Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has unveiled plans to produce 700,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar from locally grown sugarcane in the next four years, through its Backward Integration Programme (BIP).

 

Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Aliko Dangote stated this at the company’s 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday in Lagos.

 

This is coming just as the Nigerian Exchange released the company’s first-quarter result for 2024, indicating an increase of 20.1 per cent in its revenue to N122.7 billion.

 

Dangote, at the AGM, said in alignment with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy guidelines, DSR continues to focus on and enhance its Backward Integration Project (BIP) by deploying and reviewing project strategies to ensure efficient delivery.

Aliko Dangote; Group Managing Director/CEO, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Ravindra Singhvi; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Maryam Bashir; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Abdu Dantata; Executive Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mariya Aliko Dangote; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Olakunle Alake at the Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc 18th Annual General Meeting, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Lagos.

He noted that the 700,000 metric tonnes would meet 50 per cent of the current market demand for refined sugar.

According to him, the 10-year sugar development plan to produce 1.5 million MT of sugar per annum from locally grown sugarcane remains a germane roadmap to the attainment of the Company’s objectives.

 

“Our focus is on achieving the revised targets set for DSR Numan Operations, Dangote Adamawa Sugar Limited, and Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited, while we are hopeful that the Taraba State Government will resolve the community payment issues that have led to the stoppage of activities at the Dangote Taraba Sugar Limited, Lau/Tau project.

 

During the year under review, despite the challenges we were faced with, the company significantly scaled up investment in the Backward Integration Projects with the ongoing expansion of the DSR Numan factory refining capacity from 3,000TCD to 9,800TCD year-end.

 

“The factory will be increased with an additional 5,200TCD to 15,000 TCD (tonnes of cane crushed per day) eventually to meet the need in view of the massive land development activities also going on at the site.

 

“The aim is to achieve 24,200 hectares in total by the year 2029,” he said.

 

He also emphasised that despite the adverse impact on the business environment by the continuous increase in the inflationary trend, lack of liquidity and FX to fund the company’s equipment import among others for the backward integration projects, concerted efforts are ongoing to secure the needed funds for the development of the Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited project at Tunga in Awe Local Government Area of the state.

 

Dangote said : “This will enable the company to put in place the needed infrastructure for the eventual commencement of full-scale production and ensure that the Dangote Sugar Backward Integration ‘Sugar for Nigeria Project’ is achieved.

 

” In the end, over $700 million investment would be committed to the Backward Integration Programme.”

 

Dangote said that the Dangote Sugar (Ghana) Limited, was established as a subsidiary of the Company during the year under review, in line with the plan to expand its presence in the sugar industry across Africa.

 

On outlook, he stated that : “achievement of the goals of the Sugar Backward Integration Master Plan remains our focus.

 

“This will go a long way in delivering the anticipated benefits, especially in FX savings and cushioning its impact on our operations amongst other benefits to the company, all stakeholders, and the nation.”

Group Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Sugar, Ravindra Singhvi said : “Despite these challenges, we are resolute and focused on the delivery of our business targets in the medium to long term.”

 

He pointed out that : “as we continue to navigate through the scarcity and high cost of foreign exchange, escalating costs of raw materials amongst others, our focus is to enhance the effectiveness of our supply chain processes, optimise cost, improve our operational efficiencies and delivery on our Sugar for Nigeria backward integration project.

 

“The target is to produce a minimum of 1.5MT refined sugar annually from locally produced sugarcane at our integrated sugar production estates, which is expected to alleviate some pressure on costs and our demand for foreign currency.

 

“Achievement of a sustainable business remains one of our key strategies and concerted efforts were made towards sustaining the achievements we have recorded in the past,” Singhvi added.

The federal government has approved salary increase for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.

 

The increase which was announced on the eve of the Workers’ Day celebration, is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Emmanuel Njoku, head of press, at the national salaries, incomes and wages commission (NSIWC).

 

The statement said the increase which is between 25 percent and 35 percent takes effect from January 1, 2024.

It added that the augmentation applies to the six remaining consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.

Israeli officials are growing concerned that the International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials over charges related to the war in Gaza, reports say.

 

The court may accuse the senior government figures of pursuing an excessively harsh military response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times is reporting, citing Israeli and foreign officials.

 

The newspaper reports that any warrants issued by the ICC would “probably be seen in much of the world as a humbling moral rebuke” and cited an official as saying that the possibility of them has factored into Israeli decision-making in recent weeks.

 

Such warrants could pose travel obstacles for the Israeli officials and they may be issued against Hamas leaders as well, according to the New York Times.

raeli officials are growing concerned that the International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials over charges related to the war in Gaza, reports say.

The court may accuse the senior government figures of pursuing an excessively harsh military response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the New York Times is reporting, citing Israeli and foreign officials.

