Freight Cost To Soar As Vessels Attack Rises At Ports

Freight Cost To Soar As Vessels Attack Rises At Ports

Incessant attacks on vessels discharging while berthing at Nigerian terminals will attract additional $200,000 in freight cost at the nation’s seaport, LEADERSHIP investigation has shown.

Freight cost is the cost incurred in moving goods. It includes packing, palletizing, documentation and loading unloading charges, carriage costs, and marine insurance costs.

Recently, terminal operators operating at the Apapa Port Complex raised the alarm of incessant attacks on vessels at berth by miscreants and hoodlums.

Shipping experts have argued that a minimum of $200,000 (N72million at a prevailing rate of N360 to a dollar ) would be introduced as insurance premiums by foreign shipping companies before they could call that the nation’s seaports.

For instance, MV Pamyat; MV Asia Ruby, MV Aquata, MT Sichem New York, MV Kiana and MV Dino were all attacked at different time in the last four months at the Lagos and Tin-Can ports.

MV Pamyat, with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 8701040 was attacked at berth 14, operated by ENL Consortium of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa onn March 2, 2018 when some bandits gained access into the ship with ease.

MV Asia Ruby was attacked at 0415hours on April 24, 2018 at ENL, consortium on berth 8 of Lagos Port Complex (LPC) while discharging her cargo. The robbers carried out their nefarious act on the ship without resistance from anyone.

The Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) also in Lagos is not spared the robbery attacks.

A report from the Port Security Officer (PSO) of TCIPC, indicated that at about 0320hours on Friday March 3, 2018, eight persons suspected to be armed sea robbers launched attacks onboard MV Aquata and MT Sichem New York, which were discharging cargoes at berths 2 and 1 operated by Josepdam of the port respectively.

Preliminary findings revealed that a gang of sea robbers came through the waterfront in an outboard engine boat and launched attacks onboard MV Aquata where three of the robbers succeeded in climbing into the vessel while the remaining five were on standby inside their boat by the portside of the vessel. The crew watchmen onboard sighted one of the robbers at the paint stores and raised alarm immediately.

However, when the terminal security and armed policemen on duty rushed onboard but discovered that a watchman onboard was injured by one of the robbers before they jumped into the water and escaped. There was blood stain on the main deck of the vessel,” the PSO stated in the report.

Further findings revealed that in the wee hours of March 18, a group of sea robbers numbering about 20 gained access into Josepdam terminal through the waterfront and headed to the terminal’s fuel dump.

The robbers beat up and tied the security guards at the fuel dump before they connected a hose from their standby boat to evacuate fuel from the terminal’s fuel tank.

The robbers, who reportedly operated unchallenged for more than an hour, succeeded in carting away about eight drums of diesel from the terminals.

Four days later and precisely on March 22, 2018, the robbers called at Josepdam again. This time, they launched an attack on a ship named MV Kiana. The ship, which was discharging its cargo of bulk sugar belonging to BUA Sugar Refinery, has Nura Shipping Limited as its agent in Nigeria.

The robbers, as usual, stormed the ship using canoe, which they brought alongside the ship and gained access onboard with the aid of a rope tied to a hook.

At the Rivers Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the sea robbers are also having a field day. It was revealed that a ship, MV Dino, laden with 20,721MT of bulk wheat was attacked about 80 nautical miles to the Fairway Buoy on her way to PTOL terminal at about 5am on Saturday 7th April 2018.

These unabated attacks are however confirmed by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the Quarterly Stakeholders Meeting of the agency in Lagos last week.

The Managing Director of the authority, Hadiza Bala Usman who was represented at the meeting by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sekonte Davies also noted that some of the attacks on vessels discharging at the port came from miscreants occupying shanties and illegal structures around the ports.

She said, “Of great concern to us recently is the attack on vessels, especially at the ENL terminals, the attacks have increased and we are very worried, we have also established that it happens especially when they are offloading.

