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page 22 News

Printers urges Buhari to probe paper mills privatisations

From Mohammed Shosanya,Lagos

The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria(CIPPON) has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the privatization of Iwopin Pulp and Papermill Industry and Nigerian Newsprint Paper Manufacturing Company, Oku-Iboku in Akwa Ibom State which were executed by this predecessors.

Also, the association appealed to printers in the country to endure with the government over the present price of printing papers which is informed by exorbitant exchange rate

Nigerian Newsprint Paper Manufacturing Company, Oku-Iboku was acquired by Negris Group in 2008,while Former President Goodluck Jonathan sold the Iwopin Pulp and Papermill Industry to Beulah Technical Services Company(BETCO) in 2014.

Both companies are said not to be performing as expected in a recent review by the Bureau of Pubic Enterprises(BPE).

Speaking at the presentation of certificates to participants at a four-day executive print training workshop at the weekend ,President of CIPPON Mr. Wahab Muhammed- LawaL,said the recent visit of the association members to the privatized asset revealed that they are not healthy and new owners have derailed from the purpose for which they were acquired.

He said: ’’The government investigate the mode of operation and other agreement entered into during the purported privatization of Iwopin Pulp and Papermill Industry, because this Papermill Industry (Iwopin) had started producing papers before the so called privatization, but the Institute’s recent visit to Iwopin called for urgent investigation. (The Institute should be carried along while investigating).

FAAN: Some security scanners at airports non-functional

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi & Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said some of the security scanners at some airports in the country are non-functional.

Acting managing director of the authority, Salihu Domuno admitted before the House of Representatives aviation committee during the 2016 budget defence of the agency recently.

Chairperson of the committee Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia) threw the concern of faulty scanners at some airports, which the managing director alluded to, while giving answer.

Rep Nkiruka said upon going through the 2016 budget of FAAN, she expected to see an allocation for the repair or replacement of such security scanning machines for the airports, but there was no provision made.

But Domuna informed the committee that they are in the process of engaging the suppliers of the scanners to do maintenance for them.

“We have asked them to tell us the parts that are needed for maintenance, because the bills they are giving us are very high and we are also looking at training some of our staff to do the maintenance, because if you don’t have in-house technicians, you continue to spend more money”, he said.

The committees also raised issue concerning the construction of FAAN corporate office, wondering why the project keeps re-appearing in the budget year-in, year-out.

The MD also responded saying that the project never started, despite having budgeted monies for it over the years.

France pledges support for Peugeot’s revitalisation

From Dickson S. Adama, Kaduna

French Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Denys Gaver, has promised his country’s support in the revitalisation of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN) which has been in existence for over 40 years now, but began to dwindle and faced financial insolvency since about one decade ago now.

The French Ambassador who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the corporate Headquarters of PAN in Kaduna commended the company for it efforts to sustain the company despite the current challenges.

According to the French Ambassador, if Nigeria is committed to having a serious policy that will encourage car manufacturing industries , the French government is ready to provide necessary support.

In his response, the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of PAN, Ibrahim Boyi,? said the unprecedented changes that occurred over the last decade within the automobile industry was partly caused by the privatisation policy which did not do well in turning around the fortunes of the company, leading to AMCON intervening in 2012 till date.

Economy: Buhari hails Dangote, others

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Dangote Group and other operators in the private sector as central to his economic reform plan.

This is coming against the backdrop of oil revenue decline and clamour for diversification of the economy.

The President who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 37th Kaduna International Trade Fair said his administration was working towards the diversification of the economy as revenue from oil has crashed.

President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote is also the Chairman of the Federal Government Job creation committee.

President Buhari said his administration will accord priority to the development of agriculture and solid minerals sectors.

The President said his government is creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

CPC orders Abuja Disco to pay N10m for negligence

By Francis Arinze Iloani

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has ordered the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to pay the family of an electrocuted boy in Abuja N10 million because of its technical lapses and gross negligence.

A statement from the Council over the weekend indicated that the order was as a result of a complaint from Mr. Tade Ayodele that a live electric cable fell from a pole at the old Panteker Area of Kabusa, Abuja in November last year, causing the electrocution of his son, Master Samuel Ayodele.

Responding to CPC’s investigation on the matter, AEDC dissociated itself from the incident, claiming in its letter dated December 7, 2015 that “the electricity distribution network in the community where the deceased lived is a substandard self help project” that should not be attributed to it or any of its authorised agents.

Acting on the expert opinion of NEMSA, the Council ordered AEDC to pay the family of the victim the said compensation before the end of April this year.

The Council also found AEDC liable for incorporating “this self help project” into its billing system by collecting payment from the community, while failing, refusing and neglecting to disconnect the purported illegal substandard installations.

The Director General of the Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said the development would serve as a deterrent to the negligence in the provision of services by businesses.

She reiterated that in line with extant regulations and international best practices, Nigerian consumers would continue to be protected from all manner of consumer abuses.

Fayemi seeks NSCDC support in securing mining sites

Ademola Adebayo

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has solicited the support and partnership of the Ministry of Interior to ensure safety, security and enforcement of law in the mining sector.

Dr Fayemi made the request during a courtesy call on the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Danbazau (retired).

Dr Fayemi noted that there were hundreds of people involved in illegal mining across the country and that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development was seeking the assistance and cooperation of all the security agencies in the Ministry of Interior to help in securing legal mining sites.

The Minister of Interior, Lt General Abdulraman Danbazau expressed the determination of the Ministry to support and partner with the Ministry of Solid Minerals to secure the mining sites.

He noted that the Interior Ministry is the home of public safety and security and every agency under the Ministry has an important role to play in supporting the mining sector. He disclosed that about 3,000 Civil Defense Corps officers had been prepared to form the proposed Mining Field Surveillance Task Force, adding that the two ministries would collaborate in training and equipping the officers for the operations.