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BATN urges fair, balanced regulation of the tobacco industry.

Published

7 years ago

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British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has called on Senators and other industry

stakeholders to work towards better and balanced regulation of the tobacco industry, for

the benefit of all stakeholders. This can only be achieved if the bill on regulating the tobacco

industry that is currently being debated by the National Assembly takes into consideration the

views of all stakeholders with the ultimate aim of drafting a bill that is effective and workable

said Freddy Messanvi, Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, BAT West Africa.

Speaking at the Tobacco Control Bill Public Hearing organised by the Committee on Health of

the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja, October 15, 2014, Messanvi said that a balanced

tobacco legislation will drive the attainment of the aims and objectives of the bill. “Drafting

a bill that will not make matters worse but will be workable, based on fact and evidence

whilst achieving the aims for which it was set should be the focus as these bills are now being

considered” said Messanvi, adding that “a legitimate tobacco industry that is well regulated has

more benefits than one that is left in the hands of smugglers who are faceless and who have

little or no stake in the country.”

An overly stringent legislation that hamstrings legitimate producers from operating in the

country will only lead to opening up the country to illegal trading of tobacco in the country

such as is happening in other countries. Such a scenario, said Messanvi, has dire consequences

as the quality of tobacco products will be compromised and there will be a fall in government

revenue and increase in the rate of smuggling with public health objectives not achieved.

“We are unabashedly protective of the industry because it is not only about the cigarettes that

we see, but also about economic development engendered by legitimate businesses such as

BATN and its entire industry chain which includes farmers, retailers, among others,” he said.

Very stringent regulations will make production in Nigeria unattractive. Although demand of

cigarettes will not abate, this will however be met by the illegal sources and more importation

of cigarettes. “Jobs created will go elsewhere, and the market made more attractive for

smugglers,” added Messanvi.

Displaying Pix 2.JPG

Protesters canvassing for fair and balanced tobacco regulation, prior to the commencement of the Public Hearing on the Tobacco Control Bill, organised by the Senate Committee on Health, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Wednesday.

 

It is believed that the issue of illegal trade remains one of major concern. If the bill is passed

and creates loopholes which smugglers can take advantage of, then the work done by different

regulatory agencies to bring illicit trade levels down will be completely lost.

Messanvi said that “the concern of the bill to safeguard public health can only be realised if

we have a workable regulation that will not in any form encourage illegal trading of tobacco

product to thrive.”

The Tobacco Control Bill seeks to amongst other things provide for the regulation of the

production, importation, advertising, promoting, sponsorship, distribution, sale and public

space smoking areas.

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EFCC: 58 Ex-Govs Embezzled N2.187 Trillion [Full List]

Published

7 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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According to the EFCC’s allegations, a significant number of former governors, totaling at least 58, have alleged to been involved in the misappropriation, embezzlement, or laundering of approximately N2.187 trillion over a span of 25 years.

This amount does not include properties seized worldwide or those currently being investigated, which amount to billions of Naira.

The amount of N2.2 trillion that was looted is similar to the combined budgets of Lagos State and the South-East states for 2024, totaling N2.25 trillion and N2.29 trillion respectively. This figure exceeds the budgets of the North-Central states and North-East states for 2024, which are N1.89 trillion and N1.60 trillion, by several billion.

The EFCC is currently investigating, probing, and prosecuting 58 ex-governors from various regions of the country. Since the restoration of civilian government on May 29, 1999, there have been at least 170 governors serving in the 36 states of Nigeria.

The 58 ex-governors who are currently or have previously faced investigations by EFCC, with alleged amounts in question, consist of:

late Abubakar Audu (N10.966 bn),

TA Orji and sons (N551 bn)

Yahaya Bello (N80.2 bn)

Chimaroke Nnamani (N5. 3 bn)

Sullivan Chime (N450 million)

Kayode Fayemi (N4bn)

Ayo Fayose (N6.9 bn)

Abdullahi Adamu (N15bn)

Danjuma Goje (N5bn)

Aliyu Wamakko (N15 bn)

Sule Lamido (N1.35 bn)

Joshua Dariye (N1. 16 bn)

Timipre Sylva (N19.2 bn)

Saminu Turaki (N36bn)

Bello Matawalle (N70 bn)

Lucky Igbinedion (N4. 5 bn)

Musa Kwakwanso (N10bn)

Peter Odili (N1000 bn)

Jolly Nyame (N1.64 bn)

James Ngilari (N167 m)

Abdulaziz Yari (N84 bn)

