The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Entertainment

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  • Okoye V Okoye: Rude boy’s wife file for Divorce

     

    The marriage between Paul Okoye aka Rude Boy, one half of the defunct music group, P-Square and his entrepreneur wife, Anita Tonye Okoye is over as the latter has filed for divorce.

     

    Sources close to the couple disclosed that an official petition citing irreconcilable differences as the basis for divorce was filed at an Abuja court recently.

    The couple got married in 2014 after dating for 10 years and they both have three beautiful children together.

     

    The news of the couple’s impending divorce comes as a rude shock to both of their families and close friends.

    The source further revealed that both parties will proceed amicably with the legal resolution of the marriage and be the best parents to their children. “Paul and Anita have always been very good friends and like every couple they have had issues for a while but plan to remain on good terms and keep the friendship they have always had since their days as university students,” the source said.

     

     

     

    Meanwhile, Anita has since relocated with the children to the United States of America where she is studying for her Masters degree.

     

    All efforts to reach Paul Okoye for confirmation have been unsuccessful.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Chief Evarest Nnaji Odengene’s Birthday: Celebrating an Astute Entrepreneur and Uncommon Humanitarian

    Chief Evarest Nnaji Odengene’s Birthday: Celebrating an Astute Entrepreneur and Uncommon Humanitarian

    Chief Evarest Nnaji Odengene’s Birthday: Celebrating an Astute Entrepreneur and Uncommon Humanitarian

    By Prince Ejeh Josh

    In the magnificent words of Lord Ni (Confucius), an all time celebrated Chinese political philosopher, reformer, instructor and paragon of Chinese sages, “A man of humanity is one who…desiring attainment for himself, helps others to attain their goals.” This is true of one of the unrivalled minds of our time, Chief Evarest Nnaji Odengene, a household name in major entrepreneurial conglomerates in the Nigeria.

    Captain Evarest Nnaji Odengene, fondly called “Odengene” by business associates, friends, and the public, has come to assume a household name in Enugu State and beyond. It was not a popularity gained by luck, media campaigns, or political movement. It’s simply a name that has, over the years, become synonymous with goodwill, philanthropy, humanitarian champion, human rights defender, free education, scholarship, freedom and emancipation of the oppressed. It’s with a dint of struggle in search for a just world for humanity, and the desire to give back to the society that the Odengene Peoples Movement became a force and triumph of light over darkness for humankind.

    Like the French theologia-physician, Albert Schweitzer, would aptly note in his natural principle of contentment: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve others. Chief Odengene, in all sincerity, has found satisfaction and contentment in doing what he knows how best to do; service to humanity. Such services have always been selfless. He does it without the glare of the media. Yet he keeps the good works flying. He keeps turning lives around. He keeps lifting people from dungeons to the palace. He keeps sponsoring young minds in entrepreneurship and leadership mentoring. His positive impacts have been interrogating many minds with an imposed moral duty to key into the same venture of uplifting humanity.

    Chief Evarest Nnaji

    While all these great works are ongoing, engaging the media to showcase these uncommon feats and flair for human emancipation, to him, is needless. However, like the timeless legal axiom of “res ipsa loquitur” has been indelibly engraved in the hearts of men, Chief Odengene’s selfless service to humanity has become a common philosophy intrinsically written in the minds of the people. The facts of Chief’s uncommon humanitarian gestures are speaking loudly for him.

    It’s pertinent to, once again, ask this question: Who is Chief Odengene? While many people have been celebrating his exploits and humanitarian feats, not many seem to know him beyond that. His entrepreneurial prowess and corporate dexterity appeared to have eclipsed his super intellectual records, oscillating from one of the most technical disciplines, Aviation, to behavioural sciences like Political Science, etc. It takes an intellectual and an uncommon enigma to switch courses and disciplines and remain focused as a topnotch prodigy.

    Although, his exploits in the business, corporate and academic world including his aristocratic background would see him fall in the elite class in the rung of the economic ladder, Chief Odengene, a Us-trained Pilot, and distinguished alumnus of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from the prestigious Department of Political Science, would neither consider himself as one nor see himself as someone who should be operating from the Olympian height. His reasoning is even more inspirational than many would imagine. Chief Odengene has always stepped down from that height of flamboyance and aloofness many of his contemporaries have placed themselves just to identify with the people. That’s humility par excellence. More inspiring is the fact that he runs an open door policy. His office and residence are comfort zones for the general public. That’s a kind of leader the world urgently need in a world sharply divided by economic imbalances and unimaginable class vaults.

