Lagos students join xenophobia protest, threatens showdown with South African investments

ITRealms:

The University of Lagos Students’ Union (ULSU) has threatened to boycott all South African products if the barbaric massacre of innocent souls are not stopped by close of work today, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, reports ITRealms.

President, ULSU, Comrade Abiodun Martins, made this disclosure after the protests in Lagos on Monday on the xenophobia attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. He condemned the attacks wondering if this is how they (South Africans) want to pay Nigerians back for all the fight both economically and psychologically against apartheid.

Martins also said that ULSU will ensure all South African products are boycotted on or before Tuesday, 21st of April, 2015 if the barbaric massacre is not brought to a halt.

“We will ensure there will be no shopping at SHOPRITE, Pick n Pay, Spar, Steers, Debonairs, Hungry Lion, Mr Price, Woolworths or any shop that is a South African investment,” he warned, stressing that Nigerians will also be sensitized not to pay for a new subscription on DSTV, GOTV, make any recharge on MTN lines or purchase any new product from MTN.

ULSU, he told ITRealms condemned in strong terms the on-going xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and Africans in South Africa as it is a breach of human rights as established by the South African constitution.

According to him, social cohesion is a guarantee for success and development thus immigrants should not be seen as enemies of progress. Noting that Nigeria and Nigerians in the last four decades has been supportive in helping South Africa fight Apartheid and other social injustice such as racism and rape issues. 

“South Africans owe everything they have today to the resolve of Africans to liberate their brethren from the putrid shackles of Apartheid! This is how they pay us back? How many South Africans were educated and sheltered? Without the material, financial and emotional solidarity of African governments, could the ANC struggle have gotten anywhere? Is South Africa suffering from Amnesia? How so soon have they forgotten the over $61billion injected into their economy during the Anti-apartheid struggle?” he lamented.

ULSU, he said, totally condemns the life loss and public disturbance in the last four days as this is unworthy of the human race. “No amount of economic hardship and discontent can ever justify the criminal activities that characterize these attacks. Justice must be done” he said.

As it stands now, South Africa is one monument of ingratitude and the government and people of South Africa must take all steps to change this perception or suffer dire consequences.

ULSU further called on all Nigerians to join the struggle as this is “our war and it must be won” insisting that an injury to one is an injury to all. 

Uju N. Dom/GEE

 

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*President, ULSU, Comrade Abiodun Martins

Xenophobia attacks: Nigerians protest against MTN investment in Edo State

ITRealms:

An Edo State-based Civil Society Organisations (CSO) known as 'The Flagship', Monday stopped business at the Benin City office of MTN Nigeria to register its displeasure over the killings of African origin and looting of their properties in South Africa in the name of xenophobia, reports ITRealms.

Correspondent quoted Elombah.com as reporting that the group took to the street in display of xenophobic grievances to MTN which brought about closure of businesses in the process.

“The group were seen protesting the lootings and killings of Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa, calling all Nigerians to boycott the products and services of South African companies in Nigeria.

“Some of the protesters were seen carrying placards that read:

“Nigerians Boycott South African Companies”

“South Africa Against Africa”

“South Africa Can’t be Making From Us And Killing Us”, etc.

Some Nigerians, however, have shown apprehension over the protest saying that it might throw more Nigerian employees in MTN into the labour market considering that South Africans working in those outfits are quite insignificant compared to their Nigerian counterparts.

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Pix: courtesy: Elombah.com

Stranded passengers hinder Arik Air operation

ITRealms:

Failure of Arik airline to convey New York US-bound intending passengers had led to protest at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, over the weekend, reports ITRealms.

Arik airlines had recorded two of such cases this year. The airline’s operations has been hindered by passengers who were victims of disappointment from the airline’s operation in order to express their grievances.One of the incidents was recorded late January when passengers who were scheduled to travel to Ibadan by Arik, blocked the boarding gate of the airport thereby preventing operations of the airline.

Stranded passengers who were intending to travel on Friday April 17^th but were unable to, reacted to the circumstance on Saturday, by engaging in violent protests, thereby causing damages, and even hindered other operations of the airlines.

The spokesman of Arik Air Mr. Ola Adebanji later disclosed to newsmen that the issue had been resolved, damages have been rectified and that operations have been going on smoothly. Mr. Adebanji gave reasons for disappointing the intending travelers explaining that it was not intentional. He said the U.S.-bound passengers could not depart according to the previous schedule, due to malfunctioning of the browser, fueling the aircraft. He gave the assurance that the passengers would make their trip when necessary things have been put in place.

The director of Consumer Protection of the NCAA Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, explained that the responsibility of the NCAA on the processing of intending travelers stopped at the boarding gate, where Aviation Security takes over. He promised to investigate the matter, especially the non-protection of passengers’ rights.

MueenahAbdulkareem/GEE

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Microsoft, PIN partner on free training for NGOs

    ITRealms

Microsoft  Nigeria in partnership with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has organised NGO Connection Day, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training, networking and information sharing event for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) ITRealms reports.

 ITRealms also gathered that the event was meant to serve as a training and support workshop for NGOs with over 80 participants from Lagos and neighbouring states in attendance.

According to Tope Ogundipe, Chief Operating Officer, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, ITRealms gathered, stated that the NGO space is changing as everything else, and NGOs need to be equipped with the applicable technologies required to make their work relevant and effective in the 21st century.

“Microsoft through their NGO Connection Day supports our organisation to provide free training to NGOs based on the Digital Literacy Standard Curriculum,” she confided in ITRealms.

This year’s event covered research tools and report publishing, internet safety and security, as well as social media tools. One of Microsoft’s latest productivity tools, ‘Office 365 for Non-Profit’ was also introduced and Microsoft went on to discuss other ways in which the company supports NGOs.

Participants at the event expressed deep satisfaction and recommended that the number of days for the training be increased to give time for more detailed training and questions to be taken.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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MTN Nigeria condemns xenophobic attacks on foreigners

ITRealms:

The management of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, has joined the number of global entities condemning the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, reports ITRealms.

MTN Nigeria, ITRealms reports that in a bulk Short Messaging Service (SMS) sent via ‘MTN N’ to its over 60 million subscribers in Nigeria, joined hands with African families in condemning the on-going xenophobic attack in South Africa.

According to MTN, let us all say “NO to xenophobia.”

This is coming as ITRealms gathered that some Nigerian activists were calling for shutdown on South African businesses in the country, such as MTN Nigeria, DSTV, Shoprite, Park ‘N’ Shop among others.

For MTN Group, although Nigeria operation leads several of the over 22 countries operations across Africa in terms of size and subscriber-base.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
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