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Tag: chinese

  • Excess body fat may put people at risk of cancer – Chinese researchers

    Chinese researchers have found that excess body fat may put people at
    increased risk of 18 types of cancer.

    The research, conducted over four years, is based on Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations involving 40 million samples.

    BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. According to the WHO,
    a BMI between 19 and 24 is considered normal and healthy, while a BMI between 25 and 29 is overweight, and
    a BMI over 30 is obese.

    Researchers from Zhejiang University announced that a higher BMI would significantly increase the risk of
    18 cancers, and the types of cancer most sensitive to weight gain are endometrial cancer and esophageal
    cancer.

    For each five-point increase in BMI, the risk of endometrial cancer and esophageal cancer increases by 48 per cent
    and 45 per cent, respectively.

    Researchers also found that there was a gender difference in obesity-related cancers. Women with higher BMIs
    are more likely to suffer from brain and kidney cancer than men.

    The research, led by Professor Wang Fudi and Professor Min Junxia, was published recently in the “International
    Journal of Cancer.”

    According to the WHO, about 2.2 billion people, or one-third of the world’s population, are overweight or obese,
    including more than 100 million children and 600 million adults.

    “To prevent cancer and other chronic diseases, people must control obesity through good dietary habits
    and more exercise,” said Wang.

  • NEMA DG, Maihaja, paid N400m demurrage to clear N414.8m Chinese rice donation

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) paid a whopping sum of N400 million in demurrage to clear rice donated by the Chinese government for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East which is valued at N414 million, the Director General of the agency Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, has said.

    Documents submitted to the committee by the ministry of finance dated July 20, 2017 indicates that the total quantity of the rice is 6,779 metric tonnes valued at N414.8 million while the federal ministry of agriculture paid another sum of N272.5 million as duty.

    However, the figure of N400 million excludes the cost of transporting the rice from the ports to the ware houses of the agency and further revealed that about half of the goods are still at the ports accumulating more demurrage.

    The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has expressed dismay over the inefficient handling of the Chinese rice donations to internally displaced persons in the North East, saying the officials in charge did not discharge their functions well, leading to unnecessary spending of taxpayers’ money.

    The lawmakers were reacting to the presentations made by government agencies during its investigative hearing on breach of public trust by the National Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday.

    While making a presentation before the committee, representative of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General Ekekezie Kaycee (T and T), said three batches of the Chinese rice donation arrived at the Nigerian port on the 9th of May, the second, 15th August, and the last, 11th September, 2017 respectively.

    She added that the value of the rice, which came in 151 containers in total, as stated on the bill of lading are as follows: 7, 405, 222 Yuan, 9, 219, 650 million Yuan and 11, 247, 973 Yuan, at an exchange rate of 46.2450 Naira to one Yuan.

    Altogether, she informed the committee, 3, 779 metric tonnes of the rice have been cleared, leaving a balance of 3000 metric tonnes. She identified the two companies that did the clearing as Global view nig ltd and Baltic Air and Maritime Services.

    Similarly, the representative of the minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr Iloma Simon, said while making a presentation before the committee that they procured waivers for the rice from the ministry of Finance at 3 separate times when the goods arrived at the port. His Agriculture ministry counterpart said, in his own summary, that the ministry paid for the clearing of the rice and provided warehouses for storage but is yet to receive any consignment as at today.

    In his summission, the director general of NEMA, Engr Mustapha Maihaja, said the agency could only start clearing when it received the bill of lading six months later.

    He added that due to the emergency situation, the agency relied on section 43 of its establishment Act and engaged Global View Logistics and Baltic Air and Maritime Services without following due process on procurement. The first clearance was done in January, 2018. He also added that the 110 containers of rice cleared have been taken to Borno and Yola.

    This disclosure enraged the lawmakers who were angry that the poor handling of the clearance of the rice led to a cost of N400 million taxpayers’ money on payment for demurrage.

  • Chinese girl rides bicycle from Morocco to Lagos

    A Chinese female cyclist, Huang Shuang, who rode from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria, within five months, says she is convinced that anybody can achieve anything he or she determines to do.

    Huang, also known as CICI, told our reporters in Lagos on Monday that she was inspired to embark on ‘`cycling around the world’’ after riding around her country.

    The cyclist said that her experience in China motivated her to begin global cycling in America where she covered about 5,500 km in two months.

    “I am glad that I have also been able to ride from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria.

    “ This is an indication that irrespective of our sex, we can achieve anything we set out to do.

    “The whole idea about my cycling started when, one day, I decided to embark on a cycling trip around my country, China.