    As a successful entrepreneur who started from the scratch, towering to the status of an international investor, and managing multi-billion dollars business conglomerates such as:
    1. Odengene Air Shuttle Services Limited (OAS Helicopters) Nigeria.
    2. Odengene Air Shuttle, Inc. (USA)
    3. Odengene Group of Companies Ltd
    4. Electrostatic Laser World.
    5. OAS Offshore Logistics Ltd, etc, despite the economic recession bedeviling the country, one would readily be compelled by awe-struck admiration to salute his enterprising spirit and innovative drives, adjusting and re-adjusting to the peculiarity of economic fluctuations. Uncommon entrepreneurs like him are needed in Nigeria’s position of leadership today to deploy the same business intelligence and mastery to reorganize the economy, reform the moribund and rigid economic platforms from which the country has been operating.

    What determines and, indeed, defines the character of every great mind is their responsiveness to their environment. Chief Odengene, in his sojourn in the private sector as a leading entrepreneur in services, production and technology, has mentored a great number of young ones who are doing amazingly great in their own businesses. That’s the true definition of leadership. Many households and families have become economically viable through of Odengene’s spirited gestures. He believes in hard work and would never hesitate helping people attain their dreams through sponsored trainings both in Nigeria and in many countries of the western world. Offering free education (scholarship) from primary school level to university level to hundreds of students by him is no longer news. Setting up businesses for the youths in a bid to empower them to become productive citizens and useful to themselves and their families has also become an established bromide. Odengene’s Foundation, a foundation floated by Chief Evarest Nnaji as a way of giving back to the society, has become a blessing to thousands of households. The foundation is dedicated to the economic emancipation of the less privileged, education of the indigents, defence of the weak and defenceless, hope for the despondent, voice for the voiceless, and corporate social responsibility.

    Today, Chief Odengene marks, yet another golden and meaningful life on earth. A purposeful life dedicated to serve God and humanity. A life through which tens of thousands of people have drawn inspiration. A life repute for community development services. A life known for nation-building. A life that will continue to make meaning to the good people of Enugu State. And what do we wish this godly life? Abundance of grace. Good health of mind and body. More windows of hope. More services. More leadership assignments. God’s grace and goodness. Happy Birthday, Chief Captain Evarest Nnaji Edeh (Odengene). Congratulations.

    Prince Ejeh Josh, a Legal Practitioner and Security Strategist, writes from Independence Layout, Enugu.

  • FG to lift twitter ban in a matter of days

     

    The Federal Government has hinted that the over two months suspension of Twitter’s activities in Nigeria will soon be lifted following agreement that has been reached in most areas of contention with the platform.

     

    The government had, on June 5, 2021, officially put an indefinite ban on Twitter, restricting it from operating in Nigeria after the social media platform deleted tweets made by President Muhammadu Buhari warning the Indigenous People of Biafra that they will be treated in the language they understand.

     

     

     

    The government said the deletion of the president’s tweets was based on “a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences.”

     

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lal Mohammed, while responding to questions to give update on the face off, told State House Correspondents at the end of a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that progress has been made in resolving the impasse following series of meetings.

     

    Mohammed gave more details of the conditions given to the platform, saying most of them have been accepted.

     

     

    He said the areas still pending such as Twitter setting up an office, and having a Twitter staff of management cadre that will serve as the country representative, are still being discussed.

     

    The minister revealed that in the area of a Nigerian office, even though Twitter has agreed to the condition, it is, however, maintaining that the earliest it can establish it is 2022.

     

    The minister expressed confidence that everything will be ironed out with Twitter within a few days or weeks, noting the anxiety that has been shown by Nigerians.

     

    He said the Federal Government’s committee negotiating with Twitter will meet on the agreement soon to make recommendations.

     

    “The question I think has to do with the status of the conversation between us and the Twitter company. I want to say the end for an amicable solution is very much insight. We quite appreciate the anxiety of Nigerians who have been worried that two months after the suspension, we’ve not been able to finalise talks, but I just want to assure you we have made tremendous progress. And when I say tremendous, I really mean tremendous. We’ve engaged Twitter both in writing. We’ve engaged Twitter, we set up a technical committee to engage Twitter, they set up their own committee too. They have met virtually, and have exchanged correspondents about three times.

