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NIMASA: Minister Commissions Enforcement Boats, Clinic

By
James Orji
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0

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, in Lagos, commissioned five enforcement boats and four ferries for staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. Also commissioned were newly acquired gadgets to enhance communication between NIMASA operational base and vessels in Nigerian waters, an ultra-modern Search and Rescue Base clinic located in Apapa, the newly developed multipurpose hall, and an administrative block for the Agency in its Kirikiri operational base.

While commending the  Jamoh-led administration at NIMASA for the achievements, the Honorable Minister noted that the new facilities would have tremendous positive impacts on the Agency and the entire blue economy of Nigeria especially as the nation seeks more vibrant ways of diversifying its economy.

According to Sambo, “Maritime remains the catalyst for our growth as a country and we must do all we can to ensure the sector remains viable for investors. If we want to benefit from the potentials of our blue economy, we must be able to reinvent the wheel in such a manner that would boost the confidence of foreign and local investors in our maritime domain and these projects are laying credence to our efforts.

“It is our belief that our efforts to bring these projects to fruition would have made significant positive impacts on the decisions of investors in our maritime sector.

“Specifically talking about enforcement boats, I am aware of the impact these boats would have on the regulatory mandate of NIMASA. It is expected that those who have plans of carrying out nefarious acts in our maritime domain would have a rethink because NIMASA now has additional platforms to enforce compliance of its regulations. This will further enhance security in our domain in order for maritime businesses to thrive.”

Jamoh, on his part, said that the newly commissioned assets would ensure Nigeria’s Maritime Administration sustains its leadership role in the maritime sector of Africa, ensuring that the impact of its maritime security architecture is felt in the Gulf of Guinea and the entire African maritime domain.

He noted that the investment in the communication gadgets alongside the enforcement boats will not only add more value to our maritime security architecture but also enhance NIMASA’s primary role of Port and Flag State Administration, adding that the Search and Rescue Base Clinic (SARBC) was to meet basic requirements of the IMO, since Nigeria is host to the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center for the West and Central Africa Region.

“Maritime cannot thrive without effective Search and Rescue because as much as we don’t want accidents, when they occur, we should be able to respond effectively. The Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinating Centre for West and Central Africa Region is domiciled here and we have the SARBC to complement its activities. What NIMASA has done is to upgrade the SAR clinic to the standards that would ensure it meets up with rescue centers of global repute.

“The issue of health in the Transport sector must always be at the front burner. The NIMASA Search and Rescue Base Clinic is another stride for the maritime sector because it meets international standards and would serve more purposes of taking care of patients within and beyond the transport sector,” the NIMASA boss stated.

administration at NIMASA for the achievements, the Honorable Minister noted that the new facilities would have tremendous positive impacts on the Agency and the entire blue economy of Nigeria especially as the nation seeks more vibrant ways of diversifying its     economy.

According to Sambo, “Maritime remains the catalyst for our growth as a country and we must do all we can to ensure the sector remains viable for investors. If we want to benefit from the potentials of our blue economy, we must be able to reinvent the wheel in such a manner that would boost the confidence of foreign and local investors in our maritime domain and these projects are laying credence to our efforts.

“It is our belief that our efforts to bring these projects to fruition would have made significant positive impacts on the decisions of investors in our maritime sector.

“Specifically talking about enforcement boats, I am aware of the impact these boats would have on the regulatory mandate of NIMASA. It is expected that those who have plans of carrying out nefarious acts in our maritime domain would have a rethink because NIMASA now has additional platforms to enforce compliance of its regulations. This will further enhance security in our domain in order for maritime businesses to thrive.”

Jamoh, on his part, said that the newly commissioned assets would ensure Nigeria’s Maritime Administration sustains its leadership role in the maritime sector of Africa, ensuring that the impact of its maritime security architecture is felt in the Gulf of Guinea and the entire African maritime domain.

He noted that the investment in the communication gadgets alongside the enforcement boats will not only add more value to our maritime security architecture but also enhance NIMASA’s primary role of Port and Flag State Administration, adding that the Search and Rescue Base Clinic (SARBC) was to meet basic requirements of the IMO, since Nigeria is host to the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center for the West and Central Africa Region.

