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Tag: MAN

  • Manufacturers raise alarm over prevailing interest rate, beg FG for reduction

    Manufacturers raise alarm over prevailing interest rate, beg FG for reduction

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is uncomfortable with the present interest rate on loans for its members and needs a further reduction to one per cent, an official has said. Chief Bioku Rahman, the outgoing Chairman of MAN in Kwara and Kogi, disclosed this in Ilorin on Tuesday while speaking during the Association’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

    The meeting’s theme is “Tackling the Challenges of the Manufacturing Sector: A Win-Win For Government and Local Manufacturers”.

    “The present interest rates are killing businesses. We therefore ask the Federal Government to urgently direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to drastically reduce interest rates on industrial loans.

    “The CBN should as well direct commercial banks to reduce interest rates on industrial loans. The interest rates charged on industrial loans and other loans released as COVID-19 palliatives should be significantly reduced further to one per cent,” Rahman said.

    He also urged the Bank of Industry (BOI) to approve and urgently roll out further reductions in its lending rates to industries.

    ”We are asking the CBN to wave many conditions for its foreign exchange policies to local manufacturers. Similarly, CBN can widen the window of foreign exchange to local industries, while urging the Federal Government to harmonise taxes and levies at Federal, State and Local Government levels.”

    Rahman noted that a Heavy-Duty Gas-Energy Generation and Distribution Plant was exclusively needed for Kwara industrialists.

    Speaking also, Mrs Damilola Adelodun, the state’s Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, pledged the state government’s continued support for the Association to boost the state’s economy.

    Adelodun, who represented Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, reiterated government’s resolve to create a conducive environment for the manufacturers in the state.

    “The state has undertaken several key initiatives to support the manufacturing sector and overall economic development. The Urban Renewal Initiative is transforming the architectural landscape of Kwara to enhance its aesthetic appeal and functionality, making it a more attractive place for businesses and residents,” she said.

    In his address, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Francis Meshioye, described the relationship between the state government and MAN as cordial. He appealed to the state government for infrastructure around the industrial estates to be upgraded.

  • Embittered man k!lls wife, daughter over DNA result

    Embittered man k!lls wife, daughter over DNA result

    The Appeal Court Lagos Division has dismissed the appeal of a Denmark national, Peter Nielsen, who was sentenced to death for killing his Nigerian wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra Nielsen.

    The appellate court upheld the conviction of Nielsen by the trial court and dismissed his appeal for lack of merit.

    When the case was called on Friday, Mr Adebayo Haroun, leading Jubril Kareem, announced his appearance for the respondent, while Mr A.D Taiwo Nsirim with Tochukwu Amaefule, appeared for the appellant.

    Delivering the judgment, the appeal court held that the respondent (Lagos State) proved the offence of murder against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

    It resolved the appeal in favour of the respondent and dismissed the appellant’s case.

    The appellate court held, “The corroborative evidence of DNA also strengthened the circumstantial evidence against the appellant.

    “There was no proof of breaking into the apartment as suggested by the appellant.

    “The missing exhibits as a result of the #EndSARS attack on the court do not affect the defence of the appellant as he had ample opportunity before the attack on the court. The findings of the forensic examiner corroborate the evidence of the children.”

    Nielsen was found guilty and convicted of the murder of Zainab and Petra, by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile,(retd.), of the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

    Okikiolu-Ighile, in her judgment delivered on May 20, 2022, held that Nielsen smothered Zainab and Petra Nielsen to death.

    She ruled, “He was the one who killed Zainab, and Petra Nielsen. Zainab had already predicted her death when she told their driver that this man would kill her. She told her stepfather, Chris Madaki, when she went to Abuja that this man would kill her.”

    The judge also held that the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) that on April 5, 2018, at 4:10 am, she saw Peter Nielsen beating and hitting Zainab’s head on the floor collaborated with the oral evidence of Prof John Obafunwa (PW4).

    The judge held, “It is the judgment of the court that you, Peter Nielsen, is found guilty of the murder of Zainab and Petra Nielsen on April 5, 2018.

    “I hereby pronounce that you Peter Nielsen shall be hanged by the neck till death. May God have mercy on you,” she said.

    Justice Okikiolu-Ighile found him guilty of counts one and two of murder preferred against him by Lagos state.

