Day: October 10, 2023

A participant in the just concluded Abuja International Trade Fair, Dr Nuhu Maksha, on Tuesday underscored the need for rail and dry ports connectivity to enhance economic growth of the country.

Maksha, the Chief Executive, Gasha Production and Services Ltd., while commending the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for participating at the fair said that rail connectivity to dry ports would reduce pressure on the Nigerian roads.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trade fair had its theme as: “Sustainable Financing and Taxation”.

Maksha said that moving some goods and farm produce by road is becoming more challenging, adding that Nigeria is endowed with so many natural resources not being utilised presently.

He added that rail connectivity to dry ports would make the road last longer as well as enhance the economic growth of the country.

“I know of a time when goods were transported from the South Eastern part of this country to North Eastern part, precisely from Lokoja to Yola through waterways.

“Juxtaposing that on the present scenario and with the increase in population, the problem with our road network, one will think that presently the waterways particularly is under utilised.

“I’m interested in seeing how the Council will help farmers move their produce from these places through dry ports.

“Frankly speaking, transportation by roads is becoming more challenging, it is taking a toll on our roads with heavy movement of goods making the roads not to last long.

‘If we can diversify a way off the roads, it will be economically wise,” he said.

Maksha said the country would not reap the economic benefits of the dry ports if it relies on road services only.

NAN reports that the NSC is vested with the responsibility of protecting the interest of Nigerian Shippers – importers and exporters.

It also creates space for some members of the Niger Shippers Association as a way of encouraging the participation of shippers at the trade fair.

The 18th edition of the 2023 Abuja International Trade Fair which started from Sept. 28 and ended this Monday was organised by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Mr Benedict Daudu, a Lawyer, as his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation.

The Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the appointment was with immediate effect.

Ogunleye explained that the appointment was in recognition of Daudu’s outstanding legal expertise, extensive academic background, and profound understanding of key policy issues.

He said that Daudu, a distinguished and practicing Attorney in Nigeria, was expected to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role.

“He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Buckingham University in 2010, demonstrating his commitment to legal excellence from the outset of his career.

“Following his LLB, Daudu furthered his education by attending the Nigerian Law School between 2010 and 2012, where he honed his legal skills and deepened his understanding of Nigerian jurisprudence.

“His dedication to continuous learning and academic excellence led him to the prestigious George Washington University Law School, where he obtained his master’s degree in 2013.

“Daudu’s academic achievements are complemented by his extensive professional experience, which spans various areas of law,” he said.

Ogunleye added that Daudu’s years of legal practice had provided him with an in-depth understanding and practical experience in critical policy issues.

He identified his areas of expertise to include cybercrime law, anti-money laundering regulation, constitutional law, human rights, civil litigation cases and West African socio-cultural realities.

Ogunleye added, “His working experience has seen him working in various prestigious law firms within and outside the country, including JB Dauda and Co, Adams Law Office LLC and Ade Okeaya and Co.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the distributions of assorted food items to vulnerable residents of the territory.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Tuesday, that the goal was to ease the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

Mahmoud identified the items include 17,222 bags of rice and 8,400 bags of maize, adding that every deserving family in the six Area Councils and 17 chiefdoms of FCT would benefit.

She also said that apart from the food items, the government was exploring other avenues to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on the residents.

Mahmoud said that the fuel subsidy removal had a ripple effect on transportation, inflation, and an overall burden on the citizenry.

She added that it was to address this hardship that the Federal Government decided to bring succor to Nigerians through the release of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve.

“We will ensure that every deserving family in the FCT receives these items free of charge,” she said.

The minister assured the President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to implement measures that would stabilize prices, encourage economic growth, promote prosperity and well-being for all the citizens.

On his part, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said that the Administration had put measures in place to monitor the distribution of the food items.

This, he said, was to ensure that the palliative reached the targeted beneficiaries in all the Area Councils.

Adesola, who was represented by the Director, Operations, Planning and Strategy, Mr Samuel Attang, added that the palliatives were doled out as part of efforts to address the prevailing economic challenges.

He also said that the efforts would create an environment of stability and prosperity for all.

