CBN Boss, Emefiele, Recognized By World Financial Institution, Bags Forbes Award

October 13, 2017

CBN GOVERNOR AWARD IN US 1: The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele (left) receiving the 2017 Forbes Best of Africa Innovative Banking Award from the President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, Mr. Mark Furlong at a dinner held at the Willard Intercontinental, Washington, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC Thursday, October 12, 2017. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE — Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been recognized abroad, by a renown financial institution: Forbes Magazine which conferred on him, the 2017 Best Africa Innovative Banking Award.

Presenting the award to Emefiele at a dinner that was held at the Willard Intercontinental, Washington, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), yesterday, Thursday, October 12, the President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, Mark Furlong, said that the award was in recognition of Emefiele’s courage and determination in using monetary policy to ensure financial stability in Nigeria.

According to him, the CBN under Emefiele had also shown transparency, which had helped to stabilize the economy and had made huge interventions in the real sector of the economy.

He particularly cited the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) of the Bank as a major boost to the development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Before receiving the award, the CBN Governor had highlighted efforts made by the Bank, under his leadership, since 2014, to stabilize the financial system and maintain the international value of the naira.

Attributing the award to the collective efforts of the management and staff of the CBN, the cooperation of the Nigerian Federal Government and the people of Nigeria who stood by the Bank, he said the CBN had to take inflation head-on in order to check the negative effects of several global shocks that had hit Nigeria between 2014 and 2016.

He said that the monetary authorities were glad that its policies had contributed in forcing inflation down from its previous heights of 18 percent to 16 percent, even as he expressed optimism that the rate of inflation would be further lowered with other policies in place.

On the decision of the CBN to restrict access to foreign exchange from the Nigerian foreign exchange market to some 41 items, Emefiele stated that the CBN had to take bold decisions in order to stop a further plummeting of Nigeria’s foreign reserves due to huge import bills among other things.

Citing some success stories, the CBN Governor said the decision had yielded positive results, particularly with the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Bank, which had increased the yields of farmers, created wealth and provided jobs for thousands of Nigerians.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had urged the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Employment, Labour and Productivity, as well as other stakeholders including State Governors to strategise to create more jobs through agriculture.

According to him, countries that had made huge economic progress had done so through agriculture.

Speaking on the management of the country’s foreign exchange, he recalled the adjustments made to the naira, noting that the creation of several windows in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, particularly the investors’ window, had triggered excitement in the foreign investor community and led to capital inflow of about $10 billion into Nigeria between May and October 2017.

While thanking the foreign investors for showing confidence in the Nigerian economy, he invited the larger foreign investor community to invest in Nigeria, stressing that the Nigerian market remained the largest in Africa.

“Nigeria has a lot of potentials. The environment is good; the climate is good. Nigerians are hospitable and good people. Nigeria is good for business.”

Present at the event were the Acting Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Hassan Hassan; Deputy Governor of the Economic Policy of CBN, Dr. Okwu Nnanna; the President and CEO of Corporate Council on Africa, Florie Liser; former Ambassador of the US to Nigeria, Amb. Robin Sanders; Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Oluyemi Dipeolu; Director General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; CEOs of some Nigerian Deposit Money Banks, Chief Executives of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria and members of the foreign investment community. [myad]

Rotimi Amaechi To Nyeson Wike: You Are Cry Cry Governor

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

Former governor of Rivers state, now Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has described Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike as “cry cry governor.”

“What do you call him, ‘cry cry governor.’ He is a governor with one agenda, namely ‘Amaechi.’ He sleeps and wakes and dreams of Amaechi. He has no adviser. He sees me in his dreams. You know I’m a Catholic, there are powers they gave to us to fly at night to go and meet them.”