    “After the trip around China, I was motivated to take my first cycling around the world to America, where I covered about 5,500km in two months.

    “Now, I am in Lagos from Morocco, after I flew from America to France, where I cycled around Europe for four months, before taking ferry from Spain to Morocco,’’ she said.

    Huang said that she always travelled with money, noodles, tent, sleeping bag, clothes and bicycle repair accessories.

    The cyclist, who left Morocco for Lagos on Sept. 6, 2017, said that her trip was fascinating though she experienced tiredness, robbery, accidents and sleeping under bridges and in gas stations.

    Huang said that she crossed the desert within six days and was well received by many African villages.

    The cyclist said that, sometimes, she happily ate local meals made by the villagers.

    ‘`I have happily sung and danced with children in different African villages and communities where I passed the nights or stopped to cook.

    “I have seen the most beautiful sunset, the most stunning mountain views, breath-taking lakes and virgin forests across Africa.

    ‘`My trip has also exposed me to many African children still living in poverty, hunger, without education and basic amenities,’’ she said.

    The Chinese said that she would be cycling to about 33 countries in the next three years, adding that she would continue her cycling from Lagos to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, East Africa and some other countries.

    Huang said that her cycling was also informed by her desire to interact with children in African communities before inaugurating a free lunch for them in 2018.

    The cyclists said that she hoped to raise some money for the benefit to about 2,000 children.

  • Several Nigerians languishing in Chinese prisons – Envoy

    Several Nigerians languishing in Chinese prisons – Envoy

    Mr Wale Oloko, the Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, on Monday said, many Nigerians were in various Prisons in Guangdong Province for overstaying their visas.

    Oloko told the newsmen in Lagos, some other Nigerians were also arrested for engaging in drug trafficking and other criminal offences, had led to their detention.

    According to him, there are currently about 600 Nigerians arrested forever staying their visas and in detention for other offences.

    “There is no doubt that there are currently a number of Nigerians in various Chinese prisons, at least those under our consular jurisdiction in Guangzhou.

    “’These our nationals are in different Chinese prisons for various offences.

    “There are those that were arrested for overstaying their visas, while others were convicted for drug trafficking and other offences,’’ he said.

    Oloko also said that some the Nigerian nationals currently in Chinese prisons were being prepared for deportation to Nigeria.

    The consul-general, therefore, enjoined Nigerians desirous of visiting any part of China to always obey the Chinese immigration and general laws when in the province or other provinces in China.

    “Any Nigerian wanting to visit any part of China must first know something about the country’s immigration requirements, and should be ready to obey laws in such places when they eventually arrive there.

    “It is not advisable for any Nigerian to overstay his or her visa in any part of China or engage in any form of criminal act,’’ he said.

    Guangdong is a province in South China, located on the South China Sea coast.

    The province surpassed Henan and Sichuan to become the most populous province in China in January 2005, registering 79.1 million permanent residents and 31 million migrants.

    The capital and largest city is Guangzhou and it has a GDP (2016)‎: of 1.2 trillion US dollars.

     

  • Nigerian Navy rescues four kidnapped Chinese in Ondo

    The Nigerian Navy in Lagos on Thursday said it rescued four Chinese men from kidnappers around Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

    The Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Sylvanus Abbah, told journalists in Lagos that the four victims were abducted on board a fishing trawler within the Lagos waters on December 14.

    According to him, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT rescued the abducted Chinese nationals from a militant camp in the riverine area of Ondo State.

    He said that after the abduction, the kidnappers took their victims in a speed boat to Igbokoda, Ondo State the same day.

    “Naval operatives attached to Forward Operations Base (FOB) who sighted the kidnappers as they were entering Igbokoda gave them a hot pursuit.

    “The kidnappers opened fire on the naval gunboat.

    “There was a fierce gun battle between the suspects and the naval men and the hoodlums abandoned their boats and fled on foot through the creeks,” he said.

    Mr. Abbah said that the naval men went after the suspects who later abandoned the four Chinese men and fled.

    “Presently efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspects.

    “The Chinese sustained bullet wounds during the gun battle and they have been treated and are in stable condition,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Acting Chinese Consul General in Nigeria, Mr Guan Zhonggi, who paid a thank you visit to the FOC, commended the navy for its prompt intervention.

    He said that the four Chinese men regained their freedom because of the swift action of the naval men.

     

    (NAN)

  • Four Chinese kidnapped in Nigeria regains freedom

    The Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Naval Forward Operating Base have rescued four Chinese who were abducted on Friday by suspected sea pirates.

    They were freed after a shooting with their kidnappers in Ilaje area of Ondo state, Southwest Nigeria.

