Category: Business

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Tuesday directed the Nigeria Customs Service to return the bags of rice and money which its officials allegedly seized recently from some shops in the Oja Oba market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Officials of the NCS had last week invaded the market and carted away eight truckloads of rice and money found in the shops of the affected traders.

The NCS carried out the operation, barely a month after they raided the Bodija International Market, where they also carted away numerous bags of rice.

The development forced the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Kola Balogun, to forward a petition to the upper chamber on behalf of the beleaguered traders last week.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the allegation of invasion and looting against the NCS.

The Senate Committee at its sitting, on Tuesday, condemned the act and described it as totally unacceptable.

The panel then asked the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, represented by his Assistant Comptroller General, Garba Mohammed, to ensure that the seized goods were returned to the affected traders within two weeks.

It also directed that their shops should be unlocked while money taken from the shops must be equally returned.

Members of the panel were unanimous in their condemnation of the NCS, insisting that its action was a breach of the Customs Act and the Executive Order signed by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007.

The legislation empowers the agency to only impound smuggled goods, 40 kilometers radius to the border.

The Chairman of the panel, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, recalled that a similar string operation carried out by the NCS in Katsina State led to the dismissal of the officer, who led the operations.

The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 30th of June, 2021.

The extension was as a result of the virtual meeting chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, and attended by following officials- Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez.

The postponement of the deadline was also based on the request by stakeholders for an extension till 30th of June, 2021 in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.

Significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process. For example, almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN and this can translate to up to 190 million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to three to four phone lines.

The much-awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments.

Furthermore, the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs.

It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of NIN for accessing several government services. This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively.

The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

Dr. Pantami wishes to thank Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.

He again reiterated government’s commitment to continually taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), yesterday, carted away eight truckloads of rice after invading Oja Oba Market, Ibadan.

This is coming about a month after the NCS raided Bodija International Market, where it carted away numerous bags of rice. It was gathered that the Customs officers went to the market and carted away eight truckloads of rice in the early hours of yesterday.

The Public Relations Officer of Oyo/Osun Customs Command, Kayode Wey, confirmed the invasion, stating that the operation was carried out by Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone A.

“It is the FOU. They are not our people. It was the FOU that went to Bodija Market the last time. It is the same FOU, we do not know anything about it. We do not have any information on it. I am hearing it the same way you are hearing it,” he said.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of NCS, FOU Zone A, Mr. Theophilus Duniya confirmed the development, stating that the Customs is empowered to carry out such operation.

“Yes, until we examine them. You are aware that the Federal Government imposed a ban on importation of foreign rice to encourage local production in the country.

“As it stands, foreign rice is a contraband and the law empowers us, the Act that established the service empowers officers to carry out such operations; to break into any shop or warehouse upon reasonable suspicion that prohibited goods are stored, and evacuate them. That is what happened.”

The Central Bank Governor of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Emefiele has explained the reasons behind the suspension of Chairman First Bank Holdings, Oba Otudeko, CEO of First Bank, Ibukun Awosika and others.

The governor explained in a statement released to news men which reads in part:

“I spoke to Dr. Oba Otudeko; he refused to grant my entreaties. I had cause to call two of his major shareholders to ask him to ask the board not to take such decisions without the approval of the CBN, but he refused to pick the calls of these shareholders who are co-owners of the bank.
“I called him a second time and heard one of the shareholders listening to me on another line, begging Dr. Otudeko that he should not take that decision, he insisted on taking that decision.
“We hung up the phone and I sent that shareholder back to the office of Mr. Oba Otudeko to appeal to him to please suspend the decision to remove the MD. He refused to see the shareholder.
“I feel we had done our best and that we would not allow a shareholder who feels that he cannot subject himself to regulatory control and authority to remain as a director of the bank.
“So, we didn’t have any choice but to take this decision.
As we speak, the chairman of the bank was queried, Ibukun Awosika, we are yet to receive any response. In any case, I would imagine that response is no longer necessary.”

The Oyo State Government has launched a portal for the registration of Youth Enterpreneurship in Agricbusiness Project. The release made available to news men inviting applications from the public read as thus:

“A major setback of most Agricultural Development programmes across the Country is the failure of Government at all levels to integrate the youths into the mainstream of their numerous Agricultural initiatives.

