Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Chike Ozohili

  • Reps back NIMASA on CVFF disbursement

    Reps back NIMASA on CVFF disbursement

    *It’s a milestone for cabotage implementation – NIMASA 

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has received support from the House of Representatives to disburse the $360 million Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) to qualified Nigerian ship-owners.

    A committee of the House chaired by Hon. Legor Idagbo in its report gave the nod for disbursement at the end of its investigation.

    According to a statement by Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA Osagie Edward, “The Committee requested the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Ministry of Transportation to provide detailed information on the total amount accrued to the Fund and disbursements since inception.

    “The Committee met with the Minister of Transportation and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday, 11 May 2023 to find out about the details concerning the matter. 

    “After a thorough analysis of the various submissions, coupled with the explanations given by the Ministry and NIMASA, the Committee discovered that due process was followed in the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund.

    “It was also discovered that the total funds of $360m in the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) represents 50%, while the remaining counterpart funds of 50% is from stakeholders and banks, which is 15% and 35% respectively”.

    The Committee commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) for its commitment to awarding shipping contracts to indigenous companies that have built capacity to the level where they can successfully execute these contracts.

    Reacting, NIMASA Director General Dr. Bashir Jamoh, thanked the lawmakers for their interest in verifying the due process being followed by the agency.

    Dr. Jamoh who expressed optimism that the NNPCL’s resolve to award maritime contracts to indigenous companies will give strength to the Cabotage regime being championed by the Agency, reaffirmed NIMASA’s transparency resolve in all facets of the Agency’s operation

    The DG also called for more stakeholder support, saying the CVFF will evolve into greater benefit for more Nigerians, and grow the per capita income and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria, through the maritime industry.

  • NDLEA seizes 15,500kgs of illcit drugs in Borno

    NDLEA seizes 15,500kgs of illcit drugs in Borno

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA) says it has seized 15,500 kilogramme of illicit drugs in the past three years in Borno.

    The State Commandant of the Agency,  Mr Joseph Icha stated this on Friday in Maiduguri during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council.

    He said operatives of the Agency seized the drugs from 2021 to date, adding that it comprised Cannabis Sativa; Cocaine, Heroine, Diazepam, Tramadol, among other narcotic substances.

    The seized drugs, he said, would be destroyed at a later date, adding that in the year 2020, the Agency destroyed 19,235 kgs of illicit drugs in the state.

    He said the visit was part of activities to mark the 2023 World Drugs Day with the theme: “People first, xtop the stigma and siscremination, strengthen prevention”.

    According to him, the Agency will conduct various activities in the next 30 days to appraise its performances and achievements towards building a drug free society.

    “We are at the right place to meet you (journalists) to seek for support and synergy from you.

    “The UN Day of Drug Abuse is a day we will remind the world that there is actually drug challenges.

    “We have been able to seize some monies from drug peddlers and put the monies into the federal government’s account; seized vehicles have been valued for auction and arrested persons are undergoing trials for various drug offences in the courts,” he said.

    While commending the Borno state government for its support, Icha thanked the Chairman of the Agency, Brig.-Gen.  Buba Marwa (retired) for the office rehabilitation and provision of adequate logistics to enhance its operations in the state.

    “The successes achieved wouldn’t have been possible without the synergy and support from other security agencies in the state,” he said.

    Responding, the Council Chairman, Mr Dauda Iliya thanked the Commandant for the visit.

    He said the feat achieved was a testimony for his hard work and determination to eradicate the menace of drug abuse in the state.

    “We congratulate you for the feat you have achieved as well as your effort in ridding the state of illicit drugs,  and your efforts in ensuring the reduction of drug demand and supply among the teeming youths to make productive citizens.

    “We are ready to amplify what you are doing as well as the successes recorded to ensure that the public understand the dangers inherent in drug abuse,” he said.

  • Memorial lectures and the development of Idomaland: talk or action?

    Memorial lectures and the development of Idomaland: talk or action?

    Development is one theme that has always been a front burner in global issues. It has even gone further than just development, to sustainable development. And the seriousness of the issue has underscored the promulgation of two United Nations (UN) programs: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ran from 2000 to 2015, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presently running, from 2015 to 2030.