The NPA MD also disclosed that part of the measures to forestall the attack is the the demolition that the agency is carrying out in collaboration with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) Nigerian Navy, and the Police.

“It is an ongoing action carried out to ensure that we have a safer environment to do business, devoid of attacks.

“We have started pulling down all illegal structures and shanties hindering free movement to the port”
But, the General Manager of ENL Consortium, Mark Walsh one of the terminal under attack also complained of high rate of unchecked attacks on vessels at the Apapa Port in the last four months.

The attacks according to the manager are done around the Apapa axis and the attacks have informed shipping agents mulling hiring armed police officers before cargo discharge at the seaport.

The armed police officers are to wade off miscreants attacking vessels at berth.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a maritime consultant and policy Analyst, Galtima Liman agreed that the spike in attacks on vessels at berth would increase the premium and insurance on vessels to the nation’s ports.

He also wondered why shanties would e allowed close to the Lagos Port saying that would also fuel attack on vessels.

“There is going to be increase in insurance and premium for shipping companies that are coming to berth in the port,” he told LEADERSHIP correspondent. He continued, “and despite improvement in making Nigeria food dependent, we still substantially rely on import and most of the vessels that ferry these imports are foreign vessels and in the event that we are not fully compliant with the ISPS codes that brought lot of improvement in the security of the ports after the 9/11 attack in the United States.

Speaking on shanties around the Lagos ports, he said, “having shanties around some ports is an eyesore and I think these is a clarion call on administration of NPA and NIMASA to ensure that our ports are rid of these adjoining shanties,” he told LEADERSHIP Yesterday.

Also speaking, the President, Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Alhaji Aminu Umar said attacks on vessels at Nigerian ports and jetties have been on the rise in recent time with little or no action from requisite agencies.

The NISA President said the implication of the attacks on ships at the ports are grave and “it puts our name in the international maritime wall and that it is dangerous and high risk area to do business particularly for ships to call”.

According to him, “If the ports in Nigeria are considered as high risk area, what it means is that any ship owner coming here pays an additional insurance premium for coming into a zone that is called war risk zone.

Some pay as high as $100, 000 to $200, 000 dollars for every seven days they are to stay on Nigeria waters.”

By YUSUF BABALOLA, LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER.

FG Promises Early Completion Of N22.3b Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway

FG Promises Early Completion Of N22.3b Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway

The Federal Government has pledged early completion of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway to fasten socio-economic growth and international trade within Ogun and Lagos corridors.

The rehabilitation and reconstruction of the about 80 kilometres road was last week awarded by the Federal Government to Julius Berger Plc at the cost of N22.38 billion.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who spoke at the flag-off of the road reconstruction at kilometre zero, Ile-Zik, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, regretted that the road had suffered several abandonments and contract variations owing to paucity of fund.

He, however, stressed the readiness of the present government to prioritise key infrastructure to drive the economy and address the security challenges by ensuring that critical roads like the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road is completed in record time.

The minister said the government was considering alternative funding source apart from the regular budgetary allocations from Sukuk bond.

Fashola, represented by Director of Highway Construction and Reconstruction, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Olalekan Busari, said the Federal Government was committed to completion of the road because of its socio-economic importance, and as an alternative to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ilorin-Ile-Ife, as well as an international link to Benin Republic.

Fashola emphasised that the re-award of the road signified a new vista as the contractors have been mandated to recover the failed portions alongside the main work for ease of traffic and to boost economic activities and security.

Construction works on the road, he said, would also generate both direct and indirect employment during the construction expected to last for one and half years.

“Already, the contractors have commenced palliative work on mostly damages portions.

“The contractors have been asked to immediately address critical sites that have entirely failed,” he said.

He reiterated that the contractors have been mobilised to site with 15 per cent down-payment, representing about N3.8 billion, while there will be need for complete review of the drainage system occasioned by new development on the corridor, including the BRT road being constructed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Head of Julius Berger, West Division, Mr. Wolfgang Loesser, who spoke on behalf of the contractor, expressed readiness to complete the project within schedule.

