News Agency of Nigeria

Airport police smash fake COVID-19 certificate racketeers

By Yunus Yusuf

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has arrested five suspected syndicates, forging fake COVID-19 certificates.

The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and Aviation Security (AVSEC ) CP Umar Bature disclosed the arrest on Thursday at a news  briefing held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos State Government on Dec. 29, 2020,  raised alarm over alleged sale of fake COVID-19 test results in the state.

The government warned that processes were being put in place to clamp down on both buyers and sellers.

Bature said that out of the five suspects, 35-year old Adewale Aderele was an alleged  guarantor to one of the suspects who was now at large.

The  syndicates included: Archibong Idorenyin, 34, owner of DAT  Cyber Cafe, who allegedly forged the Virology Screening test results, Abdulmalik Ibrahim (24) and Moses Sunday (20) who are staff of DAT Internet Cafe.

The other suspect was Popoola Adewale of Patovilki Airport cleaning services.

Two of the suspects, 35-year-old Shehu Imam, who allegedly took illicit assignments from the airport to DAT internet cafe for the generation of  fake COVID-19 certificates and Adeola Darlington of Skyblue Services Ltd. were now at large.

According to the commissioner, they  also lure passengers to the airport where various sums are extorted from them. In this case, N50, 000.

“On Feb. 18, Popoola Adewale and Adeola Darlington who have access to all the nooks and crannies of the international airport, approached one Michael Osagbogu who was on a queue of a  London bound aircraft and allegedly offers to help him procure  COVID-19 certificate.

“They however, cornered the passenger to an isolated toilet at the airport where N50, 000 was extorted from him.

“Thereafter, the victim was handed over to Shehu Imam who took him to Archibong Idorenyin, owner of the internet cafe at 4, Oriyomi Street Ikeja.”

According to the commissioner, some of the suspects have taken to their heels but concerted efforts are being made by the combined team of detectives of the airport police command and AVSEC  to track them down.

He also informed that the suspects confessed to the crime and exhibits, including N50,000 and laptops used to generate the fake COVID-19 certificates as well as the certificates being used as exhibits.

“They will soon be charged to court where justice will take its course,” Umar promised.

The airport police command however, warned that the public should follow due process in obtaining or procuring COVID-19 certificates to avoid unscrupulous syndicates.

The CP said the suspects would be charged to court on Friday morning. (NAN)

Osun boosts MSMEs with N100m for job creation

By Victor Adeoti

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, on Thursday, said the sum of N100 million has been set aside to boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development in the state.

Oyetola said his administration had adopted a proactive strategy to stimulate the state’s economy adversely affected by the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor spoke at the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the participants of the post COVID-19 Economic Strategy Pilot Training Programme in Osogbo.

He said each of the trainees under the programme would have access to N100,000 as a start-up loans.

Oyetola said the training programme was designed to generate 15,000 direct and indirect sustainable job opportunities annually.

The governror also said that the training programme was a swift response to the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

Oyetola urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills and knowledge acquired in the course of the programme positively to enable them compete favourably in the industrial and commercial sectors.

“As pioneer graduates of this scheme, you are our voice to your successors that this programme is useful and doable.

“You are our proof that entrepreneurship is a worthy solution to youth unemployment and poverty.

“You are our strength that will lay a solid foundation for a sustainable, life-transforming and destiny-changing programme that will join other proactive initiatives to deliver the prosperous Osun that we seek,” the governor said.

According to him, under the skills upgrade training programme, the state government was able to re-focus, re-engineer and expand the scope, knowledge and relevance of artisans.

He added that government was able to make people who lost their jobs during the pandemic relevant “under the new normal orchestrated by COVID-19”.

In his remarks, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, said 2, 000 participants were trained and empowered with startup loans to support their businesses.

Also, the Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, Bank of Industry, Mrs Toyin Adeniji, commended Oyetola for building a virile and healthy economy for the state. (NAN)

NAN MD tasks online publishers on professionalism

 

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Managing-Director, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, has urged the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers to ensure professionalism as it discharges its duties in the society.

Ponle made the call on Thursday in Abuja when a delegation from the guild, led by its President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, paid him a courtesy visit seeking for assistance to enrich their news content.

He urged the association to continue its crusade and social responsibility in ensuring that journalism is practiced rightly for development.

The managing director also urged the guild to use its noble platform to correct the ills in the society and highlight many developmental strides of the present government in the country.

“No matter what, criticisms are needed but when they are not healthy criticisms or not in line with development, they will bring reaction,’’ he said.

