The body of the veteran singer arrived at the COSON head office and was received by members of the association.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he remains of Nigerian reggae legend, Ras Kimono arrived Asaba, Delta State capital yesterday with a street procession by members of the rastas fraternity and the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) in his honour.From Asaba, it now proceed to his ancestral home of Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State where he would be committed to mother earth today (Saturday).
The burial activities had started in Lagos earlier in the week, Friday’s home coming took Asaba by storm as lovers of his genre of music defied intermittent rains, and marched along with the Rastafarians and COSON members across major roads into the Cenotaph where the deceased was briefly laid in state.
Speaking in an emotion-laden voice, Chief Executive Officer of COSON, Tony Okoroji described Kimono as an incredibly talented and detribalised Nigerian who stood for peace in his entire lifetime.
Okoroji said Kimono was not just a member of COSON but an activist of the society who “struggled with us. Our prayer is that the incredible spirit he left behind will continue to bind us together. There will never be another Kimono.
“But I know that Kimono lives. As we drove from Lagos yesterday (Thursday), ordinary people at every stop, were singing Kimono’s songs and dancing to his beats.”
Okoroji seized the opportunity to appeal to Nigerian politicians to deliver good governance to every citizen “so that we will no longer be singing a song like ‘Under Pressure’ he said.
National grand patron for Rastas, Nigeria and African representative, Ras Edu Dickson who led the procession also gave a brief tribute.
Kimono’s daughter, Oge said her father was selfless, compassionate, loving, patient, describing him as her best friend.She said her father “came, saw and conquered,” adding that through him, the world experienced the meaning of true love. Recalls that the iconic reggae artiste breathed his last on June 10, 2018.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is no longer news that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad now known as Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad has received the attention of the Presidency via a Presidential Directive
Before the presidential directive, it may interest the general public that IGP Ibrahim Idris has in December 2017 commenced the overhaul of SARS by appointing a Commissioner of Police to take charge of the new FSARS in the person of amiable CP Haliru Gwandu, to be supervised DIG Habila Joshak, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations Department at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
As part of the overhaul, the IGP also directed that a FSARS Commander of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and not below Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of State and Zonal Commands of FSARS across the Country.
It may interest the general public especially the agitator of #EndSARS that the Committee on the Overhaul of SARS has developed a new FSARS Organizational Policy Framework and Operational Guidelines and Procedures has been shared with the officers for strict compliance.
Also pending when a new outfit with proper identification will be made available to the personnel of FSARS, the FSARS operatives are to wear Police uniforms with full identification.
Aside the fact that FSARS Operatives are to go through rigorous medical/psychological screening and Human Rights protection orientation programmes and Processes, all new Police recruit will also go through the same process henceforth.
At a stakeholder meeting held on Friday, August 24, 2018, the the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris represented by DIG Habila Joshak, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations Department, along with Commissioner of Police Federal SARS, and DCP Amaechi Elumelu in charge of the IGP’s X-Squad and others senior Officers where the Media and the public were addressed on the progress made so far in the overhaul of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, now known as FSARS.
The critical Stakeholders meeting had in place Mr Segun Awosanya, Convener of #EndSARS and head of Universal Institutional Reform Advocacy Foundation and Dr Femi Amosun, Professor Olu Ogunsakin represented by Mr Ayo Omotade, Mr Asekome Oteiku, Director Legal/Admin International Human Rights Protection, Ayo Akani and Team from Lincoln Carter Foundation and other key Stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, DIG Joshak Habila stressed that the overhaul of SARS was beyond rhetoric and real reform was taking place. He noted among other things that Federal SARS operatives had been ordered not to attend to civil or commercial matters again but strictly look into Armed Robbery and Kidnapping cases only.
Also speaking at the stakeholder meeting, the CP FSARS, CP Habiru Gwandu informed the gathering of the creation of a Human Rights Desk in every States of the Federation to address cases of infractions against members of the public by FSARS personnel anywhere in the country in collaboration with other Human Rights organisations.
He went further to note that the Police has involved the services of psychologists and counsellors in the ongoing screening of FSARS operatives.
The head of IGP’s X-Squad, a unit with the mandate of enforcing discipline in the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Amaechi Elumelu stated that the screening and mobilization of FSARS operatives would not be business as usual again, pointing out that anyone who would become an operative would go through rigorous orientation, Human Rights training and other screening processes that will includes the evaluation of their previous records on Human Rights.
