Sahara Reporters Latest News Tuesday 15th October 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 15/10/19
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Group Queries Oduah, Chidoka, Others Over Closure Of Enugu Airport
A group, Igbo Renaissance Forum, has queried the performances of three aviation ministers from the region between 2010 and 2015 following the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The group noted that at different times during the tenures of Fidelia Njeze, Stella Oduah and Osita Chidoka as ministers in the sector, the government carried out extensive repairs of the airport’s runway but expressed surprise that the three ministers rather than work for the general interest of the South-East, deceived the entire people of the region.
The group in a statement by its International Coordinator, Nze Ugo-Akpe Onwuka, said, “The Akanu Ibiam Airport project was executed in two phases; the first phase being the extension of the runway.
“The first phase was what former President Goodluck Jonathan himself commissioned and formally re-designated as an international airport.
“The second phase was the construction of a new apron and taxiway and the upgrade of the airfield lighting system to Category 11.
“It is rather befuddling how none of these individuals took a closer look at the issues that made Enugu Airport a death trap by aviation industry standards in less than six years, leading to this current shut down that has plunged the South-East deeper into economic repression.”
Onwuka posited that the current closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport was due to badly executed job by the contractor.
The group decried that over 50 days after the closure of the airport, there was no sign of any activity despite assurances by Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, that the project would be completed by December 2019.
Onwuka added, “As a pro-Igbo organisation committed to ensuring that we revive the true Igbo spirit, we have resolved to first take the questions surrounding the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to our kith and kin who were and are still in positions of authority.
“We also demand that the Government of Nigeria treat the repair and upgrade works at the airport like they did with other airports.
“We are using this medium to put our brothers and sisters who had in one way or the other had any dealings with the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and its repairs and upgrade on notice to get themselves ready as we shall be calling on them to explain to Ndi Igbo what they know and how we got to this point.”
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E2%80%93senator-yaroe Buhari’s Regime Encourages Official Corruption –Senator Yaroe
Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Binos Yaroe, has said that the present regime under President Muhammadu Buhari is encouraging official corruption.
Senator Yaroe made the remarks in Yola, Adamawa, on Monday, adding that the 2020 budget is a mere budget of consumption and not national development.
He questioned the integrity of the Buhari regime, predicating his concerns on the current dual exchange rate, which he said the present government was encouraging.
He said, “My concern is the dual exchange rate regime that this government is encouraging.
“They are using N305 rate for revenue sharing among the three tiers of government. That is not fair, we all know that the dollar sells for N360.
“If a state government wants to buy dollars for whatever purpose, they have to pay N360.
“But the few people who have access to the official rate of N305, would turn round and sell it at N360, making about N55 in the process. So this government is continuing to encourage official corruption.”
On the budget estimate, the senator faulted the general structure, lamenting that the N8.14trn revenue estimate was below the N10.33trn expenditure estimate.
He added, “You can see that by this estimation we are already projecting to consume more than we can earn.
“It means they have to borrow to bridge the gap.
“By this, they are mortgaging the future because if you borrow to consume, it means there will be no production.”
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Stop Harassment, Intimidation of Journalists, Amnesty International Tells Buhari Regime
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian Government to end the climate of fear and repression of journalists and media organisations across the country.
Country Director of the organisation, Osai Ojigbo, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a public presentation of a report titled “Endangered Voices”.
Ojigbo said, “At least 19 journalists were detained at various times this year.
“Increasingly, the human rights cost of receiving and sharing information for journalists, bloggers and activists to operate in a climate of fear.
“This is totally unacceptable. The authorities must immediately put an end to this hostility towards human rights.”
She noted that Amnesty International has examined the cases of journalists, who were detained, threatened or intimidated over the past five years.
Ojigbo further explained that the investigation had revealed a disturbing escalation in the authorities’ threat and attacks against Nigerian journalists, who had expressed critical opinions of the government on both conventional and social media.
She added, “The escalating clampdown on the rights to freedom of expression and media freedom is mostly perpetrated by the Nigeria Police Force, the military and officials of the Department of State Services.”
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Teenager Remanded In Prison For Robbery In Ondo
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Monday ordered the remand of an 18-year-old male at the Olokuta Prison for alleged armed robbery.
The accused had on August 11, 2019 committed the offence in the Oniparaga area of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Prosecutor of the case, Martins Olowofeso, noted that Arowolo and others at large were armed with two guns, sticks and other dangerous weapons and robbed one Gbenga Oyegun of his motorcycle valued at N270,000.
Olowofeso said the offence of the accused was contrary to and punishable under Sections 5b, 1(2) a and b of the robbery and firearm (Special provision) Act Cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He, however, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody till legal advice from Office of Director of Public Prosecution in the state’s Ministry of Justice.
Counsel to the accused, Yunusa Aliyu, opposed the remand application, noting that there was no cause to remand his client in prison custody.
Magistrate Ruth Olumilua however, ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody and also added that both the original and the duplicates case file be handed over to the clerk of the court.
She adjourned the case until November 12, 2019 for further hearing.
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Nigeria Places Full Ban On Importation Of Goods Through Land Borders
Nigeria Cameroon border
Nigeria-Cameroon border
The Nigerian Government has totally banned the importation of goods through any of its land borders.
The government had on August 20 announced the partial closure of its border to importation of goods.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Retd), who spoke for the joint border security exercise along Nigeria’s borders, said goods could only come into the country through the seaports and airports.
He added that the preference for foreign goods especially food items like rice has continuously impoverished our farmers and adversely affected domestic government policies supporting the agricultural sector to enhance food security.
He also lauded the partial border closure, saying it had so far curbed the smuggling of foreign rice into the country in addition to other prohibited items.
