A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
By Rufus Ike The Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma and the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro have cautioned the All Progressive Congress (APC) led Federal Government to leave the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu alone or risk worsened agitation for secession and mass protest.
They spoke separately while fielding questions from newsmen at the town hall meeting organised by the Federal Government at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel on Monday.
On his part, the Archbishop regretted that the APC-led Federal Government had preoccupied itself with Ekweremadu's removal and National Assembly politics while national challenges were worsening.
He said: "What we are saying is that APC should not be afraid of Ekweremadu, Ekweremadu is a very simple developing senator and out of all the Senators in the South East, Ekweremadu is the most, I must say, loved, hard-working senator that APC can make use of to develop Nigeria.
"Ekweremadu should be left alone to do his work. He has been elected constitutionally as Deputy Senate President and nobody can remove him there. If they do that, it means that this government doesn't want the Igbos, then you are calling for its secession from Nigeria because that is the high ranking position we have and we are all behind him and he has been performing, and he should be left to perform.
Also speaking, the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro declared that “the plot by some forces within the APC to remove Ekweremadu is a very dangerous dimension".
He warned that those pointing fingers at Ekweremadu were pushing the Igbos too far.
He emphasised: “Ekweremadu is not a product of the South-East but the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So, any attempt to remove him as the Deputy Senate President will be resisted by the Ohanaeze Youth Council. We will make this place very hot for any person, groups, or cabal that tried to remove Ekweremadu.
“We will match to the National Assembly straight away, occupy the place and resist any move by anybody within the government of Buhari to remove Ekweremadu. It won’t happen.”
The National Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Chris Onwuka , has condemned those campaigning against biotechnology in the country as he asked them to come up with scientific evidence to back their stance.
Speaking at a Stakeholders meeting in Abuja recently, he said “a group came and were telling us recently that biotechnology is not good. I asked them to show us scientific evidence but they could not,” he told other stakeholders.
“The truth is that without biotechnology we cannot feed ourselves. What we farmers need is more yield. We already have a regulatory agency just as there is NAFDAC. It is their job to tell us what is good and what is not good. They are capable,” he added.
Also at the meeting were representatives of the academia from all geopolitical zones of the country, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Consumer Protection Council, Genetics Society of Nigeria and the Nigeria Agricultural Society among others.
Mr. Chris Onwuka said “as the reality of a rapidly burgeoning population stares Nigeria in the face, the arguments for and against the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria as a potential solution to stem a likely food sufficiency crisis has been top on the agenda.
Onwuka said the unequal distribution of technology between the developed world and developing countries like Nigeria consistently make it unnecessary to compare their priorities with ours.
“By 2030, Nigeria’s population will have crossed 250 million. Without a technological intervention, and with continuous decrease in arable land due to urbanization, desertification and erosion, farmers’ yield are only going to decrease.
He added that the challenge before Nigeria is not just about volume of food being produced but also about its quality as well. “Nutritional efficiency is one of the hurdles we are not likely going to be able to overcome even in the medium to long term with conventional methods. Rural populations depend on a restricted number of staple foods because of their purchasing power and this keeps them excluded from a host of nutrients that are important to their physical health.
“These are some of the areas that companies like Monsanto and agricultural research institutes in the country are working to create nutrition enhanced seed varieties as well as seeds with drought and pest tolerance to help farmers maximize yields and ensure nutritional balance even for the poorest in our communities.
He added that for the most part, those against the adoption have driven their campaign mainly around calls for a reversal of the Act establishing the National Biosafety Management – an Act which the country spent almost a decade to pass into law- ostensibly as a means to halt the country’s biotechnology initiatives.
“Without an agency to regulate, every development in that direction will certainly be truncated. In addition to the NBMA, another entity that anti-GM campaigners have been cast into the role of an enemy is the America-based Agricultural company, Monsanto. ”
The farmer representative said sometimes it becomes difficult for people to separate the fight against biotechnology and the fight against Monsanto, “clearly, some of these campaigners actually do not even know that several research institutes across the country are seriously engaged in biotechnology research and may soon have their own seeds in the market.
While noting that some of the campaigners are appealing to nationalist sentiments, Onwuka said some of the important details many of the campaigners here in Nigeria do not tell those they recruit to join them is that for instance on June 29 this year, 107 Nobel Laureates, out of whom only ten were not from the sciences, signed a petition against the anti-GMO campaign.
“That singular event marked a significant in the decades long call for a halting of agricultural biotechnology. In the letter addressed to the United Nations and world leaders, the Laureates described the campaign led mainly by Green Peace, the multi-million dollar organisation spearheading most of the global efforts against GMOs, “…a crime against humanity”.
“It will be hard for all 107 to stake reputations they had built over decades for a technology which they were not sure was tested to meet all standards.
He added “their position is following series of denouncements of the anti-GM movement by former key figures from within Greenpeace itself.
A case in point is that of Patrick Moore, a founding member of Greenpeace, who served for nine years as President of Greenpeace Canada and seven years as a Director of Greenpeace International.
“He has been a leader in the international environmental field for over 30 years. Over time, he has come to realize that the facts did not support many of the opposition campaigns he had worked on through Greenpeace and is now a staunch supporter of agricultural biotechnology.
