By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Friday seized N600 million worth of substandard tyres at an enforcement exercise along the Lagos Ibadan expressway.

Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General, SON, at the enforcement exercise, said the seizure was part of SONs efforts and commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of unsuspecting consumers.

Salim decried the absence of the standards body at the nations port, noting that the fight against substandard goods was best tackled at the point of entry.

According to him, the enforcement exercise was to ensure that the tyres do not find their way into the nations markets.

Salim, at a discreet warehouse located in a remote area in Ogun, showed the tyres stuffed in over 100 containers, noting that the integrity of the tyres has been lost.

The SON boss noted that the seized tyres, with no economic value, were like time bombs waiting to explode.

He maintained that SON would stop at nothing to ensure that substandard tyres do not find their way into the hands of unsuspecting consumers in the country.

Salim, who described SONs relationship with Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) as excellent, pointed out the need for closer synergy between both agencies to combat the menace of substandard goods.

This is a very dangerous situation because peoples lives are at stake and our roads are not safe because of something like this.

We have no idea how these tyres got into this country, we are not at the ports and it did not come through us and they do not have papers with us that the goods have been cleared.

We do not also have access to the port, because if we were at the ports, there is no way we would allow about 100 containers, and you can imagine if there existed another 15 warehouses around the country, we are looking at about 2000 containers slipping through unnoticed.

Do not forget that the country is wide and I will not be surprised if there are other warehouses in other locations.

It is a very dangerous trend and this is why we are still emphasising that the best way to enforce is to be at the point of entry.

Our message to importers is that we are coming for unscrupulous importers and we are not ready for compromise and we will prosecute. There is no way we can salvage these tyres, so we are going to destroy them.

We have arrested the manager of the warehouse, but the owner of the product is a foreigner and happens to be outside of the country, and we are sure he would come to explain himself; and if he does not, we will just prosecute the manager and anybody involved in this property, he said.

Salim enjoined members of the public to always insist on buying quality goods, saying that this is the only way to drive Nigerias industrialisation.

Manager of the warehouse, Mr Emmanuel Ogbagu, fielding questions from the Director General, said the warehouse employs manpower from outside to un-stuff the tyres to be taken to markets across the country.

He said that all efforts to reach the owner of the warehouse had proved abortive, and claimed to be ignorance of the implications of stuffing tyres. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abiodun Lawal

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ogun Command, on Friday, said it intercepted and impounded a petroleum tanker used by vandals to siphon 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the state.

It said the tanker was intercepted at Ifote village, near Ipara, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The NSCDC state Commandant, Mr Hammed Abodunrin, told newsmen in Abeokuta that thecommand got information around midnight that some vandals were stealing fuel from the pipelines and immediately swung into action.

Abodunrin said that immediately the vandals saw the headlights of the NSCDC team, they took to their heels, abandoning the already loaded 45,000 litres tanker.

He said that the area was notorious for pipeline vandalism, asmost of the vandals came in through the bush to siphon fuel.

The commandant said that the command would continue to work 24 hours to ensure that the nations critical national resources were protected, warning pipeline vandals to desist or face the wrath of the law.

He said that the tanker and its contents had been impounded, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) immediately notified so that they could get the fuel from the tanker.

Abodunrin said the command would investigate and take the case to court, where any equipment used for vandalism could be forfeited to the Federal Government.

He said that the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audis focus was to ensure that economic saboteurs did not have their way.

Our existence is to ensure that Nigerias economy is protected by ensuring that we carry out one of our major mandates, that is protection of critical national infrastructure, and the commandant general has really empowered us.

He has deployed vehicles, motorcycles and equipment that can assist us to ensure that we have capacity to protect the pipelines , Abodunrin said.

He warned community leaders and villagers not to be collaborators with vandals, but rather, to collaborate with the NSCDC. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will go after owners and operators of supermarkets and confectionery selling cookies, biscuits and other products laced with illicit substances.

Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa gave the warning while receiving further briefing on follow-up operations from the Commander, NDLEA in the FCT, Mohammed Sokoto over the arrest of a 300-level university student, Rhoda Agboje and her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both suspects, who were arrested on Tuesday, specialises in producing and selling drug cookies to school children, clubs and supermarkets in Abuja.