    She held that the oral and documentary evidence before the court showed that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nielsen killed his wife and daughter.

    “This is one of the cases of domestic violence. The DNA analysis of nail scraping brought out the assailant of Zainab.

    “Zainab tried so much to defend herself. The evidence shows that Peter Nielsen killed his wife and daughter.

    “There is evidence before the court that there is a fight between Peter Nielsen and his wife,” the judge held.

    She held that Prosecution Witnesses (PW5 and PW6) testified that they heard Zainab calling Mimi (one of the girls living with the couple) for help and they heard Zainab telling Nielsen to check her phone but he kept hitting her head.

    “The act of Nielsen shows that he suffocated his wife and daughter.

    “Nielsen has always domestically abused his wife which was shown in the police extract from the Ikoyi Police Station.

    “She didn’t know that her marriage to the convict was void abi nitio because Peter was already married in Denmark.

    However, on the issue of the nightgown worn by Zainab on the night she died, the judge expunged the evidence.

    She said that the pathologist who analysed the DNA on the nightgown was thoroughly examined and cross-examined by the defence.

    The judge, however, said that on October 20, 2020, the High Court of Lagos was vandalised and burnt, during the #EndSARS protest which affected the nightgown, a jumpsuit, towel and pants worn by Zainab and Petra.

    The judge, however, said that the contention of the convict was not for cross-examination but for them to take the items for DNA examination for their case.

    “It is trite law that all documentary evidence must be scrutinised but the defence argued that the convict didn’t have the opportunity to produce his examination.

    “The defence made an application to expunge such items from the evidence.

    “I have considered the application, exhibits, PWN (Zainab’s nightgown, Petra’s jumpsuit, towel and pants) is hereby expunged,” she said.

    But dissatisfied with the judgment Nielsen approached the appeal court to challenge his conviction.

    Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018, on two counts of murder.

    He pleaded not guilty, to the two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, following which trial commenced.

    The Lagos State Government accused Nielsen, now 57, of smothering Zainab and their daughter Petra Nielsen, to death at about 3:45 am, on April 5, 2018, at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

    When the trial commenced, the prosecution called nine witnesses and closed their case on September 20, 2019.

    The defence opened its case and also called nine witnesses with the
    convict as the ninth witness.

  • Why pharmaceutical multinationals left Nigeria – PMG-MAN

    Why pharmaceutical multinationals left Nigeria – PMG-MAN

    The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) on Sunday bemoaned the paucity of foreign exchange in the country, saying it had negatively affected the local pharmaceutical industry.

    They attributed fluctuations in forex as major reason for the exit of some pharmaceutical multinationals from Nigeria.

    The group raised the concerns at a news conference in Lagos on the forthcoming 7th Edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME) billed to hold on Sept. 4 and Sept.5 .

    Some multinational pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Nigeria Ltd, exited the country within the past year.

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) discontinued operations in Nigeria in August 2023, ending its 51-year existence in the country, while French pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Sanofi, exited Nigeria in November.

    The Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), NPME 2024, Mr Patrick Ajah, said that for the domestic pharmaceutical industry to progress, a stable exchange rate was essential.

    Ajah, a Pharmacist and the Managing Director of May & Baker, said that many companies are also on standby for the implementation and take off of the recently announced Executive Order.

    On June 29, President Bola Tinubu signed an Executive Order removing tariffs and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on pharma imports.

    The order introduces zero tariffs, excise duties, and VAT on specialised machinery, equipment and pharmaceutical raw materials to bolster local production of essential healthcare products.

    The order has yet to take effect.

    Ajah said: “ Unless the value of Naira is fixed, achieving the country’s target of 70 per cent in local drug manufacturing will remain a mirage.

    “The government will need to do certain things to achieve 70 per cent local drug production.

    “The recent fluctuations in the value of the Naira have made it difficult for companies to plan and invest.

    “This is one major reason why multinational companies are leaving. It’s not the fear of subsidy removal.

    “If we didn’t tamper with the currency, all the multinational companies would be here and they would still be making more investment.

    “But, if somebody brought his money, when they were bringing the money, and all the money from outside by multinational companies will have to go through the banking system.

    “I’m telling you because I was involved in it. And when it gets through the banking system, it will be at official rate.

    “So, you brought in money to come and build a facility at the exchange rate of N316, and now you’re going to be remitting the money at N1,500 and something, and you can’t even find the dollar.

    “Many companies will not be able to cope. So fixing our exchange rate is going to be the one single thing that will immediately reset where we are.”

    Ajah called for increased government support for the local pharmaceutical industry.

    According to him, with the right support, Nigeria can produce 70 per cent of the medicines it consumes.

    Citing India as an example, he said that the country supported its domestic pharmaceutical industry, and today, India was notable for drug manufacturing.

    “The Indian government has provided financial and technical assistance to local manufacturers, and has even intervened to secure technology from other countries,” he said.

    Ajah asserted that Nigeria had the capacity for local production of diverse drugs but that many companies lacked the financial resources to invest in new facilities or upgrade existing ones.

    According to him, the recent devaluation of the Naira worsened the challenge.

    He called for a reduction in interest rates, saying that the current rates, which are as high as 30 percent, present a major barrier to investment in the industry.

    Also, Mr Frank Muonemeh, the Executive Secretary of PMG-MAN, asserted that local pharma manufacturers were currently producing 40 per cent of the medicines used in the country.

    He, however, urged for partnerships between governments and local companies, similar to what was being given to other industries such as the cement manufacturing and petroleum industries.

    Muonemeh stressed that a strong domestic pharmaceutical industry would strengthen national security.

    Also, citing the example of India’s drug production scenario, he said the country  prioritised its domestic industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and advised the Federal Government to take related approach.

    “ Nigeria can achieve the goal of producing 70 per cent of its own medicines with the right government support.

    “Increased exports from the domestic pharmaceutical industry will also help to alleviate the country’s foreign exchange challenges’’.

    On the 2024 Edition of NPME, the PMG-MAN scribe said the theme was: “40 Years of Advocacy: Fostering Partnership and Innovation to Unlock the Pharma Manufacturing Value Chain in Nigeria, Central & West Africa”.

    He said the ambitious goal of the expo was to drive Nigeria toward self-sufficiency and medicine security, aiming to reverse the country’s dependency on imported medicine.

    According to him, beyond overcoming barriers to medicine access, the PMG-MAN members significantly contribute to national development by providing jobs, paying taxes and more.

    He said the 7th NPME 2024 was the flagship expo, and the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing exhibition in Central and West Africa, organised by PMG-MAN and partners, GPE India.

    “Experts predict that the Nigerian pharma space would be the next frontier for smart investment and trade, with great but largely untapped potential to contribute to national and regional development.

    “To unlock this potential, the group is organising a biennial Pharma Expo and Exhibition, focusing on the latest pharma technology, machinery, equipment, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and showcasing locally manufactured medicines, diagnostics, and consumables,’’ he said.

    Muonemeh said the theme of the expo was chosen to enable robust and comprehensive stakeholder engagement in the industry.

    He said the event was a must-attend event for all actors in the pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem and potential investors in the pharmaceutical space.

    According to him, it offers a rare opportunity for productive networking and B2B engagement among all stakeholders, including regulators, policymakers, professionals and ancillary companies.

    The scribe added that stakeholders such as the academia, students, development partners, bilateral organisations, researchers, and NGOs are also not going to be left out.

    Participants are expected to visit the PMG-MAN’s website for registration.

  • UNIMAGINABLE! Man stores 100 live snakes in his trousers in China

    UNIMAGINABLE! Man stores 100 live snakes in his trousers in China

    A man has been caught trying to smuggle over 100 live snakes into mainland China by cramming them into his trousers, according to the country’s customs authority.

    The unnamed traveller was stopped by customs officers as he sought to slip out of semi-autonomous Hong Kong and into the border city of Shenzhen, China Customs said in a statement on Tuesday.

    “Upon inspection, customs officers discovered that the pockets of the trousers the passenger was wearing were packed with six canvas drawstring bags and sealed with tape,” the statement said.

    “Once opened, each bag was found to contain living snakes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours,” it added.

    The statement said officers seized 104 of the scaly reptiles, including milk snakes and corn snakes, many of which were non-native species.

    An accompanying video showed two border agents peering into transparent plastic bags filled with squirming red, pink and white snakes.

    China is one of the world’s biggest animal trafficking hubs, but authorities have cracked down on the illicit trade in recent years.