He said the company had mobilised workers to site to carry out palliatives as directed by the government to address critical failed portions to ease traffic and lessen the travel time on the road.

$322m Abacha Loot To Be Spent On The Poor – FG

$322m Abacha Loot To Be Spent On The Poor – FG

The federal government said yesterday that it will spend the $322.51 million Abacha loot on empowering indigent Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists in Washington DC yesterday, The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, confirmed the recovery of the sum of US$322,515,931.83 Abacha funds from the Swiss Government into a special account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The funds, according to her, have been earmarked for the National Social Safety Nets programme of the federal government.

“The objective of the National Social Safety Nets Project for Nigeria is to provide access to targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households under an expanded national social safety nets system,” Adeosun stated.

She also hinted that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) has raised the tax payers’ base from 13 million in 2015 to 17 million as at 2018, with more high net worth individuals being captured.

According to her, some states have recorded a surge in assets declaration by high net worth individuals, citing Lagos and Ogun States as examples.

She said, “The level of compliance has been considerable especially personal income taxes, and the state is excited about the number of people who have adjusted their level of compliance.

“Let me give example with Ogun State. I was speaking with the Chairman there, and he said the number of people paying N10 million and above in Ogun State has risen to 200. We asked for that statistics before; I do not think that Ogun had more than 20. So, VAIDS has succeeded in getting a High Networth Individuals (HNIs) really stand up to pay their fair share for national development.”

Adeosun mentioned that the rate of compliance as well as requests from professional bodies led to the extension of the deadline from March 30, 2018 to June 30, 2018.

FG To Sustain Economic Growth Outlook- Emefiele

Meanwhile, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele assured yesterday that the apex bank will do everything possible to ensure that the country’s positive growth outlook is sustained.

The CBN governor spoke during a joint press briefing with the Minister of Finance, Adeosun, at the end of the 2018 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meeting in Washington DC, United States.

On the monetary front, Emefiele disclosed that the country’s foreign reserves had risen to US$47.93 billion.
He reiterated Nigeria’s positive growth outlook, noting that the IMF and World Bank had projected a growth of 2.5 per cent for Nigeria.

“There is need to save for the raining day and also continue to grow the foreign reserves. If we had enough reserves, we wouldn’t have suffered the recession shocks,” he explained.

The CBN governor assured that concerted efforts were ongoing to realise the 80 per cent target for financial inclusion by 2020.

On her part, Adeosun, who noted that the present growth outlook contrasted with the outlook in 2015, stated that inflation rate was slowing down while the foreign reserves were rising.

Expressing optimism on federal government’s sustenance of the growth trajectory, the minister however called for vigilance and focus for the country not to fall back into recession.

She said, “We are confident that if we diligently implement our economic plan, we will grow the economy. We have room to grow but other countries do not have rooms to grow.

“By 2019, the growth will be far more robust than the present level in 2018.

We are therefore very optimistic in sustaining Nigeria’s economic growth.

We are going to use this opportunity to grow our fiscal buffers, particularly aggressively growing our revenue base.

“The Administration has succeeded in building macroeconomic resilience for Nigeria, particularly revising the funding mix, rebuilding fiscal buffers, enhancing foreign exchange reserves and focusing on import substitution strategies.”

On the State-Owned-Enterprises such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, she disclosed that the government would continue to efficiently and effectively manage their costs and plug leakages.

“We must make sure that every money that is earned comes in. We will drive the process of improving governance,” she added.

On the nation’s domestic debt, the Minister stated that the Government would not aggressively grow the debt.

She disclosed that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) deadline was extended by three months till June 30, 2018 due to the appeals from taxpayers for more time to regularise their tax status.

She revealed that the present Administration has raised the taxpayers’ base from 13 million in 2015 to 17 million as at 2018.