    The aim of both Programs is the overall appreciable rise in the standard of living of humans, encompassing the elimination of poverty, disease, and crises, as well as engendering global inclusiveness, longevity, and gender equality as some of its objectives.

    Recently, the Ochetoha K’idoma, the foremost socio-cultural organization of the Idoma people of Central Nigeria, organized the Chief Ogiri Okoh Memorial Lecture, an annual event (in honour of their first Paramount Ruler) meant to discuss salient issues of Idoma interest.

    This 2023 edition had the theme Strategies for Sustainable Development of Idoma Nation: Perspectives on Framework and Stakeholders’ Synergy, and was very ably delivered by Engineer Dr Okopi Alex Momoh, an intellectual who, no doubt, knows his onions.

    In his well-articulated paper, Engr Okopi used the Vision Statement for Idoma Nation, a document resulting from a 2013 Development Conference which dealt with “Framework for Conference Planning, Discussions, and Post Conference Implementation Strategies” as his departure point to lucidly bring out the expected level of development in Idomaland by the year 2030.

    The 2013 Conference, which was held at the Double K Resort, Otukpo, was organized interestingly by the Idoma National Forum (now OCHETOHA K’IDOMA) under the leadership of Engr Dr. Okopi Alex Momoh. More interesting is the fallout of that Conference, which was the promulgation of the CHIEF OGIRI OKOH MEMORIAL LECTURE series, with the inaugural one taking place on 30th May 2014, delivered by Prof Tony Edoh, titled “Politics and Development in Nigeria: The Contributions of Minority Tribes and the Need For Political Power Balance.” Between then and now there have been five other Lectures, bringing to a total of seven so far.

    Engr Okopi Momoh went to memory lane to trace Idoma development efforts with the formation of the Idoma Loving Union by our elites in Lagos in 1936. Others that followed included the Idoma Hope Rising Union and Idoma Development Association which established Idoma Community Secondary School in Otobi-Akpa in 1973.

    It is difficult to point at any other Idoma organized successful Project since then, which brings us to Engr Okopi’s query why Idomaland should be this behind in development indices despite the fact that “The Idoma Nation is endowed with high caliber human resources and a good collection of dynamic youths with great development potentials.

    ” One cannot disagree with Engr Okopi that the Idoma Nation has produced sons and daughters who have made indelible marks to the development of Nigeria, be it in Politics, the Military, Academia, Industry, Sports, etc. When vast fertile land, and untapped but profitable natural resources are added, then Dr Okopi is rightly perplexed that “… Idoma Nation is still grossly underdeveloped, with low agricultural productivity, unexploited natural resources, people not economically empowered and politically marginalized in Benue State.”

    Engr Dr Okopi calls this a great paradox from which he pushed forth his thesis in the rhetorical questions “Is there nothing we can do as a people? Is it impossible for us to come together, think together, talk together and work together in synergy to develop the Idoma Nation?

    I dare say we have been coming together, we have been thinking together, we have been talking together. We met and talked on 12th June 2015. We met again and talked on 27th May 2016. We still met and still talked on 26th May 2017.

    Then we met again on the 25th of May 2018 and, again, we talked. As if fed up with our meetings and talks, Covid19 came in 2019 and held us hostage until 2021 when we again met on 23rd April, and talked some more. But we have NOT been working together the way we have been meeting and talking. There probably lies the broken link.

    It is pertinent to note that Engr Dr Okopi Alex Momoh not only identified our problem but also advanced solutions. In addition, he provided an actionable template with specific timelines indicated.

    Brothers and Sisters of Idoma Nation, The Time To Act Is Now!

    Between May and end of September 2023, Ochetoha K’idoma, led by AVM Tony Adokwu (rtd), and the Idoma Area Traditional Council should have laid a solid foundation for the transformation of Idomaland, to the glory of God and the benefit of our children yet unborn.

    Going by the blueprint provided by Engr Okopi (which can be tinkered with as necessary), a Program Implementation Coordinating Group should have been appointed by now. June is set aside for Constitution of Elders Council to advise HRM Och’Idoma; Identification and Adoption of Sectoral Leaders; Organization and Registration of village Community Associations into a common body at the Ward level, with their administrative structure under the oversight of the Ward Chairman.

