Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • Make Topo-Badagry coconut plantation tourists site — Monarch

    By Raji Rasak

    The Baale of Topo Island, Badagry, Lagos State, Chief Oluwadami Avose, has called on the Lagos State Government to utilise coconut plantation in the area for tourism.

    The Topo-Badagry monarch made the call during the Marathon Walk by youths to commemorate the 2018 Coconut Heritage Festival tagged: “AGUNKEFEST’’.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the marathon walk took off from Badagry Roundabout to Topo Island ahead of the 7th Coconut Heritage Day holding at Badagry Suntan Beach on Sunday.

    The theme of the festival is “Harnessing Coconut Production for Economic Empowerment and Tourism Development in Lagos State”.

    According to the monarch, coconut tree was first planted in Topo Island by the Roman Catholic Missionaries in 1845.

    “This is where we have the first teachers training college in Nigeria, where great teachers passed through.

    “Roman Catholics all over Lagos come to this island every Nov. 2 to pray every year.

    “There are many historical sites here that government should utilise and add value to this island,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to always drink coconut water because of its health benefit.

    The Coordinator of the marathon walk, Mr Oke-Tojinu Setonji, said the exercise was to make the residents fit for the festival.

    “The walk is to remember the way our forefathers used to walk to their farms in those days.

    “So, the memory is alive as we walked from Badagry to Topo Island where the coconut was first planted in 1845.

    “Coconut is now our cash crop, we do not want to forget our culture of coconut farming.

    “By coming together today, we are bringing culture into entertainment,” he said.

    In his remark, Doheto Mesi, President, African Coconut Heritage Initiative, said the festival was aimed at creating awareness on the invaluable economic and health benefit that coconut offers.

    Mesi said that this year festival was organised by Lagos StateState Council for Art and Culture in collaboration with African Coconut Heritage Initiative. (NAN)

  • NEMA receives another 164 stranded Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has received a batch of 164 assisted voluntary returnees from Libya who were stranded in failed attempts to reach different European countries.

    The Agency’s Spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at 8:50p.m. on Thursday night.

    Farinloye said the returnees comprised of 61 adult females including seven pregnant women, 96 adult males, two children and five infants, adding that 17 of the returnees had medical cases.

    He said that they were brought back through the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) aboard a Libyan Airline flight with registration number 5A-DMG.

    The spokesman said the Nigeria Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Refugees Commission, the Police and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials were on ground for profiling and documentation of the returnees.

    Similarly, the Director General, NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihajja had therefore called on faith and community based organisations to join government in efforts at discouraging irregular migration and the get-rich-quick syndrome in the society.

    Maihajja, represented by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, appealed to religious and community based organisations in leading attitudinal change towards discouraging irregular migration.

    “When these organisations embrace the governments’ efforts at curbing the menace of irregular emigration that has led to the death of several youths and rendered many incapacitated, the surge of irregular migrations will be minimised.

    “As much as these bodies can cause positive change, which the government is aware of, some of them are culpable in misleading the youths based on revelations of some of the returnees,” he said. (NAN)

  • PCC seeks partnership with police for effective dispute resolution

    By Chimezie Anaso
    The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has solicited purposeful partnership with the Nigeria Police on addressing complaints and disputes efficiently.

    Mr Samben Nwosu, the commissioner of the commission in Anambra, made the plea when he visited Mr Garba Umar, Commissioner of Police in Awka on Saturday.

    Nwosu said that the commission “is a grievance-handling body insulated from politics with independent status.

    “It also plays the role of a watchman receiving complaints from aggrieved persons who have suffered any form of administrative wrong’’.

    He said that his visit to the police commissioner was to acquaint him with his appointment and to seek his cooperation for synergy.

    “PCC has powers to investigate matters and recommend corrective measures and produce results.

    “In this way, the commission has been able to give redress, douse tension and assuage the aggrieved through its timely intervention,’’ he said.

    Nwosu also said that there were salient areas where mutual collaboration would help to improve the operations of the two organisations; and by extension, the larger society.

    “It will be appreciated if police personnel are deployed at the commission’s behest, from time to time, as it administers and delivers promptly its services to the public.

    “We count on your spirit of cooperation, may I humbly request that you hesitate not to refer cases outside your jurisdiction to the commission for redress,’’ he said.

