Syria war: ‘First chemical attack’ in Mosul battle injures twelve

http://ift.tt/2m3TE3c

Twelve civilians have been injured in Mosul in what appears to be the first chemical weapon attack in the battle for the IS stronghold.

A doctor from the International Red Cross (ICRC), based in nearby Irbil, confirmed the incident to the BBC.

An 11-year-old boy has severe respiratory and skin problems and a month-old baby was also injured.

The ICRC doctor said the substance used was still unknown, but it was being treated as a chemical attack.

The injuries were apparently caused in two separate incidents when mortar fire hit houses in east Mosul and victims complained of a foul smelling chemical.

The victims’ symptoms suggested exposure to a “blistering chemical agent”, ICRC Middle East director Robert Mardini said. They included blisters, redness in the eyes, irritation, vomiting and coughing.

The use of chemical weapons is forbidden under international law, he added.

It is not yet known who is to blame for the attack, but the mortars were apparently fired from west Mosul – which is still held by so-called Islamic State (IS).

IS have long been suspected of making and using crude chemical weapons in territory it controls in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

The World Health Organization said it was aware of the case and was working with the ICRC to prepare for further cases.

While the attack is the first recorded use of any chemical weapons in the battle for Mosul, there have been isolated incidents elsewhere in the fight against IS in Iraqi and Syrian territory.

In September last year, the US military said IS militants fired a rocket containing a mustard agent at American troops at Qayyarah air base near Mosul. There were no casualties reported.

They are also suspected of being behind suspected chemical attacks on Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.

According to a report released last November by the UK-based IHS Conflict Monitor, IS is suspected of having used chemical weapons on at least 52 occasions since 2014, with a third of those in areas around Mosul.

IS is not the only actor in the region accused of using chemical weapons, with the Syrian government alleged to be behind a number of chlorine gas attacks on civilians during the country’s six-year long civil war.

The use of chlorine as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

Source: BBC

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2m3QDjl

France’s Le Pen loses EU immunity over IS tweets

http://ift.tt/2mjkHdv

(FILES) This file photo taken on January 17, 2017 shows French Front National (National Front – FN) far-right party's President, European MP and presidential candidate for the 2017 election Marine Le Pen during a plenary session of the European Parliament marking the election of its new President in Strasbourg. The European Parliament on March 2, 2017 lifted French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's immunity from prosecution over her tweeting of images of Islamic State atrocities.<br />FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was stripped of her European Parliament immunity Thursday, paving the way for her prosecution over images she tweeted of Islamic State atrocities.

Prosecutors launched a probe in December, 2015 over the graphic pictures that the French National Front (FN) leader posted on social media, which included the decapitated body of US journalist James Foley.

“The result is clear, a big majority is in favour of the lifting of immunity,” acting parliament speaker Dimitrios Papadimoulis said, after lawmakers in Brussels voted by a show of hands.

The ruling is effective immediately for Le Pen, a National Front MEP, European Parliament officials told AFP.

The decision concerns only the tweets, and not a separate probe into allegations that Le Pen misused public funds when hiring a parliamentary aide, they said.

The development is the latest twist in France’s dramatic presidential election campaign, coming a day after rightwing candidate Francois Fillon vowed to continue his bid for power despite the fact he is to be charged over his own fake jobs scandal.

Le Pen addressed the tweets in 2015 to a French television journalist who had likened her party to the jihadist group. The images were tweeted with the caption “This is Daesh”, an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

They showed Foley’s bloodied body with his decapitated head on his torso, as well as a man on fire in a cage, and a victim being driven over by a tank. Police in the Paris suburb of Nanterre launched an investigation into “the dissemination of violent images”.

An investigating judge summoned her for an interview in April 2016 but Le Pen has so far refused to attend, citing her European Parliament immunity. If found guilty, Le Pen could face up to three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($78,800).

– ‘A political inquiry’ –
“This lifting of immunity is absolutely ridiculous and problematic,” one of Le Pen’s top aides, Florian Philippot, told BFM television.

Le Pen herself has dismissed the inquiry as a “political” attempt to derail her presidential bid, in which she is predicted to win the election’s first round in April but lose a run-off in May.

“I sent two or three photos of Daesh atrocities and I said ‘This is Daesh.’ I denounced this atrocity,” she told French broadcasters on Thursday, hours ahead of the EU Parliament vote.

“Why investigate me and not others? I am a lawmaker and I was denouncing Daesh in my role as a lawmaker,” she added. “It’s a political inquiry.” On Tuesday Le Pen criticised efforts to lift her immunity as “part of the system that wants to stop the French people’s candidate that I am.”

French police have also opened a probe against Gilbert Collard, a National Front lawmaker in France, who tweeted a similar violent image on the same day.

Last month the French national assembly refused to consider a request to lift his immunity after deciding it was not “sufficiently specific”. Foley, a freelance journalist, was captured in Syria in 2012 and beheaded in August 2014.

His bereaved parents John and Diane said they wanted the images removed immediately, accusing Le Pen in a statement of using the “shamefully uncensored” picture for political ends.

While Le Pen is forecast to finish first in the first round of the election on April 23, her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron is considered the favourite to win a run-off vote on May 7.

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

Court orders final forefeiture of N34bn linked to Madueke

http://ift.tt/2kD6xiB

Diezani Alison-Madueke

A Federal High Court Lagos on Thursday ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N34 billion (153 million dollars) linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke.

Justice Muslim Hassan issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the forfeiture of the money as proceeds of crime.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Justice Hassan had on Jan. 6 issued an interim order of forfeiture of the sum of N34 billion to the Federal Government following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking a similar relief.

The EFCC had initiated an ex parte application, seeking an interim order for the temporary forfeiture of the sum to FG which it claimed was linked to the ex-Minister.

Also joined in the suit is Mr Dauda Lawal as respondent.

The court had also issued 14 days to any interested party to appear and prove the legitimacy of the money failing which the money would be permanently forfeited to the government.

At the last sitting of the court on Jan. 24, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo and Mr Charles Adeogun, Counsel representing the EFCC and the respondent (Lawal), had argued their originating processes before the court.

Oyedepo urged the court to make the interim order absolute and order a final forfeiture of the sum to the federal government.

He also urged the court to order the forfeiture of other sums to which no claim had been laid.

In his argument, Adeogun (respondent’s counsel), urged the court to issue an order, directing a refund of the sum of N9.08 billion to the the second respondent on the grounds that it was obtained by coercion.

He argued that before such forfeiture orders can be made, two essential elements must be satisfied; namely — “that the property in question is unclaimed, and that such property or funds formed proceeds of an unlawful act.

Delivering his judgment on Thursday, Justice Hassan ordered a final forfeiture of the unclaimed sum of N23. 43 billion and 5 million U.S. dollars to the Federal Government.

“I hereby make an order pursuant to Section 17 of the Advanced fee Fraud and other related Offences Act 2016, for final forfeiture of the unclaimed sum of N23, 426, 300, 000.00 billion and 5 million dollars to the Federal Government finally.

“In respect of the second respondent, learned Counsel, Mr Charles Adeogun, informed the court that the second respondent filed a counter-affidavit on why the sum of N9.08 billion should not be forfeited.

“I have carefully examined the affidavit evidence before the court and I find that the second respondent was duly cautioned in English language before his statement was taken and so, I hold that same was taken without any evidence of inducement.

“On the whole, I am satisfied that all the conditions stated in Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, was duly fulfilled by the applicant.

“I accordingly make the following orders — An order for the final forfeiture of the sum of N23, 426, 300, 000.00 billion being unclaimed property to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“An order of final forfeiture is also made for the sum of N9.08 billion recovered from the second respondent to the Federal Government of Nigeria, this is my judgment,” he said.

Before the judgment, Adeogun had informed the court of two of his pending motions filed on Feb. 3 — the first seeking an abridgement of time and the second, for leave of the court to file further affidavits to his counter- affidavit.

He told the court that parties were exploring means of reaching amicable settlement in the matter.

He described it as a common sense approach to resolving the matter, adding that the sum recovered from the second respondent and sort to be finally forfeited, were “gathered from friends and relatives.”

Adeogun added that the facts were not made available to the court at the last adjournment because the instruments with which the funds were paid were still with the commission.

In response, Counsel to the EFCC, Oyedepo said he was not privy to such settlement options, adding that he was only sent to do the “bidding” of his employers.

He said: “If the intention of the respondent is to keep the application in the court’s file in abeyance, I will then pray the court to strike out the applications relying on the authorities of SIEC Ekiti State vs NCP, Newswatch communications Ltd vs Attah and Manuel vs Briggs.

“The applications the counsels seek to put in abeyance in sum is intended to arrest the court’s judgment fixed for today.

“In all these, the court had held that it is alien for the court to allow its judgment to be arrested once reserved.

“It is just like a pregnant woman in the delivery room, getting an invitation to attend a wedding ceremony; in essence, the court is carrying a pregnancy and so, no party should be allowed to terminate it.

“The court had given parties adequate time for anyone to complain of rights infringement and so I urge the court to strike out the application so that the coast can be clear to deliver judgment.”

The judge, in a short ruling, allowed the second respondent’s counsel (Adeogun) to move his application and thereafter dismissed the application and proceeded with the judgment.

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

Return to site, Osibanjo directs contractors

What Etisalat ambassadorial deal means to me —Simi

Valentine’s Day: What celebs said to their loved ones

http://ift.tt/2l5goiU

By Benjamin Njoku

TUESDAY, February 14, was St Valentine’s Day, and some celebrities took to social media to share personal messages about  their loved ones on the most romantic day of the year.

Pop singer, 2face  and his wife, Annie set the tone for the celebration. Annie wrote, “This right here=ØFÜ is love! Happy Valentine’s Day to the best of the best. The most cutest, most adorable and most inspiring of them. My super couple of life. @annieidibia1. And 2face replied her, “@official2baba you are one of the reasons I am holding onto love and believing that just at the right time it will find me!!! I celebrate you today as always, keep waxing strong in love and in blissfulness. I adore you super.”

Actress Chika Ike expressed, “Happy St.Valentine’s Day d’þd’þ…Look at what I got for Valentine!!d’þ=Ø‘Þ.A lovely fan dropped it off at my office early this morning with a note. For Angela Okorie, “I’m going to walk like this today =ØFÜ… It’s just a day like other =ØÞ #morning #happyvalentinesday.”

Actress Mercy Johnson Okojie simply offered, “Happy Vals Day Everyone. Love yourself enough and value the smallest things.”

Tony Umez said, “Happy Valentine to my lover, my mistress, my friend and confidant, my love, my Queen, my Diamond, my partner, my helpmate, my ALL, my wife, Ogo Patsy. You are my forever Val. Just as veteran actress Joke Silva wrote, “Happy Valentine’s Day to my one and only.”

Tonto Dikeh said, “Today is Valentine, Happy me to you. Make the best of today. Take a lil time to pray for your loved ones as I pray for al mine this very moment..God bless you and happy Valentine lovers.”

Empress Njamah prayed for her fans, “May this Valentine’s Day be filled with love, understanding, and contentment as you journey through life with those you hold dear, love yesterday, today and always. Happy Valentine’s Day friends.”

The post Valentine’s Day: What celebs said to their loved ones appeared first on Vanguard News.

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

Gov. Ugwuanyi signs budget of N105. 72bn into law

AMCON takes over OAS Helicopters

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Lagos – The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has taken over Odengene Air-Shuttle Services (OAS) Helicopters in Lagos following a court order.

AMCON had on Tuesday sealed the company at Maryland in Lagos, indicating that the company had been taken over by AMCON.

The order on the company’s office reads: “POSSESSION TAKEN TODAY 14/2/17 BY AMCON COURT ORDER ON SUIT NO. FHC/4CS/1139/2016

NAN may not authoritatively confirm if the company is indebted to some banks that could have warrant such take over.

However, the company was among the airlines that received the Federal Government intervention fund during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A source at the premises told NAN that the notice by AMCON said it all that the company had been taken over following a court order.

OAS is one of the leading helicopter chatter service companies in the country.

It will be recalled that AMCON had on Thursday Feb.9, took over the management of Arik Air.

AMCON said that the development would save Arik Airlines currently immersed in heavy financial debt burden that was threatening to permanently ground the airline.

For some time now, the airline, which carries about 55 per cent of the load in the country, has been going through difficult times.

These are attributable to its bad corporate governance, erratic operational challenges, inability to pay staff salaries and heavy debt burden among other issues.

AMCON had earlier taken over the management of Aero Contractors in 2016.

The airline is currently not doing well after the take-over. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/MO

The post AMCON takes over OAS Helicopters appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l5khVf

Trump’s baptism of fire, travel ban shot down

Exciting things to do at Whispering Palms

Not conceding key to beat Arsenal, says Bayern’s Hummels

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Bayern Munich’s Mats Hummels said keeping a clean sheet in Wednesday’s first leg would be the key to extending Arsenal’s last 16 Champions League misery.

Arsenal have lost in the last 16 in each of the last six seasons and exited at the hands of Bayern at this stage of the competition in 2005, 2013 and 2014.

Unlike the 2013 and 2014 defeats, this time around Arsenal have the advantage of playing the first leg away with the return at the Gunners’ Emirates Stadium on March 7.

Centre-back Hummels says Bayern’s priority is to make sure Arsenal do not leave Munich with a valuable away goal.

“It’s certainly an important factor to keep them to zero in a knock-out game. It’s our goal,” said Hummels.

The two clubs know each other well having already met 10 times in the Champions League, with Bayern winning five of the encounters to Arsenal’s three, with two draws.

In 2013, the Germans squeezed past the Gunners on away goals in the last 16 — 3-3 on aggregate — after Bayern’s 3-1 win in London was cancelled out by Arsenal’s 2-0 victory in Munich.

The Bavarians went on to win the title and become the first club to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer dismissed the idea that meeting Arsenal again in the last 16 is a good omen for the 2017 title.

“That’s all speculation, but basically it is easier to play a team you already know,” said Neuer.

“Perhaps it’s a good omen, but I don’t believe in it.”

Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti says midfielder Xabi Alonso is fit and trained on Tuesday despite picking up a knock to his knee in Monday’s session.

The Italian denied Arsenal’s last 16 hoodoo would affect the Londoners in this tie.

“I don’t know why they have lost, it won’t be a psychological barrier, and besides, if there is one, they will want to move forward from it with this game,” said Ancelotti.

“We have to be able to make life uncomfortable for them on the pitch.”

Ancelotti won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan, then repeated the feat in 2014 with Real Madrid.

Looking towards another potential final appearance in Cardiff on June 3 he identified “courage, personality, experience and luck” as the vital ingredients his team would need to show.

“Of all of these, courage is the most important — to play better than others in this competition,” he added.

The post Not conceding key to beat Arsenal, says Bayern’s Hummels appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l56dLq

5 signs your business is no longer a startup

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A startup is like an egg, you have to manage and groom it consciously and carefully to ensure that it doesn’t fall. If it falls, you may be unable to pick up the pieces.

At this stage, it is very fragile and requires 100% attention from the entrepreneur. Nevertheless, if you survive this difficult phase and become stable, it is not yet uhuru. It doesn’t mean your business is no longer a startup. This is one mistake many entrepreneurs make.

They erroneously conclude that they have passed the startup stage and are ready to be tagged a blue chip company. Meanwhile, some entrepreneurs prefer the tag startup because it gives access to funding. Whichever divide you belong, no one will question your decision.

However, before you make such a choice whether you are still a startup or not, Jumia Travel, the online travel agency, shares 5 signs to look out for to aid your decision.

You survive the risk stage

Every potential entrepreneur knows that starting a business is a risk. When you enmeshed all your efforts in running your business and it can’t still survive, it is advisable your stay as a startup. Risk factors like borrowing money from the bank, able to provide stable electricity, pay your taxes among other risks. If you struggle to do this at the startup stage, you should just remain a startup and vice versa.

You have more than 30 employees

Employees are the heartbeat of any business. If your workforce doubles or triples after several years of coming on board, it means you are gradually exiting or exited the startup stage. But to be sure, you should have at least 30 employees on your payroll.

You can pay your employees and yourself

Paying your workers as at when due is an important metric to decide if you are no longer a startup. If you can conveniently pay your employees including yourself, you are slowly leaving the startup stage.

Your brand can survive without you

At the startup stage, you have to go after clients to market your business. In addition, your business can run itself with little or no input from you. So, if your brand can sell itself and attract attention and turnover, you are no longer a startup. It may be time to expand but make it gradual.

You are acquiring other startups

If you are able to acquire another startup and run it successfully, it is an obvious sign that you are not a startup. But, it is important to do a thorough audit of the startup before buying it over so that it won’t negatively affect your own business.

 

The post 5 signs your business is no longer a startup appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2ldJ2AS

62-year-old man caught in bed with Streetwalker in Valentine’s day.

Turkey’s Erdogan in Saudi on Gulf tour…Read full details

http://ift.tt/2kDfIQQ

A handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) standing next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival in Riyadh on February 13, 2017.<br />BANDAR AL-JALOUD / Saudi Royal Palace / AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived for talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour. The two Sunni powers have become increasingly close over the past year, sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria’s war.

Before beginning his Gulf trip in Bahrain on Sunday, Erdogan said Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies had entered the centre of Al-Bab, the Islamic State group’s last stronghold in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.

In Bahrain, Saudi Arabia’s island neighbour and close ally, Erdogan met King Hamad and other officials.

Since Saudi King Salman ascended the throne in 2015, Riyadh and Ankara have repaired ties strained over the 2013 ousting of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi, a Turkish ally.

Saudi Arabia has been one of the main supporters of Egypt’s current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as army chief overthrew Morsi. In April last year Salman visited Erdogan, who awarded him a rare honour, the Order of State.

Turkey then began hosting Saudi warplanes at its Incirlik air base as part of the US-led coalition against IS jihadists, who are among an array of factions fighting in Syria.

Ankara has taken on an increasingly important role with Moscow and Iran as a powerbroker in the Syria conflict.

Analysts say the capture late last year by Syria’s army of the country’s second city Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, was a setback for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Gulf states have supported rebels whose struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad seems increasingly fruitless. In January Turkey, along with Assad allies Russia and Iran, sponsored talks in Kazakhstan between Syrian rebels and government officials.

There was no breakthrough, but Kazakhstan has proposed another round in Astana this Wednesday and Thursday, before United Nations-sponsored peace talks resume in Geneva on February 23.

On Monday in Manama, Erdogan called for a “safe zone” in northern Syria where people displaced by the war could go. The positions of Saudi Arabia and Turkey are “absolutely identical” on Syria, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said last week in Ankara.

He attended the first meeting of a coordination council to enhance ties between the two countries. Both Riyadh and Ankara are hoping for better relations with Washington under President Donald Trump.

For Turkey, ties were strained under Barack Obama because of Washington’s support for Syrian Kurdish militia, which Ankara views as “terrorist” groups. Saudi Arabia felt Obama was reluctant to get involved in the civil war in Syria and was tilting towards its Shiite-dominated regional rival Iran.

From Riyadh, Erdogan on Tuesday will journey to Qatar, with which Turkey has maintained strong ties for years. Qatar also hosts a Turkish military base. While both states are united in their backing for rebels fighting Assad’s regime, they also shared support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lIR5TO

Drey Beatz Ft. Timaya & Ce’cile – Jungle Don Mature [Mp3 + Lyrics]

http://ift.tt/2lIQrpn

2017 already looks like a great year for the highly rated Nigerian music producer DREY BEATZ real names DANIEL GREY as he releases his hot new international collaboration featuring Nigerian dancehall King TIMAYA, along side Jamaican dancehall Queen CE’CILE on the song titled ‘JUNGLE DON MATURE‘.

This up-beat dancehall tune is a certified global JAM!.

DREY BEATZ came in very strong on the production as usual, TIMAYA nailed the hook and his verse perfectly and CE’CILE gave the song a perfect finish with her island vibe and soothing patois.

You definitely wouldn’t expect less knowing she’s the same CE’CILE on SEAN PAUL’s global hit ‘CAN YOU DO THE WORK‘

Enjoy!!!

DOWNLOAD

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kDC3h2

Edo guber poll: PDP closes case at tribunal

http://ift.tt/2l2f81R

PDP governorship candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu voting at Iguododo Primary School during the election in Edo state. PHOTO: NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Osagie Ize-Iyamu, its candidate in the Sept. 28, 2016 governorship election, on Friday closed their case before the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three-member election petition tribunal in Benin.

The petitioners are challenging the declaration by the Independent National Election Commission(INEC) of Mr Godwin Obaseki as winner of the election. The petitioners had named the INEC, Obaseki and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as first, second and third respondents respectively in the petition.

INEC had declared Obaseki of APC winner of the Edo governorship election after he polled 319,483 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu, his closest rival, who scored a total of over 250,000 votes.

The petitioners, who alleged that the election was fraught with electoral irregularities in some units and wards in the 18 local government areas of the state, are asking the tribunal to declare Ize-Iyamu as winner.

They had 14 days to prove their cases and stated in their pleadings that they would call more than1,000 witnesses. The petitioners also requested for the recounting in court of used ballot papers in the election. They were, however, able to call only 91 witnesses before the expiration of the allotted time.

Mr Ahmed Salman, INEC administrative officer, on subpoena, on Tuesday, had produced several bags in court containing used ballot papers for Egor, Akoko-Edo, Etsako-East and Estako-West, respectively.

Counting of the papers in all the four local government areas was still on when Mr Ken Mozia (SAN), counsel for Obaseki, at 1 pm, drew the attention of the tribunal to the fact that 14 days allotted for the petitioners to prove their case had expired.

Following the observation, Mr Yusuf Ali (SAN), counsel to the petitioners, prayed the tribunal to allow for the continuation of counting since the process commenced within the 14- day period.

However, the respondents’ counsel objected to the request.

The tribunal, after arguments from the petitioners and respondents’ counsel, ruled against the application for continuation of counting, since it had gone beyond the prescribed 14-day period.

Ali thereafter orally applied to the tribunal that the result of the counting within time should be made known to the tribunal, which the respondents also objected to.

But the tribunal chairman upheld Ali’s prayer and ruled that the tribunal’s registrar should furnish it with the outcome of the counting on or before Monday.

Badamasi also ruled that copies of the information should be served on both the petitioners and respondents, and adjourned till Tuesday for INEC to open its defence.

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

PSP drags govt to court

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Operators of domestic and commercial wastes in Lagos State are already in court to stop the government from displacing them or replacing them with new operators through the guise of reform.

In a suit filed on their behalf at a Lagos High Court by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the PSP operators, urged the court to urgently uphold and protect their existing rights and benefits so that the government will not appoint new operators to replace them.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Commissioner for the Environment, the proposed foreign operators and their local agents–namely Visionscape Group, Visionscape Santiation Solutions Limited, and ABC Sanitation Solutions Limited.

“If the government’s resolutions are implemented to the letter, the regime of refuse heaps may soon return to the state,” Adegboruwa, a human rights lawyer said.

In their 77 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Olabode Coker, the Chairman of the Association of Waste Managers, the operators stated that they had helped Lagos State to rid the state of refuse spanning several years of investments in human and material resources, which had also involved professional trainings and education.

The association, comprising over 350 PSP operators, asked the court to restrain any foreign operator, and their local agents, from taking over the collection, disposal and management of domestic solid waste in all areas of Lagos State.

“The operators claimed that Lagos State had encouraged them in the past to improve their operations through acquisition of modern trucks, for which many of them obtained loans from banks with huge interest rates and the consideration was to be using the resources generated from the waste operations to service the said loans, and they have built offices in various parts of Lagos State for the smooth administration of their operations,” Adegboruwa maintained.

They also claimed to have been operating at a loss because of the refusal of Lagos State Government to enact a legislation that will facilitate the enforcement of collection of dues.

The PSP had contended in the suit that the location and dilapidated state of the dumpsites make the operations of waste disposal burdensome as trucks have to wait for hours in order to discharge waste, leading to congestion and the bad roads leading to the dumpsites have caused refuse trucks to break down very often, with huge costs of maintenance.

The post PSP drags govt to court appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l4WDrd

LAWMA confirms reform processes

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Meantime, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has said that waste generation within the state has increased to over 420, 000 monthly, representing 14, 000 metric tons daily.

Chairman of LAWMA, Olumuyiwa Adejokun and General Manager, Mr. Segun Adeniji, disclosed this recently, at the opening session of a 3-day training workshop for officials of the agency, themed: “Reformed Waste Management in Lagos State: The role of LAWMA,” held at Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

The governor’s directive, Adejokun, stressed was part of the planned reform to make the agency more efficient and effective saying, “Government does not have the huge funds required to manage waste in the state, this is why the governor has decided to embark on waste management reform.”

He explained that the reform would see LAWMA being excluded from waste collection and concentrate on regulatory role of waste collection in the state.

The post LAWMA confirms reform processes appeared first on Vanguard News.

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

Trump’s visa, religious ban: Nigeria not included – U.S envoy

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, on Friday said America would not discriminate against any Nigerian on the basis of religion or on the new visa regime.

President Trump recently signed an executive order that banned citizens from seven countries from travelling into the U.S. for 90 days.

The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The restrictions were part of wide-ranging immigration controls that also suspended refugee arrivals.

At a press conference in Abuja on President Donald Trump’s executive order and its effects on Nigeria, the ambassador dispelled the rumour of reducing U.S. visa policy for Nigeria to one year.

Symington said that the two-year visa for Nigeria was still valid.

“The new order now is for the U.S. government to cross-check as many that are coming into the U.S. before issuing visas.

“We will not discriminate on the basis of religion in issuing visas to Nigerians. The two-year visa is still valid contrary to reports we have heard in the media.

“Nigeria’s leadership role is crucial in the world and Nigeria cannot be blacklisted. The importance of Nigeria in the world is legal,” he said.

The envoy explained that Nigerians, particularly its Muslim community, would not be discriminated against by the order.

He said that the aim of the executive order was not to be used as a weapon to deliberately deny anyone visa into the U.S.

The ambassador explained that the executive order was designed to put in place a new and effective system.

He said that the new system would ensure that people, who genuinely wanted to visit, live or work in the U.S., could do so and stop any that posed a threat from entering into the country.

On the issue of the U.S. closing its doors against countries that were in crisis and refugees, Symington said that his country was not shutting its doors but putting in place measures to ensure safety for all.

“We recognise that we are a nation of immigrants and a nation constantly seeking to bring diverse people together.

“Our goal is to have in place a process that works. For everyone that applies for a visa, we should be able to find out the persons background as to where he has been before.

“The idea is to ensure that when we open the door to our house, people are going in to do good deeds, not to do harm,” he said.

The Head of Consular Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Abuja, Mr Megan Moore also gave assurance that the executive order would not affect the validity of visas issued to Nigerians, saying that the only thing that had changed “is the renewal period’’.

The Consular Chief said that though the U.S. visa policy was based on reciprocity, Nigerians would not be discriminated against.

“It is important to note that there is not going to be any changes for Nigerians who have a valid U.S. visa.

“The U.S. Government issues multiple-entry two-year visa to Nigerians. The rumour that we are planning to change that to one year is not true.

“The main difference for Nigerians will be; you can use the DHL Drop box renewal programme if your visa has expired within 12 months.

“But if it expired more than 12 months ago, then you will need to schedule an appointment for interview.

“Our goal is to ensure that Nigerians are able to travel to U. S.  so that they continue to participate in the fabrics of our lives,” Moore said.

 

The post Trump’s visa, religious ban: Nigeria not included – U.S envoy appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l4WAf1

Waste management undergoes reforms

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Waste management in Lagos State is currently facing a tougher time following the planned introduction of major reform into the sector by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Lagos state government is making moves to rescue the state from the inefficiency of the Private Sector Participation, PSP, operators through the launch of ‘Cleaner Lagos Initiative’.

Lagos waste generation which was between 9,000 to 10,000 metric tons of waste per day has recently, risen to between 13,000 to 14,000 per day.

Commissioner for the Environment in the state, Dr. Samuel Adejare, while announcing the development, said besides creating the enabling environment for the private sector to harness international best practices, the Cleaner Lagos Initiative is likewise concerned with addressing the existing challenges in solid waste management in the state.

Under the proposed reform, government will carry out a re-certification of all the 350 PSP operators, re-license them and audit the state of their compactors.

Government will also transform the existing Transfer Loading Station (TLS) and introduce about 25 Material Revolving Facility (MRF) where wastes will be sorted, 600 new compactor vehicles will be acquired, and waste dumpsites will be closed and replaced with engineered sanitary landfill sites.

The reform will include; Establishment of five new power stations – one in each division in the state, which will be built to generate power from wastes, and closure of the Olusosun at Ojota, Kosofe Local Government area, and Solus, Igando, old Alimosho LGA, dumpsites next year.

The post Waste management undergoes reforms appeared first on Vanguard News.

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