“Maritime cannot thrive without effective Search and Rescue because as much as we don’t want accidents, when they occur, we should be able to respond effectively. The Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinating Centre for West and Central Africa Region is domiciled here and we have the SARBC to complement its activities. What NIMASA has done is to upgrade the SAR clinic to the standards that would ensure it meets up with rescue centers of global repute.

“The issue of health in the Transport sector must always be at the front burner. The NIMASA Search and Rescue Base Clinic is another stride for the maritime sector because it meets international standards and would serve more purposes of taking care of patients within and beyond the transport sector,” the NIMASA boss stated.

Dangote Refinery To Provide Energy Security, 130,000 Jobs

By
James Orji
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0

Mele Kyari, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, says the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery will serve as energy security for Nigeria.

He spoke at the commissioning of the 650,000-barrel crude oil refinery by President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos today.

The refinery, by the time it starts work fully will provide over 130, 000 indirect and direct  jobs for Nigerians, according to Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor.

Not a few have disagreed with the view that the gigantic refinery owned by Africa’s richest businessman Aliko Dangote will solve the nation’s perennial fuel problems.

But the NNPC Limited chief executive said the refinery represents positive implications for the nation’s energy and national security.

According to him, the war between Russia and Ukraine has redefined the world energy supply and the need for countries to seek self-sufficiency in energy for their citizens.

Kyari said, “The benefits will be real and tangible for consumers as well as the economy and the country more generally.

“This remarkable achievement is not taking place in a vacuum, this extraordinary facility that we see here today is not standing alone, but with the enabling environment that our government continues to provide and we are most grateful for this.

“The reforms that we have undertaken in the Nigerian petroleum industry under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari were built around a clear set of principles that anticipate the tremendous changes that will take place in the international energy market in the decades to come.

“NNPCL will continue to support investment in domestic refining to satisfy the growing demand for refined petroleum products in both local and regional markets as against simply exporting crude to diminishing markets overseas.”

“The Dangote Refinery with the new deal that we have been building, supported by the enabling Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), will surely provide domestic security of supply in our country.

“The lingering challenges of petroleum subsidies are clearly getting out of the capacity of the state to bear and the differentials that domestic refining will provide are insignificant and cannot compensate for the subsidies.”

Meanwhile, Dangote said the first fuel products from the refinery will be ready by next month.

ng of the 650,000-barrel crude oil refinery by President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos today.

The refinery, by the time it starts work fully will provide over 130, 000 indirect and direct  jobs for Nigerians, according to Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor.

Not a few have disagreed with the view that the gigantic refinery owned by Africa’s richest businessman Aliko Dangote will solve the nation’s perennial fuel problems.

But the NNPC Limited chief executive said the refinery represents positive implications for the nation’s energy and national security.

According to him, the war between Russia and Ukraine has redefined the world energy supply and the need for countries to seek self-sufficiency in energy for their citizens.

Kyari said, “The benefits will be real and tangible for consumers as well as the economy and the country more generally.

“This remarkable achievement is not taking place in a vacuum, this extraordinary facility that we see here today is not standing alone, but with the enabling environment that our government continues to provide and we are most grateful for this.

“The reforms that we have undertaken in the Nigerian petroleum industry under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari were built around a clear set of principles that anticipate the tremendous changes that will take place in the international energy market in the decades to come.

“NNPCL will continue to support investment in domestic refining to satisfy the growing demand for refined petroleum products in both local and regional markets as against simply exporting crude to diminishing markets overseas.”

“The Dangote Refinery with the new deal that we have been building, supported by the enabling Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), will surely provide domestic security of supply in our country.

“The lingering challenges of petroleum subsidies are clearly getting out of the capacity of the state to bear and the differentials that domestic refining will provide are insignificant and cannot compensate for the subsidies.”

Meanwhile, Dangote said the first fuel products from the refinery will be ready by next month.

PEPC Rejects Atiku, Obi’s Request For Live Coverage Of Proceedings

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Presidential Election Petition Tribunal 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC), has turned down request by two petitioners to allow its day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, to be covered live on television.

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five member panel dismissed as lacking in merit, the application which was brought before it by candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) that are challenging the outcome of the presidential election that held on February 25.