Similarly, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr Lawan Geidam, said that the distribution would be transparent.

“The secretariat has put in place an efficient and transparent distribution system to ensure that the process is fair, equitable, and devoid of any form of favoritism or discrimination.

“I am optimistic that the commitment, dedication and vision that have been demonstrated by the new FCT leadership will pave the way for a transformative era that will bring forth self-sufficiency in food production,” Geidam said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has reduced its emergency response time from five to three minutes to reduce casualties and save lives and properties.

Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, made this known during a sensitisation campaign to commemorate the 2023 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation was carried out at Bwari Area Council Secretariat, Abuja and the Palace of Esu Sa-Bwaya of Bwari (the Chief of Bwari), Ibrahim Yaro.

The sensitisation with the theme, “Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future for All” began on Oct. 4 across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Wenegieme explained that the three minutes response time became faceable after training community structures to serve as first respondents to emergencies in their various communities.

She identified the community structures as local divers, emergency vanguards, disaster marshals, town criers, volunteers and other structures like youth and women groups.

She said that the community structures have been adequately trained on emergency response through drills and simulations to equip them with the needed knowledge and skills.

The director added that FEMA had equally procured power bikes for the agency officials to navigate the Abuja traffic and reach the emergency scene within three minutes.

According to her, emergency management is multisectoral and everyone’s business, including school going age children.

“Community members are usually the first respondents to an emergency because it happens within their community.

“They have been adequately trained to know exactly what to do during emergencies and rescue operations before FEMA officials arrive.

“This quick response will ensure that more lives and properties are saved,” she added.

Wenegieme explained that the awareness campaign was to ensure that residents identify disaster risk in their respective communities and know how to prevent and mitigate disasters to reduce the impact.

She added that sensitising community members was critical to ensure that no one was left behind during emergencies.

She particularly stressed the need for community members to pay attention to vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, the blind, the aged, and people living in disaster prone areas.

Responding, the Esu of Bwari Yaro promised to cooperate with FEMA in driving the disaster risk reduction messages to every household in Bwari area council.

Earlier, the Council Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr John Bagaya, said that the council has inaugurated its Local Emergency Management Committee to respond to emergencies at local level.

Bagaya, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Me Eli Kadanya, said that the council had taken proactive measures against hazards to avert disasters.

He explained that part of the measures included clearing of refuse, desilting of drainages and sensitization of residents against building on water wars and follow prone areas.

He assured FEMA of the council’s support in ensuring that community members were enlightened and mobilised to take action against disaster.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Otu Oka-Iwu Nigeria, a body of lawyers of Igbo extraction in Lagos, has urged the governors of the South-East to collaborate and tackle the ongoing sit-at-home conundrum on Mondays in the region.

The President of the group, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, made the call at its maiden news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

Unegbu said the sit-at-home was affecting the economy of Igboland, noting that the governors must work together and come out with strategies to tackle the problem.

“The sit-at-home conundrum in Igboland on Mondays is now a norm and people believe that if you go out on Mondays you are on your own as there is no guarantee of your returning home safe.

“We appear to have been abandoned by the government that campaigned that we should elect them to protect us. We are using this medium to call on the government to come to our aid in Igboland,” he said.

He also decried the security challenge in the country, especially in Igboland which is affecting the economic growth and development of the South-East.

“Igboland has been turned into a killing field where no person old or young is safe. It is the responsibility of the government, both at the centre and the regions, to secure the lives and property of the inhabitants.

“We observe with pains in our hearts the wanton destruction of the Igboland economy. Igboland before now was bubbling with activities from the Onitsha-Nnewi axis through the Aba-Orlu axis.

“Today the story is in the past and this has given rise to a comatose economy without direction and no substance.

“We must all do something to bring back those days of old where the young challenge nature to a wrestling contest for ideas where the young in our communities will surely come out victorious.

“We should go back to the drawing board and discover where we got it wrong before it is too late.

“We are a group that believes in the unity of this great country Nigeria. We have no other country to call our own,” Unegbu said.

The president also decried the education deficit in the region noting that the Igboland was a known place for educational activities in the past.

“Today, the children in Igboland appear to have lost interest in education which is signalling a dangerous trend.

“There was a time it was like a competition as to which of the states will take the first position in the WAEC ranking of states after the examinations.

“Today, what we hear is that our children are showing negative trends to pursue education or they are interested in getting rich through fraudulent activities.

“We call on the governments in Igboland to take action to reverse this unwholesome method before things get worse,” Unegbu said.

He, therefore, called for enhanced investment in education, especially in technical skills to boost employment generation.

Unegbu also called on the Igbo to embrace agriculture which had been neglected to boost food security.

“This is an area that has been neglected in Igboland. Before now, the Igbos were into various farms that yielded food for the people and more for sale.

“It appears we have abandoned the farms and as such hunger is staring us in the face. We should go back to our farms in order to feed our growing population,” he said.

Also spekaing, Mrs Nneka Chris-Asoluka, 1st Vice President of Otu Oka-Iwu, stressed the need for peace and unity in the country.

“What we want is peace in the country, we don’t have any other country.

“We are sad over the developments in the South-East; we only hope the the governors will work in this political dispensation irrespective of their parties they belong to,” Chris-Asoluka said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its commitments towards achieving sustained technological development and advancement in the nation.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) Mr Uche Nnaji, said this at the inauguration of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) headquarters building in Abuja.

Nnaji promised to continue to provide the necessary support towards ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDA’s) under his purview in order to achieve the sustained technological development of Nigeria.

”As I commission this NOTAP Headquarters complex, it is my expectation that the management and staff of NOTAP shall continue to work in harmony with renewed zeal and commitment.

”To justify the funding priority accorded to this project towards sustained technological development of our dear nation,” he said.

He also added that his administration would continue to provide the necessary support to NOTAP towards achieving its mandate.

He added that his ministry would support NOTAP to ensure that all the MDA’s and private sector organisations register their technology transfer agreements with the Office as stipulated in its mandates.

NAN reports that NOTAP is mandated to regulate and register technology transfer agreements in the country and also promote indigenous technological activities.

The minister also commended the President Bola Tinubu for approving the commissioning of the office complex.

“ It is gratifying to note the remarkable role played by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who graciously approved the construction of the NOTAP and made funds available.

“ I wish to further appreciate President Bola Tinubu for graciously approving the commissioning of this NOTAP headquarters complex.

“ It is worthy at this juncture, to commend the unwavering support from the 9th National Assembly,” he said.

The Director-General NOTAP, Dr DanAzumi Ibrahim in his address said the agency is responsible for monitoring, regulating and facilitating the inflow of foreign technology in Nigeria.

He said that its mandate was being implemented primarily through the evaluation and registration of technology transfer agreements which were required to be submitted to it within 30 days from the effective date.

Ibrahim added that NOTAP needed a befitting modern office space to discharge its official duties with ease so as to promote foreign and local investments in technology.

“Our duties are innovative in nature, we need the best of space to be able to link up with other local and foreign stakeholders in order to discharge services according to globally accepted standards,” he said.

The director-general said NOTAP ensured that technology transfer agreements were fair and mutually beneficial to indigenous innovators, adding,”and that they do not infringe on the country’s intellectual property laws and policies.

He also said an Indigenous contractor, Mr. Stanley Odenigbo, Managing Director of Paul-B. Nig.Plc, handled the NOTAP corporate head office project from start to finish.

According to him, that is how much NOTAP promotes industrialisation and growth of Nigerian scientists and innovators.

“The agency ensures that Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs have access to the latest technology and knowledge, which can be used to develop local capacity and promote economic growth and development

NAN reports that the newly commissioned NOTAP office complex is a smart office complex made up of 60 offices.

The offices are built in line with globally acceptable standards, that is, they incorporate modern technology to increase and boost employee productivity, experience, and efficiency.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, has urged Nigerians to ensure that the human rights of persons with mental health condition are not violated.

Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, the Medical Director of the hospital, made the call at a lecture organised by the hoospital in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2023 on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WMHD is celebrated annually on Oct. 10 to raise awareness about mental health around the world.

The WMHD is also observed to mobilise efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.

The 2023 WMHD has as its theme: ”Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”.