    Activities for July include Formation of Professional Associations; Constitution of Economic and Social Council; Formation of Coalition of Idoma NGOs; Organization and Registration of District Development Associations under a common body; and Registration of organized District Associations into Local Government Council Development Associations. And August should be the period to take Comprehensive inventory of development needs by Districts and Communities; as well as Inauguration of the Councils, Professional Associations, various Working Groups and Development Associations.

    In September, 2023, the Strategic Development Master Plan (for first five years) would then be developed.

    Engr Okopi Alex concluded his holistic presentation with a charge to all Idoma people to quit the ‘siddon look’ (watch from the sidelines) syndrome and take action. And in tune with what Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN, has been agitating, Dr Okopi is also saying that “If we cannot get the political power, we should create the economic power for ourselves. With the economic empowerment, we can dictate the political process to our advantage.”

    It is time to see how serious we can be for once!

  • NOGOF 2023: NIMASA calls for review of freight terms  

    NOGOF 2023: NIMASA calls for review of freight terms  

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has urged stakeholders to consider a change of trade terms in the Oil and Gas sector from the Free on Board (FOB) to the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) model.

    Speaking at the 2023 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the NIMASA DG, said policies of the current administration at the Agency are tailored to complement efforts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to grow the Nigerian economy through the Oil and Gas sector.

    In a statement, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, Jamoh, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Cabotage Services, Mrs. Rita Uruakpa, said the efforts of the NCDMB at helping in the development of the indigenous maritime sector had not gone unnoticed.

    He said: “We appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board at growing the indigenous maritime sector, such as the proposed Brass Shipyard. We at NIMASA will continue to strive for the development of our maritime sector by pursuing policies that will ensure the indigenous capacity is grown, which in turn will impact on our fleet expansion to position them to be able to participate in the affreightment of the products”.  

    Speaking on opportunities for indigenous businesses in maritime, he had this to say, ‘I want to reiterate that we must also create a suitable and sustainable business and investment environment that will afford indigenous operators’ opportunities to participate in the oil & gas industry with a view to accelerating Nigeria’s income for the Oil Industry which in turn will impact our GDP”.

    On his part, Executive Secretary of NCDMB Mr. Simbi Wabote, charged firms operating in the sector to prepare themselves adequately, restating that the oil and gas industry is highly technical and does not compromise safety and standards.

    In his words, “If someone gives you projects he intends to execute in the next two years; Nigerian companies, having listened to the opportunities, should go back and continue to build their capacities in readiness to actively participate.”

    He also challenged relevant agencies to address the worrisome security challenges, particularly oil theft in the Niger Delta, as this would enable the production of hydrocarbons at reasonable costs and profitability.

  • Market realities driving up petrol price – Kyari

    Market realities driving up petrol price – Kyari

    *Says prices will normalize within two weeks

    The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has said that the sudden hike in pump price of petrol in filling stations across the country is a reflection of the realities of the market.

    Despite having supplies, the filling station still went ahead to hike the price of their products.

    Speaking on a television program monitored by NIGERIAN ANCHOR on Thursday, Kyari said that the situation applies to all commodities and that it portrays the reality of the market.     

    “It could have been the other way round; prices could have collapsed downwards and those holding the old stock would have to sell at lower prices to arrive at market condition.

    “It is not something serious or strange, this is a stock management issue and it is very typical, no one can do anything different about this.

    “The prices we are seeing today at our stations are the current price of the commodity. This means that prices in the market can go down at any time and of course, the market will adjust itself,” Kyari said.

    The GCEO however assured that the fuel hike currently being experienced will normalize in the next 2-3 weeks because competition among major players in the oil sector would force down the price of petrol.  

    He added that the subsidy removal would allow new entrants into the market, a move he said, would aid competition and phase out monopoly.

    “The beauty of this (subsidy removal) is that there will be new entrants (into the market) because oil marketing companies’ reluctance to come into the market all along is the very fact of the subsidy regime that is in place.

    “And that subsidy regime doesn’t have a guarantee of repayment back to the those who provide the product at subsidise price and now that the market is being regulated, oil marketing companies can actually import product or even if it is produced locally, they can buy and take it into the market and sell it at its retail price.

    “Therefore, you will see competition, even with NNPC. And by the way, by law, NNPC cannot do more than 30 percent of the market going forward. As soon as the market stabilises, oil marketing companies will be able to come in,” he explained.

