Police have “abattoir” detention centre at Abuja.
Nigeria drops from 4th cocoa producer to 7th.
Nigeria’s debt rises by N4.17tn in one year.
Lagos plans to shut 10,000 schools.
Guinness tastes first loss in 30 years
Police Torture Is ‘Lucrative Business’ in Nigeria, Amnesty Says A special Nigerian police unit has used hangings, mock executions and other forms of torture to obtain confessions and bribes from criminal suspects and their families, Amnesty International said. Victims interviewed by the London-based human rights group said members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stole their cars, withdrew money from their bank accounts and confiscated their properties. Suspects are held in a number of locations, including a detention center in the capital, Abuja, known as the “abbatoir.” “SARS officers are getting rich through their brutality,” Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International’s Nigeria researcher, said in a statement Wednesday. “In Nigeria, it seems torture is a lucrative business.” While the police unit denied that it was responsible for torture, a senior police officer told Amnesty International that about 40 officers alleged to have carried out various acts of ill-treatment of detainees were transferred to other stations in April, the rights group said. “There is an urgent need for robust legislation that ensures all acts of torture are offences under Nigeria’s criminal law,” Amnesty said. Reported by the Bloomberg Nigeria’s Cocoa Association Confirms Production Downgrade The Cocoa Association of Nigeria confirmed the country has dropped to the world’s seventh top producer of the crop after its projected output for the 2015-2016 season was lowered to 190,000 metric tons. The International Cocoa Organization previously ranked Nigeria as the world’s fourth biggest cocoa producer. The downgrade was attributed to the "country’s exchange rate policy, lack (of) reliable data, low synergy between the public and private sectors etc," Sayina Riman, president of Cocoa Association of Nigeria, said in a text message from his base in the southeastern cocoa hub of Ikom. The ICCO had initially projected Nigeria would produce 270,000 metric tons of cocoa in the current season, according to Riman. Punch newspaper, in Lagos, reported the ICCO downgrade earlier. Responding via text message to a request for comment, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh pointed to government neglect as a reason for Nigeria’s dwindling cocoa production the past 30 years. "Official records of actual production and exports are difficult to trace" as proper records of production are not kept, Ogbeh said. Most of Nigeria’s exports aren’t being recorded as exporters seek to bypass official channels to benefit from the exchange rate differential between the official and parallel markets, he said. The Cocoa Association of Nigeria is the umbrella body of the country’s cocoa farmers, processors, traders and exporters. Fresh earth tremor hits Kaduna community, residents flee Amnesty accuses Nigerian police unit of torture and bribery demands Recession: Kobis, Innercity to feed 10,000 hungry children Dozie: Banks Have Critical Role to Play in Shaping Future of Businesses in Nigeria Heritage Bank Highlights Potential in Non-oil Exports Standard Chartered Bank to Open 10 New Branches in Lagos Guinness Nigeria Records N2 Billion Loss, First in 30 years Frozen $31m: NLC calls for probe of Patience Jonathan Federal Govt, states, local govts share N510.270b Recession: Federal Govt to relax procurement conditions RMAFC disagrees with Dangote on NLNG, others Kwara to begin Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with N145m monthly contribution AMCON: We’ve made progress in debt recovery Benin chiefs deny endorsing Ize-Iyamu Why Edo ‘ll vote APC, by Obende Ize-Iyamu denies plan to declare public holiday for Igbinedion’s birthday PDP, APC clash in Jattu Edo APGA crisis deepens Igbinedion collected N5bn for Okada dual carriage road, says Oshiomhole Knocks for banks over corruption Saraki seeks sale of NLNG shares, concession of major airports, others to end recession Supreme Court upholds Kogi governor’s election Police arrest ex-First Lady’s aide for alleged N91.4m theft Knocks for banks over corruption Saraki seeks sale of NLNG shares, concession of major airports, others to end recession Supreme Court upholds Kogi governor’s election Budget padding: Dogara supporters, Jibrin clash over resignation calls Jubilation in Kogi as S’Court upholds Bello’s election Abayomi Rejects Cancellation Of Ondo Apc Primary Police Torture Is ‘Lucrative Business’ in Nigeria, Amnesty Says Nigeria central bank holds rates, defying reduction call Nigeria's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate at 14 percent on Tuesday, resisting the finance minister's call to lower borrowing costs, and its policymakers urged the government to spend more to drag Africa's top economy out of recession. The West African nation is going through its first recession in more than 20 years, brought on by low oil prices, and inflation accelerated to an 11-year high of 17.6 percent in August. The naira has traded at a record low of 425 to the dollar on the parallel market since last week. Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Monday the central bank should lower interest rates so that the government can borrow domestically to boost the economy. But after raising the benchmark rate by 200 basis points to 14 percent when it last met in July, the monetary policy committee decided to leave it unchanged this month. Central bank governor Godwin Emefiele said the MPC had considered calls for a rate cut but concluded that the biggest challenges the economy faces were "unsystematic and incomplete structural reforms" which raised "cost, risk and uncertainty". As well as defying Adeosun's call for lower rates, the committee members told the government it should "intensify" infrastructure spending to stimulate growth. "Members emphasised that improved fiscal activities, especially the active implementation of the 2016 federal budget, and payment of salaries by states and local governments would go a long way in contributing to economic recovery," Emefiele said. "In the same direction, the committee urged the fiscal authorities to consider tax incentives as a stimulus on both supply and demand side of economic activities." President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May 2015 with a promise to diversify the economy but critics say his government has done little in terms of concrete policies to end Nigeria's reliance on oil revenues, which have collapsed. Economists polled by Reuters last week had predicted that the central bank would keep its benchmark interest rate at 14 percent and reiterate its focus on resuscitating growth. "The Central Bank of Nigeria disappointed our expectation for further gradual interest rate tightening," Razia Khan, Chief Economist Africa at Standard Chartered Bank, said. "While the MPC resisted giving in to political pressure to cut interest rates, and positive real market interest rates provide an important mitigant to the lack of further policy tightening, nonetheless, we expect markets to be disappointed with this outcome." But another economist praised the central bank (CBN) for shrugging off political pressure. "CBN's refusal to bow to government pressure is a notable sign of the institution's independence," said John Ashbourne of Capital Economics. Reported by Reuters Nigeria should tackle poverty rather than hound and harass hawkers off the streets Street hawking is a growing problem in developing countries like Nigeria due to its associated risks. In Nigeria, the increasing scourge of poverty and worsening economic conditions means there has been a drastic rise in street hawking in the country’s major cities such as Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja and Onitsha. This is a clear manifestation of socioeconomic realities on the ground. Families and young people migrate to cities in search of livelihoods and end up street hawking. The Lagos State Government has recently started enforcing a law that bans street hawking in the state. As part of the city’s urban renewal policy, Kick Against Indiscipline – the state’s law enforcement unit – started to remove hawkers. Over 80% of Nigerians live below the poverty line and street hawking has become the easiest route to survival. Thousands rely on street hawking for survival, conspicuously standing at traffic interchanges, weaving between cars and setting up on pavements. The ban was originally part of the government’s drive to modernise and improve infrastructure in the state. But the way that the unit has chased street hawkers, pursuing them like animals, confiscating their goods and demanding money for bail will cause more harm than good. In July 49 bus rapid transport vehicles were vandalised after a hawker evading the unit was knocked and killed by a BRT bus. There is no justification for such a policy in Lagos. Policies should be founded on research and evidence-based practices. Nigeria should learn from countries like Bangladesh, Ghana, Uganda and Tunisia. All have failed to forcibly evict street hawkers. Street hawkers are transient, resilient and adaptive. Threatened with eviction, they will change their strategies, location and mode of operation. They could also resort to crime when forcefully evicted. The question is how can government effectively respond to issues of street hawking in Lagos? There is no consensus on an effective intervention. The state argues that street hawking promotes child trafficking, misuse of public space, environmental degradation, lawlessness and violation of human rights. As part of the clean up, the government has promised to offer small loans to street hawkers through the Employment Trust Fund to use as a means to start businesses. But it’s not known how accessible the fund