Nigerian military yet to receive order for intervention in Niger – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters says the the Armed Forces of Nigeria is yet to receive order for any military intervention in the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the ouster of democratic governance in the country.

The Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the online report that the Nigerian military was assembling its forces for military action in Republic of Niger.

According to him, the AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action against the Military Junta in Niger.

“It is no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through un-constitutional means.

“In reaction to this illegal takeover of government, the ECOWAS Heads of Government met and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis.

“Military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails, to reverse the situation and return the Government of Republic of Niger to constitutional order.

“At the moment, ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS for consideration.

“In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Increasing tuition fees may deepen Nigeria’s education crisis, says UK charity founder

The Chief Executive Officer of the UK charity, IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, has warned that increasing tuition fees in Nigerian universities could compound the crisis plaguing the country’s education sector.

Speaking against the backdrop of increases in tuition and other fees by some universities in Nigeria, Adeagbo said that a country currently having some 20.2 million children out-of-school should have no business increasing fees in schools.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that increasing fees of any sort should not be an option, until Nigeria came out of the woods and was able to put every child in school.

“The increment in tuition in Unity Schools is unacceptable because it can lead to more children dropping out of school,’’ Adeagbo said, calling on the Federal Government to take measures to ensure that every Nigerian child acquired basic education.

“The government should also introduce regulatory measures soonest, to compel private schools operators to curb unnecessary demands on parents such as forcing parents to pay expensive fees for uniforms and other related items.

“The government also needs to reduce the financial entry barriers into public schools as thousands of families cannot even afford to pay basic enrollment fees.

According to her, government needs to stay true to its promise of free basic education for all in Nigeria.

The IA-Foundation founder said that Nigeria should improve education standards in public schools and introduce strategic communication measures to address the prevailing negative notion about education in public schools.

She, however, lauded the Federal Government for inviting IA-Foundation to the just-concluded annual National Summit for NGOs Intervening in the Education Sector, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.

Adeagbo said that her foundation’s participation in the summit had re-energised IA-Foundation’s commitment to campaigning for every Nigerian child to have access to basic education.

IA-Foundation, based in the south eastern city of Kent in England has been campaigning vigorously to promote education in Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation.

Nigeria has an army of out-of-school kids, especially the girl-child, prevented from classrooms because of various problems, including poverty and banditry, according to UN agency UNESCO.

The organisation is mostly active in South Western Nigeria but it has been making efforts to expand its activities to other parts of Nigeria, according to the founder.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

UBA GMD marks first year in office, promises enhanced customers experience

Mr Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA), has reiterated the bank’s commitment to enhancing customer experience.

He also expressed optimism on greater achievements for customers and shareholders.

In a statement signed by Mr Nasir Ramon, Group Head, Media and External Relations of Corporate Communications, UBA, in Lagos, Alawuba, was quoted to have said this while marking his first year anniversary in office.

He also promised investors and customers that the best is yet to come.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘UBA 4.0 Team’, led by Alawuba, took over the reins of leadership in August 2022.

According to him, the bank has since achieved record-breaking profit margins and witnessed transformative growth across the international and African markets.

Alawuba, who expressed gratitude to his team and other internal stakeholders for the many successes achieved in the last 12 months, said that through their collective efforts, the bank had celebrated major business wins across various markets.

This, he said solidified its position as a leading financial institution in the region.

He said, “I want to express my gratitude to every one of you, our dedicated and talented team leaders and members for your commitment to our customer-centric vision and the spirit of execution displayed in our successes so far.

“Through our collective efforts, we have recorded major business wins across our various markets, improved on our financial performance, enhanced customer service delivery and are on the way to achieving a more connected brand.

“These achievements have not only strengthened the bank’s standing but have also provided a solid foundation for even greater accomplishments in the future,” Alawuba said.

The chief executive officer explained that the bank would not rest on its oars in its drive to deliver on its promise of being the leading financial services provider in Africa and beyond.

“We will continue to focus on our three levers of transformation, these being People, Process and Technology,” he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Abuja markets: AMML accuses sister coy of sabotaging its operations against court order

The Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), on Wednesday , accused its sister company, Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), of sabotaging its operations of managing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)-owned markets in spite of a valid court judgment.

The AMML Legal Adviser, Felix Edacbe, made the allegation during a press briefing in Abuja.

Edache alleged that the Group General Manager (GMD) of AICL, Mr Abubakar Maina, unlawfully directed his workers to take over the AMML offices across markets in the FCT.

The lawyer, who alleged that the development had hindered the company from performing its mandate of revenue generation for FCT, said Maina’s action had also exposed the markets to insecurity as traders now do their businesses in apprehension.

“It has become imperative to get you informed of some sordid events currently putting the survival of AMML, its staff, security and wellbeing of our markets in jeopardy.

“On the 26th of July 2023, the GMD of Abuja Investments Company Ltd unilaterally wrote to all FCT owned markets, intimating them of their decision to suspend and throw open the market gates.

“This communication which was well circulated in the markets, compromised our security architecture.

“This, in our security review, may not be unconnected to the invasion of Wuse Market by suspected members of Shiite Movement on Friday the 28th July 2023.

“This much was promptly reported to the various security agencies for proper investigation.

“While still trying to solve the problems generated by the above wrong decision, on Tuesday, the 1st day of August, 2023, some staff of AICL, alongside some traders at about 6 a.m., went into Wuse market and forcefully break into our office, chased our staff away thereby further jeopardising the security of our market and making it impossible for us to raise revenue for the provision of services across markets.