  • Police arraign Qur’anic teacher for rape, fraud

    Police arraign Qur’anic teacher for rape, fraud

    Police in Lagos State arraigned a 42-year-old Qur’anic teacher, Suleiman Araromi before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a lady and defrauding her of N536,000.

    Araromi, who resides at Balogun Ilawe Street, Alapere, Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of stealing, fraud and unlawful sexual intercourse with the lady.

    Police prosecutor, Inspector Donjour Perezi told the court that the defendant committed the offences in February at Mile 12, Lagos.

    Perezi said the defendant told the lady, who sold medicinal herbs to pay N536,000 to him so he could pray for her for her blessings to manifest.

    He added that the defendant fraudulently obtained the N536,000 through his bank account in instalments paid by the lady.

    Perezi said the Qur’anic teacher also had sexual intercourse with the lady without her consent.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 260, 287 and 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

    Araromi pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Section 260 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State stipulates life imprisonment for rape, while Section 314 stipulates 15 years for fraud.

    Presiding magistrate, Mrs M.O Tanimola, remanded Araromi in a correctional facility pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter.

    Tanimola adjourned the case till June 26 for mention.

  • NCoS promotes 17,636 senior personnel

    NCoS promotes 17,636 senior personnel

    The Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board has promoted 17,636 officers and men of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) across the board in 2022.

    The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Abubakar Umar disclosed this on Thursday in a statement issued in Abuja.

    Umar said that the promotion was meant to motivate officers and men of the NCoS for efficient service delivery.

    He said that officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Corrections to Assistant Controller of Corrections benefited from the exercise.

    He also said that the Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Haliru Nababa had approved the promotion of 7,505 junior officers.

    According to him, Nababa charged the beneficiaries to see their elevation as an opportunity to put in their best in the discharge of their duties.

    The CG admonished the beneficiaries to note that promotion comes with additional responsibilities, hence, it was expected of them to brace up to the tasks ahead.

    He also called on those that did not benefit not to feel bad as more opportunities abound in the future.

    The NCoS boss reiterated that the Service would not relent in its commitment towards improving the welfare of staff as well as promoting reformation and rehabilitation of inmates in custodial centres.

  • Leaked Exams: 56 rogue website operators set for prosecution- WAEC

    Leaked Exams: 56 rogue website operators set for prosecution- WAEC

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has identified 56 rogue website operators that leaked its West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

    The Head of National Office, Nigeria (HNO) Mr. Patrick Areghan, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while monitoring of the examination in some Government Secondary Schools.

    Areghan said that the identified rogue website operators would be prosecuted by the police in due course.

    According to him, some dubious supervisors are responsible for some of these malpractices during examinations.

    ”We have a regulation to release papers to supervisors one hour before commencement time to enable them to go from the collection point to the administrative point because of distance in some schools.

    ”But what they do is to snap the question papers and send to their syndicate groups. You now begin to ask questions about what they are trying to achieve with it.

    ”Candidates are already in the exam hall and you are posting the questions. Sometimes, they change the front of the questions and add 2023 for exam questions of 2020.

    ”Some gullible parents and students will go for it and destroy themselves because there is no way they can get our questions,” he said.

    The WAEC head said that the council had put in place technology to detect any form of maleficence from any location.

    ”I am happy to announce that so far in this exam, we have made a lot of arrests. We made arrests in Ibadan, Maiduguri, Abeokuta, Osogbo, Umuahia, and many other states.

    ”In all, we have made arrests of no fewer than 15 persons comprising candidates, supervisors, school proprietors, and others connected with the malpractices.

    ”Supervisors are our problems because they make a lot of money from this. The exam is taking place in over 21,000 secondary schools in Nigeria with only 2,000 staff strength, how many centres are we going to man?

    ”These supervisors are teachers given to us by state ministries of education and when they come, they make it a business.

    ”We are not in control of social media, small boys post questions for advertisement and ask candidates to subscribe on their websites and then they give them fake questions,” he added.

    He, therefore appealed to candidates, teachers and parents to maintain the ethics of examination to have a good and sound educational system, saying that all hands must be on deck to fight the monster called examination malpractice.

