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  • Digital TV will generate N100bn for Nollywood – Lai Mohammed

    Digital TV will generate N100bn for Nollywood – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says that Digital Television will generate N100bn annually for Nollywood through FreeTV distribution network.

    The minister made this known on Wednesday at the launch of digital switch over at the premises of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ilorin.

    He said that Nigerians have watched Nollywood moved from VHS tapes to VCD to DVD, adding that the whole world has moved to digital consumption of content with its attendant benefits and democratisation of distribution.

    Nigerian TV viewers, the minister said have been constrained by limited penetration of internet in their homes.

    “With the middleware in our `Set Top Boxes’; homes will be able to buy and watch the latest Nollywood movies without the need for internet.

    “Imagine a film released on Monday morning being immediately available to all the households in Kwara at the touch of a button. That is the kind of experience we are talking about,” the minister added.

    Mohammed added that FReeTV has the capacity to grow TV advertising market by 400million dollar per annum through audience measurement.

    “In this regard, permit me to use this opportunity to throw the weight of the government behind the NBC in its efforts to create a viable currency by which producers of content and channels can be re-numerated,” he said.

    The minister said that the digital switch over will create tens of thousands of jobs through Technical and Manufacturing opportunities.

    “`Set Top Box’ assembling and ultimately manufacturing is an irreversible mandate by the government to the industry.

    “We expect this to extend very quickly to local Smart TV and Tablet manufacturing.

    “With our strong consumer base, we can quickly become the supplier of these equipments to the whole of West Africa,” the minister added.

    Mohammed added that Electronic Programme Guide will also be a platform for App developers to create products that will make life easier for the home consumers.

    “For the people of Kwara, we welcome the publishers of Apps to start looking for how to make living easier and commerce easier, using the technology that sits on these boxes,” he added.

    Mallam Ish’aq Modibo Kawu, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ), in his remark said the switch over in Ilorin was the third since inauguration in Jos, Plateau State.

    Kawu said that one of the reasons for choosing Kwara in the North Central was the presence of old broadcasting house and its closeness to international borders.

    He said the switch over will be done in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country, adding that Kaduna will be next to switch over to digital TV.

    The DG added that the Federal Government has imported 600, 000 Set of `Top Boxes’ at subsidised price.

    He said that when the 600, 000 boxes are exhausted, there will be no subsidy for subsequent ones as the boxes will be manufactured in the country.

    NAN

  • Kano Hisbah Board arrests 12 youths involved in Immorality

    Kano Hisbah Board arrests 12 youths involved in Immorality

    The Kano State Hisbah Board on Wednesday said it had arrested 12 youths allegedly involved in immoral acts in the city.

    Malam Umar Yahaya, the board’s Public Relations Officer, said in Kano that the suspects were apprehended on Monday evening at Maidile, behind Shagari Quarters in Kumbotso Local Government area during a special patrol.

    He said that a report was received from the community that six girls live in a rented apartment in the area and men visit them at night adding the community suspected the apartment was being used as a brothel.

    He said among the suspects were young men and women between the ages of 18 and 22.

    “Our men went there around 9:30 p.m. on Monday evening and arrested 12 suspects at the apartment ,”Yahaya said.

    He, however, added that they would be properly screened and taken to court for appropriate prosecution.

    Yahaya noted that most of the suspects were from different states which include Borno, Niger and Taraba and called on parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children, to enable them grow up as responsible citizens.

    He also advised youths in the state to shun all forms of immorality, be God fearing and strive to live a worthy life.

    NAN

  • FRSC: Traffic offenders to pay N100, 000 fine

    FRSC: Traffic offenders to pay N100, 000 fine

    Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says plans are underway to compel traffic offenders to pay one hundred thousand naira as penalty for a traffic offence.

    Oyeyemi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Nigeria Road Safety Strategy on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “You cannot arrest somebody for using a phone while driving and he pays four thousand naira as penalty. And almost immediately he goes back to commit same offence.

    “Fines are supposed to serve as deterrent, which is why I said that I am in support of what the National Assembly is doing presently amending the Act of the FRSC to make the fines go up.

    “I was not the one that initiated it, it is the National Assembly that initiated it and I am in support and I will make sure that before the middle of next year this is pass into law.

    “I believe that by the time traffic offenders’ start paying between fifty to one hundred thousand naira for a single traffic offence, they will not want to commit such offence again,” said.

    The FRSC boss reiterated that penalties for traffic offences were to serve as deterrent adding that the present regime of fines and penalties do not serve as deterrent, hence the need to increase the fines.

    “Look at Lagos, the minimum fine is fifty thousand naira and people are complying. I am not a revenue generating agency but again we must ensure that those fines serve as deterrent for people not to do it again

    “When an offender pays fifty thousand or one hundred thousand naira fine, he or she will think twice before committing the offence again.