    In his response, Umar promised to assign direct posting of police officers to the commission to ensure peace, order and security.

    The police commissioner also pleaded with Nwosu to prepare a public lecture he would present to state police command for more enlightenment on the roles and importance of PCC.(NAN)

  • Nigeria, Germany sign pacts on agric, commerce

    Nigeria and Germany on Friday in Abuja signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in agriculture and commerce.

    The first agreement was signed between the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the German-Africa Business Association.

    The First Deputy National President of NACCIMA, Hajiya Saratu Iya-Abubakar, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Dr Stefan Liebing of German Africa Business Association, signed on behalf of the German business delegation.

    The second agreement was signed between the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the PETKUS Technologie GmbH, a company that specialises in post-harvest agricultural value chain.

    The Managing Director of NIRSAL, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed, signed on behalf of Nigeria while the representative of PETKUS Technologie GmbH, Peter Huser, signed for the Germans.

    Speaking after signing the MOUs, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the agreements would increase the collaboration between Nigeria and Germany in the two areas.

    According to Enelamah, the agreements will also leverage small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

    “We want our SMEs to learn from the German experience.

    “The other areas of German excellence is the technical area: technical education, technical training and technical development.  It’s also an area of great interest to Nigeria.

    “We are also working with Germany in the automobile sector because that is also an area where Germany is a leader and Nigeria clearly has a policy to be a leader in the auto sector in West Africa and Africa.’’

    The minister said that all these agreements would require high levels of engagement, collaboration and communication to be actualised.

    Also speaking, Abdulhameed said the MOU signed between NIRSAL and PETKUS was borne out of the realisation of the available opportunities for investments in the Nigerian agricultural sector under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “Under the current administration and the present agricultural promotion policy of this government, there are ample opportunities for investors in terms of technology and capital, to come to Nigeria and to invest in the agricultural sector.

    According to Abdulhameed, NIRSAL provides for the risk environment and mechanisms to enable investors like PETKUS to come to Nigeria and do their business.

    He noted that the agreement would go a long way in reducing the 51.3-tonne of aggregate food production, equivalent of about nine billion dollars which the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report says Nigeria loses annually.’’

    He expressed his optimism that PETKUS, which specialises in post-harvest segment of the agricultural value chain, would bring its expertise to bear on post-harvest productions in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, Huser said the interest of his company was to help small farmers boost their yield.

    “We are not talking about big investments. We are talking about smallholder farmers, where we like to help them to boost their yield, to get better yield.

    “We are talking about plant production. We are talking about fertilisation.”

    He expressed the hope that each machine supplied by PETKUS Technologie would provide employment and improve income for five people and their families. (NAN)

  • Insurance recapitalisation deadline now Oct. 1 – NAICOM

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Friday confirmed backdating the insurance companies Tier-based recapitalisation commencement date to Oct. 1, as against  January 1, 2019 it earlier announced.

    Mr Rasaaq Salami, NAICOM’s spokesman, made the confirmation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    NAN reports that the confirmation was sequel to doubts expressed by some players in the industry on the adjournment of the recapitalisation date.

    “The backdate means that operators only have one month and two days to recapitalise,’’ Salami said.

    The spokesman said it was imperative for the commission to shift the date in order to re-position the industry for unbeatable performance in the financial sector.

    “The commission would not withdraw any license but only ensure that an underwriter has adequate capital to absorb risks,’’ he said.

    Salami said after the first guideline on recapitalisation implementation was released in July, the Federal Government through  NAICOM issued a new circular dated Aug. 14.

    The circular according to him, the circular mandated all insurance companies to recapitalise and communicate to NAICOM the tier they intended to play in before Oct. 1.

    Salami said that only companies that meet the respective tier requirements shall lead on new businesses in those categories with effect from Oct. 1.

    “Companies shall be assessed, in the first instance, on their approved financial statement for 2017, and audited half year account for 2018.

    “However, where a company is yet to obtain approval for its 2017 financial statement, its last approved audited accounts will be used for the assessment,” Salami quoted the statement from circular as saying.

    NAN reports that underwriters interested to play in the tier 1 category are expected to increase their capitalisation from N5 billion to N15 billion.

    The underwriters interested in the same tier but currently operating Life business are mandated to upgrade their capital base from N2 billion to N6 billion.