“Let him stop crying because it’s too early. When a man starts crying, it means he is afraid. Did I cry about President Goodluck Jonathan? I didn’t cry. I came out to fight for my right. But this man is crying because of ordinary one police CSP every day.”
The Minister, who spoke when he met with members of the APC in Eleme Kingdom in Rivers State, said that during his administration as Governor, the then President Goodluck Jonathan molested and harassed him with soldiers and police, yet he did not complain even as he said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not ready to rig elections in the state and that President Buhari will never allow such.

He asked the electorate in the state to fight for their right, saying: “I fought for my right (during the Jonathan’s administration) when the President was molesting and harassing me, I got up, mobilized Rivers People and we fought for our right.

“We would not have won Rivers governorship because they rigged everywhere, wrote results and brought army and police to chase us away.

“Now, there will be voting and they are shouting and crying ‘police o, army o; INEC o just because they are scared of what they did to us (APC). President Buhari will not allow that to happen. He will not allow any policeman to stop anyone from voting.

“That person is there shouting ‘INEC, police’ while he was inside INEC building the day of election and they were writing results and we didn’t complain. Now he is shouting ‘INEC o, police o’ because he is afraid.

“But we’ll follow the law; we shall vote on that day and get our people to vote for us. If we win, we thank God. If he wins, we thank God. It will be free and fair.” [myad]

Femi Adesina Angry With “Ignorant, Mischievous People” Who Twisted Buhari’s Words

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

Special Adviser to President Muhamnmadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, does not take kindly with those he described as ‘ignorant and mischievous people’ that twisted the words of the President on the issue bordering on the Northern vis-a-vis the Southern parts of Nigeria.

In an angry-packed statement reacting to publication in some social media to the effect that President Buhari requested a concentration of the World Bank’s intervention efforts in the Northern part of Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast, Adesina said: “the ignorant and mischievous people, who twist everything for their vile purposes, are making it seem that it was a calculated attempt to give the North an unfair advantage over other parts of Nigeria.”

The Presidential communication strategist began by saying: “those who specialize in a deliberate twisting of information have wailed and raged endlessly on the news item credited to the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, who disclosed in Washington DC, United States of America, that President Muhammadu Buhari had requested a concentration of the Bank’s intervention efforts in the northern part of Nigeria, particularly in the North-east.”

Adesina said that the truth of the matter is that President Buhari, right from his first week in office in June, 2015, had reached out to the G-7 in Germany that Nigeria needed help to rebuild the North-east, which had been terribly devastated by insurgency.

He quoted President Buhari as having said that the country would prefer help in terms of rebuilding of infrastructure, rather than cash donation, which may end up being misappropriated.

“In concert with Governors of the region, a comprehensive list of needed repairs was sent to the G-7 leaders.

“Also, during a trip to Washington in 2015, and many other engagements that followed, President Buhari sought the help of the World Bank in rebuilding the beleaguered North-east, which was then being wrested from the stranglehold of a pernicious insurgency. It was something always done in the open, and which reflected the President’s concern for the region.

“Those ululating over the disclosure by the President of the World Bank should be a bit reflective, and consider the ravages that the North-east has suffered since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency started. Schools, hospitals, homes, entire villages, towns, cities, bridges, and other public utilities have been blown up, laid waste, and lives terminated in excess of 20,000, while widows and orphans littered the landscape. The humanitarian crisis was in monumental proportions.”

Adesina made it clear that President Buhari simply did what a caring leader should do, adding that he took the battle to the insurgents, broke their backs, and then sought for help to rebuild, so that the people could have their lives back.

The spokesman asked: “should that then elicit the negative commentary that has trailed the disclosure from the World Bank?”

He answered: “not at all, except from insidious minds.