    “What is the essence of a person disobeying traffic light and pays four thousand naira only. In fact, some of them insult us saying ‘ is it not four thousand?’.

    “They will go to our office and use the POS to pay and walk away and you will see them entering their cars and using the phone again,” he said.

    Oyeyemi explained that aside fines, the FRSC also take traffic offenders to health facilities and court of law.

    He stressed that court usually gives its own penalty, “but the court is always liberal a bit; we appreciate them.”

    He said also that the corps was proposing community services as a punishment for traffic offenders.

    “This punishment is also in the amendment now; when you are convicted, in your suit and tie you will go for community services.

    “People think that the fines are high but they seem not to understand what we have been stressing; fines are to serve as deterrent.

    “If you don’t want to pay the fine, then don’t commit the offence,” Oyeyemi said.

    NAN

  • Fake products: Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Chinese men

    Fake products: Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Chinese men

    The absence of an interpreter on Wednesday stalled the arraignment of two Chinese nationals, Mr Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s ( SON ) accused the two of marking some unapproved products as genuine.

    The accused persons had demonstrated to the court that they could only speak in their native mandarin.

    The charge had claimed that Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin placed an “ABB” mark on receptacle containing products marked as Chiko and Toyou.

    The Prosecution therefore alleged that the accused persons committed an offence under Section 378 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 89 Law of the Northern Nigeria.’’

    Mr Joseph Olofindare, Counsel to SON, said the defendants’ actions of making false mark on products and making such products to be believed to be of a particular quality was a breach of the law.

    He said the alleged action was with the intent to defraud the innocent public.

    “Likely punishment is three years imprisonment with or without fine’’, he said.

    On why an arrangement was not made for an interpreter for the defendants, Olofindare said it was his conviction that the defendants could speak English language.

    “We are aware that the defendants spoke English before now, but they denied speaking or understanding English when we got to the court.

    “At the appropriate time that will be sorted out and the interest of justice which we are concerned with will be served.

    “The interest of SON is to get rid of foreigners with the intention of bringing substandard items that may have negative impact on the citizens.

    “The mandate of SON is to move against that and to ensure that all the perpetrators are brought to book’’, Olonfindare said.

    On his part, Mr Amaechi Muonagor,  Counsel to the defendants, said his clients were not aware the case was coming up as they were served with the court process on the evening of December 19.

    He also said there was no preliminary arrangement for an interpreter.

    According to him, the prosecution has the false impression that the defendants could speak and understand English language.

    “We were prepared for the trial any way, except that there was no interpreter to interpret the language of the court to the defendants.

    “I normally communicate with them through an interpreter but what happened was that we did not liaise with SON to provide an interpreter because of the short notice to appear in court’’, he said.

    He said however, that the defendants were presently enjoying administrative bail.

    He said it was the right of the defendants to be heard in the language they understand, adding that the prosecution and the defendants’ counsel had agreed to interface to make that happen.

    The presiding Justice Sadiq Umar, had earlier ordered the parties to ensure the defendants were provided with an interpreter to facilitate the trial.

    However, no date was fixed for the commencement of the trial.

    NAN

  • Court docked man over alleged furniture theft

    Court docked man over alleged furniture theft

    A 30-year-old unemployed man, Timi Daniel,  who allegedly stole a set of furniture valued at N65,000.00 was on Wednesday brought before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused, who resides at No. 4, Dada Street, Idale, Badagry is facing a count charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused had on December 8 stole the set of furniture from a complex located at Ibereko area in Badagry.

    He said that the accused committed the crime with two others now at large.

    “He committed the act by pretending that he wanted to buy the furniture; so, this served as a form of distraction for the attendant.

    “So, while the attendant was with him, the other accomplices took the furniture and ran away in a car,” he said.

    The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Daniel, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr Jimoh Adefioye, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    He ordered that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and adjourned the case until January 25, 2018 for further hearing.

    NAN

  • NNPC to establish 4,600MW plants in FCT, two others

    NNPC to establish 4,600MW plants in FCT, two others

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) says it will establish 4,600 power plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

    A statement in Abuja by the NNPC spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said this would be done through the recently-approved contract for the construction of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project, dubbed AKK Pipeline.

    According to the statement, the AKK pipeline has started yielding early benefits with the commitment by NNPC to build power-generating plants with combined capacity of 4550 megawatts in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano States.

    Ughamadu quoted the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, as saying that the Corporation in partnership with private investors would build power-generating plants to support Federal Government’s effort to providing stable electricity in the country.