Marwa gave the warning in a statement by the agencys Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Friday in Abuja.

The NDLEA will henceforth go after supermarkets as part of preventive measures.

This include, clubs, confectionery and other outlets and their owners, selling cookies, biscuits, cakes and other products laced with illicit substances under whatever guise.

We will not shy away from hitting their production spots, supply and sales outlets before they get into the hands of innocent schoolchildren, unsuspecting members of the public and even our vulnerable young men and women.

We will not rest on this until we chase them out of this criminal business. This is why I want to seize this opportunity to warn owners and operators of supermarkets, clubs and other sales outlets to clean their stores of these illicit substances before we get to them, he said.

Marwa said the cookies in Abuja laced with drugs were packaged in designed paper wraps under the name Function with its motto as function right with every bite.

He said that at the back of the package was a quote the suspects attributed to God to justify their illicit trade quoting as Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seeds, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.

NAN reports that Narcotics agents with the NDLEA command of the FCT, uncovered a syndicate involved in producing the cookies with Arizona, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis; alcohol and rohypnol among other ingredients.

In another development, the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa III has asked the NDLEA take over a rehabilitation centre being constructed in Keffi through community efforts.

The traditional ruler made the plea when he paid a courtesy visit with other leaders of his emirate to Marwa for his outstanding commitment to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.

We have come to plead with you to take over the rehabilitation centre we started as a first class drug treatment facility through private efforts in Keffi.

We are doing this because we know the damage drugs can do to any nation. With proper funding, the centre can handle the rehabilitation needs of the entire North Central and even most parts of the North.

If Keffi is at peace, Abuja will be at peace but if Keffi is on fire due to the menace of drug abuse, Abuja will equally be on fire due to its proximity to the FCT.

In his response, the NDLEA chairman commended the Emir for his support to the crusade against drug abuse and assured him of NDLEAs preparedness to work with him to rid his emirate of the drug scourge.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Owolewa

Alhaji Alaga Olayemi, a businessman and farmer, was kidnapped on Wednesday by unknown gunmen from his farm in Oke-Onigbin, Isin local government area of Kwara, the State Police Command confirmed on Friday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that the businessman was kidnapped by seven unknown gunmen, indicating that intensive effort to rescue him has been activated by the states Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawal Bagega.

According to NAN findings, the businessman was abducted along with some of his Aides.

However, two of his aides escaped after some confrontation with the kidnappers. They managed to escape with some matchete cut injuries while their boss was whisked away to an unknown destination.

The Police said they do not know if the abductors have made any demands from Olayemis family. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Institute of Sales and Marketing Management of Nigeria (ISMMN) on Thursday inducted not less than 30 members in pursuit of professionalism and economic development.

The institute was established by the Act of Parliament in 2007 and had been active in its advisory role to government in policy formulation on trade matters.

Alhaji Awulu Mutkari, President-In-Council, ISMMN at the induction in Abuja,said its unique training was aimed at exposing students to rigorous educational and industrial on-field opportunities.

Mutkari explained that it was engaged in training students to earn professional certification in sales and marketing management with global recognition, especially in UK, Europe, U. S. and Asia where similar institutes existed.

He noted that the institute was open to all above 18 years old who wanted to pursue a career path in the noble profession.

We are in collaboration with Yaba College of Technology and soon to conclude arrangements with Federal University, Lokoja for our Diploma students, he said

Dr Johnson Anene, Vice President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) commended the institute for creating a result oriented integrated sales and marketing management profession with international accreditation, certification and global acceptance.

In a keynote address, Anene said its effort wasevident in the institutes continuance to creatively and technologically develop Nigerian graduates and other interested persons by educating, training and retraining them to meet modern day business challenges.

Considering the dynamic economy of Nigeria as well as the global economy, he underscored the need for matching sales and marketing management techniques to achieve consistently visible growth.

He said that ACCI would not mind partnering with the institute in promoting business development to enhance reduced cost of doing business.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the induction which has the theme: Rewarding High Impact Entrepreneurs also features an award of some entrepreneurs as economic catalysts and players in the real estate in FCT.

The real estate organisations awarded included Urban Shelters, BILAAD Reality, Kingfem and EFAB Properties Ltd. among others.

Chief Olu Fashina, Director-General of the institute noted that the awardees selection was based on the research it carried out which projected real estate as one of the sectors which was afloat in business during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Speaking with NAN, he said that the awardees applied modern technology, skilled labour and top quality management to achieve the level of excellence.

Mr Maximus Nwoye, one of the inductees in an interview with NAN expressed delight for having the opportunity to be inducted as a Fellow of the institute after a thorough training.

It has been a long journey and I am happy belonging to the institute, which is an international affiliate and a professional body.

As a member of the institute, it will help one to get to meet and relate well. Such institute promotes career growth and economic advancement, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has dismissed the on-going smear campaign against the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, saying the Buhari administration stands behind all Nigerians including the minister against unfair treatment.

Reacting to calls in some quarters for Pantami to resign over his utterances over 20 years ago, Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, described such calls as unfortunate.

According to him, it is unfair and unfortunate for anyone to seek for the downfall of a hard working public servant due to statement he/she made in the past even after such statement had been rejected by the affected person.

He said: Today, there is an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them.

This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on thebasis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami is, currently, subject to a cancel campaign instigated by those who seek his removal.

They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to cancel him.

But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.

The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s.

The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them.

But he will not repeat them for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.

According to the presidential aide, in the 2000s, the minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50, adding that time has passed, and people and their opinions often rightly change.

Shehu posited that Pantami was deliberately being attacked to rubbish the achievements of the Buhari administration in the ICT sector.

He, however, reiterated the commitment of the Buhari administration to improving the lives of all Nigerians.

He also listed the achievements of Pantami in the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy in the past two and the half years.

This Administration is committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians and that includes ensuring they are not over-charged or under-protected for those services on which modern life depends.

The Minister has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing.

He has revolutionized the governments virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers money.

He has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs.

He has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own; and he has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected.

In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession, he said.

He further noted that Pantami and the Buhari administration had made enemies for putting people first in all their dealings

Shehu said: The minister and this administration have made enemies. There are those in the opposition who see success and want it halted by any means.

And there is now well-reported information that alleges newspaper editors rebuffed an attempt to financially induce them to run a smear campaign against the minister by some ICT companies, many of which do indeed stand to lose financially through lower prices and greater consumer protections.

The government is now investigating the veracity behind these claims of attempted inducement, and should they be found to hold credence police and judicial action must be expected.

The Administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has called on Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs to use the Ramadan period to foster peace and tolerance in the country.

Lalong made the call on Thursday evening in Abuja at the breaking of fast (Iftar) and feeding of about 2,000 people by Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Abuja.

The governor who decried the spate of insecurity and religious intolerance in the country stressed the need for religious and ethnic harmony.

I am here this evening to break fast with both Muslims and Christians, because I have been told that even Christians join in the breaking of fast here.

This is good and this is how we can promote peace and unity, all other leaders must also encourage religious harmony.

I can do anything for peace, he said.

Lalong who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum called on all governors to work more closely with religious and traditional rulers to entrench peace in their states.

He said as part of efforts to achieve peace in Plateau, he had established a peace agency and inter-religious council.

Lalong called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to intensify prayers for peace in Nigeria while expressing optimism that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges.

Earlier, Cardinal John Onaiyekan commended the initiative of feeding the less privileged and equally called for peace and unity among Nigerians.

He called on government at all levels to deal decisively with the few criminals terrorising the country, adding that Nigerians are generally peace loving.

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Fuad Adeyemi, said about 1000 to 2000 less privileged Muslims and people of other faith were fed daily and this will continue throughout the Ramadan period.

He said the programme was part of the Al-Habibiyyah Food Bank programme meant to help the less privileged and foster unity among Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programmme is an annual event during the Ramadan period, which encourages peace, unity and care for the less privileged. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Enulue

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to fund the 104 unity schools across the country to enable them deliver quality education.

The Minister of State For Education, Mr Emaka Nwajuba, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Keffi after inspecting facilities at the Federal Government College, Keffi.

His visit was to inspect reconstruction work on the female hostel destroyed by a fire incident which reportedly claimed the life of a female student.

He said the present administration placed premium on education as the engine of Nigerias economic and technological growth.

Nwajuba said that the administration was critical about the quality of service being provided in all the unity schools.

