Sunday, 30 June 2013
Ice Prince wins ‘Best African Act’ at 2013 BET Awards
you'll Never Believe The 5 Artistes Who Started Their Careers With OJB
Popular producer, OJB Jezreel who is
suffering from Kidney failure and needs transplant definitely has made
an impact in the music industry and many artistes who are successful
today started their careers with him.
Check out the 5 artistes he helped jump start their careers below
Wizkid who was barely in his teens was itching to record songs with OJB as his producer. Most times OJB told him to wait and watch. Wizkid’s recalls that while he was sitting in the studio waiting for his turn he learnt a lot of valuable lessons watching the likes of 2Face and Rugged Man record. It is most likely that Wizkid never released any of his OJB produced songs but the experience he gained chilling in the studio must have helped him become the star boy he is today.
Check out the 5 artistes he helped jump start their careers below
1)
2face Idibia- 2Face was already a known star as a member of the
90’s/00’s R and B group The Plantashun Boyz. 2Face’s star power in the
group was so great that everyone knew it was a matter of time before he
went solo. In 2004, 2face struck out and went solo.
He sought the
production prowess of OJB Jezreel who was the hottest music producer in
the country at the time for his highly anticipated debut album. For
months they slaved on songs that would end up on 2Face’s instant classic
solo debut album Face 2 Face. The album catapulted 2Face into
superstardom. In 2007, 2Face hooked up with OJB Jezreel again. The huge
success of his sophomore Grass 2 Grace proved that you never change a
winning formula. 2Face’s first two albums are widely regarded as his
best LPs in his rich discography.
2)
Rugged Man- Rugged Man had been lurking in the underground scene for
years. Tired of the mainstream rap music he heard on radio courtesy of
Eedris Abdulkareem and Rasqie he went to OJB’s Silver Point Studios to
record the classic ‘Ehen’ diss track featuring Nomoreloss. The song
spread like wild fire and galvanized the underground rap community.
Rugged
Man wasn’t through with the diss tracks. ‘Peace or War’ and ‘Big Bros’
completed his diss trilogy aimed at wack rappers, their fans and record
labels that pushed them. Thanks to OJB’s production, Rugged Man became
the new champion of rap music in Nigeria. He released his debut album 2
years after ‘Ehen’- 2004. Thy Album Come featured production from OJB
and other Silver Point associate producers. Thy Album Come is perceived
as one of the most influential rap LPs in Nigerian rap history.
3)D’Banj-
Most people think Dapo Oyebanjo’s music career started when he met JJC
Skillz in London. D’Banj’s entrance into the music game goes a bit
farther than that. In 2002, D’Banj recorded his first song ‘Kiss Me
Again’ featuring Rugged Man. The song was produced by Jigga (OJB’s
alias).
The song wasn’t a hit but it got a few spins on local
radio. Buoyed by the little positive response the song got, D’Banj moved
to the UK to pursue his dreams. He came back 2 years later with an
unknown producer who would take over from OJB Jezreel. His name is Don
Jazzy.
Durella-
By 2008, D’Banj who started his career with OJB Jezreel had become a
superstar. An unknown act named Durella whose style was similar to
D’Banj’s knocked on OJB’s door in search of a hit.
OJB Jezreel
blessed him with ‘Wiskolo Wiska’ a hard hitting club track. The song
became so popular that people thought it was D’Banj who sang the song.
Thanks to OJB’s production Durella had made a name for himself.
Durella’s career has had more downs than up but a hit like ‘Wiskolo
Wiska’ is a sparkling gem in his scattered discography.
Wizkid-
If a biopic of Wizkid’s music life comes out, the flick would most
likely start with him as a young thin boy watching stars troop in and
out of OJB’s famed Silver Point studios.
Years before Wizkid scored his first hit with DJ Klem in the Knight House studio; he was a studio rat in OJB’s studio.Wizkid who was barely in his teens was itching to record songs with OJB as his producer. Most times OJB told him to wait and watch. Wizkid’s recalls that while he was sitting in the studio waiting for his turn he learnt a lot of valuable lessons watching the likes of 2Face and Rugged Man record. It is most likely that Wizkid never released any of his OJB produced songs but the experience he gained chilling in the studio must have helped him become the star boy he is today.
ECONOMY: THE LIES OF SAHARAREPORTERS - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
We have received several enquiries about a story titled “Nigerian Government broke; targets pension savings” posted on the website of Saharareporters.
The story, like many other recent articles by Saharareporters purporting to be exclusive stories on various aspects of the Nigerian economy, is a complete fabrication.
As Nigerians know, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan recently presented its mid-term report which is a forthright account of the achievements as well as challenges facing the economy.
The country has $48 billion in reserves, including N5 billion in the Excess Crude Account to help shore up the economy. So the idea that the country is broke is alarmist.
It is true that the country is experiencing some revenue shortfalls that everyone knows about due to oil theft for which the President is taking some serious measures.
Also, contrary to the claim in the story that the country has borrowed from local and international banks to finance recurrent spending, the Jonathan administration has in fact reversed the tendency of borrowing to finance recurrent as was the practice in the past.
Also untrue is the claim that the country has been downgraded by international ratings agencies. In fact the truth is the exact opposite; ratings agencies and international investors have consistently stated, through various platforms, that the Nigerian economy is a well-managed one with good prospects in the medium and long term.
Regarding the country’s debt situation, the overall picture is positive as the Coordinating Minister showed clearly in her recent well publicized statement. The multi-dimensional strategy adopted by the Jonathan administration is leading to positive outcomes.
The level of borrowing has been brought down, bonds are being paid off through a sinking fund and the country is not taking the kind of high interest loans that led to the debt burden which existed before the historic Paris Club debt deal. The Borrowing Plan which was approved by State Governors and the National Assembly is focused on financing power transmission projects, inter and intra city rail projects, dams and other key infrastructure.
The notion that the Jonathan government is “eyeing” the N3.4 trillion pension funds to finance deficits underscores the desperation of this “activist” medium and its sponsors. It is a total invention. In fact, the government is currently engaged in strengthening institutions and critical processes in the sector to enhance security and stability of the funds.
With this latest outing, Saharareporters has reinforced its well-earned reputation as a discredited purveyor of falsehood.
Paul C Nwabuikwu,
Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister
I wonder why one person should own houses in Ikoyi, Asokoro, Dubai – Anambra Governor
The governor spoke in Enugu during the thanksgiving service and award ceremony to mark the end of the 2nd Session of the 15th Synod of Anglican Diocese of Enugu at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Asata, Enugu.
