All Posts in "Day: November 25, 2021"

Man In Court  For Stealing From Girlfriend’s Piggy Bank

Azubuike docked for stealing from girlfriend's piggy bank - P.M. News
A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos,has arraigned Azubuike Omenehu, who allegedly stole N120, 000 from his girlfriend’s piggy bank.
Omenehu, 33,is being tried for stealing and escaping from lawful custody.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Nov. 3, at the same address.
According to him,the girlfriend and complainant, Mercy Nwaoga, insisted that the defendant was the only person who knew where her wooden safe was.
He maintained  that Omenehu was detained at the police station where he escaped, but was later re-arrested.
He said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 106 (b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The Magistrate, Mrs Sadiq Bello, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one responsible surety in like sum.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in Crime/Metro 0
Non Vaccination Responsible For Majority Of COVID-19 Fatalities-FG

COVID-19: FG to vaccinate 109 million Nigerians in two years
The federal government,has said thatbover 80 percent of deaths recorded from COVID-19 infection in recent times were those who did not take the vaccine jab.
The Executive Director, National Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib gave the hint while speaking at sensitization meeting with the leadership of the National Association Nigerian Students in Abuja.
Shuaib stated that evidence before the agency showed that most of the deaths resulting from COVID-19 infection were caused by non vaccination.
He noted that COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the country has proven to be safe and efficacious, adding that six million Nigerians have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines without any adverse effect.
He added:”Over 80 percent of those that died due to COVID-19 were those who were not vaccinated. What the data is showing us is that over 80 percent of those people who have died of COVID-19 in Nigeria were those who were unvaccinated”.
This means that 8 out 10 who becomes sick with COVID-19 could die because they were unvaccinated, along with whatever comorbidities they have.
“So we have proof that COVID-19 vaccines actually work, adding that all the insinuations that anyone who takes the vaccine will fall down and die are false and should be discontenanced,” he said.
He said the meeting with the NANS leadership as an exceptional opportunity to partner with the youths of the country that are referred to as the future generation.
He said the agency had in the last few months been engaging in one way or the other with the Association of Nigerian students.
Shuaib said that the key message for all Nigerians’ is the need for us to ramp up vaccination so that we can go back to our normal ways of lives and of doing business.
He said, “In the last couple of months over six million Nigerians have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines. Surely six million Nigerians cannot be wrong, these vaccines is having been proven by these individuals, their family members, friends, co- workers and neighbours to be safe, they are living examples of what we have been talking about in the last months that these vaccines are safe.”
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in News 0
Digital Power Will Solve Africa’s Energy Poverty-Huawei

Huawei to Help Address Africa's Energy Poverty through Digital Power - Aproko247 Magazine
Technological giant,Huawei,says digital power will nip in the bud Africa’s  energy poverty  through the provision of digital enablers that will boost sufficiency.
Huang Su, Director, Huawei Southern Africa Digital Power Business, who disclosed this in a statement,said that harnessing emerging technologies is the key to boosting access to cleaner energy sources and spurring green growth in the continent.
“Digital and intelligent technologies can be of great help to ensure we provide sufficient electricity to every African household and business.The essence of digital power is integrating cloud, AI, and other digital technologies with power generation, storage and consumption. We are ready and willing to provide our full support for building a green Africa and bridging the energy gap,” said Huang.
According to him,tapping massive renewable energy sources that are expected to contribute 22 percent of Africa’s total energy consumption by 2022 will hasten realization of the continent’s green agenda.
He  also said new technologies could boost the continent’s efforts to revamp energy infrastructure, bridge access gaps and reduce carbon emission.
Noting that the cost of photovoltaic (PV) power generation has reduced significantly over the last decade, Huang said it offered an opportunity for Africa to harness clean energy and meet a growing demand.
He added that renewable energy is currently cheaper than fossil-fuel-based options that are a drawback to green growth in Africa, noting that Huawei is keen to introduce digital power solutions in the continent.
The Huawei smart PV solution has been deployed in more than 60 countries and regions, generating more than 300 billion kilowatts hour (kWh) of green electricity globally.
“Over time, Huawei will deploy more and more scalable power stations. These power stations can be managed and maintained online, further reducing their carbon footprint,” said Huang.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in Power 0
Air Nigeria Comes Alive April Next Year—Minister