‘We Weren’t Consulted For The US-Nigeria Investment Summit’

Meanwhile, faulting the comment made by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, berating government officials for not attending a US-Nigeria Investment Summit at the Nigerian embassy on Saturday as part of the World Bank-IMF Springs Meeting going on Washington DC, USA, the Minister of Finance and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Adeosun and Emefiele, have said they were not scheduled to attend the summit.

Speaking at the joint press conference in Washington DC yesterday, Emefiele and Adeosun said it was unfair for the public to flay them over an event they were not aware of beforehand.

The CBN governor who apologised to investors who attended the summit explained that he was not aware of the summit before he arrived for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings.

He said, “I think, it is important for me to say this. When I arrived in Washington, the officials of the Embassy spoke with me that there was going to be a US-Nigeria Summit and I said I will check my schedule because I wasn’t consulted when this summit was being organised.

“What one would have expected is that they would have checked my schedule and that of the Finance minister if they thought that our presence at the summit was very necessary. They could have checked our schedule to see that there was no conflict.

“I sit here to say the US Nigeria Summit was meant to hold between 2pm and 3pm, whereas the World Bank Development Committee plenary session which is an assembly of ministers and governors of central banks was to hold between 2.15 and 5pm. There was no way the minister of finance and myself could have been at those meetings”.

The CBN Governor further explained that the minister of Finance and himself were in Washington DC to attend the statutory meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

“The minister of Finance and for me being the governor of the CBN, what takes preeminence is the meetings in the IMF as well as the meeting at the World Bank”, he added.

On her part, Adeosun said while she got to know of the event late, there was no way she could attend, as she had to represent not only Nigeria but 22 other countries in Africa.

She noted: “I attended the IMFC which is the highest decision making body of the IMF and I represent 23 African countries in that role. So, one of the things I have to do is to issue a statement on behalf of those 23 countries, which includes most of the Anglophone countries like South Africa, Mozambique and others.

“So, my primary role here as well as having the Nigerian hat on is to represent the 23 African countries. There has been some controversy over the scheduling. I wasn’t due at any event. I was here as a governor of the IMF and member of IMFC to represent the 23 African countries and that schedule is what I must adhere to. I think maybe there was some scheduling challenges there”.

Naira Slides Down Further At Investors’ Window

Naira Slides Down Further At Investors’ Window

The Naira on Thursday, depreciated further at the investors’ window, exchanging at N360.31 to the dollar.
The Nigerian currency lost 15 kobo from N360.16 traded on Wednesday.

The naira also dipped at the parallel market, selling at N363 to the dollar while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N515 and N445.

Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment saw the Naira closed at N362 to the dollar while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N515 and N445.

The Naira traded at N305.6 to the dollar at the CBN window.

Meanwhile, traders at the BDC segment said they had been experiencing liquidity squeeze, adding that some BDCs had been technically edged out of the CBN window due to operational loses.

Some employees of BDCs have been laid-off as a consequence of the liquidity squeeze, thereby increasing the number of the unemployed at the labour market.

However, CBN had continued to inject foreign exchange into the market to defend the Naira from the antics of currency speculators.

In 2017 alone, CBN injected about 16 billion dollars to the FOREX market.

EFCC Recovers N2.273b Assets From Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore

EFCC Recovers N2.273b Assets From Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore 

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered property and cash worth N2.273 billion from Governor Ayodele Fayose, ex-Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore and a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, out of the N4.685 billion allocated to them by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The said cash, which was sourced from the $2.1 billion voted for arms procurement, was meant for the 2014 governorship campaign by Fayose and Omisore on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The trial of Omisore by EFCC is expected to begin any moment from now because charges have been preferred and filed against him.

The EFCC is awaiting a date from the court for the arraignment of Omisore, who might be re-arrested.

But the prosecution of Fayose is withheld till after the completion of his tenure and immediately he hands over to the next governor of the state.

But Obanikoro, who was allegedly the courier of the fund to Fayose and Omisore, was still being investigated by detectives following more cases he was allegedly linked with.