He stated that the Federal Government was expecting proper usage of the fund made available to the schools towards delivery of qualitative education and discipline to the students entrusted in their care.

Nwajuba then reassured that the present administration would not fail in its responsibilities of making the schools models for academic excellence and discipline.

He, however, appealed to those entrusted with the care and management of the schools to always ensure that they do their best to justify the confidence reposed on them.

He said it had become imperative that the colleges established as centres of unity and excellence must meet such standards.

The minister then warned that the Federal Government would continue to monitor all the schools to ensure the judicious usage and application of their funds. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that its initiative to set up agro-processing zones nationwide is driven by the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

Dr Abubakar Al-Mujtaba, ACCI President made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Al-Mujtaba said that the agro-processing zones should be the turf of the OPS while the government should provide enabling framework, support and environment to make the project thrive.

Al-Mujtaba described the policy action as a timely response to the push for diversification of the economy to bridge dwindling fortune of the oil sector and tackle challenges of African Continental Free Trade Area.

We are excited by the coverage of the planned project which confirms the seriousness of the federal and state governments to address agricultural value urgency to increase export earnings and compete locally and internationally.

The expected massive output will make up for the late action to upgrade the national agricultural exporting capacity.

The OPS has the skills and the experience to transform the dream of the government into reality in term of a diversified economy with maximum efficiency.

The private sector has the qualities of less waste, transparent business model and value for money, he said.

He further noted that the project would also gain from the time tested industrys experience in the processing sub-sector, while leveraging on the extensive capacity of the private sector to drive such a business model.

He particularly commended the Ministers of Agriculture as well as that of Industry, Trade and Investment for their collaboration and foresight.

He hoped that full integration of the private sector into the design and implementation process would make a huge difference in the attainment of the projects goals and agenda. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The World Health Organization (WHO) says about 16.6 million children in Africa missed planned supplemental measles vaccine doses between January 2020 and April 2021 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ravaging.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Ms Matshidiso Moeti, made this known during a virtual press conference facilitated by APO Group on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Measles is highly contagious, requiring at least 95 per cent immunization coverage in the population to prevent outbreaks.

Yet coverage with the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine has stagnated at around 69 per cent in the WHO African Region since 2013.

Only Seven countries in the region achieved 95 per cent measles-containing vaccine coverage in 2019.

The low measles coverage reflects a wider stagnation in routine immunization in Africa that, in some countries, has been exacerbated by the pandemic and related restrictions.

Some diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria and yellow fever, require 90 per cent coverage in the population, yet rates in Africa remained stuck at around 70 to 75 per cent over the last decade.

Around nine million children in the African region miss life-saving vaccines, each year and one in five children remain unprotected from vaccine-preventable diseases, which claim the lives of over 500, 000 children under 5 years in Africa every year.

Moeti said that the outbreaks were largely due to low routine immunization coverage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said eightAfrican countries reported major measles outbreaks that affected tens of thousands during the aforementioned period.

She added that 15 African countries delayed measles immunization drives in 2020 as they dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although seven of these countries have now completed the campaigns, the remaining eight still poses a risk of major measles outbreaks.

The COVID-19 pandemic which has led to over three million deaths globally left gaps in routine immunization coverage in the Africa region.

Recent outbreaks of measles, but also yellow fever, cholera and meningitis, all point to worrying gaps in immunization coverage and surveillance in Africa, Moeti said.

As we fight COVID-19, we cannot leave anyone dangerously exposed to preventable diseases, she said, while urging countries to double down on essential health services, including life-saving vaccination campaigns.

Moeti said the WHO was working with African countries to ensure that routine immunization service delivery was scaled up to close the gaps created at the start of the pandemic.

This includes providing policy guidance, helping strengthen health systems, training health care professionals, reinforcing disease surveillance and the use of data for action, as well as assisting with periodic mass vaccination campaigns for a range of vaccine-preventable diseases, she added.

She explained that integrated action was needed to increase and expand access to immunization as part of primary health care.

She, however, added that this must be backed by a well-trained workforce, strong surveillance, health information systems, national leadership, management and coordination.

We must also engage more with community leaders and influencers to ensure that everyone understands the life-saving, transformative promise of vaccines, Moeti advised. (NAN)

Source: NAN News