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has disclosed that Nigeria’s national airliner, Nigeria Air, will take off by April 2022.
The disclosure came on Wednesday, shortly after it was deliberated on at the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Giving details of how it would work,  Sirika said the national carrier will be run by a company in which the Nigerian government will hold a 5% stake, Nigerian entrepreneurs holding 46%, while the remaining 49% will be reserved for yet to be assigned strategic equity partners, including foreign investors.
The minister who said the Council gave approvals for the new national carrier, said the national carrier, when operational, will create about 70,000 jobs for Nigerians.
Sirika recalled that over 400,000 Nigerians participated in choosing the name which was launched in 2018.
He said, “Today (Wednesday) in Council civil aviation presented two memoranda. The first one is approval for the award of contract for the provision of Automated Civil Aviation Regulatory Equipment, including software support and training, which will be located in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
“In summary, this is a software that will allow all of the activities of civil aviation regulation to be done electronically on one platform, including payments, including follow ups on personnel licensing, the medicals, the economic regulation of airlines, safety regulation of airlines and all other businesses within the envelope of civil aviation will be monitored by this single software.
“It is called ‘the truth machine’ in quotation in Europe, because all of the truth of regulation of civilization will appear on this platform, it’s an extremely important software that the world has now come to terms with.
“The contract was given to Messrs. Arif Investment Nigeria Limited, who are representatives of Empik GmbH. This Empik are the creators of this software, one of its kind in the world, at the sum of N1,492,520,325, which will be including 7.5% VAT and completion period of six months. So that’s the first memoranda.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in Aviation 0
 NCC To Boost  Research, Development With N200m–Danbatta

The Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC,has  committed over N200 million into the promotion of research and development (R&D) in order to drive innovation in the country’s telecommunications sector.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency,
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this during the prize presentation ceremony of the 2021 NCC National Essay Competition in Abuja,
He said his  agency  has invested modestly in research grants, instituted professorial chairs in universities across the country, supported tech startups, and sponsored national essay competitions and many more social investments in order to ensure synergy and linkages among industry, the academia and the youth.
He said over 2,000 entries were received from 97 public and private tertiary institutions for the competition in which Esther Oluwabukola Gbeja, a 600-Level student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ilorin, was declared overall winner.
Gbeja received a cash prize of N500,000.00, a laptop, and a printer; while the first runner-up, Moses Nosa Edosa, a final year student of Accounting at the University of Port Harcourt, received a cash prize of N300,000.00 only.
Two second runners-up emerged from the competition to pick the third prize. MarcPatrick Efevuriri Efeni, a 200-Level student of Cybersecurity at the Airforce Institute of Technology, Kaduna; and Nasiru Abdul Karim, a 400-Level student of Computer Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, both came third having scored same number of points.
They both received cash prizes of N200,000 each.
The EVC said NCC gladly accommodated the additional prize due to the tie in the third place, as a mark of encouragement.
 Danbatta said,the topic for this year’s essay competition, “5G Technology: Opportunities & challenges”, was carefully chosen to ensure that the youths have a good understanding of the new technology.
He said Nigeria’s vibrant youth populace stands to benefit massively from the deployment of 5G technology, which the Commission is set to launch in 2022.
The NCC boss said the Commission initiated and has maintained the annual essay competition to stimulate the interest of Nigerians especially the young people, to contribute to efforts in driving innovation in the technological ecosystem of Nigeria.
“It is on this premise that NCC took the step to encourage Nigerian students to remain pro-active and partake in the national competition that challenges students to be competitive and engage their best efforts,” he said.
 While emphasising the critical importance of communications as the foundation for the technological  development of society and its role in the provision of vital infrastructure for national security, the EVC highlighted the need to invest in research programmes as observed in advanced nations, where a lot of resources are channeled into Research and Development.
He reiterated  the assurances of the commission to Nigerians that 5G technology will expand the mobile ecosystem into a new realm and the impact will be felt in various sectors of the economy.
The Chairman of the 3rd NCC National Essay Competition Committee, Edoyemi Ogoh, who is also a Deputy Director in the Commission’s Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, commended the EVC’s effort in recognising the academia as key stakeholders in the development of the communications sector, and in encouraging that critical sector to have a natural connection with the industry.
Ogoh further said that the Commission “knows the importance of innovative thinking in the growing ICT industry in Nigeria and as such, this has made the Commission to engage youths in various tertiary institutions across the nation to compete in essay writing on 5G technology.”
Also speaking at the event, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the essay competition was  one of the most important initiatives the Commission, and expressed his delight at the ability of the winners who have demonstrated vast knowledge on the subject matter during their presentation.
Adinde also emphasised the influence of the competition in the stimulation of the minds of the target audience and the creation of positive awareness to debunk misconceptions about the 5G technologies.
 The Director Public Affairs said, the outcome of the competition is an encouragement to the NCC Management to continue to support the national essay competition while ensuring that the Commission sustains such programme.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in IT&Telecoms 0
Oil Workers Deepen Industrial Ties With NMDPRA/NUPRC 