     

    “Apart from dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, we’re actually almost there. I don’t want to say the engagement has been extremely positive, devoid of any acrimony. As a matter of fact, is to the credit of Twitter that they admitted they’ve never received any kind of informed or detailed or professional communication from any country as they have received from us. Not only did they promise they were going to look into it, but we made it very clear what we wanted from Twitter.

     

    “Even though our report is not ready, even though we’re still expecting more clarifications around some conversation with Twitter, I think I can share with you some of our conditions for Twitter operations to resume in Nigeria. I’m glad both the Minister of Works, who is a member of the ministerial team, Tolu Ogunlesi, who also serves on the technical committee, are here. So, if I’m wrong they’d correct me. But I know one of the conditions we set was that Twitter, in line with Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act, should establish presence in Nigeria with registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. And we think that it is only thing if you want to do business in Nigeria, you must register first, a Nigerian company and of course, you must have an address. That’s one of the conditions we gave Twitter.

     

    “We also asked that Twitter should be mandated to employ a designated country representative. As of today, we are not aware of any Twitter representative in Nigeria, and we say representative shall be a staff of Twitter so that he can have access to global management of Twitter. So that he can serve as a liaison between Nigeria and Twitter. The company representative should also have a physical office address in Nigeria.

     

    “We also asked Twitter, in addition to registering the Nigerian company, to register with relevant regulatory authorities like National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria Communications Commission and National Broadcasting Commission.

     

    “We asked that Twitter shall be mandated to retain designated local agents to manage its engagement with the Federal Government operations in Nigeria. We also asked Twitter to commit itself to working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, you know if you make money from Nigeria, you pay taxes according to Nigerian laws. Of course, start paying VAT and other tax liabilities of any company resident in Nigeria. We also proposed to Twitter that we should agree on a charter of online conduct for content management. So that this charter will guide both of us, we will agree on which content would be acceptable, what’s not acceptable.”

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Tokyo Olympics: Disqualified Nigerian athletes protest

     

    Nigerian athletes staged a protest in Tokyo after 10 of them were disqualified from taking part in the the track and field events of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

     

    The protesting athletes carried placards with the inscription “Why should we suffer for someone else’s negligence”, “All we wanted to do was compete” and “We are not just alternates but potential medalists.”

     

    The PUNCH had reported that the Athletics Integrity Unit disqualified Ruth Usoro, Favour Ofili and eight other athletes after they failed to conduct the mandatory three out-of-competition tests before the Olympics.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Kanye West new Album Donda named after his late mother, to be released on Friday

     

    United States music producer, Kanye West, has confirmed the release of his new album Donda.

     

    The release date of the album was aired during Game 6 of the NBA finals on Tuesday, according to Hollywood Reporters.

     

    The announcement, which was revealed via a commercial ad for Beats by Dre headphones, stated that the album will be released on Friday.

    However, the live-streaming album listening event will be held in Atlanta on July 22, a day before the official release of the album.

     

    A listening event will also be streamed live on Apple Music for the new album of the rapper cum gospel musician.

     

    The ad for Beats by Dre debuts West’s new song, “No Child Left Behind,” and stars US superstar runner, Sha’Carri Richardson as she ran 100m in slow motion.

     

    A tweet by the headphone company revealed that the song was scored and edited by West himself.

     

    Richardson took to her verified Instagram page to also announce that another commercial and new song by West will be released tomorrow, ahead of the album launch.

     

    She wrote, “There will be up and downs in life, but its important to remember to run your own race.

     

    “Love to @beatsbydre and @kanyewest. Thank you for the support. New commercial and new Ye song dropping tomorrow! Donda out on Friday. Let’s go.”

     

    The album Donda is named after West’s late mother, who passed on in 2007.

     

    Donda reportedly features artistes like Pusha T, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and Baby Keem.

    The new album is West’s first full length project after he r eleased Jesus is King in 2019.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Argentina wins Copa America

     

    The Barcelona star struggled to contain his emotions after helping Argentina to Copa America glory by beating Brazil 1-0

     

     

    Lionel Messi spoke of his “immense happiness” after the Argentina star finally ended his long wait for international glory with victory in the Copa America final against Brazil.

     

    Despite his dizzying array of domestic medals, an international honour with the Albiceleste has eluded the 34-year-old – until now.

     

    A first-half goal from Angel di Maria was enough to secure a 1-0 victory against Brazil at Maracana and secure Argentina’s first Copa America title since 1993.