The NAN boss expressed delight to identify with the guild, adding that social media had been put in a tight corner because of the noble role it assumed in the society.

“In recent times, we have witnessed news disinformation, misinformation and total lies just to serve a purpose but it does not help us.

“It is high time we all looked forward to helping our country to get it out of this,’’ he advised.

The guild had sought for partnership and to reach an agreement with NAN for the services being rendered to the huge platform by NAN to be given at a cheaper rate.

He said NAN, as a Federal Government agency had been battling over the years to get out of the financial mess adding that government resources were dwindling especially with challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

Ponle, however, assured the guild that it would review its operations but appealed for it to take what it could offer presently.

“We have in the past months reviewed our operations and added value; the ratings are there, I will urge you just to bear with us now.

“It is painful for us to review upwards but how do we survive? We can only survive if we add just a little for us to do what you are expecting us to do.

“If NAN were to be a private organisation, it would either go down or increase its price in a par with the market situation.

“To do it the previous way does not pay us, we have considered so many issues and put so many things into critic before we came up with the slightest offer we have added,’’ he said.

Earlier, Oladipo said the guild had come to seek NAN’s assistance in offering service to them at a cheaper rate due to the economic downturn, which affected every sector.

He said the economic downturn hit the guild so hard that it decided to go into partnership with the NAN because it appreciated the role of NAN in intervention in terms of stories and wide coverage.

“But for the online platform, it has not worked that way; we discovered that for both government and private businesses the level of patronage has drastically dropped due to bad economy, which has led to downsizing in most places.

“Our records will testify that since we started, we have always fulfilled our part in terms of payment in spite of the level of hardship and COVID-19 pandemic challenges,’’ he said.

He described the guild as a body of eminently qualified journalists adding that for one to qualify for its membership, the benchmark was that the journalist must have practiced not more than 10 years in a reputable organisation.

According to him, the journalist must have risen to not less than the position of the level of an Assistant Editor to qualify to be a member to sustain professionalism.

“Because we have seen a lot of disinformation and falsehood online and the question has always been how to help the country to overcome this challenge.

“We have seen in the last couple of years how the social media has developed and being put to negative use by many Nigerians

“How do we step in when there is authentic information to dwell on and we also believe that with the number of years that those who are members of this association have put into journalism, they have a name and people keep following them,’’ he said. (NAN)

Nigerian stock market extends loss by 0.40%

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The nation’s bourse extended negative trend for the third consecutive trading session following sell pressure on Nigerian Breweries, Dangote Sugar Refinery and tier-1 banks.

The All-Share Index on Thursday declined further by 157.39 points or 0.40 per cent to close at 39,394.67 from 39,522.06 posted on Wednesday.

Accordingly, the month-to-date and year-to-date losses increased to 1.1 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation shed N83 billion to close at N20.595 trillion against N20.678 trillion recorded on Wednesday.

The market loss was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; Presco, Nigerian Enamelware, Nigerian Breweries, Julius Berger and Ardova.

Consequently, market sentiment was negative with 47 losers in contrast with 13 gainers.

Fidson Healthcare led the losers’ chart in percentage terms with 10 per cent to close at N4.41 per share.

Northern Nigeria Flour Mills followed with a decline of 9.97 per cent to close at N6.32 per share.

NEM Insurance and Nigerian Enamelware shed 9.95 per cent each to close at N1.72 and N19.90 per share, respectively.

NCR declined by 9.91 per cent to close at N3.09 per share.

Conversely, University Press dominated the gainers’ chart in percentage terms with 9.91 per cent to close at N1.22 per share.

Morison Industries followed with 9.09 per cent to close at 60k, while Chemical & Allied Products increased by 5.26 per cent to close at N20 per share.

Lafarge Africa grew by 3.59 per cent to close at N20.20, while livestock Feeds rose by 3.17 per cent to N2.28 per share.

Transactions in the shares of Universal Insurance topped the activity chart with 83.26 million shares valued at N16.65 million.

Zenith Bank followed with 38.65 million shares worth N983.25 million, while FBN Holdings traded 31.25 million shares valued at N216.72 million.

United Bank for Africa accounted for 26.78 million shares valued at N211.57 million, while Access Bank transacted 21.59 million shares worth N168.09 million.

Meanwhile, the total volume of traded increased by 101.8 per cent as investors bought and sold 493.17 million valued at N4.72 billion exchanged in 5,486 deals.