He lamented that the level of greed among political office holders in the country was very disturbing, saying it was wrong to use public funds to amass wealth whereas the poor masses were left in abject poverty.
His words: “A very prominent person called today and asked me: what is your plan concerning politics after your current tenure? I’m telling you now what I told him.
”For me, I have come to the end of it; I want to quit and rest. However, I have been praying to God that for the sake of the good people of Anambra State, please give them somebody like Peter Obi.
”The level of greed in Nigeria is overwhelming, where people can’t see the suffering of other people, they are just accumulating wealth. For me, it is time to go.
”I wonder why one person should own houses in Ikoyi, Asokoro, Dubai and he is not using them for anything. People accumulate what they don’t need. It is madness. The level of greed in Nigeria is intolerable.
”I want all of us to be praying for Nigeria, so that God will touch the heart of our leaders to use public money for the people. In Anambra State, we have never borrowed money, despite all the works we are doing but we have continued to do good for our people.”
Cost of running gov’s office
Obi,
whose speech was greeted with a loud applause from the congregation,
further lamented the level of financial waste in government, stressing
that the cost of running a governor’s office in Nigeria was too much.”When I came in as governor, I discovered that the state had 70 workers in Abuja liaison office. Apart from their salary, we spend close to N15 million maintaining that office. They have nothing doing there than to come to the airport and welcome me whenever I visited, constituting nuisance. So we re-deployed the workers and closed down the place. Till date, we have not missed them, which means they were really doing nothing there.
”I urge all of us to pray for greedy people in this country; they are accumulating what they don’t need, stop accumulating things for your children,” he charged politicians, stressing that he had never bought a car for any of his children.
”I have told them to buy cars when they make their money. I have also never celebrated birthday for them. They can do that when they leave my house. We should stop wasting public fund.”
The Anglican Bishop of Ijebu South West, Rt. Rev. Dr. Babatunde Ogunbanwo had earlier in his homily charged Christians to have a right view of Jesus Christ in order to overcome the challenges of life.
Speaking on the theme “overcoming the challenges of the time”, at the service presided over by the Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of the Enugu Diocese, Bishop Ogunbanwo observed that the society was no longer conscious of good virtues, stressing that lesbianism, homosexuality, nudity, terrorism, suicide bombing and greed had all become part of life.
”Therefore, you must make deliberate effort to remain focused as a Christian, you must have a right view of the world and your position”, he advised.
Highlight of the event was presentation of award to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Prince Engr. Arthur Eze and Unoma Ekaete Akpabio, wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.
BOLT and MARIA evicted from Big Brother Africa (The Chase)
This week, Annabel, Bolt, Dillish, Hakeem, Maria and Natasha were on the chopping block and it was left to Africa to decide who stays. Africa saved Annabel, Dillish, Hakeem, Pokello and Natasha from possible Eviction while Sierra Loene’s Bolt and Namibia’s Maria were shown the exit door.
Bolt
now has a chance to reunite with Ethiopia’s Betty who was Evicted in
Week 4 and they can handle their businesses henceforth without the hawk
eyes of the Big brother cameras. Perhaps Bolt won’t be so surprised as
he has known all week that he was up for possible eviction tonight but
for Maria, the story was quite different.A rather shocked Maria who has
never been up for eviction looked on helplessly as the Diamond HOH for
the week,Nando announced that he saved and replaced himself with
Maria.Before the consequence of this switch could settle in,IK announced
the eviction of the beautiful Namibian.
Once
again Malawi’s Natasha and Zimbabwe’s Pokello survived the chopping
block,Remember Natasha and has been up for eviction more times than any
other housemates but luck keeps shinning on the Malawian and once again
she can hang loose.
Evictees so far are #LK4 and #Denzel from Uganda,#Koketso from South Africa, #Biguesas and#Neyll from Angola,#Kenya’s Huddah, Botswana’s #Motamma, Sierra Loene’s Bolt, Maria from Namibia and Ethiopia’s #Betty.
How Africa voted >
Angola: Pokello
Botswana: Dillish
Ghana: Pokello
Kenya: Annabel
Ethiopia: Dillish
Malawi: Natasha
Namibia: Maria
Nigeria: Dillish
South Africa: Pokello
Sierra Leone: Bolt
Tanzania: Annabel
Uganda: Annabel
Zambia: Hakeem
Zimbabwe: Pokello
Rest of Africa: Dillish
Total: Pokello = 4; Dillish = 4; Annabel =3, Natasha = 1, Hakeem = 1, Bolt = 1, Maria = 1. (Total: 15 Votes)
Angola: Pokello
Botswana: Dillish
Ghana: Pokello
Kenya: Annabel
Ethiopia: Dillish
Malawi: Natasha
Namibia: Maria
Nigeria: Dillish
South Africa: Pokello
Sierra Leone: Bolt
Tanzania: Annabel
Uganda: Annabel
Zambia: Hakeem
Zimbabwe: Pokello
Rest of Africa: Dillish
Total: Pokello = 4; Dillish = 4; Annabel =3, Natasha = 1, Hakeem = 1, Bolt = 1, Maria = 1. (Total: 15 Votes)
Confederations Cup third place playoff: Italy beat Uruguay on penalties
Italy beat Uruguay 3-2 on penalties in their Confederations Cup third place playoff on Sunday after the pair were locked at 2-2 following extra time in Salvador.Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi BuffonGigi Buffon was the shoot-out hero as Italy beat Uruguay on penalties to clinch third place in the Confederations Cup after a 2-2 draw.
Edinson Cavani twice cancelled out an Azzurri lead and Riccardo Montolivo saw red in extra time in stifling heat in Salvador de Bahia.Cesare Prandelli had to completely revamp his side for the Confederations Cup third place play-off, as Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo, Ignazio Abate, Andrea Barzagli and Claudio Marchisio were all injured.
Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Gilardino and Giorgio Chiellini all passed late fitness tests, while Stephan El Shaarawy, Alessandro Diamanti and Davide Astori were given rare starts in the stifling 13.00 local time heat.Uruguay played their semi-final with Brazil a day earlier than Italy and didn’t go to 120 minutes, so were able to use much the same side including Serie A faces Edinson Cavani, Martin Caceres, Walter Gargano and Arevalo Rios.Luis Suarez turned Chiellini at the halfway line and burst forward, but Diego Forlan’s assist for Cavani was misplaced.
Chiellini almost scored at the other end with a glancing header just wide from Diamanti’s free kick.Diego Forlan’s low set piece through the wall was well smothered and De Sciglio pulled back for Antonio Candreva to force a Fernando Muslera save.