The court held that no regulatory framework or policy direction, permitted it to grant such application.

It held that allowing cameras in the courtroom is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.

“The court can only be guided and act in accordance with the practice directions and procedures approved by the President of the Court of Appeal.

“We cannot permit a situation that may lead to dramatization of our proceedings.”

Besides, the court held that the request was not part of any relief in the petitions before it, saying it was merely hinged on sentimental claim that it would benefit the electorates.

It maintained that the petitioners failed to establish how televising the proceedings would advance their case, adding that such live broadcast would not have any utilitarian value to add to the determination of the petitions.

Another Nollywood Actor, Ademola Adeyemo Is Dead

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Ademola Adeyemo

By Akinwale Kasali

Veteran Actor, Prince Ademola Adeyemo, has joined the league of actors who bid the world farewell. He did so just a week after Murphy Afolabi, Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, Chikezie Uwazie and Mukaila Adedigba did the same.

The Kwara State born Adeyemo, known for his humorous character which he delivered in his native dialect, died in the early hours of Monday.

Adeyemo had been bedridden, and soliciting for help from well meaning Nigerians and colleagues.

The news of his demise was disclosed on the Social Media and reduced his fans, colleagues and family members to a state of mourning.

He would be missed by his colleagues and fans for his professionalism in the interpretation of his roles.

He remains will be buried Monday according to Islamic Rites.

Timi Frank Urges Buhari To Sack NDDC Board, Management

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the infighting and corruption allegations leveled on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Board Members, political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives, Timi Frank, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Board and the current Management

Frank, a vocal voice in the Niger Delta region said these allegations and infighting between the Management team and the Chairman of the Board of NDDC, Lauretta Onochie, has once again opened the ugly chapter of the past, where such infighting ended up derailing the overall performances of the Commission thereby short-changing the people of the Niger Delta, and enriching some people.

In a statement on Monday  Abuja, Frank, also, called on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly intervene and launch probe into some of the revelations of corruption allegations made by the Board against the Commission’s Managing Director.

According to Frank, the inability to properly defend the 2021, 2022 & 2023 budget in unison at the Senate is a clear testament to the fact that the board lacks the basic prerequisites to oversee the affairs of the NDDC.

He said the people of Nigeria Delta had hoped that the new board would grow to become the hope and fresh air to the region, “but alas we’re confronted with the same dilemma of corruption allegations and counter accusations by those responsible for managing the resources of the people.

“It is clear from the foregoing that the inability to work in unison for the overall good of the people will render the activities of the Commission in jeopardy.”

The statement added that the people of the Niger Delta are tired of being the scape goats whenever these infighting arises because of greed and selfishness.

“Following recent revelations of corruption in the NDDC and counter accusations of mismanagement between the recently inaugurated board and management of the commission at the Senate,  it will be safe to conclude that the primary objective of piloting the affairs of the commission has suffered yet another setback in the twilight of this new management board.

“Furthermore, the fact that this expose, is coming at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck in midwifing the rebirth of a new NDDC is very worrisome and embarrassing.

“Instead of harmonizing the blueprint for building a sustainable commission saddled with the responsibility of delivering first class interventions to the people of the Niger Delta, the NDDC is rather confronted yet again with weighty allegations of corruption by members of its own board whose tenure only began less than 5 months ago.

“The startling revelations by the Chairwoman and counter accusations by the Managing  Director and his team has once again left a sour taste in the minds of all genuine stakeholders in the Niger Delta project.

“Most shocking is the allegation of inflating the MD’s imprest and the operation of several accounts as confirmed by the Executive Director Finance & Admin rather than maintaining a single account as stipulated by the Federal Government under the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“Going by these embarrassing scenarios of distrust and the inability to properly harmonize working relationships between the board and its members, it will be safe to recommend a total dissolution of the board to give way for a more proactive and people’s oriented board to midwife the NDDC into a world class intervention agency.

“It is noteworthy that even after a forensic audit was carried out by the FG, paving the way for the smooth operations of the Incoming board, we’re still confronted with the same quagmire bedeviling the commission.”

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, called on the National Assembly, EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to thoroughly investigate the accusations.