    “As part of the drive to establish power plants to augment the power supply to the nation, the Federal Executive Council has recently approved the AKK Gas Pipeline project to be financed through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

    Read also: NNPC release 300 trucks of petrol daily to Lagos, 170 to FCT

    “The project comes with other auxiliary ones which include, 1,350 megawatts, 900 megawatts and 2,350 megawatts of power generation plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano respectively,” the statement quotes Baru.

    It said the NNPC in partnership with private investors would also build fertilizer plants in some parts of the country, one of which would be located at Izzon, Niger State.

    The statement said in line with the presidential mandate on oil exploration in all the frontier basins, the NNPC was well-focused on the exploration in the Bida Basin.

    “We have contracted the geological mapping of the Bida Basin to Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai and the job would be completed in three months,” it stated.

    Ughamadu said the corporation would go into more detailed seismic data acquisition in the Bida Basin by August 2018, to be followed by an Environmental Impact Assessment exercise.

    He said as part of the corporation’s effort to decongest the highways, the NNPC would encourage private investors to build tanker parking facilities around Minna Depot, Suleja Depot, Tegina, Mokwa, amongst others and charge the users of the facility appropriately.

    The statement said talks were ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing to re-introduce weight bridges on the highways to checkmate the issue of excessive loading by tankers above the recommended 46, 000ton gross weight.

    “The NNPC on its part has already directed all its depots nationwide to stop loading tankers with loading capacity above 40, 000litres,” he said.

    NAN

  • Christmas: Lagos begins massive road repair

    Christmas: Lagos begins massive road repair

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had begun massive road repair across the state to ensure smooth transportation during Christmas celebration.

    Mr Temidayo Erinle, Special Adviser to the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Public Works and Drainages, made the disclosure on telephone.

    Erinle said Lagos State Public Works Corporation ( LSPWC ) had embarked on 24-hour operations to achieve the aim.

    He added that palliative works were going on simultaneously daily on various roads across the state.

    The special adviser said that the corporation introduced night operations at various sites in order not to cause gridlock.

    “The festive period is usually associated with heavy traffic; so, we began working at night yesterday.

    “Today, we are planning to work on the Lekki Epe Expressway; because of the festive period, we would be working at night.

    “We are also going to work on the Ikorodu-Itoiki Road.

    Read also: Lagos agency conducts rape and related crime rally

    “Today also, we are working on the Agege Motor Road and Association Avenue in Ilupeju,” he told NAN.

    He listed other roads receiving attention to include Alfred Rewane Street, Ikoyi Forshore-Falomo Bridge and Ilasa/Oworoshoki Expressway.

    Erinle said the daily work schedule and the total number of roads undergoing rehabilitation could be made available by the supervising engineers.

    He appealed for the patience and understanding of residents of Lagos, urging them to pay their taxes for better service delivery.

    “We are working little by little; we cannot do all the roads at once; it also depends on funds,” he said.

    On bad roads across local government areas in the state, the special adviser said that Ambode had given a directive to all council authorities to repair the roads.

    Erinle said the governor also gave the councils the opportunity to request for state government’s interventions on roads they would need assistance in repairing.

    According to him, the LSPWC had fixed several of such roads on the instruction of the governor.

    “For cases where there are bad roads and the governor wants to intervene, he calls us and gives us directives for intervention; so, it depends mainly on the prerogative of the governor,” he said.

    NAN

  • 2019 elections: IGP warns officers against unethical conduct

    2019 elections: IGP warns officers against unethical conduct

    The Inspector-General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday warned officers of the  Nigeria Police Force against unethical conduct during the 2019 general elections.

    Idris gave the warning at the monthly meeting with officers of the rank of Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja.

    He also urged them to avoid temptations from politicians who would want to compromise them, adding that the force was doing its best within limited resources.

    “You have to avoid temptations from political actors at the cost of having smooth and credible elections in 2019,“he said.

    Idris said there was need for officers and men of the force to be steadfast in carrying out their duties professionally.

    He charged commissioners of the various commands to impress it on their officers to be civil in discharging their duties.

    The high point of the meeting was the decoration of 15 commissioners of police by the inspector-general, among them was Danjuma Ibrahim, who was recently discharged and acquitted over the killing of the Apo six traders.

    Read also: Our plans for 2019 elections, by INEC, AGF, IGP, Rep

    Meanwhile, the police said it had appealed a Federal High Court judgment awarding the Peace Corps of Nigeria a N12.5 million compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of the legal department, Mr David Igbodo, who disclosed this, said the force was a law abiding institution.

    “We are on appeal and we have transmitted records to the Court of Appeal, until the full process of the court is completed, no action will be taken about the Peace Corps,“he said.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on November 9 ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps of Nigeria as compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials and unseal its headquarters in Abuja.

    On the reorganisation of the Special Anti Robbery Squad ( SARS ), the police said it was ongoing.