is. Nigeria is in its worst economic shape in history. The poor bear the brunt. And there is no social welfare system in the Lagos state to cater for poor families. There is a pressing need to protect children and other young people from being exploited. Evidence shows about 40% of children that hawk on streets are victims of adult exploitation. This amounts to child abuse, according to United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although Nigeria promulgated the Childs Right Act in 2003, it has not been implemented effectively. Children are sometimes sent to the streets by their parents to supplement the family income. Others are children trafficked from neighbouring states or West African countries. These children were given away by their parents on the premise that they would receive food, shelter, good education and care. But they end up being exploited. The impact of street hawking is enormous, especially for vulnerable children. They are at risk of being hit by a car, subjected to sexual abuse and of suffering physical exhaustion. For those that attend school, street hawking also affects their academic performance. Taking responsibility State social protection services have a responsibility to protect children and young people from the negative impacts of street hawking. And the Lagos state government has the responsibility to protect vulnerable people. Responding effectively to street hawking requires both a structural approach and one that focuses on individuals. Parents who use children to hawk for income should be given jobs to help them provide for their families and meet their economic needs. And children should be provided with training to make up for any deficiencies in knowledge and skills to help them lead a successful life. The anti-street hawker policy will not be fruitful if it’s enforced without addressing the root cause of street hawking. Reported in the Mail & Guardian. Etisalat moves to reach unbanked population Dialogue with Niger Delta elders yielding results as oil output hits 1.7 bpd Kogi: Falake reacts to court’s judgment Oshiomhole claims importation of food items promotes poverty Shocking find: Posers over lifeless baby found in refuse dump Makarfi, Sheriff PDP factions reconciled Ooni, Ilare families reunite UNICEF, media join forces against malnutrition Ambode harps on planning for grassroots development Journalists urged on fair reportage Galaxy Note 7: Samsung gets CPC’s recall ultimatum Fixed income, forex markets slow down as turnover dips by N3tr Elumelu named Africa Investor ‘Person of the Year’ Banks can drive e-payment, says Diamond Bank CEO Guinness Nigeria loses N2b as consumer spending declines FSDH Merchant Bank to list CPs on FMDQ as N30b issuance kicks off Air Liquide lists shares as world gas leader opens up Nigerian subsidiary Nigeria: Special police squad ‘get rich’ torturing detainees and demanding bribes in exchange for freedom Shun Corruption, Politics, Cjn Tells Judges IG seeks law against cow theft, ignores herdsmen menace Banks creating fertile ground for corruption, says Magu Stop illegal trading, parking by roadsides – Ambode Recession: Obiano abolishes school levies, wheelbarrow tax, others Pdp, Fayose Are Nigeria’s Problems, Says Apc Speed Limiting Device: Frsc, Nurtw May Clash Over Enforcement Ondo: Apc’s Akeredolu’s Name Not With Us, Says Inec Osinbajo, govs meet over states’ N250bn shortfall ‘Oil majors behind violence in N’Delta’ 30 Parties To Participate In Ondo Election — Inec Mosop Condemns Ogoni Invasion Waec Deploys Electronic Markers, To Retain Teachers Police arrest 12 pro-Biafran protesters in Enugu Obaseki pledges to build emergency care centres My govt’ll not be wasteful — Ize-Iyamu My successor’ll not come from Igbinedion’s family — Oshiomhole Nigeria must consider oil asset sales – Saraki Governor Ahmed calls for diversification of economy Ambode warns residents against trading, parking on new inner roads Housing as Economic Stimulus Celebrating Nigeria’s Rio Paralympians Restructuring And The Yoruba Agenda Recession: We can’t cut interest rate, CBN tells Adeosun DBI Kano to operate as innovation enterprise school Abduction of Lagos 4: Controversy as one victim escapes from kidnappers NCAA cautions passengers against carrying Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on board aircraft Electricity consumers in Abuja lament high charges from ‘estimated’ billing Elumelu wins Africa Investor ‘Person of the Year’ award in New York Despite recession, Nigeria Central Bank retains fiscal policy rates NEITI seeks law enforcing disclosure of beneficial ownership in extractive sector Economical revival will help reduce human traficking in Nigeria – President Buhari Siasia lauds Wike over plan to reopen vocational training centre How Rickey Tarfa Charged Client N100 Million To Bribe Judge Sheriff And Makarfi Factions Meet, Vow To End PDP Crisis Niger Delta problem will be resolved soon, President Buhari assures Nigeria Police