He announced the setting up of the Custody Records Management System which will be unveiled by the Inspector General of Police very soon. He explained that this system would contain the records of arrests, detentions and welfare details of suspects, noting that this system would discourage arbitrary arrest of people and ensure that suspects are charged to court within 24 hours according to the law.
The man who spearheaded the #ENDSARS campaign, Mr Segun Awosanya appreciated the President Buhari for the swift action in ordering the overhaul of SARS, noting that the government was a listening one. He called for trust between citizens and the Police noting that “if it is well with the Police, it is well with the nation.” He further said that he would be giving all it takes to support the Police Force and promised to raise funds for the overhaul of SARS now known as FSARS. The Trust fund will be managed by an independent body with regular auditing from reputable auditing firm.
I am using the opportunity to call on the Presidency to made adequate fund available as the overhaul of FSARS will only be effective when there is adequate funding to carry out Medical/Psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel; new training program to be organized by the Force in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations on core Police Duties, Observant of Human Rights and Handling, Care and Custody of Suspects; Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the Country and establishment of Human Right Desk across the 36 States and the FCT.
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Adewole Kehinde is a Journalist based in Abuja.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hief John Nnia Nwodo ,the President General of the umbrella body of Ndigbo Worldwide, the Ohanaeze has reacted to the court ordered release of Ndigbo women and salutes the Judiciary for allowing reason and respect for human rights to prevail. The Ohanaeze leader who is recuperating abroad from a mild surgery warned Igbos against shooting themselves on the foot no matter the provocation.
In a statement he personally signed , Chief Nwodo said that Ohaneze is pleased that reason and respect for human rights prevailed and that a little over one hundred women who were exercising their fundamental human rights could not conceivably be any threat to peace in Imo State.
“I salute the courage of the Imo State judiciary and the professionalism of the State Attorney General. Never again shall we Igbos at this critical time shoot ourselves again on the foot. No matter how provocative, incindiary and unruly IPOB may be, they are our children. Aggrieved children can sometimes loose their guard.
Nwodo urged Imo State government to demonstrate some restraint in the future. “Here are young people described as terrorists for daring to speak out in the face of degradation, marginalization and inhuman treatment.
“While they are proscribed, Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors, Meyetti Allah move about freely reeling out new threats, occupying Southern and Middle Belt farms forcibly with the law enforcement agents either aiding them or intentionally looking away. Churches are invaded, priests killed yet no one is arrested. Thousands are killed, thousands are rendered homeless, no one cares. IDPS are established only when the displaced come from a favoured section of the country.
Nwodo noted that Boko Haram loot, plunder, kidnap but the government negotiates with them spending unappropriated and undisclosed sums! Yet IPOB is proscribed for just speaking up. Arewa youths spoke treason and were defended by Governors and treated with privilege!
“No wonder our security chiefs are appointed on the basis of where they come from. Any Igbos who is not angry at the situation in the country today must have his head reexamined.
“Now, they contemplate Operation Python Dance 3 without dealing with the carnage of Operation Python dance 2 where UN rules of engagement were flagrantly violated. Who won’t be angry under these circumstances.
The Ohanaeze leader admonished Governor Rochas Okorocha not allow his anger at IPOB’S verbal provocations override his paternity.
“Borrow a leaf from me. I am abroad and emerging from theatre for a mild surgery and I have read how it is being said that Ohanaeze and the South East governors masterminded you to detain our sisters but noted that the false propaganda did not stop me from directing Ohaneze Publicity Secretary from condemning the detention.
“The provocation, double standards, and subjection to servitude far outweigh the denigration their false propaganda subject us to.
Ndigbo anam asi ” ozor emezina”
Finally, Nwodo warned against over stretching the peoples endurance limit “May our endurance not be stretched to the point where it challenges Hooke’s law on elastic limit”
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]rassroots Newspaper Publishers Network (GNPN) National President, Chief Duke Okirika has congratulated the Muslim Ummah across the country as Muslims across the world mark this year’s Eid el Kabir celebrations.Chief Okirika expressed gratitude to God for the turn of the season, saying the occasion of Eid el Kabir calls for greater sacrifices by all Muslims and other adherents of other faiths to the collective oneness of Nigeria.
The National President urged Muslims to be more united and knit the bounds of friendship and brotherhood.
He asked Muslims to use the occasion of this year’s Eid el Kabir to pray for the continuous peaceful coexistence amongst all Nigerians without discrimination.
In a statement signed by GNPN image maker Comrade Abiagom Ike issued in Asaba, Chief Okirika stressed that the occasion of Eid el Kabir, being the last lap of the festivities on the Muslim calender for the year, was an all important occasion for all Muslims to exemplify the good virtue of the religion of Islam.
He congratulated Muslim Ummah across the state and country at large on the occasion of this year’s Eid el Kabir.
He said in a message that the occasion of Eid el Kabir calls for greater devotion, sacrifice, tolerance, sympathy and love to one another and Nigeria as our country.
He called on Nigerians to embibe the virtue of sacrifice, love and commitment to the ideals of coexistence.
In his message to citizens, Chief Okirika used the opportunity to salute the traditional rulers, religious leaders for their support, prayers and commitment to the pursuit of peace and harmonious coexistence of all.
Chief Okirika enjoined all citizens to continue to live in peace and shun anything that could heat up the polity and cause anxious moments.
He congratulated the Muslim Ummah on behalf of the entire members of Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network for another festive season of the Eid el Kabir which he noted symbolises sacrifice. He prayed for a hitch free celebration.
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igerians Muslims have joined others across the world to celebrate Eid-El-Kabir, a day set aside to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
Also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”, Eid-al-Adha is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two. The Greater Eid also marks the end of Hajj, the five-day religious journey that takes Muslims to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The day begins with congregational prayers by Muslim faithful, followed by the slaughtering of animals, which could be a sheep or a goat, the meat of which is shared among friends, family, and the poor.
To allow Muslims mark the day, the Federal Government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays.Across the country on Tuesday morning, Muslims trooped out to Eid prayer grounds for the prayers.
In Daura, Katsina State, where President Buhari is marking the special occasion thousands also joined him at the Eid ground for prayers. In his Sallah message to the nation On Monday, the President called on Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests and promote peace and unity in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday joined thousands of Muslim faithful to observe the two raka’at Eid el-Kabir prayer in Daura, Katsina State. The president arrived the Eid Praying Ground in company of his aides and relatives at about 9.48 a.m.
Buhari performed the annual sacrifice of slaughtering of the ram immediately after the prayer session.He trekked for over 800 metres from the prayer ground to his private residence amidst chanting of `Sai Baba’ by well- wishers.
President Buhari also urged all Muslims to use the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations for sober reflection and self-examination, as well as strive to be good ambassadors of Islam by upholding high moral values.
He reminded them that the occasion is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.
“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu.
Senate President Bukola Saraki also issued a statement urging Nigerians to remain united and to use the occasion to pray for peace in all parts of the country.
He commended Muslims on the celebration of the 2018 Eid el-Kabir festival, describing the occasion as “a period that honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to show submission to Allah’s command”.
“As we have read from the Glorious Qur’an, just when Ibrahim was about to kill his son Ishmael, Almighty Allah (SWT) put a sheep in its place,” Saraki said. “Muslims use Eid el-Kabir to celebrate Prophet Ibrahim’s complete obedience to the will of Allah and as a reminder of our own willingness to make sacrifices in obedience to Allah.”
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]wner of Total Filling station along the summit road in Asaba whose name was given as Kingsley Nwani together with his brother Nwayor Nwani have allegedly been killed on Sunday evening by their elder brother, Aniemeka Nwani who is in his 30s over the ownership of properties. The Nwani family of Issele-Uku in Aniocha Local Government Area of the state is an independent marketer of petroleum products in the Delta capital.
Grassroots Publishers gathered from a family source on Monday that Aniemeka killed his brothers one of whom was an undergraduate with a machete. A close friend of the family said, “ever since their father died, the brothers have been fighting over properties especially the Total filling station. Kingsley Nwani has been the one running it and their mum loves the two younger brothers and favours them more than the older one. So when the older brother noticed that he is losing out, he killed both of them with knife by cutting their neck and Kingsley died immediately while the other brother was rushed to the hospital and died also”.
Another source who pleaded anonymity did not give details but said the three brothers and their widowed mother had a family meeting before the ugly incident.He said however that the man (Aniemeka) had been a patient at a psychiatric home in Uselu in Edo State.
He said the widow, a Permanent Secretary in the Delta civil service, had returned from Canada where the daughter lives two weeks ago, after a medical check-up when the incident occurred.
