CBN bans sales of forex to BDCs - ITREALMS

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has banned the sales of Foreign Exchange (FX) to Bureau De Change (BDCs) operators in the country, reports ITREALMS.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, proclaimed this at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja, the nation's capital on Tuesday.

FG places travel bans travel on China, USA, UK, Germany, 9 others

ITREALMS:

THE Federal Government (FG) has issued a travel ban on 13 countries over the spread of the Coronavirus, otherwise known as CoVID19, with effect from Saturday, March 21, 2020, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this development, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja, that the ban affected some 13 countries including China, Iran, South Korea, Germany, Italy, USA, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, France, and Japan.

He also said the committee after a meeting concluded that all officials in the Ministries, Department, and Agencies, comprising parastatals to stop all forms of travels out of the country for whatever reasons.

“At the conclusion of the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the control of COVID-19, the committee has reached some decisions.

“We have decided to advise that all officials in the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies including parastatals, that government has banned all forms of travels out of the country for whatever reasons.

“Whether for meetings, bi-lateral, multilateral, conferences, seminars, workshops and any form of other ceremonies. And this ban will remain in place until further notice and until the situation of pandemic nature of the COVID-19 stops.

FG warned that “By this notice, any prior approval to travel abroad on official assignment during this period is accordingly resisted.”

As said by Mustapha, the committee equally urged for scaling up the nation’s health emergency system to the highest level and put in measures to curb further spread of the disease.

The committee headed by the SGF also advised the citizens strongly in their own interest to cancel or postpone all non-essential travel abroad including business and vacation trips.

“This is especially so, especially when it comes to the countries known to be seriously affected by the COVID-19.

“Secondly, we urge anyone returning to Nigeria from any country to strictly self-isolate for 14 days. And that all people returning from countries with high community transmission rate, especially countries that have recorded a thousand cumulative cases and above would be actively isolated for 14 days by the health authorities,” he said.

The nation’s chief scribe said that the Nigerian government was also in support of measures taken by the government of other countries, particularly high burden countries who have urged their citizens to stay home and avoid non-essential travels.

*Uboshe Uboshe with additional reports from NAN

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2019: INEC bans mobile devices inside voting booth - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that there will be a partial ban on the use of electronic mobile devices inside the polling booth during the 2019 general elections, reports ITREALMS.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Publicity Committee at INEC, Barrister Festus Okoye made this disclosure in his address at the sensitization forum for the media in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, saying they have introduced a partial ban on the use of mobile phone and other photographic devices.

Okoye, who was represented at the forum by the outgoing Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji, said the ban on mobile devices is strictly on voters at the polling booth.

“We have introduced a partial ban on the use of mobile phone and other photographic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles,” he declared.

Okoye also expressed dismay over the issue of vote buying and INEC has responded to this by first altering the configuration of polling units by moving the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles in order to make it difficult for voters to expose their marked ballot papers.

According to him, it is in the same stead that the partial ban on mobile phones and photographic devices was introduced.

In addition, INEC he said, has introduced the “rolling and flattening of ballot papers by voters before casting them into the ballot boxes, stressing that financial inducement by partisan actors through the collection of the voter identification numbers (VIN) and their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

“We want to reassure Nigerians that we are aware of the new tricks. It is a futile effort. We will work with the security agencies to deal with the violators of our electoral laws,” Okoye insisted.

He emphasised on the role of the media to deeply engage in voter education, general enlightenment and mobilization.

Remmy Nweke/HO

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Nigeria: Facebook bans foreign electoral adverts for 2019 - ITREALMS

Exclusive@ITREALMS:

Beginning from today, Facebook has banned foreign electoral advertisements for the forthcoming Nigeria’s general elections 2019 on the platform, reports ITREALMS.

According to public statement made available to ITREALMS, Facebook said this was in continuation of its attempt to ensure build political transparency around elections and across the globe.

This ban on foreign electoral advertisements equally applies to Ukraine.

“We'll temporarily expand enforcement and not accept foreign electoral ads around their elections, starting with Nigeria on January 16,” official declared.