This was against a total of 244.34 million shares worth N4.13 billion traded in 4,714 deals on Wednesday. (NAN)

FRSC boss vows to end assaults on patrol operatives

Ibironke Ariyo
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has vowed to end the knockdown and indiscriminate assault on patrol operatives on the highway across the country.
The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Bisi Kazeem disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an Upper Area Court sitting in Wannune, Tarka LGA, of Benue , presided over by Aaga Torkaa ,Esq  on Wednesday,  convicted a road traffic offender whose name was given as Suaga Terkumbur.
NAN also reports that Terkumbur was convicted for assaulting an operative of the FRSC diligently carrying out his lawful duty along Wannune-Gboko Road on Jan. 9.
The offender, who was convicted on a 3-count charge resulting to bagging nine months imprisonment,  was handed an option of fine of N9,000.
The Upper Area Court also gave him other conditions for bail, including the payment of the sum of N25,000 being the medical bill accrued as a result of the injuries he inflicted on the Marshal Operative during the assault.
He is also to pay the sum of N5,000 as compensation for the uniform of the staff that he tore.
The court also ruled that the offender’s impounded vehicle should only be released by FRSC after duration of 30 days from date of judgment after meeting all conditions as read during the judgment.
The corps marshal expressed utmost satisfaction with the outcome of the judgment as he vowed to put an end to indiscriminate assault on FRSC personnel on the highway.
Oyeyemi also vowed to ensure the security of all personnel on patrol operations, traffic control, public enlightenment and rescue services.
“The corps wishes to warn all motorists who derive pleasure in knocking down, assaulting and molesting FRSC personnel, to desist from the inhuman act. The corps will always hunt them down and ensure that the law takes its due course, ” he said. (NAN)

Ondo FA holds local council election

By Segun Giwa
The Ondo State Football Association on Wednesday in Akure held elections into its local council offices ahead of the board election scheduled to hold on March 10.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that candidates were elected into positions of football administration in the 17 council areas of the state.
Only the election in Ilaje local council could not be decided because football stakeholders from the council could not agree on the list of delegates.
Those elected and their local councils include former Chairman of the FA, Otunba Dele Ajayi (Akure North), Abayomi Ogunlade (Akure south), Olagunju Isaac (Ifedore), former Vice Chairman, Cornelius Ologbese (Akoko South west), Abiodun Mohammed (Akoko North East), and Gabriel Oloye (Akoko North West).

Others are Gabriel Aborowa (Ose), Tokunbo Akintelure (Idanre), Akinfolarin Akinbobola (Ondo West), Iluyomade Awosakin (Ondo East), Akinyele Olowokere (Akoko South East), Henry Akingboju (Irele), Sunkanmi Kukoyi (Ese Odo), Babatunde Igbasan (Okitipupa) and Oladimeji Abiola (Osogbo).

The Chairman of the electoral committee, Mr Steve Alabi, noted that Ilaje local football council election had been postponed indefinitely due to differences among the contestants.
Alabi, a former president of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN), noted that the local football council election was free, fair and credible, assuring that more would be done to make the next election into positions of executive committee of the Football Association peaceful and hitch free.
Observers at the election were Mrs Evelyn Lebi from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and representative of the Ondo State Sports Council, Babatunde Henry, both of whom described the exercise as a peaceful and credible electoral process.
One of the elected Chairmen, Gabriel Aborowa from Ose local government council, said he would do more to develop football at the grassroots and engage private investors to develop the game. (NAN)

Buckingham Palace to investigate bullying allegations against Meghan

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reclaiming their narrative after the United Kingdom’s Times newspaper published a buzzy report about a bullying complaint allegedly filed from inside Kensington Palace, reports on Thursday said.

According to the Times, a former communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their stint at Kensington, reportedly alleged in 2018 that toxic behavior by Meghan forced two personal assistants to leave their positions.

The development, according to the report, negatively affected another palace employee.

“The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma,” a spokesperson for Meghan and Prince Harry wrote in a statement provided to the Los Angeles Times.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace announced plans to investigate the accusations leveled against Meghan, according to The Associated Press.

In a statement, the palace said it was “clearly very concerned” about the situation and vowed to “look into the circumstances outlined in the article”.

“The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace,” the palace said.

Per People magazine, the complaint allegedly filed by Jason Knauf claimed that Meghan’s alleged conduct brought one of her staffers to tears and caused a royal aide to physically shake at the prospect of interacting with the Duchess.