“President Buhari has a pan-Nigerian mandate, and he will discharge his duties and responsibilities in like manner. “Any part of the country that requires special attention would receive it, irrespective of primordial affinities, which narrow minded people have not been able to live above. This President will always work in the best interest of all parts of the country at all times. Let ethnic warriors sheathe their swords.” [myad]

Lessons From Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualifier Match, By Joseph Orjime

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

The Super Eagles of Nigeria became the first African team to qualify for the 2018 world cup tournament in Russia following their 1-0 win against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Group B on Saturday, 7th October, in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
With a 74th minute strike from Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, the win earned Super Eagles an unassailable 13 points and a ticket to the world cup.
Though it was not one of the most convincing performances as the visiting team from Zambia gave them a run for their money, the Super Eagles strove hard enough to secure a 1-0 win.
Torrents of congratulatory messages poured in over the weekend from all angles. Our dear president, Muhammadu Buhari,while congratulating the Eagles, described the victory as “sweet, soothing and a 57th independence anniversary gift to the nation.” He called on Nigerians to apply the values of perseverance, resilience, discipline, hard work and team spirit which propelled the footballers to excel since the beginning of the qualifying matches to all sections of national life.
As Nigerians from all walks of life continue to bask in the euphoria of that historic feat, it is pertinent to observe that indispensable lessons can be drawn from that scenario.
Taking a look at the 90 minutes battle, one could notice great moral values of determination to succeed; the team spirit, resilience, focus, hard work and unity of purpose. They all had one goal, and that was to achieve victory before the last whistle.
As the battle raged on, on the pitch in Uyo, there was no shout of an Igbo ethnic groups or Yoruba tribe, or Hausa-Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv, Nupe, Ijaw, Ibibio, Ebira, Igala, Idoma tribes. There was also no shout of Muslim or Christian majorities; Northerners or Southerners. The only participants in that match were Nigerians who were simply playing in the over all interest of their nation: Nigeria. Everybody was carried along. Football, no wonder they say, remains a unifying factor.
The Zambian coach, Wedson Nyirenga, while congratulating the Eagles on their victory, observed that the Nigerian side used their experience to carry the day. His words: “We played the game, dominating Nigeria, but with their experience, they got the needed goal from the half chance they created.”
That valid observation reminds us that the players were selected rather on the basis of merit and experience, ruling out the mundane issues of religious or ethnic considerations, or even intimacy with the coach.
With the indices so far outlined, Nigeria, with huge potentials, stands to make progress only if those in authorities, rather than lean on certain mediocres under any consideration, decide to use square pegs in square holes in the configuration of their cabinets.
Where a sitting president or governor resorts to compensating members of his ethnic stock, religious organization or other associates with political appointments amounts to sacrificing merit on the altar of nepotism.
All these shenanigans have continued to becloud the vision of our leaders, thereby creating a clog in the wheel of national progress and development.
Most disappointing to note is the fact that certain mischievous individuals use the instrument of power to settle political scores. They achieve this by scheming out their perceived enemies.
On the other hand, their cronies are usually rewarded with plum jobs notwithstanding their incompetence on those important national assignments.
Team Nigeria, constituted of international stars from European and Chinese clubs, was out for a win, and sure, they got it.
Sports lovers watched enthusiastically as they passed the ball to one other, built up momentum and advanced towards the goal post of their opponents. When they finally scored, everyone rejoiced. Both players and fans chorused “a goal” with one voice.
Even when Ogenyi Onazi was substituted in the middle of the game, there was no cry of marginalization.
Nigeria will go far if we all sacrifice our personal ambitions for the good of all, while tolerating each other, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

Joseph Orjime, a journalist and public affairs analyst, wrote in from Abuja.

[myad]

Buhari Promises To Wipe Off Tears Of Igbos, As He Meets Southeast Governors, Ohanaeze, Others