“I’m therefore calling on the National Assembly and the EFCC to urgently investigate these accusations of corruption in the NDDC by the board and come up with its findings for a proper recommendation to the Federal Government.

“We have had enough of these embarrassing situations in the NDDC and the Niger Delta at large and every stakeholder has a responsibility in speaking out at this time whilst ensuring that the proper image of the Commission is maintained in delivering the dividends of the region to the people.”

Mixed Reactions As Buhari Commissions $19bn Dangote Refinery Today

By
James Orji
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0

Ahead of today’s commissioning of the Dangote Refinery, Sergius Ogun, a member of the House of Representatives says the multi-purpose refinery will not solve Nigeria’s fuel crisis.

Not a few Nigerians are expecting the over $19 billion oil refinery to solve the yearly fuel problems  experienced due to the importation of petrol and diesel, and other petrochemicals.

Ogun who spoke on Channels Television on Monday, just a few hours before the commissioning of the Refinery by President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that it will be wrong for Nigerians to place their entire hope of regular and cheap fuel on the refinery.

According to information made available to the media by Dangote Refinery, other West African leaders such as President Nana Akufo Ado of Ghana among others are expected to attend the epoch-making commissioning by President Buhari on Monday.

In spite of the enthusiasm among Nigerians, Ogun a former member of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources said Nigerians should be cautious in putting their hope of fuel sufficiency on Dangote.

For instance, the lawmaker said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd has not informed Nigerians whether it has started supplying crude oil to the refinery, and at what price.

Apart from this, Ogun said the refinery should have been test-run months before now to show Nigerians that it’s ready for production, adding that the rush to commission has political undertone.

The 650,000-barrel-a-day crude oil processing refinery is expected to provide fuel sufficiency and reduce the forex for fuel importation for the country by the time it commences work fully, but not a few experts say this may not be entirely so at the end of the day.

The federal government spent over $10 billion importing fuel into the country last year, this is expected to reduce as the Dangote Refinery commences production.

The refinery will also eliminate the yearly scarcity of petrol and diesel as a result of the importation of the products, while the pricing is also expected to be stable because of local production of the product which clearly will eliminate costs such as importation cost, landing costs, shipping costs, and so on, according to energy experts.

But many experts are very cautious of this optimism, saying the only guarantee the Dangote Refinery represents for Nigerians, is the provision of jobs for Nigerians who will work at the multi-purpose plant.

Figures obtained from the company owned  by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote indicate that at least 100,000 indirect and direct job opportunities will be provided by the refinery.

In its reaction to the potential of the Dangote Refinery, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN said, the Refinery could be the industrial renaissance the nation country needed at the moment.

According to the Director-general of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir said: “The refinery which is situated on land spanning approximately 2,635 hectares is the World’s Largest Single Train 650,000 barrels per day Petroleum Refinery with a 9000 KTPA Polypropylene Plant ever built.

“It is gratifying to note that the Refinery can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement for all refined products (Gasoline, 57 million litres per day; Diesel, 27 million litres per day; Kerosene, 11 million litres per day and Aviation Jet, nine million litres per day) and also have a surplus of each of these products for export.

“Therefore, the coming onboard of the Dangote Refinery promises to bring to a pleasant end, the nightmare of long queues at petrol filling stations and the disruption of social and economic activities that come with it.”

He added that the refinery, when fully operational, is expected to generate $10 billion from the export of refined petroleum products and save Nigeria an estimated $10 billion in foreign exchange.

According to him, with State-of-the-art technology, the refinery is designed to produce with 100 per cent Nigerian Crude and the flexibility to process other crudes from Africa, Middle East, and US Light Oil.

“It has a Self-sufficient Marine facility with the ability for freight optimization. With the Largest Single order of 5 SPMs anywhere in the world, Diesel & Gasoline Products from the refinery will conform to Euro V Specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission standards, and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent standards.

“To cushion the potential impact of increase in mean sea level due to global warming, the company took appropriate measures using the world’s largest, seventh and 10th largest dredgers to elevate the sea height by 1.5 metres.

“Dangote Group is one of the few companies in the world executing a Petroleum Refinery and a Petrochemical complex directly as an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor. Globally, apart from three companies, no individual owner has done the complete EPC Contract for a Petroleum Refinery,” he said.