    Messi was named player of the tournament after scoring four goals and laying on five assists in what was his 10th tournament appearance for his country.

     

    The striker sunk to his knees at the final whistle before being mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates.

     

    Speaking to reporters after the game a clearly emotional Messi attempted to comprehend the scale of his achievements.

     

    “It’s crazy, the happiness the feeling is inexplicable. I knew that at some point it was going to happen,” he said.

     

    “The objective was clear and we were able to be champions. The happiness is immense. Many times I have dreamed of this.

     

     

     

    “I told Fideo (Di Maria) that today he was going to have his revenge and that’s how it was. I want to share this with those team-mates who were so close so many times and it was not given to them. This is also for them.

     

    “I feel that God was saving this moment for me, against Brazil in the final and in his country. Great credit has to go to (coach) Lionel (Scaloni). He always wanted the best for the national team. He knew how to put together a winning team and he deserves your appreciation.

     

    “I needed to get rid of the thorn of being able to achieve something with the national team, I had been very close for many years. I knew that at some point it was going to go wrong, it was going to happen and I think there is  no better moment than this.”

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Italy vs England: Italy secures Euro 2020 glory @ Wembley

     

    Italy inflicted more penalty heartache on England to win Sunday’s Euro 2020 final 3-2 in a shoot-out, Bukayo Saka missing the decisive kick to deny the hosts after the game at Wembley had ended in a draining 1-1 draw through extra time.

    Saka’s kick was repelled by Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Italy the Henri Delaunay trophy for the second time at the end of a shoot-out in which England scored their first two penalties but then saw Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also fail.

     

    Jorginho could have won it for Italy only for his penalty to be saved by Jordan Pickford, giving renewed hope to the England support who had earlier created a febrile atmosphere with their team looking set to run away with this final.

     

    The nerve-shredding climax seemed unlikely given the way the match began, with Luke Shaw scoring for Gareth Southgate’s England after just one minute and 57 seconds, the fastest goal ever in a European Championship final stunning a team who arrived here on a record 33-match unbeaten run.

     

    Italy were shell-shocked and struggled to recover in a stadium where the official attendance was 67,173 but more England fans clearly managed to enter after disgraceful scenes when supporters without tickets stormed the gates.

     

    Serious questions will be asked about security — the game was also briefly held up by a pitch invader late on — but English fans were obviously desperate to see their team finally win a major tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup.

    Italy, though, had most of the possession after falling behind and ultimately deserved their equaliser when it came midway through the second half through Leonardo Bonucci.

     

     

     

    With no further scoring, this was the first European Championship final to be decided on penalties since 1976.

     

    It is more penalty agony for England, whose list of previous shoot-out exits included losing to Italy at Euro 2012 as well as in the Euro 96 semi-finals against Germany when Southgate missed the crucial kick.

     

    While their 55-year wait to win another major international title goes on, Italy’s own particular half-century of hurt is over.

     

    The Azzurri have won four World Cups but their sole European Championship triumph before this dated back to 1968.

     

    They had lost two European Championship finals in little over two decades, with the agony of losing to France via a golden goal in Rotterdam in 2000 and then being torn apart by Spain in 2012, going down 4-0 in Kiev.

     

    – Baying crowd –

    Roberto Mancini’s team had an extra day’s rest in between the semi-finals and this final but they appeared completely unprepared for the experience that awaited them in London.

     

    England’s baying supporters created a hostile atmosphere, and that combined with Southgate’s tactical choices seemed to catch the Italians off guard.

     

    England brought back Kieran Trippier in place of Saka in the only change from their semi-final, reverting to a five-man defence.

     

    Within two minutes the choice of system paid dividends as England broke forward, Harry Kane opening the play up to Trippier, who crossed from the right to the far post where the arriving Shaw scored on the half-volley.

     

    Italy, who had not been behind all tournament, were stunned and the only surprise was that England did not try to press home their obvious superiority.

     

    Instead they allowed Mancini’s side to have the ball, confident they could withstand whatever was thrown at them.

     

    – Italian fightback –

    England were rarely seriously troubled in the first half even if Federico Chiesa remained a danger.

     

    It was a rather different story in the second half once Mancini had turned to his bench, notably replacing hapless striker Ciro Immobile and sending on Domenico Berardi.

     

    As the game opened up, Chiesa probed again and forced a save from Pickford, before a John Stones header from Trippier’s corner was tipped over by Donnarumma.