Lazio figure Candreva also blasted over from distance.Italy took the lead in bizarre circumstances, as Diamanti curled an audacious free kick almost from the right corner flag that thumped the far post, ricocheted off the back of Muslera’s head and Astori dived to toe-poke it over the line. It was the Cagliari defender’s first international goal, as initially FIFA awarded it to Diamanti, then saw on using the new goalline technology that part of the ball had not entirely crossed over before Astori got there.El Shaarawy’s confidence was not helped by a poor first touch that wasted a good opportunity.
At the other end, Suarez forced Buffon into a save under the bar from a tight angle.Cavani got the ball in the net with his header from a free kick, but was flagged offside. Moments later El Shaarawy’s screamer stung Muslera’s palms, then Diamanti’s flick was just beyond Gilardino from 10 yards.
Obama warns Africa’s ‘tyrant’ leaders
In a strident call for democratic change and good governance, Obama used the political legacy of ailing Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s emergence from grim years of apartheid as proof that freedom will ultimately prevail.“In too many countries, the actions of thugs and warlords and human traffickers hold back the promise of Africa,” Obama said at a speech at Cape Town University.
“America cannot put a stop to these tragedies alone, and you don’t expect us to. That is a job for Africans. But we can help you and we will help you,” he said, announcing major new US programs to boost electricity and health care.“History shows us that progress is only possible where governments exist to serve their people and not the other way around,” said Obama, in a line that drew loud and prolonged cheers from his audience of more than 1,000 people.
The speech was delivered from the same spot where American political icon Robert Kennedy delivered his famous “ripple of hope” speech in 1966, which called on students to decry the “racial inequality of apartheid”.Obama’s goal was to inspire a new generation of Africans with the belief that they could ignite political change and the potential of their continent.He slammed leaders who “steal or kill or disenfranchise voters,” saying that the ultimate lesson of South Africa was that such brutal tactics will not work.“So long as parts of Africa continue to be ravaged by war and mayhem, opportunity and democracy cannot take root,” said Obama.“Across the continent, there are places where still, fear often prevails,” Obama said, warning of “senseless terrorism” from Mali to Mogadishu.“From Congo to Sudan, conflicts fester,” Obama said, hitting out at those who argue that American calls for democracy and freedom are “intrusive” or “meddling”.
He also condemned the rule of Robert Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where he said the “promise of liberation gave way to the corruption of power and the collapse of the economy”.Like the rest of Obama’s trip to South Africa, the speech was rich in emotion when he mentioned his hero Mandela, who lies critically ill in a Pretoria hospital.“You have shown us how a prisoner can become president,” Obama said. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/obama-warns-africas-tyrant-leaders
Two women nabbed while they tried to smuggle assault weapons into Maiduguri market
A youth vigilance group, popularly called “the Civilian JTF’’, said it apprehended two women attempting to smuggle assault weapons into the Monday market in Maiduguri on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the women, who concealed the weapons in their dresses, were nabbed at the Bulabulin entrance gate of the market.
One of the witnesses, Malam Modu Bulama, a trader, said that they were in the market when they heard noise from the gate.
“We rushed to scene, but on getting there, we saw two women in veil with assault weapons,’’ he said.
Bulama said that each of the women concealed an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and some items believed to be Improvise Explosive Devise (IED) in their veil.
A member of the vigilante, Malam Usman Ibrahim, corroborated Bulama’s claim, adding: “we were on a routine checking at the gate when these women came with heavy veil.
“At first we did not bother to look at them, but we realised that one of them was shivering, we said something must be wrong,’’ Ibrahim said.
He said that when they were searched, “we found that each of them concealed an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and IED in their veil.
“We were surprised at the discovery, so we took them to officials of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) for investigations,” Ibrahim said.
The JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, could not be contacted for comment, but a senior military officer, who spoke on condition anonymity, confirmed the story.
The official said the JTF was already investigating the case.
Many things are wrong with Nigeria - Sokoto Sultan
The Sultan spoke just as the Kaduna state governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero admonished Islamic scholars to refrain from using the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to cast aspersions on people without proper investigations.
Speaking at a national conference on the role of Muslim Scholars in fostering unity, peace and security in Nigeria organized by Jama’at Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna, the Sultan said that the nation cannot move forward when leaders are made to believe that they are always right.
“We cannot move forward when we tell a leader he is always right. No leader is ever right in this circumstance. So many things have gone wrong in this country, and they are still going wrong. So many things are not working because the leaders refused to allow them to work”.
While noting that the Muslim world was facing daunting challenge, the Sultan said “we are very aware just like any other people across the world of the challenges facing us as Muslims, not only in Nigeria; we believe somebody somewhere is pulling the string”.
The Sultan who is also the Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council also said “we will not allow anybody to stop us from being Muslims because that is what God brought to us and that is what we chose to be, we will not allow anybody to turn our lives upside down, and whatever anybody does that affects Islam and Muslims.”
He expressed concern over the level of disunity among Muslims saying “if there is unity among Muslims, there will be peace, and if there is peace, there will be development and progress in our country and there will be total security in Nigeria.
“If there is security, definitely, there will be development. What is happening in the Northern part of the country is an unfortunate incident which has been forced on us, may be for so many reasons, may be the Almighty Allah (God) wants to correct our ways.
“I believe it is high time all of us come together and discuss those things that have been pestering our lives as Muslims in this country. I want to state here that our main problems have been lack of unity, lack of consensus in whatever we do, and of course, viz-a-viz so poor in our lives as Muslims in this country.
“We are begging Allah for constant prayers from all of you, you are all distinguished Ulamas, we need constant prayers from the downtrodden to any other person, we shall overcome all these challenges and move to greater heights by the special grace of God.
“We are committed to ensuring justice in whatever we do, we are committed to ensuring that whichever leaders God Almighty blessed on us to do what is right, and we must tell them when they go wrong”.
While lamenting the failure of leadership in the country to provide purposive leadership, he said “as Muslim leaders, we know what the holy Koran said about leadership, we know how our noble leader lived his life which we are all striving to copy in the minutest way, and I believe totally that if we imbibe the virtues of the holy Koran and the virtues of our noble leader, nobody will go wrong.
“I believe it is high time we put aside so many differences in understanding of Islam, put aside so called promise of big manism, put aside hatred that permeated people’s heart, and put aside personal interest. Put Islam above all, and if you do so, we will find the end of all the problems facing us that we will enable all of us to observe our religious obligations and duties in a peaceful manner.