ASUU: Falana Calls Out Ngige Over Plan To Pay UNIZIK Lecturers

By
James Orji
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0

Femi Falana has branded Chris Ngige the Minister of Labour and Productivity discriminatory following reports that the minister has singled out some lecturers of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, to be paid for the period Nigerian university lecturers, embarked on strike last year.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was responding to a letter written to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed to approve payment for the lecturers’ salaries for the eight-month strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, last year.

Falana is counsel to ASUU.

The federal government has refused to pay ASUU for the eight-month strike period in compliance with its no-work-no-pay policy even though the lecturers have since gone back to work after a truce brokered by Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But in the letter written to the Minister of Finance, Ngige claimed that the UNIZIK lecturers worked during the period of the strike, as such must be paid their salaries.

According to TheCable, in the letter dated March 30, 2023, Ngige had asked Ahmed to approve the payment of withheld salaries of 204 lecturers, after available records proved that they worked throughout the period of the strike.

Ngige said this was further corroborated by the vice-chancellor of the institution as well as independent findings of the labour ministry’s state controller in Anambra.

“In view of the above, please direct the accountant-general of the federation to exempt the two hundred and four (204) lecturers of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, College of Health Sciences whose names are attached herewith from the application of Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act and be paid the outstanding arrears of their full salaries during the strike period from February 14, 2022 to date,” the letter read.

In his reaction, Falana said the action of Ngige contradicts the law, adding that the lecturers as members of ASUU took part in the 2022 strike.

He accused the minister of trying to favour the lecturers because they are from his state, adding that Ngige has been known for such discriminatory act.

Falana said, “Dr. Ngige has convinced the federal government not to pay ASUU members for embarking on strike in 2022. But he has decided to isolate his colleagues in his home state for special favour by causing their salaries to be paid for the period of the same strike.

“Dr. Ngige took a similar action when members of the National Association of Resident Doctors embarked on strike in 2021. The federal government paid the salaries of the resident doctors for the period of their strike.

“The actions of the minister run contrary to the provision of Section 42(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which have prohibited any form of discrimination in the application of the law or policy of the government.”

The Natives Warn NLC On Alleged Plot To Truncate Tinubu’s Inauguration

By
James Orji
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0

The Natives, a group made up of some tribal leaders across the country has warned the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC not to join those planning to truncate the inauguration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu who won the February 25 presidential election is billed to be sworn in on May 29 to succeed the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Natives, however, said it has uncovered plot by the organized labour in cahoot with the opposition parties to truncate Tinubu’s inauguration in a few days.

It said the group spoke out after a Northern group, the Arewa Youth Assembly AYA said plans are in the offing by some persons to ensure that the inauguration does not hold as planned.

The group, for instance, referred to a comment made by the NLC President Joe Ajaero recently, to the effect that the outcome of the presidential election did not represent the true feelings of many Nigerians.

“Unfortunately, the majority of Nigerians, especially the youths, who fought with patriotism to reset their country through the ballot box, are now wondering if elections have not become the tool for legitimising the corrupt takeover of Nigeria,” Ajaero was quoted as saying during the Workers Day celebration on May 1.

But in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja, Smart Edwards, the Supreme Leader of the group said the NLC President has lost the capacity to speak for Nigerians, having allegedly pitched his tent with the opposition.

Edwards said, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be inaugurated in grand style as the 16th President of Nigeria.

“The Natives are already rolling out the drums as Nigeria prepares to witness the first opposition leader turned National Leader and elected as the 16th President of Nigeria. A Comrade, a June 12 advocate, a Senator, a Governor, a negotiator of political power with all past and incumbent Presidents in Nigeria, a builder of men, mentor and supporter of the Labour movement.

“We are The Natives of all tribes and languages. We are the real voters and we cannot wait for Tinubu to be inaugurated as the next President of this country.

“So, we advise all and sundry to perish the thought of protests or scuttling the inauguration but galvanize their members and supporters to join in the progress ahead of us all.

“Asiwaju will be different and all he needs is our collaboration and Labour has a major role to play in this.

“Nigerians have moved on from the deceptive and self centered negotiations of NLC. We all believed in the Labour union in the past, their tactics and even their combative actions but today it has led itself into a quagmire.