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

President Muhammadu Buhari and some south-east leaders shortly after the meeting — President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and some south-east leaders shortly after the meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured governors of the five states of the Igbo speaking Southeast, the President of Ohanaeze Ndi’Igbo, John Nnia Nwodo and other stakeholders from the Southeast that he is determined to wipe off their tears of marginalisation soon by constructing more roads and coastal rail projects in the region.
Speaking today, Friday, when he granted audience to the stakeholders, led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the President said that the 2nd Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project are also currently receiving utmost attention from his administration.
The President said that counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the Southeast region.
“I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off.
“I thank you for articulating your demands and I want to assure that we are doing our best for the country. If we can stop people from stealing, then there will be more resources to put into projects that will create employment for Nigerians.”
Responding to allegations of under-representation of Igbos in his government, the President said: “I gave Southeast four substantive ministers in the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour.
“Seven states in the North got Ministers of State and of the two Ministries headed by your sons, I cannot take any decision on foreign policy and investments without their input.”
The President also promised the leaders that he will visit the states in the region soon, saying: “I want to assure you that I came into government with a clear conscience and I will also leave with a clear conscience.”
Earlier, the President of Ohaneze, John Nwodo had articulated the demands of the region to the President, highlighting the issue of state creation, restructuring, federal projects in the Southeast, namely: Enugu-Onitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road and Aba-Ikot-Ekpene road, among others.
Nwodo also demanded urgent presidential interventions on the Enugu Airport, reticulation of the gas-pipelines in the South East and the standard gauge plan for railway construction.
Commending the President’s remarkable achievements on security and the fight against corruption, Nwodo declared: “we are ready to work with you. We are determined to work with you. We know you are a decisive leader and we know God will continue to give you the wisdom to govern Nigeria.”
Also speaking, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State expressed satisfaction on the outcome of their discussions with the President on critical issues and topics affecting the region.
“You have no hatred for any state. You have treated all states with equality. What one state gets in the north, the other gets in the south,’’ the governor said, referring to budget support facility and stabilisation fund released to states and local governments since the inception of the administration.”
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, Ohanaeze President General, Nwodo described their meeting with President Buhari as being frank and robust.
“We discussed problems of the Southeast and as head of state, he is the finale repository of an appeal for the resolutions of those problems. We went into great details about each of those problems and I have confidence that they will give it the attention there deserve.
“We dealt with problems of development in the Southeast, basic capital projects which have for a very long time been neglected, not just by this government but for a very long time. Major arteries of federal highways in the Southeast have been in complete state of disrepair.
“Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Aba-Ikoyi Ekpene are virtually impassable.
“We talked about the inland waterways and the dredging of the River Niger. We talked about the reticulation of gas pipeline on the south-east. We export gas from the south-east to the other parts of the country, but there is no reticulation of the pipeline and industrial clusters in the south-east.
“We talked about the only international airport we have in the Southeast which has very bad.
“We got assurance from the President that he will deal with each of those problems.
On the issue of marginalization, Nwodo said that the issue was the opening line which they singled out, insisting however that the problems have been there overtime “and we have had several Presidents; it didn’t just happen in the last two years. But we expressed the desire that he should be able to address them.”[myad]

Declare State Of Emergency On Port, Port Authority MD Asks FG

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Nigerian ports to accelerate ports infrastructure and intermodal transportation infrastructure development.
She made the call at the sustainability breakout session on ‘Unlocking Opportunities Through Infrastructure and Urban Development’ at the ongoing 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
She promised that the Calabar ports would soon be revamped to unlock agricultural export opportunities in the North Central and North East.
“There is need to declare state of emergency on intermodal transportation infrastructure to the ports. Declaring a state of emergency will ensure that every other permit and funds needed for the intermodal transport system to work will be given necessary attention, and with dispatch by all MDAs.”
The NPA boss said that it is unacceptable that about 80 percent of the cargo that came into and left our ports were carried by road, stressing the need for other means of transport to be activated to link the ports.
“We need to institute cargo evacuation system into and out of our ports. Right now, about 80 percent of the cargos that come into and leave our ports are carried by road. Since we don’t have credible cargo evacuation system in our ports, there will definitely be bad roads and congestions around our ports.
“The incessant utilization of the western ports–Tincan Island and the Apapa ports–has resulted to congestion at the ports. There is need for agencies of government like the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, to make other ports competitive.”[myad]

We’re Talking With IPOB Boys Not To Disrupt Anambra Guber Election – APC Candidate