“We refuse to accept time without number whenever any violence take place anywhere in the world, if committed by a Muslim, you will hear Islamic terrorist, or Muslim terrorist or Islamic fundamentalist. But when worst violence is perpetrated by somebody who is not a Muslim, we don’t hear the same coinage, or the same factionalization of the same criminal activity linking it to that particular religion.
“And we believe so many criminal activities have taken place in the name of so many other religion, but Islam has been singled out and it is a challenge for us to wake up, stand together, stretching our hands of unity and face such problem squarely. We can only do that if we put aside our personal differences.
“I don’t want to talk so much, but I really have so much in mind on such issues, but suffice to say, today we have an opportunity to bare our minds to the President, Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who set up a committee to look into insurgency activities particularly in the North.
“I believe that committee should also look at other things that are happening in other parts of the country. But this is the first step. Let us stabilize north in particular, then move to other places, ” the Sultan stated.
My father was jailed for refusing to let me attend school – Atiku
Late father of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was jailed for refusing to let him attend school in his hometown of Jada, Adamawa State.
The former Vice President recalled the incident on Sunday in remarks at the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on him by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Switzerland.
“When
my father was put in jail by local authorities because he needed my
assistance with herding the livestock, it seemed like a harsh
punishment.”
“Were
he to be alive to witness this day (Sunday ) and the last 30 or so
years of my life I am sure that he would exclaim “wow! Education pays
after all, ” Atiku stated.
The
founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola recalled that
as a young lad growing up in his rustic village of Jada, he had dreams,
but that it was education that made his dreams come true.
According
to him, “education is what brought me in contact with members of the
United States of America’s Peace Corps when I was still a little boy; a
contact and interaction that would have profound impact on my life,
especially my love for education and service.”
While
underscoring the imperative of education to personal growth and
development, the former Vice President said it gave him the friends he
made across Nigeria as he attended high school and university; gave him
a job in the Nigerian civil service; and provided him with
opportunities to meet and form more life-long friendships from across
the world.
He stressed that education is what has informed his determination to give back to society, especially through education.
He noted that the centrality of education in the improvement of the human condition is one reason why public policy must seek to always improve the quality of and access to public education everywhere in the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
He advised parents not to choose career options for their children but allow them to discover their innate potentials by charting their own preferred discipline.
“A young friend of mine, who heads the human resources department of an organization in Nigeria, called me up one night about seven months ago and said he came across an application for employment by one of my children and wondered whether I consented to my child applying to work in that organization.
“I
asked why he needed to clear that with me first and he said he thought
that I would prefer that my child works in one of my establishments. I
then told him that I do not choose careers for my children. I owe them
good education; I support them to acquire good education. What they do
thereafter is up to them as adults,” Atiku said.
Others
who received honorary doctorate degrees from the same institution are
His Excellency (Dr.) Oguz Demiralp, Ambassador of the Republic of
Turkey and His Excellency (Dr.) Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General
of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and Honorary Dean of the
Geneva School of Diplomacy.
Nigerian Army winning war on terrorism – Chief of Army Staff
Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), in Abuja on Sunday said that the military was winning the war on terrorism.
Ihejirika said this at the Inter-Denominational Service held at the All Saints Military Protestant Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, to mark the 2013 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
“When I remark that we are winning the war on terrorism, according to a Chinese General Sunzu which says, you know yourself, you know the enemy then you can fight a thousand wars.
“Wining the war starts from in-house, I am aware of the improved capacity of the units, improved capacity of the officers and men, and this is what gives me the confidence that we will excel.
“And as for the operation itself, the nature of insurgency is such that you will continue to have occasional setbacks because you are dealing with people who disguise as civilians,’’ he said.
Ihejirika said that some soldiers had been ambushed a number of times in the current operation, adding that it was made possible by the fact that the insurgents disguise as civilians.
He said as such some of the soldiers might not be on their best guard.
Ihejirika said attitudinal change was one the most important attribute that had helped to drive his vision to “transform the Nigerian Army into a force able to deal with contemporary challenges.
He said officers and commanders in the field now adopt positive attitude in carrying out their duties and no longer “sit on the fence’’.
According to him, a lot of initiatives were coming out of the field, some of these initiatives, include repair of equipment that would be on display on July 6, 2013.
“There are some officers and commanders; we have lost out of dexterity and zeal to their jobs, my heart goes to those officers and their families.
“So, with these change in attitude, we have taken a quantum leap,’’ Ihejirika said.
Mrs Olusola Obada Minister of State for Defence, said the event calls for celebration as the army and the entire armed forces had come a long way to see to the unity and peace of the country.
Obada also said the armed forces had been instrumental to the oneness of the country, noting that in spite of the security challenges, “we have course to celebrate and be happy.
“The Army is doing its very best as our officers and men are among the very best in the world.
“There is no doubt about it because they are well-trained and they are on top of their work and their contribution to international peace-keeping under the UN was commendable,’’ she said.
Obada said the contribution of the army in the internal security challenges was “highly’’ commendable.
In his sermon, Rev, Fr. Charles Iroegbu, Director Nigerian Army Chaplaincy, said it was good to take some time to reflect on our failures and setbacks.
Iroegbu, a colonel, said it was time to repent from those failures and to resolve to live a better life and put them into practice.
“Humility is given free of charge and anything given freely, there is a corresponding responsibility.
“If God had given us what we do not merit, it is expected that we should use whatever given to us to achieve a better Nigeria and a better army and a better armed forces.
The inter-denominational service is to marked the 150 years of Army existence. (NAN)
Senator Pius Ewherido is dead
Pius Ewherido, was a member of the Nigeria House of Representatives between May 1999 and May 2007. He was elected Senator for Delta Central in the April 2011 national elections, running on the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) platform.
Born on May 4, 1963 in Ughelli. He attended Notre Dame College, Ozoro and Urhobo College, Effuruin, Delta State. He went on to the University of Ife where he studied Philosophy. After his National Youth Service, Ewherido became a businessman in Warri. He also studied Law at the University of Benin and was later called to the Bar.
He was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House when it convened in June 1999. From 15 May 2000 until 20 March 2001 he was leader of the Assembly. Ewherido was re-elected in April 2003, and was Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from May 2003 until May 2007.
My ordination is a source of hope for sexual minorities - Nigerian 'GAY' Pastor, Jide Macaulay
Five years after he was forced to leave Nigeria for the United Kingdom following threats to his life, Nigeria’s first openly gay preacher and the founder of House of Rainbow Fellowship, a Christian community for sexual minorities and marginalised people, Reverend Jide Macaulay, has been ordained a Deacon of the Anglican Church on Sunday in Chelmsford, United Kingdom. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cotterel, will hold the ordination service at the Chelmsford Cathedral.
