Brand loyalty: Fendi, Italian fashion house owes Nnamdi Kanu, says Awuzie - ITREALMS

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The acclaimed most vocal Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) evangelist in Africa, Dr. Charles Awuzie, has penned a letter to Fendi, a fashionistic entity to support Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK) for his brand loyalty, maintaining that "Fendi owes Nnamdi Kanu," reports ITREALMS.

Fendi, ITREALMS gathered is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1925, known for its elaborate craftsmanship and creativity. The brand offers a wide range of products including fur, ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, and eyewear, making significant contributions to the luxury fashion industry.

MRA wants Lagos to obey court’s order, investigate reporter’s death, prosecute killers - ITREALMS

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Lagos State Government to comply with the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos directing it to ensure an investigation into the death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year reporter with Gboah TV, who was reportedly arrested by the Police while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and later found dead, and to identify and prosecute those responsible.

In a letter written on the organization’s behalf by its lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu, of the law firm of Charles Musa and Co., dated August 22, 2024 and addressed to the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, MRA urged the Government to “comply with the directives of the honorable court so that justice would be seen to be done and hope given to the common man that there is still justice in the judicial system.”

I go kill myself: Man scammed of N40m cries out, wants Sanwo-Olu's help+video - ITREALMS

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An unidentified man who claimed to be a client of Revolution Plus owned by Mr. Emma Bamidele, has cried out alleging he was scammed to the tune of N40 million for some 20 plots of land over six years ago, threatening to kill himself, reports ITREALMS.

The man in a viral video obtained by ITREALMS on social media, also threatened to take his own life following his discovery of no structure and no refund of his hard-earned money, which he laboured for abroad.

INEC wants IGP to prosecute Adamawa REC - ITREALMS

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate and possible prosecute its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, reports ITREALMS.

Ari, ITREALMS recalled had on Sunday, April 16, 2023, purportedly declared the result for the Adamawa State Governorship election in favour of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aisha Binani, who has since gone to court to halt further election result.

Wants to be a millionaire! Here’s 4 steps by Polaris save & win promo - ITREALMS

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Do you want to become a millionnaire? If yes, you have the option to explore the latest save and win promo by Polaris Bank, reports ITREALMS.

Polaris Bank, ITREALMS gathered, is giving away millions of Naira in cash prices and other special rewards in its ongoing Save & Win promo.

Insecurity: PAVE wants govt to deliberately unmask 'unknown gunmen' - ITREALMS

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Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network (PAVE) has charged the Nigerian government and stakeholders to make deliberate efforts to investigate and unmask the unknown gunmen and women terrorising the country.

The network made this call on its recommendations issued after the meeting of its Steering Committee held on the 9th of August, and of its General Assembly held on the 12th of August and made available on Friday. 

Vodacom wants network operators to collaborate on improved QoS - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Commercial Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Solomon Ogufere has highlighted the need for businesses to begin to focus on new collaborative strategies to help deliver more efficient services for users, reports ITREALMS.

In his keynote presentation at the NigeriaCom 2018 Conference and Exhibition organised by Informa Telecoms Group, which took place at the Grand Ball Room of the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, he said, paramount issue of late is collaboration in order to achieve optimum quality of service for the end user.

The event broadly themed, “Leading Economic Resurgence through ICT Innovation", provided an excellent opportunity for various stakeholders within the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) space to deliberate on pertinent issues facing the sector today.

“With the increase in internet penetration around the world, the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) and new enabling technologies permeating every facet of business and life, there is an urgent need for swift development within the ICT industry and this can only be achieved through a paradigm shift.”

He said: “The shift must begin first from our approach towards collaboration, moving from opportunistic pseudo collaboration to symbiotic collaboration that leads to efficiency in service delivery, improved quality and a better all-round experience for the customer.”

As the rest of the world enters into the fourth industrial revolution, Africa as a Continent still lags behind in digitization efforts when compared to Europe, the United States and even Asia, showing that there is yet more ground to cover as it pertains to technological development and this cannot be achieved unilaterally.

Ogufere also noted: “The secret to solving the collaboration conundrum is to create a culture of collaboration which requires constant interaction. Industry leaders must move away from ownership mentality by creating avenues for collaboration at every point within the ecosystem and encouraging new entrants with specific expertise into the market.”

