Forces against FG’s NIN policy behind attacks against me – Pantami – Newstrends
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Forces against FG’s NIN policy behind attacks against me – Pantami

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Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has blamed forces against the Federal Government’s policy of compulsory National Identity Number (NIN) registration for all Nigerians and those residing in the country as behind the attacks against him.

Pantami in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES dismissed all the allegations against him, describing them as ‘untrue’.

He further denied links to extremist views, saying criminals and other ‘entrenched interests’ are behind the attacks on him.

He said, “I have no doubt about this. It has to do with the National Identification Number. Do you know one thing? This policy was started in 2011, it was not successful. Why? It was fought.

“In 2015, it came up, it was not successful. In 2018 there was a time that there were meetings between government and mobile network operators.

“And it was actually announced that by the agreement with government, the deadline was January 2018. It is there online, I will share it with you if you like. By January 2018, it was not implemented, because there are forces against it. There are forces!”

Pantami explained that the National Identification Number registration is not only meant for Nigerians and that it could be obtained by anybody in Nigeria.

He also said, “Now they have started coming with the news that people are coming from neighbouring countries to register. What they fail to understand is that the National Identification Number is not only for Nigerians; anybody in Nigeria can obtain it.

“Section 16 and 17 of the Act mention the registrable people in the country – citizens, legal residents, legal permanent residents, and legal residents for a minimum of two years. So, it is not only for citizens. And it is also important to know that this is not just an indication that they are citizens of Nigeria.

“It is rather an indication that you presented your biometric data, so the government has control over your data.

“And that data of NIMC (National Identity Management Commission), nobody has access to it in any way he likes. Getting access to it illegally is 10 years in prison. It is there in the law. But people will like to discredit it, because they don’t like it.

“As long as it is implemented by the government, it will go a long way in reducing crime and based on the statistics we have been seeing now, it’s really encouraging.

“As government, our priority is the protection of the lives and property of our citizens. Security is our priority as a government – whether in agric, digital economy, education or in health, in whatever. President Muhammadu Buahari is so passionate about security, and he directed me to do that because he knows I try to persevere despite challenges and do what is right in the interest of our citizens and humanity.”

 

“You know as a government appointee, and at this level, if you say you are going to be intimidated by everything, then you cannot do the work. You cannot do the work. I was with the Minister of Foreign Affairs this week, on April 12. I was with the minister. I was with the ambassadors of the UK, the US, South Korea, and many other countries.

“Even this issue that we are talking about, based on our findings, preliminary investigation, many people are not happy with what we have been doing – linking National Identification Number with SIM. Because a situation will come that all the people using SIM to commit crime will not be able to do that.

“If they do that, the government will be able to intercept them easily. This is what they don’t want to happen.”

 

And this is a mandate given to me by President Muhammadu Buhari. He personally signed the letter that ‘you are mandated to do that’.

“As his appointee, I should either do it or say I cannot. So, since I am willing to serve my country, I must continue to do it to the best of my ability.

“So, in my meeting with them, they even encouraged me to push it and make it very successful.”

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Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws

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Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws

The National Industrial Court has withdrawn from a case involving Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Board of Trustees chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa’s ambition to return as president of the union over lack of jurisdiction.

The industrial court’s decision was made to avoid conflict with the Court of Appeal, where the matter is already being heard.

Before the NIC announced its decision to hands-off the case, the defendants’ counsel, Mr. O.I. Olorundare SAN, had informed the court that the matter is currently before the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, and that the industrial court could not continue to adjudicate on the same matter.

The counsel cited authorities to support his claim, adding that the National Industrial Court does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Appeal.

The presiding judge, O.O. Oyewunmi, struck out the case, stating that the Appeal Court had taken over the matter and that the Industrial Court must respect the hierarchy of courts.

Alhaji Yasin and six others took the case to the Appeal Court, challenging the decision of the industrial court recognising a delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa was proclaimed as President of the union for a second term in office.

With the latest NIC judgement, both parties will now proceed to defend their positions at the Court of Appeal and await the final judgement.

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Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages

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Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages

Despite the intervention of the CCPT, Multichoice Limited has proceeded to increase packages price for DSTV and GOTV as announce on Wednesday last week.

Newstrends had earlier reported that the corporation announced that the new rates will go into effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in a statement.

Meanwhile, on Monday, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited was ordered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja to suspend the planned prices and tariffs hike on packages and services.

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The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.

News prices includes: DStv, Premium bouquet, the price moved from N29,500 to N37,000; Compact+ from N19,800 to N25,000; Compact from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam from N7,400 to N9,300, among others.

For GOtv users, Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa moved from N7,600 to N9,600; Max from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli, from N3,950 to N4,850, among others.

Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages

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As controversy over Maersk-FG port investment rages, Onanuga says no $600m deal signed

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As controversy over Maersk-FG port investment rages, Onanuga says no $600m deal signed


The Nigerian government and a shipping giant, Maersk, have not signed any investment agreement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has said.
Onanuga was reacting to the controversy surrounding the reported sealing of a $600 million deal for the development of the nation’s seaports.
He said there was only talk “of possible investment in Nigeria” by Maersk.
Interestingly Onanuga had hinted about the deal in a tweet said to have been pulled down after the social media backlash.
After President Tinubu’s discussion with Maersk’s Chairman Robert Uggla on April 28, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the presidency had released a statement announcing that the shipping company had pledged to inject $600 million into the Nigerian seaport industry.
“Danish shipping company, A.P Moller-Maersk plans $600m investment in Nigeria. Danish shipping and logistics company A.P Moller-Maersk has disclosed a planned investment of $600 million in Nigeria to accommodate more container shipping services in Nigerian ports,” Onanuga wrote on X.
In a statement, Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, also said “President Tinubu meets Chairman of Danish shipping giant Maersk, secures $600 million investment in Nigerian seaport infrastructure.” He quoted Uggla as saying, “We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600m in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships.”
In response to this. Maersk officials have denied any such agreement and stress no deals have been signed.
Onanuga in a new report by TheCable, an online news platform admitted no agreement on investment had been reached by the two parties.
“I think the statement issued by Maersk did not talk about a deal. There was no deal according to that statement that I read.
“However, there was talk of investment,” the special adviser said.
“No document or agreement was signed, so there was no deal. But there was talk of a possible investment in the country.
“So, go and read the statement again. They never said any deal was signed between the Nigerian government and the Dutch company. There was nothing like that.”
Onanuga however said the shipping company did not expressly deny that there was an investment talk.
He said people are “unnecessarily giddy over nothing.

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