Reverend Macaulay will serve as the Curate in the East Ham Parish, London. He is believed to have inspired many ethnic minority people in the Newham area of London when in 2000 he played Jesus in 2000 Newham Millennium Passion Play.
In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Reverend Macaulay says his ordination is a source of hope for sexual minorities. He also spoke about his experience in Nigeria, the future of House of Rainbow fellowship and the recently passed anti-gay bill by the National Assembly.
PT: Congratulations on your ordination into the Anglican Communion. What does this mean for our readers, especially sexual minorities in Africa?
Rev: Thanks for the well wishes. My ordination into the Anglican Communion is an important continuation of my call to parish ministry, to reach out to all people regardless of who they are. I believe whilst my ordination is not anything new to the church, for me it is both relevant on the state of persecution and righteous living for sexual minorities. My message to all people especially Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people of faith and none is to hold on to their dreams and hopes in the face of hardship, God is a good God and loves all people.
PT: Tell us about the role you played in the Newham Millennium Passion Play “A light in the Darkness” and how it has helped to change your life?
Rev: I played the character of “Jesus” in the passion play, which was staged outdoor throughout the London Borough of Newham in 2000, this alone did not change my life but nonetheless was a single contribution to enhancing my relationship with the Anglican Church and more so with my Christian faith. The audition and rehearsal started late 1999 to early 2000. Reverend Father Steven Saxby, a Curate at St Bartholomew at the time, immediately became my mentor and friend, who also played a crucial part as my spiritual leader and advisor. Playing Jesus gave me the opportunity to experience the hardship he went through and to understand the love that he has for the world. Jesus even at his death said “Father forgive them”. Often I feel that playing Jesus in such a public way allowed me to connect with my own pains and those inflicted on me and at the same time be able to acknowledge the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Now that you are fully ordained Deacon in the Anglican Church, what happens to the House Of Rainbow Fellowship?
My ordination with the Anglican Communion does not extinguish the passion for inclusive theology and ministry for the marginalized. As an Anglican minister, my duties are carried forward to continue to reach out to people on the margins and that also means an understanding of the aims and objectives of House Of Rainbow and how the universal church may benefit from the extra ordinary work in hostile regions with marginalised people. I am encouraged by those who supported my ministry and efforts towards ordination and have urged me to remain true to the call of God and particularly with a passion to ensure that there is room at the communion table for sexual minorities. House Of Rainbow continues to develop independently as a support group with 10 active groups in six countries, managed by 15 Volunteer Local Leaders. (www.houseofrainbow.org)
What happened to House Of Rainbow in 2008 and what were the core reasons for leaving Nigeria?
2008 was a very busy year for House Of Rainbow and the ministry was at the height of its popularity as we have become a household name in Nigeria, particularly well known for its inclusive welcome of marginalised communities. We stood for change, peace and reconciliation, however, violence was thrust upon us as a community and many people, organisations and the media were simply looking for “dirt” about us. In February, I was ambushed by the media in Abuja at the Africa Sexuality Conference. In March/April the newspapers were filled with sensational headlines, by July we have had many more “undercover reporters” joined us and started to record and take photographs. By August/September, we received unprecedented hostile media coverage, increased violence and numerous death threats. Those who attacked us used this for their own gains. After the second year anniversary celebration of House Of Rainbow in Lagos, I went to Abuja for several meetings and when I returned to Lagos, the environment became extremely hostile and the Board of House Of Rainbow decided it was time we re-strategise. I was advised to return to London for my own safety and we moved the ministry underground to make it safer for those who attend. House Of Rainbow since 2006 has always remained an active ministry in Nigeria with three active groups.
What does your family, especially your father think of your sexual orientation and would he be attending your ordination in the Anglican Church in England?
My family like any family first struggled with the knowledge of me being gay, of course it is not about me that they first worry but the prejudice and potential discrimination that both myself and my family had to endure after coming out as gay. The fear of me being gay was superseded by the unconditional love of my parents that held the family in one love. Unfortunately being in public life and religious ministry has not helped in dealing with this privately. I personally would not have it any other way; I am proud to be gay and of Nigerian descent, with the love of my parents I continue to excel as a son who just happens to be homosexual. For most of my family members I am mostly loved and supported, they are not ashamed of me. My achievements and ordination would be celebrated with my entire family and especially with my dad by my side.
What do you think of the Nigerian anti-same sex marriage bill recently passed in the parliament?
I think that the anti same sex marriage bill in Nigeria has gone too far, many Nigerians are concerned; especially to Human Right defenders and gay activists it makes no sense. Nigeria should look at progressive constitutions around the world that are inclusive of sexual minorities. Homosexuality was never a foreign import and there is nothing to be afraid of, only if they can focus on getting to know the gay people and seeking our opinions. I believe that the Nigerian legislators should focus on laws against discrimination and not laws that punish private sexual relationship between two consenting adults. Unfortunately, the Nigeria systems allows for many institutions to lawfully discriminate against sexual minorities and sadly this bill will and more likely punish innocent people, such as innocent parents and other family members, sexual health providers and proprietors of single gendered institutions. Nigerians should seek to get to know gays and lesbians amongst us; no one wakes up in the morning and chooses to be gay or lesbian knowing the hatred that will follow. It is a shame in my opinion with all the education and educated people in Nigeria, the last bastion the government can produce is an anti same sex marriage bill. I am not convinced this bill is the way forward. God bless Nigeria.
Prison Break in Akure, Over 170 Inmates Set Free
The incident happened in the early hours of today. At least four persons were injured in the gun battle, but nobody was reported to have been killed
Sources at the prison revealed that the bandits were very clear about their mission.
"They came and were calling the names of people they want to set free,” one of them said. “There is this particular name from Edo state that they were calling simultaneously. I think he is a prominent criminal in the prison. The name is from the Benin area".
Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident, the Comptroller of Prisons in the state, Tunde Olayiwola, said some of the inmates who escaped during the jail break have been re-arrested. He confirmed that one officer was seriously injured, and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. He did not disclose the officer’s name.
Olayiwola said some of his men were on the trail of the escapees, saying that those who were caught were lured through a mobile-talking device as signals were sent out immediately to the police.
Eyitayo Jegede, the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice after his visit to the scene described it as pathetic and said the state government would summon the top officials of the prison.
“With what we are seeing here, the state government will look into the incidence and if need be, we will summon all the security chiefs and top prison officers’’.
