market venture. While some banks struggle with non-performing loans, Access Bank UK boasts of zero ‘non performing loans’ throughout year 2018.

KEY DRIVER
As a community development-driven bank, its success can be linked to the key role played by its involvement in corporate responsibility and exemplary corporate governance. Commenting on the success formula of the bank, Simmonds attributed it to the managerial principles and banking philosophy which puts customers’ interest in the fore and recognises the need for staff development.

“We invest significantly in attracting, retaining and developing professional staff in order to ensure customers always deal with an expert who is familiar with their business and personal financial needs.”

Chairman of Access Bank UK, Herbert Wigwe, commending the progress recorded noted that, “The successes in completing the first decade of trading for Access Bank UK has been a major milestone. Growth has been sustained at the same time as earning a reputation for innovation and flexibility.”

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com

With criminality on the rise, a Lagosian has warned fellow residents about the activities of one chance robbers at Berger bus stop in Lagos.

SOURCE: https://www.classyupdate.com/avoid-entering-car-at-berger-lagosian-raises-alarm-over-one-chance-criminals-at-berger-bus-stop/

WHAT ARE HICCUPS?
Hiccups are brief and involuntary contractions (spasms) of the diaphragm muscle. When the muscle spasms, the vocal cords snap shut, producing the hiccup sound. They are medically known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter or singultus (SDF)

WHAT CAUSES HICCUPS?
Hiccups happen when a person's intake of air becomes momentarily blocked. It can happen for no apparent reason, but most commonly can be traced to the following causes:
-- eating too fast and swallowing air,
-- chewing gum, smoking,
-- eating or drinking too much,
-- abdominal surgery
-- strokes,
-- brain tumors,
-- damage to the vagus or phrenic nerve,
-- some medications,
-- noxious fumes,
-- anxiety and stress,
-- in babies, may be associated with crying, coughing, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

SHOULD I BE WORRIED WHEN I GET HICCUPS?
Most people have hiccups from time to time, and they usually resolve without treatment within a few minutes. Rarely, there may be prolonged or chronic hiccups, which can last a month or more. Hiccups that last over 2 months are known as intractable hiccups.

HOW DO I GET RID OF HICCUPS?
Home remedies to get rid of hiccups include
-- holding your breath,
-- drinking a glass of water quickly,
-- drinking a glass of water while blocking your ears,
-- having someone frighten or surprise you,
-- using smelling salts,
-- pulling hard on your tongue,
-- etc.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?
See a Doctor if hiccups
-- become frequent, chronic, and persistent (lasting more than 3 hours),
-- affect sleeping patterns,
-- interfere with eating,
-- cause reflux of food or vomiting,
-- occur with severe abdominal pain, fever, shortness of breath, spitting up blood, or feeling as if the throat is going to close up.

SOURCES: Various medical authors.

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A beer belly is a term often used to describe a large abdomen. In that connection, it mostly refers to men and usually suggests that the intake of alcohol, specifically beer, is responsible for the way the belly looks. Many distinctive types of research have been carried out which seem to suggest that other factors may add to the intake of beer to make this possible. The peculiar features associated with drinking large amounts of beer can be seen around the world. The tendency increases if you are a man and tending towards middle age and old age. This can also be observed in some women. However, there are also men, a lot of them, who do not take alcohol of any type, most especially beer but who go on to develop large bellies. The question that this essay will attempt to answer is why. This is of fundamental importance because not all beer drinkers have a pot belly.

Why alcohol intake is associated with a pot belly is often noted for the wrong reasons. People who take a lot of beer do not gain abdominal fat because of that per se but because they are consuming too many calories. Such calories can equally come from many other sources like sugary drinks, too much food and too many pastries. The drinks include sodas, fruit juices, chocolate drinks, sweetened yoghurt and ice cream. Pastries include cake, doughnuts, meat-pies and burgers.