In conclusion, he said: “Collaboration is fundamental for sustained development across industries. As such, collaboration can be said to be the ultimate key ingredient for the development of the economy across all industries. Therefore, being the driving force of all development across the world, this collaboration must begin with technology.”

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Pix: L-R: Managing Director Telecom Advisory Services, Ambrose Nwadike; Chairman NCC, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and Commercial Director Vodacom Business Nigeria, Solomon Ogufere at the Nigeriacom conference and exhibition in Lagos.

Buhari/Obasanjo exchange: AFRICMIL wants ex-leaders probed

ITREALMS:

Abuja-based civil society organisation, the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), has called for a “full scale and wide-ranging investigations” into the administrations of former Nigerian leaders and bring all those who breached public trust to account, reports ITRealms.

Reacting to the public spat between President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the organisation said the federal government has a duty to probe “all grey areas in every administration, beyond the alleged $16 billion power sector expenditure”.

Addressing a group of his supporters on Tuesday, President Buhari alluded that President Obasanjo has questions to answer for spending $16 billion on power without commensurate result. President Obasanjo promptly responded saying he was ready for probe. 

The statement quoted the AFRICMIL Coordinator, Chido Onumah, as saying: “This challenge the former president throws at the federal government presents a unique opportunity for us as a country to revisit our past and bring all our past leaders to account. Reopening the power sector expenditure probe would be a step in the right direction for the country, but that should just be the beginning”.

According to Mr. Onumah, “It is high time the unwritten amnesty given to former heads of states and presidents was jettisoned and those individuals scrutinized to get them to fully account for their stewardship and explain the hemorrhage Nigeria suffered overtime.

“Apart from Sani Abacha, who died in office, there is no Nigerian leader whose personal misconduct was subjected to criminal investigation. This is both an anomaly and an irony. It is ironic that those who are alive are left to enjoy the fruits of their misdeeds,” he said.  

Mr. Onumah cited the example of many countries including Israel, Brazil, South Korea and Malaysia, in recent time, which subjected their former leaders to corruption probe, saying that practice is a major deterrence against corruption for future leaders.

“Nigerian money is our common patrimony. No one can wave off stealing on behalf of all citizens, and ignoring the conduct of former leaders is doing exactly that,” he added.

Describing what he called “criminal collusion” on the part of successive leaders, Mr. Onumah stated that it was unfair for law enforcement agents to go after subordinates “while the big masquerades on whose table the buck stops are deliberately let off the hook.”

AFRICMIL called for a strong independent inter-agency panel to investigate major scandals since the administration of former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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South Africa: Dabiri-Erewa laments killing of 2 Nigerians in 8 days, wants EWS reviewed

ITREALMS:

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has lamented the latest killings of two Nigerians in eight days, reports ITRealms.

She also called for an urgent review of the Early Warning Signal (EWS) put in place by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and South Africa early last year. Stressing that Nigeria must speed up the process of finalising its implementation by South Africa.

Apparently disturbed by the latest killings of two young Nigerians in South Africa, the Presidential aide said the review and urgent implementation became imperative as the attacks in South Africa are not reducing but instead increasing at an alarming rate.

A press statement made available to ITRealms by her Media Aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, she said the efforts that led to the establishment of the EWS by both countries are not working, ``as the present mechanisms seem to do little or nothing to prevent the occurrences of these killings’’.

Dabiri-Erewa once again appealed to Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm and shelve their proposed mass protest and await immediate intervention from both countries to stop the killings and bring the culprits to justice.

She noted that while four South African policemen are already on trial for allegedly killing Nigerians in South Africa, it is imperative that anyone found culpable must be punished.

It will be recalled that the Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Habib Miller, told newsmen that two additional Nigerians were killed in South Africa in the past eight days.

Miller identified the latest victims as Francis Ochuba, a native of Ngodo community in the Umnneochi Local Government Area of Abia and Chidi Ibebuike, a native of Uturu in the Isikwuato Local Government Area also in Abia.

“Ochuba, a property owner, was shot dead alongside his estate agent, a female South African on May 5. They were shot dead as they visited the tenant occupying Ochuba’s house to collect rent.

“The incident occurred in Central Johannesburg, while Ibebuike was shot dead at the entrance to his house at Hazyview in Mpumalanga on May 13.