Also speaking after his visit, the commissioner for police, Patrick Dukumor, described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and promised that the perpetrator will be brought to book.
“I can assure you that the perpetrator of this incidence will be brought to book and any culprit found behind this will be dealt with severally,” he said.
The Commissioner has already deployed a large detachment of men and two armored personnel carriers to the prison to ensure maximum security in the area.
The police have also dispelled rumours that the attack on the prison was carried out by Boko Haram insurgents.
Police spokesperson, Wole Ogodo, said that although the information at his disposal was sketchy at press time, the situation has been brought under control, and that the heads of security agencies in the state would soon meet and brainstorm on how to apprehend the sponsors as well as arrest all those who escaped.
2 Pakistani girls shot dead for making a video of themselves dancing in the rain
Apparently dancing with your sibling in the rain and filming it is a crime punishable by death in the Northern region of Gilgit. The video caused an outrage in the town and a few days later, five men invaded the girls home and shot them dead - for - wait for it - 'tarnishing their family's name'. Their mother was also shot dead.
The girls' step-brother, a man named Khutore, is being accused of arranging their murder because he allegedly wanted to 'restore the family's honour'. The sisters' other brother filed a case against him and the four other alleged accomplices who are now on the run. The police are investigating the case.
(Photos) Steve Forbes Arrives Nigeria for EbonyLife TV launch
The Editor-in-Chief of business magazine Forbes magazine as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes, Inc. was received with excitement by Mo Abudu and other members of the EbonyLife TV crew at the Eko Hotel.
Mr. Steve Forbes is the Keynote Speaker at the launch of Mo Abudu's TV Network - EbonyLife TV tonight. The channel which can be found on DSTV; Channel 165 is set to change everything you think you know about Africa. See more photos after the cut...
Alesha Dixon's Nigerian baby daddy, Az Ononye makes £15k a year
The father of Alesha Dixon’s baby is a £15,000-a-year dancer who lives in a modest flat. Britain’s Got Talent star Alesha stunned the showbiz world last week by revealing she is pregnant with Azuka Ononye’s child. Until that point the millionaire former pop star had kept the relationship secret.
And far from being a fellow celebrity, Azuka, or AZ as he is known to pals, came from humble beginnings in Nigeria and has had to scrape a living for years.
Former Super Eagles star, Thompson Oliha is dead
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha is dead
A member of the 1994 African Nations Cup winning squad died Sunday morning.
Until his death, Oliha was one of the coaches at the Kwara State Football Academy in Ilorin.
He was aged 44.
NE gathered Oliha was on the bench yesterday morning when Kwara Football Academy(KFA)boys played a team from Mali. He was said to have complained of Malaria and was taken to an undisclosed hospital in the state capital.
He died in the early hours of today and his body has been deposited at the mortuary.
Confirming his death, Bunmi Adedoyin, Kwara State Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN) told a source that Oliha died Sunday morning in a private hospital in Ilorin.
Fred Edoreh, the Lagos State Chairman of SWAN also confirmed the demise of the former Eagles midfielder.
Oliha played for Bendel Insurance (1985-1987), Iwuanyanwu Nationale (1988-1991), Africa Sports (1992-1993), Maccabi Ironi Ashdod F.C. (1993-1994) and Antalyaspor (1994-1995).
Something worse than Boko Haram is coming, says Prophet Olabayo
…Says Jonathan should drop his 2015 ambition
PRIMATE Theophilus Olabayo, 67, founder of Evangelical Church of Yahweh with headquarters in Mende, Maryland, Lagos, had remained one of Nigeria's respected prophets whose prophesies had shaken the high and mighty in the country. In this interview, the cleric says there would be a spiritual revolution that will rock the nation to its foundation and at the end of it, a new nation will emerge.
Excerpts:
What really happened that you went off the radar for several years?
I have been talking. A prophet doesn't just say things. It's when God asks me to speak that I speak. Many atimes, I warn our leaders but they don't have listening ears. I was the only one who said President Umaru Yar'Adua had a terminal disease and when the condition got worse, the wife called some of us to Abuja to ask of the chances of her husband. I said the husband would die and Jonathan would become president. I warned President Goodluck Jonathan that people would make the country ungovernable for him, but people said I was a prophet of doom. Is it not happening now? Let me quickly say this here that worse than Boko Haram is about to happen.
It's no secret that you had some health challenges which may have been responsible for your absence for some time. What is the nature of your ailment?
I did not lay off. Elijah was sick and he was still doing God's work. I had an attack. A spiritual attack but I am still hale and hearty. Spirit cannot die. The spirit of God cannot die in you. The body may be weak, it doesn't matter. But the spirit cannot die. God will continue to speak through you.
Is it true that you had stroke, Sir?
It's not a big deal that someone has stroke but I am okay. While on a trip to Kaduna, God had revealed to me that I would have stroke and would be away for some time. So I looked for someone who knew about stroke; one of my pastors.
How did it happen and what was your first reaction?
I was going for a revival in Kaduna and God told me to go with somebody who knows about stroke. The man had to follow me to Kaduna. When I got to Kaduna, they told me one of my townsmen was sick and when I got to his place, God said I should not do anything though he was suffering. I got a room for him, paid his bills and left after praying for him. As I was returning to the church in Kaduna, I had the attack.
And did you have any medical treatment?
Definitely!
Why do you think it's a spiritual attack?
I know because God told me about it. I know it could be exhaustion because I pray and fast a lot.
There was this rumour among the people that one of the reasons your church went down was because you were caught in adultery with somebody else's wife. Is it true sir?
God will forgive you. Where? That is why Nigeria cannot move forward. How do you expect me; I preach the Word of God, I preach against adultery, then I'll be caught in such an act! Impossible! Anybody can lie against you.
At your age sir, are you thinking of passing over the baton to someone else soon?
I am a prophet and it is not hereditary. God can choose anybody. When it's time for me, God will tell me to lay hands on the person. God has not told me yet, I'm still a young man. There are so many people that are coming up, not only one person. Among them, God will raise up leaders. We have young pastors coming up in the church who have the gift of the Word of God, the Bible. Not only vision, people believe that it's when you just speak in tongues alone or see vision. No! There are different types of gifts.
There are churches as soon as the founders pass away you don't hear much from those churches…
It can't happen here because it's God that called me. When it is time, God will raise up another leader among us.
What do you foresee for Nigeria?