The Times report comes days before the Sussexes’ intimate conversation with TV mogul Oprah Winfrey is scheduled to air on CBS, and the timing of the leaked allegations was not lost on the Duke and Duchess.

“Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation,” the royal couple said in a statement to Britain’s Times, according to People.

“We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.

“It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years.”

During their highly anticipated interview with Winfrey, teased by CBS earlier this week and set to air Sunday, Harry told the OWN founder he was “relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side”.

“I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for [my mother] going through this process by herself all those years ago,” Harry said as a photo of his younger self and the late Princess Diana appeared on the screen.

“Because it’s been unbelievably tough for the two of us,” he said.

While appearing on “The Late Late Show” last month, the Duke also offered his thoughts on Netflix’s hit historical drama “The Crown,” which portrayed the debilitating toll royal life took on Diana (played by Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin) in its most recent season.

When asked for his opinion on the series while cruising through his new home of L.A., Harry told TV host James Corden that its dramatisations are “loosely based on the truth” and provide viewers with “a rough idea about what that lifestyle, what the pressures of putting duty and service above everything else, what can come from that”.

“I’m way more comfortable with ‘The Crown’ than I am seeing the stories being written about my family, my wife, or myself,” he told Corden. (tca/dpa/NAN)

COVID-19: Arik Air seeks priority vaccination for aviation workers

By Taiye Olayemi

Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, Chief Executive Officer, Arik Air, has called for the immediate vaccination of aviation workers as COVID-19 frontline workers.

Ilegbodu made this call when he hosted the Publisher of Atqnews and organiser AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market, Mr Ikechi Uko, at his office on Wednesday in Lagos.

Ilegbodu, in a statement issued by Uko, said that prompt vaccination of aviation workers would help keep the economy running and enable people travel knowing they were safe.

Uko was at Arik Air office to deliver an invitation for the annual Abuja Jabamah travellers award which Arik Air had been chosen as the Nigerian airline of the decade, from 2010 to 2020.

He said the award was slated for March 27, as he justified the choice of Arik Air as the airline of choice.

“Arik Air started operations in 2006 and was once the biggest airline in West Africa with 30 aircraft in its fleet.

”’The fleets were flying to London-UK, New York-USA, Johannesburg, South Africa, Dakar, Senegal, Banjul, Gambia, Accra-Ghana and Dubai-UAE along with numerous domestic operations.

“Today, it flies mainly within Nigeria, from the fleet it inherited, many aircrafts are grounded but effectively using six aircrafts.

“Since the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) took over the airline in 2017, many of the leased aircraft have been returned to the owners or has been repossessed through court orders.

“Four planes were returned to France and two classic airplanes abandoned in Europe were seized by an European supplier.

”Out of the two A340 planes, one was parked at the airport in Lagos while the other was in storage in France,” he said.

Uko noted that three aircraft were recovered by the Canadian Export Development Bank, as a B737-800 went for C-check in Lithuania and there was now an attempt by Lufthansa to seize it.

He said another B737-800 had been abandoned in South Africa and so many creditors were trying to seize as many of the assets as they could lay their hands on.

“In spite of all these troubles, Arik Air is still the biggest airline brand out of Nigeria, even with the shrunk fleet, it is still one of the biggest airlines in West Africa.

“It has three Q400 aircraft, two CRJ-900, one B737-700 and another B737-700 is expected back from checks soon.

“Before AMCON took over Arik, it was indebted to a lot of firms, they are all trying to seize one asset or another, so far, the managers have managed the situation well.

” Arik is in receivership and inherited 2,500 staff but now has 1,600 on payroll, 900 of those are at home because of the COVID-19 lockdown fallout.

”Some are being called back as soon as more activities are added, they are paid some allowances while at home,” he said.

Uko noted that the airline had so far proved resilient as well as demystified the myth that no Nigerian airline with 10 aircraft last beyond 10 years.

He said it was hoped that Arik recovers and grows back to be the pride of Nigeria that it used to be.

” Arik is still a global brand from Nigeria, Kudos goes to the Founders of the Airline and the workers who helped build the brand,” he said.

In his response, Capt. Ilegbodu thanked the organisers for the honour and promised that Arik Air would attend the awards in Abuja.