    The Non-Life Insurers that wanted to play in the tier are expected to improve their capitalisation from N3 billion to N9 billion.

    While Composite Insurers willing to operate in tier 2 are expected to increase their capitalisation to N7.5 billion.

    Life Operators under tier 2 category are expected to increase capitalisation to N3 billion.

    However, for insurers willing to play in the lowest tier, which is tier 3, they are expected to maintain the current capital base of the insurance industry.

    Non-Life Insurance Firms in tier 3 is to maintain N3 billion; Life Insurance Operators to maintain N2 billion and Composite Insurers are to maintain N5 billion capitalisation. (NAN)

  • It’s misleading to associate us with Saraki’s declaration—NTYTRM

    Not- Too- Young -to- Run Movement (NTYTRM) has described as misleading attempts to portray the movement as behind or supportive of the declaration of Sen. President, Bukola Saraki for the 2019 presidential election.

    The movement’s stance was communicated in a statement jointly signed by Samson Itodo, Convener, NTYTRM and  Hamzat Lawal, Leader, NTYTRM.

    They said that as part of efforts to promote youth candidacy and democratic party primaries, the NTYTRM commenced a series of public town hall meetings with the leadership of political parties and young aspirants to address the challenges faced by young aspirants in securing party tickets.

    They said that the movement scheduled three town hall meetings with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC); People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties as the first dialogue was held on Aug. 30 in Abuja with the leadership of PDP.

    “The event had in attendance the Chairman of the party Mr Uche Secondus; Sen. Bukola Saraki,  Udeh Okoye, National Youth Leader of the party. The event also was attended by young aspirants registered under the Ready-To- Run platform.

    “The young aspirants advocated for a reduction in the cost of party nomination forms and requested the party to uphold internal democracy in the conduct of party primaries. In his response, Secondus assured the young aspirants of their support for youth candidacy in the forthcoming primaries.

    “Whilst addressing participants at the town hall, Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the President in the 2019 elections.

    “The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his political ambition. We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move.’’

    They said that the movement reaffirmed its identity as a non-partisan citizen-led movement dedicated to the defense democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership.

    The movement said it was committed to sustaining its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and free and fair party primaries.

  • Nigerian, African athletes win gold for Bahrain in Asian Games

    The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain finished joint-top of the Asian Games athletics table with 12 golds — but not everyone is rushing to congratulate them.

    That is because not a single track win at Asia’s regional Olympics would have been achieved without “naturalised” athletes who were born in Africa.

    Bahrain’s policy of scouting and offering nationality to talented foreign athletes — which is entirely legal — has stoked controversy for years, but the results have been particularly stark at this Games in Indonesia.

    All 10 individual athletics gold won by Bahrain were earned by runners born on the African continent — Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.

    Of the two gold-winning relays teams, all but two athletes were also of African origin.

    For the athletes themselves, the appeal of switching allegiance is obvious — financial security is key, but tales of poor treatment or lack of opportunities in their countries of birth are commonplace.

    “Bahrain was good pay, a good treatment,” explained 1,500m and 5,000m gold winner Kalkidan Befkadu, 27, who says she moved to the Gulf nation six years ago.

    “There’s so many strong athletes in Ethiopia so it’s a challenge to compete, so that’s also why I changed.”

    “Yes I’m pleased with my decision,” she told AFP with a beaming smile, minutes after winning her second gold of the meet.

    But for athletes from other nations who ended up with silver, bronze or empty-handed after falling behind African-born competitors, there is a sense the competition has been distorted.

    India’s Dutee Chand — who had to fight a legal battle to even compete in Jakarta due to her high testosterone levels — twice missed out on gold, in the 100m and 200m, to Nigerian-born Edidiong Odiong.

    Chand and her fellow athletes have not spoken out on the issue, but Indian newspapers were quick to jump on the controversy.

    The Indian Express this week listed the athletes who “had to suffer at the hands of the ‘Out of Africa’ contingent”. The Hindu referred to two competitors from Qatar — which employs similar practices — as “two Africans in West Asian garb”.

    – ‘Bahrain is very, very powerful’ –

    Rules on naturalising athletes vary between countries. But Bahrain officials have defended their recruiting methods, citing the vast resources they pour into athletes’ training.