“Ibebuike’s car was subsequently, snatched by yet to be identified gunmen.

“The chairman of the Nigeria Union in Mpumalanga Province, Mr Amadi in company of other compatriots, has reported the incident to the South African police authorities and investigation is underway.”

ITRealms recalls that estimated 800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, reside in South Africa, according to unofficial estimates.

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NGO wants FG to legislate on improving welfare for elderly

ITREALMS:

A non-governmental organization (NGO), Sunshine Foundation for the Elderly, has called on the Federal Government to facilitate new legislation that would promote the welfare of the elders, who are the senior citizens in the country, reports ITRealms.

According to the President of the Foundation, Barrister Rose Odiete, for the vulnerable old people in Nigeria to enjoy social benefits, more care and support, there is need for more favourable policies and legislation by the government.

Speaking on Monday at the Sunshine Foundation Easter Party for the elderly in Lagos to educate the older generation on exceptional health tips, Odiete stressed that the federal government has a role to play in promoting the welfare of the older people in the society.

According to her, “While we already have some NGOs promoting the course, the government is expected to formulate policies and put certain laws into the society that will benefit the older generation.”

She stressed that once people have lived to the age of 60 years and above serving the society in whatever form and capacity, the society should be able to give back to them.

Odiete argued that the government must design and develop a system to protect the senior citizens at this stage of their lives as the elderly are more vulnerable to certain old age challenges, particularly health and financial issues.

She cited other countries of the world where people above 60 years enjoy free healthcare services, access to accommodation among other benefits, adding that, “Definitely, all these are the things our government should provide for the old people.”

Beyond the government’s role in seeing to the welfare of old people, Odiete stated that the society should wake up to the consciousness of caring for the vulnerable in the society who, according to her, include the very young, women and the elderly.

Founded 26 years ago by late May Ellen Mofe-Damijo (MEE), frontline journalist and publisher of Classique magazine, the Sunshine Foundation runs two major programmes annually which are Easter party for the elders and annual seminar, which has been sustained over the past 26 years as part of its dream of giving back to the society. The foundation usually employs these fora to invite medical doctors and health practitioners to enlighten the elderly on how to take care of themselves, live and age gracefully.

“For the annual seminar, we have identified various health challenges facing the old people in our society and we have created an interface between the elderly and health experts to proffer solutions. These are the things we do.

“We also have our pipe dream, which is to establish an elderly centre but this has not really seen the light of day because it requires a large sum of money and for this we need assistance. We are, however, hoping that in the nearest future, we would have people who will support us to actualize our dream of building the elderly centre”, she explained.

She disclosed that the proposed elderly centre is a place older people can visit with the younger people and share experience and wisdom to the younger generation.

Rose recalled that when the Sunshine Foundation was founded 26 years ago, there were no NGOs advocating for the promotion of health and general welfare of the elderly in Nigeria.

 “When we started in 1992, there were no NGOs that were handling issues of the elderly but today you have a number of them showing concerns in this area. Now we have a number of people talking about the elderly and we accept this as an achievement for Sunshine Foundation because our activities so far have stimulated consciousness in an area that practically was hitherto neglected.”

While she identified funding as a major challenge facing the foundation, Odiete appreciated the efforts of those who have been supporting its programmes.

Three associations of elders joined the Sunshine Foundation during the Easter, which include Surulere Elders Forum, Care Organisation Welfare for the Aged People, and Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Lagos.

In his remark, chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners,  Comrade Sulaiman Muhammed, commended Sunshine Foundation for doing it best to take care of old people when the society seem to have nothing in place for them.

Comrade Muhammed called on the government to emulate the foundation and its initiatives to support retirees who have served the state in different capacities “but now are not getting any benefits from the government and the system they have served.”

He lamented government’s failure in paying the retirees regularly the “arrears of arrears” of ex-workers, stating that the there’s currently a backlog of at least 10 years arrears to be paid by the government.

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Pix: L-R: Coordinator, Surulere Elders Forum, Evangelist Moses Akinosho, President, Sunshine Foundation for the Elderly, Barrister Rose Odiete, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Railway sector Lagos, Alhaji Sulaimon Muhammed, President, Care Organization Welfare for the Aged, Mrs. Fibi Kiladejo, and Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Lagos,Mr. Jinadu Bolaji at the annual Sunshine Foundation Easter Party for the Elderly held in Lagos… 

Benue herdsmen attack: Tiv community wants IGP to disarm Hausa-Fulani

ITREALMS:

The Tiv community in Lagos State, under the auspices of Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K.Idris, to  urgently disarm the irate Hausa -Fulani youths in Benue, especially Makurdi, reports ITRealms.

President General, MUT, Prince Aondowase Ikyernum Kajo, made this appeal after Saturday and Sunday night attacks on their host community in Wadata area of Makurdi where some Tiv residents were killed, others sustained varying degrees of injuries and their houses burnt by the rampaging youths.

Also, they alleged that intelligence information at their disposal indicated that there is a huge stockpile of dangerous arms and ammunitions in mosques, homes, shops and many other unidentified places by the Hausa -Fulani residents in the state.

With the kind of arms these rampaging youths were brandishing, and recklessly attacking Makurdi residents, it means they are well prepared to do the worst, hence, the urgent need to clampdown on the aforementioned places and confiscate those weapons.

It would amount to double standards by the Nigerian security agencies (soldiers) who hastily arrested the Benue State livestock guards who were on a legitimate duty protecting their communities against marauding Fulani herdsmen terrorists but looked the other way when other tribes are causing severe harm to the lives and property of our people with more highly sophisticated weapons.

Remember that during the state government Amnesty program, only  Benue indigenes submitted over 700 arms to the state. It is not logical for people who are armless to be living in the midst of their dangerously armed visitors that are daily inflicting pains on them unchallenged.

We also warn that those sponsoring these irate youths recently drafted to Benue with no viable source of living to cause chaos paving the way for a declaration of state of emergency in Benue should have a rethink as such diabolical agenda would not succeed in our state.

We thank the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, for standing firm with his people in these trying times. We also thank the Benue Traditional Council, led by HRM Prof. James Ayatse, Tor Tiv V, heads of all the socio-cultural organizations in the state and religious leaders for their efforts to see that these unprovoked attacks on our people stop.

We equally thank other critical stakeholders in this struggle to save our lives especially media professionals, social media activist, civil society organizations, the good people of Benue and well meaning Nigerians for standing with us.

We deeply sympathize with the families who lost their loved ones and  also wish the injured speedy recovery.

This is as we call on President Buhari who is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces to end this pogroms against Benue people by Fulani herdsmen terrorists.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Double registration mess: Nwannenna wants Gov. Bello to contest INEC claims

ITREALMS:

The former president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Dr. Chris Nwannenna, has urged the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to contest the claims of double registrations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reports ITRealms.

Reacting to the weekend reports of INEC confirmation of Gov. Bello’s double registration, which INEC said he would be prosecuted in a law court, Dr. Nwannenna, who is also the chief executive of Condata Systems, a software engineering firm, advised Gov. Bello to contest this allegation especially if he is sure that he did not commit this electoral infringement.

According to Nwannenna, a fellow of NCS, a number of biometrics systems deployed in the country have made it easy to fake double registration of innocent people.

“That is why, even with biometrics, we still have ghost workers, ghost voters, ghost pensioners, etc,” he said.

Pointing out that for the records, this has absolutely nothing to do with ‘Harmonisation’ but with the technologies with which the biometrics system is built.

“With more people getting more knowledge of biometrics it is easier now to detect when a biometrics system has been abused,” he said.

Therefore, Dr. Nwannenna earnestly advised Governor Bello to challenge this allegation which could be a sophisticated blackmail.

“I am sure that a number of people are available to assist him to do this, even for free. It might turn out to be the beginning of the end of this frequent fraudulent activity in Nigeria,” Nwannenna said.

He insisted that onus is on INEC to substantiate the fact, stressing that Bello is seen twice in the voters' register does not mean that he actually registered twice.

“One or both of them could be ‘spoof’. It is in the effort to stop this kind of fraud in Nigeria that led Condata into biometrics development. In my era of consultancy in this area I came face to face with this evil,” he said.

ITRealms recalled that INEC last weekend, confirmed that Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, engaged in double registration during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in his state, thus effectively violating the Electoral Act.

Also, the commission’s National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, said following reports of alleged double registration by the governor of Kogi State in the on-going CVR exercise, and set up a panel of investigation into the involvement of staff in the matter.

INEC explained that the initial report submitted by the panel was referred to the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, which made recommendations to the commission.

However, the commission said that it was constrained from acting on Bello’s culpability because he currently enjoys “immunity from prosecution”, but had ordered the dismissal of two of its personnel involved in the matter for gross misconduct.

It also ordered the compulsory retirement of an electoral officer involved in the illegal act for gross misconduct.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix: Dr Nwannenna and Gov. Bello of Kogi.

NCC wants comments on proposed Internet Industry Code of Practice

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has invited stakeholders to comment on its draft policy on the proposed Code of Practice all affected and interested parties as well as the general public to a Stakeholder Consultation on the establishment of an Internet Industry Code of Practice, reports ITRealms.

As part of its Internet Governance functions, the Nigerian Communications Commission said its seeking input from stakeholders in the development of a code of practice in support of an open internet.

ITRealms reports that the Commission favours a multi-stakeholder model of engagement in the process of policy development for Internet Governance. The proposed Code of Practice seeks, among other things.

In addition, NCC said the draft seeks to “Protect the rights and interests of Internet Service Providers and consumers; Provide jointly agreed and effective solutions to the issues of discriminatory traffic management practices; Ensure adequate safeguards are put in place by service providers against abuses such as unsolicited messages.

Further, NCC said the outline the obligations of Service Providers in relation to offensive and potentially harmful content for minors and vulnerable audiences; Promote the safe, secure and responsible use of Internet Services with due regard to provisions in existing legal instruments; Establish best practices for Internet Governance in Nigeria, in line with emerging issues and global trends.

NCC equally said the draft would provide transparent rules for the assessment and classification of Internet content; Increase stakeholder satisfaction through improved consumer experience online; Extensive consultation of stakeholders is crucial to the success of this exercise.

Uboshe Uboche/GEE

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South-East invasion: Oriental Online Network wants Nigerian Army to end militarisation

ITRealms:

A coalition of online publishers under the aegis of Oriental Online Network (OON) has called on the Nigerian Army to put an end to the current militarisation of the South East, reports ITRealms.

According to a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman, Mr Max Amuchie; Vice Chairman, Ms Rose Moses and Secretary, Mr. Roland Ogbonnaya, the group said the deployment of soldiers to the South East when there was no threat to lives and property was an open invitation to anarchy.

It said militarising a part of the country that has not carried arms against the country was like tempting the protesters to engage in armed struggle in self-defense.

The group said the Federal Government has not exhausted the constitutionally recognised option of using police to handle an issue like the security challenge in the South East

The organisation condemned the military invasion on Sunday of the residence of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his home town, Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State and the continued house arrest he has been subjected to ever since.

"Even though the Nigerian Army keeps denying, this is the second such incident in two days. Given the background leading to the present scenario, it would be difficult to accept the denial of an invasion by the military authorities. In the first place, the conduct of the Army in this particular instance, is not only suspect but incendiary. This is because even if the first incident of last Sunday at Afara-Ukwu, Ibeku, Umuahia, could be explained as the wrongful reaction of an overzealous IPOB leader to the presence of an army patrol in his neighborhood, that explanation cannot hold water for the second incident on Tuesday.

 "Succinctly put, the Army could have chosen another route or neighborhood for its "show of force" if it was interested maintaining the peace", the statement noted.

The full statement reads:

"The Army's denial of an intention to arrest Kanu appears to be an after-thought after a failed operation. The military authorities that ordered the operation must have realised belatedly that they were not acting based on the dictates of the law.

"The truth of the matter is that only the court that granted Kanu bail can revoke it and legally order his re-arrest.

"Hence, the declaration by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami that Kanu had violated the conditions upon which he was granted bail, does not have the force of law until the court says so. Even after such a pronouncement comes from the court, it would be the duty of the police to effect the order. Police duties should be left for the police to do in a democracy. Since, Kanu's case is before a court, the Federal Government should allow the case to run its full course. Whatever fresh evidence the Attorney-General has against Kanu must be presented in court for the judge to decide.

"The military's major constitutional responsibility is to safeguard the nation's territorial integrity. If the military has to be deployed to assist the police to provide internal security, the Federal   Government not only needs to apply to the National Assembly for approval, it must subject the soldiers to civil training in line with international standards.

"The Federal Government has consistently refused to abide by the law in the deployment of the military to the Southeast and South-south regions of the country. This is a flagrant violation of the rule of law. This is no longer acceptable because rule of law is at the heart of democratic governance. Democracy can only survive when the rule of law is allowed to prevail.

"For Nigeria's fragile democracy to survive, the present administration needs to find solutions to the crisis it inherited instead of breeding fresh cases.

"Close to two years since it assumed office, this government is yet to subdue the Boko Haram terrorists. Marauding Fulani herdsmen have unleashed mayhem in many parts of the country while the government looks the other way. Incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, hired killings and other violent crimes are on the increase.

"This state of affairs cannot be separated from the current economic crunch in the country, which has imposed unprecedented hardship on the overwhelming majority of the populace. In addition to this, the government needs to dialogue with groups that are agitating for restructuring, resource control and secession.  Unless this happens, the government is likely going to face more challenges.

"The Niger Delta region may soon erupt for the umpteenth time. All the people of the Southeast zone including members of IPOB want from this government is fairness. If the government could regard the people of the Southeast and South-South regions as equal stake-holders in the Nigerian project, there would be peace. What both regions need is inclusiveness and not Operation Python Dance II or Crocodile Smile."

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Social Media monitoring: PAMED wants FG to restrain military

ITRealms:

The Partnership for Media and Democracy (PAMED) has called on the Federal Government (FG) to restrain the Nigerian Army from monitoring the social media activities of Nigerians, describing the action as a violation of the rights of citizens to freedom of expression and the privacy of their communications guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party, reports ITRealms.

PAMED, comprising International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), said in a statement in Lagos that it had painstakingly studied the declaration by the Nigerian Army that it would henceforth monitor the social media for alleged ‘anti-government, anti-military and anti-security’ information and expressed concern that such a move provides enormous opportunities for abuse of power and the violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Nigerians by the military.

The group recalled that the Director of Defence Information, Major-General John Enenche, said on August 23, 2017, during a live programme on Channels Television that “the move became necessary in the light of troubling activities and misinformation capable of jeopardizing the unity of the country”.

He specifically declared: “What are we doing? In the military, we are now taking on it more seriously than ever. We have our strategic media centres that monitor the social media to be able to sieve out and react to all the ones that will be anti-government, be anti-military, (and) be anti-security”.

PAMED listed some of the implication to include, the violation of the right of freedom of expression as constitutionally guaranteed for Nigerians and as protected by important international instruments and charters especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to mention a few.

"The undermining of the right of the public to know about the activities of the government including the security agencies which in a democracy are subordinate to civil authorities; The non-guarantee of the safety of media professionals, especially online journalists and those covering the activities of the military;

"The incapacitation of the media to carry out the obligation to monitor governance and hold the government accountable to the people as stipulated in section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; The infringement  of the right of opposition political parties to take the ruling parties at the Federal, State and Local levels to task on their policies, programs and performance,"

In addition, the group said, "the breach of  the right of the electorate to hold elected politicians accountable for their campaign or electoral promises; and the encroachment of the right of the civil society, unions, pro-democracy activists, etc to express dissent over government policies they may consider injurious to their collective and/or individual interests."

Further, PAMED demanded that in view of the serious implications of the Army’s declaration, the group hereby called  on the army authorities to immediately withdraw the threat to monitor the social media for alleged anti-government, anti-security and anti-military information as it is antithetical to democratic principles and values.

The Partnership also called on the army authorities to promptly dismantle any media centres it might have established for this unwelcome purpose.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Ikeja Electric wants customers to report unethical practices

ITRealms:

The electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric (IE), has launched a concerted effort aimed at curbing unethical practices across its network and also encouraging customers to report such practices, reports ITRealms.

Speaking on the launch of the sensitization program, the company’s Head of Corporate Communication, Felix Ofulue, noted that such practices, which included cases of payment fraud among others, is responsible for a sizeable percentage of the collection loss for the business.

