The NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, also said the agency would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.
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Reps committee mulls establishment of Maritime Bank
By Seun Ibiyemi
The House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Service, on Thursday, mulls establishment of a marítime bank for the development of the nation’s shipping sector.
This was disclosed by the chairman of the committee, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, when he paid an oversight visit to the council headquarters in Lagos.
Dasuki, who stated that creating Marítime bank will stop capital flight, however, disclosed that the committee was planning to have a meeting with the Shipowners for effective service delivery in the country.
“The committee is looking at the possibilities of establishing maritime bank so that the marítime sector will have its own bank and the Shipowners will have their bank as this will help stop capital flight,” he stated.
Dasuki, further stated that the bill to give the council backing as port economic regulator has passed second reading in the house of representatives.
According to Dasuki, the bill will be a catalyst for changing the nation’s economy, saying the council will perform exceptionally when the bill is passed into law.
“We have taken note of most of the issues you highlighted, the successes and challenges. The NSC is the port economic regulator which is operating with regulation and by God grace the bill to make the agency a true regulator has passed the second reading and we will soon call for public hearing, that bill will be catalyst for changing the economy. Also, Shippers’ council will do better when the law is passed,” Dasuki stated.
The committee chairman also spoke about the one percent freight stabilisation fund, saying, “We have taken note as well of the current issues that are happening with Federal Ministry of Finance (FMOF), with 50 percent of your revenue and you will get support to get the fund due to your agency. We expect you to deliver more and bring more money to Nigeria. You said NSC will ensure that the GDP of Nigeria go up through your contributions by end of 2024.”
Speaking earlier, the executive secretary of NSC, Pius Ukeyima Akutah, sought the support of the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Service on getting approval for the 1 percent freight stabilisation fee statutorily embedded in the council’s act.
Akutah, said once the Oronsaye report is fully implemented, the council will no more get their statutory 2 percent share from the 7 percent Port Development Levy.
“There is a need for us to implement our statutory funding, which is the 1 percent Freight Stabilisation Fee. I think this is very pivotal at this time that the Oronsaye Report is being implemented. Once the Oronsaye report is implemented, the 7 percent Port Development Levy which the Shippers Council gets 2 percent from, may no longer be available. So, I think we need to work very hard to ensure that the Nigerian Shippers Council funding position is secured.”
Akutah also disclosed that since the council’s mandate has been expanded to be the port economic regulator, there is need for a law that will back up its new mandate.
According to him, the council has been at the fire front of facilitating trade and also ensuring efficiency of the port for business to thrive and for government to make more money.
”Today is a very important day, first of its kind especially since I resumed here. The mandate of the council has been expanded and we are to do more as Port economic regulator. We have a lot to do to regulate the sector and President Bola Tinubu, has created ministry of Marine and Blue Economy with the mindset to focus on blue Economy and to diversify nations economy from crude. Our mandate is to facilitate trade and ensure efficiency of the port for business to thrive and for the nation to make more money,create opportunities for youth empowerment, job creation and others.
“And now that we have a committee for shipping service and with their collaboration, we will see rapid development in the sector. We are grateful to receive you today and we know that the impact of the visit will live with us for a long time. We need to contribute to the GDP and the nation’s economy and to acheive this, we need your protection.”
We have some bills before the national assembly such as repealing the council act to be Port economic regulator and you have tried to see to the passage, the bill is operational to carry out our mandate because without it it will be difficult for us to acheive our mandate,” he stated.
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Invoke executive order for state, LG police, Afenifere tells Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday, urged President Bola Tinubu to invoke an Executive Order for the establishment of state and local government Police.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi,in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also called for the erection of close-circuit television sets and deployment of modern technology for security purposes in strategic locations to end insecurity.
Ajayi said, “There are indications that Tinubu is desirous of putting an end to this deleterious menace. Towards the end of January this year, he approved the procurement of digital tracking tools to enhance the apprehension of bandits, terrorists and armed robbers.
“On Monday, April 22, this year, he used the occasion of addressing participants at the African Counter-Terrorism Summit which opened on that day in Abuja to assure everyone of his government’s readiness to ensure greater security. Unfortunately, recent happenings have not shown that the President’s desire in this respect is being worked upon.
“President Tinubu should get state and local government police off the ground immediately through the invocation of an Executive Order while the process of amending the Constitution continues.
“Close circuit television sets, deployment of modern technology for security purposes including drones must be effected immediately.”
He explained that the statement was motivated by the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara and Niger States, respectively which made a research organization declare Nigeria as one of the top nations where kidnap ranks highest globally.
Ajayi noted that Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes kept occurring in Osun, Ondo and Oyo State; Otu, Igbeti and Alaga in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were the latest victims.
The Afenifere spokesperson also said, “In order to end insecurity, enhance people’s welfare and ensure the sustenance of Nigeria as one of the top investment destinations in Africa as desired by the government, there is the urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.”
He lamented that banditry, including armed robbery, kidnapping was still occurring on South-West roads such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Akure-Ilesa-Ibadan; Ore-Ijebu Ode-Lagos, Ikirun-Osogbo-Ilesa; Lokoja-Abuja, Owo-Benin and Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki.
“Latest reports have it that on Monday, May 13 instant, eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped at the same time.
“A sum of N31 million was reportedly paid to ransom three people who were kidnapped at Longe village on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road last week Sunday. On Thursday, May 16, one Seliat Adeniji (nee Raji) was kidnapped in her Ebedi home in Iseyin, Oyo State. Her guard was killed in the process.
“Hon Bello Hassan representing Zurmi/Shinkafi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives last Tuesday claimed that terrorists have sacked about 50 communities and abducted over 500 people in his area of Zamfara State as bandits overran Zurmi, the second most populous town in the state killing palace officers as well as policemen.”
To put a serious check on all these, the Afenifere spokesman said that there was an urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.
News
NAFDAC shuts cosmetic shops in Lagos, seizes counterfeit products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut three shops and raided others during a clampdown on the sale of unregistered “Dr. Teal’s” brand of cosmetics in Lagos State.
The agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Saturday, stating that the action came after a complaint from the trademark holder.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down three cosmetics shops and raided others, targeting the sale of unregistered ‘Dr. Teal’s’ brand cosmetics. This action follows a complaint from the trademark holder regarding potential counterfeit products.
“Two suspected shops along Excellent Line at the Trade Fair Complex were targeted, resulting in sealed shops and invitation letters issued to attendants.”
It added that another development unfolded at Okas Global Link Limited where NAFDAC confiscated over 200 cartons of various Dr. Teal’s products and other unregistered cosmetics, suspecting them to be the source of distribution.
A shop identified as Cubana Stores at Phil Hallmark Plaza was also reported to have been sealed for stocking and selling the moisturising body and bath products of the alleged unregistered Dr. Teal’s brand.
NAFDAC added that according to its regulations, shop owners found guilty of selling unregistered products face penalties of up to ₦5m fine.
It said shop owners were also being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.
In the statement, the agency emphasised the health risks associated with fake cosmetics, stating the potential dangers of using products containing harmful substances.
News
Traders, soldiers clash at Banex Plaza in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.
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