In the coming months, Facebook also said it intends to roll out additional protections ahead of upcoming elections.

Stressing that these efforts are to prevent foreign interference and avail people more information about the ads they see across Facebook platforms.

“We're continuing our focus on preventing foreign interference and giving people more information about the ads they see across our platforms.”ITREALMS gathered that this had been implemented in the US, UK and Brazil.

As gathered, Facebook said, political advertisers in these countries must confirm their identity and location before they can run ads, and their ads are housed in a public, searchable Ad Library for up to seven years.

Further to this effect, Facebook said that in February, it would launch similar Ad Library and enforce authorizations ahead of the Indian’s general elections this spring.

While in the European Union (EU) “We plan to roll out ad transparency tools before May elections.”

Globally, ITREALMS reported that by the end of June, Facebook said it will provide a set of these tools for advertisers around the world.

Pointing out that by shining a light on political ads, news organizations, regulators, watchdog groups and people anywhere in the world can hold advertisers and Facebook more accountable.

Chuks Egbune/HO

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EO6: Buhari bans high profile Nigerians from foreign trips, sale of assets - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The President, Muhammadu Buhari may have banned some high profile Nigerians from travelling abroad in accordance with the Executive Order 6 (EO6) recently signed into effect, reports ITREALMS.

Specifically, the president, ITREALMS gathered had instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies to block the affected Nigerians, whose list could not be ascertained at press time, from leaving the country or selling their assets.

Confirming this development, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, informed ITREALMS on a public statement made available to correspondent, Saturday, that this was in the execution of Executive Order 6, which the court week end affirmed its legality.

As said by him, “Following the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6), President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to implement the Order in full force.

“To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the country, pending the determination of their cases.

“Also, the financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by the relevant agencies to ensure that the assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt the investigation and litigation processes.

“It is instructive to note that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter.

“The Buhari administration reassures all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against corruption, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the general principles of the Rule of Law.

“Accordingly, this administration will uphold the rule of law in all its actions and the right of citizens would be protected as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We, therefore, enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities towards ensuring a successful implementation of the Executive Order 6 which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption.”

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NCAA wakes up, bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on planes

ITRealms:

Obviously emulating its counterpart in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) almost two weeks behind, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) woke up to ban Samsung Galaxy Note 7 onboard any plane in the country, reports ITRealms.

A press statement made available to ITRealms and signed by General Manager, Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye, NCAA joined the wagon by requesting passengers not to store such phones in any checked-in baggage.

‘‘NCAA is appealing to the passengers’ responsibilities in relation to ensuring safety and security of air transportation,” he said.

NCAA pointed out that all airlines are advised to emphasise the prohibition of this devices on board during passenger briefings by the Cabin Crew.

“Similarly, all those responsible for searching or screening checked-in baggage are expected to intensify the procedures to identify possible checked-in Samsung Galaxy Note 7,” he said.

ITRealms recollects that Samsung had a fortnight ago recalled over 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices, due to several fire explosions linked to its battery defect.

Also, ITRealms reports that an official letter had already been sent to all the Airlines and all other stakeholders for strict compliance.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited (SEWA) said it had commenced replacement programme for the faulty Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in Nigeria. Just as the electronic company said its differing the official launch of the product, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in Nigeria.

ITRealms recalls that on September 2, 2016, Samsung proclaimed an official Galaxy Note7 replacement programme due to battery cell manufacturing error which had led to a few reported incidents.

“Since customers’ safety is top priority, all Galaxy Note 7 purchased are eligible for replacement regardless of the original place of purchase,” the company said.

Noteworthy is that Galaxy Note 7 has not been formally released in Nigeria, the company said, the current Galaxy Note 7 users are kindly advised to visit the nearest Samsung Authorized Service Centre for immediate assistance about replacement program.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience this may have caused in the market, but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to Samsung customers. Samsung is completely committed to fixing this problem and ensuring the highest level of safety and satisfaction for its customers,” part of the statement read.

Oya Omidele/GEE

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