The Nation Newspaper

Tag: banned

  • DIRECT ACCESS TO GOVERNORS, MINISTERS, SENATORS: Eagles coaches banned

    DIRECT ACCESS TO GOVERNORS, MINISTERS, SENATORS: Eagles coaches banned

    • They must get written approvals before such visits
    • NFF vows to sack any coach who flouts the directive
    • This condition to be inserted in the Code of Conduct

    Feelers from the Glasshouse in Abuja on Sunday night indicated that any Super Eagles coach who holds unwholesome or nocturnal meetings with state governors, ministers, senators, reps or other high public office holders risks being sacked, if the visit is proven to have taken place.

    Consequently, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chiefs have resolved to insert into the Code of Conduct being considered, a clause which would ban Super Eagles’ coaches from romancing with any of the governors, ministers, senators, reps etc.

    Indeed, the clause to be inserted would recommend the immediate sack of such defaulting coaches in a bid to halt the frequent reporting of internal matters of the NFF to top government officials, without exploring all available sources of seeking redress exisiting within the federation.

    SportingLife scooped that the need for this clause arose from the top officials who were miffed to find out that the coaches’ compliants, most times do not get to their employers or that the matter is being handled at the level of the presidency.

    The top government officials condemned the act especially as they would not condone such breach of official protocols, if it happens in offices that they supervise.

    Interestingly, the NFF men are adamant in inserting this clause and it could be the first contentious issue when the Code of Conduct is presented to the coaches.

    The NFF bosses have also vowed not to increase the Eagles’ match winning bonuses from $5,000, just as they have said that the money to be paid the players as appearance fees will be determined by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) at the appropriate time.

  • ‘Don’t carry banned goods’

    Cargo agents at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos have been warned to desist from shipping dangerous and prohibited goods onboard of aircraft.

    The agents have also been urged to check any item given them for shipment from importers or exporters.

    At a seminar by the Greater Washington Logistics at the Lagos Airport, the companies advised the cargo agents to report any suspected cargo to the appropriate authorities or face sanction.

    The Safety Inspector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Austin Eboigbe, advised the cargo agents to identify any dangerous goods items they are collecting from clients.

    He noted that several air incidents happen because of improper carriage of dangerous goods onboard of airplanes, adding that the agency was investigating incidents relating to dangerous goods that were shipped into the country.

    He listed these as matches, fireworks, lighter, gas cooker, body spray and magnets. He warned that the agency would withdraw the licence of any agent or sanction any airline found wanting.

    He said: “Although there are some quantities of liquids that are allowed onboard of planes, just for information, your licence can be withdrawn as an agent while the airline can be fined too. We expect you (agents) to think about the safety of the aircraft and the passengers onboard in the cause of carrying out your business.”

    Head, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Local Airport, Mr Nasir Kotangora, appealed to the cargo agents to check any drugs given to them for importation before shipment. He warned that if they are caught with any illicit drug, they would be sanctioned.

    The Group Head, Regional Business & Cargo Shed Manager, Greater Washington Logistics, Mr Agbongban Bright, urged cargo agents to follow safety standards and recommendation practices laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in carrying out their jobs.

     

  • ‘Why illegal currency operators were banned’

    ‘Why illegal currency operators were banned’

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has cited security concerns as the reason it banned illegal currency exchange at the Murtala Muhammed International Airports, Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    According FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati, last week’s foiled robbery at the car park of the Lagos International Airport, was targeted at illegal currency exchange operators, otherwise known as black market operators at the car park.

    Dati urged passengers and genuine airport users to use banking facilities and licensed bureau de change operators at the airport for their transactions.

    He said in a statement: “The recent ban on illegal currency exchange at all our airports is informed by security concerns, following the armed robbery attack at the general car park of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on March 13, 2013, during which some people at the car park were injured.”

    That attack was apparently targeted at illegal currency exchange operators (black marketers) at the car park, some of whom lost huge sums of money to the armed robbers. Similar attacks had taken place at the airport few times in the past, leading to loss of lives.

    The authority has the statutory responsibility of ensuring safety and security at the airports and can no longer tolerate such breach of security at our airports, which are classified as national security zones, as a result of the activities of illegal currency operators.

    We also wish to advise passengers and genuine airport users to make use of banking facilities and licenced bureau de change, located within airport terminals, for all their currency exchange transactions. This is the standard practice at airports all over the world, aside from the fact that the focus of the Transformation Agenda in the aviation industry is to ensure that services at all our airports comply with acceptable international standards and practices.

    This clarification is necessary to debunk mischievous insinuations already being made in some uninformed quarters that the Authority’s recent ban on illegal currency transactions at our airports is calculated to marginalise some sections of the country.

    Nothing could be from further the truth. The Authority’s action is a pre-emptive security measure designed to forestall more dangerous security breaches at the airports, in view of the current security situation in the country.”

     

     

  • CLATTENBURG RACE ROW: Mikel banned

    CLATTENBURG RACE ROW: Mikel banned

    Barely 24hours he signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea, the English FA have announced that Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has been given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 (about N15,142,187million) for “using threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour” in the aftermath of his side’s game against Manchester United in October.

    The Nigerian international stormed into the match officials’ changing room after the Blues’ 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge and angrily confronted referee Mark Clattenburg, who he allegedly believed to have racially abused him, according to what he had been told by team-mate Ramires.

    The referee was recently cleared of any misbehaviour, and Mikel’s personal disciplinary hearing will keep him out of Satrday’s match against Sunderland.

    The statement on the FA’s official website read: “Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel has been given a three-match suspension to begin with immediate effect and fined £60,000 following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Thursday 6 December 2012].

    “Mikel had requested a personal hearing after admitting an FA charge of using threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour.

    “The breach of FA Rule E3 was in relation to an incident which occurred in the match official’s changing room at the end of Chelsea’s fixture against Manchester United on 28 October 2012.

    “The Regulatory Commission’s independent chairman Christopher Quinlan QC emphasised that the Independent Regulatory Commission accepted, as did The FA, that at the time he threatened the referee the player genuinely believed that the referee had racially abused him.

    “But for that factor the suspension would have been significantly longer.

    Subsequently The FA investigated the allegation that the referee racially abused the player and found that there was not a case for him to answer.”

  • DJ Zeez Body Language video banned!

    DJ Zeez Body Language video banned!

    JUST when popular crooner, DJ Zeez, is making a comeback to the music scene after a lull in his career, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has just slammed a ban on the video of his latest single, Body Language.

    However, the song has continued to enjoy impressive rotations on radio stations and on terrestrial TV following the release of the video.

    Confirming the report, DJ Zeez said, “Yes it’s true the video was banned by NBC on TV but fans can still get to watch it on cable TV network.” Speaking further on the issue, he said: “Like I said to someone, I think the video was too hot for TV. But to answer your question, it’s a painful thing because I spent a lot of money shooting that video and not just money but also the time and energy put into it cannot be quantified.

    “However, I’m unperturbed, most importantly because the incidence actually made me realise for once that I’ve got more than just fans among Nigerian music buffs. I’ve actually got brothers and sisters. Since the ban, I have been receiving several calls from within and outside Nigeria. I want to use this opportunity to thank them for the love and support,” he said.

    At the moment, the artiste, who is known for hit-tracks such as Fokasibe, Boobie, fidodido, sami ni, is working tirelessly on his forth coming album titled, My Riddim which he says will drop come 2013.