    The commissioner of police in charge of SARS, Mr Haliru Gwandu, made the disclosure at the Inspector-General of police monthly meeting  with senior officers in Abuja.

    He explained that after reorganisation, the unit would only concentrate on violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery.

    Gwandu said at the completion of the ongoing reorganisation of the unit, the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country would be a thing of the past.

    He said there would be training and retraining of personnel of the unit to enhance efficiency.

    Some group of Nigerians recently in the social media, called for the scrapping of SARS over alleged harassment of innocent Nigerians, using the #EndSARS.

    NAN

  • NURTW calls for prosecution of black marketers

    NURTW calls for prosecution of black marketers

    The National Union of Road Transport Worker ( NURTW ), Abdulsalam Motor Parks, Minna, Niger State, has advocated the setting up of mobile courts to prosecute “black marketers’’ to serve as deterrent to hoarders.

    The union’s Vice Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Na’ura, made the call in an interview on Wednesday in Minna.

    He advised the government and all relevant agencies to investigate the sources of supply of the products to black marketers and make them face similar sanctions to address the continued artificial scarcity of the product.

    Na’ura said in Minna, many attendants at fuel stations had their agents in strategic locations in and outside the state capital to supply them with the products.

    “While motorists spend nights at filling stations, attendants are seen diverting the products to black marketers.”

    He lamented that petrol was now being sold for between N190 and N200 per litre in Minna, depending on the location of the station.

    Read also: Yuletide: NURTW urges members to drive with caution

    The chairman, however, commended, the Niger Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for setting up a task force to monitor the sale and distribution of petroleum products in the state.

    “But the task force officers can’t be at the filling stations all the time as soon as they leave, they continue with the illegal business.”

    He said petrol queues were becoming unbearable for motorists in Minna and that it costs a lot of hardship to residents.

    Some of the filling stations operated by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) have increased their pump price from the approved N145 per litre to between N180 to N200 per litre.

    At the NNPC mega stations and other filling stations operated by major marketers, the queues are longer as they continue to dispense at the official pump price of N145 per litre.

    In Minna town, a four-litre gallon of the product in the black market sells for N1,500 as transport fares have also increased due to the scarcity of the product.

    NAN

  • Nigerian Legion to provide security in schools – Ambode

    Nigerian Legion to provide security in schools – Ambode

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday said his administration had given approval to the Nigerian Legion to take over the security of all public primary and secondary schools in the state.

    Ambode made the disclosure at the launch of the 2018 emblem and appeal fund in commemoration of the Armed Forces Rememberance Day celebration,  held at the Lagos House in Ikeja.

    January 15 of every year is marked as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    “We have taken it as a policy that all our public primary and secondary schools will now be secured by the Nigerian Legion.

    “We keep the safety and security of our children in their hands,” Ambode said.

    He said this was in addition to them being employed in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies as security personnel in the state.

    Ambode said his administration was committed and concerned about the families of the fallen heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    According to him, the occasion should remind Nigerians of the gallantry and sacrifice of men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces who have contributed to the protection of the nation’s sovereignty.

    Read also: Lagosians’ safety my top priority, says Ambode

    “It is time to constantly remember that our unity has been achieved at the cost of lives, which has seen some homes lose their dear ones.

    “It is time to engage ourselves in deep reflection of how such homes have been coping and surviving without their loved ones,” he said.

    According to him, it is time to rise in their support, express love to them, and appreciate them for their services to the nation.

    “Let us always treat our ex-servicemen with respect and donate generously in support of the Nigerian Legion.

    “Let us join hands with the government in improving the welfare of the families of our fallen heroes.

    “We must seek a way to pay back to these fallen heroes, and the simple way to do that is to buy the emblem, display it, and this will show some sign of love to both the ex-servicemen and those serving presently,” Ambode said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Council, retired Col. Fola Akande, commended the governor for his support and welfare, and also solicited for more support from the government.

    Akande said already, the Legion had trained over 4,000 personnel for the security of the schools.

    “We are prepared for the assignment and eagerly waiting for the approval to deploy our trained commissionaire officers to the various schools,” he said.

    Also, the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem, said the government remained committed to the welfare of the families left behind by the fallen heroes of the Armed Forces.

    “I want to urge all of us that as soon as the governor launches the emblem, let us as individuals take his directive to buy and wear the emblem and also donate generously to the Nigerian Legion,” he said.

    He said there would be commemorative Jumat and Church services on January 5 and January 7 respectively, in commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    The governor announced a donation of N25 million for the welfare of the families of the fallen heroes and for those currently serving.

    A trailer load of the locally- produced Lake Rice was also given to members of the legion.

    The launch of the emblem was witnessed by service chiefs, members of the legion and members of the state executive council.

    NAN