By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria National League (NNL) has embarked on a partnership programme with the Police Command in the FCT to forestall violence at match venues.

Sajo Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of the League, led a team on a visit to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Ciroma, on Tuesday.

Mohammed said that the visit was necessary following incessant reports of attacks in match venues especially in the FCT since the commencement of the 2020/2021 league season.

We have four Abuja teams playing in the league: the EFCC FC, NAF FC, FRSC FC and Oyah Sports FC.

We noticed that as the league progressed, we were having security challenges. There are some elements that are trying to destroy our efforts.

Some people have no intention of watching the games but to come and disrupt the league.

This is a huge cause of concern for us as football is not a game of violence either to spectators or match officials but we have been experiencing that.

We preach zero tolerance to hooliganism in football and that is the reason we are here to seek partnership with the police to help curb the situation, Mohammed said.

On his part, Ciroma assured the NNL team of the support of the police.

I can assure you that we are willing to work with you to ensure that all venues are adequately secured.

But we will need a time table of the league matches and venues to be able to plan and do some risk assessment with your personnel.

That way we can know the kind of deployment to put in place in the various venues so that adequate security measures can be made to checkmate hooliganism in these areas, Ciroma said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

The Ebonyi Police Command on Tuesday declared 18 suspects wanted for allegedly promoting intra-communal war.

This is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki by the Commands Spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah.

The statement noted that the suspects were wanted also in connection with murder, arson, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Their names are as Nwankwo Godwin, as known as (AKA) Nkwo Motors); Hope Nwankwo, Chibueze Nwifuru, as known as Big Meat and Daniel Nwangwoto.

Others are Osondu Mgbada (AKA stain), Okechukwu Nwanga (AKA Ezza), Chukwudi Nwite (AKA Last Born), Ernest Aduma, Chukwudi Okefi (AKA Malaika), Oliver Okefi (AKA Malife), Osondu Okefi and Elom John.

Paul Elom, Odinaka Idu, Monday Idu, Solomon Okefi, Chinedu Ilor and Garba (from Inikiri Bernard), were also on the wanted list.

The command enjoined the public to assist in apprehending the suspects.

You can as well report to the nearest police station or call the police emergency numbers, which 07064515001 or 07034232125.

The wanted persons are all indigenes of Effium/Ezza-Effium Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi, the statement said.

It said anyone with useful information will be handsomely rewarded by the police. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ishaq Zaki

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Security Matter and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, has commended the military for fighting bandits in the state.

Dauran gave the commendation on Tuesday in Gusau while speaking to newsmen.

He said the performance of the military in tackling security challenges facing the state deserved commendation, considering the various successes recorded.

The effort of the military is appreciated by the state government and entire people of the state.

The success recorded by the operation has increased our hope and confidence that peace and stability will return to our dear state, North-West and entire country, he said.

Dauran further said that the operational skills and experience exhibited by the troops clearly indicated the good determination by the military to clear all the bandits and their camps in the state.

He praised President Muhammad Buhari for the prompt action taken and for the deployment of troops to the state.

We also appreciate the recent visit to the state by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, as part of the Federal Governments efforts to end banditry in the state, he added.

Dauran appealed to the people of the state to continue to support the state government and the ongoing security operations in the state aimed at ending banditry. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Mr Haliru Nababa as Controller General (CG), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).

The confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Interior at plenary on Wednesday.

Presenting the report, the Chairman, Sen. Shettima Kashim(APC-Borno) said the committee found the nominee suitable to occupy the position of controller general of NCS.

He said there was no petition against him, adding that the nominee also displayed high level of intelligence in the discharge of his responsibilities in his previous positions.

Shettima said the nominee was not affiliated to any political party and has a high level of personal integrity.

He, therefore, urged the Senate to confirm his appointment. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Desmond Ejibas

The French Government on Wednesday expressed willingness to offer the Nigerian Navy its full cooperation, to tackle piracy and other forms of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.

France Defence Attach to Nigeria, Col. Nicolas Rambaud made this known when he met with officials of the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School (NNHS) in Port Harcourt.

He said the Nigerian Navy being the dominant navy in the Gulf of Guinea had what it takes to secure the regions waters, with support from France.

France has a very big interest in good bilateral cooperation between our two great nations.

Going by the fact that both countries have navies, then it is logical that we have a lot to do in common to improve the security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigerian Navy is doing a lot, and we are convinced that thanks to our friendship that we can improve security in the region

So, the French Government will welcome more robust bilateral cooperation between both countries, he said.

Rambaud commended the Nigerian Navy for having acquired about 17 warships from French companies in the last few years.