We are sitting at the keg of gunpowder. We are looking at total darkness in the nation. We need to pray very well because these political people are not doing the right things. Nothing is working; the worst corruption is in Nigeria. There has never been corruption as worse as this. The name of Nigeria is now corruption and some of the journalists are not helping matters. People are being bribed. But there's going to be a revolution. The poor will overtake the rich. You've not seen anything. You've not seen Boko Haram. Worse Boko Haram is about to happen and we have to pray against religious war that may last seven years.
Let Jonathan drop his ambition for 2015. Let him work and allow his work speak for itself. Most of his political alleys especially from his Niger Delta are deceiving him and are talking carelessly. They will be consumed one after another. They are already beating war drums if he fails to return in 2015; let them keep quiet. They are not helping matters. Very soon they'll start bombing.
The chairman of PDP is going to face another problem because there's going to be crisis and if care is not taken, he is going to be removed. They are going to scatter them and cause confusion between him and the president. Most of these governors that are being sacked are going to join hands together to form another party. A new party will emerge which will be more powerful than PDP. Not APC! Gov. Rotimi Amaechi's current challenges will create more problems in this country.
What's the way out of all of these? How can we prevent this doom from coming to pass in Nigeria?
The problem with Nigeria is leadership. We are so corrupt and wicked. We manipulate things and we don't allow God to work. They don't believe in God. They go about looking for protection; some of them think they are untouchable. They don't believe there's God. One day they are going to give account. God is going to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria very soon and a brand new nation will emerge from the ashes of a revolution. The president is being caged by some few people. When you are saying the truth, they arrest you. Some of his close people are enemies and he doesn't know. If he's not careful, they are going to run him down.
There are things to be done spiritually. I don't need to discuss all these with the Press because our leaders don't have listening ears. We need to come together and work for this nation because we have children. We don't want our children to suffer. Because if there's war in Nigeria today, Ghana cannot accommodate the number of refugees. They are holding notional meetings. If they want to do something, somebody will talk today; they will give him millions of naira to keep quiet.
They are not saying anything, they are only exchanging money and that is what is destroying this country. Our refineries are not working; the roads are bad, armed robbers have taken over; there's no work, now they want to sack people. The man is making more mistakes everyday. Every step he takes, he's making wrong decisions. Many of his advisers are selfish and wicked people. They are just accumulating wealth. And they are old. They don't give up. They are acquiring properties.
Some say Nigeria might not survive beyond 2015. Do you agree?
I went to America of recent and I prophesied and it happened. Let me tell you, it's not America that will dictate for us. God is saying that we should avoid war; religious war.
Sir, is there anything the Church or anybody can do to avert a violent revolution?
As I am prophesying now, some church leaders and prayer contractors will take it to them to get money, to get oil blocks and buy aeroplanes for themselves. That will not solve the problem.
Despite the health cha-llenges, you still talk like this. When are you ever going to get tired?
I can't be tired. They have tried me. I was the only one condemning Sani Abacha. One day they sent one brig-adier to me, I was in my house. As he came, I said something is in your stomach, he said yes, Sir. They said you should come and arrest me, he said yes Sir. I said but you have a daughter, he said yes sir. That day, my phone just stopped working I know it was their handiwork. When he came, God revealed to me and I told him you are going to land into problem, your oga will die.
Before Abacha died, one Austin came to me. He said he has a friend of Abubakar, I said he's going to be next president and Abacha would die, and it happened. There's nobody that God cannot catch. If 100 pastors and mallams are praying for them, they can't survive. God is about to move if they don't change and repent because they have put us under bondage for long. These pastors, let them change. They will say we are Pentecostals, that doesn't mean you cannot speak truth. There was a time it was only me and Idahosa that were speaking during Babangida's era. Most of these pastors that were condemning prophec-ies, are now prophesing. Where did they see it? Jealousy and envy are the things killing them.
What is your own assessment of late Pa Obadare?
He's a man of God. He's one of the chosen men of God, a soul winner, has the fear of God. That's one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was a blind man and was quoting the Bible. A good preacher of God. He's one of the best in the Body of Christ that we miss.
R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D: ‘How Oyedepo, Onaiyekan, others tried to save Yar’Adua’
The late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may not have died had the family heeded the advice to evacuate him from Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja three weeks before he died.
…Family warned to evacuate ex-president 3 weeks before death – PFN scribe
The late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may not have died had the family heeded the advice to evacuate him from Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja three weeks before he died.
National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, one of the four pastors who visited the Villa to pray for Yar'Adua at the height of his sickness in 2010, disclosed this at the weekend.
The three other pastors were Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World Outreach, aka Winners Chapel; Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishop of Abuja; and erstwhile Aso Rock Chaplain, Prof. Yusuf Obaje. The pastors visited the seat of power for the prayer session after Yar'Adua was flown back from Saudi Arabia where he had been taken for treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Late President Yar'Adua
The PFN National Secretary said he told the Yar'Adua family at the meeting that there was the need to take the president out of Aso Rock within three weeks to keep him alive.
According to him, however, they shunned the advice as they were afraid that President Goodluck Jonathan, then vice president, would take over (power) if they took him out of the Villa immediately.
"Of course, I was not obeyed and exactly three weeks after that visit, he died", Kure, based in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, but spoke to Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, last week, said.
Narrating what transpired at the prayer session for Yar'Adua, which he claimed lasted about 10 minutes, "sharp and straight to the point", the PFN leader said: "When we went in there, they pulled me aside and said the reason you are here sir, go beyond that, can God show mercy? Can God change these things? It's like deep inside of them, they felt he (Yar'Adua) might not survive. And they had the right to ask God for mercy. That was why they called in the Muslims and the Christians".
He continued: "So I knew my own mission but I sensed things do not happen like that and I told them what would make him escape death. I told them privately. That is, me and them, it had nothing to do with the four (he and the other pastors). My reason for being called was slightly different from the other three. I think Oyedepo was called because of the miracles (he was performing) in the Living Faith Church. We were called in because they believed we have access to God and that we could pray some effective prayers that would help the matter.
'Not politically convenient'
"I told them the Lord said that within three weeks they should take him out of the Villa to somewhere he'd be without pressure. That was the time the polity was heating up. I told them to take him away from there (Aso Rock) because while there within those three weeks, even if as much as one mosquito bite him, he would die. I told them I saw only three weeks. So if they had taken him out within those three weeks, maybe God would have shown mercy and given him some rest and added some time to his life.
"I don't know how much, I'm not God. I'm just an oracle who spoke for that season. And the understanding I got later, I was told they couldn't take him out because it was not politically convenient. They were afraid that Jonathan would take over if they took him out immediately. He kept him there to ensure that Jonathan did not take over even when it was to the detriment of his health. Maybe it was a tactical move; the wife had no say in the matter".