    Also, the WAEC Board Chair, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadri, expressed worry with the involvement of school principals in the exam malpractices.

    Abdulkadri, who is also the Director, Senior Secondary Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, commended the council for the deployment of technology to nap perpetrators of examination malpractice.

    Meanwhile, the principal, Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Mr Musa Zuru commended the progress made by WAEC saying that schools in FCT operate zero tolerance for examination malpractice and urged other schools to key in.

    A total of 1,621,895 candidates are sitting for the examinations across the country in over 21,000 secondary schools.

  • Access Bank launches French Desk

    Access Bank launches French Desk

    In a bid to strengthen its business relationship with France, Access Bank PLC has launched the ‘Access Bank French Business Desk’.

    The bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said in a statement on Thursday that the action followed the opening of the first subsidiary of Access Bank Plc in the European Union, in Paris.

    Ogbonna said the Access Bank French Desk, which was in partnership with Business France, was created as a platform to connect French and Nigerian companies.

    He said the act would provide them with financial solutions to conduct trade and investments between both countries.

    The financial solutions, he said, would be through business advisory services, engagement with relevant institutions, economic roundtables, trade facilitation, and comprehensive banking solutions.

    He said the desk would remain the trusted partner that would empower and facilitate business opportunities for Nigerian and French businesses on their journey to success.

    “The French Desk will help to strengthen the Bank’s partnership with institutions that shared in its commitment to global economic development.

    “We have developed competencies to grow with institutions that have powered us to where we are today even as we continue to create intrinsic value, beneficial to the economies of all the countries where we operate,” Ogbonna said.

    He further said that the new desk would serve as the platform to provide enhanced services and support to French businesses and individuals operating in Nigeria and Nigerian businesses with significant interest in France or seeking to establish their presence in France.

    “By leveraging the expertise and resources of both Access Bank and Business France, the Desk aims to create dynamic and comprehensive banking solutions tailored specifically to the needs of these businesses.”

    The statement also quoted the Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, as saying: “Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy endowed with vast human and natural resources while France possesses technological expertise, innovation, and a rich cultural heritage.

    “The Access Bank French Desk will play a pivotal role in facilitating trade and investment between our nations.

    “It will serve as a knowledge hub, providing valuable insights, intelligence, and networking opportunities for businesses from both countries.”

    “We aim to create an enabling environment for French companies to thrive in Nigeria while also assisting Nigerian businesses in navigating the intricacies of the French market.

    “Collaboration with multilateral organisations such as PROPACO and AFD will further enhance the impact of the Access Bank French Desk,” Wigwe added.

    The statement also quoted Mrs Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, as congratulating Wigwe and welcoming the signing of an agreement with Business France Nigeria to partner on the French Desk.

    She said: “This initiative illustrates the huge dynamism and potential of the economic ties between Nigeria and France, which have been continuously strengthened since President Macron’s visit to Nigeria in 2018.

    “This Desk will enable us to further strengthen an already substantial economic partnership and benefit companies from both countries, including SMEs”.

  • CBN slams Daily Trust report, says we’ve not devalued the Naira

    CBN slams Daily Trust report, says we’ve not devalued the Naira

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has tackled Daily Trust Newspaper over its report on June 1 2023, that the apex bank has devalued the Naira. 

    In a statement on Thursday morning, the Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, insisted that the report by Daily Trust newspapers bordered on wilful ignorance.

    According to him, the report by the newspaper is riddled with outright falsehood and destabilizing innuendos which reflect wilful ignorance by the revered news medium.

    “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a news report by Daily Trust Newspaper of June 1, 2023, titled “CBN Devalues Naira to 630/$1”.

    “We wish to state categorically that this news report, which in the imagination of the newspaper is exclusive, is replete with outright FALSEHOODS and destabilizing innuendos, reflecting potentially willful ignorance of the said medium as to the workings of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the exchange rate at the Investors’ & Exporters’ (I&E) window traded this morning (June 1, 2023) at N465/US$1 and has been stable around this rate for a while. 

    “The public is hereby advised to ignore the news report by Daily Trust in its entirety, as it is speculative and calculated at causing panic in the market,” the statement said. 

    The Apex Bank further urged media practitioners to verify their facts from the Central Bank of Nigeria before publishing in order not to misinform the public.