     

     

     

    The equaliser arrived in the 67th minute. Marco Verratti stooped to meet a corner with a header that Pickford tipped onto the post, but Bonucci was on hand to score the rebound and celebrated with the Italy fans massed at that end of Wembley.

     

    Italy then lost the outstanding Chiesa to injury. Lorenzo Insigne did not last into extra time either, and Verratti came off too.

     

    England, meanwhile, sent on Jack Grealish in the hope of a bit of magic, but it would come down to pena lties, and more gut-wrenching disappointment for them.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • The Demise of Sound Sultan: Kalu and fans all over the world mourn

     

    Olanrewwaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi popularly known as SOUND  SULTAN died early Sunday of throat cancer

    Former Abia State Governor and Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has lamented the passing of popular singer and recording artiste, describing the talented rapper and comedian as one of the best in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Kalu urged Nigerian youths to use their talents and skills to add value to the society as Fasasi did.

    The former governor, who is also a stakeholder in the entertainment industry under the platform of Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) Entertainment Incorporated, said the entertainment industry, if properly harnessed, would create employment and wealth for the teeming Nigerian populace.

     

    He also extolled the virtues of the deceased, adding that the late artist gave his best to the entertainment industry beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    In a condolence message, Kalu said: “I join stakeholders in the entertainment industry in mourning the demise of renowned rapper and sound artist, Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan). The deceased was a talented song writer, recording artist, rapper, comedian and actor. He was blessed with various skills. The deceased carved a niche for himself in the music industry as a talented artist.

     

    “His demise is a huge loss to the entertainment industry and Nigeria in general.’

    Kalu prayed for the repose of the soul of Fasasi.

     

     

    Sound Sultan buried in New York

     

    Sound Sultan who died early Sunday of throat cancer was buried in accordance with Muslim rites.

     

     

    The late multi-talented singer who passed on at the age of 44 following his battle with Angioimmunoblastic T- Cell Lymphoma was buried at 3:00 PM New York time at the Marlboro Muslim Cemetery, Morganville, New York.

    Sultan with wife and kids

     

    The late Sound Sultan is survived by his wife, three children and siblings.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Fathers Day: Fathers urged to unite in building the nation

    As Nigeria join the rest of the world to commemorate the International Father’s Day, Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged fathers to unite to surmount the nation’s current economic and security challenges.

     

    Describing fathers as soldiers of Christ, the former Abia State governor, admitted that though Nigeria is going through some problems, fathers in the nation have a pivotal role to play to overcome the problems.

     

     

     

    The chief whip made this known in a goodwill message during a special Sunday Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja to mark the Father’s Day celebration.

     

    Kalu tasked the nation’s fathers to rise to the occasion of defending the Church and the nation at large.

     

    He appreciated fathers’ efforts at home in raising citizens for the larger society, adding that they also ensured needs of the family are provided.

     

     

     

    “Our commitment as Nigerians and fathers shall never be in vain. I urge all fathers in the country to put their heads together in the best interest of our nation. As a nation, we are in pains as a result of the security challenges that we are passing through.

     

    “Fathers should stand up as soldiers of Christ and defend the Church and Nigeria at large. As fathers, we must continue to advocate peace and unity in diversity beginning from our homes,” he said.

     

    The ambience of the church was lightened up as Kalu donated over N2 million to the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Catholic Women Organisation and officiating Catholic priests.

     

    In his response, Rev. Father Charles congratulated fathers and acknowledged that the roles of fathers in nation building cannot be over-emphasised.

     

    The Catholic cleric also urged fathers to register with CMO and lamented the refusal of some fathers in the church to join the organisation. He outlined the numerous benefits of aligning with the forum, while urging unregistered fathers to join the association.

     

    Earlier, the church conferred an award of patrons of the CMO on Joe  Ezie and Emmanuel Umoh.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

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  • NBC sues FG over directive to broadcasters to stop using twitter

    Socio–Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Federal Government and Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Muhammed from using the unlawful directive to TV and radio stations not to use Twitter and to delete their accounts, as a pretext to harass, intimidate, suspend or impose criminal punishment on journalists and broadcast stations.

     

    The suit followed the order by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asking TV and radio stations to “suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately”, and telling them to delete ‘unpatriotic’ Twitter, after the social media giant was banned in the country for deleting President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.

     

    In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/496/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government of President Buhari, NBC, and Mr Lai Muhammed and any other persons from censoring, regulating, licensing and controlling the social media operations and contents by broadcast stations, and activities of social media service providers in Nigeria.”

