Nigeria has generated over $20.9million from the export of rubber in 2020.
This was announced on Thursday during the maiden edition of the 2021 National Rubber Conference in Abuja by Prince Igbinoson Peter, National President of the National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN).
According to Peter, Nigeria is currently rated 23rd in the world among rubber producing countries, according to the CIA Reports 2021 and Global Rubber Markets 2021, as of 2020.
Thailand, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, and Vietnam, on the other hand, account for 81.5 percent of the global value of natural rubber delivered in 2020, according to him.
He bemoaned the fact that Nigeria has not assumed its rightful place as the world’s leading producer and exporter of rubber.
He claims that 95 percent of the country’s potential rubber plantations are over 40 years old and have been abandoned because their trees have been chopped and utilized as fuel or furniture.
He said: “Rubber as an internationally traded agricultural commodity that is in high demand all over the world, played a major role as a foreign exchange earner and contributor to the growth of national economy.
“If given proper attention, rubber alone can transform the economy of Nigeria and employ millions of people as it is proven to have some of the largest value chain.
“With over 50 by-products, in over 400,000 applications, rubber is rated among the most profitable agro-industrial ventures.
“It is infact considered the world’s fourth most important natural resource after air, water and petroleum.”
Peter, however noted that in the 1960’s that Nigeria was the highest producer of rubber in Africa and 5th in the world, adding that Nigeria is the third highest producer of natural rubber in Africa but producing at 6% of African total production as compared to Ivory Coast whose production is at 76% of Africa total production.
He pointed out that if priority attention is given to the production of rubber, it would go a long way in assisting in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals targeted to eradicate poverty, hunger, and improve decent work, economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The National President of NARPPMAN, said the Association could provide 480,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs for the teeming youths from plantation establisment alone.
Therefore, he called on government to assist the Association in rubber production technology to further enhance the promotion and sustainability of rubber sub-sector as well as provide agricultural subsidies to rubber farmers.
As part of his requests, Peter appealed to the government to provide other assistance such as processing machines, free construction of smokehouses in clusters for effective storage facilities, basic infrastructural facilities, agro-chemicals and fertilizers to boost rubber production.
He further solicited regular training for rubber farmers, provision of grants and soft loans at single digit interest rate as well as the involvement of the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nexim Bank in the development of the rubber sub-sector through provision of funds for small and industrial rubber farmers.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, urged the Association to embark on the replanting of existing rubber plantations.
Umakhihe represented by Mohammed Tukur, said it has become necessary for Nigeria to occupy her pride of place in the rubber sub-sector.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the international community to refuse any human rights violators visas to travel abroad.
Sunday Asefon, the President of NANS, issued a statement criticizing security forces’ brutality in relation to the 2020 organized against the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
The students’ group demanded that the security officers indicted by various panels set up by governments to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Nigeria be prosecuted immediately.
NANS has also threatened to file a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council, as well as the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, for alleged human rights breaches against innocent Nigerians.
Despite the days-long 2020 protests, Asefon highlighted the fact that young Nigerians are subjected to painful torture at the hands of security forces on a daily basis.
In due time, he notified the federal government and the governments of each state of the federation to begin diligent prosecution of individuals whose activities had resulted in the death, deprivation, and maiming of innocent Nigerians.
Asefon said: “The NANS shall by this notice, also petitions the United Nations Human Rights Council, governments of the United States and United Kingdom, to immediately initiate a process of visa cancelation of these identified perpetrators of crime against Nigerian young people.
“Beyond the nationwide commemoration, characterised by street protests and processions, the NANS used the opportunity of today’s ENDSARS memorial events, to review the incidences of October 20, 2020 and make specific demands from the Nigerian government, towards ensuring that we avoid a repeat of the unfortunate incident of October 20, 2020.
“Considering the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to finding a meaningful resolution to the crisis created by the agitations for an end to police brutality.
“The foregoing is coupled with several evidence gathered from our Independent findings, through series of stakeholders engagements, via video footages and hospital reports, which have now confirmed that, the Nigerian Army operatives opened fire on thousands of young Nigerians who were peacefully gathered at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.