Onwuka said another case is that of Stephen Tindale, who was for six years the head of Greenpeace UK. In his words, “The reason I’ve decided to speak out on GM now is because I think it is necessary for people like me who’ve opposed it to say things have changed… The overwhelming majority of scientists think that it is safe. It is, in my view, morally unacceptable to stand out against these new technologies.”
Whilst they are quick to make reference to the report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which described Glyphosate (a chemical used against weeds in GM farms) as a “probable” carcinogen, they never get around to mentioning that the IARC is only one of 4 (four) WHO programmes that are concerned with chemicals and cancer research and is the only one out of the four to classify glyphosate as such.
As a matter of fact, a joint Food & Agricultural Organisation and WHO issued in May 2016 clearly stated that "glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet."
As a matter of fact, several reports issued after the IARC reports, notable among which are those from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (2015); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (October 2015); The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Nov 2015; and Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency, April 2015 all agree on glyphosate’s safety.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of buying PVCs from voters in different parts of the state with a view to rigging the September 10 Governorship election in the state.
Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Monday, Oshiomhole said anyone caught in the illegality will be prosecuted and jailed if found guilty.
According to him, "They are going round, collecting PVCs and dropping lies, please don't sell your PVCs. Poverty cannot be cured with a dash, it has to be fought on a systematic basis.
"In Agenebode, they are buying PVCs, they will say bring it, we will give you N5,000. Ask them, if they sweat to make the money, will they use it to buy PVC?
"Don't allow them, after impoverishing you, they take N5,000 and stop you from voting. I've told the security agencies to monitor, when we catch them they will be prosecuted and jailed, but please, N5,000 will not bail anyone out of poverty."
The Governor said "when we say the PDP, you actually buried it, we only announced it, and they will remain politically dead. They died in sin, they undermined the people, looted the treasury, failed all the questions and they breached all 10 commandments of development, so they died in sin and shall never resurrect in our lifetime.
"I hear them say Change the change, the dead cannot change the living because they are dead politically, they cannot change us who are politically living. So it's a futile slogan.
He said the PDP ruined the nation's economy in 16 years. According to him "On May 29, 1999, when the PDP took over the reins of the Federal Government, the official rate of naira was N21.90 to $1, by the time they were chased out of power, the naira was already exchanging for close to N200."
We have written our own development testimonial in our own ink and they have written the testimonial of their failure in their own ink."
Candidate of the APC, Mr Godwin Obaseki said the Edo progress cannot be put on the reverse by the PDP, adding "we will continue with what Oshiomhole has started; he has built roads, schools, hospitals, so we will continue with the next phase with human capital development."
He said the Leventis Farm which has been shut for a long time now will be re-opened and will provide over 10,000 jobs for youths of the area.
He hailed Governor Adams Oshiomhole for establishing the Edo
University in Iyamho, saying the university which is world-class will be appreciated by people of the state in the next 20 years.
Over 2,000 people led by Hon Peter Iyhu decamped to the APC from the PDP at the rally.
By Nwabueze Okonkwos ONITSHA – The Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Biafra Independence Movement/Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, BIM/MASSOB declared yesterday that the condition of Ndigbo in the country have gradually being elevated from second to third class citizens to the extent that they have now become endangered species and as such could be prevented from occupying any public office in Nigeria in future.
In a statement issued to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra state, by Biafra Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha shortly after their monthly meeting at Ojukwu memorial Library (Auditorium), in new Owerri, Imo state, BIM/MASSOB expressed concern that Ndigbo are still being treated as inferior subjects and looked at with scornful eyes, adding that Igbo citizens have remained prime targets in every violence across the country with little or no intervention from federal government.
Mocha who described the condition Ndigbo are facing in Nigeria today as worrisome, further stated that Igbo citizens had even been relegated to the background in the unworkable contraption called Nigeria.
BIM/MASSOB specifically cited the gruesome murders of Ndigbo in recent times without any provocation in some Northern states by muslim extremists as examples, adding, “we have been massacred in the north, our women raped and abducted by armed Fulani herdsmen in our local communities”.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) is partnering with France in training and equipment support for its personnel for effective service delivery. This is contained in a statement issued by the Corps spokesperson, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, on Monday in Abuja.
The statement said that the Commandant-General of the corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, made the declaration during a visit to his office by GERARD Le MER , the Interior Security Attache at the France Embassy. According to the corps commandant, the partnership will help to enhance the performance of the Corps in discharging its mandate in disaster management.
He said it would also help to reposition the Private Guards Companies to assist the NSCDC and other Security Agencies on information gathering at the grassroots level. Muhammadu also told the visitor that the corps was set to to bring back normalcy to the North-East by taking over the liberated areas and providing security at the IDPs camps, especially at the entry and exit points.
According to him, the move is made in order to make the people restore confidence and feel government presence in the area. The commandant-general said that the corps, apart from involving in the protection of lives and property, is the leading agency in the protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Assets in Nigeria.
He also said that the Corps had recorded significant achievements in curbing acts of vandalism, bunkering and stemming the tide of illegal refineries since its establishment. According to Muhammadu, the Corps as a critical stakeholder in disaster management, has already deployed 2,300 personnel to the North-East, while 2,700 shall be joining them soon.