He said the country would in the coming weeks take delivery of a state-of-the-art hydrographic research and survey vessel from France.

The ship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lana, is a high-tech modern hydrographic vessel and will depart French shores on April 16 to Nigeria according to plan.

The NNS Lana on arrival would enable the Nigerian Navy to better chart its waters for greater security.

So, the reason for our visit to NNHS is to anticipate the ships arrival; discuss our bilateral cooperation and understand better the direction the Nigerian Navy desires assistance from the French Government, he added.

Speaking, the Commanding Officer of NNHS, Capt. Mahmud Fana said that NNHS was the only naval hydrographic school of its kind in the entire West African Sub-region.

He sought France assistance in the establishment of a mini weather observatory station, to boost training of personnel in the school.

We also demanded among others the French Government assist us to commence a French (language) training programme in the school by Alliance Francaise.

We also discussed the possibility of assisting the NNHS with a small survey launcher boat, which will greatly enhance the practical aspect of our hydrographic training.

Fourthly, we requested for capacity development especially in the areas of Oceanography and Cartonography.

We also appealed for training on maritime safety information which we have already started with the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanography Service (Shom) in France, Fana said.

The commanding officer said the Franceattachassured of the French governments willingness to look into the navys requests.

According to him, the requests when granted would greatly enhance the Nigerian Navy capacity to produce charts for the nations maritime environment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNHS was established in 1983 to train naval forces in charting the nations territorial waters. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Federal Government and the Switzerland government have inaugurated a Blue Bus Project in commemoration of the countries 10th anniversary in migration partnership to control irregular migration in the country.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq disclosed tis at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja.

She expressed pleasure on the uniqueness of the decade-long exemplary relationship between Nigeria and Switzerland on migration.

Farouq said that it was a celebration of success, stressing that there was no time in the history of international relationship that the management of migration across international borders had been easy or free from numerous and diverse challenges.

She explained that the situation was even worse with the alarming increase in the volume, complexity and threat in international migration.

Nevertheless, in spite of the difficulties in logistics and politics, empirical record shows that with right policies and partnerships, migration can always bring about positive economic and development impact to both the destination and origin countries as well as migrants themselves.

In all of this, the Nigeria/Switzerland bilateral partnership is outstanding and enjoys a unique kind of strategic relationship based on mutual trust and respect for each other.

The partnership has over the years expanded to provide a number of laudable projects targeted towards better management of migration in Nigeria and mainstreaming migration into development.

We look forward to a stronger partnership ahead in order to consolidate the successes so far made, Farouq said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Farouq was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Bashir Alkali.

Speaking, Ms Karin Keller-Sutter, the Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, Switzerland, said she was pleased with the 10th anniversary celebration.

Keller-Sutter said themigration partnership between Nigeria and her country was an ideal example of how bilateral relations could be use to address common challenges in a positive and dynamic way.

She maintained that Switzerland was determined to continue to Foster the dialogue within the framework of the migration partnership and remained a close partner to Nigeria and Nigerians.

I praise the resilience of the Nigerian people. Our relationship has become a corner stone of trade and other profitable ventures.

I am also impressed by the ongoing projects to support Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and I would be able to see some of the projects as we inaugurate the Blue Bus Project today.

The Blue Bus Project is a good source of counselling and enlightenment on the dangers of illegal and irregular migration to people in all parts of the country. And this would help to control the surge, Keller-Sutter said.

Also, Ms Prestage Murima, who represented the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the UN in Nigeria commended the efforts of both countries in tackling migration using evidence base strategy.

Since 2001, IOM has been supporting the Nigerian Government on migration through technical assistance, capacity building, relief materials and many others.

The UN is committed to fighting against illegal migration and trafficking in persons. As a partner we shall continue to provide capacity building to Ministries, Departments, Agencies and supports returnees.

The Blue Bus Project is a one stop shop for enlightenment and information sharing about migration and dangers of illegal migration, Murima said.

Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the migration partnership agreement between Nigeria and Switzerland was signed on Feb. 14, 2011.

Aduda said the agreement was to partner against smuggling of illicit drugs, migration, promotion of border control, reintegration of returnees and migrants, adding that both countries are on track.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Basheer Mohammed, The Federal Commissioner in charge of Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, solicited support on desensitisation of returnees.

Imaan Sulaiman, Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) said the Agency had benefited from the relationship in terms of capacity building and relief for returnees.

She said the Green Bus Campaign would help in taking messages on migration to the grassroots.

In the Green Bus, there is a provision for counselling, education and other services to ensure that the mentality of wanting to illegally migrate to other countries by Nigerians is addressed.