“2023 election chronicles their decline from speaking for all, the helpless, poor and disenfranchised citizens, to becoming representatives of politicians and saboteurs themselves.

“In the last general election, NLC’s foray into politics and its mode of choice of candidates threw the gates open to all manner of unknown and unpredictable people, it left the shores of tested comrades to uncharted depths.

“NLC’s inability to mitigate influx of mixed multitudes into their midst means it is likely to imbibe the culture of politicians with the same outcome from political actors by their choices, which they easily condemned in the past. This is even evident in the current squabbles it is awashed with, given the accusations and counter accusations that lead to the despicable act of its political actors at the Presidential Tribunal,” Edward said.

NLC he further stated “must take some courage to reset, rethink and restore the hopes of the common man which was historically vested in the Labuor movement to which we all participated as students, youth activists and civil society etc”.

“The NLC must know the difference and relationship between its party, the workers and non-workers. You cannot threaten the inauguration of a tested democrat, a symbol and face of doggedness, resistance and consistency in the liberation struggle for this democracy we now enjoy.

“ As a known promoter of the Labour movement, scuttling Tinubu’s inauguration is impossible, because there are far many Nigerians that are excited and attracted to the Renewed Hope mandate than are in the Labour movement or its party.”

The Natives said it is made up of different ethnic groups, cultures, Languages and tribes across Nigeria with over twenty million members nationwide.

Nigeria’s Food Export Rejected In Europe, US- NAFDAC

By
James Orji
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0

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says the agency will not fail in its mandate to ensure that food and drinks consumed in the country are safe for consumption.

The agency said this is necessary considering that Nigeria imports a larger part of its food needs from abroad.

Prof. M0jisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC DG made this known in a statement on Sunday calling on other agencies working in the seaports to collaborate with the agency to ensure that foods consumed by Nigerians are safe for consumption.

‘’The mandate to safeguard the health of the populace through ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water are safe, efficacious and of the right quality in an economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on importation of the bulk of its finished products and raw materials could never have been actualized without effective presence of NAFDAC at the ports and land borders,’’ Adeyeye said.

Adeyeye also called on the sister agencies to work with NAFDAC to ensure that food export from Nigeria is not rejected abroad.

She explained that over 70 per cent of food exports from Nigeria were rejected abroad, particularly in Europe and United States, noting that this has resulted in huge financial losses to the exporters and the country at large.

She said the deplorable state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country has continued to be a serious cause for concern for NAFDAC, adding that a trip to NAFDAC export warehouses within the international airport will explain unequivocally the major reason for the continuous rejection of Nigerian exports abroad.

Adeyeye, however, noted that the agency was responding to this great challenge by initiating a collaborative measures with the government agencies at the Ports towards ensuring that goods are of requisite quality and meet the regulatory requirements of the importing countries and destinations before such are even packaged and hauled to the ports for shipment.

Adeyeye called on all stakeholders in the export trade to see this as a call to duty and collaborate with NAFDAC for the sake of the country.

ABUAD Founder, Afe Babalola Advises Incoming Govt On Debt Burden

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola  has advised that one of the survival strategies for incoming administration of Bola Tinubu is to seek debt forgiveness from Nigeria’s creditors.

The founder of Afe Babala University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD) said the new administration should  prioritize debt forgiveness from Nigeria’s creditor countries and from multilateral financial institutions.

He spoke on Sunday on the side-line of a lecture delivered at ABUAD by Professor of Intelligent Infrastructure System, Prof. Bamidele Adebisi.

The lecture was entitled: “Smart infrastructure: Catalyst for sustainable development.’’

Babalola pointed out that debt forgiveness or cancellation would help to relieve Nigeria of its foreign debt overhang, noting that the country currently uses sizeable percentage of its revenue on debt servicing.

He also enjoined the in-coming administration to cut expenditures and undertake reforms that would scale down governance costs as well as ease the country’s fiscal burden.

Delivering the lecture, Prof. Adebisi said technology has become a game- changer to address challenges in the areas of food production and transportation.

He emphasized the importance of technology in all sectors of development, noting that technology has become the catalyst for societal development.

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