These food types have certain things in common and these include refined sugar, lots of dairy condiments and various creams. This is not to mention the high sodium content and the lack of fiber in those foods. As a result, it is not necessarily the beer that causes the increases in the abdominal girth but the amount of calories consumed.
beer belly

The intake of alcohol may be associated with a larger waist-line because when a person takes alcohol, the liver will use such alcohol as a fuel rather than burn the fat. Beer is also blamed for this increase in calories so often because it is easy to take beer in excess. For those who are used to drinking beer, there is a desire to get high. A large amount of beer has to be taken to obtain the required high. This is because the alcoholic composition of a typical bottle of beer is so small at about 4-6 per cent that it needs to be taken in multiples to create the desired effect. Such a bottle usually contains about 150 calories of energy and if a man takes 4 bottles, he takes in about 600 calories. At any typical bar or party fried foods, small chops and chicken or turkey wings are available to boost the amount of calories consumed. So also is suya and asun or balango, all of which are certified sources of extra calories.

When an individual consumes more calories that they are able to burn, the excess is stored as fat. Where that fat is stored is dependent on age, hormones and gender. Among boys and girls, the storage of fat is of a similar pattern. With the onset of puberty all that would usually change. In adulthood, the differences are more evident. The women tend to have more fat under the skin than men do and so they generally store such in their arms, thighs and buttocks. A little also goes into the belly. As for men who have less of such fat, the bulk of it is stored in the belly. That kind of beer belly which results is usually more prominent in older people because they are less active, engage in much less exercise than among younger people and also have less need for calories as a result of advancing age. Maintaining the same pattern of food and drink consumption is therefore a certain way to gain weight. This is aided by the diminishing level of hormones occurring in both sexes as they age. This is so much more prominent therefore in the elderly.

In this article, we have seen what many carbonated drinks and fast foods contain. What does beer contain by comparison? It is an alcoholic beverage made from barley, wheat, sorghum, corn or rye. It is fermented with yeast and flavored with hops. Beer is brewed in five steps and these are:

1. Malting: In this stage, the grains are heated, dried and cracked.

2. Mashing: In this step, the grains are soaked in water to release the sugars they contain and this actually leads to the formation of sugary syrup.

3. Boiling: In this step of the process, the sugary fluid is boiled and hops are added to give the beer its flavour.

4. Fermentation: In this step of the process, yeast is added to the mixture and the sugary fluid is then fermented to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.

5. Bottling: The end product, now called a beer is poured into a bottle and left to age.

The strength of any beer depends on the amount of alcohol it contains and the usual alcoholic content ranges from four to six per cent. The more the alcoholic composition of any beer, the more calories it contains and the greater its potential for causing weight gain. The colour also varies from one type of beer to another. The main contents are carbohydrates and alcohol. Proteins form a minute part of beer and so are nutrients like sodium, potassium and magnesium. All these ions are important for carrying out various functions in the body but beer is a poor source of all of them. To get one’s daily requirement of these substances, huge amounts of beer would need to be consumed.

As a result of all these properties, beer is believed to be able to contribute to gaining a pot belly because it prevents the liver from burning fat. It also increases the volume of calories the body takes in. This is a major liability which many people do not realise because the amount of sugar in a bottle of beer is comparable to what is available in a bottle of soft drink. However, the regular intake of moderate quantities of beer which is termed to be anything from two to seven glasses a week at less than 500 milliliters per day, has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels.

It is believed to boost the blood levels of “good cholesterol” which is the high density cholesterol as opposed to the other fractions of cholesterol. However, with respect to beer, most studies have shown that drinking beer is linked to weight gain as well as increased abdominal girth and enhanced waist line. This makes it substantially different from red wine, a regular component of the Mediterranean diet.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/what-is-a-beer-belly/

A former Governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada (rtd) has joined the governorship race in the state. Wada in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday after collecting his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms said Kogi State was in a precarious situation.

Wada said, “The November election is critical to the survival of Kogi State. Kogi was on a part of progress as of the time I left and if I had spent four more years, with the kind of money that’s coming into the hands of this present governor, Kogi would have become a state that all of us would have been proud of.

“Many people have come out who want to contest as the governor of Kogi State in November election, but experience is key. Kogi is right now like quicksand, the more you wriggle, the deeper you sink. So if you bring a greenhorn, who has no proper knowledge of the workings of Kogi State, he will spend the first two years trying to find his feet.”

