Freight forwarders under the aegies of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (AREFFN) Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) stormed Ports and Cargo, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, for seizing over 400 containers belonging to members.
The containers have been stored away at Ports and Cargo terminal in Tin Can Island Port for over three months.
The aggrieved freight agents stormed SIFAX headquarters and Bollore Logistics to express their dissatisfaction.
Over 400 containers scheduled for transfer to Bollore Logistics company have been abandoned in Ports and Cargo terminal without genuine reasons as freight agents are subjected to colossal sums as storage charges.
The freight forwarding group had sent several petitions to the terminal operator and the nation’s port economic regulator, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) before embarking on a peaceful protest Wednesday.
Speaking with newsmen on the issue, the Chairman of KLT Chapter of AREFFN, Mr. Jude Chukwuka, said the exercise was done to correct the anomaly being perpetuated by Ports & Cargo and Bollore Logistics.
However, after meeting with managerial representatives from both companies, he concluded that both organizations weren’t operating in harmony as there were sharp differences in their postulations which should have been averted via proper dialogue.
According to Chukwuka, Ports & Cargo accused Bollore of not bringing barges to take delivery of the containers and scarcely providing low capacity barges to take 15-20 containers when the terminal had over 60 containers for such trip on every occasion.
As a result of this logistics challenge, some KLT destined cargoes have been piling up at Ports & Cargo since November 2020. These boxes have also been stacked up in a way that becomes difficult to access when barges arrive, Ports & Cargo claimed.
Bollore, however, argued that it frequently sends barges to Ports & Cargo but the company is always reluctant to load the containers destined to KLT.
Investigations showed that Bollore already has space constraints at the Kirikiri facility while Ports & Cargo has been dissatisfied with Bollore’s strategy of using small barges which always arrive with empty containers for the terminal’s congested area.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, Corporate Communications at SIFAX Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akande told journalists that the conflict has been resolved as Ports & Cargo assured the aggrieved agents that it would prioritize KLT cargoes as soon as barges arrive.
He, however, couldn’t disclose the extent of waivers to be granted freight agents who have been victims of the logistics constraints since November, last year.
Noting that several consignments have been diverted to Ports & Cargo from other terminals as a result of congestion, the SIFAX spokesman stressed that the affected terminals should iron out a strategy to deliver the cargoes.
Former Nigeria’s Service Chiefs, replaced in office last week by President Muhammadu Buhari now have new assignments.
They were on Thursday appointed as non career ambassadors by President Mohammadu Buhari.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr Femi Adesina stated that their names have been forwarded to the National Assembly for approval as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.
In a letter to Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, President of the Senate, the President said: “In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”
“The nominees are: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).”
The President urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations.
Chukwuemeka Ani, veteran Actor, known for his commitment, zeal, enthusiasm and passion when interpreting his role in Nollywood films has, sadly, been bedridden for months now.
Ani is currently battling severe health conditions, and he is down with “Chronic sore of the Anus and Diabetes.” His condition has drained his resources, forcing him to resort to soliciting for financial support from Nigerians to continue with medical treatment.
The ailing actor has been at Dr. Lugard Hospital in Owerri, Imo state, since the 7th of December 2020.
The cost of his treatment is put at about N2.8 million, which the actor can’t afford alone at the moment, prompting him to seek help from colleagues and well-meaning Nigerians.
While speaking from his sickbed, Ani said: I’ve been in this hospital since 7th of December, for a major surgery and at the end of the surgery it expanded to a very dangerous one.
“I’m soliciting help from my people, my members, my friends, well wishers, and those that love me so much”.
Ani added that: “The bill is too much, I cannot carry it alone. Your contribution will go a long way to pay for the bill. I’m still taking medication in the hospital.
He noted that some members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, have come to visit him, and have promised to do something to assist.
He said: “I thank you all, for those who have contributed I thank you, for those who have not, I also thank you. I know I shall join you soon on set to continue to shoot.”
For months now, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has been hitting the President Muhammadu Buhari administration from all Cylinders, including his Party, All Progressives Congress, APC.
Lamido, who recently prophesied that the APC will crumble like a pack of cards before the 2023 Elections, has again labeled the Party Chieftains as hypocrites.
Lamido was reacting to speculations that the APC is trying to lure the former President to join its fold and contest for the 2023 Election on the platform of the APC.
For that, he labelled APC Chieftains nursing such ambition as hypocrites.
It was reported that some APC Governors, led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, held a secret meeting with the former president in Abuja in November on their proposal for the former President to join the APC family. However, sources close to Jonathan strongly deny any such meeting or proposal.