A fact-sheet obtained from the EFCC revealed that out of the N4.685 billion, detectives traced N2.0030 billion to Omisore; N685 million to Obanikoro and N1.3 billion and $5.377 million (at the exchange rate of N168 to $1) to Fayose.

The document said: “The N4.685 billion was disbursed by ONSA through a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, which was submitted by Obanikoro for onward transfer to Fayose and Omisore for their gubernatorial election in 2014 on the platform of the PDP.

“Out of the sum, Omisore got N1.7 billion and additional N330 million was given to him through his company, Fimex Guilt Limited, bringing his campaign slush cash to N2.0030 billion.

“From his share, Omisore has paid back N350 million. Although he pleaded for more time, EFCC is expecting the balance from him.”

The fact-sheet stated that charges have been preferred against Omisore.
The document gave the details of how arms cash was allocated to Fayose and the retention of N685 million by Obanikoro.

It said: On his part, Fayose was allocated N1.3 billion and $5.377 million (at the exchange rate of N168.

The $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by Obanikoro to Fayose while the N1.3 billion was received by Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, in the presence of the ex-Minister’s Aide-de-Camp, who also accompanied them to the bank along with bank officials.

“From the $5 million, Fayose gave his Personal Assistant, Agbele about $1million, which he exchanged to Naira and paid for properties on behalf of the governor. Detectives suspected that Fayose added more of the N1.3 billion cash to what he gave Agbele to buy the affected assets.

“The properties worth N1.8 billion purchased with the said proceeds of crime have been recovered from Fayose and his sister, Moji Ladeji.

“These assets include four in Lagos (N1.1 billion) and two in Abuja worth about N500 million to N700 million.

“But Fayose has been claiming that he used his company, Spotless to obtain a loan of N120 million from Zenith Bank as part of what he used to buy one of the properties in Abuja. We are already tracking how he disbursed the N1.3 billion.

“A prima facie case has been established against Fayose but he is enjoying immunity from prosecution as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He will, however, face trial as soon as he hands over power to his successor.

“But the associate of the governor, Abiodun Agbele, has been charged to court accordingly.”

Regarding the investigation of Obanikoro, the fact-sheet indicated that “the ex-minister retained N685 million out of the N4.685 billion given to him by ONSA.

“A sum of N123 million has been recovered from Obanikoro, who claimed he was only asked to deliver the cash to both Fayose and Omisore for their gubernatorial campaign.

“The ex-minister is still under investigation following some cases allegedly still linked with him.”

•Judges nullify victory at high court
THE Court of Appeal yesterday ordered two accounts of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose domiciled with the Zenith Bank to be frozen.

The court gave the order having been convinced by the argument of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that they were used to keep proceeds of crime.

The three-man panel, led Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, allowed the EFCC appeal and upturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, which was delivered about one year and four months ago.

Other members of the panel are Justice Boloukurumo Moses Ugo and Justice Mohammed Mustapha.

The judgment of the lower court, which unblocked the governor’s two accounts, was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on December 13, 2016.

Fayose withdrew N5 million from one of the accounts immediately and transferred the sum of N75 to his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

Dissatisfied with the Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court’s verdict, the EFCC filed an appeal at the appellate court on three grounds.

The anti-graft agency contended that the immunity enjoyed by the governor did not preclude his account from being frozen.

The Appeal Court allowed the appeal and held that Fayose’s accounts, which were unblocked by the Federal High Court, be frozen.

The court delivered the judgment upon reading the record of the appeal and after hearing EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Fayose’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome and Zenith Bank’s counsel, Mr. Oluwasegun Ayinde.

Justice Ikyegh ordered “that the appeal is meritorious and, having resolved all three issues agitated in the appeal in appellant’s (EFCC’s) favour.

“That the appeal is hereby allowed; that the judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ekiti Judicial Division, on the 13th day of December, 2016, granting the claims of the 1st respondent in Suit No: FHC/AD/CS/27/2016 is hereby set aside.”

The two accounts had earlier been frozen by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of Federal High Court, Lagos in an ex-parte motion brought by the EFCC.