According to him, all these security measures are being put in place to re-assure the victims of insurgency that peace has returned to their communities and that they are free to return home. Responding, Le MER said the embassy was poised to collaborate with the Corps in the area of training and intelligence information sharing.
He said that as the Interior Security Attache at the embassy he was pleased with the role of the NSCDC in the protection of Critical Infrastructure. According to him, the Corps needs to be supported with modern technologies for effective monitoring and operation.
Abuja – Sub-contractors handling projects at the housing estate being constructed by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) have urged the union to settle their outstanding liabilities of N177.1 million.
The spokesman of the sub-contractors, Obinna Okoli, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The sub-contractors were hired by the main contractor, Brooke Moore International Ltd. in 2011 to handle various work ranging from electrical installations to plumbing at PENGASSAN’s housing estate, Lakogoma, Abuja.
He said that soon after commencing the work, the union told them that it had taken over the work from the main contractor and would henceforth deal with them directly.
He said since then only two payments were made to them in 2011 and 2012 after which everything stopped.
Okoli said in February 2014, the union, through its representative, one Hassan, conducted a verification to ascertain the level of work done by each sub-contractor.
He said the union promised that it would pay them off to enable it take over the remaining work.
He said the union, however, went ahead to settle their claims in installments, adding that after the first payment in March 2014, it reneged on its promise.
“We have not received any payment since 2014 and some of us have been going through difficulties as they borrowed the money to do the work,” Okoli said.
The spokesman said they had written several letters to the former and present executives of the union but were yet to get any response.
“We even engaged a lawyer who gave them a 10-day ultimatum but nothing was heard.”
He appealed to the executive of the union to settle the liabilities to save the contractors from further hardship.
“ We still have an outstanding payment of over N177.1 million to be paid by PENGASAN.”
Obinna said they were determined to pursue their claims, stressing that the sub-contractors would go to court if the union failed to settle the money.
When NAN contacted PENGASSAN's President, Mr Francis Johnson, he said he was aware of the case.
“I am aware of the case but I will get back to you when I go through their letter.''
Abuja – The Federal Government and Global Steel have signed an agreement for the resuscitation of the Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company (NIRONCO), Itakpe.
The signing of the agreement, which took at the State House, Abuja on Monday, is aimed at revamping the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi state.
Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals signed on behalf of the Federal Government while Mr Pramod Mittal, Chairman of Global Steel, signed on behalf of the company.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided over the event, urged the parties to stick to the terms of the agreement in order to achieve the objective of revamping the Itakpe and Ajaokuta companies within the agreed time.
“There are specific agreements that have been reached; there are specific conditions that have to be met and there are time lines which have been set in the agreements.
“I think it is very important that we keep to those timelines, and that we observe those agreements as faithfully as possible.
“There is no question at all that there might be situations where there might be slip offs of one kind or the other.
“But I hope that we might be able to accommodate each other in the spirit of the mediation and ensure that we keep the objective in sight.
“Which is, to make sure that this concession works and that eventually we are able to free up Ajaokuta for business as quickly as possible.''
The vice president noted that the signing of the agreement was unique which informed the presence of the media and other stakeholders.
“We are reasonably familiar with the history of all of what we have experienced with Ajaokuta and the iron mining corporation as well.
“It is very clear that this is one of those terrible failures of just basically getting things done over the years.
“I think that somehow or the other we let the ball drop so many years ago and somehow, we couldn't get this back on track.
“Unfortunately, it has cost us a lot; the fact that we had an Ajaokuta Steel for so long and we had the iron mining company for so long and yet produced absolutely nothing is by itself a tragedy of immense proportions,'' he said.
Osinbajo, however, noted that it was a good thing that the country is now able to recover from all that and move towards getting things right.
He stated that everybody in Nigeria keeps talking about what the nation can do with steel, adding that it was “so obvious that steel is such an important requirement and we spent so much on it.
“This is possibly the first concrete step towards ensuring that all of our complaints are dealt with and that we are able to, not too long from now, produce our own steel.
“So that we can save ourselves some foreign exchange and create jobs and opportunities for local investments and local individuals who would be interested in working with us on steel.''
The vice president said that parties should not only congratulate themselves for the feat but also hold themselves to account in the next few months, which according to him would be absolutely critical.
He thanked Global Steel for being a useful partner in getting things done.
Osinbajo expressed optimism that the present administration would work closely with Mittal to ensure that both the iron ore mining company and Ajaokuta Steel operated efficiently.
Fayemi had recalled that in 2008, the Umaru Yar'Adua administration revoked the Itakpe resuscitation contract that was concessioned to Global Steel by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2005.
The concessioning was to last 10 year.
He added that since the contract was revoked, both parties had been in arbitration and later went into mediation, which result is the current agreement signing.
The minister said the determination of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to diversify the economy ignited the effort to ensure that Itape and Ajokuta came alive again.
According to him, the agreement to return the Iron Ore Mining Company to Global Steel was reached in London in June to enable it to complete its concession and ensure that Ajaokuta reverts back to the federal government.