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/ex-kogi-gov-wada-joins-gov-race/

Kidnappings on some highways across the country have reached a crescendo. CHUKWUDI AKASIKE and SIMON UTEBOR capture the shocking stories of some victims of this vicious crime

ANGELA NKEREUWEM
Throughout the night of May 16, 2019, Angela Nkereuwem, a 21-year-old lady from Mbo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, diligently studied her Economics textbook in preparation for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination holding the following day. The next day being May 17, she woke up early to prepare her trip to a secondary school in Ikorodu, Lagos State–venue of the exam.

But what Nkereuwem did not realise was that trouble was lurking around the corner on that day. Having finished her paper around 2.30pm, she left for their home in an estate in Ikorodu. She mounted a commercial motorcycle. Not quite five minutes into their journey, a black tinted Sport Utility Vehicle with four occupants in the vehicle pulled through and overtook the bike.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, two men and a woman came out of the vehicle, seized her and used a handkerchief to clean her face. She lost consciousness. The motorcyclist who carried her to the spot was allowed to escape by the kidnappers, who appeared uninterested in doing anything to him. Nkereuwem said after her abductors used the hanky on her, she woke up the following day in the kidnappers’ hideout in a forest along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

"When I woke up, I noticed that the place I found myself was strange. I did not want to talk so that they wouldn't know I had woken up. When I looked around, I saw other ladies in a vegetative state in that place. I started praying within me that their evil machination would not work. As I was praying, an elderly man among them asked those who kidnapped me to bring me to the shrine. I was taken to a shrine in the forest. After making all the necessary incantations, the elderly man, who was like their witch doctor, became furious, saying my head refused the sacrifice.’’

The lady said she witnessed the killing of three females whose body parts were used for ritual purposes. According to her, it was where they kept her to be killed the next day that the woman who cooks for the kidnappers came to set her free. She said, “As they were eating, the cook secretly came and told me and another lady to go. She gave us the clothes we wore and N3,000 for transport fare. She directed us to where to take to get a vehicle plying Lagos on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.’’

Nkereuwem added, “Luckily for me and the other lady, we were able to find a vehicle going to Lagos. The vehicle took us to Ojota where some policemen came to take me to a police station in Gberigbe, Ikorodu while the other lady was taken to another part of Lagos. By the time we reached the police station, my uncle and wife were there waiting for me because we had been communicating since my escape from the kidnapper’s den. That was how I was rescued.”

JOSEPH OSAYOMORE
For a popular musician and social critic based in Benin City, Edo State, Mr Joseph Osayamore, he had yet to get over the experience of his abduction. After performing for the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, about a year ago, he was abducted along Ekewan Road in the ancient city by heavily armed kidnappers.

Narrating his ordeal, Osayamore said he was held captive for 30 days and 30 nights and served only garri once in a day for the period. Asked if he knew the motive behind his kidnap, the musician said his captors told him he was seized because he was rich and that he had the Benin monarch and governor of Edo State among his circle of friends.

The 70-year-old musician lamented that in spite of telling his abductors that he had an undisclosed ailment, they did not allow him to take his drugs, saying that they would beat him so hard that he would not forget in his lifetime. Osayamore stated, “I was coming from a function, dressed in my traditional regalia after performing for the Oba of Benin. They waylaid me on the way and fired sporadically into my car.

“They caught up with me. They came with seven motorcycles and were armed. They took me to a river. After some time, they took me to the high sea, threatening to drown me in it if I did not cooperate with them. In fact, I can’t describe the incident. They said I had money and some people told them I am a friend to Edo State governor and the Oba of Benin loves me too much and that I am rich. But where do I have such money? I do not know. They flogged me, slapped and forced me to tell my people or I would die. The experience was horrible.”

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO THE RESCUE
In Rivers State, the rate of kidnapping along some highways is no doubt on the increase, even as it appears security agencies are lost on how to tackle the situation. Commercial drivers plying major roads in Imo, Abia and Rivers have resorted to taking alternative routes, which are longer than going through the normal roads.