    The country’s biosecurity and disease control laws forbid people from bringing in non-native species without permission.

    “Those who break the rules will be… held liable in accordance with the law,” the customs authority said, without specifying the man’s punishment.

  • Court orders release of man detained for over 8 months, award him N25m in damages

    Court orders release of man detained for over 8 months, award him N25m in damages

    An Enugu High Court has ordered the immediate release of Mr Sunday Onyeabuchi over unlawful detention by the police and ordered his bank to unfreeze his account.

    The Court sitting in Enugu also awarded N25million in damages against the first and second Respondents, Chidiebere Ijioma
    Commander Octopus Squad Enugu
    and the Commissioner of Police Enugu State

    In his ruling, Justice C.I. Nwobodo on Wednesday declared that “through the prompting of the 1st Respondent a wrongful, unreasonable, oppressive and unconstitutional and amounted to infringement of Applicant’s Fundamental right to freedom of personal liberty and dignity of
    his human person guaranteed under Ss. 34(1) and 35(1) of the Constitution
    of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 4, 5 and
    6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

    The Court also declared that the freezing of the Applicant’s bank account No.
    0040009884 with the 3rd Respondent bank on the behest of the 1st
    Respondent is unwarranted, arbitrary, oppressive and unconstitutional and
    breached the Applicant’s right against compulsory acquisition of his
    property.

    “This Court hereby Orders the Respondents particularly the 3rd Respondent to
    unfreeze the Applicant’s account with it forthwith.

    ” The Respondents, their agents are perpetually restrained from further
    harassing the Applicant or freezing his bank account in connection with this
    matter.

    “The 1st and 2nd Respondents had no respect for the stature of the person of
    the Applicant nor respect for his personal dignity for which he is to be
    compensated in damages to assuage the breach of his right to personal
    liberty and dignity.

    “In all the circumstances of this case the Court makes an
    award of twenty five million naira (N25,000,000.00) against the 1st and 2nd
    Respondents in vindication of his fundamental rights.

    “The 3rd Respondent is found not liable for violating the Respondent’s rights
    in this application haven merely obeyed the Order of the Court.

    “There is cost of N100,000.00 to the Applicant against the 1st and 2nd Respondents.
    Appearance; Emeka Asogwa, Esq. for the Applicant.

  • I can’t date a guy from the Island, says Moyin Adeoye

    I can’t date a guy from the Island, says Moyin Adeoye

    A makeup artist, model, and entrepreneur, Moyin Adeoye, has criticized the affluent men residing in Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and surrounding areas, labeling them as problematic.

    Moyin made her thoughts public in a chat with Egungun on Instagram, saying she can’t date any guy from the Island because most of them live fake lives.

    Moyin, who is a graduate of Biology from Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, appears to be speaking from experience. She admitted that her bum isn’t natural and that she had it done for N8.5M.

    When Potpourri chatted her up via DM, she affirmed her statement that she knew what she was talking about.

    “First off…. About 80% of them are small minded, the things they want in a relationship are not in any way as grand as what I want and second,, I’m extremely terrified of marriage,so I’m really just holding off on everyone,” she added.

    She continued, “I’ve had first hand experience of a bad marriage. So, it’s really not just about island guys or guys generally … .I’m just too emotionally detached from things like that.”

  • Why every man should have multiple wives – Seun Kuti

    Why every man should have multiple wives – Seun Kuti

    Afrobeat star, Seun Kuti, has revealed why every man should abolish monogamy.

    According to him polygamy should be embraced and men ought to be allowed to have multiple women.

    Seun Kuti stated this during the recent episode of the ‘Bahd & Boujee’ podcast, asserting that having multiple women signify power and affluence.

    He said:

    “Monogamy doesn’t work. As a powerful man, you must have the support of numerous powerful goddesses. You know, women that are in your life because the ancestors want to put them there. You share with them.”

     

  • Ooni of Ife reacts to a man who claimed he’s his son in viral video

    Ooni of Ife reacts to a man who claimed he’s his son in viral video

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has reacted to a claim by a man that the monarch gave birth to him.

    Speaking on Thursday via a statement issued by the palace spokesperson, Moses Olafare, the king disowned the man in the viral video and accused him of impersonation.

    – Advertisement –

    Olafare went on to disclose that the matter had been reported to the police for further action, adding that the Ooni of Ife, being a responsible father and custodian of tradition, knew and acknowledged all his children and would stop at nothing to take full responsibility for them.

