‘How Nigeria can take advantage of the AGOA deal’ (Read full details)

Waheed Olagunju

BoI empowers fashion entrepreneurs to deepen market access, competitiveness
Worried by the low level of exploitation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) deal by many operators in the non-oil sector, especially in the cotton, garments and apparels market, a global expert and the Bank of Industry (BoI) have urged operators to improve their standards and skills to access the global markets.

Indeed, to deepen market access and enhance global competitiveness of operators in the Cotton Textile Apparel (CTA) industry, BoI commenced an empowerment scheme for industry players to assist them in bridging the huge demand gap for CTA globally.

Indeed, the Development Finance Institution (DFI) stated the need for Made-in-Nigeria goods to be competitive in order to attract the much-needed foreign exchange while also complementing Federal Government’s effort in diversifying the nation’s economy away from hydro carbon resources

The bank stressed that lots of Nigerian entrepreneurs are still under-selling and under-marketing their products due to lack of access to the global market.

The acting Managing Director, BoI, Waheed Olagunju, explained that the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) worth over $100 billion for CTA is yet to be fully utilized by African countries, maintaining that a small country like Bangladesh was able to do business worth over $5 billion under the AGOA scheme in 2016.

Olagunju during a master class session with an international fashion strategy and brand development expert, Mercedes Gonzalez who is also the Managing Director, Global Purchasing Companies, New York, USA, pointed out the need for Nigerian entrepreneurs to up their game by sharpening their skills to tap into the international markets that present lots of investment opportunities.

“We have potential in this country, but we have not been able to actualize them. This whole process is about ensuring that Nigerian entrepreneurs who operate along the CTA value chain attain competitive industrialisation. They should be able to produce world standard designs not only for the Nigerian market and African market, but for people across the globe.

“Under AGOA, we have about a $100 billion worth of these opportunities where African countries are exporting less than a billion while small countries like Bangladesh last year did $5 billion of export to the United States of America. The most interesting thing is that Nigeria did not appear on the African radar. The countries that exported mainly to the US are our African brothers from Madagascar, Botswana, Kenya and the likes. We need to up our game by sharpening our skills to enable us to tap into the market that presents lots of opportunities,” he said.

According to him, “Many of the products that are on display today are of international standards, but our entrepreneurs do not know how to get out there. This is why we brought Gonzalez to Nigeria as a development finance institution to help build the capacity of the Nigerian entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills in order to take them to the next level and also to be globally competitive. We believe this will go a long way to help Nigeria diversify its economy away from oil to earn forex from exporting our fashion to the world. She is here in Nigeria to teach Nigerian entrepreneurs to bridge the huge demand gap of the CTA industry.”

A brand development expert, Gonzalez expressed delight working with Nigerian entrepreneurs, stating that she is a very big fan of the capabilities and designs of the Nigerian entrepreneur.

“This is not my first experience with designers from Nigeria, I have met them overseas. I have always been a very big fan of their designs and their capabilities and I am here now to teach them the basis part of getting all together.

I spoke with Buhari, he’s in good spirit, says Saraki (Read full details)

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

CAN, JNI, others pray for speedy recovery
Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari was in good spirit when he spoke with him on Wednesday night on phone.

Saraki stated that contrary to doubts about the President’s health, the president is actually hale and hearty.

Saraki in a tweet at 11.35 on Wednesday night, said he spoke with the president and he was not only in good spirit but also cracked a joke with him about his attitude of working very late into the night.

The tweet said: “Happy to have spoken with @NGRPresident @MBuhari tonight. He was in good spirit and joked about my working late into the night, as usual.”

Saraki’s tweet corroborated the comment of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday that the president was hale and hearty.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Nigerians to pray for the quick and full recovery of the president and his safe return to Nigeria instead of dwelling on the needless rumour mongering.

CAN however advised the presidency to update Nigerians on how the president is fairing and the full progress of his recovery.

A statement yesterday in Abuja, CAN’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Evangelist Kwamkur Samuel, observed that President Muhammadu Buhari is human, hence subject to health challenges sometimes.

He called on Nigerians to give the Acting President full support and prayers to lead well.

Also, the Jamatu Nasir Islam (JNI) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has urged Muslims to
dissociate themselves from those calling for the resignation of the acting President Yemi Osinbajo, saying that the agitators are unpatriotic and wants the country to be in crisis.

Besides, they also cautioned those speculating the death of President Muhammadu Buhari, urging all Nigerians to be full of prayers forthe president.

A statement by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu yesterday, said: “Following the unnecessary excitement in the
President’s delayed return to Nigeria, we implore all and sundry, particularly the Muslims to persistently supplicate on daily basis for
President Muhammadu Buhari’s safe return, restoration of good health.”

Also, Communications Minister, Barrister Adebayo Shittu appealed to Nigerians to be calm and resolute in prayer for the quick recovery for the president.

The minister said the president like any other person is entitled to medical check-ups after strenuous official engagements, hence there should be no reason for anybody to make issues out the President’s health condition.

Similarly, Governor of Ekiti State and chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s Governors’ Forum, Ayodele Fayose also wished the President sound health urging Nigerians to jointly pray to God for the President to get well soon so that he can return on time and resume work.
He also urged the presidency to give Nigerians update about the president’s health.

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu also prayed for the president.

Nigeria targets 10% biofuel inclusion in petroleum products (Read full details)

To Raise Policy For PPPRA Regulations
There are indications that Nigeria may reduce the import of its petroleum products by 10% when a policy on biofuel becomes operational, the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Victor Shirok, has said.

Speaking ahead of a stakeholders workshop scheduled for next Tuesday in Abuja, the PPPRA Executive Secretary said the policy, which is awaiting final ratification of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would spell out production, pricing and regulatory framework for biofuels consumption in the country.

He also explained that the target of the Federal Government is to ensure five percent inclusion in the petroleum products short term with a view expanding to it to 10% within a short period.

Providing an insight into what biofuel is, Shidok said biofuel comprise bioethanol and biodiesel, which are blends of petroleum products and agricultural products, adding that E-10 for instance, is a blend of 90 per cent gasoline and 10 per cent ethanol, while biodiesel B-20 is a blend of 80 per cent diesel and 20 per cent oil from Jathropha, used palm oil etc.

The PPPRA boss highlighted that this blend will lead to more job creation in the petroleum and agricultural sectors of the economy and that a lot more advantages accrue from this new industry which offer as alternative to fossil fuel thus providing cleaner and cheap energy.

On his part, the National President of Jathropha Growers Association of Nigeria, Gen. Joshua Omosebi (rtd), dismissed the notion that the massive production of biofuel would lead to sharp rise in the price of cassava, saying “that cannot be true because more people will be encouraged to go into the production of cassava to earn more money.”

Edo communities protest against illegal land acquisition (Read full details)

Land

Obaseki pledges improved council administration
Some communities in Uhunmwode, in Owan West and Ovia North East Local Councils of Edo State, at the weekend protested against the acquisition of their land by Okomu Oil Palm Company.

The protests held in Orhua and Umokpe in Uhunmwode and Ozalla clan of Owan West, were led by the communities’ traditional heads and elders-in-council.

The Odionwere of Orhua, Aiwekhoe Ozigbo and Mr. Influence Osaghaede, who spoke on their behalf, said the land had been their heritage for centuries.

They appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, to stop the company from taking further action on the land.

They alleged that the state government forcibly acquired their land without following the due process or paying them any compensation.

The elders said the warning became necessary to stop the firm from further destruction of their farmlands and wildlife species.

The elders alsoalleged that Okomu oil acquired the land from a company, A & Hatman Ltd, which claimed to have purchased it from Iyayi Group of Companies.

They appealed to those interested in land acquisition to fulfill the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study .

But, the Public Affairs Manager of Okomu Oil, Fidelis Oliseh, denied the allegation.

He explained that the state government issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to Okomu Oil, which had not been revoked.

Oliseh added that the project’s commissioning was to be performed in the twilight of Adams Oshiomhole’s administration, stressing that plans were underway for Obaseki to perform the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Obaseki yesterday promised to resolve the salary arrears’ challenge in the local councils.

He disclosed this when he received members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who visited him.   He also promised to address the issue of staffing and liabilities in the management of council funds.

Edo communities protest against illegal land acquisition

Family still seeks justice for murdered Helen, one year on (Read full details)

The late Mrs. Peter

Life has never been the same for the family of the late Mrs. Helen Ebere Peter, who was allegedly strangled to death on January 19, 2016 by a former security guard, with the help of six other suspects, who were never arrested.

The family is seeking justice, which has been denied them after the release of suspected accomplices to the murder. According to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), they were not found culpable to the crime. DPP declared them innocent, describing them as victims of circumstance in the criminal act.

On the fateful day, Mrs. Peters had informed her husband she was going to Iyana Ipaja in Lagos to stand as a guarantor to enable the release of a wedding venue needed as part of his wedding preparations after impregnating a neighbour. She was, however, lured to the suspect’s house, who said he wanted to get the money to pay for the hall.

According to the confessional statement from the police, the main suspect had allegedly made arrangements with five other guys, including six other persons, to tie the deceased as she was mentally deranged and wanted help to be conveyed to the east. She was tied in both hands and legs backwards, her mouth and nose covered, while the quack nurse was contracted to inject her to sleep, which was given in overdose.

However, the suspicion of the landlady’s son, who noticed funny movements around the suspect’s apartment, gave him up and Mrs. Peters was subsequently, taken to the hospital where she was declared dead, leading to the suspect’s arrest.

Narrating the incident to The Guardian, husband of the deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Onyekachi Peters, said: “I know the suspect, he was once a security guard for our central estate gate in Gowon Estate, working with a security company and sometimes he ran errand for us. I didn’t know he had stopped working for the security company till my wife and sister in-law told me he was planning for a wedding and needed help since he impregnated this bride-to-be.

“On the day of the unfortunate incident, my wife called me and said the suspect had gotten a venue for the wedding and they needed a guarantor so that the hall could be released to him. That morning, she dressed up and told me she was on her way to the hall and would return to her office afterwards.

“I tried to reach my wife later in the afternoon and her phone was not reachable, I thought her battery was low. Around 4:00p.m., I went to my children’s school and they were still there. I took them home and called my brother and sister-in-law, who stay close to my house to be with my children while I went in search of my wife.”

Peters said he went to the house of the lady the suspect impregnated, which was the next street to theirs and was told the lady had already relocated to the village and knew nothing about the wedding preparations. Even when the lady was contacted, she said the suspect was in Abuja, which aroused suspicion in the mind of Peters.

“While the conversation was going on, I got a call from my wife’s line, a man said the owner of this phone is dead and the body has been taken to the Yaba mortuary while the boy, who committed the crime is in police custody. Since then, we have been back and forth from the state CID in Panti. The case has since not been charged to1 court.

“All I want is justice. The main suspect and his accomplices all made confessional statements and for the DPP to say they didn’t have case to answer hurts me so much. I want everyone that took part in this act to be brought to book. I am calling on the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to ensure that justice is achieved,” he said.

Family still seeks justice for murdered Helen, one year on

Quadri rues missed opportunity at Hungarian Open (Read full details)

Aruna Quadri lost in the quarterfinal of the on-going Hungarian Open.

Despite making the top eight list in the men’s singles of the just concluded ITTF World Tour tagged Hungarian Open, a dissatisfied Aruna Quadri believes he should have done better in his quarterfinal tie against Germany’s Ruwen Filus.

Having fought hard from the first round of the championship, Quadri thrilled the Hungarian fans with his superb style of play and ferocious forehand that most times dazed the German.

A disappointed Quadri said after his quarterfinal exit, “I was fighting as hard as I could; recovering from three-one down. I changed things around going to 9-6 in the last game. I did not seize my chances today. It was not meant to be.”
Seeded number nine in the men’s singles, Quadri played his heart out against Germany’s Steffen Mengel when he came from 2-1 down to win at 4-2.

Again in the second round match tie against Czech Republic’s Tomas Konecny, Quadri had to recover thrice to beat the Czech 4-3 to berth in the quarterfinal of the championship as Africa’s sole flag bearer.

The quarterfinal battle against Germany’s Ruwen Filus lived up to expectation with all the quality of a last eight encounter.

According to ITTF Publication Editor, Ian Marshall, Aruna Quadri was in charge of the match but he missed it when it mastered most.

Marshall said: “It appeared Aruna Quadri may succeed; after trailing by three games to one, he leveled at three-all. In the seventh he led 9-6, he lost the next point but at 9-7, he had the service; the odds were in his favour but he was not able to convert the advantage. Ruwen Filus (11-9, 14-12, 2-11, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 12-10).”

For his performance at the Hungarian Open, Quadri has picked up some points for the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, while his pairing with Egypt’s Omar Assar has also given them the points to make it to the main draw of the men’s doubles event.

Quadri rues missed opportunity at Hungarian Open

Man in police custody for allegedly abusing child with hot iron (Read full details)

Borno State Police Command has arrested the Director of Planning and Statistics in the state’s Ministry of Animal and Forestry, Shettima Gulumbali, for allegedly inserting an electric hot iron into his 10-year old son’s anus at their residence in Maiduguri.

Gulumbali, before his arrest, alleged that his son had been engaging in homosexuality with some politicians in Maiduguri metropolis.

His neighbour, Aminu Isa, said: “Gulumbali has been abusing his children with threats and physical torture. Gulumbali was fond of flogging and tying his children for several hours without food and water. He also threatened once to disown his son and divorce the child’s mother.”

Gulumbali, however, dismissed the allegations leveled against him by some of his neighbours.

The Guardian learnt that the victim was chained before his father allegedly inserted the electric hot iron into his anus. He was also accused of denying his children Western education.

It was also gathered that the civil servant also recently chained one of his daughters called Mama for insulting her stepmother at the Housing Estate.

A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed Gulumbali’s arrest. Efforts to confirm the incident from the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Victor Isuku, proved abortive.

However, some residents at the estate insisted that there were increasing level of homosexual activities during and after the 2015 general elections in Borno.

In a related development, the state’s former Commissioner for Information, and current Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of National Trail Newspaper, based in Abuja, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, has been arrested by the police for alleged attempted murder.

Bwala was arrested while on his way to the office in Abuja by a team of policemen and brought to the Borno State Police Command, where he is being detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Maiduguri.

Confirming the incident at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Damian Chukwu, while speaking on Bwala’s arrest to journalists, said: “Yes, it is true that the former Commissioner of Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala is in my custody. He was arrested in connection with a petition written against him by the Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Usman Durkwa.”

According to Chukwu, Bwala’s arrest was pursuant to a Court Order issued by a Maiduguri High Court, which said: “Bwala, along with several others still at large, are to be arrested, because they formed part of the accused persons allegedly involved in the attack on Usman Durkwa, the former Borno Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation in Marama town in 2015 during the eve of the presidential election.”

He said the suspect would likely be tried by the same court that sentenced five others earlier accused for the same alleged offence.

Man in police custody for allegedly abusing child with hot iron