MTN Group is ready to challenge Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regulator’s powers to impose a $3.9billion fine on its Nigerian subsidiary by the regulator. The telecommunications company will file a case against the regulator before a Federal High Court in Lagos. As it disclosed this, the company also said it had paid 75 billion CFA francs ($124 million) to extend its operating license in Ivory Coast and would pay $67.5 million in Ghana to buy a 15-year radio frequency spectrum for high-speed networks. NCC had slammed an initial $5.2 billion fine on MTN for failing to meet a deadline to disconnect…
Author: Wale Adebayo
Mr. Israel Kanu who is the father of the pro-Biafra activist has extended the family appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and concerned Nigerians over the release of his son, Nnamdi Kanu. The elder Kanu is the traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu Ibeku Autonomous Community, Umuahia. He told the newsmen on Thursday in Umuahia that he was grateful to “well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers and support” during Nnamdi’s incarceration. He added that he was amazed by the goodwill and show of solidarity by Nigerians, especially the pro-Biafra groups, which, he said, “stood by us for the period my son was detained”. He said that he was…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said that as from January, pupils in public primary schools in the state will be fed once a day free of charge. He also disclosed that as part of his administration’s plans to kick illiteracy out of the state, his administration will next year distribute what he called “Ibile” tablets to pupils in public schools in Lagos State. Ambode announced the “A-Meal-a-Day” programme in public primary schools, when he presented the 2016 “Peoples budget” plan to the House of Assembly yesterday. Presenting a budget proposal of N662.58 billion, the governor said funding of the programme will be…
A human rights group under aegis of “Coalition For Human Rights Advocacy And Social Action (COHRASA)” has given a former Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Mr. Tony Blair, seven-day ultimatum to leave Nigeria. Accusing the former British PM of planning to “steal” and “loot” from Nigeria, the group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Jeremiah Olatinwo, on Thursday, said: “Nigerians were greeted with shock to read about Britain’s former Prime Minister’s visit to Nigeria to meet with the Nigerian Governor’s Forum. We see this development, camouflaged in the facade of advisory as an effort to loot and steal…
From all indications, it seems that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not happy with the High Court judgement orderingthe sack of its Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus. In this line, the party has asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to reverse the judgment. The opposition party, Thursday, prayed the appellate court to set aside the verdict which was delivered by Justice Hussein Baba of an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on December 15 which ordered Secondus to vacate Chairmanship seat of the PDP within 14 days. Baba’s verdict followed a suit filed by the erstwhile Special Adviser…
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, says the Federal Government of Nigeria no longer has the resources to fund the country’s oil and gas industry, and is therefore, considering and developing new models of financing for the industry in the days ahead. He made this known at a town hall meeting in Abuja on Thursday. “Financing is going to be a key component of our goal, because new models of financing would have to emerge. The country does not have the sort of resources to continue to fund the oil industry. As we go upstream, we are going…
Following the outcome of November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, the political crisis still continues. A group called “Kogi Patriots” has rejected a reconciliatory committee set up by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to resolve the crisis surrounding the November 21 governorship poll. In a statement by the group on Thursday, jointly signed by the national chairman, Dr Ben Agama, the national coordinator, Engr. Joseph Ahmed, as well as Mr. Tunde Badmus, the group described as laughable, the party’s national leadership purported setting up of a committee to reconcile the supposed aggrieved parties, knowing too well that the only acceptable condition…
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has described the nullification of his election as a temporary setback. He said God’s will and the mandate of the people will prevail at the end of the day. The appeal court in Abuja had, yesterday, nullified Wike’s election, upholding the verdict of the election petition tribunal which sacked him as governor of the state. Addressing thousands of people of Rivers State, who thronged the Port Harcourt International Airport to receive him on Thursday, Governor Wike urged them to remain peaceful as the state still belonged to the PDP despite the current situation of things. “I want to warn, let nobody attempt to do…
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized the attempt by the current President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to subtly enlist Nigeria among Arab nations to fight ISIS. CAN cited reports from foreign media that Saudi Arabia was building a coalition of 34 Muslim/Arab countries to fight ISIS and Nigeria was named among the 34. “This singular gesture of the Buhari government betrays so much, and tends to confirm our fears that underneath everything this government is doing, there is an agenda with strong Islamic undertones, aimed at undermining Nigeria’s pluralistic character and neutrality regarding government’s affiliation to any one religion,” a statement by…
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday undertook a tour of the facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. He was accompanied by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and chief executives of aviation agencies. The Minister, who expressed satisfaction with what he saw on ground, lauded the chief executives of the various aviation agencies for being prudent with the acquisition of safety equipment, which he noted, had improved safety and security at airports. “With what I have seen here today, it shows that the Nigerian aviation industry can be compared to any developed ones…