To Avert Industrial Action, NUPRC Promotes 195 WorkersTHISDAYLIVE
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria NUPENGASSAN have strengthened industrial relationship with the two regulatory arms in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The unions paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC in Abuja,which  afforded them with the opportunity to meet with the heads of the two agencies in the sector.
The Presidents of PENGASSAN, Comrade. Festus Osifo and NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha led the delegation.
Speaking at Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, expressed delight at the appointment of Farouk Ahmed as the CEO of the organization .
He  described Ahmed’s choice  as well deserved following his wealth of experience and achievements in the nation’s oil and gas sector spanning decades.
He assured  that  PENGASSAN under his watch,will collaborate with his administration towards making the industry a pride of place for the benefit of the government, investors and workers.
He lauded  the boss  for some positive actions he undertook on assumption of office that have stabilized the operations and working conditions of workers drawn from  the proscribed agencies that metamorphosed into the new agency
Osifo, however urged him to address the remaining issues with the same used. “as an Association, what concerns us more is the interest of the workers being integrated into the new entity. Our position is that joint committees should be fully involved and carried along”.
In his remarjs,Farouk Ahmed,  re-emphasized the cordial relationship he enjoyed with NUPENGASSAN in the past and urged them to maintain it as well as represent the interest of their members effectively and wisely.
He added: “Our policy here is based on engagement, communication and transparency. We are concerned about the welfare of the workers, every outstanding promotions will be addressed despite some encumbrances and challenges encountered during the merger.
At the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Commission Chief Executive, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, promised to collaborate with the two oil and gas industry unions, for industrial harmony and smooth operations of the sector.
He explained  that the objective of the collaboration was to foster appropriate synergy to enable smooth operations in overriding national interest.
He disclosed  that since his assumption of office, staff welfare has been his cardinal focus and that was the reason he immediately implemented the promotion of staff who had been stagnated over the years to motivate and promote industrial harmony.
He emphasized that he set up work teams on assumption of office with clear terms of reference to address issues of staff welfare like legacy issues which requires redress for the sake of justice and fairness.
He promised that as part and parcel of the union he will continue to promote equity   in the affairs of the Commission and in accordance with the Petroleum industry Act (PIA) 2021
Congratulating the CCE on his appointment ,the visiting labour leaders assured him of their readiness to collaborate with the commission in all areas of oil and gas industry operations as a major stakeholder.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in Labour/Human Resources 0
Honeywell Flour To Ecobank :We Didn’t Breach Court Order On Alleged N3.5bn Debt