Jonathan, who lost the presidential election to Buhari in 2015, is still qualified to run having spent one term in office.
Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Lamido wondered why the Governors are thinking of presenting Jonathan who they had described as “weak and clueless”.
He said: “To me, I think that they are being merely hypocrites.
“They, the APC Governors , are looking for him. Is it because there are no presidential materials in the APC? This is one of the heights of hypocrisy.”
Lamido said Nigeria deserves to have a President who would represent the whole country without any bias to religion or ethnicity.
The former Governor said under APC, Nigeria has been divided with hate and riddled with insecurity.
“The years of the APC has brought hatred among Nigerians, a divided Nigeria full of insecurity with a culture of hate. What the APC says in the north is different from what it says in the South. APC is a party of double talk.
“Before the APC, Nigerians were united, but look at what it has done to a once united country. Before the APC, Nigerians were living in brotherly and sisterly lifestyle. Look at the level of insecurity now, look at the hatred in the country.”
He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his party, left a legacy of hope, growth and development.
President Muhammadu Buhari has granted a three-month extension, in office, to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu.
In doing that, Buhari put a lie to all the speculations and stories about him appointing an AIG to take over from Adamu,or asking him to hand over to the next in rank to him.
Announcing the extension granted Adamu to State House Correspondents, the Minister for Police Affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi, said it was to give Mr President time to make an appropriate choice.
It is not known why it took the President this long, to announce an extension, or why, since a couple of months ago, he did not zero in on Adamu’s successor.
Adamu was billed to retire since February 1, 2020, the day he clocked 35 years in office. But the President’s silence forced him to continue in office as usual.
Speculations were rife that there was a lobby for his extension in office. That has become a reality.
What is not known, yet, is whether the extension was also granted to the DIGs billed to retire with him on February the 1st. Reports say they had stopped going to the office. It is also not known if the Police Service Commission, PSC, had given them a letter of retirement or not.
In recent times, Adamu is the only IGP granted an extension. However, President Buhari has a habit of granting extension in office. He did so, for years, to the now replaced Service Chiefs, just as he did to a couple of heads of paramilitary services.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, JMMC has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva as a special Envoy to hold consultations with some countries who are yet to comply with OPEC supply adjustment.
Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC is OPEC Secretary General.
The umbrella body for major crude oil producing countries, which include Saudi Arabia and Russia, made the revelation at the 26th Meeting of the JMMC meeting on Wednesday. The organization said monumental strides have been made by members toward attaining full conformity with their voluntary adjustments in output, but added that more needed to be done.
Silva, OPEC said was appointed to hold consultation with members on the need to fully comply with the supply adjustment, noting that progress has been achieved in introducing a greater degree of stability in the oil market since the historic decisions taken in April 2020. “Participating Countries will not rest on their laurels. Sustainable oil market stability necessitates a continual renewal of effort, engagement and responsiveness to factors affecting the market,” the organization said.
OPEC outlined Silva’s major assignment thus “In line with the principles of fairness, transparency and equity that underpin the DoC, the JMMC has mandated the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, HE Timipre Sylva, to undertake a mission as Special Envoy to the following Participating Countries: Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and South Sudan.
“The purpose of this mission is to hold consultations with the respective leaders of these countries on the DoC market rebalancing efforts. In particular, the Special Envoy will discuss matters pertaining to conformity levels with the voluntary production adjustments and explore how Participating Countries can collectively support and assist each other in achieving full conformity with their supply adjustments.
“Minister Sylva will also discuss with relevant authorities the compensation mechanism in accommodating underperformed volumes as agreed at the June ministerial meetings, and later amended in September 2020.
“Furthermore, this mission will solidify the dialogue channels between Participating Countries, and enhance transparency and information exchange. Given the geographic proximity of these countries, it is a rare opportunity for Ministers and leaders to safely meet in person, following months of virtual conferencing, “ OPEC said.
Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, have dashed the hope of Okada and Tricyclist operators in the State.
The Judge affirmed the position of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Government on restricting the use of motorcycles, tricycles as means of transportation within six Local Government Areas and Nine Local Council Development Areas in the State.
Justice Liman delivered the judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/173/2020 between Olukoya Ogungbeje V Lagos State Government & 7 Others, who had sued the State Government over the ban.
The Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was in Court on Tuesday, 2nd February, to argue the originating summons which upheld the Executive Order as signed by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The Court in its judgment assumed jurisdiction in the case on the premise that both the Federal High Court and State High Court exercise concurrent jurisdiction over Fundamental Human Right cases.