    “It is not nationality that brings us medals, but the training and technical and administrative effort,” Bader Nasser, manager of the Bahrain Athletics Federation, told AFP. “Naturalisation is a legitimate right and we are committed to the laws.”

    Nasser also said Bahrain does not import athletes who are already established, claiming his coaches are “bringing them young and training them to reach world championships”.

    But some of those who won gold in Jakarta had already represented their countries of birth, and switched allegiance as late as their mid-twenties.

    Nasser also drew parallels with similar practices elsewhere, and his country’s small population.

    “What is the largest (athletics) country in the world? The US right? A continent is naturalising for sports, and Bahrain is only a very small percentage compared to it.”

    But now that Bahrain has broken the monopoly of its own continental superpower — China last failed to win the athletics table at the Asian Games outright in 1982 — it may need to prepare for greater scrutiny.

    While not everyone is happy, most athletes speaking to AFP in Jakarta were quick to praise the high performances of the athletes representing Bahrain.

    “Oh my God, they’re spectacular!” said Indonesian sprinter Ulfa Silpiana.

    “Bahrain is very, very powerful in the Asian Games now. I’m inspired by their team and I want to get better like them.”

  • NAPTIP arrests pastor, 2 others for allegedly raping minors

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has arrested a 43-year-old pastor and two others for allegedly raping minors in Abuja.

    The NAPTIP Director of Investigation and Monitoring, Mr Josiah Emerole, disclosed this while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

    Emerole explained that the pastor, (name withheld), hailed from Ondo state and resided in Dutse Bupma settlement area off Bwari road in Abuja.

    He said that the suspect sexually harassed his 17 year-old house help (name withheld) in victim’s room and used his hands to fondle her breasts and other sexual genitals.

    The director said on one occasion, the suspect allegedly took his sexual harassment to the kitchen where the victims was busy doing dishes.

    He in the kitchen, the suspect used his hands to forcefully bring out the victim’s breast, fondled them among others illicit interaction with her.

    “He subsequently warned her not to utter any word about it to anyone as there would be consequences, “ he said.

    Emerole said not comfortable with the situation; the victim reported the matter to people.

    “Those people reported to NAPTIP and then the agency sent in rapid response squad to apprehend the suspect and he confessed to the crime.”

    The director said that the second suspect was a 31-year old man (name withheld was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.

    He stated that the suspect allegedly raped the victim severally, impregnated.

    According to him, the suspect usually covers the girl’s mouth whenever she wanted to shout to seek for help.

    He said the suspect would ask her to keep quiet and threatened to stop giving job to her mother as his cook.

    Emerole said that third case involved a 27- year-old airport taxi driver, (name withheld ) was also nabbed for allegedly raping 17 year-old girl.

    According to him, the suspect camped and drugged the victim and sexually violated her for some days.

    He stated that all the suspects confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

    When questioned by journalists, two of the suspects denied the allegation while one confessed, saying that he seduced his victim. (NAN)

  • Ayefele, Oyo state for reconciliation

    By Akeem Abas

    The Oyo state government has held a reconciliation meeting where it constituted a committee to resolve crisis generated by the demolition of the Music House belonging to popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.

    The committee, comprising of government official and some workers of Fresh FM station, including Ayefele, has commenced the process.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi set up the committee at the meeting with the popular musician in his office on Thursday in Ibadan.

    Ayefele in company with some of his workers arrived at the Governor’s Office at about 11.30 am for the meeting.

    The governor said the demolition exercise was neither a witch-hunt nor politically motivated, insisting it was due to contravention of the state ’s property laws.

    Ajimobi described Ayefele as a good man and a responsible citizen, stressing that the next step was to find a compassionate means of resolving the issue.

    He also urged Ayefele to ensure that his radio station embraced ethical reportage of the issue.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who was at the Governor’s Office in company with some monarchs, also pleaded with the governor to resolve the impasse.

    Earlier, Ayefele had stated that his office responded to all letters forwarded to it by the state government.

    He expressed regrets at not being able to see the governor, adding that the emissaries he sent failed to deliver his messages.

    Ayefele stated that he remains a law-abiding citizen who is ready to comply with the regulations of the state government.

    The meeting, which lasted hours, was later adjourned for another day. (NAN)