Ecobank warns prospective buyers of Oba Otudeko's Honeywell Flour Mills
The boards of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, has assured stakeholders that the agreement to acquire 71.69% of the latter from Honeywell Group Limited is not in breach of any subsisting court order.
In their statement on the Nigerian Exchange Limited platform, Flour Mills of Nigeria,  said its “actions are guided by global best practices,” as it works diligently to maintain its reputation as one of the leading and oldest agro-allied companies in the country.
In a separate note to its shareholders, the board of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, said the announcement of FMN’s acquisition of Honeywell Group’s  stake “was made in compliance with all rules and regulation.”
Both companies were reacting to a seven-day ultimatum issued by Ecobank Nigeria asking Flour Mills to desist from consummating the planned agreement on the ground that the company was hugely indebted to the bank, and that the controversial N3.5 billion debt has been a subject of litigation, according to a statement its lawyer, Kunle Ogunba.
Ogunba had in the aftermath of Monday’s announcements cautioned the public and corporate bodies on the danger inherent in dealing in any shares of Honeywell Flour Mills, given its interest in the company, arising from several loan facilities, including working capital advanced to Honeywell Flour Mills Plc.
He noted that sequel to  the Honeywell Group’s failure to liquidate the said facilities, the bank was constrained to commence winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited at the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit no: FHC/L/CP/1571/2015.
Ecobank stressed that Honeywell Group Limited, being the respondent to the winding-up petition, objected to the jurisdiction of the trial court to preside over the suit, which the bank said was upheld by the trial court.
Dissatisfied with the ruling of the trial court, Ecobank said it had filed an appeal, with appeal No: CA/L/1041/2016) at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, and that upon review of its case, the appellate court had found merit in the appeal, and held that the winding-up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited were properly commenced and that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear the said petition.
Ecobank also explained that while the said decision of the appellate court is now before the Supreme Court, even as the Appeal Court judgment remains valid and subsisting till date, stressing that by the provisions of Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 “CAMA,” “where a company is being wound up by the Court, any attachment, sequestration, distress or execution put in force against the estate or effects of the company after the commencement of the winding-up is void”
The bank said the estate of Honeywell Group Limited includes (but is not limited to) its 71.69% stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc which it now seeks to divest to Flour Mills contrary to the express provisions of the law which prohibits the said sale/transfer or divestment during the course of the winding-up proceedings.
“Please be further informed that the assets of both Honeywell Group Limited and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. are the subject of the winding-up action and thus based on the doctrine of “lis-pendens” (in addition to the provisions of CAMA supplied above) you are advised to refrain from dealing with the subject asset which forms part of the subject matter of litigation,” Ecobank stressed.
Despite these claims, Flour Mills of Nigeria, in its statement by Joseph Umolu, its company secretary and director, Legal Services, urged stakeholders to maintain their trust in its management.
Honeywell Flour Mills denied the existence of any pending court order restraining trading in the shares of its shares, or inhibiting it or its owners from dealing in its assets, further assuring stakeholders “that in all of its engagements with FMN, it received independent legal advice and assets that the transaction is not in breach of any subsisting order of court.”
The issue of whether it is indebted to Ecobank, Honeywell Flour Mills stressed, is still before the courts and the final decision remains the exclusive preserve of the courts, insisting that the Appeal Court judgement under reference in the reports, “did not declare HFMP to be indebted to Ecobank.
Assuring stakeholders that its management will continue to act in the best interests of all concerned and work diligently to preserve value for them, HFMP said Ecobank’s assertions “lack merit, were written in bad faith and are a deliberate attempt to undermine a transaction that will result in substantial benefit to the Nigerian economy and entrench the collaboration of two publicly quoted companies.”
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in News 0
‘Why We Want Ajaokuta Steel Complex Alive’

Attah Makes Membership Of Technical Committee For Presidential Executive Order - PremiumNews