arrest ‘native doctor’ with human parts Group wants 15 per cent of Nigeria’s budget devoted to health sector Buhari to Obama: We’ll resolve Niger Delta crisis soon Four Ritualists Arrested with fresh Human Heart Lagos Residents Complaining About Poor Quality Of Roads Even Before Being Commissioned Police arrest native doctor with human parts in Abia NECO withholds results of candidates from Niger Nigerian government responds to critics of “Change begins with me” campaign Yola Disco rebuffs allegations of over-billing customers $15m: Efcc Investigating Patience Jonathan – Magu Buhari, others adopt New York Declaration for Refugees, Migrants Ex-Appropriation chair, Jibrin, absent as House resumes Federal Govt., States, Local Governments share N510.2 billion in August Makarfi, Sheriff factions close to reconciliation Florida whistleblower seeks SCOTUS review in MWI Nigeria case Nigerian subscribers blast DStv, demand better service Swiss oil traders blame Nigerian, African govts for dirty fuel imports What John Kerry told Northern leaders: You can’t handle the consequences of not restructuring Silicon (Valley) is Africa’s hot new commodity PDP Crisis: Makarfi, Sheriff factions reconcile EFCC not a thorn in our flesh – Akwa Ibom Governor Nigeria seeks $12 billion in lawsuits over 'illegal' oil exports Times Dangote Industries expresses excitement over Lagos oil wells PDP factional chairmen Makarfi, Sheriff reconcile; to jointly announce truce Rivers re-run: PDP lashes out at INEC over result in Tai LGA Jubilation in Kogi over Supreme Court verdict Recession: Obiano abolishes taxes in Anambra Guinness Nigeria Posts First Loss in 30 Years as Downturn Weighs Guinness Nigeria Plc, the country’s second-biggest brewer, posted its first loss in at least 30 years as a downturn in Africa’s most populous nation increased costs and cut demand for its brands. The local unit of Diageo Plc posted a loss of 2 billion naira ($6.4 million) for the 12 months through June compared with a profit of 7.8 billion naira a year earlier, it said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday. Revenue dropped 14 percent to 102 billion naira due to the “effect of foreign-exchange policy and the devaluation of the naira’’ and a weak economy, Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said in the statement. Operating profit plunged to 4.4 billion naira from 15.7 billion naira. The currency has lost almost 40 percent of its value against the dollar since June, when the Central Bank of Nigeria removed the peg of 197-199 naira per dollar after more than a year. That increased price pressures in the nation that imports goods from fuel to industrial inputs. Gross domestic product contracted by 2.1 percent in the three months through June from a year earlier, while inflation accelerated to 17.1 percent in July, the highest rate since October 2005. The economy is on track to shrink 1.8 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Guinness plans to invest 12 million pounds (15.6 million) in a plant in Benin City, in the south of the country as it seeks to cut costs, while it will consider selling Guinness stout and the herbal drink Orijin in South Africa to attract foreign exchange, Ndegwa said in a Sept. 9 interview. The company’s shares closed at 100 naira on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos. The stock is down 17 percent since the start of the year, compared with a 5.4 percent gain by Nigerian Breweries Plc, the biggest beer maker controlled by Heineken NV. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index has retreated 1.5 percent this year. Bloomberg Supreme Court verdict honour to democracy – Governor Bello Niger Delta youths mark world peace day with #WakaForPeace Kaduna: Deafening earth tremor hits Kwoi again, residents flee Nigeria begins shortlisting candidates for 500,000 jobs – Minister Guinness Nigeria Posts First Loss in 30 Years as Downturn Weighs FG pensioners also need bail out Osinbajo shifts blame again UPDATE: Floods Kill 18, Destroy 6,000 Houses in Jigawa State SEC gives whistleblower $4 million FCTA Bans Herdsmen, Hawkers, Motorcyclists in Abuja and Environs Ignore Dangote, Saraki; don’t sell NLNG, Buhari advised Despite militancy oil output hits 1.7 bpd – Kachukwu Alleged N91m theft: Police arrest 60-year-old Yar’adua’s housekeeper after Turai’s complaint How Supreme Court upheld Governor Bello’s election Osinbajo, governors meet over revenue shortfall Pdp: Sheriff, Makarfi Met, Vow To End Crises Yahaya Bello Celebrates Supreme Court Victory NCAA: “You will not be allowed to Fly with your Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Turned on” Ekiti Assembly to stop airport project Mosop Condemns Military Invasion Of Ogoni Community Don’t Sell National Assets, Rmafc Advises Fg Nigerian Police Detains 60-year-old Househelp of Ya’adua over N91million Theft Recession: Obaino abolishes taxes in Anambra Female IDPs turn prostitutes in Borno Stark naked young man found in Benin