Grassroots Publishers gathered that the suspect is presently at large and the filling station is under lock and key.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Delta, (DSP) Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident and described it as tragic.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Garba,the former Controller of Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar.He took battle to the Smugglers den immediately he assumed office as the controller of Federal Operation Unit, Zone “A” because he vowed to stop smugglers from operating in entire south west zone during his tenure as FOU, Zone”A” boss because he knows that smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.
He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja when it comes to customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are repentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest. A believer in optimum delivery wherever he serves. Compt. Mohammed Garba, enumerated the obvious consequences of smuggling to the nation’s economy and her citizenry especially when it has brought unspeakable grief and sorrows to those caught and members of their families.
For years rice and vehicle smugglers in the southwest geo-political region were always smiling to the bank while the
economy suffers. The smuggling situation may have forced Muhammed Uba Garba, Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, and his men to go back to the drawing board on how to cage the smugglers by acting on credible intelligence.
The effort of Mohammed and his men may have worked out as the Command impounded 127,000, of ”50” bags of foreign parboiled rice in 2017 alone. The rice smugglers may have realised that there was no hiding place for them in the illegal business as they were forced to scale down their operations , thus giving the Command patrol teams combing the bush paths and waterways in the region little or no job to do.
Mohammed confirmed that there had been a significant drop in the smuggling of foreign parboiled rice and Vehicles
across the land border Areas in the region in the recent months because of the measures put on ground and the activities of the patrol officers.This is evident going by the quantity of rice and other seizures that were said to have been made by the Command between January and June 2018. The Magazine gathered that the Command made a seizure f about 34, 000 bags of ”50” foreign parboiled allegedly smuggled into the country through illegal routes. The Customs boss , who is optimistic that the drop would persist because of the Customs anti-smuggling personnel who are all over the region said there was no gaing back. Take for instance, the Headquarter’s Strike Force personnel, who have virtually taken over the Iseyin and Sarki area in Oyo state as their branded vehicles are everywhere .
Given the loses incured between January and June 2018, rice smugglers may have devised new strategies to beat FOU , Zone A, personnel to it. But Mohammed Uba disclosed that every steps taken by them would continue to be punctured by acting on credible intelligence . He cited the Concealment of 330 ”50”kg bags of foreign parboiled with Charcoal in a Containerised truck . The truck was said to have been impounded at Idiroko land border, Ogun state.
The FOU, Zone A personnel, according to sources have every reason to be hard on foreign rice smugglers to save foreign exchange for the government. This is because between 2015 and now, the Federal ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria had not given Letter of Credit, LC, to any rice importer, meaning that the government had save about $60 million or N215 billion on rice imports. This is because rice is one of the 41 items banned by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from accessing the foreign Exchange market.
With the ban on rice importers from accessing the forex market, the Asian country of Thailand rice farmers appears to be losing their Nigeria Customers. A CBN source told the Grassroots Publishers that the yearly rice import of 1.2 million metric tons had dropped to less than 700,000 metric tons with the implementation of the policy as many importers had gone into the rice farming business.
Already Mohammed has told those that care to listen that their obligation is to support the Federal government policy on rice imports to encourage local rice farmers and the millers in order to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. Given an insider view of the activities of the Command between June 13, 2018 and July 25, 2018, the Customs boss disclosed that 9,504”50”kg bags of Thailand rice, 426 ”25”kg jerry cans of vegetable oil, 333 cartons of poultry products, 287 bales of secondhand clothing and 196 pieces of used tyres were seized and kept in the warehouse awaiting Headquarters orders for evacuation to the Internally Displaced Peoples, IDP , Camps in Borno state .
Hameed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, was said to have directed the
evacuation of 11,597 bags of ”50” bags of foreign parboiled rice by the Nigeria Army of Supply and Transport , NACST, IDP, Camp in Borno state to create space to warehouse other seized items. Other items on the evacuation list are 627 and 485 jerry cans of Vegetable Oil 25 liters and 5 liters each, 219 bales of used clothing and 33 sacks of used shoes.