    The expatriates were reportedly abducted while on their way from Lagos through Ayeton Creeks to Ogooluayo community along Ebute when they were kidnapped by a gang of sea pirates.

    Some of the Chinese were hurt by their kidnappers and are receiving treatment at a local hospital, said spokesman for the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks, Akure, Major Ojo Adelegan.

    He further said one of the kidnappers has been arrested.

  • Chinese FA wants clubs to develop youth game or lose licences

    Chinese football authorities are set to impose strict new regulations on the country’s clubs. They are now using the threat of losing their professional licences as a spur to establish a more comprehensive youth development programme.

    According to a report, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) will introduce rules in 2019 that force clubs in the top two tiers of the domestic league to create youth teams.

    The teams are to range from the under-13 bracket up to the under-19 level.

    They will play in competitions organised by the CFA and failure to comply will see the clubs forfeiting their registration to play professionally.

    However, the CFA have yet to respond to a Reuters request for a comment on the matter.

    The move marks the latest CFA directive to enhance the future prospects of the national team, who have struggled to make an international impact in the last decade-and-a-half.

    Bora Milutinovic led the country to their only World Cup appearance in 2002, before an Arie Haan-coached team reached the final of the Asian Cup on home soil two years later.

    Since then, China have struggled, with the number of youngsters in the country playing the game diminishing as a number of factors, including match fixing scandals, blighted the sport’s progress.

    Football-loving Xi Jinping’s rise to become the Chinese president in 2012 has helped reinvigorate the sport’s popularity.

    State and private entities have been throwing huge sums into the development and promotion of the game.

    High-profile imports such as Carlos Tevez, Luiz Scolari, Andre Villas-Boas and Oscar are among those who have worked in the Chinese Super League in the last 12 months.

    Also, the clubs have become more prominent on the continental scene.

    The national team continues to struggle, however, with coach Marcello Lippi calling for patience as the nation seeks to make an impact on the global stage.

    “When you talk about China, you have to think about the culture and the time China has spent with football,” he said after Tuesday’s loss to Japan in the East Asian Championship.

    “It’s very different to Europe. I‘m having to grow a team almost from scratch.”

    Under the Italian, China recorded their best performance in FIFA World Cup qualifying since 2002, but the country still missed out on a place at next year’s finals in Russia.

  • FG arrests 8 Chinese, 12 Nigerian accomplices for illegal mining

    The Federal Government on Monday arrested eight Chinese nationals in Plateau State for alleged illegal mining.

    The National Security Adviser, NSA, Ali Monguno, ordered the arrest of the miners on Monday at Kampani Zurak village in Bashar chiefdom of Wase Local Government Area of the state.

    Also arrested were 12 other Nigerians allegedly involved in illegal mining activities in the area.

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, who was in the company of the NSA to the mining site accused security operatives of aiding and abetting illegal mining activities in the state.

    Fayemi made the accusation while addressing security operatives at the mining site.

    “It is sad that security operatives are giving them (illegal miners) security cover. If not, why do people guard this site?” the minister said.

    Fayemi declared that the foreigners and their accomplices would be taken to Abuja for proper investigations and prosecution.

    The minister also declared the alleged chief miner, Abdullahi Usman, popularly known as “Dan China”, wanted.

    He said the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, had directed that illegal mine sites in the area be sealed up and the miners arrested.

    The 20 illegal miners have been taken into the custody of the police in Jos.

     

  • Buhari’s $5.815bn Chinese loan faces hurdles in Senate

    Buhari’s $5.815bn Chinese loan faces hurdles in Senate

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the National Assembly’s endorsement of a $5.815 billion loan suffered a temporary setback yesterday at the Senate.

    The Federal Government planned to raise the loan from the China Exim Bank to modernise Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Calabar rail lines.

    Following a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), the Senate resolved to invite Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi to explain why the South East corridor rail line was omitted in the areas covered by the proposed loan.

    The upper chamber however rejected a prayer that urged the Senate to suspend consideration of the loan request pending when the “oversight” of the eastern part of the country is corrected.

    The motion entitled “Outright Omission of Eastern Corridor Rail Line in the request for approval of Federal Government 2016-2015 External Borrowing (Rolling Plan)” was hotly debated.

    Abaribe recalled that on 26th of April, 2017 the Federal Government laid before the National Assembly a request seeking an approval for a loan of $5,851 billion from China Exim Bank to execute the modernization of Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Calabar rail segment;

    He observed that the above sections of the rail line that the loan was being sought for covers only a section of the country, the western corridor or sections.

    The Abia South lawmaker noted that the Eastern section of the rail segment, which has a link between the South Eastern and North Eastern parts of the rail line is completely excluded.

    He noted that the loan being a Federal Government borrowing, would be paid for by all sections of the country; therefore every section of the country should be taken into consideration;

    To Abaribe, the complete exclusion of the Eastern section that links the four zones of South-South, South-East, North-Central and North East and the key cities, such as Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Lafia, Gudi, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri, is inexplicable,

    He prayed the Senate to suspend consideration of the loan request until the correction of the oversight is made.

    He also urged that Senate to invite the Minister of Transport to explain the exclusion.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who seconded the motion, said the Senate should see injustice done to any section of the country as injustice to all.

    Ekweremadu said it is on record that the Federal Government had been rehabilitating rail lines in the country with the exception of the rail lines in the South East.

    He noted that the promise of the government that the rail line in the South East would be accommodated in future was doubtful.

    But Senator Gbenga Ashafa, (Lagos East) described the information in the motion as “inadequate and inaccurate”.

    Ashafa, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, said that the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail lines covered the areas listed in the motion.

    He said that Onitsha and Aba are also covered in the plan.

    He urged the Senate to look at the issue dispassionately insisting that the loan should be secured for the development of the country.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said that leadership of the National Assembly took up the issue with President Buhari.

    Saraki said that the meeting of the National Assembly leadership with the executive informed the second letter of the President on the issue.

    He said the second letter of specified that every section of the country would be covered by the loan.

    Saraki said if the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts failed to cover the South East, the Senate would resolve how to deal with the loan.

  • Two Chinese arrested in Lagos for importing N5bn substandard tyres

    Two Chinese are to be prosecuted for their involvement in the importation of fake and substandard tyres worth N5 billion into the country.

    MessrsTaolung Shen and Xu Jing Yao were arrested and their company Sino Nigeria Import and Export Limited’s warehouse in Lagos sealed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    Director-General of SON Osita Aboloma, who conducted journalists round the warehouse at Alakija area on Badagry Road in Lagos at the weekend, lamented that the importation of such tyres endangered the lives of millions of Nigerians.

    He said many of the over three million tyres brought into the country in over 60 containers, had post-dated manufacturing dates –some of them with March 2017 date on them.

    They also cloned different sizes of tyres under such brand names as Powertrac, Aptany, Harmony, Duraturn, Bearway, City Tour, Winda, Glory, Chachland, City Grand, Grandsonte (Tyre Type) and Sunny (for tricycle) among others.

    Many of the tyres arrived in Nigeria stuffed into one another. In some instances as many as five stuffed into one. Many are bent and ruptured and looking weak and slack.

    Aboloma described the tyres as “dead on arrival”, adding that allowing such consignments into the country could lead to motor accidents and loss of lives.

    He said stuffing tyres through the long sea journey from China to Lagos had already compromised the quality let alone the crude way the tyres were separated on arrival in Nigeria and the poor storage facility, without sufficient aeration in the warehouse.

    ”The SON Directorate of Compliance intercepted one of their trucks on the highway, tracked it and then this. You can see the amount of danger that these people are posing to our people and our economy just because they want to make huge profit at the expense of the lives of Nigerians”, Aboloma said.

    He lamented that the raid on the company revealed a lot of illicit activities, including re-labelling, high level of stuffing of tyres into one, tampering with expiry dates and staking the tyres in very adverse conditions.

    “it is a clear case of investing millions in illicit business in order to take away the lives of millions of Nigerians. to destroy the lives of millions of Nigerians. If we should allow something like this, it will amount to killing Nigerians”, Aboloma said.

    ”I want to reiterate that there is no hiding place for those who deal in substandard products as they will be caught and their products confiscated. Today’s is an example”, he said.

    ”Nothing can be recouped from such stuffed in tyres, no need to test anything because the tyres have already been destroyed on arrival,” he said.

    Aboloma promised to bring the Chinese and others in illicit trade to book.

    He said SON was exploring all avenues towards nipping acts like that in the bud.

    “For us, it is a continuous fight. Currently, we are prosecuting about five cases in different high courts in line with the mandate of the SON. We burn substandard products when there is need to, following laid down procedures.” he said.

    Aboloma cautioned users of automobile tyres on the need to be extra cautious when buying products.

    He said: “The nation’s laws must be made to work by ensuring that it is implemented to the letter. l must reiterate here that the full force of the SON Act that empowers her to prosecute offenders will be invoked on the perpetrators of this economic crime in no short time. It is left to imagine the number of lives that would have been lost to this wicked act by a few people”.