     

     

     

    SERAP is also seeking an order setting aside the directive by NBC and Muhammed that broadcast stations stop using Twitter, as it is unconstitutional, unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

     

    “The government of President Buhari, NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed have consistently made policies and given directives to crackdown on media freedom, and the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, and to impose crippling fines and other sanctions on broadcast stations without any legal basis whatsoever. The court has an important role to play in the protection and preservation of the rule of law to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.”

     

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of  the suit.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • First electric car assembled in Nigeria Unveiled

     

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Tuesday, unveiled a Made-in-Nigeria fair in Abuja.

     

    The fair featured the first electric car assembled in Nigeria, among other locally manufactured products at the ongoing exhibition in, Abuja.

     

    Speaking at the exhibition at the Eagle Square, Prof Osinbajo described the development as “fantastic”, stating that the making of the innovative car, Kona, is a showcase of what is possible in Nigeria.

     

     

    The Vice President drove the electric car alongside the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu.

     

    In a chat with newsmen shortly after a tour of the exhibition stands, Prof Osinbajo said “it was a very good drive, fantastic. It just shows what is possible. I am glad to see that this is an assembled-in-Nigeria electric car. You can literally charge it anywhere. I think it is a very fantastic innovation; fantastic product, and I can tell because I just drove it.”

     

    Other dignitaries at the event which is part of Nigeria’s 60th anniversary celebration include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Ministers of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Bello; and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

     

    After the exhibition, the Vice President also visited the Federal Road Safety Corps’ headquarters where he inaugurated the National Traffic Radio, 107.1 FM.

     

    Prof Osinbajo described the radio as “an important and strategic initiative in several respects. The service will enable effective dissemination of relevant information on road safety and the provision of up-to-date information on road conditions, as well as traffic status and security to the public.”

     

    According to him, beyond the core objective of enhancing the operations of FRSC personnel, the radio station will also be useful in reaching far flung areas for teaching and dissemination of public health advisories and general information to Nigerians.

     

    Prof Osinbajo also featured during the radio station’s traffic report programme where he gave live traffic situation report across the country particularly from areas in and around the FCT, Jos and Lagos. He was funny and jovial about it.

     

    “Good afternoon wherever you are in this great country, this is Yemi Osinbajo, your always ready, always accurate traffic reporter, updating you on the traffic situation across the nation.

     

    “So, let’s go the FCT. As of a few minutes ago, the Keffi-Abuja inward section, traffic from Nyanya under bridge to Kugbo, towards the city centre, is slightly free flowing, no impediments reported.

     

    “Umaru Musa Yar’adua way, the situation is report shows that there is free flow of traffic on both sections of the expressway. Kubwa-Katampe, Wuse-Berger, traffic services unit reports affirm that there is seamless traffic flow with moderate movement of vehicles.

     

    “Traffic update along Lagos-Ibadan expressway as at 11:45 am did say that the inward corridor and section of the expressway is experiencing very slow but moving traffic from the stretch of lotto to NASFAT, Chinese company around Magboro, Punch-Arepo inward, Warewa, due to high influx of vehicles and the narrowed lane around the construction area. The sharp bend coupled with picking and dropping of passengers, all that is causing some slow movement around that area.

     

    “Traffic from Plateau State from about 12 mid-day. General traffic within Jos-Bukuru metropolis is free flowing. Jos-Hawan Kibo, motorists are admonished to be mindful of hills and steep bends around Hawan Kibo.

     

    “Also, Jos-Bukuru-Vom is experiencing free flow of traffic while motorists are advised to be careful around Ganaruwa hill. Jos metropolis, road users navigating inwards Polo-Gada Biu through the metropolis should be mindful of heavy duty vehicles and drive with extreme care. At Hill station roundabout to Polo roundabout axis is a sloppy terrain.

     

    “So, the general conclusion is that road users are enjoined to obey traffic rules, avoid dangerous driving and use the roads as responsibly as possible. All is going to be well today, this is going to be a great and exciting day. I am sure you are going to have some really good news. Thank you dear listeners, stay safe always.”

     

    Dignitaries at the event include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello and the FRSC  Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi.

    ­

  • Twitter gets Conditions from Nigerian Government

    Twitter users’ wait for the suspension of the micro-blogging platform to be lifted by the Federal Government may be longer than anticipated.