The Judge held that the applicant who admitted being a car owner, and not a motorcycle or tricycle operator, cannot complain of his right in any form being infringed upon.
Justice Liman, dismissed the originating summons of the applicant for lacking merit.
He said the applicant failed to place material facts to support his deposition as well as provide evidence for the alleged death of a person at Iyana Ipaja.
“The restriction of motorcycles, tricycles within 6 Local Government Area and 9 Local Council Development Area in the State is not an infringement on Fundamental Human Rights”, Justice Liman ruled.
The Nigeria Female National Basketball Team, popularly known as D’Tigress, is set to face tough opposition at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games later in the year.
D’Tigress are grouped alongside Olympic Game host, Japan, World Champions, USA and European Best, France.
The Engr. Musa Kida led Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, has however expressed optimism that there is no cause for alarm following the draws that pitted D’Tigress against the best in World, ‘group of death’.
Reacting to the draws conducted yesterday, the Federation said it is focused on preparing the team well for the challenges ahead in their quest to make Nigerians proud.
Kida stressed that all the 12 teams at the Olympics have a reasonable chance of winning the tournament, hence there are no minnows.
“Nothing good can be handed to you on a platter of gold. You have to work hard and be ready to seize the opportunity when it comes because to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
He also added the D’Tigress could pull some strings and prove bookmakers prediction wrong by doing the unbelievable.
“A lot can still happen between now and when the games tips off capable of upsetting bookmakers predictions and the fate of teams.
“We have to be focused on what we have to do as a federation with the help of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Sports to ensure we adequately prepare the team, get the right personnel for the challenges ahead.”
On his part, head coach of the senior women’s team, Otis Hughley described USA and world number five- France as familiar foes.
“We met USA and France at the last World Cup in Spain and again faced USA at the Olympics Qualifying Tournament in Serbia last year where we qualified for the Olympics.”
Otis who led the team to the quarter finals of the 2018 World Cup thereby setting an African record before winning the 2019 FIBA Afrobasket championship noted that, “We are mindful of the threat these teams pose to us including Japan who are ranked 10th in the FIBA ranking. We are going to prepare adequately to ensure that when the time comes, we will be ready.”
In an unprecedented fashion prior to any Olympics, D’Tigress are currently camped in Atlanta, USA months before the games under the watchful eyes of Coach Otis.
The Olympics games will be held between 23rd of July and 8th of August, 2021 after its initial postponement due to thr COVID-19 pandemic.
In a commando style, some suspected robbers caused panic in Ado Ekiti as they dispossessed three victims of the sum of N20 million on Wednesday.
The gunmen numbering three, reportedly snatched N20m from accountants attached to the Office of the Cabinet Department of the Governor’s office during an attack.
It was learnt that the accountants were trailed to a point close to Fajuyi Park, a business district of the state capital, while returning from a new generation bank along Government Secretariat road, where they had gone to withdraw the money.
The suspected robbers started shooting sporadically before they robbed the officials of the money.
The robbers were said to have shot into the air sporadically as they escaped from the scene through the GRA Area.
The incident crippled economic activities in the state capital as financial institutions, filling stations, supermarkets and eateries hurriedly shut down while motorists and commuters took to their heels.
The apprehension forced some banks to take strict security measures as news filtered round Ado metropolis that it was a case of bank robbery.
However, the Ekiti Police Command allayed public fear, saying the rumoured bank robbery was untrue and baseless.
The Police Commissioner, Babatunde Mobayo, implored members of the public to disregard such fabricated and misleading false alarm, aimed at causing unnecessary apprehension.
Mobayo, in a statement by Command’s Spokesman, ASP Sunday Abutu, said: “For clarity, the incident that occurred today(Wednesday) in Ado-Ekiti was about a driver of a Toyota Corolla Car with about three other occupants who were accosted by a group of yet to be identified hoodlums and dispossessed them of some amount of money.
“Upon the receipt of the information, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led his Operatives to the scene but the hoodlums had fled the scene already.
“Meanwhile, some persons have been invited by the Police for interrogation and further investigation while serious effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.”
Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popular as Sunday Igboho has bowed to pressure from prominent southwest leaders to apologise to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The Igboho, Ibarapa, Oyo state born activist had on Tuesday, during a virtual meeting with some Yoruba in the diaspora, attacked the monarch as a traitor and Fulani slave.
