NCC explains final deadline for NIN-SIM linkage, sets September 14, 2024 - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has explained the reasons behind the much proclaimed final deadline for telecom subscribers in the country to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs), reports ITREALMS.

NCC through the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka in a press statement available to ITREALMS, said that based on significant progress in the Federal Government’s 2020 policy to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs) that the the announcement has become imperative.

Monetary Policy Committee explains rate hike to 26.25% - ITREALMS

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The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has hiked the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 26.25 per cent, reports ITREALMS.

The Committee arising from its 295th meeting on the 20th and 21st of May 2024 to review recent economic and financial developments and assess risks to the outlook decided that to raise the MPR by 150 basis points to 26.25 per cent from 24.75 per cent; retain the asymmetric corridor around the MPR to +100/-300 basis points; retain the Cash Reserve Ratio of Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent; and retain the Liquidity Ratio at 30.00 per cent.

Viral Video: Enugu State replies, explains demolition of illegal structure, criminal hideout - ITREALMS

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… Police arrest suspected kidnappers, recover 8 riffles, surveillance gadgets 

The Enugu State government has refuted trending videos of alleged indiscriminate demolition of properties at the Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as Enugu Centenary City, reports ITREALMS.

A public statement available to ITREALMS, the government of Enugu State said it only demolished illegal and uncompleted structures, among them buildings, which served as kidnappers’ hideout, stressing that it was yet to demolish any of the unapproved but completed and or occupied properties in the area. 

Redeemers Men’s Fellowship Business Summit: RCCG leader explains why Christians are poor - ITREALMS

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As millions of Nigerians are groaning under harsh economic climate, a Professor and Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Prof. Solomon Adekunle Bello has explained the reasons behind poverty within the Christians community and the steps to take to escape poverty.

Prof. Bello, Pastor in Charge of Lagos province 71 (LP71) who delivered the lead paper at the Business Summit of the Redemeers Men's Fellowship of the LP71, Divine Connection Zone with the theme: 'For Christians Not Be Poor, To Avoid Conflicts And Financial Crises' said, “poverty is not for any true child of God. As long as men continue to sin against God, they will continue to struggle.”

Soludo explains 'Executive Slap' @ his inauguration - ITREALMS

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The newly sworn-in Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has given reasons for the fight which observers have since tagged 'executive slap' between Mrs. Ebelechukwu, the wife of his immediate past governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and Mrs Bianca Ojukwu which evidently resulted in a breach of protocol at his inauguration earlier today, Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Mrs. Ebele Obiano and Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu

Soludo in a press statement available to ITREALMS and signed by the Head of his media team, Joe C. Anatune gave two reasons for the show of shame: Communication gap and lingering differences between the two powerful women.

NCC explains importance survey on cybercriminal - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has explained the essence of the its recent request to industry stakeholders to actively participate in a survey on cybercriminal, reports ITREALMS.

NCC also noted the exercise would ensure a secure cyberspace that is safe for the operators and consumers of communications services and infrastructure in Nigeria.

Imo explains partnership with OGP – ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Imo State Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has said the state Government applied to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as one of the ways of entrenching transparency in public service, reports ITREALMS.

Governor Ihedioha who gave the explanation while receiving a delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria, Tuesday, listed other governance reforms initiatives introduced by his administration to mainstream accountability in governance.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, the Governor described Imo as an investment-friendly state, reiterating the commitment of his administration to partner international organizations in ensuring good governance in the state.

“In Imo State, we are highly enterprising people and we are investor-friendly. We have very huge potentials in tourism, agriculture and education. We inherited a state with decayed infrastructure and poor morale of citizens, occasioned by poor governance. Pensioners were owed for over eighty months and the Governor has now started paying. Governor Emeka Ihedioha has taken steps towards restoring public confidence in governance, with rule of law as a cardinal principle. We met an Internally Generated Revenue- IGR base of N258m monthly. His Excellency introduced reforms to entrench transparency and accountability in governance. Through Order 005, the Treasury Single Account -TSA was introduced and as a result, so many leakages in revenue have been blocked. Last month, we generated over N800m, as against N258m that we inherited as IGR.”