     

    The government yesterday listed conditions that must be fulfilled by the United States firm for its service to be allowed again in Nigeria.

     

    It said the firm must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); it should obtain the licence to operate in the country from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and it must pay taxes to the Nigerian government.

     

    Besides, it must not lend its platform for use to persons trying to destabilise the country, the government added.

     

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed announced these conditions yesterday at Aso Villa after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

     

    Mohammed, who explained that Twitter had made contact with the government for “senior-level talks”, said what is important to the government “is the sovereignty of Nigeria”.

     

    The minister said all other Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers must run as real businesses in Nigeria by paying their taxes.

     

    Speaking on the ‘sins’ of Twitter that led to its suspension, he said the platform provided an avenue for people that are threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

     

    According to him, the owner of Twitter helped to fund last year’s #EndSARS protest while allowing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to use the platform to call for the killing of policemen.

     

    He said Twitter failed to take down Kanu’s tweets despite repeated requests to do so.

     

    The government spokesman said freedom of speech had not been stifled by the suspension of Twitter, because Nigerians could still use other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

     

    He also denied that the suspension was not effective, arguing that Twitter is losing money as a result of the action.

     

    On Twitter’s overtures for talks, he said “yes, it is true. Only this morning (yesterday), I got communicated that yes, they are now ready to hold senior level discussions with us. Just now. I can confirm that, I just confirmed with my colleague now. We just got the information”.

     

    Read Also; Twitter suspension: Five ‘dangers’ of using VPNs

    He promised that the government would hold talks with the firm.

     

    “We will. Our conditions are already laid out: one, to do business in Nigeria, they must register as Nigerian companies; two, you must be licensed. Three, they will have to refrain from using the platform for activities that are inimical to the growth of Nigeria, to the corporate existence of Nigeria. From there, any other issue will come in. We already talked to them.

     

    He also took time to explain what led to the ban on the operations of Twitter, by debunking claims of it being in reaction to the removal of some of President Buhari’s tweets, relating to the Nigerian Civil War.

     

    “As you are aware, last Friday the federal government suspended Twitter operations in Nigeria indefinitely, and the reason we gave was because of the persistent use of the Twitter platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

     

    ”On Friday, also the government directed the regulatory body, the National Broadcasting commission, to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT, Over The Top social media operations in Nigeria.

     

    ”And I believe that we’ve done that I think by today, that advert is out asking that all OTT, and social media coverage operating in Nigeria should apply for registration and licensing.

     

    ”I want to repeat that it is because Twitter has consistently made its platform available to those who are threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence. That is the reason for suspending their operations in Nigeria.

     

    ”We have found out that Twitter is the platform of choice for a particular separatist leader who resides outside the country and issues directives to its members to attack symbols of government authority, such as the police, the military, the Electoral Commission offices, correctional centres, etc. And this is being done willfully and consistently without any consequences from Twitter.

     

    ”You know, no country worth its name will not tolerate that. And no company, no matter its self importance, will force any nation to accept this.

     

    ”It may interest you to know that most of the OTT and social media platforms operating in Nigeria do not have any office in Nigeria and do not pay taxes to the Nigerian government for the billions they earn here. That is not the best practice globally, and that is why we are insisting that for you to operate in Nigeria you must first be a Nigerian company and be licensed by the broadcasting commission”, he said.

     

    “And in any case, like I have said in several fora, it is because we have a country called Nigeria that we can start talking about free speech. And of course, there has to be a country before people can able to transact their businesses using social media platforms.

     

    ”When I addressed you on Wednesday, I said, among other things that Twitter’s mission in Nigeria is suspect. And I went further to say yes, that Twitter funded the EndSARS protests in Nigeria last yea and people have challenged it.”

     

    Citing the fact-check done by an online newspaper, he accused the founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, of finding the #EndSARS protest.

     

    He added: “So, whether he donated money himself or helped to raise money, the Twitter owner is one of those who helped to fund the #EndSARS protests that was later hijacked leading to loss of lives and massive destruction of property.”

     

    The youth wing of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday endorsed the suspension, arguing that a company without legal personality in Nigeria cannot be allowed to do as it pleased.

     

    National Youth Leader and member of the party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Ismail Ahmed gave this endorsement in Abuja while briefing reporters on the forthcoming National Progressive Youth conference.

     

    He said: “The suspension of a non-legal entity in Nigeria who feels it is okay for it to delete a tweet of the President without a recourse to a conversation with the government representatives is in order.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net