He also commended the organisers for their consistency in promoting travel and tourism in Nigeria. (NAN)

Namibia seeks FRSC’s cooperation to mitigate crashes 

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Humphrey Geiseb, is seeking assistance from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for the two countries to explore cooperation in the area of road safety and crash reduction.
The High Commissioner stated this during his courtesy visit to the national headquarters of the FRSC on Wednesday in Abuja.
In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Bisi Kazeem, Geiseb said that this was neccesary as Namibia is in search of strategic initiatives that could lead to the reduction of crashes and fatalities in south-western part of Africa, particularly Namibia.
He revealed that Namibia found FRSC as a model to be domesticated in his country, noting that his visit was to find out what the FRSC had put in place to mitigate crashes in Nigeria.
“This has also led to massive reduction in deaths and injuries on the road and we are here so as to replicate this success story in Namibia.
“What we will learn from your success stories, I believe, will help reduce road traffic crashes in my country.
“Our supreme interest is not on the crash itself, but on how soon one can get rescued and urgent medical attention from the point of crash.
“I must say that I am honoured to be acquainted with the strategies put in place by your Corps to mitigate crashes in Nigeria,” he said.
Geiseb added that the search for what Namibia should do to end all incidences of crashes in the country, particularly during festive seasons, was the cardinal factor that informed the decision for the visit.
In his response, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, commended the commitment of the Namibian Government to the safety of lives and properties in their country and the existing mutual relationship between the two countries.
He explained how herculean saving lives on Nigeria’s 204,000-km-road network that stretches across a land mass of over 923,000 square metres could be, noting that the Corps was able to achieve great successes.
This, he said, was through a series of comprehensive support received from successive governments in Nigeria, beginning from 1988 when the Corps was established.
He also cited other strategic interventions and supports from international donors, including the World Bank, the European Union, the United nations, the World health Organization, among others.
He urged the High Commissioner to emulate what was obtainable in Nigeria and ensure that the agency saddled with the responsibility in Namibia was properly equipped for optimal performance.
He, however, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support and commitment to the safety of lives and properties of all road users in the country. (NAN).

Amao inspects NAF projects in Kainji, Gombe

By Yahaya Isah
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), AVM Oladayo Amao, has commended the pace of work on ongoing infrastructure projects in Gombe and Niger States.
Amao inspected the 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base Kainji, Niger.
The projects are being emplaced to accommodate the 12 x A-29 Super Tucano aircraft when they arrive Nigeria, according to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, AVM Ibikunle Daramola, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
The statement also quoted the CAS  as equally expressing some degree of satisfaction with the progress of work on ongoing projects at the 109 Combat Reconnaissance Group (109 CRG, formerly known as 203 CRG) NAF, in Gombe.
This,  the statment said, would serve as the base for the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) ordered from China by the Federal Government.
The CAS also inspected work at the arming bays, apron and other projects being executed by U.S assigned contractors.
Amao stated that it was very clear that everything was being done to ensure that virtually all the infrastructure required to accommodate the Super Tucano aircraft would be in place prior to their arrival by the middle of the year.
He  later held an interactive session with the officers, airmen and airwomen, where he urged them to remain disciplined and unwavering in their commitment to duty.
The CAS also advised them to always be security conscious, while contributing their quota to ensuring that NAF ‘enhances and sustains critical airpower capabilities required for joint force deployment, in pursuit of national security imperatives’.
He also entertained questions and received feedback, as well as suggestions from the personnel on how to move the service forward through more effective and efficient service delivery.
In a similar development, on arrival in Gombe, the CAS  was received  by the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Manasseh Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, amongst other government officials.
Amao proceeded to inspect ongoing infrastructure development at 109 CRG, including the Taxiways, Apron, Aircraft Shelters, Bulk Fuel Installation (BFI), Ammunition Dump, Access Roads, as well as Office and residential accommodations.
The CAS  thanked the State Government for allocating the 230 Hectare land to the NAF, in addition to other forms of support toward the speedy establishment of the 109 CRG,.
He  noted that much still needed to be done, to make the base ready to receive the UCAVs, which are due soon in the country.
“Aside the currently completed and other ongoing projects, there is need for NAF and the State Government to jointly work towards connecting the base to the national grid, as  work on the construction of the access road to the base commences”, the CAS said.
In his remarks, Jatau, expressed extreme delight at the speed at which NAF was developing facilities at the Base in Gombe, saying that it was nothing short of extraordinary.
He equally expressed appreciation to NAF for the medical outreach conducted for host communities in the Akko-Gona Emirate area of the state, in October 2020, saying that  the outreach  had  immensely benefitted members of the targeted communities.
This, he said, was barely two months after the establishment and groundbreaking ceremony of the unit.
Amao stressed the need for the state government, to continue to do its best in supporting NAF toward the ultimate goal of improving security in the state and indeed the entire North-East. (NAN)
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