In this  interview with PremiumNews,Mohammed Bougei Attah, national secretary of the  National Conference on Ajaokuta Project and a member Technical Consultative Committee of the Strategy Implementation Task Office For Presidential Executive Order 5,shares his thoughts on the nation’s Ajaokuta Steel Complex and why his group’s effort in bringing the project to life inspite of the  age-long delays
Excerpts:
Since the establishment of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in 1979 by Late President Shehu Shagari, it has not produced anything. What are your worries about this development?
I think it is wrong to say or assume the steel company has nothing produced anything. Though I am not directly engaged with the company or a feeder organization to say this, despite the reality that the plant has not been 100% completed, it has in the last 20 years or produced steels, billets, turnkeys and power turbines that have served the country in many ways. Many industries today like cable metals, automobile, hospitals and others rely on the products from Ajaokuta Steel Company*
What do you think has been slowing down the company from coming to life and what has the nation lost due to the non completion of the complex?
Several factors, which include political will on the part of our leaders and lack of patriotism by successive Presidents have contributed to the delays in reverse  the plant to full capacity production.This as we know have caused the nations several economic losses ranging from exports, manufacturing of heavy duty equipments, denying us of the much sought after industrialization*
The Ajaokuta Steel Complex was said to have been at 98% completion since 1994,why is it taken long for the 2% to have a full and functional steel company for the country?
The 98% completion you mentioned is not entirely ascertained because the steel company has been producing metals since 1994 as well as turnkey machinery that is difficult to conclude it is 98% completed. However, reports of several audits of the steel company puts the estimated at 95%, which is not too different from 98%you mentioned. In a plant with the magnitude of resources, 3% could make a huge difference.
So it has taken this long because as I mentioned earlier, past leaders are not committed to it’s completion and full operations
What do you think is the relevance of Russia in bringing  the complex to life when Nigeria would have build on the expertise of indigenous professionals in the country?
Yes, Nigeria can today boast of experts trained across the globe in steel   competences, but the fact remains that the Russians are the original builders on one hand, and that they are yet to complete the plant before they left the country.
The natural thing that should happen it to run a complete plant, at least for about 10 years when the technology would have been totally transferred to the local experts, which are Nigerians
President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to change the narratives in Ajaokuta Steel Company following the initiatives he had pursued so far.Would you say the president is on the right track?.If he’s not,what should he do to make the resuscitation of the steel company a dream come true?
President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language, as you mentioned above is 100% committed to reviving the steel plant, to a point of making it a legacy project. There’s no President or administration after Shehu Shagari that have been so committed to the resusitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company like President Muhammadu Buhari and his lieutenants. So it is right to say he’s on track and all efforts are been made to get the company back on course.
What informed your group’s ongoing action for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company when others feel it should be privatized?
There are several untold stories about the Steel Company that Nigerians need to be guided. You will notice that until we began to tell the real story about Ajaokuta, the general impression is that the company is moribund. Of course you heard the sole administrator said recently that the steel company is very much intact and it’s not obsolete the way some describes it. So our advocacy is first and foremost to tell the true and current story the plant, two to support this present administration in the ongoing efforts to bring back the industry into full capacity, and of course to assure the leadership of the country that the civil society are very much aware of the challenges militating against its quick revival, and therefore move the citizenry to a more positive moral support to the administration.
Your group recently held a mini conference on Ajaokuta Steel in Lokoja.Could you share with us details of what transfered at the conference?
The event was a one day roundtable that brought together stakeholders from the host community and beyond, to dialogue and share ideas on how to support government in achieving the expected goal about Ajaokuta. Of course, it is also meant to address what we can say may come as agitation from the grassroots, as we witnessed in the Niger Delta region. So it is about thinking ahead and getting the community ready for the great expectations
What should  we expect at the larger conference in Abuja later this month?Will it be different ?
The expectations are that Nigerians who are the stakeholders will have a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the Administrators, managers and leaders who the Ajaokuta affairs are vested on. There have been several unclear and diverse positions on the Ajaokuta phenomenon, but we have been able to reassure many a Nigerians that this administration is serious and committed to the revival of the steel company.So the difference will be that Nigerians and their leaders will be working together and knowing that it is all for the good of all.
Apart from conferences and seminars,what other action plans are you embarking on to bring the Ajaokuta Steel to fruition.What is your group’s relationship with the workers of the steel company?
On the first question about other line of actions, let say for now that we shall sustain this advocacy, including monitoring and reporting back process. And on the second question, let me state clearly here that ours is to ensure all stakeholders are involved in the discussions, evaluation and promotion of the issues around Ajaokuta.
By this, the unions who are part of the active civil society, the private sector and the government are put together for informed results. This mean that we have good working relationship with the Unions, as it was evident during the presence during the Lokoja State Level Stakeholders Roundtable on Ajaokuta
How best do you think Nigeria can achieve industrialization in the face of economic challenges in the country?
With Ajaokuta in full operations, Nigeria will in no distance time become an industrialized nations with robust economy. Ajaokuta is the gateway to Nigeria’s Industrialization and it’s revival will help in reducing Nigeria’s foreign, through the competitiveness at the international space
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in News 0
 Senate Faults Secret Employment In MDAs,Gives Accelerated Attention To Anti-Fake Goods  Bill