Charles Obinna is a commercial bus driver with Super Transport Company. He told SUNDAY PUNCH that most drivers working for the firm avoid Ubima Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area for fear of being attacked and abducted by hoodlums, whose aim is to collect ransom from victims’ family members.

Obinna said, “There is no place that is secure across the country. We, drivers, have experienced kidnapping along Ubima Road in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State. Personally, nothing will make me ply that road because of the rate of kidnappings there. One of our drivers, Gift, was kidnapped last year along Ubima Road and later killed. We rely on God when embarking on a journey.”

He explained that kidnapping had remained a national problem, recalling that Umuapu in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State had also recorded a high number of kidnappings.

Obinna said, “It is not only in Rivers State. In Umuapu, Ohaji/Egbema of Imo State, there is also a high level of kidnapping. Drivers going to Owerri have avoided that place and decided to ply distant, but safer routes. At Elele near Prisons, they were kidnapping in day time at a point, but when the police moved to the place, the bad boys only kidnap at night. None of us plies Ubima Road and the management of our company has instructed us not to ply certain roads, including Ubima Road.’’

Another commercial bus driver, Fred Agan, working with Nsikak Motors, narrated his encounter with kidnappers along Azumini Road in Abia State.

He said, “I was once kidnapped alongside my passengers in Azumini, a boundary between Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Immediately after I passed Afaghabong, I got to a corner and I saw a group of youths shooting at a vehicle. It was in the night; so, I saw the bullets flying out of their guns.

“At that point, I realised that they were not policemen because no policeman would shoot in such a manner. They came for me and kidnapped me and my passengers after taking our valuables from us. They released us after a day with them. I later got to know that they collected ransom from the passengers after holding them captive for 10 days in the bush.

“After that encounter with them, the management of our company directed that no driver should take that road again. Any driver that takes that road will be sacked. Now, we are still having a similar situation along Ogoni Road. Even on Tuesday, kidnappers tried to hold one of our drivers around that Ogoni Road at Tabba junction. But he escaped.”

Also, another inter-state commercial bus driver, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said he was in a kidnappers’ den for 12 days after his abductors took him and four passengers into the bush. He explained that two policemen; one inspector and a sergeant were among the four passengers abducted and taken into the bush during the incident that occurred at Omerelu in Ikwerre LGA.

Olanrewaju said, “Having an encounter with kidnappers is a bad experience. But I thank God I am alive today. On May 2, 2019, at Omerelu in Ikwerre, I was coming from Lagos and this happened after Ubima at 6.48am. All the kidnappers were in police uniform. When I saw them, I did not identify them as kidnappers because I thought they were policemen. Getting close to them, I brought out N100 to give them. What I heard from one of them was ‘shoot the driver’.

He stated that the gunmen seized his passengers, collected their ATM cards, got our PINs, went to the bank and withdrew money.

He stated, “From my account, they withdrew N580, 000 within the time I was in their captivity. I was released after 12 days. I thank God for the efforts of the then Rivers State Police Commissioner (Usman Belel). One of the policemen inside my car is based in Abuja and when the kidnappers began to ask for ransom, the policeman called Abuja and Abuja called the CP, who directed the IGP Monitoring Unit in Choba that came to our rescue. The IGP Monitoring Unit went to the kidnappers’ villages and scattered everything. The kidnappers then asked us to go. They told us that the police did not allow them to rest.”

On his part, an Assistant Manager with the Port Harcourt office of a popular transport company identified only as Michael, said the company had lost three of their drivers to kidnappers within the last two years. He said, “I don’t normally go with the drivers, but information from them indicated that they usually encounter kidnappers and armed robbers on the road. In May last year, they seized one of our buses, killed the driver and took the passengers into the bush.

“This happened between two police checkpoints and this has continued to baffle me till today. Some people, who saw how the incident happened, came back to inform the police, but they said they had no fuel. We have avoided the East-West Road and only take Elele to get to Warri. Kidnappers have killed three of our drivers, including Emma, a very hard-working driver murdered in May 2018. The security agencies should intensify the fight against kidnapping on our highways. Now, the drivers take longer routes to their destinations in order to avoid being attacked and kidnapped. Now, drivers spend four hours on the road on a journey that should take at least two hours.’’

