Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • Ekiti Tribunal: PDP lawyers, INEC tango over alleged unfair access to electoral materials

    Counsels representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola Eleka, before the election petition Tribunal on the July 14 poll, on Wednesday raised the alarm, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State of not cooperating fully with them on the need to have a fair access to electoral materials during inspection as ordered by the Tribunal. (more…)

  • Master Bakers will not increase bread price – Official

    Master Bakers will not increase bread price – Official

    The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has assured the public that it will not increase the price of bread nationwide.

    Mr Jacob Adejorin, South-West Vice Chairman of the association, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    “We have been receiving calls from different parts of the country based on radio, television and newspapers’ reports that bread makers will increase price of bread and also embark on a nationwide strike from Sept. 24.

    “We Master Bakers are disassociating ourselves from such plan. Although, we acknowledge the concerns of stakeholders about the high cost of production inputs that is reducing profit margin and crippling businesses of bakers nationwide.

    “In spite of these challenges, we are assuring the public that price of bread from us will not increase and we will continue to ensure highest standard in our production process,” he said.

    Adejorin, who is also the Lagos State Chairman of the association, urged the Federal Government to review the issues inhibiting the growth of bakery industry and create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

    NAN reports that the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) had on Sept. 11 warned that price of bread may rise by 90 per cent due to increase in basic baking ingredients in the country.

    Speaking on the issue, Mr Emmanuel Onuorah, Publicity Secretary of PBAN, told NAN that it was true the association intended to increase bread price but debunked the reports about the proposed strike.

    “We do not have trade dispute with the Federal and State Governments; neither are we at loggerheads with anyone.

    “We are not going on strike. We are not shutting down production,’’ he said.

    Onuorah noted that the challenges faced by bakers was due to the incessant increase in the prices of baking ingredients that had rendered most premium bakeries comatose and operating at a loss.

    According to him, between 2015 and 2018, the price of flour increased from N6,500 to N11,500 per 50 kilogram bag, while sugar had 77 per cent rise in price within the same period.

    He said that salt, margarine, yeast, preservatives and improvers used in enhancing the quality of bread had recorded 84 per cent, 67 per cent, 112 per cent, 45 per cent and 160 per cent increases, respectively.

    Onuorah added that the price of diesel, which most factory used to power their generators for production also increased by 57 per cent, while the price of bread had only witnessed 11 per cent rise within the period.

    “Most bakers are running on negative margins as we have been subsidising bread for Nigerians and we cannot afford to do that any longer.

    “Most of us got loans with double-digit interest rates from financial institutions to fund our bakery projects and are finding it extremely difficult to meet our loan repayment obligations,” he said.

    Onuorah urged the Federal Government to review downward the 15 per cent levy on wheat grain imports to help drive down the price of flour, which constitute about 75 per cent of baking ingredients.

    “We believe that a reduction in the 15 per cent levy on wheat grain by the government, will lead to a substantial reduction in the price of flour by millers,” he said.

    Onuorah also urged the government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to clear the ambiguity in the tax law on whether premium bread was part of “basic food items’’, exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

    “To our understanding, Part 1, Paragraph 2 of the first Schedule of the Value Added Tax Act exempts certain goods including ‘basic food items’ from VAT.

    “However, the Act does not define basic food items.

    “In reality however, producers of premium bread over time, had been made to pay VAT, penalised or threatened for not paying VAT on bread.

    “We, therefore, demand that the Federal Government and the FIRS look into this as a matter of urgency in order to clarify this ambiguity,” he said.

    Onuorah said that over 700,000 people were employed directly and indirectly in the premium bread sub-sector, adding that addressing the critical challenges would ensure sustainable food production and economic growth.

    NAN reports that currently, a loaf of bread containing 20 and 25 slices costs N250 and N300 respectively, while the jumbo size (not sliced) sells for N450 or N500. (NAN)

  • Ortom confirms receipt of FG’s N14.9bn Paris Club refunds

    Gov.Samuel Ortom of Benue has confirmed the receipt of N14.9 billion, being the last tranche of the Paris Club Refunds from the Federal Government.

    Mr Terver Akase, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), stated this in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi.

    Akase said that 80 per cent of the funds would be committed to payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

    According to him, Ortom has set up a committee, headed by Deputy Governor Benson Abounu, to work out modalities for immediate disbursement of the funds.

    He said the other members of the committee were; the Head of Service, Commissioner for Finance, Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Adviser on Labour Matters.

    Others are Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Union of Pensioners Benue State chapters.

    He explained that the decision to involve other stakeholders in the disbursement of the funds was to ensure transparency and accountability.

    He explained that Ortom had also made public the other refunds from the club that were received by the state.

    “It will be recalled that the Governor similarly made public the receipt and disbursement of the N12.7 billion first tranche and N6.4 billion second tranche of the Paris Club refunds respectively.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers in the state are being owed between 6 and 12 months salaries. (NAN)

  • Global markets – Oil approximately $80 as Asian shares rise trade war impact weighs

    Asian stocks followed global indexes higher on Thursday as investors took a less bearish view on the impact of the U.S.-China trade war on markets.

    Brent sweet crude was 0.3 per cent higher at 79.67 dollars per barrel.

    U.S. crude was 71.67 dollars a barrel on top of a jump Wednesday that came after new data showed U.S. crude inventories fell 2.1 million barrels last week.

    This is its fifth weekly draw down to 394.1 million barrels.

    That was the lowest level since February 2015.

    MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan took its lead from gains on Wall Street overnight, rising 0.2 per cent.

    Japan’s Nikkei stock index was flat with a recent rally appearing to lose steam as it entered its fifth day.

    Australian shares eased 0.2 per cent.

    But gains in the MSCI index were tempered as a rebound in Chinese shares faltered with the Shanghai Composite index dropping 0.1 per cent, reversing early gains.

    Shares in Hong Kong also turned lower as the Hang Seng index edged down 0.04 per cent.

    The broad index fell despite encouraging signals about investor appetite in Hong Kong listings from a strong debut by Chinese online food delivery-to-ticketing services firm Meituan Dianping.

    U.S. shares had been boosted Wednesday by expectations that the impact of the Sino-U.S. trade war would be smaller than feared.

    The U.S. fiscal policy package potentially outweighed any negative impact.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.61 per cent higher on Wednesday at 26,405.76, its highest close since late January.

    The Nasdaq Composite dropped less than 0.1 per cent to 7,950.04, pulled down by a fall in Microsoft.

    On Thursday, S&P 500 E-mini futures were higher by a hair, at 2,910.5.

    Analysts at Citi cautioned in a note Thursday that U.S. housing data out this week showed signs of weakness despite a headline jump.

    Citi said housing starts had been strong, but building permits – an indicator of future activity – were at their lowest since May 2017.

    “The housing market remains a specific point of weakness in the U.S. economy and while not in focus, it could be important… housing data on Tuesday wasn’t encouraging on net.”

    The rally in global stocks has been accompanied by falls in U.S. bonds and the Japanese yen.

    This week’s rise in yields comes ahead of what is expected to be a hawkish meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve next week.

    The dollar was 0.1 per cent lower against the yen at 112.12 . The euro was 0.1 per cent stronger against the greenback at 1.1673 dollars.

    The dollar index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.08 per cent at 94.466.

    Meanwhile, safe-haven assets such as U.S. bonds and the Japanese yen slipped with hope the ongoing U.S-China trade spat abates.

    Gold was high helped by U.S. dollar low. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Pakistan PM, Imran Khan proposes Indian-Pak FM meeting in NY for peace

    Pakistan “remains ready” to discuss terrorism, he said

     

    Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has written to PM Narendra Modi seeking to restart the “stalled dialogue process” between the two neighbours

    By Nidhi Razdan,

    Pakistan “remains ready” to discuss terrorism, the new Pakistan prime minister wrote.

    Referring to PM Modi’s letter after he was sworn in last month, Imran Khan said he endorsed his sentiment that the only way forward for the two nations “lies in constructive engagement”.  In his victory speech, the cricketer turned politician had said that Pakistan would respond with two steps if India took one.

    Government sources have told NDTV that resumption of dialogue is not on the cards. “Talks and terror can’t go together,” they say, reasserting New Delhi’s stand. However, a meeting between the foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week is not ruled out.

    This is the second outreach by Imran Khan, who is perceived as a man close to the Pakistan army and whose campaign speeches were full of anti-India rhetoric.

    The letter is dated September 14 but its details have emerged a day after a soldier’s throat was slit by Pakistani troops at the International Border, after which the Border Security Force lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan Rangers.

    “Pakistan and India have an undeniably challenging relationship. We, however, owe it to our peoples, especially the future generations, to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to bridge differences and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome,” said Mr Khan.

    He added that Siachen and Sir Creek also needed close attention to move towards a resolution.

    “Building on the mutual desire for peace between our two countries, I wish to propose a meeting between Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, before the informal meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers at the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York,” Imran Khan wrote.

    They could explore the way forward, he said, adding that the SAARC Summit in Islamabad “will offer and opportunity for you to visit Pakistan and for us to re-start the stalled dialogue process,” Mr Khan said in the letter to PM Modi.

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    Hostilities between the two countries escalated with a series of attacks, especially the terror attack on an army camp in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead. India later launched surgical strikes across the line of control to target Pakistani terror camps.

  • Ghana to host AFRIMA 2018 in November

    Ghana has accepted to host the 5th All Africa Music Awards between November 21 and Saturday, November 24 in Accra this year. It will be hosted in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA.

    The host country rights acceptance was conducted on Tuesday at a media announcement at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.

    It followed the official unveiling of the 5th AFRIMA Host Country by the African Union on September 6, 2018 at the African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the delivery of the Official Host Country letter to the government of Ghana on September 16, 2018.

    Leading the Ghanaian government delegation to the media announcement was the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri; Ag. Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Vitus-Otto Langmagne; Director, Creative Arts Council, Ghana, Ms. Gyankroma Akufo-Addo; and Advisory Board Member, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Ghana, Okatakyie Nana Anim 1.

    Speaking at the event where she received the Hosting Right Certificate and the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA Trophy on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, the Minister expressed her delight at the opportunity given to Ghana to host the biggest music event in Africa.

    “We want the people of this beautiful country to see this as a call to duty; a call to every creative artiste in Ghana, from the North to the south, to the east and the west. We, the good people of Ghana, would have to show the rest of Africa and the world that we are up to this task and well prepared to deliver a world-class music event in Africa”.

    “And I trust in you, seeing the plethora of attendees here today just for the acceptance tells me that we are well prepared and ready to take Africa by storm. The narrative of Africa must change and it will change through music. We can use music as a conduit for peace and send a strong signal to the rest of the world that Africa has its challenges but we have overcome most of them. Our young people are talented, intelligent and they are ambassadors of hope to the next generation”, Catherine concluded.

    Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri stressed that the people of Ghana were excited about hosting AFRIMA while also indicating President Nana Akufo-Addo’s interest in the AFRIMA project.

    “The President has personally demonstrated and expressed his interest in this event, following its presentation by the minister to the cabinet, and the cabinet has also embraced it”.

    The President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada explained the values of AFRIMA with an acronym; FACE IT, which stands for Fairness, Accountability, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency.

    “We use the power of superstars to communicate the beauty, glamour and positive side of the Africa continent to the rest of the world. AFRIMA not only provides opportunities to the nominees but the host country as well, in showcasing the unique artistic, tourism and economic potentials of her culturally dynamic and beautiful cities”.

    Mike Dada encouraged the nominees to reach out to their teeming followers and solicit for votes on the AFRIMA website, explaining that it is the artiste with the highest votes who will be awarded the 23.9 karat gold plated trophy.

    Sharing the story of relatively unknown Ghanaian music artiste in the 2014 edition of AFRIMA, Mr. Dada said “Wiyaala, she won two AFRIMA awards based on the votes by her fans and this subsequently opened her up to countless opportunities”.

    Members of the International Committee of AFRIMA present included; Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, Director, Brand Communication; Mr. Ernest Ewane, AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa; Mr. Don Obilor, AFRIMA Regional Director, Western Africa; Mr. Francis Doku, Country Director, Ghana; Mr. Kingsley James, Co-Producer/Country Director, Nigeria and Mr. Olisa Adibua, Associate Co-Producer/AFRIMA Jury Member.

    The event was also attended by music superstars from Ghana including 5th AFRIMA nominees and past winners such as Domino, an award winning reggae and dancehall artiste; Stonebwoy (2014 winner and 5th AFRIMA nominee for the category of Best Artiste/Duo/Group in African Ragga, Reggae & Dancehall); Kuami Eugene, (5th AFRIMA nominee for Most Promising Artiste in Africa, and Best Artiste/Duo/Group in African Pop); King Promise (5th AFRIMA nominee for Best Male Artiste in Western Africa and Most Promising Artiste in Africa); female rapper and singer Feli Nuna; Afro-dancehall artiste, Epixode; award-winning Jazz Artiste, Steve Bedi and a host of others.

    The awards holding from November 21 to 24, to be known as the 5th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA–Ghana 2018 will have main awards program spanning four days of exhilarating activities which are: AFRIMA Welcome Soiree; Africa Music Business Summit; AFRIMA Music Village; Media Interviews/Meet & Greet; and a tour of the notable sites and landmarks in Ghana.

    The All Africa Music Awards is the biggest music event on the continent and the awards ceremony will be broadcast live to 84 countries across the globe.

     

  • Nawaz, Maryam, Capt Safdar released after suspension of Avenfield sentence by IHC

    By Rizwan Shehzad

     ISLAMABAD: Hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the sentences against them, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif,  his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar were released on bail from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail Wednesday evening.

    Earlier in the day, a division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb also allowed petitions filed by the Sharif family members against the accountability court’s July 6 verdict in Avenfield reference case which found them guilty of corruption and sentenced them to imprisonment and fines.

    Soon after the three leaders walked free, PML-N workers took to the streets dancing, distributing sweets and raising slogans in favour of the verdict.

    A large number of party workers also gathered outside the Rawalpindi jail when Nawaz along with Maryam and Safdar were taken to the Islamabad airport amid tight security.

    Later in the night, the three PML-N leaders reached Jati Umra, the residence of the Sharif family in Lahore.

    “The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner,” reads the judgment. “The petitioner shall be released on bail subject to furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs500,000 with one surety in the amount to the satisfaction of deputy registrar of the high court.”

    The order allowed the release of Nawaz, Maryam and Captain Safdar after submission of Rs0.5 million bond each. They had been in prison since July 13.

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    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said that NAB will appeal in the apex court against the IHC’s verdict.

    The hearing was attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif along with Mushahiddullah Khan, Raja Zafarul Haq, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and others.

    Shortly after the verdict was announced, Nawaz’s younger brother tweeted a Quranic verse to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences. While Asif termed the IHC judgment a “victory for justice”.

    Speaking to The Express Tribune, Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan said the verdict was “expected and nothing out of the ordinary”.

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    In the July 6 decision, Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir had sentenced Nawaz to 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI), Maryam to 7 years RI and Safdar to one-year (RI). The accused were also disqualified to contest elections or to hold public office for a period of 10 years after release.

    Following the accountability court’s judgment in the Avenfield reference, the Sharifs’ filed separate petitions through counsel Khawaja Haris and Amjad Pervaiz requesting the high court to suspend sentences and set aside the verdict.

    Sharif’s suspension petitions not maintainable: NAB

    The petitions moved the onus of proof from the accused to the prosecution. In the course of court proceedings, the IHC mulled whether the conviction can be based on presumption as NAB continued to raise objections over the maintainability of the petitions.

    The anti-graft watchdog also moved the Supreme Court to block the Avenfield verdict suspension pleas before the IHC. However, the top court penalised NAB for filing a “frivolous” petition and fined the anti-graft watchdog Rs20,000.

    Culled from The Express Tribune

  • Saraki, Tambuwal, other defectors selfish, weak -Buhari

    President Buhari Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said all those who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition political parties were the selfish and weakest members whose disposition failed to align with the vision of his administration.

    Buhari stated this while accepting the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the 2019 Presidential election on the platform of the APC donated to him by a group known as Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Prominent among those that defected from the ruling party to the opposition PDP were Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors of Benue, Kwara and Sokoto, Samuel Orton, Abdulfattah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal respectively.

    President Buhari who expressed gratitude for being honoured by the mainly youth groups drawn from different parts of the country said that his vision to rescue the nation began in 2002, adding that the country reached a hopeless state in 2006, hence his decision to contest for the Presidential position in 2007.

    According to him, his decision was predicated upon the state of hopelessness in the country where, he noted, selfish interest of elected leaders superseded national interest, pointing out that the 2007 election in the country was a national disgrace.

    “I am honoured today to receive youths from all over the country contributing to buy the form for me. The weakest whose sense of expectation does not align with our vision have exited our party,’ president Buhari said.

    Alleging that corruption was fighting back, President Buhari said, “We now have a party of strong and patriotic people who are ready to work for a strong Nigeria.”

    The President listed his achievements since assumption of office to include completion of rail projects and new ones under construction, government support to farmers, as well as the rehabilitation of fertilizer plants, introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) he said has helped the administration to tackle the menace of stealing in public service as well as provision of jobs and cash for the most vulnerable Nigerians.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, Deputy Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) NCAN, Chuckwuemeka Nwajiuba said the members of the group who facilitated the purchase of the Expression of Interest Form for the President where made up of three million Nigerians  after a triple A assessment of the performance of President Buhari.

    He stated that the group was convinced to purchase the form on the bases of President Buhari’s commitments in the fight against graft, terrorism and the effort to revive the economy.

    The presentation was attended by the Minister of Transportation, Director-General (DG) Buhari Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, Attorney-General Of The Federation (SGF) and Minister f or Justice, Abubakar Malami, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Spokesman of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Barr Festue Keyamu, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and Hajiya Farida Sulaiman.

     

  • Consensus candidate will ensure victory for APC in Abia- Ikonne … Picks governorship form

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has said that if all the stakeholders and the party could settle for a consensus candidate, his party’s victory would be made easy in the coming general election. (more…)