church, confesses to witchcraft Banks to face trial for aiding corruption – EFCC Supreme Court verdict honour to democracy – Bello Former First Lady, Turai Yar’adua’s aide arrested for alleged N91 million fraud CBN retains interest rates Importation of food items promotes poverty – Oshiomhole Nse Market Capitalisation Hits N127bn Buhari reportedly receives evidence showing Chief of Staff, Kyari took N500m bribe from MTN American University Nigeria shares peace model with members of US Congress Nigeria to concession narrow gauge lines to General Electric Police arraign herdsman arrested with arms in Enugu Change Begins With All Of Us By Joe Igbokwe Ex-President Yar’adua’s househelp arrested over N91m missing goods Ekiti House begins amendment of 2016 Appropriation Law Budget Padding: Dogara begged for forgiveness, says Jibrin Desist from converting roads to parking lot, street trading, Ambode tells residents Public Secondary Schools to reopen in Borno State September 26 How Nigerian government duped me, rendered me homeless — Journalist Salkida NLC tells Patience Jonathan to explain how she got the $15m traced her account Judiciary, NOA obstacles to credible polls in Nigeria – CLO Ambode’s Set to realize Dream of a ’24 Hours’ FG set to privatise electricity transmission firm Senate resumes plenary, vows to tackle economic recession Members Of Islamic Movement Protest El-Zakzaky Continued Detention New MD refutes plans to scrap Niger Delta Power Holding projects CBN keeps MPR at 14%, CRR at 22.5% HIJAB: LASG seeks caution from all parties Faleke reacts to Supreme Court ruling upholding Governor Bello’s election Community Clash in Cross-River State leaves One dead, Properties burnt Obama, Buhari at U.N. discuss fight against Boko Haram New MD refutes plans to scrap Niger Delta Power Holding Obama Praises Buhari For Allowing Flexibility In Exchange Rates Oyo Assembly Passes Bill For Creation Of 35 New Lcdas Investment Opportunities Abound in Nigeria, Says CEO of Sovereign Wealth Fund Recession won’t limit Nigeria – Governor Sacked NUJ Chairman Storms Press Centre with Thugs, Breaks into Office Nigerian state fights court ruling on Muslim headscarf Police To Reopen Some Divisional Offices Closed From Boko Haram Threat Students Protest In Abuja, Demand Release Of Zakzaky Nigerian Air Force Orders More Russian Helicopters Igbinedion collected N5bn for Okada road project – Oshiomhole Female Idps Engaging In Prostitution To Survive – Csos POLICE INTIMIDATION - Four Policemen Escape Lynching SC Upholds Bello’s Election, Dismisses Wada, Faleke’s Appeals Task Force Arrests Four Drivers for Traffic Offences Economic revival, key to reducing human trafficking in Nigeria – Buhari IPMAN awaits imminent arrival of 50,000MT of kerosene Senate President urges FG to sell JV oil assets as foreign loans delayed Shiites fault Nigerian govt’s claim on El-Zakzaky’s detention Lagos to shut 10,000 schools APNewsBreak: Nigeria sues over $12B in 'illegal' oil exports Flood kills 18, destroys 6,637 houses in Jigawa Nigeria sues over $12B in 'illegal' oil exports Nigeria's Forcados oil exports expected to resume end September / early October Samsung Galaxy Note7 not officially introduced in Nigeria Yahaya Bello wins at Supreme Court Lagos to shut 10,000 schools Beginning from the next academic session, the Lagos State Government has said it would shut down more than 10,000 schools operating illegally in the state. Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, said operators of the schools, which represent more than two thirds of privately-owned schools in the state, failed to register their schools after the registration procedure was simplified by the ministry of education. Adebule said this while flagging off the school census programme for private schools at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos. The Deputy Governor, who spoke on the theme “Entrenching Best Practices”, noted that the state government would not relent in its efforts to provide quality education and learning environment for pupils in the state. Adebule who presented approval letters of 119 schools to their proprietors at the event, said, “In essence, about two-third of private schools are operating illegally in the state. About 15,000 private schools are operating in the state and only 4,556 are approved and registered. “No nation or society can develop better than its quality of human capital. Part of the tools required to perform our task as a regulator is accurate and precise data which the proposed school census was intended to provide for the education sector.’’ In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, warned proprietors to be wary of people parading themselves as officials of the ministry. He advised them to pay all levies accruing to the state government to the appropriate coffer, adding that no official had been mandated to collect levies on behalf of the state government.
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