Senate vows to name, shame MDAs for failing to answer audit queries - Daily Post Nigeria
The  Senate has moved against secret recruitments been done by the officials of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Addressing newsmen shortly after presenting 2022 budget of his Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma La’ah, said that embargo has not be placed on employment.
He said: “Some people are taking advantage of the situation (embargo on employment) but our committee is desirous of doing the right thing. We are determined that there should be jobs for the graduates that we have in this country, no matter what it takes.
“We discovered that young Nigerians, who graduated from higher institutions some 15 years ago had yet to gain employment. The development had aggravated insecurity all over the places including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
“Our committee has been going to ministries, departments and agencies of government that they must start recruitment instead of doing secret replacements. We had even asked them to increase their personnel cost in their budgets so that they could employ people.
“Many people are being secretly employed but those in charge are claiming that there is embargo on employment. I don’t know where they got that from. We have been asking them. The President has not opened his mouth to say that there is embargo on employment.”
He added that “there’s no embargo anywhere but some of the officials of government are so myopic that they decide to take advantage of the situation.
“I have been challenging those who are engaging in secret recruitments claiming there is embargo to show us where they got the information from. This is the time for them to increase their personnel cost and make provision for employment.
“People are retiring voluntarily but we don’t know how they are being replaced. We must know the particular number of people they want to employ.”
Meanwhile,the Senate has  passed for third reading a bill to prohibit the importation of fake goods into Nigeria.
The targeted fake goods are counterfeited and pirated currencies, apparel, consumer electronics, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks and chemicals among others.
Tagged “Counterfeit Goods Bill 2021,” the legislation was sponsored by Senator Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central) who said that the bill which was read for the first time on Tuesday, 6th July, 2021, is a 26-Clause proposal.
He lamented that over the years, Nigeria has become a major destination for counterfeit and pirated goods and a significant transit route to other West African countries.
He added:“The growing number of counterfeit goods in the country is a major threat and challenge for businesses, consumers and the economy.
“In fact, it is difficult to put an exact value or loss occasioned by counterfeiting, as there are no accurate figures on the number of counterfeited goods, type of goods or the volume of its sales”
He said such fake goods targeted by the bill are unauthorized or illegally manufactured, reproduced, altered or distributed products associated with abuse of recognized intellectual property right, such as trademark, patents, design or copyright in goods.
According to him, it provides for the prohibition of manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of counterfeit goods.
“It simplifies the process of laying complaints by persons interested in protected goods that are counterfeited and provides an enhanced enforcement capacity.
“The Bill also provides for administration of criminal investigation; and seeks to make prosecution a lot less cumbersome so as to provide effective control of counterfeit goods in the country.
“While the Customs Service is further empowered to check and control imported counterfeit goods, the police is given the power to demand information for efficient crime prevention and prosecution”, the lawmaker said.
The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investments for further legislative work.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in News 0
2020:Economic Affairs Receives  Highest Share As  Sanwo-Olu Presents N1.38trn Budget Estimate 

Economic affairs sector received  the  highest share of N325,014,165,395 or 23.41 percent
from the N1.38trillion budget estimate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented to the House of Assembly.
The social protection sector the least with N6,109,828,1603 or 0.71 percent.
According to the budget estimate,the general public services got N235,400,815,610 (16.96 percent), Public order and safety, N61,710,691,428 (4.45 percent) and environment, N49,846,704,975 (3.59 percent) in the appropriation bill tagged Budget of Consolidation. Others are housing and community amenities, N77,980,156,022 (5.62 percent), health, N123,166,815,968 (8.87 percent), recreation, culture and religion, N16,768,767,649 (1.21 percent and education with N672,5145,711 (12.37 percent).
The governor noted that 2022 would be the final full year of budget implementation before the next general election.
He also  said it was an excellent opportunity for him to consolidate on what his administration had done so far and ensure that every effort, investment, partnership or policy translate maximally into noticeable positive impact in the lives of the people.
He noted that the challenging environment required that government focused its interventions in areas of greatest social impact to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number in the shortest possible time.
He added that the budget comprises total revenue of N1.135 trillion and a deficit financing of N203.126 billion.
“The budget size is further analysed as a recurrent expenditure of 41 percent at N564.9 billion and a capital expenditure of 59.6 percent at N823.35billion.
“The deficit financing will be by way of combination of external and domestic loans and bonds which will be within our physical sustainability parameters.”
He described the 2022 budget as the government’s next step in its journey to a true and sustainable greatness.
“We have clearly articulated our vision in tackling governance in the state through the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda and have commenced the state’s 30-year development plan, 2021-2051, which will update and replace our previous plan for 2012 -2025.”
He also vowed to deliver on the hopes and aspirations of the people, saying he would never let the people down.
Online Editor by — November 25, 2021 in News 0