Farmers call for ban on maize importation

Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of maize into the country to encourage local production.

Alhaji Bello Abubakar, the National President of the association, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Abubakar was reacting to a recent publication by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on a request by Grand Cereals Limited to import maize into the country.

He said the move was `unpatriotic’ and targeted at thwarting the efforts of farmers and the government toward achieving self-sufficiency in maize production.

According to him, farmers produce enough and better maize to feed the country than what is being imported.

“Our last year’s production was 15 million tonnes and this year, we produced 20 million tonnes of maize and the required quantity for all maize processors in Nigeria is about eight million tonnes.

“Government intervention in the agricultural sector has put in place the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) to encourage local production of agricultural commodities including maize.

“MAAN is executing the ABP in 19 states which has empowered about 100,000 on and off farm employment.

“This contribution of MAAN, if complemented by other large scale maize grain users, will create more than one million on and off farm employment in the maize value chain.

“Therefore, we request that the importation of maize grain in any form is considered counter-productive to agricultural development in Nigeria and should be discouraged in its entirety,” he said.

On armyworm devastation of maize farms, Abubakar said that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), had put in place measures to address the disease.

“Members of MAAN were trained and pesticides, fertiliser, seeds were given to them by the Federal Government and FAO to manage the pest.

“This year, there is no infestation of armyworm like last year,” he said.

He however, appealed to companies who involved in maize importation to provide their preferred maize seedlings to local farmers to grow, to encourage production of improved varieties.

Mr Rufus Ebegba, the Director General of NBMA, said the agency had received a request by Grand Cereals Limited to import maize into the country.

Ebegba, however, disclosed that the permit had not been granted for the maize import.

“It is true but the permit has not been granted,” he said.

MAAN was established to provide research on maize production, quality input to farmers, coordinate between farmers and the government.

MAAN is made up of maize scientists and researchers, input suppliers, service providers, farmers, marketers, maize suppliers and processors.

The association, which has its presence in the 36 states and FCT, has over 10 million registered farmers and members. 

- PM News

Subscriber slams N250m suit on MTN over wrongful arrest, Illegal detention

A subscriber to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Chidi Johnson has instituted N250 million suit against the telecommunications company before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over his alleged harassment, arrest and illegal detention without a reasonable cause.

Johnson is claiming the sum as damages for the public harassment, inconvenience and loss of business he suffered as a result of his arrest and detention by the police which was allegedly instigated by MTN Nigeria Communication.

In an affidavit he sworn to and filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Barrister Onu Uche, his arrest and detention was instigated by the telecommunications company on July 17, 2018 when he visited the company’s Call Centre at No 60, Akowonjo Road, Egbeda, within Lagos metropolis to retrieve his lost MTN line.

He averred that a female customer care representative of the Defendant, Ms Monica Umukoro instead of taking his complaints as was being done with the people who had earlier been attended to, directed him to take a seat at the back of the office.

Johnson also stated that he was thereafter surrounded by the Defendant’s security officials who in the company of Ms. Umukoro, informed him that his picture in the Defendant’s computer system bore an all four resemblance to one of the defendant’s subscribers whom the defendant had been staking on its watch list to apprehend.

The claimant further alleged that he was thereafter led to the security post of one commercial bank near the defendant’s call centre, where he was detained for several hours, before he was handed over to the officers of the Gowon Estate Divisional Police Station.

He stated that at the police station, he was harassed, abused, demeaned and detained till the next day without food, medical care and reasonable cause, and was later asked to make a statement.

The claimant further stated that after investigation was conducted by the police, it was discovered that the picture on the defendant’s computer system was not his but that of some other person that purportedly bore an all four resemblance to him.

He claimed that he was then reluctantly released on bail to one Akajiaku, who acted as his surety.

Johnson also stated that after his released, he wrote a petition against the defendant through his lawyer to the Human Rights Department of the Lagos State Police Command but due to the inconclusive investigation his solicitors caused a letter of demand to be written to MTN.

But MTN in its reply absolved itself completely from the incident of his unlawful arrest, detention and harassment which was instigated by it.

The claimant is therefore seeking a declaration that his arrest, detention and public harassment by the police instigated by Ms. Umukoro, an employee of MTN is illegal, unlawful, wrongful, and amounts to an infringement of his Right to personal liberty.

