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The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, in collaboration with the Legal Assistance and Citizens Rights Initiative (LACRI), has successfully facilitated the release of seven inmates from the Auchi Medium Security Correctional Centre.
The inmates were released on Tuesday with support from six NAS chapters: Arabella Deck – Benin Metropolis 2, Benbow Deck – Benin Metropolis, Hybrid Deck – Edo North, Americana 1 Deck – Houston, Texas, Longhorn Deck – Dallas, Texas, and Atlantis Deck – Atlanta, Georgia.
According to Dirisu Odion, NAS Regional Vice President for Region 3 (Edo, Ekiti, and Ondo), the release was part of the organisation’s humanitarian efforts.
“We identified ten inmates who couldn’t afford to pay their fines. With LACRI’s collaboration, we raised funds to secure the release of seven inmates today,” Odion stated.
Christopher Ikponwonsa, Capoon of the Hybrid Deck, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to humanistic services for the less privileged. Both Odion and Ikponwonsa advised the released inmates to refrain from future crimes.
Barrister Mahmud Garuba of LACRI highlighted the organisation’s provision of free legal services for individuals charged with criminal offences.
“We focus on assisting those convicted with minimal fines who have spent time in prison,” Garuba explained. He urged other NGOs to support their efforts in releasing prisoners.
The released inmates expressed gratitude to NAS and LACRI. Onaivi Adeche, who was convicted for two years with an option of a fine, said, “God will bless these associations for helping me in my time of need.”
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Sokoto Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has called on Nigerian Export Promotion Council as well as National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria to attract investors in setting up of Onion Processing factory in the state.
The Governor stated this on Tuesday during a courtesy call by members of NOPPMAN association in the country and West Africa ahead of their international conference in the state.
The members of the association were led by the Regional President of NOPPMAN in Africa, Alhaji Mustapha Kadiri, and the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, among others.
The governor assured of his administration’s readiness to continue to offer necessary support to investors in the state to improve the economy of the state.
He said, “We have so far distributed fertilizer and inputs to our farmers in the state free of charge, which is the first time in the history of the state.
“We have set up irrigation farming in some of our local government areas in the state as part of ways to improve farming.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the National Export Promotion Council as well as NOPPMAN, to use their offices in bringing investors to the state, not only for the Onion but also for the Garlic processing plant.
“This will engage more youths to be useful for the state and the country at large, being the largest producer of both items in the state”
Earlier in his remarks, the National President of National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Dr Maitasamu Isa Aliyu, appealed to the governor to ensure setting up of Onion Processing factory in the state.
He said if Onion is being processed in the state being the largest Onion producer in the country, it will go a long way to improve the standard of living of youths in the state
Aliyu further commends the governor for the support given to the association in hosting the international conference in the state.
He described NOPPMAN as the apex body of any onion association in the country with support from all federal agencies in the promotion of exchange for the country.
The President reemphasized that the country now produces fewer than two million metric tons of Onion, which he described as the highest in the world, while he also said Sokoto State produces more than any state in the country.
He said part of the importance of hosting the event in the state is to place Sokoto ahead of others as Agricultural transformation in the country.
He, however, appealed to the state government to continue to support smallholder farmers with improved seedlings, fertilizers, and other farm inputs to assist them.
He also appeals to the state government to support the association in the provision of storage facilities, irrigation farming, and small loans for farmers, as well as training of farmers.