Sultan Gives Miyetti Allah 2 Months To Fish Out Killer Herdsmen

Sultan Gives Miyetti Allah 2 Months To Fish Out Killer Herdsmen

The Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday gave the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) two months to identify and apprehend herdsmen behind the killings in the country.

Specifically, he charged the association to find out whether Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the killings or some bandits are disguising as herdsmen to perpetrate the act.

Speaking in his palace during the formal swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected executives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the Sultan decried the unwarranted labelling of Fulanis as the killer herdsmen behind massacre in Nigeria.

He insisted that Fulanis are not purveyors of trouble but apostles of peaceful coexistence, just as he warned that generalising a whole race to be bad is a grievous injustice on the people.

He said, “To you the newly elected leadership of MACBAN, I want to remind you that your task is a very challenging one. Don’t forget that Fulanis are also being killed in Nigeria and no media attention is given to it.

“However, we are giving you two months to go round the entire country and find out why Fulanis are accused of being behind the killings. Go and find out who are those Fulanis doing the killings. Also find out if it is other people that are doing the killings and are accusing the Fulanis. Please, we want to get the truth from you within two months”.

The Sultan urged the Miyetti Allah leadership never to be ashamed of being called Fulanis because they are simply herders and not troublemakers.

He said, “We are not ashamed to be called Fulanis because Fulanis are not trouble makers. Despite the fact that any wrong doing in Nigeria now is erroneously said to be caused by Fulanis.

“We however want people to know that though there might be bad ones amongst the Fulanis, just like there are in every race, that is not enough justification to generalise that all Fulanis are bad”.

Insisting that there are herders who are not Fulanis, the Sultan said a typical Fulani man caters for his cattle and will never have time to go for trouble.

Urging the Fulanis to fear God in all their dealings, the religious and traditional leader equally charged Nigerian security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities by ensuring that all those wielding weapons to ferment trouble are arrested and prosecuted.

Appealing to Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence, the Sultan charged other states to emulate Sokoto State on how best to accommodate people for peaceful coexistence.

Responding on behalf of all newly elected officers after the oath of office was administered on them by Barrister Abdulrahman Harande Tsamiya, the national president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mohammed Kirowa, appealed to Fulanis to continue to embrace peaceful coexistence.

Kirowa who said that Fulanis are not purveyors of troubles added that they will never relent in ensuring that Fulanis live in peace with everybody.

Senate Seeks Review Of Security Tactics

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately review his security tactics as well as change heads of security agencies and service chiefs, saying it is time to appoint men and women with fresh ideas.

Apparently frustrated and angered by the unabated spate of killings across the country by herdsmen and criminal militia groups, the Senators submitted that because Nigerians are increasingly becoming disappointed and frustrated over government’s failings and inactions on the growing insecurity, democracy has become endangered.

In a motion moved on the matter, Senator Suleiman Adokwe (PDP, Nasarawa State), said the president should seek immediate help from the international community to arrest the worsening insecurity situation in the country.

On his part, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos State) insisted that President Buhari must inject fresh ideas into how the security problems in the country can be remedied.

Adeola noted that there is nowhere that is safe in Nigeria with the daily killings that the nation is regaled with.
“The security situation has not improved and what the president need at this time is fresh ideas on how to tackle numerous security challenges confronting the nation” the lawmaker stated.

He argued that the only way to get fresh ideas for the president to address the security challenges is to remove the incumbent service chiefs to give room for those with fresh ideas, stressing that the nation should do away with unproductive tenure elongation in areas where fresh ideas are needed.

“We know the way the military organisation operates. Those with fresh ideas dare not come out against their superiors or else they risk premature retirement from service. So, the current service chiefs should go to allow officers with fresh ideas address our alarming security issues”, he stated.

Also speaking, Senator Jeremiah Useni (PDP, Plateau State), identified the constant clashes among security agencies as part of the security problems.