“We are implementing the IPPC accounting standards. We have applied to join the Open Government Partnership-OGP, as one of our transparency initiatives. We are opening up the government for citizens’ scrutiny and participation. We have opened an Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance, with a view to reducing the cost of governance. We are investment-friendly and the Governor has set up a desk for ease of doing business in the state. We seek investments in the areas of Power, Agriculture and Tourism. Imo State is willing and ready to partner with the DFID.”

Earlier in her presentation, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing said they were in the state to identify areas of possible support through the Department for International Development.

“We are in your state to get a better understanding of what is on the ground, with a view to knowing how we can support governance in Imo State. We have programmes that will be beneficial to you. We also wish to understand the challenges you are facing in the state.”

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Yayi 2019: Senator explains why NASS is probing sale of Etisalat – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Senator representing the Lagos State West Senatorial district, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, aka Yayi has explained why he sponsored the motion to investigate the near-collapse of former Etisalat, a mobile network operator (MNO), now trading as 9mobile, following the operators inability to repay multi-million dollar loan, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this to ITREALMS at the weekend during when 2019 campaign train stopped over at the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at a forum tagged Meet the Press Forum, Senator Adeola, said the motion became imperative because Nigerians have vested interest in the telecommunications companies existence and have invested heavily since it began operation in the country over eight years ago.

This, ITREALMS gathered is coming as the bills for upgrading of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba-Lagos and Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State to degree-awarding universities of technologies, have passed first readings respectively.

He told ITREALMS led to the ongoing investigations by a Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions.

Adeola, who also is the pioneer chairman of Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Local Content, told ITREALMS that he sponsored the motion to “investigate Revenue Generating Agencies over alleged leakages non-remittances and misuse of generated revenue by MDAs.”

Additionally, he sponsored motion for legislative investigation of “Local Content Elements and Cost Variation of the Egina Oil Field Project and other Related Matters.”

“It’s noteworthy that all these motions led to Senate resolutions for investigations to expose corruption or inefficiency which indeed is the hallmark of the role of a legislator in oversight duties,” he declared.

According to the Senator, he had sponsored some 15 bills in the last three years including the two seeking to upgrade Yaba Tech and Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to universities of technologies among others.

“So far, I have single handedly introduced 15 bills to the 8th Senate while co-sponsoring many others including the passed, ‘Sexual Harassment Bill and Special Status for Lagos Bill,’” he said.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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Tinubu explains why he backs Oyetola - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the weekend in Osogbo, Osun State capital, solicited support for the party's candidate in the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, saying with his impeccable credentials, competence and the sterling performance of the outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the APC flag bearer is the best man for the job and the one to beat in the race, reports ITREALMS.

He said he was backing the renowned insurance guru and corporate player in order to help replicate the economic and infrastructural development witnessed in Lagos in Osun.

Asiwaju Tinubu spoke during separate visits to the palaces of Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aremolaran. During the visits, the APC leader sought royal blessing for Oyetola.

At the palace of Ataoja, the former Lagos State governor described Oyetola as a technocrat and shrewd manager and administrator, recalling how he single-handedly founded and raised his own company, an insurance company, to a place of enviable status.

Asiwaju Tinubu said Ogbeni Aregbesola had laid the infrastructural foundation for the state and that Oyetola, with his experience and expertise in the corporate world, would take Osun to the next level, which to raise its economic and investment profile.

Receiving Asiwaju Tinubu, Oba Olanipekun expressed gratitude to the APC leader for the role he played when the traditional ruler had challenges over his emergence as Ataoja of Osogbo.

Ola Olanipekun also commended Governor Aregbesola for doing an excellent job in the state, admitting that Osogbo particularly benefited from the administration with the good network of road and other infrastructure put in place in the state. 

He, however, said if elected, Oyetola should help to further develop the city.

The APC leader was accompanied on the visit by Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, former APC National Vice Chairman, South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Lagos State Information Commissioner, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, and Executive National Commissioner, Stakeholders Management of the National Communications Commission, Mr. Sunday Dare.
Speaking at the palace of Owa-Obokun, Asiwaju described the traditional ruler as a foremost author and popular economist who is no push-over in the land.