Owoeye, in his welcome address, said that mental health was an integral part of people’s overall health and wellbeing, which needed to be protected.

He said that the human rights of anyone should not be violated because of one’s mental health condition.

He decried that many people with mental health condition were being violated and deprived of their rights in the society because of their health condition.

According to him, mental health is important for everyone because it is the right of everyone to have a sound mental health to optimally function well.

Owoeye explained that mental health as a universal right implied that every human being has right to accessible and quality mental healthcare services.

He said that 25 to 30 per cent of the world population were living with one diagnosable mental health condition or the other, saying that the health condition could happen to anyone at anytime.

Owoeye also restated the commitment of the hospital to ensure that people had access to quality mental healthcare services in Nigeria.

”Stable mental health is a universal right of everyone.

”According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a basic human right for all people.

”Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health.

”Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to violate or deprive anyone of his or her human rights.

”Unfortunately, in Nigeria, many people with mental health condition are being deprived of their human rights, humiliated, discriminated and stigmatised,” Owoeye said.

Dr Olufumilayo Akinola, a Consultant Psychiatrist, said that the WMHD offered an opportunity for people and the country at large to improve their knowledge and drive action about mental health.

Akinola, a Guest Speaker at the event, said there was an urgent need for action to let people know that it was their right to have access to quality mental health.

She emphasised the need for provision of accessible, quality and affordable mental health services across the country.

According to her, it is the duty of everyone including the governments, individuals, families, organisations and the general public to ensure that mental health is valued, protected and promoted.

”Despite all advocacies about mental health, there is still a lot of violations of the human rights of those suffering mental health illness.

”Many are being excluded from the community and discriminated against because of their health condition.

”This is very wrong; people with mental health challenge are human beings who are unfortunate to develop the condition because of one circumstance or the other.

”Anybody can have mental health condition because study has showed that one in every four persons have the tendency of developing mental health condition in their life time.

”We need to get to that level in Nigeria that we value our mental health, shun stigmatisation and help others to overcome their mental health challenges,” Akinola said

Akinola listed implementation of the Mental Health Act, good social support, early intervention and seeking help as some of the strategies needed to promote stable mental health state for the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Army Special Court Martial sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, convicted a former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Maj.-Gen. Umaru Mohammed to seven years imprisonment.

The court also ordered the convicted senior officer to refund 2.17 million dollars and N1.06 billion being amount of monies he stole, back to the company’s coffers.

Pronouncing the sentence, the President of the court, Maj.-Gen. James Myam, said the officer was found guilty on 14 of the 18 count charges brought against him.

Myam said the sentence was based on the provisions of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and section 174 of the Armed Forces Act cap 20 Laws, 2004.

According to him, the verdict was made after due consideration of the plea of mitigation by the defence counsel.

“These sentences of this special court martial are all to run concurrently and are subject to the confirmation of the confirming authority.

“This sentence is dated this day, the 10th of October 2023 and the court is hereby adjourned Sine die,” he said.

Myam said that on count one which borders on stealing, Mohammed was found guilty and will spend five years in prison and refund 1.04 million dollars back to NAPL.

The court also found the officer guilty on count two and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, in addition to paying back the sum of $400,800 to NAPL.

On count three, Mohammed was sentenced to five years imprisonment and to refund the sum of $85,400 while count four also attracted five years imprisonment with an order to pay back the sum of $35,300.

On count five, the former NAPL boss was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an order to pay back the sum of $55,500 to the NAPL.

Count six also attracted five years imprisonment with an order pay back the sum of $46,500.

The court however discharged and acquitted him of the charge in count 7, but sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count eight, while the remaining charges he was convicted of, attracted five and two years imprisonment.

The defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), citing Section 157 of the Armed Forces Act, prayed the court to move his client to a custodial centre instead of military detention facility, which the court rejected.

Ojo also prayed that the sentence should run from the day of the court’s pronouncement.

On whether he will appeal the judgment, Ojo said he will consult his client on that.

“If he tells us tomorrow or after the confirmation that he is not satisfied with the findings and sentence, then we must carry out his instruction to appeal if he so instructs us, the decision is his,” he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria