FG Sets Up Committee To Tackle Fake News

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that a committee has been set up to implement the recommendations approved by President Muhammadu Buhari on tackling hate speech and fake news.

Mr. Mohammed who disclosed this during a meeting with online publishers in Lagos on Sunday said that hate speech and fake news are the ‘Siamese twins of evil’, and no responsible government will sit by and allow such to rule the airwaves.

He called on online publishers to support the national campaign and fight the menace which he claimed, is getting worse.

“Let me be clear: we didn’t think the issue will suddenly disappear, but we also didn’t think it will get worse, which is what it is now. In fact, it remains a clear and imminent danger to the polity.

“No responsible government will sit by and allow fake news and hate speech to rule the airwaves, because of the capacity of this menace to exploit our national fault lines to set us against each other and trigger a national conflagration. That is why we will continue to evolve ways to tackle fake news and hate speech until we banish both.”


Mr. Mohammed gave the highlights of the approved recommendations which includes; Independence of the NBC from political interference in the exercise of its regulatory powers, Upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5,000,000 for breaches relating to hate speeches.

He added that the committee has been tasked to end the issue of monopoly in the broadcast industry, and no amount of coordinated attack will whittle down the implementation of the recommendations.

“Let me be straight: No amount of attacks sponsored or otherwise will stop the implementation of the approved recommendations. And only non-patriots and anarchists will kick against measures aimed at putting an end to fake news and hate speech, especially in our broadcast industry.

“Only those who are guilty should be afraid of the efforts to sanitize the broadcast industry.

Responsible broadcasters have nothing to fear. This is not a move to stifle free speech or gag anyone. But purveyors of fake news and hate speech should not expect to sleep easy.”

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We Will Not Allow MTN Charge Nigerians N4 For USSD...CBN Governor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has opposed plans by MTN to charge their subscribers for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data access to banking services from Oct. 21.

The Governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, gave the bank’s position at a news briefing by the Nigerian delegation to the just-concluded World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, in Washington on Sunday.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that MTN, in an SMS message to its subscribers, had said the decision was on the request of the banks and would take effect from October 21.

“Yello, as requested by your bank, from October 21, we will start charging you directly for USSD access to banking services.

“Please, contact your bank for more info,’’ the message said.

Responding to a question seeking his reaction to the announcement, the CBN governor said the bank would not allow that to happen.

“About five, four months ago, I held a meeting with some telecom companies as well as the leading banks in Nigeria at Central Bank, Lagos.

“At that time, we came to a conclusion that the use of USSD is a sunk cost.

“What we mean by a sunk cost is that it is not an additional cost on the infrastructure of the telecom company.

“But the telecom companies disagreed with us. They said it was an additional investment on infrastructure and for that reason, they needed to impose it.

“I have told the banks that we will not allow this to happen.

“The banks are the people who give this business to the telecom companies and I leave the banks and the telecom companies to engage.

“I have told the banks that they have to move their business, move their traffic to a telecom company that is ready to provide it at the lowest possible, if not zero cost.

“And that is where we stand, and we must achieve it,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the transactions to be affected by the charges include intra- and inter-bank money transfers, through USSD, among others.

(NAN)

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RRS Arrest 3 Over Stolen Vehicle Accessories In Lagos

A wheel barrow pusher suspected to have vandalised a truck and two buyers of his stolen items were on Friday arrested by the Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) around Toyota Bus Stop, Oshodi, Lagos.

The suspect, Sunday Ogbonna, 27, was arrested at dawn in Toyota Bus Stop while coming from Ilasa.

 Recovered from his wheel barrow were a radiator, two heavy duty batteries and four jerry cans filled with diesel.

Ogbonna in his confession to the police noted that the truck radiator, two batteries and four diesel filled jerry cans were handed over to him in Ilasa, Lagos, by two young men at around 4:00 a.m. on Friday.

He added that he was close to Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Oshodi, when the police stopped him. “I looked back and I didn’t see any of the guys that had engaged me to carry the items”, the suspect said.

“Although, this wasn’t the first time, I would be helping them to carry materials like that to Ladipo. It was the fourth. I charged them N2,500 for these particular materials. At another time, I had collected N1800 for such things.”

He continued: “once I get to Ladipo, they would tell me to wait while they sold off those materials and pay me.  The materials I helped them carry before this were 8 jerry cans filled with diesel and batteries. They were sold off in Ladipo.

The buyers, Oyegbuchi Leonard (50) and Hassan Umoru (55) both confessed to have bought heavy duty batteries and diesel oil from the suspects. They also confirmed making payment ranging from N15,000 to N20,000 differently and separately for items brought for sale but pleaded that they never knew the items were stolen.

The three suspects have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigations.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu stated that those buying stolen items are themselves criminals that must be made to face the course of justice. He added that without buyers of stolen items, there would be fewer thieves.

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Maroc Air Returns To MMIA After Takeoff On Discovering Cargo Door Was Not Shut

The pilot flying a B737-700 belonging to Royal Air Maroc with registration number CN-RNQ discovered that the cargo door light was flickering on and he alerted the control tower, requesting to return back to the apron, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 05.30 hours today, October 20, 2019.

Officers of the Aviation Security swiftly escorted the aircraft and returned it back to the apron, on reaching the apron, all concerned officers of FAAN and other agencies were on ground for thorough inspection.

In line with standard and recommended practices, all parties concerned supervised the offloading and the re-screening of all the luggages belonging to all passengers on board the aircraft.

All the luggages belonging to the passengers were intact as certified by the team on ground before the flight eventually took-off at 10.06 hours in the presence of the Airport Manager and Chief Security Officer of the Airport.

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Chioma Delivers Baby Boy For Davido

Chioma my lover,Davido's long time girlfriend has delivered a baby boy fortheNigerian star.

He announced the good news on his social media handle today.He was seen cuddling the baby in his arms as seen in the picture

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Tinubu Has Achieved More Than Abiola,Awolowo..Ogunlewe

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works on Saturday said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the most prominent politician in the South-West who can lead Nigeria well if elected President.


Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Ogunlewe said Tinubu has achieved more than Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Basorun MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election.

The former senator who represented Lagos East from 1999- 2003, also denied saying the North will deny Tinubu the presidency and that he may end up like the late MKO Abiola. According to him, those ascribing that to him are enemies of progress.

“He (Tinubu) is the most prominent Yoruba person that has paid his dues and is knowledgeable about the politics of Nigeria. I am confident he can lead Nigeria well if he becomes President”.

“All these people are enemies of progress. How can I say that the North will deny Tinubu and he will end up like MKO Abiola. Hasn’t he done more than MKO Abiola? Hasn’t he done more than Awolowo?”

” Maybe not in terms of perfomance but he has more in terms of skills, wisdom. Look at the way he has been able to cover all parts of Nigeria”.

“Look at the number of people he has been able to promote from nothing to be governors, ministers and even Vice-President:.

“Believe it or not, whether you like him or you don’t like him, you must give him credit. All those saying negative things are not knowledgeable about Nigerian politics”.

“If you are knowledgeable about Nigerian politics, you should know that you cannot remove the man’s achievements from him” he said .

Source :Daily independent

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Lady Poisoned By Jealous Best Friend After Promotion (Pictures)

An unidentified lady has been allegedly poisoned by her best friend .This according by a post by one Crystal Jane Cosmas on her facebook page,the lady was poisoned by her jealous friend because she was recently promoted at her work place.The identity of both ladies were not disclosed

This was her post on the incident

" Crystal Jane Cosmas post

"She was poisoned by her best friend cos she got promoted at work...May God keep us safe from jealous and friendly enemies in Jesus name..Rest in peace my Sister.."

Pictures from her funeral

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