To make electricity metres affordable for Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a one-year deferment of the 35 percent import adjustment tax imposed on Fully Built Unit (FBU) electricity meters HS Code 9028.30.00.00.

Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed requested approval to support the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in rolling three million electricity meters, which is under the meter asset provider (MAP) framework.

Earlier, the 35 percent import adjustment tax, which was approved in 2015 on the importation of FBU electricity meters, attracted a 10 percent import duty rate under the ECOWAS CET.

According to Ahmed: “The 35 percent levy was imposed on the recommendation of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to encourage local production, as well as protect investments in the local assembly of electricity meters.”

She noted, “an important feature of the MAP regulation is a gradual upscaling of the patronage of local manufacturers of electricity meters with an initial minimum local content of 30 percent with the potential of significant job creation in the area of meter assembly, installation and maintenance.”

In applying to the President to defer the 35 percent levy, Ahmed stated “the application of the 35 percent levy on electricity meters – HS Code 9028.30.00.00 has created a significant challenge to the smooth implementation of MAP scheme of NERC”.

Though the 35 percent levy has been in existence since 2015, the MAP regulations by NERC in 2018 to bridge the current electricity metering gap, did not factor the 35 percent levy in arriving at the regulated cost of electricity meters to end-users (consumers).

It was also noted that electricity consumers have embraced the opportunities presented by the MAP regulations and signed off to pay for electricity meters at the regulated prices approved by NERC.

A total of six million consumers have so far indicated an interest in electricity meters.

According to the Finance Minister, “some of the approved investors under the scheme have also, prior to the implementation of the appropriate HS Code 9028.30.00.00 for the importation of electricity meters, proceeded to import a significant stock of meters for rollout. This is in line with the timelines issued by NERC and the service level agreement agreed with the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs)”.

In view of the local content for sourcing of electricity meters, the Minister stated: “It is approved that 50 percent of the current demand for electricity meters be considered for importation at the ECOWAS CET import duty rate of 10 percent zero levies”.

This, she said, “is to immediately bridge the gap between the demand for electricity meters and local supply”.

It is also envisaged that this will provide protection for local electricity meter manufacturers and the opportunity to ramp local capacity in the production of meters.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye has revealed that to destroy a container load of Tramadol cost the agency between N1m and N2m.

This is even as she revealed that NAFDAC has taken the fight against the importation of substandard and fake products to India and China, where two Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents were removed because they indulged in facilitating illicit drugs to Nigeria.

Disclosing this on Tuesday when she hosted a virtual media parley with the print media, the NAFDAC DG explained that for seven years when the agency was not at the ports, importers of fake and substandard drugs were having a field day bringing in dangerous products into the country.

According to Mrs Adeyeye, “Don’t forget that for seven years, we were not at the port and importers of dangerous drugs were having a field day. Our children were going wacko due to drug abuse that was almost becoming a normal thing in this country.

“In May of 2018, our officials returned to the ports and gave importers of these illicit drugs a run for their money. Many containers of Tramadol were impounded by NAFDAC and destroyed. To destroy a container of Tramadol, it costs around N1m to N2m.

“Importers of these illicit drugs, when it dawned on them that we are back at the ports, started diverting some of these shipments to neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region. We went after them in these countries and still seized their shipments.

As I speak, five containers of Tramadol meant for the Nigerian market are in the Benin Republic. The Nigerian Ambassador over there is currently making efforts to bring those consignments here for destruction. The NAFDAC Directorate at the port is up and running.

“There was a time I was in the United Kingdom (UK) for a family function and got alerted that 14 container shipment of Tramadol was on its way to Lagos. I quickly called our Port Directorate and alerted them to ensure those shipments do not enter the country.”

On what she met on ground when she resumed as NAFDAC DG, Adeyeye explained that ‘On resumption as NAFDAC DG, I was shocked at the state of decay in our laboratories all over the country.

We have seven laboratories nationwide, and many were in a state of rot. How can we certify drugs and foods when our labs are not properly equipped?

“As we speak, our laboratories have been given a facelift. Now we have some money to buy some detection devices, and this will reduce the numbers of goods that we need to take to the laboratory for examination.

“Last year, I was in India and China to examine some of their laboratories where goods meant for importation to Nigeria are tested.

In these countries, they have Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents who certify these products before they are shipped to Nigeria. We had to remove two of the CRI Agents because we found them culpable in allowing substandard drugs to come to Nigeria. We told them in China and India that we don’t want substandard goods in Nigeria anymore.”

enate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has canvassed for the setting up of a judicial panel of inquiry by the Enugu state government to look into the reported killing of some youth in Emene, Enugu state last weekend by security operatives.

In a release issued in Abuja on Tuesday by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, the Senate Minority Leader joined other groups to demand for the urgent setting up of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry by the Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The judicial panel, Abaribe said, will help to unravel the truth in the assertions of both the security and other groups on what really happened.

He condemned in very strong terms the killings last Sunday of Igbo youths in Emene, Enugu State by the security operatives saying the constancy of the killings has given room to wide suspicion of a sinister motive.

The ranking Senator also warned that the labelling of every Igbo group as terrorists and the incessant killings of her youths by the security operatives has become one too many and is no longer acceptable to his people.

He said it is disheartening that security operatives seem to derive pleasure at any slight whim to unleash mayhem using the most lethal weapons against unarmed Igbo youths at every turn.

Abaribe further stated that such unsavory, brutal and hateful resort to extreme repression demean Nigeria’s democratic ethos and even questions her unity.

He said: “We are in a democracy where every agency of government, particularly the security apparatchik must adhere strictly to rules of engagement with regards to dealings with the civil populace in such a manner that will be in conformity with international best practices.

“The last time I checked, Nigerians still enjoy freedom to associate freely. Nobody has told us that the Igbo youths meeting last Sunday was a gathering meant to launch attack on anybody. Who will they attack and for what? What Intel informed the police and DSS deployment to the venue of the meeting?

“Incontrovertible reports suggests very strongly that the killings were ignited when the security operatives stormed the venue of that peaceful meeting, not that the youths marched to anywhere to attack anybody. These are the issues that should be addressed at the panel”.

The Minority Leader further said it is even most worrisome that the people will no longer gather peacefully in their own country without being dispersed forcefully or be branded terrorists for no just cause.

The lawmaker stressed that he would not want to believe that the wide card labeling of every Igbo youth group as terrorists is a cover to achieve a predetermined plot.

“Let it not be that we now have an army of occupation in Southeast, working clandestinely to create fears and state of anomie in a region that has remained perhaps the most peaceful in the country,” he said.

He, however, advised the youth to remain calm and not to resort to any form of reprisals, or succumb to provocations that could tempt them to take laws into their own hands, while “we await the official reaction of the Enugu State governor on the matter”.

Less than 24 hours after she was elected by the Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Governing Council of the institution has approved the appointment of Prof Folasade Ogunsola, as acting Vice-Chancellor.

Prof Ogunsola, formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), was on Monday elected acting VC by 135 votes out of 167 Senate members that participated in the election. She defeated Prof Ben Oghojafor, Deputy VC (Development Services), who scored 31 votes while one vote was void.

The newly elected acting VC is a professor of Medical Microbiology and first child of Nigeria’s first professor of Geography, Prof Akin Mabogunje, and was also the first female provost of College of Medicine, Idi-Araba.

Ogunsola, the first female acting VC of the 58-year-old institution is from the College of Medicine, Idi Araba, appointed was approved at an emergency council meeting presided by the Interim Chairman, Dr John Momoh.

Dr Momoh is the current President of University of Lagos Alumni Association Worldwide and he was appointed interim chairman of UNILAG Governing Council last night. His first task is the ratification of the election of a new acting VC, Prof Ogunsola.

Our correspondent learnt the governing council meeting was virtual and the only item on agenda is the ratification of Prof Ogunsola as the acting Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG.

The Federal Government mandated the Senate of the university to meet and elect a new acting VC and also directed the governing council to convey a meeting to approve the appointment. The Special Visitation Panel will be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu tomorrow and the members will arrive UNILAG on Wednesday or Thursday to start the assignment which for two weeks.

The top management staff of UNILAG told our correspondent that the governing council virtual meeting started at 11:00 am and approved the nomination of Senate acting VC, adding that ‘the meeting was chaired by Dr John Momoh and with the approval, Madam has started work and her major one task will be when the Special Visitation Panel visits the university tomorrow or next.’

He further added: ‘Since yesterday when the news broke of her election as acting VC by UNILAG Senate, she has received many congratulatory messages from colleagues, non-academic staff, family members and even her former and current students.’

Thenigerialawyer

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday said the statutory entry requirements into the Nigeria Police Force remain sacrosanct and would be thoroughly followed in the ongoing Police recruitment screening exercise.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, in Abuja said IGP’s reassurance became necessary following news report making the rounds in some sections of the media that the IGP has suspended the entry requirement for candidates who applied to join the Nigeria Police Force as Police constables in the ongoing recruitment screening exercise.

“The IGP, while noting that no one has the powers to alter the conditions for recruitment into the Force – these, having been clearly provided for in Sections 71 – 75 and other relevant sections of the Police Act and Regulations – stated that all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration exercise were invited for physical and credential screening from 24th August 2020 to 6th September 2020 at various venues in States across the Federation and the FCT. The screening officers have been directed to allow all the applicants to participate in the exercise and to recommend their suitability or otherwise in the spirit of transparency, accountability, and fair hearing using the already established benchmarks as contained in the Act.

“The IGP has commended the Screening Officers for the hitch-free take-off of the screening exercise at various locations nationwide. He calls on them to uphold a high level of professionalism and observe necessary caution in line with the COVID-19 prevention regulations throughout the period of the exercise.

“Meanwhile, as part of conscious efforts to deepen the integrity of the recruitment process, observers and monitors from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission, and the Federal Character Commission have been invited to provide oversights toward ensuring a credible exercise,” the statement read.

A police wireless message sighted on Monday had directed no applicant should be disqualified on grounds of age, physical appearance, or qualification.

It had read in part, “X INGENPOL DIRECTS YOU TO ATTEND TO ALL APPLICANTS X WHO SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED THEIR ONLINE APPLICATIONS X TO POLICE RECRUITMENT PORTAL X IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE X AGE X QUALIFICATION X YOU ARE NOT DISQUALIFY ANY APPLICANT FOR ANY REASON, WHATSOEVER X”

A top source in the police said that the directive was to ensure that nobody who turned up to the screening venues, after submitting their online applications successfully, be discriminated against.

“It does not mean the standards have been lowered or removed. It was just to ensure that everyone who turned up was attended to. Statutory requirements are strictly adhered to, so as to get the best for the Force and improve internal security in the country,” the source said.

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A clergyman, Adebayo Bamidele, prayed a Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan to dissolve his 17-year-old marriage to his wife, Felicia on the grounds that she was ruining his calling.

Bamidele told the court on Tuesday that his estranged wife indulged in acts that were ruining his spiritual calling.

“She makes damaging allegations against me before members of the congregation.

“She has rendered me jobless. My members have all left my church,” he said.

The pastor further told the court that he was beaten up by some members of the church following Felicia’s allegations against him.

“Felicia told them that I was using black magic and charms to take away their glory. They beat me mercilessly, tore my clothes, I almost died.

“She now claims to own the church. The truth is that we contributed resources to build the church, I have lost my means of sustenance to her evil antics against me,” he said.

Consenting to the suit, Felicia said that she provided N340,000 for the church to take off.

She accused Bamidele of having an affair with the widow, saying, “ They already live together, he must return my part of the investment”

“We have members from different places. I later noticed that he was manipulating me spiritually and physically.

“Sometimes, he gives me charms to put under my pillow at night, I saw that my life was no longer the same,” she said.

The President of the court, Ademola Odunade, dissolved the union since both parties were not ready to give peace a chance.

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A Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered a 20-year-old woman, Mary Idris, and her boyfriend, Olawusi Victor, 18, for faking her kidnap, to undergo two weeks counseling, to be supervised by the Registrar.

Delivering her ruling, Chief Magistrate Adefumike Anoma, also ordered Idris and Victor to engage in two weeks community service to be supervised by the Ekiti State Judicial Chief Security Officer.

Anoma frowned at Idris’ actions and warned her to stay in school.

The police charged Idris and Victor, whose addresses were not given with conspiracy and self-kidnap.

Earlier, the Prosecution or Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Aug. 9 at about 4 p.m in Ado-Ekiti.

She alleged that Idris, caused breach of peace by concealing her whereabouts and demanded ransom from her parents, saying she was kidnapped.

“Idris and her boyfriend, stayed in a stayed in a guest house in Akure for four days to have fun.

“Due to lack of transportation fare ack to Ado-Ekiti by Idris, she sent an alarming message, seeking ransom from her parents,’’ she said.

The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of Section 249 (a) (ii) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Thenigerialawyer