“To this end, the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, OYSADA is requesting for APPLICATIONS from the youth to participate in the Oyo State Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project, YEAP. This is open to Youth between 25-35years old as well as Tertiary Institutions Graduates who are residing in Oyo State. Application closes on the 9th May, 2021.

Here is the
Application link: https://ats.oyostate.gov.ng/oyosada/yeap/apply

“The Oyo State Youth Entrepreneurship in
Agribusiness Project (YEAP) aims to pursue inclusive agribusiness training for empowering
the youths to actively participate and benefit from emerging opportunities and transformation processes across the agricultural value chain.

“Successful applicants who are facing the challenge of unemployment will be provided with the appropriate agribusiness skills, mentorship, and business startup support via training and hands-on demonstrations.

“The project aims at attaining wealth creation and poverty reduction by building entrepreneurship capacity, creating support linkages, and added value for youths (at least 30% females) within the State”.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said, on Friday, that his administration will recover every Kobo of Oyo State’s money in the hands of contractors who failed to deliver on projects.
The governor gave the assurance during an inspection tour of the newly renovated Jericho Nursing Home, Jericho,  Ibadan. He said that he will never allow any fund belonging to Oyo State to be frittered away, adding that he will go after contractors who failed to deliver on assigned projects.A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that  his administration will ensure the people of the state get the desired value for their money.
The governor stated that the previous contractor handling the project did not complete the work, a development, which, he said, was “unacceptable by this administration.”
He said: “Every kobo of Oyo State money that people have taken without delivering value to the people, they will give it back to us.”

Makinde, however, maintained that he is satisfied with the level of on-going renovation work at the hospital by the present administration.
The governor further said: “Well, for the ones that we did, yes I am satisfied. But the previous contractor, we can all see, did not finish the work. We went round to look at the transformer but it is not yet energised and it is just really unacceptable. People may think we are not going to go after them but I can give you the assurance that we will.”
The governor explained that the purpose of the inspection was to examine the renovation work at the hospital and to see some of the challenges being faced by the staff of the hospital.

“Basically, I am here to see the renovation work that has gone on in here and also listen to them about the challenges they are having. As you probably must have known, health is one of the major pillars of this administration. 
“So, we have to keep working to ensure that the health care in Oyo State is well delivered,” Makinde stated.

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has urged Nigerians to patronize locally made products, stating that such gesture is required to grow the country’s economy.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the call on Thursday at his Ile Oodua Palace Ile-Ife, while playing host to management of Titan Multi-business investment L.t.d.; producers of Titan Rice who were on a courtesy visit to the African foremost monarch to formally invite him as the Special Guest of Honour at the commissioning of the Titan Farms Corporate Head office and rice factory located in Ibadan slated to hold in two months time.

The Ooni who is the Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, commended Titan management for their patriotism and originality, while rendering qualitative services to Nigerians.

“We should commend the management of this great company and other few ones across the country for standing up to the challenges in the competitive market, it is obviously not easy. What I want to encourage our people to do is to patronize this brand and I assure Nigerians that they’ll be proud.” The Ooni said.

Earlier in his address, Founder and the Chief Trader of Titan Multi-business investment, Mr. Gbenga Eyiolawi, thanked the Ooni for the kind words, affirming his organization’s readiness to uphold its efficient service delivery mechanism.

“Baba, let me use this chance to explain that Titan is an agro-commodity processing and trading outfit, buying farm produce directly from Nigerian farms and process them with our partner-mills and processing facilities using their High-Tech equipments in the Northern part of the country.

“These processed goods are packaged in our brand and sold directly to distributors across South West Nigeria.

“Pioneer of such goods is our rice brand known as Titan Rice which is produced and packaged in the North and then sold in the south. We started recently and presently have presence in Oyo,Osun,Ogun and Kwara states.

“We do not compete with existing brands as we offer something more unique than others giving priority to our distributors and end users. Titan Rice comes in 50kg,25kg,10kg and 5kg and we pride ourself in the fact that our rice stone free, clean,polished and sweet with less starch content.

“We are able to achieve this through diligent and extensive research and development as we have food processing specialists in our team. We are confident to say that Titan Rice is the most affordable “Grade A” Nigerian Rice.

“We also have Titan Vegetable Oil which is launching into the markets this November. It is going to be of high quality as we only produce and sell premium affordable products.” He stated.

Accepting the invitation, Ooni Ogunwusi pledged his readiness to grace the commissioning ceremony as invited.