Sulaiman was represented by Mr Godwin Mouka, a senior officer from the Agency.

Similarly, the Director-General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Buba Marwa, represented by , Mr Shedrack Haruna. solicited more support on intelligent gathering to success on their mandate.

Marwa restated the commitment of NDLEA to checkmate the activities of drug peddlers and destroy their cartels, adding, winning drug war is not negotiable.

Also, the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede represented by Comptroller Ngozi Akalonu, gave assurance that the service would continue to fight against illegal migration.

NAN reports that high point of the event was the inauguration of the Blue Bus with three compartments for counselling and information sharing.

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Federal Government to set up a legal framework for the management and utilisation of recovered looted assets.

Executive Director CISLAC Auwal Rafsanjani said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Rafsanjani said that the delay in setting up the framework had greatly undermined asset recovery and management process in Nigeria.

He said that the delay had cost Nigeria billions in lost opportunities as international partners refused to be involved in recoveries.

This, he said was because the international partners were not convinced that recovered assets would not be re-looted.

He said in order to ensure transparency, government needed to establish a database that would contain details of recovered assets including details of persons from whom they were recovered and how the assets were utilised.

This database should be publicly accessible and should be containing all interim and final forfeitures of different types of movable and immovable assets seized by different agencies.

We are yet to see some concrete results after many years of extensive international and domestic effort.

It is important that independent civil society organisations, including victims, groups or representatives, are enabled to participate in the asset recovery process especially in the process of monitoring and deciding how recovered assets are utilised.

The media has in this process played a crucial role in investigating the gaps in the current system and explaining who profits from the status quo; that is the reason we all agreed on solutions but we continue failing to implement them, he said.

Rafsanjani said that international financial intelligence from Ministry of Finance, showed that around 18 billion dollars was lost abroad yearly to tax evasion, laundering of money and other stashing of illegal proceeds out of Nigeria.

He said that unfortunately, the amount put the country at the forefront in Africa as the worst illicit financial flow offender.

To be fair, some success has been achieved in recent years in regards to the recovery of assets.

Only two weeks ago, the millions Ibori loot was returned by the UK; while the Nigerian authorities have made some commendable gains, its advocacy for the speedy return of recovered assets has lost the moral high ground.

The lacuna in the management of recovered asset was seen glaringly in the recent arguments between the federal Gyvernment and the Delta Government as to who owned the repatriated Ibori-loot, he said.

Rafsanjani said that foreign assets recovered by government can not be compared with the number of assets seized domestically which included buildings, vehicles and others.

He therefore, encouraged the media to investigate what happened to the hundreds of assets seized domestically which were worth billions of naira.

This is because international recoveries made headlines but domestic recoveries were not transparently managed, he said.

The executive director said that it was difficult to ascertain the level of success in Nigerias asset recovery due to lack of transparency and because there was no central database for all recovered assets.

Rafsanjani said that Nigeria lacked a proper legislative framework for monitoring, managing and utilising recovered assets and from proceeds of crime, adding that something needed to be done on that. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Onyegbula

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Arabi, has called for stronger collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for cheaper and more organised services to the public.

Arabi made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The director-general stressed the need for both organisations to ensure that Nigerians had efficient and quality services at all times.

He noted that in spite of challenges hindering parastatal agencies from achieving their set goals, they must collaborate to succeed.

Arabi added that parastatal agencies were important institutions because most Nigerians experienced governance and service delivery directly through them.

He said that the mission of the BPSR was to facilitate the building of Nigerias Public Service into a highly functional, professional, customer-focused and result oriented institution.

We are ready to reform and the BPSR will continue to work with NAN in the area of information dissemination for better public services, he added.

In his remarks, Ponle said that with organisations such as BPSR, there was a great hope in reforming and rebuilding the nation.

He noted that the country might be going through a very rough time, but with unity it would overcome its challenges.

The NAN boss added that Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was doing well, because change was a gradual process and nation would definitely get to a greater height.

We must always be guided by our ethics and values, there are so many people to mentor and be mentored, we must take advantage of our position to leave a great legacy behind.

We must lead by example by being accountable, patriotic and honest civil servants, he said.

Ponle urged the Bureaus chief to consider pensioners when reforming the reforms, adding that pensioners were being left behind when reforms were carried out. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Dangote Cement Plc on Tuesday released its audited reports for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2020 and is proposing a dividend of N16 per share to its shareholders.

The company disclosed this in its audited financial reports released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday.

According to the cement groups audited reports released on the floor of the exchange, the company will pay a tax charge of N97 billion during the period in review over the sum of N50 billion recorded in 2019.