Another major item intercepted by the Commmand within the period were 21 exotic vehicles. They are one Mercedes Benz, G500, 2016 model, six Toyota Hiace Bus, 2018 model, three Lexus Jeep GX460 and Lx570, 2017 model and one Toyota , Hilux, 2017 model. Others are Toyota Land Cruiser, (2016), Toyota Hilux bullet proof,(2014), Toyota Corolla,(2018), Honda Civic, 2016, Honda Accord, 2016 and Dodge Charger, 2016, one piece each. the FOU, Zone A, Customs boss, confirmed that the 21 exotic detained vehicles have a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N484.46
million. The vehicles were said to have been detained because the owners could not produce relevant Customs documents. Just as rice smugglers in the south west have scaled down their operatons, the same was said to be applicable to vehicle importers. There are fears in both official and unofficial circles that these vehicles may be forfeited to the government. That much was confirmed by Muhammed Uba, who ” urged the owners of the detained vehicles to come forward with valid Customs documents to take delivery of it otherwise they will be liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture to the government in line with the provisions of sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap 145, laws to search premise freely and 158, Cap 145, power to patrol freely, 2004.
Investigation by the Grassroots Publishers shows that most of smuggled vehicles found on the Lagos -Ibadam expressway which had fallen into the waiting hands of the FOU, Zone A, patrol team personnel or at the Checkpoint were smuggled through the north. This is because the tight security provided by Muhammed Uba and his men in the south west, particular, Idiroko, Seme, Iseyin and Sarki.
Perhaps, what may have gladdened the Comptroller, was the interception of an Iveco Truck with Registration No. LAM283 LG along the Ijebu Ode Ore Road carrying 498 cartons of CSP Codeine Cough Syrup,100 ml with each carton containing 200 bottles. It would be recalled that Emzor Pharmaceutical Company Ltd and two other Pharmaceutical Companies in Kwara state one production line each was shut for producing Cough syrup with Codeine allegedly manufactured in United Kingdom. The federal government had banned the importation of Cough Syrup that contains Codeine. The closure of the Pharmaceutical Companies Coup Syrup production lines may have opened the eye of FOU ,personnel in Zone A and Zone C , to put a close tab on Pharmaceutical products imported into the country. the question on the lips of most people was:How did the CSP Cough Syrup enter into the country, if Customs personnel at the Idiroko land border where the Truck was allegedly intercepted had not compromised with smugglers.
Mohammeed Uba has given his words that the items would be handed over the items to the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, for further investigation. Another major seizures that may have given the Customs Comptroller joy were two the Containers at the seaports because of their contents which contravenes the government fiscal policy measures. The Containers were said to have been intercepted by the Command operations and Lagos Roving team Headed by Riks Lura, a Chief Superintendent of Customs. The Container Nos. are PCIU922650/8 and PCIU871664/5 respectively. The Containers were seized at the instance of the
Mohammed Uba , the Area Comptroller for false declaration which contravenes the government fiscal policy measures. The first Container, was said to have been seized for carrying 525 bales of second hand clothing as against used motor cycles declared in the SGD Form while the second ”40”Container fell into the Customs hand for carrying 11 jumbo bales of jeans, 365 cartons of new slippers, 145 cartons of new bags as against ”adhesive dressing declared”. Insiders informed the Grassroots Publishers that the Command also impounded two Containers filled with unprocessed wood for export to China against the government policy on wood exports. one of the Containers was said to have been intercepted at Tin-can Island port while the second one came from Apapa. The seizure of the Containers have exposed the rot at the seaports.
The Grassroots Publishers gathered that some people have been arrested in connection with the seized Containers. As at Wednesday, July 25, 2018, the suspects were still in detention awaiting for their bail order to be confirmed.Despite working round the clock to sanitise the seaports, airport and Land border stations, the Command was said to have recovered N67.4 million for the government. This is revenue could have entered into private pockets but for the intervention of the Command. The FOU, Zone A,former Customs boss may have played into the hand of some powerful importers and agents who are well connected and before of his incessant seizure of Containers for contravention of government fiscal policy measures and may have resorted to blackmail him to put him in the bad book of the Management.
The recent redeployment of this anti-smuggling czar to Seme Border Command is welcome development as we all know that he will perform very well in terms of revenue generation, anti-smuggling drive, legitimate trade facilitation and the security of the nation through the effective manning of the border and he will soak the culture of transparency and professionalism while discharging his responsibilities.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Head of Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr. Olu Isaac Adenipekun , was elected as Vice President of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) at the just concluded 36th Annual Conference of the (AEAA)for a one–year tenure in Maseru, Lesotho. He succeeds Dr. Litsabako Ntoi of the Examinations Council of Lesotho (ECOL).