The newspaper reports that any warrants issued by the ICC would “probably be seen in much of the world as a humbling moral rebuke” and cited an official as saying that the possibility of them has factored into Israeli decision-making in recent weeks.

Such warrants could pose travel obstacles for the Israeli officials and they may be issued against Hamas leaders as well, according to the New York Times.

The developments come after Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that “We expect the court to refrain from issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli political and security officials,” Reuters reports.

 

“We will not bow our heads or be deterred and will continue to fight,” Katz reportedly added, warning Israeli embassies to step up security over the risk of a “wave of severe antisemitism.”

 

On Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that “While the ICC will not affect Israel’s actions, it would set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and officials of all democracies fighting savage terrorism and wanton aggression.”

 

Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense,” he added. “The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.”

 

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said in October that the court has jurisdiction over potential war crimes that are committed in the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.

 

The news agency reports Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction, but the Palestinian territories were admitted with member status in 2015.

 

The ICC says on its website that it “investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.”

 

 

National Institute of Security Services (NISS) says it has engaged the Kogi State government to advance strategic collaboration that would enhance the application of Artificial Intelligence,AI, towards improving national security.

 

Speaking during a visit to the Executive governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo at the Government House in Lokoja on Monday,the NISS delegation leader Mr. Hyanus Ngelle, said the visit was a fact-finding mission to enrich ongoing research that focuses on Artificial Intelligence sustainable development in Nigeria

 

Ngelle,who led a team of delegation of Executive Intelligence Management Course a study group with representations from various security agencies under the auspices of NISS, typically senior officers in security agencies, including the military, police, intelligence services, and other relevant agencies, used the medium to invite enrolments from the state government .

 

 

 

He said the institute prepared high-level security intelligence professionals, as well as senior level manager for critical roles in various fields.

 

The Kogi State deputy governor, Mr. Joel Salifu Oyibo, who received the team on behalf of the Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, affirmed the readiness of the state government to collaborate with the Institute, and, indeed, any private and public institution that is focused on national development and security.

 

Ododo reiterated the advancement the state government had made on the issue of security.

 

According to him,it is within this context to consolidate the tremendous successes in the fight against insecurity that the state government, last week,distributed 100 vehicles to the vigilante groups across the twenty one (21) local government areas of the state to intensify the fight against criminals.

 

The governor disclosed that the government also extended its benevolence by sending some vehicles to some neighbouring states, adding that the the gesture was to articulate the government stand in supporting and improving the security of lives and properties.

 

He noted a strong synergy between the security agencies in the state, pointing out that deploying AI would ease and enhance the activities of the security agencies.

 

Visited 7 times, 7 visit(s) today

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has announced a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants.

 

The governor made this known on Monday, while inaugurating the Labour House.

Obaseki named the Labour House after Adams Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, and former governor of the state.

The new minimum wage regime in Edo will take effect from May 1, 2024,” the governor said.

 

Recall the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have been pushing for a new minimum wage for workers across states. This is coming on the heels of the hardship occasioned by the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

 

The removal of subsidy on petrol and unification of the forex windows in 2023, immediately led to food inflation and a spike in the prices of other goods and services.

 

Meanwhile, the national minimum wage has been pegged at N30,000 since April 18, 2019.

 

However, this sum has been described as “grossly inadequate” and “poverty wage” in the face of prevailing economic hardship.

More details coming on the minimum wage announced by Obaseki.

Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Sunday, ruled out imposition of candidates in the forthcoming local government council elections in the State.

Governor Oborevwori who disclosed this at the PDP Delta Central Stakeholders meeting held at his Osubi country home, said Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, would soon come out with a timetable for the conduct of the election.

 

He said: “Delta State is one of the most solid states in Nigeria. Very very soon we will have our local government elections. Like what the State Chairman of our party said, it is DSIEC that is in charge. They will come out with timetable after their meeting with the parties.

Only popular candidates that the people love and generally accepted by all stakeholders, will emerge as candidates of the party.

We will not accept any candidate through the back door. For anybody to emerge, it must be a collective decision from the wards and must be a popular candidate. Collectively we must agree on candidates so that the primary election can be smooth.”

 

The Governor had earlier thanked the party leaders for their support and for the vote of confidence passed on him and his administration

The Deputy Governor said, “I want to assure you that this administration ably led by His Excellency, Rt.Hon.Sheriff Oborevwori is ensuring that every nook and cranny of Delta State, Ukwuani inclusive, enjoy peace and prosperity

 

If you look at the agenda of the government, peace and security is one important part of the agenda that ensures that we have peace and security and the government is working assiduously to make it better

He assured the people that government is tackling herdsmen menace and will not also, allow any part of its territory to be taken by other states.