An official of the Rivers State Transport Company, who preferred anonymity, said the company’s drivers deliberately avoided Omarelu Road, adding that Elele and Emohua had been completely avoided because of the viciousness of kidnappers and armed robbers along the roads. He said their drivers now plied alternative routes, which were longer.

HIGHWAYS OF HORROR
In Osun State, drivers plying the Ibadan-Ife Road now tread with caution as some vicious elements were said to have found pastime in waylaying passengers and motorists at strategic points on the route. There have been several security initiatives designed by the security forces to check the situation.

From the Niger Delta region and the South-East zone where kidnapping for ransom allegedly began, the violent crime is said to have permeated all the zones in the country, no thanks to banditry, armed robbers, cultism, herdsmen infiltration and the Boko Haram insurgents.

In the South-South, comprising states such as Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Bayelsa, some of the most dreaded roads in the zone are the East-West Road linking the zone to other parts of the country and Emohua-Elele-Alimini in Rivers. Others in Rivers include Isiokpo-Elele area of Port Harcourt-Owerri Road; Omagwa-Ubima, Elele-Ndele-Rumuji-Emohua-Choba among others.

In Delta, the roads said to be giving travellers and motorists headaches are Agbor-Obiaruku-Abraka-Warri, Umutu-Urhonigbe, Edo-Ogwashi-Otulu-Atuma-Akwukwu Igbo, Ebu-Ukala-Onicha-Olona, Issele-Ukwu –Otulu, Issele-Uku–Onicha-Olona.

In Katsina, the roads considered as hotspots for kidnappers are Jubia-Gurbi-Kaura Namoda; Dutsinma-Kanka Sheme-Faskari; Charanchi-Kankia-Kusada; and Dutsinma-Funtua, among others.

In Kaduna State, roads such as Minna-Lambata-Dikko-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja, Birin-Gwari-Kaduna, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos are said to be travellers’ and motorists’ nightmares.

In Niger, Zamfara and Sokoto states, highways such as Suleja-Lambara, Bida Road, Gusau-Mafami-Dansadau, Zurmi-Jibia-Katsina, Talata-Marafa-Tsafe are considered havens for kidnappers and other violent criminals.

In the South-East states, roads such as Enugu-Ugwogo-Nsukka, Nsukka-Adani-Onitsha, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt; Ebonyi; Enugu-Abakaliki, Abakaliki-Afikpo, Amasiri-Okigwe and Amasiri-Okigwe, have their woes of tales from both travellers and motorists.

In Osun and Ekiti states, affected roads are Esa-Oke junction, Iwaraja-Efon-Alaaye, Ilesha-Oshogbo, Ilesha-Akure.

In Ondo, Akure-Ijare, Akure-Owo-Oba-Akoko, Ondo-Ore, Ondo-Akure, Akure-Benin are affected, while in Ogun State, Siun-Ogere, Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta-Lagos, Ilaro-Owode-Idi Iroko, and Ijebu-Igbo-Oru-Awa have their own share of the nefarious activities.

Highways such as Ife-Ibadan, Ilorin-Ogbomoso, among others, are those affected in Oyo State, while in Lagos State, roads such as Lagos-Badagry, Lagos-Ibadan, Epe Expressway, old Lagos-Ibadan road linking Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State are said to be the most dreaded roads in the state.

Most of the highways are either riddled with potholes or repair works on them have been abandoned. This situation makes it easy for hoodlums to attack their victims.

HARVEST OF ARRESTS, ARMS RECOVERY
The police authorities say they are not resting on their laurels in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country. They noted that their continued battle against the menace had culminated in arrests of kidnappers and recovery of weapons of different kinds.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said that in last three months, the police had arrested over 2,464 kidnappers and recovered 1,341 arms. Also recovered during the period, according to Mba, are 10,860 rounds of ammunition, two rocket launchers and 240 vehicles used by the hoodlums.