Dangote Cements Nigerian operations during the period sold 15.9Mt for the full year 2020, compared with 14.1Mt in 2019.

This includes both cement and clinker sales, which implies a 12.9 per cent growth for the full year 2020. Looking at the domestic sales alone, Nigerian operations sold 15.6Mt, up by 14.3 per cent year on year and resulting in an increase in market share.

Revenues for the Nigerian operations increased by 18 per centto N720 billion, owing to demands in the domestic market.

The company said volume growth was enhanced by a successful innovative national consumer promotion Bag of Goodies Season 2 and lower rains in the third quarter compared to the previous year.

It posted a strong earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of N421.4 indicating a margin of 59 per cent.

Dangote Cement posted a record high Pan-African EBITDA of N71.3 billion, which went up by 49.0 per cent. Within the period under review, the cement group commissioned its gas power plant in Tanzania.

The Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, in his comments on the results, said: 2020 was a good year for Dangote Cement across board.

Several firsts made 2020 a productive year such as our maiden clinker shipment, maiden bond issuance and successful buyback programme.

We increased our capacity by 3Mt in Nigeria, commissioned our two export terminals and commissioned our gas power plant in Tanzania.

All these were achieved whilst we focused on protecting our people, customers and communities from the impact of the pandemic.

Dangote Cement recorded strong top-line growth supported by strong cement demand. Profitability was further bolstered by our disciplined cost control measures in what we believed to have been a highly inflationary and volatile year.

These measures resulted in a 37.7 per cent increase in profit after tax to N276.1 billion.

I am delighted to report that Dangote Cement experienced its strongest year in terms of EBITDA and strongest year in terms of volumes.

In spite of a challenging environment, Group volumes for the year were up 8.6 per cent and Group EBITDA was up 20.9%.

Looking ahead, we have strengthened our Alternative Fuel initiative which focuses on leveraging the circular economy business model and reducing exposure of our cost base to foreign currencies fluctuations.

We continue to embed Dangote Cements seven sustainability pillars into every aspect of our operation and culture.

We remain committed to keeping safe our staff and communities by being fully compliant with health and safety measures in all our territories of operation.

We are focused on adapting to the rapidly evolving markets in which we operate.

Dangote Cement Plc is sub-Saharan Africas largest cement producer with an installed capacity of 45.6Mta across 10 African countries and operates a fully integrated quarry-to-customer business with activities covering manufacturing, sales and distribution of cement.

Dangote Cement has a long-term credit rating of AA by GCR and Aa2.ng by Moodys due to its market leading position, significant operational scale and strong financial profile evidenced by the companys robust operating and net profit margins relative to regional and global peers, adequate working capital, satisfactory cash flow and low leverage.

The company is a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Ltd, a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate as well as a leading brand across Africa in businesses such as cement, sugar, salt, beverages, and real estate, with new multi-billion dollar projects underway in the oil and gas, petrochemical, fertiliser and agricultural sectors. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mr Peter Ashade, has expressed optimism that 2021 would present the company with greater opportunities for enhanced returns and service delivery.

Ashade said this to shareholders at the companys 2020 Annual General Meeting by proxy due to the COVID-19 pandemic held in Lagos.

Our financial performance, in what was a year of protracted disruptions, is a testament of our unwavering commitment to our clients needs, come what may.

For us at United Capital, we are optimistic about the year 2021 as it presents greater opportunities for innovation, growth and expansion beyond our current ecosystem, he said.

Ashade said that profit before tax stood at N7.95 billion, from N4.95 billion posted in the comparative period of 2019.

Similarly, profit after tax rose by 57.14 per cent to N7.81 billion in contrast with N4.97 billion recorded in the preceding period of 2019.

Also, net operating income rose to N12.49 billion in 2020 from N7.90 billion in 2019, representing an increase of 58 per cent.

The shareholders at the meeting approved proposed dividend of 70k per share, amounting to a total of N4.2 billion declared by the company for the 2020 financial year.

Also speaking, the companys Chairman, Mr Chika Mordi, noted that in spite of the macroeconomic pressure, it reported an outstanding financial performance in 2020.

Mordi said that total revenue was up by 50 per cent year-on-year to N12.87 billion from N8.59 billion earned in 2019.

Profit before tax grew to N7.95 billion in 2020, up 61 per cent from N4.95 billion in 2019, signifying solid growth in the overall profitability of the Group.

The Groups Return on Average Equity for the 2020 financial year stood at 35%, one of the highest among listed financial services institutions, highlighting strong value creation for our shareholders, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News