While calling on communities in the state that are having boundary issues with their neighbors in Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa States to remain calm, Deputy Governor Onyeme stated that the National Boundary Commission will ensure that the boundaries are properly demarcated to forestall break down of law and order.

 

Earlier in an address, Chief Chinyonye Aliyu who led members of Ndokwa Committee For Growth And Development to visit the Deputy Governor, called on government to check the menace of herdsmen at Obiaruku, Obinomba, Ebedei, Umutu, Umuaja and other communities in Ukwuani Local Government Area

 

She also raised alarm that communities in Edo State backed by the government of that state are harnessing their land and called for urgent intervention from the government of Delta State.

 

The member representing Ndokwa West Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Charles Emetulu, his counterpart in Ndokwa East, Prince Emeka Osamuta, the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Sir Christopher Osakwe and other top government functionaries witnessed the event.

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Flowerbudnews

A producer of fake cosmetics has been apprehended by operatives of  the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the trade fair complex in Lagos.

The operation which led to the arrest of the suspect was conducted by the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directoratee, a post on NAFDAC’s official X handle disclosed.on Monday.

The agency stated that the fake cosmetics producer, Mr Pius Effiong Eyoh, owner of Pasco Global Limited, was apprehended for manufacturing, packaging, distributing, and selling a range of substandard and counterfeit cosmetic products.

The items discovered included products like Skin Balance, Perfect Knuckle, Organic Peel Therapy, and Golden Face Triple Action Concentrated Perfect Skin.

NAFDAC revealed that Eyoh was caught in the act of processing and packaging these cosmetic products with false labels bearing French inscriptions and a Cameroonian address.

“The agency’s intervention led to the sealing of the illegal manufacturing premises, Eyoh’s arrest, and the scheduling of his substandard products for destruction,” it stated.

PUNCH Healthwise reports that last Thursday, operatives of the agency raided popular supermarkets in Abuja, including Sahad Stores and H-Medix in Wuse 2 and Gwarinpa, uncovering counterfeit products.

The enforcement team also targeted markets in Garki, Wuse, Utako, Kugbo, Nyanya, and Mararaba, where it seized counterfeit cosmetics and drugs.

“Counterfeit Nivea products, cosmetics, Jik bleach, Harpic toilet cleaner, and Airwick room freshener were all confiscated.

The total value of the seized goods amounted to N50m, with fake Nivea products alone valued at N45m”, NAFDAC revealed.

Criticisms against the alleged persecutory manner with which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) is treating ex – Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, heightened on Sunday with chieftains of the All Progressives Congress calling on all sitting Governors, former governors and politically exposed persons to stand against the unjust persecution of Bello by the Commission.

Chairman, Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa, who briefed the press on behalf of others, described as utter travesty the former Governor’s unjust prosecution in the court of public opinion as against the court of law, saying it was a coordinated witch-hunt “against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a former Governor of one of the states of this country.”

 

Flanked by Honourable Abubarkar Iliyasu and Comrade Felix Etedjere, he spoke in Abuja on Sunday, saying: “Today it is Yahaya Bello’s turn, tomorrow, it might be yours”.

 

Onokpasa said categorically that the mischievous narrative of the former Governor evading arrest was reckless.

 

“As far as we are aware, former Governor Bello had obtained a court order retraining the EFCC from arresting, arraigning or prosecuting him and we state categorically that he was perfectly entitled in law to place reliance on the protection of the law, indeed the same law, which binds all of us in a civilized society,” the APC chieftains said.

 

According to them, the motto of the EFCC is that no one is above the law and that starts with the EFCC, itself, which is certainly not and cannot possibly be above the law.

 

Onokpasa queried why the counsel to former Governor Bello’s political adversaries was at the same time persecuting him on behalf of the EFCC “apart from one of them most irresponsibly threatening to send the armed forces against him.”

 

He stated, “The remedy against an order of court is to vacate the order or to appeal the same and most certainly not for law enforcement to thump its nose against the court and decompose into lawlessness and brigandage.

As usual, the EFCC has descended into grotesque unprofessionalism and playing to the gallery by taking what is beginning to appear as a persecution rather than a prosecution to the court of public opinion instead of lawfully canvassing it before the court of law.

In the process, even the security details of former Governor Bello have been most rascally and illegally withdrawn thus exposing him to grave danger.”

He added, “We unequivocally condemn this witch-hunt against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a former Governor of one of the states of this country.

 

“We enjoin all well-meaning citizens of our great nation to repudiate these excesses even as we call on all sitting Governors, former Governors and all politically exposed persons to stand against this utter travesty.

 

“Today, it may be Yahaya Bello’s turn but tomorrow it might be yours”, he stressed.

 

Among the party chieftains in attendance at the briefing include Honourable Abubarkar Iliyasu, and Comrade Felix Etedjere.