APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The prediction of the World Bank that persistent insecurity, armed conflict and deteriorating livelihoods will continue to affect local government areas in Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states, and the far north of Adamawa State in Nigeria until May 2024 is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Thursday.
The Punch reports that persistent insecurity, armed conflict, and deteriorating livelihoods will continue to affect local government areas in Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states, and the far north of Adamawa State in Nigeria until May 2024, the World Bank has predicted.
This is as it disclosed that poor macroeconomic conditions are restricting access to agricultural inputs in the country.
This is set to affect cereal production in the country. The global bank revealed this in its latest ‘Food Security Update.’
Estimated cereal production for the 2023/24 crop year is expected to be 76.5 million tons in West and Central Africa, which is a two per cent decrease from the previous season, but a three per cent rise from the average for the last five years.
Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are expected to contribute the most to this decline.
The Bretton Woods institution said, “Projections indicate a decline in production from last year in Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. This decrease is attributed to dry spells during the growing season and insecurity that limited access to cropland in Chad, Mali, and Niger and to poor macroeconomic conditions that have restricted access to agricultural inputs in Nigeria.”
The newspaper says that the Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has fined British American Tobacco and its affiliate companies $110m.
This is for alleged infringements of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, National Tobacco Control Act, and sundry legal instruments, the FCCPC said on Wednesday in a statement.
In addition, the commission said BAT must subject itself to compliance and monitoring for a period of 24 months, mandatory public health and tobacco control advocacy, and provisions of written assurances to the commission.
“In exchange for BAT Parties fulfilling their obligations under the Consent Order, the commission withdrew pending criminal charges against BATN and at least one employee with respect to obstructing the commission by attempting to prevent execution of the search warrant and initial lack of cooperation/compliance with steps in the investigation,” the commission said.
The FCCPC said the decision followed its “active” investigation into British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and other affiliated companies (BAT Parties) on August 28, 2020, after it received credible pieces of information and intelligence.
Commenting on the resolution, it said, “During the year ending 2023, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission came to a final resolution with British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited (BATN, British American Tobacco Marketing (Nigeria) Limited (BATMN), British American Tobacco Plc, British American Tobacco (Holdings) Limited (all together referred to as BAT Parties) with respect to a range of infringements of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, National Tobacco Control Act and sundry legal instruments.”
According to the commission, it carried out an order and warrant of search and seizure, approved by a Federal High Court, at BAT locations and the location of a service provider on January 25, 2021.
The Guardian reports that President Bola Tinubu has been called upon to order the immediate handing over of all the indicted persons and entities to the Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies for immediate trial.
A coalition of 259 anti-corruption, civil society and human rights groups, Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER) behind the call admonished President Tinubu to initiate the urgent recovery of the country’s stolen funds and properties being held by indicted persons.
COTER warned the indicted persons to stop playing on the collective intelligence of Nigerians with their puerile defence of their looting of the nation’s commonwealth, having betrayed the confidence Nigerians reposed in them while they occupied public offices.
COTER’s President, Dr Peter Chima Chukwu and General Secretary, Mallam Auta Ibrahim Koko, stated that the defence of the heists by various indicted persons should be completely disregarded.
COTER said, “Emefiele and other indicted persons’ tactics to put up unnecessary defence are aimed at shifting the blame on former president Buhari to escape prosecution and recovery of looted funds from them.
“All they are doing now is mere damage control. Unfortunately, it won’t fly with the Nigerian people, Government and the international community. They must all account for all their sins and transgressions against the Nigerian people.
“President Tinubu must not allow this matter to be swept under the carpet, Nigerian people and the international community are watching to see the outcome of all the investigations and how the report of the Special Investigator will be implemented.”
COTER also urged the President to initiate moves to recover the country’s stolen funds and properties being held by the indicted persons.
The call was sequel to the release of part of the report of the Special Investigation Panel set up to investigate the malfeasance which took place in the CBN.
The Vanguard newspaper says that the Lagos State Government reopened Alaba International Market and some markets at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, on Saturday.
The state government shut the markets earlier because of improper waste management and other environmental infractions.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the markets were reopened after the environmental issues had been addressed.
Wahab dismissed claims in some quarters that political motives were behind the closure of the markets and stressed that the step was taken to ensure clean and healthy environment around business facilities.
“I state emphatically that the closure of those markets had no ethnic or political motives as it was done to ensure cleanliness and environmental sustainability for the good of all residents.
“The decision to reopen the markets followed rigorous assessment and implementation of stringent environmental standards.
“These standards were set to guarantee that businesses in the state operate in a manner that is not detrimental to the environment and the well-being of the people,’’ Wahab said.
He reiterated the significance of maintaining harmonious balance between commerce and environmental health.
GIK/APA