He explained that the focus of the campaign was to provide the much-needed awareness and enlightenment to ensure that customers do not fall victims of any of these unwholesome practices.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that our customers are protected so that they do not lose any of their hard earned resources. Internally, we are strengthening our enlightenment campaign to staff and customers across our network, while we have also provided payment platforms to ease the convenience of payment of their bills,” he said.

He further pointed out that even though IE has a company policy that discourages customers from making payments to staff on the field, many customers still persuade the field staff to assist them to make the payments. Mostly, the monies are remitted, however there are instances when reconciliation of these payments becomes an issue especially where no receipts are provided to the paying customer.

Ofulue, then, called on customers to explore the several payment platforms available to them, urging them to always collect their receipt which is the only eligible proof of payment in reconciliation dispute cases.

“We have provided many robust options for our customers to pay their electricity bills so there really is no need to part with cash to people in the field, especially as we have noticed an increase in recent times of fraudsters impersonating our staff. Customers will save themselves from the inconvenience of being defrauded if they always make payments through our approved channels and collect their receipts”, he concluded.

Ofulue encouraged customers who had legitimate complaints and grievances relating to unethical practices to report such matters, by sending an email to expressyourself@ikejaelectric.com, a dedicated whistle-blowing email channel where all the reports are confidentially managed at the very highest levels.

Ikeja Electric continues to strengthen and improve its payment platforms even as it has deployed Do-It-Yourself POS devices in all of her Business Units.

Ayo Midele/GEE 

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Melaye wants to sack Economic Team over worsening recession

ITRealms:

The Senator, representing the people of Kogi State West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Otunba Dino Melaye has demanded the sacking of the Economic Team, reports ITRealms.
 

Speaking on Sunday in Abuja through a press statement personally signed, Senator Melaye expressed concern over the economic recession with a call on President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute a new team.

Among the economic team he suggested that should be sacked include the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele. 

Melaye, chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Founder of Anti-Corruption Network, tabled the demands in a statement entitled: "Buhari-The barking is over, it's time to bite", expressed worry by the poor state of the economy which has brought unprecedented hardship and hunger on the masses of the Nigerian people, stressing that sacking the economic team would be the only solution to reboot the ailing economy.

Melaye accused most members of the President's cabinet of gross incompetence, inexcusable ineptitude and a distressing lack of capacity to deliver on the mandate of their ministries/agencies, adding Buhari must shake up his cabinet.

"At the moment, it must be crystal clear to all discerning minds that the President's widely-acclaimed magical body language has lost its presumed aura and efficacy. His no-nonsense demeanor is equally neither instilling fear nor commanding respect and loyalty from amongst his cabinet members. It is therefore obvious that the time for barking is over, now is the time to bite and boot out all those who have demonstrated, in the past several months, a crass lack of capacity to effectively carry out the functions of their office.

"The Finance Minister has not only displayed gross incompetence on the Job, she also lacks the basic and rudimentary grasp of economic fundamentals necessary to run a critical sector of the Nigerian economy like the Finance Ministry. It is time for her to go now and pave way for a qualified and experienced person to steer the Nigerian economy away from the dark woods it has sunk presently under her stewardship".

"To be sure, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma is a very charismatic man, an accomplished lawyer, and a quintessential gentleman with a fairly untainted reputation. In everyday parlance, he is a good man. But the critical job of Budget and National Planning Minister for a huge country like Nigeria, with her prevailing economic challenges requires much more than being a good man with a great personality.

"It is for someone with the relevant qualification, professional knowledge and experience in public sector finance, development economics, strategic thinking, budgetary planning and management. As a lawyer, accomplished in this field as he is, Udoma's appointment to that position is nepotism taken to very ridiculous heights; and a classic case of putting round pegs in square holes-it will, and can never fit. It is akin to saddling a carpenter with a tailor's responsibility.

"The outcome under the circumstances, as has become evidently clear, is bound to be catastrophic for the economy. President Buhari must therefore do the needful now by relieving Udoma of this huge burden that is constituting a clog to the revival of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Melaye also regretted Emefiele's disastrous handling and release of the so-called Dasuki-gate funds which amounts to about 15 per cent of the nation's foreign reserves.

He equally accused the CBN Governor of policy flip-flops, summersaults and inconsistencies as clear evidence of gross incompetence in the management of the nation's fiscal and monetary policies.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE 
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Pix: Sen. Melaye