He is also asking the court for a declaration that his arrest and detention was wrongful and amounts to False Imprisonment as well an an order mandating MTN to render an unreserved public apology to him in at least Two National Dailies.

MTN is yet to file a defence to the suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, but in its letter to the claimant, the company stated that it has a civil duty to report the suspicion of a crime to law enforcement agencies.

- PM News

SERAP asks INEC to probe ‘campaign spending by Saraki, other contributions’

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting him to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate allegation that Senate President, Bukola Saraki spent between N200 million and N400 million in every state, except the six South-West states, to influence the outcome of the 2015 elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The organization also urged INEC to “investigate the sources of other cases of apparently unexplained campaign financing and contributions for the 2015 elections by politicians and supporters of the two main political parties that is, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We urge you to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation.”

Saraki allegedly said in a leaked audio: “Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m, while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West. Even on the phone, I was calling and giving banks instructions.”

SERAP in the letter dated 17 November, 2018 and signed by its Senior Legal Adviser, Bamisope Adeyanju, said: “Allegation that one politician spent billions of Naira on elections in several states of the country to support a political party if not thoroughly, and transparently investigated and prosecuted would undermine the public faith in the country’s democracy. It also risks distorting electoral processes and reversing the gains in the democratic and electoral processes that have been recorded since the return of democracy in 1999.”

The organization also said: “Such spending if allowed to continue can shape policy-making after elections, and improperly influence the decisions taken by the country’s elected representatives who will most likely consider their contributions to political parties’ campaign as ‘investment’ and thus seek returns on their purported investment to achieve electoral success for their party.”

According to the organization: “Probing the sources of such spending would improve transparency and accountability in campaign spending and contributions. This is essential to curb abuse and mismanagement of Nigeria’s resources, help to balance political competition, foster the integrity of officeholders, rebuild citizens’ trust in the political system’s integrity, as well as ensure that electoral processes and elected officials are not compromised by uncontrolled and unaccountable campaign funding.”

The letter copied to Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, Acting Chairman EFCC; Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, Acting Chairman, ICPC; and Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) read in part: “Unexplained and unregulated spending to influence the outcome of any election can distort the electoral competition and lead to state capture by wealthy politicians and individuals.”

“SERAP urges you to prosecute anyone suspected to be involved and/or complicit in the alleged unexplained campaign spending, if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of violations of international standards and national laws. We request that you take steps within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel you and the INEC to discharge your constitutional and statutory responsibilities in the public interest.

“Unexplained and unregulated spending on election campaign would encourage politicians to divert public resources for political purposes rather than ensuring and directing critical spending for socio-economic development of the country, including on improving access to public services such as electricity, health, water, and education.

“Campaign financing such as the spending allegedly disclosed by the Senate president undermines public trust and confidence in politicians and poses serious corruption risks, as it can blur the line between state and party politics, encourage the use of national resources to fund and influence elections. Such huge spending by an individual can even be converted into a conduit for money laundering.

“SERAP urges you to publicly clarify to politicians and political parties ceilings for campaign spending and contributions, and to insist that all political parties and politicians disclose sources of their spending for the 2019 elections. INEC should also require all political parties to sign ‘transparency pacts’ that would mandate candidates and their sponsors to disclose the identities of donors and publish all spending and contributions on their party website and in the press before the 2019 elections.

“SERAP therefore urges you to investigate the sources of campaign financing and contributions by Saraki and by other politicians and other individuals to APC and PDP if INEC is ever to rein in the role of money and level the playing field for candidates and political parties in the 2019 general elections.

“INEC should carry out the investigation and prosecution in collaboration with the ICPC and EFCC, and send a strong message to politicians and political parties that INEC under your leadership would not tolerate any infringement of the democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“SERAP notes that international law has increasingly recognised the importance of transparency for mitigating corruption in party politics and using disclosure of political financing as a means to improve it. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to which Nigeria is a state party obligates states to enhance transparency in the funding of candidates for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties. Similarly, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which Nigeria  has also ratified requires states to incorporate the principle of transparency into funding of political parties.