“This action that was followed up by subsequent assault on injured and other protesters by operatives of the Nigerian Police force in the later hours of same day.
“Consequent upon the above and ultimately in the spirit of ensuring justice for the severally injured and murdered young Nigerians, as now confirmed by various evidences, the NANS hereby demand” for the immediate arrest and prosecution of every operative and officers of the Nigerian Army, the police and particularly their commanding officers in Lagos, and other parts of Nigeria, where young Nigerians were murdered on October 20″.
The NANS president issued a seven days ultimatum, to the leadership of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police force, to provide everyone involved in this crime against humanity, without further delay.
NANS threatened that they are determined to hit the streets, to ensure that justice is delivered to all fallen heroes, as it struggles to ensure an end to police brutality and all forms of human rights abuses in the country.
,…Plans To Remove Option Of Fine In New Amendment Bill Before NASS
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, or NDLEA, has introduced a bill in the National Assembly that seeks harsher penalties for any Nigerian caught dealing in illegal substances.
NDLEA is seeking a minimum of 15 years, a maximum of 25 years, and life sentences for anyone caught in its net in the proposed amendment to strengthen its activities.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman, Chief Executive, NDLEA, disclosed this on Thursday as a guest at the Presidential Media Team’s weekly briefings, where he affirmed that politicians were also participating in illicit drug trades.
He put the value of drugs and cash seized from barons at over N100 billion, noting that the money had been deposited in the federation’s account.
According to Marwa, more than 2.7 million kg of various illicit narcotics have been collected since January 25, 2021.
Marwa further revealed that one in every seven Nigerians uses illicit drugs, with one in every four being female, and 14.4 million Nigerians currently using illicit drugs.
He estimated that almost 5000 drug-related charges had been brought in court, involving 9,355 traffickers detained, including six drug barons.
NDLEA has rehabilitated 5,579 drug users as of the most recent count, with 20% of drug users being significantly dependent.
The NDLEA faces a number of issues, according to Marwa, including a lack of suitable lodging, such as specialized barracks for staff and their families, as well as a bad welfare plan.
He claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had taken attempts to pay the 188 officers slain in the line of duty.
He said, “To complete the overhaul process, we have invigorated the process of amending the NDLEA Act, to provide a more robust legal framework to deal with current drug trafficking and abuse challenges. As a matter of necessity, we have also had to scale up our workforce by resuming the suspended 2019 recruitment and training of 5, 000 operatives, with more to join in the months ahead. Once the process is completed, the agency’s workforce will have doubled by 200% by mid-2022.
“It is also pertinent to know that there has also been a paradigm shift in our operational philosophy. NDLEA has made a transition to an intelligence-driven anti-narcotic organisation. Our strategies now go beyond the arrest of peddlers of illicit drugs who are at the lowest rungs of the trafficking ladder; now we go after the brains behind the syndicates with the objective of dismantling illicit drug organisations.
“The National Drug Use Survey of 2019 by UNODC gave a troubling portrait of drug abuse in Nigeria. With the country having a drug use prevalence of 14. 4, which is almost three times the global average, we could no longer live in denial that Nigeria has a thriving illicit drug culture. A strong response from the NDLEA was inexorable. Consequently, we responded with some measures. The following are the major ones:
Operation Offensive Action: This is a non-stop, result-oriented DRUG SUPPLY REDUCTION activity calculated to (a) mop up existing illicit drugs in the country (b) stem the influx of narcotic drugs into the country and (c) disrupt, disconnect and dismantle the trafficking pipeline and thus remove Nigeria from the global drug network. Since its launch in January, Operation “Offensive Action” has been in full swing and the continuous onslaught against drug traffickers by NDLEA operatives yields weekly results across Nigeria.
“Weaponization of asset forfeiture against arrested, jailed or indicted drug barons: As part of the broader operation, the Agency also shifted gear in its tactics to aggressively pursue the brains behind drug trafficking networks using a combination of laws, (including the NDLEA Act, the Money Laundering Act and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, MLAT, an international legal tool) to target assets amassed through drug trafficking activities. In the long run, this will serve as a strong deterrence for drug pushers, kingpins and enablers, at home and abroad. And so far, NDLEA has scored big victories and have been making remarkable contributions to the Consolidated Account.