Godswill Akpabio (N100bn)

Abdul fatah Ahmed (N9 bn)

Ali Mode-Sheriff (N300bn)

Willie Obiano (N43 bn)

Ibrahim Dankwambo (N1. 3bn)

Darius Ishaku (N39bn)

Ramalan Yero (N700m)

Achike Udenwa (N350m)

Rochas Okoro ha (N10. 8bn)

James Ibori (N40 bn),

DSP Alamieyeseigha (N2.655bn)

Gabriel Suswam (N3. 111bn)

Samuel Orton (N107bn)

Murtala Nyako (N29bn)

Rashid Ladoja (4.7bn)

Christopher Alao-Akala (N11. 5 bn)

Abdulkadir Kure (N600m)

Babangida Aliyu (N4bn)

Abubakar Audu (N10bn)

Idris Wada (N500m)

Ibrahim Shekarau (N950m)

Adamu Aliero (N10bn)

Usman Dakingari and wife (N5. 8bn)

Attahiru Bafarawa N19. 6bn)

Jonah Jang (N6. 3bn)

Aliyu Doma (N8bn)

Tanko Al’Makura (N4bn)

Boni Haruna (N93bn)

Bindow Jibrila (N62bn)

Adamu Muazu (13bn)

Isa Yuguda N212bn)

Mohammed Abubakar (N8. 5bn).

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Dangote University explains how female student died in her off-campus apartment

Published

9 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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Tragedy struck on Thursday at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, when a female student, Aishat Yahaya Olabisi, was found dead in her off-campus apartment.

Olabisi, a 300-level female student of Food and Science Technology, was said to have been found dead after she returned to her room from the school.

The deceased student was said to have written her first examination in the ongoing first-semester examination at the university on the fateful day.

One of the male students who spoke to PUNCH Online on condition of anonymity on Saturday blamed her sudden passing away on examination pressure.

“The deceased was hale and hearty before she went out to write her first examination in the ongoing first-semester examination,” the student said.

However, following reports in the media that the female student died in the university students’ hostel, the Management of the university clarified the misinformation.

In a statement by the Dean, Students Affairs of the university, Prof. Abdulkadir Dambazau, dated 3rd May 2024, refuted the media claims.

The statement titled “Clarification Regarding False Statement About Student’s Death” read, “It has come to our attention that a recent statement made by DLC Hausa and some media outlets regarding the discovery of a student’s corpse at the students’ hall of residence is entirely false. We wish to address this matter promptly and unequivocally refute these claims.

“On 23 April 2024, we received news about the untimely passing of Yahaya Aishat Olabisi, a diligent and bright student of ADUSTECH Wudil. Aishat spent her last evening engrossed in her studies, diligently preparing for upcoming examinations. The following morning after a shared breakfast with her roommate and a heartfelt conversation with her father, she expressed her intent to rest briefly before resuming her studies. However, destiny had a different plan.

“In the early afternoon of the same day, concerns arose when Yahaya Aishat Olabisi did not respond to attempts to reach her. Upon investigation, it was discovered that she had passed away in her sleep in her off-campus residence. Immediate measures were taken, and she was swiftly taken to the university clinic, where her passing was confirmed by medical professionals.”

The statement added that Olabisi’s remains had been transferred to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for postmortem analysis.

“Given the circumstances, her remains were transferred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for postmortem analysis to ascertain the cause of her sudden demise. Meanwhile, her grieving parents, who hail from Ilorin arrived the following day to bid farewell to their beloved daughter.

“In honouring her memory and bidding her farewell, Aishat was laid to rest on 24 April 2024, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the academic community who mourned her loss deeply,” the statement added.

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Court Sentence FCMB Branch Manager to 121 years in Prison for embezzling Customers Funds

Published

17 hours ago

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May 4, 2024

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FCMB is a leading financial institution in Nigeria has received a big shock of the year as one of its staff has been thrown to prison for fraud and embezzlement.

Justice S. Odili at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, sentenced Mr Nwachukwu Placidus, a bank manager at First City Monument Bank FCMB, Onitsha Anambra State to 121 years in prison for embezzling N112 million from a customer’s fixed deposit account.

The Honorable justices delivered the verdict resulting in the conviction and sentencing of a former manager at the First City Monument Bank’s branch in Onitsha, who has now been sentenced to a total of 121 years in prison for misappropriating fixed deposit funds totaling N112,100,000 from a customer for personal use. This is tantamount to a breach of trust by the former manager which has attracted a huge jail term.

 

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