Igboho also attacked other Yoruba leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor and All Progressives Congress National Leader and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for frustrating his efforts and other well meaning Yoruba to flush out killer Fulani herdsmen from the region. He also did not spare the Oluwo of Iwo, in the attack, for describing himself as an Emir.
He has now apologized “I have called our father, the Ooni of Ife and I have apologised to him. When I said those things, I was carried away by my emotions. The killing of my people by Fulani herdsmen and the way our fathers in Yoruba land are handling the issue is giving me great concern. I am a Yoruba man and I know it is not in our culture to insult the elders. I have called the Kabiyesi and I have apologised to him. You can call him to confirm. Once again, I want to beg our royal father to forgive me. It was a slip of tongue,” Igboho said.
Igboho: Forced to Apologised to Ooni
The attack on the Ooni, did not go down well with many people who considered Igboho’s action to be disrespectful to the monarch and capable of destroying the united front against the Fulani criminals.
Many Nigerians, particularly Yoruba political, religious and traditional rulers had supported the activist after he gave a quit notice to Fulani herdsmen in Igagan, Oyo state and eventually went to enforce the order after the seven days ultimatum expired.
His attack on Ooni, however, shocked these leaders who believe that the activist needed to be reined in quickly before making more statements capable of causing tension in the south west.
Igboho had lashed at Ooni and those he considered as traitors “I am not concerned about the police. The struggle is about Yoruba agenda as it concerns security situation in our land and I trust Yoruba people for support. People are afraid because of the atrocities of the herders. We also pray that our leaders will support us irrespective if their fear of being arrested. They should be able to talk to President Muhammadu Buhari on security in Yoruba land.
“When Ooni visited Buhari, the president received him by standing up but he said something I don’t like. That is why the Alaafin called me. He wants to tackle what Ooni said.
“I need buses to transport people. The three vans we use are bought by me. We lost three buses that were hired on our way to Oyo. Ooni should be able to tell Buhari about what Yoruba want. But he has collected dollars from Buhari. He called me but I don’t want to see him. Only Alaafin is supporting us and he has written a letter to the president. Ooni disappointed me. Politicians are with him.
“The Oluwo will wear turban and start calling himself an Emir, our people should call him and tell him to stop what he is doing. Our leaders are lazy and slaves to Fulanis. They visit Abuja to collect money, we will attack them and destroy their property. Ooni should be dealt with. I am annoyed. Why should we be afraid of the crown they (Yoruba monarchs)wear?
“Tinubu and other Yoruba politicians are Fulani slaves. We need not be afraid. I have not collected any money from anyone. I am a full Yoruba man and I will not allow Fulani people to enslave me, we do not look or behave alike in any way. The herders should go. Makinde is also a slave to the herders because of second term ambition,” Igboho said.
The magazine learnt that that the attack on the Ife monarch rattled leaders in the region, so much so that, leaders of Afenifere, the Yoruba social political group, the Council of traditional rulers from the six states in the region as well as politicians in the APC and PDP, called the activist privately, to express their dissatisfaction with his action.
Apart from Femi Fani Kayode, a former minister of Aviation who has publicly scolded the activist and apologized on his behalf to the Ooni, some traditional rulers, the magazine was told have reached out to Igboho to douse the tension caused by his attack on the monarch.
“I just spoke with Sunday Igboho and he confirmed to me that what he said about our revered Ooni of Ife was said in the heat of the moment. He expressed his regrets and I was relieved to hear that. To err is human and to forgive is divine. I appeal to Kabiyesi to forgive him. For the record, let me state clearly and categorically that no Ooni of Ife, whether living or dead, has ever been a slave of the Fulani and neither will they ever be,” Fani-Kayode said.
The former minister is from Ife and a staunch supporter of the activist.
‘Some Afenifere leaders have called Sunday to berate him for his disrespect to Ooni of Ife, who’s regarded as the custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition. We respect our Obas in Yoraba land and will not allow their image to be dragged on the mud by any young man,” a prominent leader of the social/ political group said on Thursday.
The source said Igboho’s comment is capable of weakening the formidable front the leaders of the region are trying to form against the threat to their livelihood by the Fulani pastoralists. “if care is not taking, such careless statement could set our people against each other and when such happens, it would be very difficult to join hands to confront the menace. Nobody in Yoruba land will be happy when their Obas are being attacked,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Gofundme account opened for the purpose of raising funds for the activist to implement his project of ridding the south west of killer herdsmen has raised over N4 million within 14 hours. The fudraiser was initiated by Maureen Badejo, a United Kingdom based activist to help Igboho raise N50 million after he complained of paucity of funds.