“War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign: This was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 26, 2021. It is an advocacy campaign designed to win public support and elicit their involvement in the effort to rid society of the menace of illicit drug use and trafficking. WADA is a part of the vehicle that facilitates the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan NDCMP 2021-25. Three months after it was flagged off, we reached out to states and met with governors, religious leaders, traditional rulers, social groups amongst others. The effort has won support for NDLEA activities at the grassroots. In the months ahead, we hope to saturate the Nigerian society with a message that will get the populace to see itself as a stakeholder in the effort to curb the trafficking of illicit substances.
“The measures and reforms undertaken by the leadership of the Agency, and the efforts and sacrifices being made by the employees are rewarded with results that are as significant as to shore up our belief that we are on track to fulfilling our mandate and also help to reinforce our resolution to prosecute the renewed war against illicit drugs to a logical conclusion.
“As of October 15, the Agency has recorded the following: 9, 355 arrested traffickers, including six drug barons, Over 5,000 drug offences cases filed in court, over N100 billion worth of drugs and cash recovered, more than 2.7 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs were seized in 10 months, 5,579 drug users were counselled and rehabilitated by NDLEA, a figure that gives a fair balance between our drug control and drug demand efforts.
“I have to at this point also highlight some of the spectacular seizures recorded by the Agency since January 2021. These include, seizure of 230 tons of cannabis in Edo State in February and a recent seizure of over 100 tons of psychotropic substances in raids across the country in the past two weeks, seizure of 451, 807 Captagon tablets, weighing 71,119 kg in September at Apapa Seaport, Lagos. This was the first-ever recorded seizure of the drug in the West and Central African regions.
“Interception of 1,994, 400 capsules of Tramadol in February at the Apapa Port, another 144, 400 bottles of Codeine syrup in March and this October, 32.9 kg of Cocaine, which in street value is worth over N9billion. As at this moment, our operatives are still searching the ship that brought in the illicit consignment, while we’re intensifying efforts to track those behind the shipment.
” Interception of 43.11 kg of cocaine in February at Tin Can Seaport and another 22, 590 kg of Codeine syrup at the Port in September, interception of 4, 996, 200 capsules of Tramadol, weighing 2,498 kg in May at the Onne Port and another interception of 100,000 (100ml) bottles of Codeine cough syrups weighing 15, 325kg at the same port in June, at the airports, we have recorded a series of interceptions and seizures of cocaine and heroin, but Murtala Mohammed International Airport remains the epicentre of the spectacular seizures, including what stands today as the biggest single seizure from an individual in 15 years, which is 26.840kg of cocaine smuggled from Brazil in January, 24.o5 kg of Heroin in April, 27.95 kg of Cocaine in May, and 26.15kg of Heroin in May.
“Let me state at this point that, by the end of this year we would have dealt sufficient decisive blows to the cannabis cartels in the country, going by the rate we’re going into the forests to destroy hundreds of hectares of their plantations in our ongoing operations”.
Speaking on the ongoing battle aginst terrorism, Marwa confirmed that a good number of bandits and kidnappers caught were found to be heavy users of drugs after their hide out were ransacked by security operatives.
According to him, most of the victims of kidnapping also recounted how their captors engage in heavy smoking of cannabis or taking tramadol.
He told State House Correspondents that a proposal for intending couples to undergo drug test prior to marriage has been welcomed by stakeholders, especially imams and pastors.
On suggestions that government should not also ignore the health and economic implications of using cannabis, the NDLEA Boss debunked such claims, insisting that no scientific proof had shown that cannabis had any healing effect.
Shehu Sani, a former legislator from Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, recounted how he almost averted death when the train he boarded travelling the Kaduna-Abuja line was attacked on Thursday.
Sani claims that the train hit an explosion, which “broke the Kaduna-Abuja rail track” and that “it required a miracle for us to escape.”
Sani made the claim on his verified Twitter account, stating that a similar incidence occurred the day before.