He maintained that heads of such agencies be removed to pave way for more harmonious relationship among security agencies.

Defending his motion earlier, Adokwe said: “Throughout the weekend and up to the moment that I am speaking, herdsmen have unleashed terrorism and mayhem on the people of my senatorial district, leaving many dead bodies, numerous wounded persons and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons. The victims are largely the Tiv-speaking ethnic nationalities with a reported dead toll of 32 persons and we are still counting.

“The real tragedy is not in the well-coordinated and simultaneous carnage across Awe, Obi, Keana and Doma local government areas of Southern senatorial district but the tragedy stems from the fact that for four days running, this mayhem continues unhindered, unchecked, unstopped by any arm of the law and security enforcement agencies”.

Also contributing, Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue State) stated that the country is becoming a state without control, a state that is experiencing anarchy and a state in which ethnic cleansing has been witnessed.

According to him, “it is a shame that a sitting government could watch criminality go to the level that we have seen it today and rather than rise up and take very decisive steps against it, we embark on deniability and simply shield this evil by just explaining with flimsy excuses that these are communal clashes in those communities.

“I don’t understand why responsible people elected to control the governments of Nigeria will simply turn away from the reality of facing this matter squarely. And the Inspector-General will fly by helicopter to a town, land in the market square and be asking people whether there is militia in this town or not. And nobody whatsoever seems to call anybody to order. This is very sad. We have done enough of a minute silence for innocent Nigerians being killed”, he added.

Ruling on the motion, deputy president of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is the preservation of the lives of citizens.

“If citizens are being killed, we owe the responsibility as a parliament to give it the desired attention. And we will never stop talking about these killings. Unless it stops, we will never be tired of speaking about it”, he stated.

On the need to seek external help, he said, “The time has come for us to seek help from other countries as some of us have suggested here. We should not be ashamed to ask for help.

“The President met with the UK Prime Minister and she was of the opinion that Britain would help us security wise. America is also offering to help. We should not be reluctant to come out openly and say we need help because what we have now is a global village”.

CJN Moves To Enhance Efficient Justice Delivery

CJN Moves To Enhance Efficient Justice Delivery 

In a bid to ensure efficient justice delivery and case management in the country, the judiciary has adopted the use of new technology, with the introduction of Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS).

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, disclosed this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of a refresher course for magistrates, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The CJN said the innovative case management system is presently being piloted by the Supreme Court and will soon be rolled out to the strata of courts in the country.

According to the CJN, technology has transformed the manner in which service of court processes, record keeping and retrieval of data and other operations are carried out in courts.

“Technology has afforded us the opportunity to have virtual libraries and law reports at our finger tips.

Case management tools can now be accessed 24 hours a day from the comfort of our homes and hearing notices will, in the nearest future be e-mailed to lawyers once enrolment on the Judiciary’s Nigerian Legal E-Mail System (NILES), is fully achieved in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

“As we speak, the deadline for paper court processes in the Supreme Court has been fixed for July 2018, the CJN stated and urged Magistrates to be proficient in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the e-proficiency will become a veritable pre-requisite for career advancement within the judiciary”.

While charging the Magistrates to carry out their judicial functions in line with the constitution of the country, Onnoghen said continuing judicial education is a mandatory requirement for every judicial officer who sits on the Bench for adjudication.

“It is pertinent to remind you as Magistrates, that you must be mindful of your professional duties as well as the ethical content of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers.

“It is an indispensable guide to the proper conduct and performance of your duties”, he said and urged the Magistrates to take charge of their courts in the discharge of their judicial functions.

The NJI administrator, Justice Rosaline Bozimo, who also spoke at the occasion with the theme: “Promoting excellence in the administration of justice in lower courts” said it was in line with the current drive of the CJN, in ensuring that excellence in service delivery is enhanced at all levels of the judicial process.

She said the course was organised by the institute in fulfillment of its statutory mandate for judicial officers and their supporting staff with a view to expanding and improving their overall knowledge and performance in their duties.