The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Victor Oluwadamilare

  • Communications minister fires 2 aides

    The Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, on Thursday relieved two of his aides of their appointments.

    They are: Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, Special Assistant (Media) and Sheik Imam Tajudeen, Special Assistant (Special Duties).

    This was made known in a statement by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

    The statement reads: “The Honourable Minister of Communications, (Dr) Adebayo Shittu, has approved the disengagement of two of his aides; namely Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, Special Assistant (Media) and Sheik Imam Tajudeen, Special Assistant (Special Duties).

    “Consequently, anybody dealing with them on behalf of the Honourable Minister and the Ministry of Communications is doing so at his or her own risk.

    “They have been directed to hand over all Ministry’s properties in their possession.

    “The Hon. Minister, however, thanked them for their services and wished them well in their future endeavours.”

    NAN

     

  • Minister’s aide, three others escape death

    Minister’s aide, three others escape death

    The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Communications, Victor Oluwadamilare and three others narrowly escaped death in a ghastly motor accident at Yangoji, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The accident according to an eye witness occurred around Yangoji along Lokoja-Abuja highway, a village in the suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.

    A source told The Nation that the crash involved a trailer loaded with cement which was headed towards Abuja and a Toyota Hilux van which conveyed the minister’s aide and three others who were returning to Abuja from Lagos after an official assignment.

    He noted that the Toyota Hilux was on motion when the trailer took-off from its park without any light indication showing that a vehicle was going in the front.

    The source said that the Minster’s aide and other occupants sustained severe injuries, adding that no live was however lost in the terrible accident.

    The eyewitness maintained that he was among the people who rescued the victims before the arrival of the men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who evacuated them from the scene of the incident to Kwali General Hospital.

    He narrated the incident as saying; “I was at the bus stop around 7:30 pm when I heard a loud unusual bang. There was a trailer loaded with cement which took off from that area and headed towards Abuja without light to indicate a vehicle was going.

    “The Toyota Hilux was on motion when the driver realised that a vehicle had took-off from that spot and before he notice the trailer, it was closer to the trailer and that was what led to the accident.”

    When contacted, the Special Assistant to the Minister, Victor Oluwadamilare confirmed the incident saying he sustained injuries but he is recovering.

    “It is true but I thank God I am recuperating from the injuries I sustained. The driver was operated upon because he sustained multiple injuries. He had an internal injury but thank God it was successful. He is now recuperating at the National Hospital, Abuja, while others have been discharged from the hospital. Thank you so much for your concern,” he said.

  • FG to investigate MTN’s payment claim – Minister

    FG to investigate MTN’s payment claim – Minister

    The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday said the ministry would investigate claim by South African mobile telecommunication giant, MTN that it has paid 50 billion naira into government’s coffers towards a possible settlement of the dispute with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    The minister also said the firm’s claim that it has withdrawn the matter from court is being investigated by government.

    The Special Assistant on Media Affairs to the Minister, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, told The Nation that government’s position on the matter has been made clear, but MTN went to court for reasons best known to it.

    He said: “Government’s position on the matter is sacrosant, MTN secured 25 percent reduction on the fine imposed by the regulatory body. Suddenly, it proceeded to court to challenge the government. Now we are told they have withdrawn the case from court and have paid 50 billion naira to government.

    “Well, I can tell you on behalf of the Minister of Communications and Technology that we are studying the situation. If it is confirmed that they have withdrawn the case from court and have paid the said amount, then the government would make its position known on the matter.”

     

  • Nigeria ‘to decide’ on MTN’s fine after court case

    Nigerian authorities will wait for the outcome of a court case filed by South African telecoms firm MTN before deciding on whether to enforce a $3.9 billion fine, a spokesman for the telecommunications ministry said.

    The ministry spokesman contradicted a source in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who earlier said “appropriate action” would be taken against MTN if it failed to pay the fine by a December 31 deadline for failing to disconnect users with unregistered SIM cards.

    Nigeria has been trying to halt the widespread use of unregistered SIM cards amid worries these are being used for criminal activity, including by Boko Haram sect.

    The NCC slapped a $5.2 billion fine on MTN in October but after weeks of negotiations reduced it by 25 percent this month, setting a deadline for December 31, Reuters reported.

    However, the operator was still not prepared to pay the reduced fine and said last week it would challenge the penalty in a Lagos court.

    “The federal government, NCC (regulator) or any government agent will not do anything at the expiration of the December 31 deadline,” said Victor Oluwadamilare, the ministry’s media assistant.

    “Now that they (MTN) have gone to court we will await the outcome of the case,” he added. “This is a government that believes in the rule of law.”

    The ministry appears to have taken a softer stance than the regulator on the dispute.

    The minister Adebayo Shittu told Reuters last month Nigeria did not want MTN to “to die” from the fine.