Customs intercept container of Tilapia fish from Turkey

http://ift.tt/2ixotxx

By Ifeyinwa Obi

Lagos—THE Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted a 40ft container of frozen Tilapia fish imported from Turkey  valued at N22.1 million.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Muhammad Jibrin, said this yesterday  when he led newsmen to APM Terminals, Apapa, where the container was intercepted.

Jibrin said that the container No: DFOU6122880, was discovered during scanning.

He said that the importer made a false declaration that the container was laden with apples.

“Upon scanning, officers discovered the container was containing 2,700 cartons of frozen tilapia fish from Turkey.

“The aforementioned fish species is under restriction.

“More so, importers of allowable species of fish are expected to obtain licence, and permit before such importation into the country.

“We have scanners that are working but most of the scanners are inadequate for operations,” Jibrin said.

He said that the command had opened communication with Agriculture and Plant Quarantine Service and the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in the spirit of collaboration.

Jibrin said that the command had zero tolerance for smuggling and false declaration in line with the policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali.

He said that the command would continue to uncover and stop any attempt at breaching the law as regards imports and exports transactions through the command.

The post Customs intercept container of Tilapia fish from Turkey appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2nhiNeq

Amos Bawa Telling the brave history of the Zurus

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Evolving technology and modern civilisation have somewhat taken young people away from their history and heritage. Some schools of thought believe that some African languages and cultural heritage may become extinct if steps are not taken to transmit them to the younger ones, given that history as a subject has been removed from Nigerian school curriculum. They advocate for the return of history in schools.

For this reason, Prince Amos Bawa, an emerging historian with passion from Zuru land, Kebbi State, took a bold step in initiating a cultural orientation project by publishing works of language, history, dictionary, and the Zuru cultural calendar, aimed at reviving his people’s cultural heritage, documentation of the history of Zuru people, and tracing  the origin of C’lela, their language.

According to Bawa, this initiative, to an extent, gives an account of the origins of the historic route of the Lelna people, the origin of words like Zuru, Zurnu or Azungu, the C’lela language, and so many other questions concerning this unique tribe in Kebbi State, Nigeria.

“The original word was A’zuru, meaning a land where lions lived – a very tick forest which the Zuru ancestors discovered and cleared. A’zuru people are warriors and hunters. They are predominantly Christians who occupy the larger part of the Southern Kebbi State and beyond.”

The Language and culture

Zuru is a bastardisation of A’zuguru or A’zurannu Darkkarkari which simply mean warriors. The name became prominent when the white colonial masters could not pronounce the words. They therefore shortened it to ‘ZURU’ for easy pronunciation. The people speak C’Lela. They are called LELNA and their country home is known as Copu Nalela or A’lela, while their culture is D’Lela. Lelna is used here in a large linguistic sense and also refers to the offshoot of the proto-Lelna in Southern part of Kebbi State which includes Hunnu, Daknu, Paknu, Gyaane, Karne, Gam Hyonn, Wipsni and Kamuku.

“My take in initiating this project is to create the awareness that the Zuru people of A’Lela are indigenously called Lelna as against the name Zuru man, Dan Zuru, or Dakkar Kari. Northern Nigeria prides itself with various ethnic languages apart from Hausa and Fulani, and most of these languages have strong cultural roots that define the people and their way of life,” Bawa said.

He also disclosed that there’s no statistics to justify the claim about Hausa speaking Lelnas, but the Hausa language is predominantly spoken in Zuru land because they are greater in number among the people, and because of the colonisation, the British imposed Hausa leaders over Zuru people.

Bawa explained that “most Hausa speakers today are not originally Hausas. My people are suffering for what I call the tragedy of impunity because they allowed the Hausa culture to dominate them and downplay their own culture. The colonial masters refused to recognise the minority local chiefs. Instead, they imposed their favoured subjects on the minority aborigines in our land.”

The Lelnas are known as Dunkagawa – meaning people that eat dogs as special meat or slaughter dogs for special celebration as a culture. They also share some similar language and culture with the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria. For instance, words like wrapper, water, fowl, bed etc., have similar pronunciations with Igbo. The Zuru people also celebrate cultural festivals that herald and end farming seasons like the ‘Uhola’, D’biti and Beledima, which attract foreigners and people from other parts of the country.

Golmo Warriors

The Lelna people of Zuru are warlords with strong institution called the Golmo.  Also as hunters, they hunted and drove away the ferocious lions that originally occupied their current settlement. The Golmo institution is an organised traditional army with commanders and lieutenants who train the K’lela youths to acquire traits of discipline, endurance and bravery for political independence. The Golmo also trains the youths in the handling of rifles, bows and arrows for hunting expeditions and for self-defense against external aggressions. They made up the large number of army that fought the historical Kanta war which lasted for forty years. The execution and success of Kanta war was based on the military prowess of the people. The British colonial administrators had discovered the Lelna peoples’ bravery quite early, hence they admired and enlisted many of them into the First World War between 1914 and 1918. It is also for this reason that the Zuru people are among those that made the Nigerian Army a strong force today.

