Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • FG releases 19 high yield crop varieties, 1 chicken breed

    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has released 19 new high yield crop varieties to enhance agricultural production.

    The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release at its 26th meeting held at its secretariat at the  National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

    NACGRAB’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Sunday Aladele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan that an indigenous chicken breed was also approved for registration and release.

    Aladele said the chicken breed submitted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), was a dual purpose (egg and meat) livestock breed called FUNAAB Alpha Chicken.

    The Registrar said the chicken breed had performance characteristics such as body weight, egg weight and survivability surpassing those of existing Nigerian local chickens.

    He said the Chairman of the NVRC, Chief Oladosu  Awoyemi, announced the release of the chicken breed and the 19 crop varieties out of the 21 submitted for consideration during the meeting.

    Aladele said the 19 crop varieties included one soybean (SC-SL01), five maize hybrids (P4226, P3966, P4063, WE3205and DKB350) and two maize varieties (AMANA-1 and AMANA – 2).

    Others, he said,  were one sweet potato variety (Solo Gold),  three groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 27, SAMNUT 28 and SAMNUT 29)  and three sorghum varieties  (SAMSORG 47, SAMSORG 48 and SAMSORG 49).

    Aladele said two cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 18 and SAMPEA 19) and two transgenic hybrid cotton (MAYCO C567 BGII and MAYCO C570 BGII) were also approved for release.

    The NACGRAB boss said criteria used by the committee for release of the crops included characteristics such as high yield potential, good pod clearance and resistance to potato virus.

    He said other characteristics were good standard, resistance to lodging, early maturity, tolerance to drought, excellent husk cover, high grain yield and tolerance to insect pests.

    Aladele said scientists, seed companies, research institutes, universities and breeders from Nigeria, India and Kenya attended the meeting.

    He said some foreign participants also developed the newly released varieties for their countries. (NAN)

  • Housemaid remands in prison for theft of jelwery worth N10 million

    Housemaid remands in prison for theft of jelwery worth N10 million

    A 24-year-old housekeeper, Abosede Owofolabi, was on Tuesday remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos,
    after she pleaded guilty to stealing her employer’s gold worth N10 million.

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, directed that the convict should be kept behind bars pending sentence.

    Abosede, who resides with her employer, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah, told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large between
    Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 at the residence of the complainant.

    Unah said the accused stole the jewellery valued at N10 million, property of her employer, Mrs Bukola Babatola.

    He said the accused entered the room of the complainant and stole the jewellery.

    “All attempts to recover the stolen items from her is to no avail,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 (7) stipulates a seven-year jail term for stealing, while Section 411 provides
    two years for conspiracy.

    The Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, fixed Sept. 6 for sentence. (NAN)

  • Man, under codeine influence, allegedly assaults 2 Policemen

    The Police in Lagos on Tuesday, arraigned a 31-year-old applicant, Joshua Oshame, at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly assaulting two policemen while under the influence of hard drug.

    Oshame, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge bordering on assault.
    The prosecutor, Sgt Michael Unah, alleged that the accused assaulted one Insp Yakubu Adeniyi and Sgt. Moses Ogwu, with a beer bottle while on their lawful duties.
    Unah told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 25 about 10.30 a.m. at Aganga Street, Ifako-Ijaiye in Lagos.
    He alleged that the complainants while on patrol at suspected criminal hideout area located at Ifako-Ijaiye, apprehended the accused who was in possession of a codeine cough syrup and other illicit drugs.
    “The accused resisted arrest and in the process, he hit the complainants with a beer bottle,” he said.
    Unah said the offences contravened Sections 117 and 174 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, (Revised)
    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety.
    Fashola ruled that the surety must be gainfully employed and who should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions..
    The Magistrate adjourned the case until Sept. 28 for mention. (NAN)

  • Dentist elected as Pakistan’s new president

    According to unofficial results, Alvi secured 353 votes out of a possible 679.

    He is expected to replace Mamnoon Hussain, an ally of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who will be completing his five-year term on Sept. 8.

    The president is elected through a secret ballot by the electoral college comprising the Senate, the national parliament and four provincial assemblies.

    A dentist by profession from the port city of Karachi and one of the founding members of the PTI, Alvi’s political career spans over five decades.

    According to the constitution of Pakistan, members of the Senate, the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies will vote for the post.

    Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies whereas lawmakers from the national assembly and Senate will poll votes in a joint session of parliament in Islamabad.

    NAN reports that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday completed preparations for the election.

    Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies in addition to the National Assembly.

    Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan served as the Returning Officer.

    NAN also reports that the PTI controls the National Assembly and has a majority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and has the support of the ruling party in Balochistan, its candidate Alvi is in a strong position.

    However, the Opposition parties are in majority in Senate.

    The president of Pakistan is elected in a secret ballot by the provincial and national assemblies.

    There are total 706 assembly members who will elect the president.

    The ruling party has the highest number of party votes in the electoral college for elections to the office of the president. (dpa/NAN)

  • No president can succeed without ingenuity of Ndigbo — Bafarawa

    Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, a  Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) Presidential aspirant, has said that nobody can rule Nigeria without tapping the education and business ingenuity of Ndi Igbo.

    Bafarawa, a two time governor of Sokoto State, made this known when Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hosted him in Enugu on Tuesday.

    He was in Enugu to consult and intimate the party in the state about his intention to vie for the country’s president.

    “Ndi Igbo are partners in Nigeria unity, cohesion and political stability; nobody can govern the country without Ndi Igbo,’’ he declared.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the 2019 general elections were free, fair and credible.

    Bafarawa said that Buhari had no alternative than to allow for credible poll in the forthcoming elections because “he is a beneficiary of free and fair poll in the country’’.

    He commended Gov Ugwuanyi and the state PDP for the wonderful reception accorded him and delegates and promised to carry everybody along if elected as the country’s president.

    “I will carry everybody along politically in building a virile, united and prosperous Nigeria. This is my bond to Nigeria and Nigerians,’’ Bafarawa declared.

    Earlier, Ugwuanyi, described Bafarawa as an ambassador of peace and good governance adding that the presidential aspirant was one of Nigeria’s politicians with grassroots followership.

    Ugwuanyi said that the people of Enugu respect Bafarawa’s role in unity of the country. (NAN)

  • PDP chieftain, 20, 000 supporters defect to APC in Kwara

    By Abiodun Esan

    Mr Sunday Babalola, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara, on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside 20,000 of his supporters

    Babalola, a governorship aspirant in 2015 on the platform of the PDP announced his defection in statement issued in Ilorin.

    He said his perception about politics has been people oriented, and the PDP has deviated from such ideology, hence the need to move to the APC.

    “As it is, our dear state needs urgent liberation from the over 45 years of deceit, oppression and primordial politics called ‘stomach infrastructure’

    “It is time for our people to be liberated from a those that have hold them hostage and have over the years subjected them to abject poverty and underdevelopment,” Babalola said.

    He said it is the duty of government to advance the well-being of the citizens through the provision of infrastructure and amenities, human capital development and creating an environment conducive for businesses.

    “I believe strongly that my state, Kwara, has been sadly and regrettably bedeviled with unprecedented underdevelopment occasioned by inappropriate policies, programmes and with little or no project executed,” he added.

    He alleged that successive governments in the state have mismanaged its resources and said the APC presents better alternative to place the state on the path of development in 2019.

    Babalola said that return of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and others to the PDP was one major reason behind his exit, adding that the party lacks integrity.

    “I cannot be in the same political party with those I believe have plunged Kwara State into its current abysmal condition.

    “So, I have decided to pitch my tent with the APC, where I believe still have some integrity in it,” he said.
    Babalola said he has no ambition to contest in 2019, but only joined forces with people of like mind to rescue the state from “the shackles of poverty and oppression.”

    He, however, promised to continue to offer his service and resources for the emancipation of the people. (NAN)

  • Customs generates N140.4bn in August – Official

    By Racheal Ishaya

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it recorded its highest ever monthly revenue of N140.4 billion in August 2018.

    The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to Attah, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) said the improvement was as a result of dogged pursuit of several reform programmes.

    Ali highlighted some of the reforms to include strategic deployment of manpower and upgrade on the electronic systems from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS I) to NICIS II which had succeeded in blocking leakages.

    He also said the increase in revenue was as a result of strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the NCS Tariff and Trade Department and robust stakeholder engagements resulting in higher compliance.

    The NCS boss said the increased disposition of Officers and Men to change their way of doing things for the better had impacted positively on the organisation’s productivity.

    “The implementation of three pronged Presidential mandate of ‘Restructure, Reform and Raise revenue’ in NCS has continued to strengthen the Service as a crucial contributor to National economy and Security.

    “The Service has effectively seized 156,090 bags of smuggled rice, 15,632 sets of military wears, 489,000 ammunitions and other items.

    “This is in addition to the highest monthly revenue collection of over N140 billion in August 2018.

    “This positive harvest in the areas of anti-smuggling and revenue generation is a clear testimony of what can be achieved under a selflessly focused leadership,” Ali said in a statement.

    The NCS boss called on Nigerians to support the Service by providing credible information that would help nip smuggling in the bud and generate the needed revenue for national development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the month of July, the NCS declared N556.7 billion as revenue   generated from January to June, 2018. (NAN)

  • For ‘attempting lesbian sex’, 2 Malaysians women caned

    (Reuters/NAN) Two Malaysian women convicted of attempting lesbian sex in a car were caned in court watched by dozens of people on Monday, media and a state government official said, prompting an outcry from human rights activists.

    The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is routinely persecuted in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where they are seen as a threat to conservative values.

    The women, aged 32 and 22, had pleaded guilty in August to attempting lesbian sex, forbidden under Islamic law.

    They were sentenced to a fine and six lashings of the cane.

    The sentence was carried out in front of about 100 people at the Sharia High Court in Terengganu, a conservative state ruled by the Islamist opposition party Pan-Malaysian Islamist Party, according to a report by English-language daily the New Straits Times.

    It was the first conviction for same-sex relations and the first time a caning had been carried out in public in the state, Satiful Mamat, a member of the Terengganu state executive council told Reuters.

    “Sharia criminal procedure allows the court to determine where the sentence will be carried out, and requires that it must be witnessed by a number of other Muslims,” said Satiful, who attended the hearing. Sharia is Islamic law.

    Satiful said the punishment was “not intended to torture or injure”.

    “The reason it is carried out in public is for it to serve as a lesson to society,” he said.

    Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.

    The caning of women is banned under civil law, but allowed under Islamic laws in some states.

    Amnesty International said the caning marked “an appalling day” for human rights in Malaysia.

    “To inflict this brutal punishment on two people for attempting to engage in consensual, same-sex relations is an atrocious setback on the government’s efforts to improve its human rights records,” Rachel Chhoa-Howard, the group’s Malaysia researcher, said.

    Malaysian women’s groups Justice for Sisters and Sisters in Islam called for a review of laws that allowed the caning of women.

    “The execution that took place… is a travesty and a grave miscarriage of justice,” the groups said.

    The case comes amid concerns around growing intolerance toward the LGBT community in Malaysia in recent weeks.

    A transgender woman was beaten up by a group of assailants in Seremban, south of Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 15, in what activists said was part of a growing hostility towards gay and transgender people. (Reuters/NAN)

  • PDP drags Masari to Supreme Court

    By Zubairu Idris
    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State, said on Tuesday it had approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash recent inauguration of transition committees for the 34 Local Governments in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Aminu Masari inaugurated the transition committees in August.

    Alhaji Salisu Majigiri, the State PDP Chairman, made the disclosure at a press conference on Tuesday in Katsina.

    According to him, the party has a pending case before the apex court challenging the dissolution of elected local council officials by the governor in 2015.

    “We challenged this dissolution at Katsina High Court and later appealed the unfavorable judgment at the Appeal Court, Kaduna.

    ‘’The case is now at the Supreme Court awaiting judgment, but the state government went ahead and constituted illegal transition committees.

    ‘’So, we have instituted legal action against this impunity.

    ‘’We have three issues before the Supreme Court.

    ‘’The substantive matter dealing with dissolution of the councils, a motion to restrain the government from constituting local government caretaker committees.

    “And motion seeking the state government to set aside the constituted caretaker committees and their inauguration,’’ he said.

    Majigiri also said that 23 out of the 34 dissolved elected local officials had instituted another legal action before the Katsina High Court against the state government.

    He said that the dissolved local councils’ chairmen are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the state government from constituting caretaker committees for the local governments.

    Meanwhile, the PDP chairman has asked the state government to give account of funds that accrued to the state since May 2015 and how it was spent.(NAN)