“From the information at our disposal this is one of the many steps being taken in cohort with some dismissed staff of AMML to take over the market with the view of claiming and deceiving security agencies into believing that they are the authentic staff of AMML.

“They are doing this so that they can use the security agencies to chase away the MD/CEO of AMML and the authentic staff of AMML out of the office and forcefully annexed the office as they have done in the markets in violation of valid court orders/judgement,” Edache alleged.

He called on the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, to call Maina “to order on his hostility against the company’s Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Faruk.”

The Manager of Dei Dei Market, Janet Udemezue, also alleged that on Tuesday, some ex-staff of the AMML invaded her office early in the morning, chased them out and locked up the office.

She said the invaders told her that the AICL had taken over the markets in the area.

She said she had to call the district police officer (DPO) in the area who deployed some of his men to the office for prompt intervention.

“The market was thrown into a state of fear and apprehension.

“And we all know that Dei Dei is a volatile area with many miscreants who may want to take advantage of any little misunderstanding.

“This is why we are calling on the permanent secretary to come into the situation,” she said.

The Head of Operations of AMML, Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, said the company was committed to ensuring that the market system is well protected and food supply is stabilised towards generating the needed revenue for the FCT government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the markets under the management of AMML include Wuse Market, Gudu Market, Garki International Market, Garki Old Market, Nyanya Market, Dei Dei Market, Kaura Market, Area 1, 2 and 3 Shopping Centres, among others.

NAN reports that Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, in a judgment on July 10, nullified Faruk’s redeployment by yet-to-be ratified AMML Board headed by Maina and the former Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello.

Justice Okorowo ordered Faruk’s reinstatement as MD of AMML.

He also ordered the defendants, their staff and privies to restrain themselves from interfering with the Faruk’s exercise of his powers or carrying out the ordinary business of the company as an MD, including but not limited to holding board meetings.

The judge held that the decision of Maina and Bello to reconstitute the AMML’s Board of Directors in the manner done and publish in a press release of Feb. 21 and inaugurated the said board on April 4 was unlawful, null and void.

Besides, Justice R.B. Haastrup of a National Industrial Court, Abuja, on July 26, also nullified the termination of Faruk’s employment by Maina on behalf of AMML’s shareholders against a valid court judgment.

Maina in a letter he signed on July 17, had terminated Faruk’s employment.

Justice Haastrup also gave an interim injunction restraining the defendants, including the AICL, from conducting any board of directors’ meeting of AMML or transacting any business affecting the AMML management pending the determination of the counterpart motion on notice.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

OGFZA targets $15.97bn by 2025

The Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Nigeria (OGFZA), Sen. Tijjani Kaura, says the free zones would attract a total of 15.97 billion dollars investment to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025.

Kaura made this known at a maiden media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, where he rolled out the achievements of the agency as he marked one year in office in Abuja.

He said ”the OGFZA regulates eight free zones, six of them are fully operational while the remaining two are at various stages of completions.”

According to him, these zones are evolving well and are making impactful contribution to the nations economy.

“The zones includes Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Warri Oil and Gas Free Zone and Eko Support Oil and Gas Free Zone.

“Others includes Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone, Notore Oil and Gas Free Zone, Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone, Bestaf Maritime and Industrial OGFZ and OGFZ-SBA Free Zone a newly declared zone with licence in progress.”

OGFZA boss said the authority had recorded achievements in quantitative terms, which has contributed significantly on the nation’s GDP in the last two decades.

He noted that it attracted foreign direct investment of 21.6 billion dollars.

According to him, it has technical skills to 35,330 Nigerians and generated direct employment for 41,085 persons and indirect employments for 164,000 persons at the same period.

“OGFZA has generated billions of revenue for government from 2018 to 2021, this includes the customs duty N119 billions for goods exported from free zones to customs territory.

“It also includes withholding tax of N10.4 billion for transaction carried out between free zone enterprises and non – free zone licensees and Value Added Tax(Vat) of N9. 5 billion for transaction carried out.”

He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to look into some of the issues affecting the agency that could stall the growth of business for investors in the country.

He said one of the major challenges bedeviling the free zone activities was the deplorable state of roads in Port Harcourt, and Akwa Ibom.

According to Kaura , the problem of regulatory interference due to lack of understanding of the nature of operation of free trade zones, he however said there was need to update the law setting up the authority to meet present day realities.

He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to create an enabling business environment to attract more investors into the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OGFZA was established in 1996 as the first government agency in the world dedicated for the regulation of Special Economic Zone(SEZ) in the energy industry.

OGFZA is the premier agency of government responsible for promoting, securing and sustaining investments in the oil and gas free zones in the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Grootfontein man arrested in connection with farm robbery

A 37-year-old man linked to the armed robbery that took place on a farm near Grootfontein on Sunday, was on Wednesday arrested at the Otjiwarongo-Otavi police roadblock.

The Namibian Police Force’s head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Thursday told Nampa a firearm which was stolen during the robbery was allegedly found in his possession.

“A laptop which was stolen in the same robbery on the farm was also found in his possession,” Mbeha said.

The police officer further stated that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly revealed where he hid the clothes he wore during the robbery on the farm.

The man who transported the five suspects to the farm, where they impersonated police officers, was also detained for interrogation, Mbeha stated.

She said the suspect, who is a resident of Grootfontein, is a wanted murder suspect in a case in Tsumeb. The four other suspects in the farm robbery are still on the run.

The suspect who is in police custody is expected to appear in the Grootfontein Magistrate’s Court during this week.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency