E-PPAN extends cash-less policy awareness, as CBN re-introduces processing fees

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The E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) is set to embark on a massive national awareness campaign on the cash-less Nigeria Initiative as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) re-introduces the cash processing fees on deposits and withdrawals.

The awareness campaign will cut across 30 states of the Federation as the cash processing fees takes effect in different states of the country. From April 1st, the cash processing fees will take effect in the existing cash-less states, which include Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers and Abuja. While in Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Ondo, Osun and Plateau it will take effect from May 1.

Edo, Kastina, Niger, Oyo, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Taraba and Nasarawa will begin the implementation of the cash processing fees from August 1st, while the last states to implement the cash processing fees on October 1st will be Borno, Benue, Ekiti, Cross River, Kebbi, Kogi, Yobe, Sokoto and Zamfara State.

CBN in partnership with E-PPAN has deemed it imperative to once again sensitise the populace on the many benefits of the cash-less initiative which include easier opportunities of access to financial products that will aid MSME’s; reduction of government leakages; increased security; accountability and transparency; reduce cost of providing financial services and gradual reduction in conventional bank charges amongst others.

To reach out to everyone especially at the grassroots, starting from March 13th 2017, E-PPAN will be visiting Ondo State, Enugu State, Bayelsa State, and Plateau state. As the cashless initiative spreads across the country and the cash processing fess is being implemented, E-PPAN will also visit more states including, Katsina, Oyo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi and Cross River states.

According to E-PPAN, it will engage one on one market traders and their customers; artisans; trade associations, schools, traditional rulers and other key influencers, which is to make sure that everyone is aware and enlightened on the policy and its benefits for greater adoption of electronic payment channels.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of E-PPAN, Onajite Regha, stressed that one of the main reason for the awareness is to make people embrace the alternative payment to cash. Such as the various electronic payment channels which include the mobile phone for mobile payments or banking, the Point-of Sales Terminal (POS), for payment of goods and services, the internet for online purchases or internet banking etc.

She said that if we all take advantage of these channels then we will all benefit more from the formal financial mainstream and have ease and convenience in carrying out our day to day transactions.

The cash-less policy is a policy established in the year 2012 by the CBN. It was created to enhance financial inclusion and to reduce revenue leakage in an effort to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), decrease incidences of theft, and most importantly curb excesses that comes with the use of cash.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m90FyY

Akeredolu freezes councils’ accounts, stops appointees’ salaries

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Rotimi Akeredolu

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has frozen accounts of the 18 local councils in the state through a circular signed by the state government.

The 18 chairmen and 203 councillors of the councils were members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who were elected into the offices after winning the April 2016 poll.

Besides, The Guardian gathered that salaries of the political appointees in the 18 councils had been stopped as their names have allegedly been removed from the payment voucher of the government.

The affected appointees include secretaries of the councils, personal assistants, special advisers, chiefs of staff, among others.Consequent upon this, a source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the chairmen would not be able to have access to the accounts of their respective councils again until further notice.

“The government has frozen the councils’ accounts since last week and all the council chairmen are aware already.“The implication of this is that the chairmen have been rendered powerless financially because they will not be able to take or spend any money from the council’s purse henceforth,” the source said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Alarapon, confirmed the development, saying the association had not yet decided on the next action on the matter.

Alarapon, who is the chairman of the Akure South Local Council, said, “We have not really gone into the matter, but we are already into it and whatever we decide later, we will let the world know.”

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

AMSCO to hold Business Transforming Africa Conference

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Eno Edet

African Management Services Company (AMSCO), an organisation that provides integrated human capital development solutions to private and public businesses across the continent, is set to hold its yearly Business Transforming Africa Conference (#BTAC) this month (March) in Nigeria.

Speaking on the upcoming event, the Head of Operations – Anglophone West Africa (Mrs. Eno Edet) – said the conference entitled, “Skill for Economic Growth,” is aimed at supporting businesses in Nigeria with skill solutions that enhance organisational growth.

Because of this, the conference is expected to be attended  by senior executives, and managers who are responsible for effective human resources and value chain within their respective organisations.
 
The conference will focus on the following: Homecoming revolution – A look at the Africa Diaspora, Employee Training; Cost or Investment Assessing ROI of Training and the Changing Role of Human Resources in Business from Service Provider to Strategic Partner. She reiterated the commitment of AMSCO to bring on board experts and professionals in the field with wealth of experience who are capable of effectively and efficiently handling the subject matter.
   
The conference will hold in six countries in the Sub-Saharan region, in the following order: Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun and Mozambique. The conference will attract professionals in both private and
public sectors.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m90CDi

Black actors triumph at very political Oscars

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Actress Viola Davis poses with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the press room, during the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN

Actor Mahershala Ali, winner of Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' poses in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFP

Two black film stars took the early acting honours at the 89th Oscars on Sunday, which began with a salvo of jokes by host Jimmy Kimmel targeting US President Donald Trump.

won the best-supporting-actor prize for his turn as a drug dealer with a heart in coming of age drama “Moonlight” while Viola Davis took the supporting actress statuette for her work in the family drama “Fences.”

Justin Timberlake opened the gala night — expected to be dominated by musical “La La Land” — with some upbeat music, and Kimmel then wasted no time putting the A-list audience in a political state of mind.

“This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us,” joked the 49-year-old Kimmel.

The late-night comedian quipped that Trump, who pulled off a political upset win with his campaign that targeted immigration, had taken the heat off Hollywood and its annual gala.

“I want to say thank you to President Trump. Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist? That’s gone, thanks to him,” Kimmel said.

This year’s nominees have reflected a push by the Academy to reward diversity after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of the past two years that prompted calls for a boycott of the annual bash.

Ali was a first-time nominee along with “Moonlight” co-star Naomie Harris, while Davis and her co-star Denzel Washington are both old hands, with 11 nominations between them and — including Davis’s triumph — three wins.

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

Guinness Nigeria unveils 2016 sustainability report

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Guinness Nigeria Plc

Nigeria’s leading beverage alcohol company, Guinness Nigeria Plc, has released its Sustainability Report for 2016, reporting its performance on various aspects of its operations, while outlining its sustainability targets for the future.

The report was unveiled in Lagos, on Thursday, at a formal ceremony attended by various stakeholder groups and partners such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Business School, Water Aid, Institute for Industrial technology (IIT) and Diageo’s Global Sustainable Development Director, David Croft, amongst others.

The Sustainability report, titled Sustainability: From Grain to Glass, is an 87-page report that covers “the goals we set for ourselves every year, stretching targets that will guide us as we work to reduce our negative impact on the environment. We also strive to increase our positive social impact by delivering transformational social investments in communities where we operate.”

Major highlights from the 2016 report include notable social investments in the Guinness Eye Hospitals, the flagship Water of Life scheme and the Undergraduate Scholarship scheme, which has opened doors of opportunity to many young Nigerians.

Guinness Nigeria also continued to make notable economic impact in Nigeria. In the 2016 financial year, the company paid over N16 billion in taxes ranging from VAT, employee taxes, Corporate Income Tax, Excise Duties and other taxes

Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, noted that the overarching ambition of the company is to become the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products company in the world. He further observed that the attainment of this goal would be futile if a commitment to society is not at the heart of the business.

Ndegwa said Guinness remains committed to helping Nigeria meet her Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, especially in the area of providing access to water and sanitation for the majority of the people. In this regard, the company has made significant investments, he disclosed.

David Croft, Global Sustainable Development Director, Diageo Plc said: “Overall we are proud of the progress made. Guinness Nigeria’s Sustainable Development strategy, which aligns with Diageo’s global strategy is underpinned by three main pillars: leadership in alcohol in society, building thriving communities and reducing environmental impact. Delivering on these goals is an integral part of our long term business strategy and our commitment to making a real difference in communities where we operate.”

Moving forward, the company outlined strategic objectives the attainment of which will put it in better stead to serve its key stakeholders as well as help to strengthen corporate reputation and build a sustainable business.

In the area of business performance, the company aims to optimize return on investment for its investors and shareholders through good corporate governance and by implementing the plans that underpin its performance ambition. Product quality will be sustained through unwavering commitment to providing consumers with beverages that meet the highest standard of quality.

Its corporate social investment will remain focused on impacting lives positively while enhancing the wellbeing of host communities. The company will continue to sustain initiatives that promote responsible consumption of alcohol and prevent underage drinking and also ensure strict adherence to the principles of responsible marketing of its beverage brands.

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

Photos: Kangana Ranaut Looks Fierce At Rangoon’s Special Screening…Read full details

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Kangana Ranaut sure knows how to make heads turn wherever she goes. She killed it with her incredible style and honesty on Koffee With Karan, making her fans love her a tad bit more than they already do! She was at a special screening for Rangoon yesterday, and oh my, she looks incredibly good. Here are pictures.

LOVE!

The post Photos: Kangana Ranaut Looks Fierce At Rangoon’s Special Screening is copyright of MissMalini.

Source: Miss Malini

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Anambra PDP asks State Assembly to impeach Obiano

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Willie Obiano

Call laughable, says gov

The Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from its stakeholders meeting yesterday requesting the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Willie Obiano over alleged constitutional breaches.

But in a swift response, Obiano dismissed the request, describing it as laughable.State Chairman of the PDP, Prince Ken Emeakayi, had at the meeting accused the governor of recently travelling out of the country for over one month without transmitting a letter to the House of Assembly as required by law.

He told members of the party who attended the meeting that the governor simply disappeared for over a month- a situation he said contravened relevant sections of the constitution.

The PDP said Obiano was no longer fit to be governor of the state and urged the House to commence his impeachment process immediately. Emeakayi pointed out that all relevant authorities and agencies, including the security agencies have been duly informed.

“We have written to the Police, DSS and other security agencies in the country to let them know that the governor is now acting illegally. We have duly notified the House of Assembly in separate letters on the breaches committed by the governor which are very clear.

Obiano had travelled to the United States in January without transmitting a letter to the House of Assembly and stayed for 30 days without his deputy acting as governor and as such he is not fit to continue with the task upon his return. By this breach, he is no longer the governor of the state,” Emeakayi said.

He added that the governor had also failed to conduct local government elections in the state as required by the constitution.When contacted on the development, officers of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the state and the national headquarters declined comments.

However, Special Assistant on Media, Strategic Communication and Legislative Matters, Prince Oliver Okpala, described the allegations as “laughable.”

He said: “The allegations are laughable because the person making the allegation has no locus standi in law to decide if he is the proper person to speak on behalf of the PDP judging from the recent political developments in the party.

“Is he the proper person to speak or write any letter to the House of Assembly as state chairman of the party? Which side of the party does he belong, to the Ahmed Makarfi faction or the Ali-Modu Sheriff faction,” he asked.

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

PDP will not allow killing of opposition, says Makarfi

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Ahmed Makarfi

*Former Ministers Set Up Committee To Study Appeal Court Judgment
*Sheriff Announces Fresh Reconciliation, Convention

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has alleged that there were plans to destroy opposition in the country and make it a one-party state.

He has therefore urged all patriotic elements in the country to resist the move and allow democracy to thrive.

Even though the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, gave judgment in favour of factional leader, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Friday, and quashed the existence of the party’s caretaker committee, Makarfi, however, explained that Sheriff cannot lay claim to the chairmanship of the PDP because there is an existing court judgment, which voided his earlier appointment as the party chairman, and which he said was never challenged by Sheriff himself.

Warning the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government against the danger of destroying opposition in the country, Makarfi, after a review of the judgment, yesterday, said: “What we have said, and what we have decided is that we will not allow opposition to be killed in this country,” adding that, “by whatever tricks and by whatever means, rightful and vibrant opposition must survive for the sake of the development of democracy in Nigeria. And we shall work tirelessly to make sure that opposition survives and democracy grows in Nigeria.

“We are not going to take the laws into our hands, even though we don’t accept the judgment. I am saying that we respect the judiciary and whatever may be its pronouncement. We may not agree with it, but there is a process and procedure of showing that you don’t agree with certain pronouncements of the court. But a formal decision will be taken at the meeting to be held in the next few days by our party,” he stated.

Makarfi continued: “As to what Ali Modu Sheriff and his people may do, I am not in a position to say, but I would be surprised if the security agencies would allow him to take over the secretariat. When we got the Port Harcourt judgment they didn’t allow us to take over the secretariat, now if the Court of Appeal has made a decision overturning that judgment, that is not the end of litigation, except if it is to prove that some of the suspicion that people have is true. But, they shall be known by what they do and what they do will tell in more clearer terms where they stand in all of this palaver.”

Meanwhile, the PDP Former Ministers Forum has set up a committee to study the Court of Appeal verdict.

Former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, who made the disclosure to newsmen after the forum met on Friday in Abuja, said the forum was shocked by the verdict.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Turaki said: “We the former ministers’ forum have set up a committee to obtain a copy of that judgment, study same, and advise us on what possible option that can be taken against same.

“We have also resolved that we will liase with other stakeholders within the party; discuss with the governors forum, the National Assembly Caucus of the PDP, the Board of Trustees and the National Caretaker Committee,” he said.

“We will very soon convene a wider and enhanced meeting of all PDP former ministers to consider the report of the committee that we set up to study the judgment and advise us,’’ Turaki added.

The former minister said that while the forum awaits the committee report, it believes that the judgment must be appealed at the Supreme Court,

“Moreso, our position is given for the fact that it was a split judgment, and so we believe that the party will and must appeal against it for now until we hold a larger meeting of the forum.’’

Relatedly, barely 24 hours after the Appeal Court verdict, Sheriff announced a fresh reconciliation drive to reunite party members.

But the former governor who said he had spoken to many PDP governors and National Assembly members about his peace mission was, however, quick to add that the rejection of the judgment as announced by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, was not a reflection of the mindset of other PDP governors.

Fayose, yesterday, disclosed at a press conference in Abuja that the forum was opposed to the verdict, and that the party would appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn it.

But Sheriff in his first media briefing after the judgment said: “I have no issue to join with Fayose because he spoke alone. I have spoken with many governors and I will not join issues with Fayose.”

He also said that he never made any statement against Fayose and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, since the judgment was delivered on Friday.

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

Germany to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers

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Nigerians deported

Except something providential happens, over 12,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany risk being deported next year.Germany’s Global Head of Programmes, Migration and Development, Dr. Ralf Sanftenberg, dropped the hint yesterday during a courtesy call on the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

Sanftenberg, who led a delegation from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, was on a site assessment mission for assisted-voluntary returnees of Nigeria’s irregular migrants in his country.

The mission is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), which offers returnees support service and knowledge transfer.

“We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers. There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year,” he stated.

According to the envoy, about 99 per cent of them are likely to be denied asylum status since Nigeria is not considered one of the war-ravaged countries.

Sanftenberg, however, noted that if they were willing to return home voluntarily, they would be assisted through a support programme organised by the German government.

A member of the delegation, who is a consultant to the programme, Stephanie Alofokhia-Ghogomu, urged the Nigerian asylum seekers to return home. Alofokhia-Ghogomu, who was also a voluntary returnee, said she had spent half of her life in Germany, adding that she had to return home to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa commended the German Chancellor, Angel Merkel for her professional handling of illegal migration in the country.“So, we will look forward to seeing what you want to do in terms of setting up German migrant services in Nigeria,” she added.

The presidential aide urged the affected Nigerians to return home and take advantage of the assistance being provided by the German government.“For Nigerians in Germany, who may wish to return, there is a better place for them at home to help them live a better live. Germany has the Ministry of Internal Affairs and budget for the returnees. And there are services that would be provided through the German government which they can enjoy,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kVllN6

Medical trip re-ignites calls for specialised healthcare facilities

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical trip to the United Kingdom has reignited calls for a quaternary hospital to be located at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Stakeholders in the health sector, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), also called for the refurbishing of the existing 20 teaching hospitals nationwide and increasing of the budgetary allocation for health from 3.75 per cent in the 2016 budget to at least 15 per cent in that of 2017.

Tertiary and quaternary healthcare refers to specialised care available in referral centres and very rarely accessible to the general public. The term quaternary care is sometimes used as an extension of a tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine, which are highly specialised and not widely accessed.

Experimental medicine and some types of uncommon diagnostic or surgical procedures are considered quaternary care. These services are usually only offered in a limited number of regional or national healthcare centres. A quaternary care hospital may have virtually any procedure available, whereas a tertiary care facility may not.

The past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had concluded plans for the establishment of a quaternary hospital but could not execute it due to lack of funds and low budgetary allocation to the sector. It, however, transmitted the plans to President Buhari’s government.

According to an ‘Update on the On-going Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/VAMED Engineering Teaching Hospitals Rehabilitation Project’ submitted to the President Buhari by the Federal Ministry of Health, Jonathan, based on the advice of the then Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance and Infrastructure Concession Commission (ICRC), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, approved the third phase of the project to be implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) considering the tight economic situation in the country.

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

FG dismisses HIV/AIDS cure claims

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PHOTO: Shutterstock

The Federal Government through the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has dismissed the claims by a Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Maduike Ezeibe, to have discovered a new drug for the cure of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

An editorial in a Nigerian newspaper, not The Guardian, quoted the professor as saying that the drug, produced with “Aluminum Magnesium Silicate” was tested on ten persons living with HIV. The newspaper reported a clinical outcome of an ability to “reach all cells” and making HIV “a conquered organism.”

Director-General, NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu, and Chief Executive Officer NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a joint statement yesterday said there was no evidence from the publication that the authors obtained ethical clearance from an appropriate body in Nigeria to conduct this study, and only ambiguous evidence that informed consent was sought from the evidently vulnerable patients.

They said there is really no basis for a claim to cure of AIDS in this study and are concerned that the publicity given to this claims will stop patients with HIV from taking life-saving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and give them false hope of a cure.

The statement noted: “It will be a great disservice to this vulnerable group of patients for the media to disseminate this claims in the absence of sound scientific evidence. There are long established, tried and tested routes for the discovery, development and validation of modern medicines before they can be registered and used for treatment in humans and animals.”

NACA and NCDC called on all academics to follow legal and scientifically acceptable methods in conducting their research and to avoid making premature claims capable of derailing the huge progress made in the last two decades on the war against HIV/AIDS.

The government agencies said millions of lives have been saved as a result of modern antiretroviral treatment and people living with HIV can now look forward to a normal healthy future. They, however, said they will continue to support the hard and diligent work being done by scientists in Nigerian universities and research institutions around the country. “We are always ready to partner with our scientists on all aspects of HIV research provided this is in line with international best practice,” they noted.

NACA and NCDC called on editors of media houses in Nigeria to seek comments from the leadership of relevant government parastatals and professional bodies when it receives new research findings related to their areas of responsibility. “We assure you that we will respond rapidly and constructively to any queries. We also urge the editors of media houses in Nigeria to support their reporters to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in the clinical trial process. In the run up to the next deadline, it is easy to fall into the trap of doing more harm than good, and the consequences of this can be deadly in the health sector. We will support the evolution of robust science journalism in Nigeria,” they noted.

They called on all patients living with HIV that are currently taking their medications to continue to do so and to see their doctors if they have any concern.

According to the statement, the NACA helpline (6222) is available on working days from 8am-8pm for the public seeking more information on HIV disease.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lj7uOq

Hearing in disputed Lagos property suit adjourned to April 12

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High Court

A Lagos High Court, Igbosere has adjourned till April 12,further hearing in the case filed by a Lagos-based engineer, Babatope Bejide, seeking to halt the auctioning of his property.

The claimant through his counsel, Dayo Oshodi had filed a suit restraining the auctioning order by Justice O.O. Femi-Adeniyi in respect of his client’s property known as Plot 28, block 74, Engr Babatunde Bejide Crescent in Lekki, Lagos.

Listed as respondents are Alhaja Aminat Lateef Owolabi, Touchstone Micro Finance Bank Ltd, Mr Tunde Oyeleke, Mrs Wande Oyeleke, Deputy Sheriff, High Court of Lagos, the Inspector General of Police, Assistant IG, Zone 5 Command Onikan and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

At the hearing of the matter, counsel to (Alhaja Aminat Lateef Owolabi) the first respondent, Olanlokun Omolodun, told the court that he has filed a sworn affidavit on behalf of his client.

In the sworn affidavit, Omolodun stated that the first defendant has engaged him to carry out the due diligence in respect of the transaction, which resulted in the suit.

But counsel to the claimant told the court that he needed more time to study the sworn deposition of the first respondent. He also noted some discrepancies in the name of the first defendant.

The claimant is also seeking for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining all the defendants whether by themselves, their agents,members of the Nigerian Police force or any other security formations from further trespassing or tampering in any manner in the subject property.

The claimant also stated that he is the legal owner of the property, which he purchased sometime in 1994 and validly obtained both the Certificate of Occupancy and Governor’s consent.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2klLe8t

Ensuring safety, saving lives at Lagos beaches

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Revelers having fun at one of the numerous beaches in Lagos State

Many Lagos State residents retreat to the many beaches that dot the state to catch some fun and relax on festive occasions, away from the hustle and bustle that characterise life in the city centre.

Apart from the Yuletide season and festive periods, celebrants also see these places as choice spots for the celebration their birthday anniversaries, while churches and social clubs also find time to gather their members at the beach for one form of merrymaking or the other.

Over the years, the news of death of revelers being washed away by the rampaging tide have continued to filter from the beaches without much being done to stem the tide.

On September 22, 2009, during the Sallah celebration, it was reported that 10 persons got washed away at the popular Bar Beach that is now extinct, as a result of the construction of Eko Atlantic City. The following year, 2010, three fun seekers lost their lives at the Suntan Beach, Badagry, as they were drowned.

Two years after on August 2012, 16 merrymakers who left home to celebrate the Yuletide at different beaches across the state did not return to their families, as they got drowned.

In 2013, a student of Covenant University, Ndubuisi Brown, got drowned at Tarkwa Bay, Lagos.

In 2014, five persons lost their lives at a beach in Lagos while celebrating one of the festivities.

Last year, two female postgraduate students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) got drowned at Elegushi Beach, during a friend’s birthday.

Most beaches in the state, especially those not managed by private organisations, are without trained lifeguards who would have ensured that beach users adhere strictly to prescribed safety measures.

The few beach workers that are on government payroll at beaches managed by government are more interested in collecting gate fees than how to ensure that no fatal accidents occur under their watch.

Many of those consumed in the tragic incidents of being washed away at the beaches were in their prime age,
What is making the rising spate of beach fatalities worrisome is the fact that most of those consumed are in their prime, and could have been saved in most cases if the lifeguards were trained and alert to their responsibilities.

Ugochi Obidiegwu, a safety enthusiast while giving his perspectives on the issue said, before a beach is accredited for use, government should ensure certain criteria are met, including carrying out risk assessment and putting in place safety measures tailored to meet the particular environmental needs of the beach “because different beaches have different layouts. However, there are basic things all of them should have, like sufficient and well-trained lifeguards and life jackets.”

Noting that individual responsibility is also important, Obidiegwu said that fun seekers should be made to understand that getting close to the water, if they cannot swim is a dangerous thing to do.

She therefore suggested some pep talks on safety for visitors to the beaches before full access are granted and picnicking get underway.

“In addition, those who cannot swim should not be pushed into the water playfully, so their friends would be aware they cannot swim. Alcohol should be avoided because of its ability to impair vision. Safety signs must be introduced at beaches. It is of great importance that before a beach is open to the public, assessment is done and routine inspection carried out to ensure standards are met and maintained, including risk assessment,” said Obidiegwu.

The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya, said having investigated some of the latest incidents of fun seekers losing their lives at beaches in the state, “the government investigated and identified some reasons why they got drowned at our beaches. The reasons include, lack of proper enlightenment of members of the public on the use of beaches; poor enforcement of existing rules and regulations guiding the use of beaches and deviant attitude of some fun seekers.”

The commissioner added that the basic challenge the government has in putting an end to fun seekers drowning at beaches is having them freely comply with regulations guiding the use of beaches.

He also said one of the measures taken to ensure that no fun seeker get drowned is that the state government, through the Committee on Waterfront Infrastructure Development of the State House of Assembly, recently called a stakeholders’ meeting in order to have their input on the “Beaches Regulation” which the committee is working on, and which would soon be signed into law by the state governor.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kfGjX3