Kebbi to disburse N28m to fish farmers

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi says the state government will disburse N28 million to fish farmers as financial assistance in its efforts to boost food production.
The governor said this in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday via a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu.
He said that the assistance was aimed at enhancing the economic well-being of fish farmers and increasing the protein intake of the citizens.
Bagudu said that his administration was making efforts to introduce additional species of fish, adding that “fingerlings will also be supplied to fish farmers to enhance their productivity.’’
A fish farmer, Malam Mohammed Bello, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in an interview, that the assistance would further boost employment and encourage more people to embark on fish farming.
NAN reports that the Kebbi Government recently indicated its commitment to training 500 farmers on modern fish farming techniques so as to boost fish production in the state.

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Court remands five men for abduction

A Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja on Tuesday remanded five men in prison for allegedly abducting two men and stealing 65 cows.

The men are Isiya Abubakar, Bello Umar, Avdo Musa, Wakili Nmaje and Idi Ahmadu‎.

They were arraigned on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, theft, robbery and unlawful possession of arms.

The Prosecutor, Umoh Inah, told court that one Koge and Ampur Buburmi of Kushika Village, Abuja, were kidnapped since March 12.‎

Inah said that investigations by a team from the office of the inspector- general of police revealed that the suspects conspired and kidnapped the two who were yet to be found.

He also said that no fewer than 65 cows belonging to the abducted men were stolen by the defendants.

The prosecutor said further that five other members of the gang were believed to be keeping the stolen cows.

He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 273, 287, 298 and 319 of the Penal Code.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty. (NAN)

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, adjourned the case till April 18 for consideration of bail of the suspects.

He fixed hearing of the case to June 14.

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Man alleged for stollen ATM cards in Abuja City

A  28-year-old man, Ifeanyi Obasi, was charged on Teusday before a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly attempting to make withdrawals with 10 stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Obasi, whose address is unknown, is facing a two-count charge of possession of stolen items and theft.

Police Prosecutor Fidelis Ogbobe told the court that the complainant, Galadima Usman of First Bank, Garki, reported the incident at Garki Police Station on April 7.

Ogbobe said th

e complainant alleged that the accused attempted to withdraw money with stolen ATM cards bearing different names at the bank in Area 3, Abuja.

“During police investigations, the accused could not give a satisfactory explanation how he came about the ATM cards.”

The offences contravened Sections 95 and 319(a) of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, granted the accused N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

He adjourned hearing until June 6

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Abia to establish 9,000-hectare free trade zone

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Tuesday said that the state would establish a 9,000- hectare free trade zone at its boundary with Rivers.

Ikpeazu made this known when Chief Olabitan Famutimi, the National President of Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), visited him in his guest house in Aba.

Ikpeazu said that the free trade zone was necessary to facilitate export of goods from the state.

“Abia State delegation to Singapore has left the shores of Nigeria to come back with the final design of our free trade zone.

“The free trade zone will occupy 9,000 hectare of land which has already been acquired in a location between Abia and Port Harcourt in Rivers.

“The idea is to ensure unification of the economies of Abia and Rivers in the next 10 years,” he said.

He also said that the state was working hard to get American endorsement for its products to facilitate their entry into the world market.

“Endorsement by America that what we do in Abia State is good for its market is what we need to reach the world, and I hope to see this happen in our time,” he said.

He said that Abia established a quality assurance management agency to collaborate with other related agencies in the country such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

The governor said that collaboration with such agencies would improve the quality of goods produced in the state.

Ikpeazu said that the state was exporting over one million pairs of shoes, bags and other leather products to some African countries weekly.

He added that about one million people worked in the industry.

Earlier, the NACC president said that his team was in the state to help to promote its products.

He said that African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) had signed a MoU with the chamber to represent it in West Africa.

He promised that through NACC and AGOA, the state would be given required business opportunities from America.

Famutimi said that the chamber would establish an AGOA office in Abia with a desk officer to run it.

He called for establishment of free trade zones in all states of the federation to improve the processing of products for export.

Famutimi also called for the signing of MoU between Abia and NACC to ensure continued relationship.

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