“Terrorists detonated an explosion on the Kaduna-Abuja railway yesterday and opened fire on the train, killing the Engine Driver and the Tank. I was on board this morning when our train collided with another explosively wrecked rail track. Sani wrote, “It took a miracle for us to get out.”
The Nigeria Railway Corporation’s administration has yet to publish an official statement regarding the claimed occurrence.
The Chancellor of Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, declared that the institution’s management has never borrowed money to carry out university projects or infrastructure development.
The Chancellor made the remarks in the University chapel in honor of the institution’s 19th Founder’s Day and 16th convocation, which will take place on Friday.
He credited God as the doer of the university’s grandeur, arguing that all the human forces operating there were only fronting for God, who was working behind the scenes as the finisher.
According to him; “19 years of no stress, no lack. This University can never go down as long as we appreciate the glory of the Lord.
“Awesome God, we have never recorded lack, no stress, never has staff salaries been delayed since inception and we have never borrowed in the execution of this project for 29 solid years,” he added.
Bishop Oyedepo attributed the constant infrastructural development and upgrade, local and international rankings, affiliations, research grants, research work patenting and the numerous achievement recorded by the University to the glory of God since 19 years of its establishment.
“What you are seeing at Covenant University is that we knew ourselves while God has continued to work behind the scene.
“We are what we are, we are where we are and all gratitude goes to God. Every breakthrough is the product of the work God has been doing behind the scene. ” Behind every standing building, it is God working in the background,” he added.
Dr. Oyedepo said trusting in God that the university would never go down, saying, in several years of University education in Nigeria, Covenant University that commenced operations on 21st October 2002 has taken the front row through the grace of God and rub shoulders as a world-class institution within and outside the country.
He expressed appreciation to God for bringing the university to where it is today, saying the wherewithal and gratitude goes to the creator.
“Covenant University is just beginning to rise. We are not there yet. I have zero fear about tomorrow because we did not bring ourselves to where we are but by the grace of God.”
He charged the graduating students to shun and never walk in pride but refrain from denying God the glory that belongs to Him, saying ” As you give more glories, he supplies more.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo disclosed that the university had witnessed amazing transformations and made contributions to the restoration of the dignity of the black man. He expressed gratitude to Almighty God and lauded the visionary leadership of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo.
Besides, the VC disclosed that this year alone the university had attracted several research grants running into several millions of naira, thousands of dollars, pounds and euros, adding that the institution remains the compass in which university education is measured and assessed in Nigeria.
Speaking, Bishop David Abioye, the Pro-Chancellor acknowledged and attributed the high profile of the university to divine efficiency, saying things have worked out positively for the institution due to God’s favour.
Conferment of first and higher degrees on deserving students holds on Friday October 2021.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, fiercely rejected a motion by the arrested leader of Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be placed under the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The court stated it refused the application in the interest of Kanu’s security and due to the sensitive nature of the case Since June 27, 2021 when the IPOB leader was “intercepted” through the coordinated efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security forces, he has been held under the custody of the DSS.
At Thursday’s court, Kanu pled not guilty to the 7-count count amended charge lodged against him by the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the court has deferred to November 10, to hear Kanu’s application contesting the competence of the charge.
On the death of his father, Rt. Rev. Tanimu Samari Aduda, who died on Wednesday, October 21, 2021, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed his condolences to Distinguished Senator Philip Aduda, Senator representing the FCT in the National Assembly.
On a condolence visit to the Aduda family compound in Karu, Abuja, Malam Bello, accompanied by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said the Senator’s late parents’ efforts had established the Aduda family name an institution in the FCT.
“Your family is currently an institution in the FCT thanks to the sacrifices of your illustrious parents,” the Minister stated.
Your mother and father, of course, were well-known. Many people know the name, but they’ve never seen the person.”
Senator Aduda, whom he has referred to as a brother since his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was also congratulated by the Minister.
He prayed for the soul of the deceased clergyman’s rest and pledged that the Administration will attend his funeral.
Senator Philip Aduda expressed gratitude to the Minister, who was one of the first visitors to the family compound, after the visit, saying that the visit meant a lot to his family.
He said “The FCT Minister is the father of the FCT, the Governor of the FCT and the one in charge of the FCT. So, his visit means a lot to all of us and for him to have visited us has made us to be excited because we, as a family in the FCT, we take each other as one. So, we are indeed very grateful and very happy to have received him.
Senator Aduda described his father as a wonderful disciplinarian who put his children on the path of righteousness and was responsible largely for their successes in life
The late Rev. Aduda was the Anglican Bishop of the Gwagwalada Dioceses.
Comrade Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to dismiss and prosecute Hakeem Odumosu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Police Command, for illegally ordering teargas and arrest of youths who peacefully protested to mark the one-year anniversary of #EndSARS.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, praised Nigerian youths, celebrities, artistes, and activists who, despite the police’s draconian orders, marked the first anniversary of #EndSARS with protests across several states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, with the slogan “We Will Not Forget 2010 20 Lekki Massacre.”
Following the illegal, cruel, and anti-people order by the Lagos CP, security officers used brutal force, pepper spray, and teargas against protesters at the Lekki Tollgate.
He also denounced the harassment, intimidation, manhandling, assault, and arrest of journalists during the protest, including Legit.ng Online reporter Abisola Alawode, PM News correspondent Taiwo Okanlawon, and the Arise TV team of Adefemi Akinsanya and Ope Adenihun.
He demanded the immediate release of all #EndSARS inmates who had been imprisoned for more than a year, as well as those who had been arrested during Wednesday’s mourning walk in Lagos.
He claimed that the police had failed to learn from the #EndSARS campaign, which was sparked by their crimes against law-abiding and innocent civilians, and have instead continued to treat Nigerians as slaves.
He insisted that the police are only willing to challenge and arrest bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements who make life unbearable for Nigerians across the country when it comes to arresting, teargassing, and pepper spraying peaceful protesters, but are hesitant when it comes to challenging and arresting bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements who make life unbearable for Nigerians across the country.
He also slammed President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaction in the face of police brutality against unarmed Nigerians exercising their democratic rights to demonstrate against social problems.
He reminded Buhari that throughout his time as an opposition leader, police were never employed to prevent him and members of his party from protesting.
Despite the country’s democratic dispensation, he lamented that the Buhari administration has grown increasingly autocratic and intolerant of lawful opposition, which is a key component of participatory democracy.
He urged members of the international community to prosecute the Inspector General of Police for overseeing a police force that has grown known in the country for grave human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and corruption.
He asked the police to carry out their jobs in accordance with the law and to learn from their counterparts in other nations’ diligence, courage, demeanor, and decency.
He also urged on the National Assembly to look into cases of the Nigeria Police and other security services assaulting peaceful protestors and the media in Lagos, and to bring any erring operatives to justice.
The Federal Government has deployed massive security to prevent any breakdown of law and order ahead of today’s continuation of the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the indigenous People of Biafra.
A combination of gun-wielding DSS operatives and Nigerian Police personnel surrounded all entrances leading to the court building.
A heavily fortified security convoy appeared and sped into the court premises at exactly 8:02 a.m., which many mistook for Kanu’s entrance.
Journalists and lawyers were not allowed to enter the courtroom at the time of filing this report.
Attorneys for Nnamdi Kanu, the arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are demanding that the prosecution present their client in court today.
At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the attorneys, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, requested that their client be shown in court.
“That tomorrow, being October 21, should be sacrosanct. Our client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, must and shall be produced in court to face his trial,” Ejiofor , who spoke for the others, said.
Ejiofor added that the regular Monday sit-at-order in the Southeast was being observed “because people are yet to see and believe that Nnamdi Kanu is still alive.”
The lawyer claimed that over 20 indigenes of Ebonyi State, who travelled to the Federal High Court in Abuja to witness Kanu’s trial on July 26 had been arrested.
He urged security agents to allow lawyers and journalists to attend today’s proceedings.
“The show of shame openly demonstrated by the overzealous security agents on July 26 should never repeat itself,” he said, and advised IPOB members to “remain civil and be of good conduct as you have always been, because it is not everyone that will be able to access the court room.”