The traditional religionists among the people believe that the jihadists never conquered the Zuru land due to their hold onto their deity called ‘Keseh’. C’lela people are highly educated in western education and their relationships with the Hausa/Fulani Moslems have been cordial. The Zurus are scattered within part of the northern states and still practice Christianity till date. The Zurus believe they are being marginalised and subjected to servitude because their states are very small.

Economic relevance

Kebbi is an agricultural zone of the North with a fertile land that grows cash crops in commercial quantity. The crops include rice, guinea corn, maize, soya, water melon and other cash crops. They are also into cattle rearing. In fact, being Christians, cattle rearing has not in any way conflicted or created disharmony between them and the Fulani/Hausa herdsmen within the Zuru land. It would be interesting to know that Zuru land is the home of the famous Argungu – famous for the historic Argungu fishing festival.

 

The post Amos Bawa Telling the brave history of the Zurus appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mgW7pL

Edo FA U-13, U-17 Super league kicks off in Benin

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The 18th edition of the Edo FA U-13 and U-17 Super   League kicks off yesterday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin- city Edo State.

The   Co-coordinator of the competition, Sampele   Uwadiae, said the aim of the event since its commencement years ago is to fish out young football talents from the 18 local government areas that could become future world stars.

He disclosed that the football fiesta which will last for four months is sponsored by the Edo Football Association in conjunction with Edebiri Sports Foundation.

According to him, “We are very elated that Edo FA was able to put this year’s edition of the state Super League together in spite of the nation’s economic crisis. I want to thank the Edebiri Sports Foundation for their partnership.

The post Edo FA U-13, U-17 Super league kicks off in Benin appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2me5FCJ

WHAT EXACTLY IS WRITTEN ABOUT YOU?

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Femi Aribisola

HEROD was a Jew and not an atheist. However, when Wise Men came looking for little Jesus, he inquired of the chief priests and the scribes where the Messiah would be born. He was told it would be in Bethlehem, according to the scriptures.  Herod believed. Nevertheless, determined to frustrate the will of God, he ordered all young male children in Bethlehem to be killed. Herod’s days became numbered.

Jonah was a prophet of God. But when God told him to call the people of Nineveh to repentance, Jonah would have none of that. He did not just refuse to go to Nineveh; he decided to go in precisely the opposite direction. He took a ship headed for Tarshish. He ended up in the belly of a fish.

My will be done

Many of the difficulties and problems of a believer are those he brings on himself. When he gets bogged down, it is because he is not relying on the resurrection power of Jesus. We are not called to walk in the light of our conscience. We are specifically enjoined not to lean on our own understanding. We are called to walk in the light of the word of God.

When we do anything from reason or from a sense of duty, we can always back it up by argument. But when we do anything by obedience to the Lord, there is no argument possible. That is why true believers are easily subject to ridicule. When a Christian walks in obedience to God, he is often a fool for Christ.

James says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

But because we do not know what the word of God says, or because we do not believe what it says, we despair when we fall into temptations. Some even jump to the ridiculous conclusion that God does not love them anymore.

Rejoicing in the word

When the disciples of Jesus were arrested by the Jewish Council and flogged for preaching Jesus, they departed from their persecutors rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord. (Acts 5:41 ). Jesus had fore-warned them that: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).

The disciples rejoiced because the word of God tells them to do so. We should also rejoice in similar circumstances today because the law, the prophets and the epistles tell us to do so. Thus James says: “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:10-11).

For every temptation Jesus has an answer: “it is written.” We cannot resist the devil successfully unless we know what is written. Eve was deceived because she did not know the word of God. The devil told her God does not want her to be like God. But the word of God would be written saying: “you are Gods and all of you are children of the most high.” It would also be written: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3).

The devil told Eve if she ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil she would surely not die. But it would be written: “the soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4). Poor Adam and Eve, they did not have the scriptures. But the word of God exists and has always existed and will always exist. (Remember this: Jesus is the word of God).

Resisting the devil

Realising that Jesus knew what is written, the devil tried to distort the scriptures by saying to him: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give his angels charge over you,’ and, ‘in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:6). But Jesus had a ready answer: “It is written again, ‘you shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (Matthew 4:7).

God does not want his children to be ignorant; therefore he tells us vital things beforehand. In this life, some people are going to die, some are going to fail, some are going to be broke, some are going to be divorced, and some are going to be raped. What about you? What is going to happen to you?

Only the things written in the book of life will happen to a believer. Indeed, some will die, but believers will not. It is written: “whoever lives and believes in Jesus Christ shall never die.” (John 11:26). The names of those appointed to death are written in the book of death. But the believer’s name is written in the book of life. It is written in the book of the abundant life: ““God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Only the purpose that God has purposed will take place in the life of the believer.  How do you know the purpose that is purposed? It is written. Theophilus, (lover of God) your life is following a script written by the most High. You are pre-destined to glory.

Catch the revelation. God does everything by the book. He does everything by the word. Who is the word? Jesus. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. All things were made by him and without him was not made anything that was made.

God made everything by the word. That is why God fulfils every promise by the word.  God fulfils every promise by the book. Every promise of God is fulfilled in Christ and by Christ.

Kings and king of kings

King Ahaseurus could not sleep. What does a king do when he cannot sleep? He reads the scriptures. Who is a king? A king, of course, is the believer. So King Ahaseurus says: “bring me the book.” “Bring me the book of the records of the chronicles.”

King Ahaseurus is a king in the Old Testament. He is the shadow of the substance of the King of Kings, King Jesus. King Ahaseurus says: “Bring me the book of the records of the chronicles.”  King Jesus says: “bring me the book of life.” And what does he find in the book? It is written about you: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”

That is the portion of the believer, in the name of Jesus.

The post WHAT EXACTLY IS WRITTEN ABOUT YOU? appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lOHZZf

Wikki will vent spleen on 3SC, says Yakubu…See full details

http://ift.tt/2kXdcEi

Wikki Tourists

Wikki Tourists’ striker, Victor Yakubu, whose side were dumped out of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend by RSLAF of Sierra Leone, has said his club are focused on winning the rescheduled top-flight clash against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), reports supersport.com.

The Bauchi Elephants, dumped from the Caf Confederation Cup by the Sierra Leonean opposites Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) FC, will entertain the Oluyole Warriors in today’s rescheduled matchday 7 clash at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium (ATBS) in Bauchi.

Yakubu said his side’s resolve to bounce back to reckoning, as well as reclaim their pride of place in the domestic scene, will start with the clash against the Ibadan landlords.

“We have to redirect our whole attention to the league after the shocking elimination from the Caf Confederation Cup.

“We are going to give everything in us to ensure we win the clash against 3SC on Wednesday in Bauchi.

“The clash will be an acid test on our resolve to bounce back to reckoning in the domestic league.

“It will equally ascertain how quickly we want to return to the continent so the clash against 3SC is quite crucial.

“The truth is that we are under pressure from our teeming fans and supporters to get back to winning ways once again.

“3SC are a good side and proven their capacity to ruffle feathers in the on-going top-flight so we expect a difficult match from them tomorrow (Wednesday).

“However, we quite understand that we cannot afford to drop points in the league if we must achieve a landmark at the end of the season,” said Yakubu to supersport.com.

Wikki Tourists are 18th on the 20-team top-flight on seven points, 13 behind league leaders Plateau United though with two games in hand against Kano Pillars and MFM FC.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lsTK4n

Experts seek review of extant legislation on human trafficking (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2llUk5M

A seminar on human trafficking prosecution has sought a review of the nation’s extant legislation in order to make the establishment of facts against perpetrators of the evil trade easier.

At the one-day workshop organised by the Conference of Western Attorneys-General (CWAG) in conjunction with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday in Calabar, Cross River State, with the theme, “Human Trafficking and Prosecution and Victims’ Fund and Protection”, the experts and participants concurred on ridding the society of the menace.

One of the facilitators and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Anthony Idibe, noted: “Clearly we can do much more, not just in terms of prosecution but in terms of awareness. From the workshop, you can see from the case study how difficult it is to even prove a case and the amount of resources required to prove a case given all the challenges we have identified here.”

He added: “There are challenges and if you look at our law which they tried to amend in 2007, it focuses too much on pure human trafficking offences which iare very difficult to prove. So we need to amend our law like the one they have in Utah, United States to create lower level offences.”

NAPTIP’s Chief Legal Officer, Ijeoma Amugo, noted that her agency had secured 316 convictions and forfeited their assets to the Victims Trust Fund. She added that the fund “is being managed by a committee headed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.”

Amugo said 145 cases were pending owing to insufficient funds, among other challenges.

The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Joe Abang, regretted that the host city was being used as transit point for the illicit trade.

A board member of CWAG, African Alliance Partnership, Mr. Markus Green, observed: “The whole issue is about the victim. The justice system serves to protect the victim.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2m661in

LASU holds staff orientation workshop

http://ift.tt/2l9VLSQ

Lagos State University

In order to place Lagos State University (LASU) as the preferred brand among tertiary schools in Nigeria, its management will today kick off a two-day staff orientation workshop.

It holds at the School of Transport with the university’s Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) as its primary beneficiary.

According to a statement by Dr. Sylvester Odion Akhaine, workshop’s coordinator, its objectives include:

•Improving the Public Relations skills of staff of the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR).

The conference is expected to end tomorrow.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2l9WfZ3