Ola Aromolaran requested through Asiwaju that if the APC candidate is elected, he should help upgrade the College of Education in the city into a full-fledged University of Education.
He also asked that his palace burnt by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by then PDP-led government in the state, in the wake of the struggle by Aregbesola to reclaim his mandate stolen in 2007, be rebuilt.  

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Alaafin explains how Gani Adams emerged Aare Ona Kakanfo

ITREALMS:

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has disclosed that the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo was bestowed on Dr. Gani Adams because of his passionate commitment to the protection of the culture and territorial integrity of Yorubaland, reports ITRealms.

Oba Adeyemi made the disclosure during a thanksgiving service on Sunday at St Mary's Catholic Church, Oyo to mark his 47th year on the throne.

He disclosed that out of 25 candidates shortlisted for the title, Adams was found to have paid dearly and earnestly for the interest of Yorubaland

Oba Adeyemi said: “The benchmark of selection was not hung at the sentinel of political engagement, solidity in terms of gold, wealth or fortune, neither was it on the number of properties acquired on global pedestal, but on agrarian and blind engagement of those who have abused and abusing, those who have infringed and infringing on the territorial and cultural territory of Yoruba.

“Whatever methods employed by him and his association, the fact still remains that there was a counter balance check valve which sent jitters down to the spines of the irrational irredentists who hitherto thought that they can make mincemeat of Yoruba land.

“And for his bold steps at ensuring that Yorubaland was not desecrated or lorded over both by blue collar miscreants, ethnic irredentists and he paid dearly for it.”

Adams, Oba Adeyemi pointed out, “has been poignantly consistent in fighting for the protection of Yoruba. He was for many times humiliated, disgraced, manacled and jailed. It is natural for you either to hate, love and dislike him. However, the truth must not only be told that he was there when the Yoruba needed a person who is bold, strong and ready to lay his life for the defence of the heritage.

“After he came first at the examination and scrutinization by men and earthly beings, his appointment as the 15th Are Ona Kakanfo was also subjected for approval and subsequently sanctioned by the gods and all the elemental forces in the firmament.

“We also ensured that the three religions being fervently practiced by the Yoruba prayed and endorsed his appointment. Thus, we find it expedient to be here today not only to give and pray to God through Mother Mary, the Holy Virgin for my 47th year on the throne, but also for the successful installation ceremony of the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

“The role of an Aare Ona Kakanfo both in the peace and war period is not a deal for the Lilly or jelly livered or for a spineless fellow. It is the consignment of a man with a Lion's heart and an eagle spirit, which we have found in Aare Gani Adams.”

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Why 71 officers were redeployed by FRSC - Oyeyemi

ITRealms:

The Chief Executive and Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has adduced reasons why some 71 senior officers were redeployed nationwide, reports ITRealms.

Oyeyemi said, this exercise was to enhanced performance, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He stressed that the redeployment, was aimed at repositioning the commission, and basically affected three zonal commanding officers alongside several sector commanders.

A redeployment release by FRSC Secretary, Susan Ajenge, and sighted by ITRealms indicated that while Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, the former Sector Commander in Rivers, was recalled recently for forcibly cutting the hair of some female personnel, he is to now the Head of Corps Safety and Transport Office at the national headquarters, Abuja.

Kumapayi has been replaced by Corps Commander Imoh Etuk, who was formally the Corps Public Education Officer at the headquarters. Just as Kingsley Agomo, the former Zonal Commanding Officer of Zone 7, Abuja, was moved to Zone 6, Port Harcourt.

Jonas Agwu, who was in charge of Zone 6, Port Harcourt, was redeployed to Zone 4, Jos.

The erstwhile Commanding Officer of Zone 4 Jos, Oludare Fadogba, takes over the affairs of Zone 7, Abuja.

A.A. Nwaka, who recently completed a course at the National Defence College, Abuja, was deployed to the National Headquarters, Abuja, to take over as the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Admin section.

Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, who was the Head of Media Relations and Strategy at the headquarters, takes over from Etuk as the new Corps Public Education Officer.

Also affected is the former Kaduna State Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma, who is now the Head of Transport Section at the Technical Service Department at the national headquarters.

Former Sector Commander, Gombe, David Mendie, was moved to Benue as Sector Commander, while Chidi Nkwonta, the erstwhile Sector Commander, Benue, takes charge in Cross River in the same capacity.

Similarly, Ikechukwu Igwe was moved from Cross River as Sector Commander to Bayelsa in the same capacity.

James Mbatse was moved from Niger State as Sector Commander to assume the same position in Yobe.

Ibrahim Abubakar and Umar Ibrahim were moved from Imo and Osun as Sector Commanders to assume the same positions in Gombe and Kaduna states respectively, among others.

In a statement circulated on Sunday, Sani Abdullahi, Media Assistant to the Corps Marshal, said the redeployment takes immediate effect.

According to Abdullahi, handing and taking over process is expected to be completed latest by June 10.

The statement said Oyeyemi enjoined all senior officers of the FRSC to brace up to the challenges of delivering safety to Nigerians in line with the Corps’ 2017 strategic goals.

Uboshe Uboshe with additional report from NAN

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AFRICMIL explains essence of whistle blower support initiative

ITRealms:

The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has explained why it launched a civil society whistle blower project named Corruption Anonymous, reports ITRealms.

According to the Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, Chido Onumah, ‘Corruption Anonymous’ aims at create public confidence and acceptance of the new Whistle Blower Initiative of the Nigerian government.

The project, he also said, seeks to use citizens to win the war against corruption and enhance accountability in public office by providing a mechanism for anonymous reporting that is acceptable, credible and effective. 

“Considering the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria and the cost and challenge of prosecuting corruption, it is important to support any initiative that has the potential to prevent and, therefore, reduce corruption,” Onumah said, stressing that winning the war on corruption requires urgent holistic attention and a creative response that is both civil society oriented and sustainable.

He noted that because of Nigeria’s weak institutions and how systemic corruption is in virtually all areas of public and corporate Nigeria, it will take more than government intervention to sustain the war on corruption.

“Given the opportunity, citizens can do something about corruption,” he said.

The overall goal of Corruption Anonymous, he said, is to strengthen the capacity of citizens and civil society to contribute to the success of the anti-corruption war by keying into the new whistle blower initiative, increasing patronage and support for the initiative as well as creating confidence in the system that the information citizens volunteer is not only used but that whistle blowers are protected.

Further, he said, Corruption Anonymous will bring together three interrelated stakeholders in the fight against corruption, namely: anticorruption agencies, the media and civil society to produce a synergy that would make the whistle blower policy sustainable. 

“The recent successes of the war against corruption in the country, including recovery of large sums of money linked to the efforts of whistle blowers show that people are willing to report corruption if the conditions are right,” he said.

The AFRICMIL coordinator, pointed out the need for a whistle blower legislation so that they are not left at the mercy of offenders, just as the project will support advocacy for the passage of the Whistle Blower (Protection) bill.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 

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Lagos explains website to verify plate numbers by MVAA

ITRealms:

The Lagos State Government has explained the reasons behind its recent creation of a website, www.lsmvaapvs.org, to verify plate numbers issued by the State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this, the General Manager, MVAA, Lagos, Mr. Lateef Lawal, said that through the website, motorists and law enforcement agencies could confirm the authenticity of number plates issued in Lagos by the agency.

“The platform also became necessary in order to eradicate the unnecessary harassment of licensees by officials of the Nigerian Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other Security Agencies,” he declared.

Pointing out that the situation became worrisome and embarrassing to the State Government and its clients when incessant reports, calls, Short Messaging Service (SMS), e-mails and visits from licensees that vehicles duly registered with Lagos State number plates were being impounded by FRSC and other security officials.

He therefore urged the public, particularly car owners, FRSC and security agencies to visit the MVAA’s website at www.lsmvaapvs.org to verify the authenticity of number plates issued by the MVAA.