“Further, Sections 225 and 226 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) affirms the powers of INEC to monitor, inquire into and assess campaign finances, and a party’s source of and management of funds, while Section 228 provides sanctions with regard to party finance and campaign finance.

“According to Section 91(2) and 91(3) of the Electoral Act, the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential and governorship election shall be one billion naira only and two hundred million naira only respectively. Also, Section 91(4) of the Electoral Act states that the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate for a senatorial and House of Representatives election shall be N40m only and N20m only respectively.

“According to reports, Senate President Bukola Saraki allegedly claimed in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party that he spent between N200m and N400m in every state except the six South-West states, to influence the outcome of the elections for the All Progressives Congress. Saraki reportedly said “Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m, while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West. Even on the phone, I was calling and giving banks instructions.”

-PM News

Fire guts 156 shops at Nkwo Ngwa market in Aba

Fire on Saturday gutted about 156 shops at the timber and furniture section of Nkwo Ngwa market in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia, leaving many families in grief for their losses.

The Chairman of the market traders’ association, Okechukwu Lawrence, told NAN at the market on Sunday that he was informed about the incident through phone call around 7:00 pm on Saturday.

Lawrence said he rushed to the scene immediately and he and the market’s taskforce members broke its gates to let in sympathisers to help quench the fire, using water from a borehole.

“We tried our best before the Fire Service came in. We used water from our borehole to quench the fire.

“But the hoodlums around later broke the borehole in their bid to steal our pump while the fire was raging.

“That was how I saw it yesterday. The fire was too much and it gulped millions of Naira worth of goods and property.

“We have some building material sellers in all these front shops. The second row of shops is occupied by furniture sellers and dealers in other things.

“We recorded a very big loss here but there was no loss of life or injury,” he said.

Lawrence also debunked claims that his members attacked the fire service personnel who came to quench the fire.
The chairman said that it was a group of hoodlums called Aroo Boys who attacked the fire service men.

He said the Aroo Boys further entered the market, broke into shops, carried rice, stock fish, clothes and other property and left.

He further said the fire could have been stopped with the help of the fire fighters before it destroyed up to 100 shops.

The Abia Police Commissioner, Chris Ezeike, who visited the scene Sunday morning, said he was there to access the incident and sympathise with the victims.

Ezeike noted that the section of the market was full of inflammable materials.

He, however, called for calm and peace, adding that the fire incident, which was said to have caused by a generating set, would be investigated immediately.

Capt. Awa Udonsi (rtd.), Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on Security, said he had been notified about the incident and would involve the concerned ministries in the matter.

Udonsi said he would not take decisions for the governor but assured that government would “do the right thing” in the situation.

- Daily Post

Four INEC workers, NYSC member, 3 year-old die in Kogi auto crash

Four staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a member of the NYSC and a three-year-old girl on Saturday died in an accident along Ajaokuta–Lokoja Road.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the victims were returning in the evening from Ayingba, Kogi, where they attended the wedding ceremony of another INEC staff.

NAN gathered that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member was performing his primary assignment with INEC office in Lokoja and the child belonged to one of the INEC staff members.

The Director of Voter Education and Publicity at Kogi Office of INEC, Mr Ahmed Biambo who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with NAN said that the victims were from the Information and Communication Technology and Account departments of INEC.

Bimbo said that the corpses had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

Meanwhile the Kogi Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), Mr Olisegun Martins, could not comment on the incident as he did not respond to calls made to his telephone number.

- Daily Post

NDLEA intercepts 581 million Tramadol tablets in 2 days

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 241 million Tramadol tablets in 11 containers, weighing 118 metric tonnes.

Head of Public Affairs of the agency, Mr Jonah Achema, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the seizure was made at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The agency had earlier uncovered 340 million Tramadol tablets in 12 containers on November 15 at the port.

The containers had been on the watch-list of the NDLEA since November 2017.

They were taken to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for search, based on the agency’s reasonable suspicion that they contained the drug.

Achema said that there were 39 more containers that were lined up for search as the agency strongly suspected that they contained illicit drugs.

“This brings to 581 million Tramadol tablets uncovered within two days of the search. The search is still ongoing. We shall continue tomorrow as well,” he said.

Achema added that the agency would not relent until the country was freed from drug abuse and consumption. 

- Daily Post