Fayemi said that in executing the agreement other areas such as the rail transportation and ports issues would be addressed by the Ministry of Transportation.
He said that the Iron Ore Company was the core supplier of raw materials for major steel companies in the country and that government had spent $3.3 billion to import steel products since.
He said there was enough iron ore deposit to sustain the local needs, especially the Ajaokuta and Delta steel company, Aladja, and thanked the Vice President for presiding over the execution agreement.
“It is our expectation that at the end of the review that is going to follow this execution we would have brought the Nigeria Iron Mining company back into full functioning.
“And also start the process of retaking the Ajaokuta plant and then putting it out to interested bidders who are already showing keen interest in its resuscitation,'' he said.
He said the process would move the country from being a minerals nation to a mining nation and enable the country to process and add value to the mineral resources before exportation.
Mittal in a speech said that his company started operations in the country in 2004 with determination to produce steel for the country.
He said the process was long but it was important that the steel sector was developed fast to speed up other types of development in the country.
He said the company was poised to produce three million tons of steel in three years but added that for effectiveness the company would need rail, gas and power supplies.
Mr Howard Richardson, the mediator, said that the mediation gave the best opportunity for wisdom and common sense to prevail and to give the steel industry in the country the best of all possible starts in the future.
Lagos – The University of Lagos on Monday says it will go ahead with its screening of prospective candidates for admission into the 2016/2017 academic session as scheduled.
The institution's Deputy Registrar, (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, said this in an interview in Lagos.
Adebule gave the university's position against the backdrop of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) withdrawing the list of recommended candidates for admission, earlier sent to the various universities.
JAMB in the statement signed by its Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated that the withdrawal was to ensure that the senate of each of the universities performs its statutory functions.
NAN reports that UNILAG had, last month, announced that it would begin screening candidates, who chose the institution as their first choice with a cut-off point of 200 and above, between Wednesday Aug. 3, 2016 and Aug. 24, 2016.
?“We want to inform the public that our screening, for candidates that will be admitted for the 2016/17 academic session, will still hold scheduled from Aug. 3, 2016 to Aug. 24, 2016.
“It is true that JAMB had sent a list to us, which it had considered as those who met our cut-off point.
“It is this same list that it had withdrawn to allow the universities carry out their admission process as required by the law setting up their senates.
“There are statutory functions meant for all university senates, among which admissions is part one.
“It is only after selecting the candidates for admission that the senate refers the list to JAMB for confirmation in line with the admission criteria of merit, catchment and educationally disadvantaged states.
“And so, it is only proper for JAMB to have taken this step, realising that it had taken over the job of the universities' senates,'' he told NAN.
Adebule, however, added that the withdrawal of the list did not interfere with UNILAG's proposed plan to screen its candidates.
He reiterated that candidates would be screened based on the authenticity of their results and their course combination.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday ordained a total of 8,151 persons to assist the mission to administer the fast growing church. The figure is 19 short of the 9,170 persons that were ordained last year.
The newly ordained 4,412 deacons and 3,739 deaconesses were admonished to give priority to the Word of God and pray in their individual lives and ministry for them to do exploits in their various calling.
President/founder of Doulos Ministries, Pastor Charles Achonwa made the appeal in a sermon while admonishing the newly ordained ministers during the ongoing 64th annual Convention of RCCG, at the Redemption Camp, Kilometer 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Speaking on a topic titled: “Thy Word is settled”, Pastor Achonwa explained that for any minister of God to enjoy the fullness of God, he/she must allow the Word of God to change their attitude, lifestyle and also activate it in their individual lives.
Decrying the decrease in preaching the genuine Word of God and making of disciples among Christians, Achonwa called on the newly ordained ministers to live up to their responsibilities by preaching true Word of God which, according to him, can grow into Christ disciples and make great impact in their ministerial assignments.
In his words: “The Word of God that is settled in heaven must be activated on earth. The word that created everything can be applied to change anything, arise and activate the Word. God’s word is so important that He has exalted it above His name”.
Warning the congregation against spiritual dormancy, the cleric said active word of God brings deliverance, victory over sin, flesh and devil, adding that genuine men of God dominate through the spoken word of God.
“If you stir up the word in your heart as burning fire, it will burst from your mouth as living fire”, he said.
Bishop Seun Adeoye of Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministry (SGTM) Okinni, Osun State, who embarked on a one man protest in Osogbo against the Federal Government’s hike in fuel price from N87 to N145 has raised an alarm over the storming of his residence, yesterday, by heavily armed policemen.
File : One-man protester Bishop Adeoye
Bishop Adeoye in a statement on Monday, described the visit to his residence as unusual and uncalled for.
The one-time Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state noted that the police mission to his residence may not be unconnected with his critical assessment of policies of both the FG and that of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
He said: "I belong to a class of people who will not close their eyes to injustice and maladministration. I cannot withstand government's anti-democratic ethos in a society expected to treat its people equally. I cannot choose to be mute and deaf when people are hungry and dying because of bad economic policies.
"If saying the truth is an offence, I am ready to die for it. As I mentioned during my protest, things are becoming more difficult for Nigerians and our government appeared not to have answers to myriads of problems facing the nation. I said Nigeria is in chain and I have not been proved wrong.
"I was surprised to see six stern looking and fully armed policemen storm my house on Sunday morning. They claimed to have come from Zone XI Command looking for some miscreants. Only one of the policemen wore uniform while others were on vests bearing police and they didn't come with any police vehicle but a private car.
"First of all, there was no report of any threat to peace or crime in my area at Hallehuyah Estate and till now we haven't heard of any. Secondly, my house was not the only one in the neigbhourhood, yet mine was the only one visited.
"Although, I was not harassed by them but this mission to my house is still suspicious. Adequate report of this case is being made at appropriate quarters but I need to raise alarm. I cannot be afraid but I must not keep quiet as well" he stated.
Bishop Adeoye said he was unmindful of clandestine move by agents of the state against members of his group, the Civil Societies Coalition of Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) which had stood firmly behind the suspended Justice Folahanmi Oloyede and defended her before the National Judicial Commission (NJC) and has exposed the pathetic mis-governance in the state.
"It appears our hard-earned democracy is about to be jeopardized by those who contributed nothing to it but are fortunate to find themselves in the positions of authority.
"It will be sad if state security apparatus such as the Army, the Police, the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) and other paramilitary forces are being used as weapons of destruction by those in government against all their perceived enemies.
"Creating an atmosphere of fear is not the best for our democracy. We are granted certain rights in our constitution. If Nigerians are denied these rights, then, anarchy will be the order of the day. A little spark can cause a serious fire which can consume anyone", he added.
FORMER Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kano State, Abubakar Mahmoud, has emerged as the new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The new NBA President was elected at the 2016 National Elections held in Abuja, in contested election conducted through e-voting.
Mahmoud polled 3,055 votes to defeat Joe-Kyari Gadzama who polled 2,384 votes.
Abubakar-Mahmoud
The position of General Secretary was won by Mr. Olagunju Isiaka who polled 2,721 votes against Yamah Desmond who scored 2,510 votes.
Mr. Dajan Gal emerged as the first Vice President with 4,057 votes and Mr. Monday Ubani, second Vice President with 4,375 votes.
Olagunju Isiaka polled 2,721 votes to emerge General Secretary as against Yama Desmond who secured 2,510 votes.
Announcing the results in the early hours of Monday, the chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Mr. Ken Mozia (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) said both the first and second Vice Presidents emerged unopposed.
Ohagba Loe polled 2,402 votes to emerge first Assistant Secretary, while Balogun Oyeyemi emerged Legal Adviser with 3068 votes as against Onwuzuike Christopher who polled 2,043 votes.
The election was monitored by the Deputy Director, Legal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mariam Musa.
This is the first election conducted through electronic voting by the Nigerian Bar Association.
At the end of the E-voting process, the Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Ken Mozia announced the result while the outgoing President of the Association advised contestants who lost the election to shun acrimony.
The new NBA President, Mahmoud in his response promised that the new executive will hit the ground running once they are sworn in.
The new executives of the NBA are expected to be sworn on August 26, 2016 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has frowned at ministers of the gospel growing beards in the name of new fashion, just as he declared that as tough as things are in the nation today, “we are not owing anybody any salary.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye
“I don’t want to see any of my pastors looking like fellows from the training camps of Al-Qaeda,” he said, stating that any elderly person who cannot show the noble journey for the youths in terms of dressing is not worthy to be described as an elder.
According to him, the youths are young and they don’t know where they are going, but if you watch closely you will find that they don’t know where they are going, noting “they often look up to their fathers for direction but if a father himself does not know what he is doing then there something wrong.
“The youths don’t respect an elder that looks like them. You are supposed to be their guiding light after they have fooled around,” Adeboye stated, saying pastors should be clean shaven at all times and must not in any way grow beards that will portray them as persons of different persuasion.
He also decreed that anybody who brings tribalism into the church should either leave the church immediately or will soon die like Annanais and Sapphira.
In the same vein, he said no pastor has the church’s blessing to impose Yoruba songs as part of the church sevice in other parts of the country, emphasising the need for pastors in other parts of the country to encourage the locals to sing and rejoice in their local dialects.
The 74-year General Overseer also enjoined all pastors in the church to regularly do a medical check up to avoid unnecessary and sudden deaths that can be avoided if the proper thing is done.
Worried about various reports of arranged marriages among brethren some of which have been linked to various disruptions in several relationships, Pastor Adeboye also decreed that no RCCG pastor should be seen to be involved in arranging marriages among brethren in the church.
We recall that Pastor Adeboye has earlier counselled youths of the church on marriage, saying “don't ever marry outside the church and you have no reason to marry outside RCCG. The reason is that if you are both from the same church even when trouble comes it is easier for the pastors to handle it!
“Don't marry a girl simply because she can sing! In the choir there are some people that can sing but they are fallen angels! Marry a prayer warrior! If a girl cannot pray for one hour, don't marry her.
“Don't marry a girl who is lazy! Don't marry a girl who cannot cook, she needs to know how to do chores and cook because you cannot afford to be eating out all the time.
“Don't marry a girl who is worldly! If you do, you have carried what you'll worship for the rest of your life!” he advised.
The General Overseer also announced the establishment of an Investigation Committee to assist the mission on issues bordering on security.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the September 10 governorship election in Edo state would be conclusive.
Sam Olumekun, resident electoral commissioner (REC) in the state, gave the assurance in Benin on Monday during the commission's voter education implementation meeting.
"We want to assure the people that we are prepared to conduct a conclusive governorship election on September 10," he said.
INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu
Olumekun explained that inconclusive elections were not about INEC, and attributed them to incidents of violence and thuggery.
He said the meeting was to critically x-ray the effective ways to sustain voter education ahead of the election.
He added that elections and electioneering were difficult because politicians saw politics as a do-or-die thing.
"We thank God that the 2011 election was a watershed, while the 2015 got a global acceptance as credible," he said.
Participants at the meeting called for collaboration between INEC and critical stakeholders, including the media, civil society organisations, persons with disability, to ensure effective education of the electorate.
The ambition of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi for the chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has gotten a major boost as the Kogi, Nasarawa and Benue states chapters have vowed to work for his success at the National Convention billed for August 17, at Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
He received a carnival-like reception at Nasarawa where party faithfuls and delegates lined the popular Lafia-Jos road to receive him at the party’s secretariat.
Dokpesi was scheduled to visit Benue first on Monday before meeting delegates from Nasarawa state but he had to branch the Lafia secretariat as hundreds of party faithfuls lined up the street to welcome him.
Dokpesi
The chairman of PDP Nasarawa state and a former lawmaker, Hon. Francis Orogu, said Dokpesi has the best credentials to lead the party.
He urged Dokpesi to end impunity and imposition in the party which he attributed as the failure of the PDP in previous elections in the state.
“If there is hope for PDP, it is in Nasarawa. We have been shortchanged by the national body in the past. When you get there, don’t let impunity continue. These delegates are yours. You have more than any other candidates to give to this party and we will vote for you,” Orogu said.
Other speakers including former deputy governor, Prof. Onje Gyawado assured Dokpesi of their support at the national convention.
Earlier, during his visit to delegates in Kogi on Sunday, the women leader of PDP Kogi state, Chief Margaret Orebiyi, corroborated the party chairman, Hon. Sam Uhuotu, saying that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is already jittery over the credentials of the High Chief
Meanwhile, Dokpesi, assured the delegates that when elected into office, he will end the reign of imposition of candidates in the party.
“PDP was formed to be an umbrella to protect all of us from rain, sun but after our victory in 1999, our leaders abandoned the principles of our founding fathers, which made some people to leave and led us to where we are today. We must return to the vision of our founding fathers because the PDP of today is not the same as the party that was formed in 1998,” he said.
Dokpesi and his team made up of former Chief Whip of the Senate, Victor Kassim Oyofo; former Chef of Staff in Bauchi, Mallam Shehu Musa Gadam; Edo state PDP organizing secretary, Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe; former chairman of PDP Kaduna, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna and his Nasarawa counterpart, Chief Yunaha Iliya have visited 22 states.
Gov Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara warned that the state government “will deal decisively” with anyone caught desecrating the Holy Qur’an in the state.
Gov Yari
Yari made the declaration on Monday while addressing newsmen shortly after meeting with the state’s Council of Ulama Consultative Forum in Gusau.
He said the State House of Assembly would soon review its law number seven so that the culprits would be prosecuted under Shariah law if they were arrested.
He said those who committed the offence did so to perpetrate their evil machinations and called on the public to pray that such evil doers did not succeed in their mission.
The governor said the state had never experienced such situation especially since it launched the application of Shariah legal system in 2000.
He said the state government would investigate the motive behind the act which came to public knowledge during the last Ramadan fast.
He said while the state government would continue to encourage preaching against the act, it would also deploy security personnel to monitor possible places where the acts were carried out.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that mutilated pages of the Holy Qur’an were discovered in sewage in Gusau which attracted public outcry.
Abuja – A group, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), on Monday urged the three tiers of government to extend maternity leave to six months to enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children.
Mr Okonkwo Sunday, the Programme Manager, Partnership for Child and Family Health and CS-SUNN, made the observation at the commemoration of this year's World Breastfeeding Week in Abuja.
It is tagged: “Breastfeeding- A key to sustainable development''.
Sunday said that scaling up of breastfeeding practices to almost universal level was estimated to prevent 823,000 annual deaths of children below the age of two years in the country.
According to him, without the extension of maternity leave to six months and non-availability of crèche in working places, the possibility of mothers imbibing by such practices is not achievable.
He called on the legislative arm of government to ensure inclusiveness in funding for maternal, child and adolescent nutrition interventions, among others.
The official said that 37 per cent of Nigerians under-five were stunted, 29 per cent underweight and 18 per cent wasted, by the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
However, Sunday attributed the development to lack of breastfeeding and funds, among other factors.
He identified full implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) 2014-2019, as providing a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem of malnutrition.
Sunday recommended other ways to scale up the nation's nutrition status to include full and timely release of funds allocated for nutrition in this year's budget at the national and focal states.
These are Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. “The NSPAN is a key document to scale up of nutrition in Nigeria, if implemented.
“We appeal to the governments to provide budgetary allocation for its implementation in the 2017 budget, with emphasis on child and adolescent nutrition and timely release of funds.