Captivity
Exonerating the former president's wife, Turai, from blame over the failure to move Yar'Adua from Aso Rock as advised, Kure said, "Nigerian politicians are very complicated and sophisticated people when they know their interests are at stake; they will use you to remain relevant. They will keep you there until they get what they want. I think she was also in captivity.
"Of course she would have wanted her husband to live; she would have wanted to remain the first lady naturally. Let's not pretend about these things. Constitutionally it was not her call; it was the politicians' call which was what the people in the National Assembly and Nigerians were making that, `let the constitution have its way'. It was a constitutional call, it was not her call"
photo's Ice Prince with Marques houston and Wale at BET pre-party
Chinese lovers fall to their deaths while making love by window
A couple are believed to have fallen to their deaths when a window they were having sex against gave way. The horrific accident allegedly happened in China when the glass pane shattered.
The tragic man and woman are then understood to have hurtled to their deaths. Eyewitnesses said the couple both fell to the ground as they clinched on to each other.
A source in China said: “With the two of them holding each other tight, they fell out of the building”. Shocking photos in China appear to show the couple on the ground under sheets. Blood is splattered near their bodies on the pavement.
Medical staff and what appear to be police officers can also be seen examining the scene. The man and woman are thought to have fallen out of an apartment in the city of Wuhan, central China.
27million lines at risk as NCC disconnects unregistered SIMs today
This is because the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says the collation, harmonisation and authentication of the subscriber’s identification modules, SIMs card registration it embarked upon in conjunction with all the telecom operators in Nigeria, since 2011, ends today, and those whose numbers were not captured will be disconnected.
For the past two years, the industry regulator (NCC) has embarked on a massive campaign, sensitizing telephone subscribers on the need to register their phones to enable a proper record of subscribers in the country, effective monitoring of telecommunications activities and cut down on phone-related crimes.
The regulator also made it clear that after a six-month period which expires on September 2011, those who did not register their lines stood the risk of losing them by deactivation.
However, following the panic, tension and anxiety as the exercise came to an end, the Commission allowed a grace period by asking people who had not registered to go to their operators to do so while it was collating, harmonising and authenticating the data already gathered.
The harmonisation and authentication exercise have taken over one year and the NCC, a few months back, declared that on June 30, 2013, all unregistered lines would be deactivated.
Tension in the industry is at its height. This also reflects the growing nature of Nigerian telecom industry and the intrigues which heralded the exercise, March 2011 when it was flagged off.
As at Thursday, about 27 million SIMs out of the 164 million connected lines and 119 million active were said to be still unregistered. MTN Nigeria, according to figures from the NCC has 52 million subscribers; Globacom, 24.3 million; Airtel, 24.1 million; and Etisalat, 15.1 million.
How it all beganIn the wake of unending security challenges facing the country, it became expedient that measures needed to be taken. In 2009, the then Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Engr Ernest Ndukwe, opted for SIM registration as one of the measures.
SIM registration is a standard practice in almost all economies of the world for its ability to check phone crimes and, in Nigeria, such crimes, including death threats via text messages and kidnappings, were becoming common.
A meeting between the regulator, operators and other stakeholders were held where government mandated the operators to start registering subscribers.
However, it was learnt that the operators expressed inability to do a good job in less than three years, prompting the agreement that they should register new entrants while the regulator finds way of registering existing subscribers. The operators later went on registration of both the new and old subscribers. The action infuriated the regulator.
Then the regulator under the current EVC, Dr Eugene Juwah, presented a budget of N6.1 billion for the exercise. The budget caused some stir at the National Assembly and the telecom sector and created different camps that engaged in claims of whether the bill was justified or not. Eventually, on February 14, 2011, the exercise began.
Campaign
Subscribers initially were reluctant to adapt to the new directive and it became clear that something needed to lure them into the exercise. The operators introduced different packages.
Globacom for instance offered reward packages including a guaranteed 30 minutes free airtime (10) minutes per month for 3 months, all expense-paid trip to Manchester or Dubai to 60 registered customers (20 per month for 3 months) and N20,000 airtime to 300 lucky winners(100 per month for 3 months). Meanwhile the company has made over 17 millionaires in the N1m category of the promo.
Etisalat Nigeria introduced 9ja Free Credit Promo, designed to reward new and existing subscribers who register or have registered their SIM cards. The promo gives a 30 per cent bonus credit to call any network. With consistent text messages ardio jingles and TV commercials, Airtel lured subscribers to register their SIM cards and win a gift. Other operators like Visafone opted for the direct marketing strategy including road shows. MTN Nigeria embarked on the billionaire promo tagged the BIG Reward programme.
Improved turn-out
Confirming improved turnout of customers at the SIM registration centres since the launch of the Big Reward, MTN General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Kola Oyeyemi, said,. “That is the overriding objective of the BIG Reward programme; getting subscribers to register so that we can have a credible database of telephone users for our country. When we have such a database, government can better plan the economy and the people will be the better for it.”
Subscribers ask for extension Meanwhile, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS) has reportedly appealed to the NCC to extend the deadline by another three months to give every subscriber a fair consideration. The body said several factors have all conspired to prevent many subscribers from complying adequately to the deadline.
In a letter to NCC, entitled, “Appeal to NCC for 3-Month One-Way Final Warning on SIM Registration”, NATCOMS alleged that several agents carrying out the SIM registration process employed some sharp practices that discouraged subscribers from registering.
According to part of the letter,: “In the last two to three weeks, reports, issues and concerns reaching us are as follows:
1. During the SIM registration exercise, some umbrella SIM registration agents were not collecting the full details needed because of the rush by the agents to register as many subscribers so as get paid big.
2. Some umbrella SIM registration agents, during the active registration period and even now are asking subscribers to pay N100; a situation that discouraged subscribers.
3. Some umbrella SIM registration agents, even when they are agents of a particular network operator, collect other operators SIM cards for registration in order to shore up the number of SIM cards they register daily.”
4. Some umbrella SIM registration agents copy their daily registered subscribers and give to their colleagues in business as some form of ‘help’
In view of the submissions above, a lot of subscribers will be locked out due to no fault of theirs as they think they have registered their SIM cards.
Against the backdrop of the above and in order to ensure that every subscriber is given fair consideration, we are appealing to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to give subscribers a 3-Month One-Way final warning extension on SIM cards registration. (i.e. subscribers to be able to receive calls).
But Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, at the weekend, stated that “there will be no extension after this deadline”. He added: “SIM registration has been on for two years now and, on June 30, all unregistered SIMs will be disconnected”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)