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

Members of IPOB during protest in Anambra

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 18 governorship poll in the state, Chief Tony Nwoye has said that political stakeholders in the state are talking with members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on the need for them not to disrupt the election.
Answering reporters’ questions on the call for boycott of the election by the leadership of IPOB, Nwoye said: “we are engaging them to see reasons why they should allow people to elect people whom they want to lead them.”
The governorship hopeful stressed however that he is not afraid of the threat by the youths, some of who he said “may have been brainwashed,”
even as he agreed that the youths who issued the threat are mainly unemployed.
“These are the symptoms of what you are seeing now. Our people are seeing reasons why there should be elections.”
On whether he think he would win the election, Nwoye said: “as you know, I am not God but based on the parameters and the indices of the Anambra political terrain and based on the campaigns that we have done so far, I am confident that by God’s grace; because God gives power, we are going to win.”
According to him, in the last election, he campaigned for only eleven days and was kept in court for most of the time, having been accused of not paying his tax in time.
“But this time around, I have more than two months to comparing. We have activated our structures. I have met all the stakeholders. This time around, it is going to be one man one vote. We are not going to allow anybody to rig us out. People’s votes will count.”
He promised that if elected, Anambra people should expect a transparent government that would bring all the people to an enviable height.
“We want to alleviate poverty. Our local government funds are being syphoned every month since this current administration took over. Many key areas like agriculture and others are paid lip services. I will give them special attention if elected. We are going to take governance to the grassroot people.”
Also speaking, the chairman of the national campaign Council of the APC for the Anambra governorship election who is also the Bauchi state governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar said that all matters pertaining to the party’s primaries in Anambra state have been settled amicably, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari, as the leader of the party, had already received the party’s candidate with a promise that he would personally grace the grand finale of the campaign in Anambra state soon.[myad]

Musa Ahmed, Leicester City Forward, Diversifies Into Petroleum Business

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

The 24 year old Leicester City forward, Ahmed Musa has diversified to petroleum business when he formally opened his petrol station in Kano, Nigeria.
Ahmed Musa, who is also the Nigeria striker left camp last week after the Super Eagles booked a ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to his home in Kano for the official opening of the petrol station. It is one of a growing number of business concerns he is gradually building as he looks to invest wisely for his future.
The football maestro is also believed to have also opened a N500 million sports complex and leisure centre, also in Kano, earlier this year.
This is apart from the opening of a mini shopping mall a few years ago.
These are ventures which, in a cash-based economy like Nigeria, are guaranteed milking cows, especially the petrol station.
An oil-producing country, Nigeria’s downstream sector is a particularly lucrative business enterprise, and if well-managed and scaled, could well see the player earn more than he does playing football.
Musa told KweséESPN that he was looking to the future: “It is important to think about life after football.
“We will not play forever, and the best time to start thinking about that and doing something about it is when you are still playing.”
There is an almost identical pattern to the career trajectory of the majority of top African football players. It usually starts from being poor, to struggling beginners, then the big European break, earning unbelievable sums of money and living the high life. Retirement eventually follows, and with it comes a drop in earnings, and lifestyle.
In Nigeria, where the domestic league is still in the early stages of emerging from the poor organisation of yesteryear, opportunities for post-career development are extremely limited within football circles.
These opportunities are mostly in coaching, like for 1994 World Cup stars Augustine Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, and Emmanuel Amuneke, or in player management like former Lazio forward Stephen Makinwa.
These opportunities are not just limited, but usually poorly remunerated, particularly at club level. And, outside of the senior men’s team, the national team jobs are almost as poorly-remunerated as the clubs, with regular and extended delays in payments.
Unlike in Europe, and even South Africa, opportunities for media work are also rare, to the point of being practically non-existent. Many players are simply left scraping the bottom of their former high-paying barrels to survive.
More recent retirees, and even current players, have chosen to invest in real estate, which provides significant but seasonal income, as rent in Nigeria is usually paid annually rather than monthly.
Musa has chosen to break the mould, and delve into an area where no other Nigerian footballer has dared to go. It is a remarkably bold move for the forward, and one which sets him apart from his peers.
A Sports Centre, shopping mall, and now petrol station. Is there anything else Ahmed Musa plans to invest in?
“Wait and see,” is all he will offer, suggesting that there is indeed more to come.[myad]

Stock Market: FCMB, Transcorp, Diamondbnk, Accessbank, Zenithbank Are Most Active In Volume

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

The Transcorp, the First City Merchant Bank (FCMB), Diamond. Bank, Access Bank and Zenith bank have emerged as the most active stocks by volume at the Stock Exchange transactions today, Friday, in Lagos.
At the transactions too, Hampion, Diamondbank, NEM, Redstarex and Intbrew emerged the highest price gainers on the chart, while CCNN, UPL, FO, Firstalum and Unity bank topped the losers.
A record from Capital Bancorp Plc, member of The Nigerian Stock Exchange today, Friday,
Friday, October 13, said that the Stock Exchange All-Share Index and the Market Capitalization increased by 0.32%, while the Year-to-Date return stood at 37.11%.
It said that the All Share Index closed at 36,848.17 against the previous close of 36,732.24 while Market Capitalization closed at ₦12.684 trillion against previous close of ₦12.644 trillion.
According to the record, the volume traded decreased by 64.02% from 443.675 million to 159.613 million, while the total value of stock traded decreased by 29.38% from ₦3.176 billion to ₦2.243 billion in 3,243 deals.
The Financial Services sector, it said, led the activity chart with 127.339 million shares exchanged for ₦1.211 billion. Conglomerates came next with 15.252 million shares traded for ₦0.026 billion, Consumer Goods, Services, Industrial Goods sectors followed in that order on the activity chart. [myad]

Society Lady In Legal Tango Over Alleged Exporting Of 21-Year Old Girl To Malaysia For Prostitution

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2017

A popular society lady, Doofan David (popularly known as Wendy) has landed in court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly exporting a 21 – year- old girl (name withheld ) to Malaysia for prostitution.
The 27 year old Doofan David was charged before Justice F. A. Ojo of the High Court 13 of the Federal Capital Territory by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The accused and one other person, Miss Kate ( also known as Katty) and who is now at large, were charged to court for violating section 13 (40 (a) of Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
The two- count charge read: “That you Doofan David, Alias Wendy) F’ 27 years old of plot 2022, Aminu Kano Cresent Wuse 11, Abuja, in the month of July, 2017 at Plot 2022, Aminu Kano Crescent , Wuse 11, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, facilitated foreign travel for (Name withheld ) 21 years old which promoted her being involved in prostitution in Malaysia, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition ) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
“That you Doofan David (Alias Wendy), Female, 27 years old of plot 2022, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 11, Abuja, in the month of July, 2017 at Plot 2022 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 11 Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly assisted the activities of Miss Kate Alias Katty (Still at large) who is engaged in acts of trafficking in persons, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13(4) (c) of Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.”
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail while further hearing on the case has been adjourned to 30th November, 2017.
Speaking on the arraignment, Director General of the Agency, Julie Okah–Donli, said that the arrest and arraignment of the accused persons was an outcome of a renewed commitment by NAPTIP to ensure that human trafficking is eradicated in Nigeria.
“I have said it several times that NAPTIP will not spare anybody in its determination to redeem the image of Nigeria in the eyes of the world as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking.
“We have redoubled our efforts in this regard and our operations have been strategically redesigned to enhance proactive surveillance and diligence prosecution. We want to change the negative narratives of human trafficking about Nigeria and this must begin by discouraging the internal demands for commercial sex within Nigeria.
“Our appeal is for all Nigerians to join hands with NAPTIP and let us jointly feed the Agency with useful information that will lead to the arrest of suspected human traffickers.
“Let us know that we can now blow our whistle against any suspected human trafficker in order to protect our children.” [myad]

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