“We urge the government to ensure adequate funding for nutrition interventions in the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education and at the national and state Primary Healthcare Development Agencies,'' Sunday said.
The future of Nigeria's economy seems to be getting brighter by day since President Muhammadu Buhari made the famous business trip to the People's Republic of China a few months back.
Many Nigerians have since expressed satisfaction over the success of the visit to China, which has yielded investments for Nigeria in excess of $6 billion.
The visit is said to have birthed several agreements and created potentials in different sectors of Nigerian economy, including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation. It was on this backdrop that some consummate private sector drivers who formed part of the trip tapped into opportunities provided by the tour sought to attract some conglomerates to invest in Nigeria.
Highlight of the trip was the business agreement sealed between an indigenous firm, the Urban Tech Engineering Limited and China CAMCE Engineering Company Limited in collaboration with DLK Engineering Limited. This deal has paid off as the China CAMCE Engineering Company Limited, has already given a nod to come into Nigerian market with zeal and commitment to invest huge amount running into several billions of US dollars in some selected areas of Nigeria's business life.
In fact, the firm has indicated its interest to get the largest chunk of her country's $60 billion funds, set outside to develop investments in Africa to invest in Nigeria. This huge money would be invested in projects under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, and Build Operate and Transfer, BOT, schemes without asking the government for a dime or contract sum.
China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd (CAMCE) an incorporated company affiliated to China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), has shown interest to participate in the areas of; Power, Railway, Oil and Gas, Housing, Agriculture, Mining , Healthcare and Road Construction, etc. CAMCE has successfully undertaken about a hundred large-scale international turn-key projects, complete equipment import and export projects and investment projects around the world over the past years. It is on this account that a delegation from China CAMCE Engineering Company Limited, led by Mr. Yu Tao, had recently paid a visit to Nigeria.
The CAMCE delegation while in the country, had undertaken a tour of three South Eastern states of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi as well as Delta State, where issues of business interests and areas were outlined. Principally, the visited states indicated serious interest in the commitment of CAMCE to partner with its Nigerian collaborators to make a difference in the life of the nation.
Speaking with Vanguard on the benefits of CAMCE's mission to Nigeria, the Secretary/Legal Adviser of Urban Tech engineering Limited, Barrister Andy Chinemelu Nwaizugbe recalled that the Nigerian team interfaced with the management of CAMCE in pursuance of the assuming Nigeria cooperation.
He said, "when we went to China during the time of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to China, we went to their head office and we had several meetings with them. And subsequently they sent a delegation to Nigeria. And that delegation was here for about six days. During the visits, the partnerships are mostly centred in the areas of power generation, natural resource exploitation.
The delegation, while in Ebonyi State, had useful discussions with the state authorities to invest in the areas of mining, Power, the Rice mills projects, Salt deposits, and gold mine, which the state is endowed with. Ebonyi state was interesting when the delegation visited the Rice Mill, where they used the hoarse to generate about 5 megawatts of electricity, which is scattered all over the state.
In Enugu State, the issue of coal to power generation top on agenda of business discussion the delegation held with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu. Governor Ugwuanyi made the delegation to understand that there were about 17 companies/industries that are moribund to which he was looking forward to resuscitating.
However, the number of megawatts of electricity expected from the coal to power initiative, according to the meeting would be determined by the quantity of the raw material available.
In the area of agriculture, it was also agreed the CAMCE establish Staple Crops Processing zone in Enugu State, which runs to Adani and Omowun in Anambra State and some parts of Kogi state, to an extent. Upon arrival, they have interfaced officially with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, with respect to the Staple Processing zone. UNIDO did the feasibility study on that.
It also met with the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbe and his Minister of State, Heineken Lokpobiri, who assured them of the Federal Government's commitment to grant them tax free haven and create a level playing ground for their business. After this, they also met with the team from Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC, where other investments that they could participate in were outlined, which essentially formed a summery of their visit.
While in Anambra, the delegation had useful discussions with Governor Willie Obiano and other relevant government agencies including the Anambra State Investment Protection Agency, ASIPA.
Governor Obiano accorded the delegation, accompanied by Nigerian partners warm reception, where issues of construction of power plants, transportation, a cargo airport which is supposed to be sited somewhere in Anam area of the state were discussed.
The Cargo Airport project is conceptualised to be the biggest cargo airport in the West Africa. It will also serve as a filling station for fuelling and gassed up for aircraft.
Also in Anambra State they talked about Agriculture partnering with the Agric ministry in terms of provision of heavy machinery equipment for mechanized farming. Delta state was another place the team struck a major breakthrough in its quest to conquer the Nigerian market. In Delta State, the discussion was on industrial park. The team met with the Commissioner for industry because the Governor was unavoidably absent.
They had useful discussion about building Industrial Park in the three of the Senatorial districts in the state. They also talked about stadium, Umunede Race Park, Petrochemical Plank, among others.
On the account of this positive beginning, Barr. Nwaizugbe declared that "This is one of the biggest Chinese companies that entered Nigerian market," adding, "They are coming with their money and to stay with us here".
"They are not here to look for money but only to get guarantee of safe business environment," he added.