The Conference, which was held from Monday, 6th to Friday, 10th August, 2018 with the theme – “Reforming Educational Assessment: A Renewed Agenda” was attended by 325 delegates from 27 countries across the globe and 82 papers were presented.
The 36th Annual AEAA Conference was declared open by the Honourable Minister of Education and Training of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Professor Ntoi Rapapa.
In his keynote address, Professor Ntoi Rapapa averred that the theme serves as a wake-up call for Assessment Bodies, as the 21st century knowledge, skills and expertise requires them to have a re–look at their role. He added that the need for integrating of technology into assessment combined with the broadening array of candidates the Assessment Bodies have to cater for, have introduced completely new dimensions in the mandate of these bodies.
The Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) is a non-profit making organisation established in 1982 to promote cooperation amongst examining and assessment bodies in Africa; to encourage relevant examining and assessment among members, sponsor international participation in the field of Educational Testing and Examination; commission and coordinate research projects; improve assessment, testing and examining within the individual member countries through the activities of the Association among others. It is affiliated to the International Association of Educational Assessment (IAEA).
During the closing ceremony of the 36th Annual AEAA Conference in Maseru, Lesotho, the baton for the hosting of the 37th Annual AEAA Conference was handed to WAEC Nigeria. In his acceptance speech, the Head of National Office of WAEC in Nigeria, Mr. Olu Isaac Adenipekun, informed delegates that the 37th Annual AEAA Conference with the theme: “Innovations in Educational Assessment” will be hosted by WAEC, Nigeria at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Abuja from August 5th to 9th, 2019.
He further stated that adequate efforts are being made to ensure a successful hosting of the 37th Annual AEAA Conference and used the opportunity to invite delegates to Abuja, Nigeria.
The WAEC delegation to the 36th Annual AEAA Conference was led by the Registrar to Council, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Uba has been redeployed as the new Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, the Grassroots Publishers reports.
Grassroots Publisher reports that Mohammed Uba , who has assumed duty at Seme today, was prior to now the Controller of the Federal Operations Unit , Zone ‘A’Ikeja , Lagos.He told the officers and men of the command that his intention was to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.The controller said that he would intensify his efforts toward more revenue generation.
In a brief ceremony conducted at the Seme Customs conference room,the outgoing Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu formally handed over the Command with the signing of the Handing/Taking over notes by both comptrollers.
In his remarks, the outgoing Controller thanked the Comptroller General of Customs (Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali rtd) for the opportunity given to him to serve and contribute his quota in the development of the nation. He promised to continue putting in more efforts at his new place of assignment and equally prayed for the success of his successor.
Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu disclosed that his tenure witnessed an unprecedented increase in revenue and seizures despite the numerous challenges. He gave a breakdown of his achievements as follows: between the months of March 2017 and August 2018, he collected a total revenue of overEight billion Naira (N8,433,739,742.27) and also made 1060 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over One billion Naira (N1,040,911,899.32)in the period under review. He also seized over 39950x50kg bags of rice which is equivalent to 66 trailer trucks.Furthermore,over 28,000 bags of rice were sent to IDP’s as per existing Federal Government policy.Inaddition to that, thirty seven (37) exotic vehicles were also confiscated. Also seized are various medicaments and other perishable items which were duly condemned and destroyed.
He also took some proactive steps to give the Seme border area an international outlook; critical amidst them is the reclaiming of the Seme border customs land that has over the years been encroached on illegally by unscrupulous individuals without due process and approval; by sanitizing the gate way corridor, he also reduced the miscreants and touts called “Kelegbes” who infiltrated the border and hinders trade facilitation. He also blocked an illegal passage by building a wall to the joint border post to ensure border security.
The new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba expressed his gratitude and wishes him God’s guidance in his new place of work. He also reminded the Customs officers on the importance of discipline in the discharge of their duties. According to him, team work, commitment and dedication to duty is essential in achieving success towards moving the command to greater heights.
“All hands must be on deck in dealing with the challenges of manning a peculiar international border like Seme, which is characterised by heavy vehicular movement and human traffic.“All officers must follow the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs while discharging their statutory responsibilities.
“We must also perform well in terms of revenue generation, anti-smuggling drive, legitimate trade facilitation and the security of the nation through the effective manning of the border.”
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba urged all officers to imbibe the culture of transparency and professionalism while discharging their responsibilities.He warned that any act of negative conduct among officers would not be tolerated by him.
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