Buhari orders probe into alleged sexual abuse in IDPs camps

NBA sets up task force on North East, Niger Delta crises

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Idriss Ibrahim and governors of the affected states to investigate the allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

President Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, vowed that the allegations raised by Human Rights Watch (HRW) would be investigated by his administration.

He added: “The welfare of these most vulnerable Nigerian citizens is a priority of his government.”

While expressing shock by the HRW report, he said Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations would be investigated.

In a related development, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up a task force to look into the humanitarian crises in the Niger Delta region and the North East geo-political zone of the country.

While the 14-man task force on the North East is headed by Professor Mohammed M. Tabiu (SAN), that of the Niger Delta comprised the chairman, Albert Akpomudge (SAN) and 12 others.

Inaugurating the two committees yesterday, the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) tasked the chairmen and members to bring their experience and time to bear on their assignments.

The North East task force was charged with the responsibility of providing free legal services to individuals and communities in the region who were victims of the conflict.

The task force for the Niger Delta was commissioned to provide legal assistance and support to NBA members, individuals and communities within the region affected by the conflict.

Other responsibilities include evaluating the implementation of the Niger Delta regional development master plan and determine if the Niger Delta Development Commission Act should be amended to reflect current trends in the region.

Mahmoud stated that: “The internally displaced persons in the region are estimated to be 2.3 million which is the third largest in the world after Syria and Columbia. Also, the insurgency in the North East has affected the independence of the legal profession and the welfare of our members.”

NBA sets up task force on North East, Niger Delta crises

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Idriss Ibrahim and governors of the affected states to investigate the allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

President Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, vowed that the allegations raised by Human Rights Watch (HRW) would be investigated by his administration.

He added: “The welfare of these most vulnerable Nigerian citizens is a priority of his government.”

While expressing shock by the HRW report, he said Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations would be investigated.

In a related development, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up a task force to look into the humanitarian crises in the Niger Delta region and the North East geo-political zone of the country.

While the 14-man task force on the North East is headed by Professor Mohammed M. Tabiu (SAN), that of the Niger Delta comprised the chairman, Albert Akpomudge (SAN) and 12 others.

Inaugurating the two committees yesterday, the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) tasked the chairmen and members to bring their experience and time to bear on their assignments.

The North East task force was charged with the responsibility of providing free legal services to individuals and communities in the region who were victims of the conflict.

The task force for the Niger Delta was commissioned to provide legal assistance and support to NBA members, individuals and communities within the region affected by the conflict.

Other responsibilities include evaluating the implementation of the Niger Delta regional development master plan and determine if the Niger Delta Development Commission Act should be amended to reflect current trends in the region.

Mahmoud stated that: “The internally displaced persons in the region are estimated to be 2.3 million which is the third largest in the world after Syria and Columbia. Also, the insurgency in the North East has affected the independence of the legal profession and the welfare of our members.”

Clinton still frontrunner despite FBI emails letter

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a campaign rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 31, 2016. Clinton campaigned Monday for a third straight day without close aide Huma Abedin, linked by media to the renewed FBI probe into the former secretary of state’s use of a private email server. The Federal Bureau of Investigation jolted the US presidential race Friday with the announcement it was reviewing a new batch of emails that appeared to be pertinent to the Clinton case.
Jewel SAMAD / AFP

Democrat Hillary Clinton maintained her lead over Republican Donald Trump in their race for the White House, even in the wake of renewed scrutiny of her use of a private email server, a poll showed Monday.

Barely a week from the election, the NBC News/SurveyMonkey weekly poll showed Clinton’s six-point national lead remained essentially unchanged since last week.

FBI Director James Comey’s announcement on Friday of the recent discovery of emails that could be “pertinent” to the agency’s investigation of Clinton’s use of a private email server while she served as secretary of state had little impact on voters, the October 24-30 online poll found.

Results of the week’s tracking poll showed that, in a four-way race including two “third-party” candidates, Clinton is supported by 47 percent of likely supporters while Trump maintains 41 percent support.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson dropped a single percentage point to six percent support, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein had three percent support.

In a race with just the major party candidates, Clinton has a seven-point lead over Trump, with 51 percent in favor compared with his 44 percent, in the final stretch ahead of the November 8 election.

The pollsters included questions about Comey’s announcement on Saturday and Sunday.

The poll showed likely voters were split on whether they thought the FBI announcement it was an important issue to discuss — 55 percent — or more of a distraction to the campaign — 44 percent.

For independent voters who do not lean toward either party, 68 percent said it was an important issue, while 31 percent said it was a distraction.

The poll was conducted among 40,816 people considered likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus one percentage point.

How government agencies frustrate food export at nation’s airports

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

NCAA defends presence of multiple officials

Despite the Federal Government’s campaign for economic diversification and export promotion, there is growing exporters’ apathy due, among others, to logistic difficulties at exit points.

While the availability of supply is not in doubt, the bureaucratic bottlenecks at the airports and alleged extortions by a legion of government officials have more or less made the export corridors almost a no-go area for local exporters.

In the alternative, The Guardian’s investigation reveals, farmers have taken to smuggling to neighbouring countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Cameroun and Ghana, where freighting is cheaper and unhindered by officials.

But the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), that is responsible for coordinating affairs at the airports justified the heavy presence of government agencies at the exit points, describing it as “statutory.”

At the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for instance, there are representatives of almost all the security agencies in the country, who supervise the import and export of commodities. Among them are the Department of Quarantine Services, the Nigerian Immigration Services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Customs, Police, Department of State Services (SSS), Anti-Bomb squad, Air Force, Skyways Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL)/National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

A yam farmer in Nasarrawa State, who identified himself as Abdullahi Sanni, said the “road blocks” at the airport and attendant extortions by some officials had over the years remained the bane of the country’s export drive.

Abdullahi said: “Go and find out. A Nigerian yam that manages to get to Canada or United States, because they love our yam so much, ends up being between 60c and $1 more expensive than others coming from places like Ghana. And more often, they turn out to be the same type of yam but in different labels.”

An exporter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Guardian that all the officials must be “settled from table to table” before the produce can be loaded onto an aircraft.

According to him, “We usually start with the Quarantine. They will insist on fumigation and you must pay about N12,000 per pellet. Besides, you still have to bribe and continue bribing from one table to another You must bribe your way through all the agencies if you don’t want to miss your flight.”

President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Segun Musa confirmed the allegation, adding that “under the right procedure, those agencies are not supposed to be there at all, and we have been crying for ages, but government would not listen.”

Besides logistics, there is also the problem of certification of Nigerian farmers to make their produce acceptable overseas.

A U.S.-based Nigerian export promoter, Patricia Obichukwu, noted that Nigeria has over 15,000 registered yam farmers, but none is internationally certified because of non-adherence to the rigid process required by the international market.

Aside from the dearth of infrastructure, there is also the issue of five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on freight cost. This is an additional barrier which makes the export of Nigeria’s farm produce more expensive than Ghana’s, or Cameroun’s.

For instance, the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana is now a logistic hub in the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) because of its ease of export processing. It hosts only one government agency at the export shed to check the export of unauthorised goods out of Ghana, but there are absolutely no duties on authorised goods.

The Accra airport alone exports an average of 25,000 MT yearly, which include 95 per cent of fruits and vegetables, and five per cent for general cargo and mining extract. In contrast, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, being the busiest in Nigeria, is doing 16,000 MT yearly, Kano 1,000 MT, Port Harcourt 900 MT, and Abuja 400 MT.

Air France KLM Cargo Country Manager Nigeria, Gabriel Lalande, reported that yams exported from Ghana, actually originated from Nigeria, due to the cumbersome export process and high duty cost.

In defence of the multiple agencies, the NCAA explained that for every aerodrome, there are agencies that are required.

The spokesman for the authority, Sam Adurogboye, said that for an international airport, “it is a must to have those multiple agencies because of cargo, personal, drugs, security issues among others that are involved.”

According to him, what is usually done is to hold airport security meeting and the Joint Intelligence Board (JIB), led by the NCAA to address concerns as they are raised.

Shame! Police officers engage in street fight over extorted money (Photos)

Two officers of the Nigerian Police engage each other in street fight over money extorted from a driver at Igan

Tope

Yes, it is a shame that Nigerian Policemen “engage in street fight over extorted money”. But it is even more shameful that PM News would publish photos that have been on the social media for around one year now without giving credit to its source.

powertothepeople

I remember seeing these pics before, hence, it’s not a reflection of what should be the true story. PM News, you can do better than this. As for the Nigerian police, I think extortion is a “must acquired and mastered skill” they were exposed to while in training. The reason for the fight however, is greediness (another learned skill)

500 emergency volunteers to tackle disasters in Lagos

A cross section of the emergency management volunteers officers undergoing training.

Kazeem Ugbodaga

At least, 500 Emergency Management Volunteers, EMVs, are to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government in battling environmental disasters in the state.

The EMVs began a two-day training on Monday at the Lagos State Relief Camp, Igando, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria to prepare them for the work ahead. The volunteers are drawn from 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs of the state.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Seye Oladejo flagged off the training on Monday, saying that the volunteers were being trained to effectively manage disaster such as fire, flooding, collapsed building, automobile, boat or air crash, among others.

He said timely response was crucial to their management and the extent of damaged caused.

“As a result, there has been remarkable improvement in the management of disaster and emergencies as demonstrated by various occurrences recorded recently in different parts of the state. The LASEMA Response Unit and the sophisticated equipment such as tow trucks, crane, fire trucks, ICU ambulances, forklifts etc., which most times are dispatched to various emergency intervention such as fallen tanker/containers, automobile accident, and removal of stationary vehicles especially at night has tremendously reduced as well as mitigate emergencies that would have claimed lives in the State,” he said.

The commissioner stated that the current administration had continued to invest in disaster and emergency management infrastructure, saying this was not only to safeguard the multi-billion naira investments that dotted thee state’s landscape, but that the effort was part of the strategies to make the state investment friendly and boost the confidence of thee investors in the state.

“It is very important to note here that emergency/disaster management requires adequate, proper training and professionalism, this is important because minor injuries, if not properly attended to by competent hands could lead to complications, or rescuers without proper training could turn into victims.

“It is therefore believed that the engagement of these volunteers and capacity building as emergency responders will enable us have thee advantage of local knowledge of emergency scenes and the ability of our responders to be properly guided in their rescue efforts as well as improve prompt and adequate response during emergency/disaster, thereby improving the response time as well as reduce disaster risks at the community level,” he stated.

Oladejo solicited the support of all in making the state a safe haven for people living and doing business in the state.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, said the emergency management volunteers was primarily conceived to reduce and manage disaster risk through capacity building of local inhabitants of the state, saying the volunteers could also help other residents in their areas to save more lives and properties in the state.

“The whole idea is to bring emergency management to the communities, in realization of the fact that it is the communities that bear the real brunt of the emergencies and disasters. Based on this realization, it is only wise that a solid foundation should be laid for effective emergency/disaster management at the community level and also ensures that our communities and the grassroots people become sufficiently equipped, sensitized and enlightened on issues of emergencies/disasters prevention, response and management,” he said.

According to him, “Lagos State as a mega city, with high population density and peculiar topography, as well as high concentration of industries, has become vulnerable to many types of disaster, especially the man-made ones, like collapsed building and automobile/tanker accidents with accompanying fire and loss of lives and properties.”

Forex crisis: Adiyan II water treatment construction hits N64 billion-LASG

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare(middle), briefing the press, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment(right) and Engineer Adeyemi Saliu(left) at the October Monthly Press Briefing of the Conference Room of the Ministry on Monday.

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Foreign exchange crisis facing the country has pushed the construction of the Lagos Adiyan II water treatment plant from N54 billion to N64 billion.

State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare, while answering questions at the monthly press briefing of the ministry on Monday in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria also debunked insinuations that the government was planning to privatise the Lagos State Water Corporation.

The commissioner disclosed that the initial cost of constructing the Adiyan II water treatment plant was N54 billion and that the foreign exchange crisis in Nigeria had pushed the cost to N64 billion.

“I want to say categorically that we are not privatizing Lagos State Water Corporation. I want that to be clear to every Lagos residents. We know it is expensive to build water treatment plants. We are currently constructing on Adiyan II. Already, we have Adiyan Water Treatment Plant I already working. We also have Iju working.

“We have Isasi working. We just finished one at Ikota Ikosi. We have other mini-water works. But we are building Adiyan II. Initially, the Adiyan II project was N54 billion. But foreign exchange crisis has pushed it to over N64 billion. This is huge cost for the state government to bear alone.

“Due to cost implication and foreign exchange crisis, we plan to work with private concern. Some private interests want to come and build the plant with their money. When they complete the plant, they will charge very sensible rate. But we will sit down and negotiate the rate with them.

“We are also going into contract with them. Our arrangement will be under Public-Private Partnership (PPP). We are not privatizing water supply in the state. We have not finished Adiyan II. We are vigorously pursuing the completion of the Adiyan II project,” he stated.

Adejare said the government was so sure that the population of Lagos had hit above 25 million So, saying this necessitated plans by government to consider building another water treatment plant at the Lagos East Senatorial District.

He disclosed that the State Executive Council just approved the first one to be constructed in the area, adding: “That is the one we will use as a model for others. That is Odomola II water treatment plant. It will supply water to Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju and Epe, among others. We are going to get water from Osun River.”

“The State Executive Council has just approved the Odomola II project. We are also building water plants in other parts of the state. We are committed to bringing water to our people. Currently, Lagos State Water Corporation charges 5k per litre. Water vendors will fetch the same water and sell it at N20 per litre. The bottle water is not better treated than our water. This is not sustainable. What water corporation is charging cannot sustain its service. In fact, in the last two months, the corporation cannot pay its salaries. 5k per litre cannot bring them any revenue,” he lamented.

According to Adejare, “We must face the facts and we must be realistic about it. We are not privatizing Lagos State Water Corporation. We are only going into public-private partnership arrangement. We are not directly dealing with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) or the World Bank. The cost is much. It is about $300 million. This government cannot put down the money at once. We have commitment in other sectors – the environment, education, health. We are ready to engage strategic investors. That is how it is done elsewhere.

“We are battling with water-borne diseases around. If civil society organisations insist on the status quo, we are at risk of water-borne diseases. It is better we have water at appropriate pricing and reduce the risk of water-borne diseases. We are paying exorbitantly for water. Insurance firms are charging us. Instead of 5k per litre, they are charging N5 per litre. The rate we are negotiating is not up to N1 per litre. It is about 64 kobo per litre. I can assure that the interest of our people will be utmost on our minds during the time of discussion.”

Ogun sacks NLC, NUT chairmen, 14 others

 

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun

Eleven days after Ogun workers embarked on an indefinite strike, government responded today with the dismissal of the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali and the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Dare Ilekoya.

Mr Olusola Adeyemi, the Head of Ogun Public Service announced the sack in Abeokuta in a statement entitled: “Government position on the recommendation of panel of inquiry set up to investigate alleged misconduct of executive members of the NUT on the 2016 World Teachers Day Celebrations held on October 5.”

Also dismissed are 14 other members of the state chapter of the NUT.

In addition, 16 officials of the Union were suspended for their roles in organising the celebration.

The NLC chairman, who was until his dismissal a Deputy Director , Community and Social Development, Sagamu Local Government, was alleged to have masterminded the “political campaign rally” during the celebration.

According to Adeyemi, the panel indicted Ambali for making “inflammable and scandalous remarks against the state government”, which could cause breach of peace in the state.

“The Ogun State government accepts the recommendation of dismissal of the affected officials which the panel found guilty of contravening the Public Service Rules 04401,04421(c&d) and 04406(a)”, Adeyemi said.

He therefore directed the relevant agencies of government to implement the government decision.

In a swift reaction, the NLC chairman described the action as “executive recklessness and abuse of all statutory laws” urging workers to remain resolute in the quest to have their legitimate rights from “an autocratic and deceitful

Ambali in a statement on Monday night, said he had never been summoned by any panel, and that, “the attention of the leadership was just drawn to the purported dismissal through phone calls.

“We are calling on our ever committed workers to remain at home and not be intimidated by this action that is against all norms of democratic and fair hearing.

“I have never been summoned by any panel and this clearly shows how autocratic and deceitful the government of Ibikunle Amosun is.

“Our cause for this strike is legitimate, just and right. They have only shown their true colours and this new approach is unprecedented in the history of this country,as no state governor has done what they are doing to us in Ogun state.

“Their past draconian efforts have never yielded any fruits,so also will be this move to cage us in Ogun State.

“We only want to warn that they should not set this state on fire, even as we urge our members to remain calm and just stay at home. The struggle continues,” he said.

Workers in the state commenced an indefinite strike on October 20 to protest non- remittance of 12 months deductions from their salaries.

Kukah visits EFCC, meets Fani-Kayode, Obanikoro, others

                              Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Revd. Mathew Kukah, on Monday visited the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

According to a statement by the commission’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, Kukah met with Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and a former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, among others.

He said that Kukah was reportedly conducted round the EFCC’s detention facilities by the acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Uwujaren said Kukah expressed delight that the detainees were in high spirits despite the discomfort of temporary restriction.

”I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati, and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful.

”I was also happy with the humility of the acting chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees.

”This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kind of things personal. I am happy I came,” Kukah said.

Kukah said that well-meaning Nigerians like himself were staff of EFCC to the extent that they wanted a better country and were doing what was needed to be done.

”We’ll continue to pray that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of.

”This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption,” he said.

Kukah commended the commission over the state of its detention facilities in Abuja, describing them as ‘clean and orderly”.

Magu, however, assured the detainees that their incarceration was not personal.

“It is not personal; this is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” he said.

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