On whether the Federal and state governments would give them the concession to do all these, the Company Secretary noted that, "I don't see why not." Barr. Nwaizugbe said the Federal Government is encouraging PPP and there is no money anywhere and the President has said "if you want to partner with Nigeria you must show consistency and passion for this government."
On his part, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Yu Tao, assured that CAMCE was storming Nigerian market for good, to light up entire business spheres in Nigeria just like it had done in other countries around the world.
Mr. Tao said the conglomerate was on mission to replicate innovations in engineering, investment and trade in Nigeria and as well determine to achieve a greater success here.
The Urban Tech Engineering Limited incorporated in 1999, has executed many contracts for the banking industry, ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs in the last 16 years of existence.
With offices in Santiago California, USA, the United Kingdom, UK, and Europe even as plans are on top gears to open the Chinese office. The firm which has a retired Director in the nation's civil services, Mr. Kingsley Agha as Managing Director/CEO, has also participated in consultancy services and oil and gas industries contracts.
Lagos – The new Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Abdul-Majid Ali, on Monday promised to deploy robust intelligence in tackling the rising crime and criminality in Lagos and Ogun States.
“My mission is to have modern, people-oriented and effective policing of the command through community/public relations and robust intelligence,'' Ali said on assumption of duty in Lagos.
The police chief also promised to mop up hoodlums in Ikorodu, Arepo, Igando, Ibafo and other adjoining areas.
“The command has zero tolerance for cultism and any officer that engages in hooliganism will be made to face the full wrath of the law,'' he added.
Ali said that the police high command had already given matching orders to Commissioners of Police to perfect strategies to root out criminals in their states.
“We are re-energising and strategising on ways to mop up the hoodlums.
“It is crystal clear that with the present security challenges in the zone, there is definite need for paradigm shift.
“There will be general overhauling of policing strategies and ideological perspectives in having effective security of lives and property in the zone,'' said the police chief.
He warned police officers and men against any unprofessional conduct.
Ali took over the Police Zone 2 Command from Mr Bala Hassan who has retired from the force.
Lagos – Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says the Federal Government is committed to ensuring every Nigerian has access to food within the next few years.
The minister gave the assurance during the factory tour of Erisco Foods Ltd., on Monday in Lagos.
He said, “The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that our economy recovers to a level where we can create jobs for our people, we can also rebuild our image as a great nation.Ogbonnaya Onu
“No great nation can be considered great if that country cannot feed its citizens. The government is determined to feed its citizens.
“The journey has started, it is not an easy journey, but I believe that by the grace of God we will achieve it.
“Many other countries have done so. China with 1.4 billion citizens feeds its citizens, so we do not have any reason whatsoever with a population of less than 200 million.
“We should be able to feed our own citizens.”
According to him, manufacturing most of our needs locally will assist the country to achieve food security and build a resilient economy against global economic shocks.
The minister said that the government was working assiduously by stimulating economic growth, adding that patronage of locally produced goods would ensure sustainable development.
He commended Erisco Foods, adding that its production would assist in job creation, waste reduction, poverty alleviation and diversification of the economy.
Mr Eric Umeofia, the Chief Executive Officer, Erisco Foods, urged the government to formulate policies that would enable indigenous manufacturers achieve its food sufficiency agenda.
Umeofia said that government’s agenda geared towards diversification of the economy through industrialisation would only be realised with favourable policy formulation and implementation.
According to him, the “Buy Made-in-Nigeria Product” slogan can only thrive with genuine patronage from Nigerians.
He urged the government to ban imported tomato paste to support local manufacturers.
He urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to improve its foreign exchange allocation to genuine manufacturers for purchase of raw materials and machinery acquisition.
Dr Gloria Elemo, Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), commended the technology and manufacturing methods adopted by Erisco Foods.
According to Elemo, I believe with the facility here we will soon be exporting tomato paste and not have it for local consumption alone.
Mr Dele Komolafe, the representative of the Association of Agricultural Products and Equipment Manufacturers in Nigeria, urged the government to support manufacturers' drive to industrialise the country.
He said, “We are of the firm belief that indigenous manufacturers should be given a chance to prove the capacity to feed the nation.
“Just like the former Prime Minister of Indian trusted Indians when he banned the importation of rice, tomato and other food items, we are trusting that our indigenous manufacturers will live up to expectation.
“He told Indians to eat food items available until they will be able to cultivate rice, tomato in the next farming season.
“Today, Indians are food sufficient.
“We, indigenous manufacturers, are very ready to meet all tomato needs in this country by December and begin to export by 2017 if our members get the required support from the government."
Lagos – A 28-year-old man, Modiu Diallo, who allegedly defiled a 7-year-old girl in a mosque was on Monday arraigned in a Surulere Magistrates' Court, Lagos.
The accused with no fixed address is facing a three-count charge bordering on rape.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 6:00a.m., on July 13, at Iponri Central Mosque, Surulere, Lagos.
He alleged that the accused carried out the act in a house of God without minding the consequences.
“It is a shameful act and that should not be condoled, “she said.
The offence contravened Sections 135 (2) and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
The Magistrate, Mrs Ekpaye Nwachukwu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Sept. 20 for mention.
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