    He also declared that the self-acclaimed prince is unknown to the palace and the Ile-Ife populace.

    The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to an amateur video clip featuring a grown-up individual claiming to be a son of our father, Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, the Ooni of Ife, virally trending across various online platforms.

    “The self-acclaimed prince was unknown to the palace and the Ile-Ife populace.

    “He is not a child of Ooni Ogunwusi as fraudulently claimed and also never related in any way to any lineage of the Ogunwusi royal family and the Giesi royal compound of Ile-Ife at large.

    “We categorically condemn and denounce this shameless act of impersonation in the strongest possible terms.

    “It is imperative to clarify that the Ooni of Ife, as a responsible father and custodian of tradition, knows and acknowledges all his children and stops at nothing to take full responsibility for them (both those who are in Nigeria and outside the country).”

    Ooni of Ife further listed all his children and their respective locations all over the world.

    “As all of Ooni’s children are well known to the palace and the people of Ile-Ife, the eldest child of the Ooni is Princess Adeola Ogunwusi, a Masters degree holder working and residing in Canada, followed by Princess Adewamiwa Ogunwusi, who recently relocated to further her education in Dublin, Ireland, from where she had come three years ago for her secondary school education in her home country, Nigeria.

    “Princess Adesewa is doing very well, Prince Tadenikawo Ogunwusi is widely known to be with his mother, hale and hearty while the newborn twins, Prince Adebisi Kehinde and Princess Taiwo Adeayo, are being planned to formally make their historic entry into the palace in a couple of days, in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Ife palace,” it statememt firther disclosed.

    The palace while condemning the marauding impersonation tactics to exploit the revered status of the Ooni of Ife for fraudulent personal gains, added that it was not only sacrilegious but criminal.

    “Impersonation of any member of the royal family is a sacrilege against the sanctity of the palace and the heritage it represents.

    “While the palace leaves no stone unturned to go after this criminal using all possible means to scapegoat him, with a view to making him face the law for necessary deterrence, we hereby urge the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the perpetrator to justice as swiftly as possible,” it added.

    It asked that any individual with useful information about the whereabouts of the impersonator to seek an audience with the palace or the police.

    “We call on the impersonator to refrain from engaging in or promoting such deceptive practices.

    “The The house of oduduwa remained committed to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and would not tolerate any attempt to undermine or tarnish its legacy through fraudulent means,” Olafare concluded.

     

  • Tyla speaks on her ideal Man

    Tyla speaks on her ideal Man

    Grammy-winning South African singer, has revealed that she isn’t fond of extremely funny men.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Capital Xtra, London, the ‘Water’ crooner said her ideal man is a dominant man.

    According to her, “My biggest turn on is a dominant man. And my biggest turn off is guys that are funny all the time. I like funny guys but when they don’t know when to be serious it irritates me.”

    Meanwhile, Tyla in an interview with Power 106 FM, Los Angeles, talked about Chris Brown’s support for her music before she gained global prominence.

    “Chris Brown would come to my show, disguise and stay with the audience,” she recalled.

    Tyla hit international stardom after her song ‘Water’ became a global sensation after going viral on Tiktok.

    ‘Water’ won the maiden Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammys.

  • 80-yr-old man commits suicide in Lagos

    80-yr-old man commits suicide in Lagos

    The Police Command in Lagos State has confirmed that an 80-year-old man, allegedly committed suicide at Imota area of the state.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to NAN on Friday.

    Hundeyin said one Mustapha, (landlord of the deceased), made a report of the death at the Imota Police Division, at about 12.26 a.m on Friday.

    He said Mustapha reported that at about 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, while at his house located at Watchtower Street, Araromi in Imota, he heard the children of the deceased shouting and calling him to come and see their father in the kitchen.

    According to Mustapha, he ran into their kitchen, and saw the lifeless body of his tenant, called Isiaka Ayinde, 80-year-old, hanging on a rope that was tied to the burglary railing of one of the windows in the kitchen.

    “The scene has been visited by DCB personnel of Imota Division and photographs taken.

    “Though, the family of the deceased is not interested in depositing the body in the mortuary, rather, they preferred to bury the corpse immediately, due to age and religious inclination,” Hundeyin said.