“The site is easy to navigate, once logged in, type in the number plate and wait for the confirmation of the details of the vehicle,” he emphasized.

While wishing Lagosians a joyful yuletide and prosperous 2017, Lawal enjoined motorists to comply with driving rules and make sure that their vehicle particulars are up-to- date in order to avoid being penalized by the authorities concerned during the period.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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FG explains commitment to broadcast digitization deadline

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained the commitment of the Federal Government (FG) towards meeting the June 2017 deadline for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country, reports ITRealms.

The Minister made this known in Abuja on Tuesday while declaring open the 2016 AFRICAST with the theme "Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting: Financing Quality Content"

"The digitization of broadcasting offers Nigeria a lot of opportunities. The benefits are multifaceted and very far-reaching – in the areas of economics, politics, education, entertainment, science and technology and several other ways. Many have said that the impact of digitization on television will be revolutionary and I cannot agree less. With digitization, the TV industry in Nigeria will be able to raise over 1 billion dollars in one year. Also, digitisation will increase the number of the current 450 TV stations in Nigeria," he said.

Alhaji Mohammed explained that the Federal Government's idea of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is one in which there is free digital TV service called FreeTV - based on Freeview rather than requiring pay TV subscriptions and that the government is providing support to ensure that the FreeTV Set-Top-Boxes, also called decoders, are affordable at a retail price of N1,500.

He said with the Digital Switch Over, Nollywood will have a safe and profitable distribution channel direct to 24 million TV homes through the Set-Top Boxes with no piracy risk, which will generate $250m per annum of extra income for Nollywood.

The Minister said the digitization of the technology of broadcasting, which brought about a paradigm shift in the industry, requires broadcasters to be dynamic, embrace various platforms for diverse content and adapt to new tools with continuous access to content throughout their business.

"The evolution of new broadcast platforms is threatening traditional broadcast platforms and channels. The reality though is that the motivation apparently is that as broadcasters engage new platforms, the market opportunities are increasing, providing new revenue streams," he said.

Mohammed also urged regulators of broadcasting in Africa to begin to envisage and appropriate the larger implications of the emergence of multiple platforms by ensuring that the media continues to serve its peoples in terms of security, economic well-being and technological advancement.

AFRICAST, which was introduced in 1996 by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the broadcast regulator in Nigeria, is the platform on which broadcast issues as they relate to Africa are discussed every two years by professionals, academics and policy makers.

It is also a platform for manufacturers of broadcast equipment and publishers of content who are targeting the emerging African market.


Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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Smile explains relaunch of SmileVoice in Lagos

ITRealms:

The acclaimed Fourth-Generation cum Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) network, Smile Communications Limited, has relaunched its SmileVoice with exceptional application (app), known as ‘SmileVoice app’ reports ITRealms.

The Managing Director, Smile Communications Ltd, Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo explained at the weekend that the reason behind the relaunch borders on the improved usage of an App which could only be available with the registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card from Smile with accompanied active email to enable customers to download the App.

SmileVoice app, he said, is the world-first of its kind which has free mobile app with capabilities of using it over 4G LTE technology or through the use of VoLTE-enabled handset.

He also said that SmileVoice app comes with 30minutes plus 30 short messaging service (SMS) to any network, adding that to all network calls cost 8k per second, just as the N1000 plan amounts to 200 minutes included, describing the features as the Smile innovation with unlimited possibilities.

Efeurhobo equally explained that through the use of VoLTE-enabled handset, for instance, customers would have access to make and receive super-clear video and voice calls which is fast growing globally at Smile in lower rate both in Nigeria and abroad without need for the recipient to also have SmileVoice.

He said this service was introduced ever voice over LTE [volte] call in Nigeria during the beta version of its voice service in October 2015.

Elaborating on SmileVoice, head of communication group at Smile, Nicolene Vanzyl, pointed out that what makes smileVoice different is that it offers also superfast internet access on the go.

She stressed that smile voice value to customer include no international call rate everywhere using the Smile voice, it remains 8k per second which is transparent at the end of each call.

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