The police spokesman said operatives had rescued 118 kidnap victims including a Syrian national in Akwa Ibom, four Chinese nationals and an employee of Channels Television. He also said the police rescued Chairman of Universal Basic Education and his daughter, three Lebanese nationals in Rivers State, an in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari and District Head of Daura, Katsina State, among others.

Mba said those arrested out of the 2,464 kidnap suspects apprehended included Mallam Abubakar, aka Spiritual Father, an international arms dealer, abductors of UBEC chairman and Senior Esther, a nursing mother with AK 47 rifle. He said recently, the police dismantled an international arms smuggling syndicate that brought weapons into Nigeria from North Africa.

He stated, “Sometimes, that syndicate passes through Burkina Faso, Ghana and Benin Republic into Nigeria. We arrested the kingpin of that gang in Shaki, Oyo State and we recovered from just one gang 6,000 rounds of Ak47 ammunition, 22 Ak47 rifles. This is what we are doing – dismantling those arms smuggling syndicates and mopping up illicit arms in circulation. We also take the fight to the kidnappers’ den. Of course, our strengthened intelligence and collaboration with members of the community are all yielding massive results.’’

The police spokesman said the force leadership on April 9, 2019, inaugurated Operation Puff Adder. He said since the launch of OPA, the police had been able to rejig their anti-kidnapping operations and retool their strategies. He expressed confidence that as of today, across the country, it was no longer business as usual.

Mba said, “We have been able to foil many kidnap attempts before kidnappers were able to execute their plots. A typical example was a plot by some kidnappers in the South-West who had links with other kidnappers in the creeks. It was through our intelligence platform and not only did we successfully arrest the lady with the weapons, we also rounded up their gang members — both the ones in Ondo and Ogun states.

“If that plot had succeeded, the person they were trying to kidnap in Ogun State is a high profile Nigerian that would have shaken the South-West. In many other places, we have equally done the same thing.’’

NIGERIANS LIVING IN FEAR –SOCIOLOGIST, ACTIVIST
A sociologist, Dr Adisa Lateef, opined that Nigerians were currently living in fear and mutual suspicion because of the menace. Lateef, who is the Acting Head of Department, Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, identified lack of youth employment, lucrative nature of the illicit business and other societal ills as responsible for the rising cases of kidnapping.

He said the situation had grown so bad that some persons planned their own kidnapping to make money. Lateef stated, “People are living in fear now. If somebody could plan to kidnap himself in the name of trying to make money, no matter how close anybody is, even among one’s relations, you can find one or two persons that may plan one’s kidnap to make money.

“But whether that is perpetrated by a known person or a total stranger, what it has created in the minds of the people now is that people live in fear and when that occurs, it will not even be well for any society because we need to be able to enjoy free movement to promote trading and other economic activities.”

He said his wife used to be on the road until 9 pm, noting that even before he advised her, she had seen the reason to exercise caution in the meantime. The lecturer advised relevant authorities to find ways of making people avoid falling victim to kidnappers. He also said one needed to be mindful of information provided to other people, noting that many people ran themselves into problems through careless sharing of information.

The don said, “With the social media now in vogue, many people carelessly advertise their whereabouts so much so that even things that should be kept within home or family secrets are exposed unnecessarily. When one is naked before the entire world, one can easily fall victim. Therefore, I advise that people should take information management seriously.’’

Besides, Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Jackson Omenazu, stated that the situation had made Nigeria a hell on earth. He said the Federal Government should overhaul the country’s security architecture and make life uncomfortable for kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers.

Omenazu said, “The level of insecurity is high and this has made the country a hell on earth. The truth is that we have not got it right as far as the security of lives and property is concerned. Also, we need to see infrastructure, industries springing up everywhere because this is the only way we can create employment for our teeming unemployed youth.

“A country that has more than 60% of its youth belonging to the unemployed cadre is a combustible society. Today, people are afraid to buy sophisticated cars; they are afraid to build big houses and also wear designers’ clothes not to attract kidnappers. How can a country continue like this?

He, however, called on the judiciary to also fast-track the administration of justice on kidnap and armed robbery cases, adding that doing so would ensure maximum punishment for kidnappers and armed robbers.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/chilling-experiences-of-motorists-travellers-on-kidnapper-prone-highways/