He said, “The border closure has impacted positively on revenue generation of the government which in turn will be used to build more infrastructures and develop critical sectors of the nation’s economy.
“In addition, the National Assembly has supported the executive directive on the border closure and the efforts of security agencies in executing the task.
“Goods that are on the prohibition list to Nigeria such as rice, used clothing, poultry products and vegetable oil should not be imported into the country.
“Let’s understand that all perishable items are on prohibition whether on export or import.
“Therefore, nobody can carry tomato to the border to import or export. So it makes it easier for us to close and ensure that all goods for now are banned from being exported or imported through our land borders.
“That is to ensure that we have total control over what comes in and what we do. We are strategising on how best the goods can be handled when we get to when this operation will relax.
“While we call on Nigerian local rice consumers to be patriotic by patronising Nigerian rice, as this will further help the country in reaching self-sufficiency in local rice production and boost our economy, we equally appeal to the business community to see the exercise as opportunity to further create a conducive environment for local businesses to thrive in the interest of national security and development.”
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Poor Nigerians Are Being Overtaxed, Says Don Jazzy
Nigerian musician and producer, Don Jazzy, has lamented moves by the government to increase taxes.
The Nigerian Government on September 11, 2019, approved an increase in Value Added Tax applicable on supply of goods and services in Nigeria from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.
The new rate, which has been met with public outcry, is expected to take effect in 2020.
In a post on Twitter, Don Jazzy said, “How does the government plan to bring many Nigerians out of poverty when the masses, neck-deep in poverty are being overtaxed.
“The income and living standards of citizens of other countries that pay much taxes can’t be compared to that of Nigerians.”
How does the govt plan to bring many Nigerians out of poverty when the struggling masses, neck-deep in poverty, are being overtaxed. The income & living standards of citizens of other countries that pay much taxes can’t be compared to that of Nigerians. 🤦ðŸ½â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ¤¦ðŸ½â€â™‚ï¸ #POSCharges— ITS DONJAZZY AGAIN😉 (@DONJAZZY) October 13, 2019
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Shiites Ask Nigerian Government To Release 23 Female Members Five Years After Zaria Massacre
Shiites mourning procession in Kano
Shiites mourning procession in Kano
Sahara Reporters Media
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Government to release 23 of its female members being held by security agencies since the December 2015 Zaria massacre.
The group said neither the Nigerian Army nor the police have said anything about the missing persons or their whereabouts.
Leader of Sisters Forum of IMN, Zainab Zakariyya, who addressed journalists on Monday in Abuja, said the girls were kidnapped by a combined team of police and army during Asura procession.
She said families of the girls have been subjected to harrowing experiences as they cannot ascertain if they were dead or alive.
Zakariyya said, “Zaria Girls are like Chibok Girls, they are all human beings.
“It is either one is for humanity or against it, no one can make good an escape from this choice.
“The humanity that aroused the interest of people of conscience as well as civil society organisations with respect to the Chibok Girls, should provoke them about Zaria Girls.”
She said the deafening silence of government about the missing girls is tantamount to the conspiracy that surrounded the bloodshed in Zaria five years ago.
The group therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to redeem his image and order the security agencies to release the girls from detention.
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Farmers In Sub-Saharan Africa Still Store Grain Traditionally, Says FAO
World Grain
Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa have been found to store grain in contraptions made of grass, wood and mud, the Food and Agricultural Organisation said in a report published on Monday.
The United Nations farming body observed that this method of storage provides no defense against pests.
The body also noticed that farmers store produce in their houses due to a lack of storage facilities.
The report said, “Many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa still use traditional grain stores made of grass, wood and mud, which offer little protection against pests.
“In some cases, farmers store grains inside their own house due to a lack of storage facilities or because they are afraid of theft.”
The organisation found that post-harvest losses in grain storage in sub-Saharan Africa is at a maximum of 22.50 per cent.
The report also cited a study from the International Food Policy Research Institute stating that lack of access to market causes post-harvest losses in the country’s maize value chain.
Globally speaking, post-harvest loss was placed at 14 per cent, with variations in the percentage across continents and crop type.
The preference of consumers for aesthetic presentation of food items on shelves in supermarkets and malls, contribute a fair share to post harvest losses, the report found.
“As we strive to make progress towards reducing food loss and waste, we can only be truly effective if our efforts are informed by a solid understanding of the problem,” FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, said in the report.
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72-year-old Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Raping, Impregnating Daughter
A 72-year-old man, Ibrahim Yunusa, was on Monday remanded in prison custody by a Magistrate Court in Gombe for allegedly raping and impregnating his daughter.
Yunusa had on arraignment pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Daura Sikkam, ordered the remand of the accused person and adjourned the case until November 13 for further hearing to enable the police complete investigation.
Earlier, reading the police First Information Report, Dalaky Wanma, the court clerk, claimed that the accused committed the offences several times between December 2018 and January 2019 at Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Police prosecutor, Sgt. Bako Shekari, also told the court that investigation into the matter had commenced.
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Five Killed In Anambra Robbery Operation
Five persons have been killed while scores sustained varying degrees of injuries during a robbery operation in Onitsha, Anambra State.
It was said that the attack occurred in a petrol station and pharmacy shop.
According to report, among the five victims, two were females and three males.
A source said, “They were six in number. While coming in, the robbers shot dead one of the vigilante operatives on sight before gunning down a worker, who was woken up by the sound of gunshots.
“Another female attendant, who delayed when the masked pointer asked her for the key to the volt, was also killed.”
It was also gathered that money realised from the day’s sale at the petrol station was carted away by the robbers, according to a report by The Nation.
When contacted, police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Mohammed, said, “We’re investigating the matter and will come out with our findings later.”
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