Nelson Ugwuagbo

Telecommunication companies will disconnect more Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) numbers not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) on Friday, March 29, 2024, the Nigeria Communications Commission has said.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, confirmed that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection. Mouka stated that the deadline remains unchanged and there are no plans to extend it.

The NCC’s directive for disconnection is being rolled out in stages, with the second phase set for March 29, 2024, continuing as previously announced.

The initial phase took place on February 28, 2024. Subsequently, whilethe third phase is slated to begin on April 15, 2024.

“We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”

Mouka said at the last deadline on February 28, 2024, about 40 million lines that were not linked to NIN were barred.

MTN Nigeria reported that over 4.2 million lines were disconnected from its network after the February 28 deadline.

The NCC has reiterated its commitment to enforcing regulatory measures aimed at enhancing security and regulatory compliance within the telecommunications sector.

The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is a crucial step towards improving the integrity of subscriber data and enhancing security measures within the telecommunications industry.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy was initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020. This directive requires all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.

In December of the previous year, the NCC issued a directive stipulating that all telecommunications operators in Nigeria, including major providers like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, must enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers have not provided their NINs by February 28, 2024.

Barely two weeks ago, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project issued a warning to take legal action against the NCC if it did not revoke the directive instructing network providers to block the phone lines of individuals who have not linked their SIM cards to their NINs.

In an open letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Aminu Maida, SERAP emphasised the necessity for further consultation and the establishment of an efficient process to enable Nigerians who have yet to link their SIM cards to their NINs to do so.

Dated March 9, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, the letter condemned the directive to network providers, asserting that it constitutes a severe infringement on citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, information, and privacy.

Last week, the National Identity Management Commission and the NCC issued a joint statement unveiling a strategic partnership aimed at simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage procedures for telecommunications subscribers nationwide.

Both agencies reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the processes involved and improving efficiency regarding the NIN and SIM card linkage initiative.

They acknowledge the importance of this initiative in bolstering security measures and enhancing service delivery across the country.

Last December, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced its intention to freeze accounts lacking a BVN, or NIN, starting April 2024.

It also mandated that all BVNs or NINs linked to accounts or wallets be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.

Since the issuance of this directive by the apex bank, deposit money banks have been actively utilizing their communication platforms to urge customers to update their NIN and BVN details.

In the circular by the CBN, it instructed banks to place a “Post no Debit” restriction – which prevents customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits “for all existing Tier-1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN.”.

‘Post No Debit’ is a term used to describe a restriction imposed by banks on specific accounts, preventing customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits from such accounts.

“Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ until the new process is satisfied. Effective March 1, 2024, all funded accounts or wallets shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ and no further transactions permitted.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (retd) as the new Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Kokumo’s appointment was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Ngelale, Kokumo is a seasoned and accomplished law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience in crime prevention, management, analysis, and control.

He was Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, from 2022 to 2023.

The President expects that the new coordinator will deploy his immense experience and expertise in efforts to revamp the centre and evolve new strategies to bring lasting solutions to the menace of arms proliferation which is a significant driver of insecurity in the country.

A viral video on Monday night has shown how a heavy rain washed away the newly-built Ochanja Market Road in Anambra State.

The road was said to have been inaugurated by the state government about a week ago.

Shared by a user, chude_, the video revealed the road’s asphalt coating displaced, scattered pieces, and waterlogged areas.

Chude captioned the video, “When we complain e go be like say we too dey talk, just one rainfall, look at Soludo’s road.

“This is the same Ochanja-Iweka Road they were celebrating its newly constructed needless roundabout some weeks ago. Shame dey catch me.

“Just look at the state of the road after just one rainfall. What exactly did we do to deserve this #CCSoludo?”

Ochanja Market is located in the Woliwo community in Onitsha South, Anambra State.

watch video below;

One of the  governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Paul Akintelure, is dead

Akintelure, a medical doctor, was said to have passed on in the early hours of Tuesday, during a brief illness in Lagos.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, confirmed the news of his death to our correspondent.

The details of the death were yet to be revealed.

“It is true, I can confirm it. We would issue a statement about it shortly.” the APC spokesperson said

Details later…

A 20-year-old man, identified as Ojo, was on Monday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State, over alleged house breaking and stealing.

The suspect was alleged to have stolen some noodles, maggi seasonings, salt, onions, ‘fufu’ and a pot of soup all valued at N300,000 belonging to the complainant.

LeadingReporters learnt that the incident happened on Thursday, March 14 2024 at about 12 noon, at Falegan, Ilawe Road in Ado-Ekiti.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Moyosola Adesola, stated that the offences contravened sections 322 and 302(1) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State 2021.

However, the defendant denied the charges, with his counsel, Olayinka Opaleke, urging the court to grant him bail.

Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Ajibade, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till April 23, for hearing.

The Nigerian Government has invited controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi for questioning.

Gumi was invited for questioning over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.

The minister of information and orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

More to come…

The Federal Government has confirmed the outbreak of Ginger Blight Epidemic in four states in Nigeria and the loss of over 12 billion naira by Ginger farmers.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi while speaking at the inauguration of the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce in Abuja on Monday stated that the devastating fungal disease has inflicted significant damage upon Nigerian
ginger farms in Kaduna, Nassarawa Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Abdullahi noted that the blight has caused billions of Naira in losses impacting not only the
livelihoods of countless hardworking farmers, but also Nigeria’s position as the world’s
second largest ginger producer.

“Our preliminary estimates suggested that affected
farmers in southern Kaduna lost over 12 billion Naira.

“Highlighting the significant financial losses. Furthermore, considering that over 85% of
Nigeria’s ginger cultivation occurs in this region. We can safely assume a substantial loss
of cultivated land, potentially exceeding 70% of total land.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar assured that the federal government
through the National
Agricultural Development Fund, NADD Fund will launch a 1.6 billion recovery
package for affected farmers in the ginger producing areas.

He stated that the swift action demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making sure
every problem that beset Nigerian economy is frontally attacked and given all the necessary attention.

He affirm that the ginger blight epidemic serves as a stark reminder of the
importance of preparedness in safeguarding our agricultural resources adding that by investing in
research, extension services, and farmer support systems, we can build a more
sustainable future for our agricultural sector.

The Chairman of the taskforce committee, Engr. Abubakar Abdullahi on his part stated that there is no doubt that the
blight on ginger has negatively affected the GDP earnings from this subsector and it is
of necessity and great urgency that various subcommittees were put in place to forestall
these negative effects.

Abdullahi while assuring of their commitment to salvage the situation pleaded with the Honorable Minister to give the committee the powers to co-opt members that will add value to the task force to discharge their duties efficiently and effectively.

The Federal Government, on Monday, said no ransom was paid for the release of 137 pupils kidnapped from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

“In keeping with the commitment of Mr President, no ransom was paid,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Idris, the president appreciated the role of the security services in the safe return of the abductees, vowing that all those involved in the abduction would be fished out and punished.

On March 6, at the pupils were kidnapped when terrorists on motorcycles stormed their school, whisking them away in an operation that drew condemnation and outrage from the Presidency and the global community, including the UN children’s welfare agency UNICEF.

However, a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said 137 pupils were rescued, contrary to reports of 287.

According to Buba, the pupils were rescued through a joint effort of the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday.

At the time, the Kaduna-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, had offered to dialogue with terrorists who abducted the school children from Kuriga.

Addressing questions raised about the FG engaging cleric, the minister said, “What I can tell you is that the government will stop at nothing to get any kind of information that is required to solve our problems.

“Sheikh Gumi or any other individual for that matter is not above the law. If you have suggestions that are constructive enough for security agencies to take, they will take it.

“But if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.”

Details shortly…

Two students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) have lost their lives while scrambling to collect food items given to them by the state government as palliatives to cushion the current economic situation in the country.

The students whose identity cannot be immediately ascertained were stampeded to death Friday morning.

A source in the institution confirmed that the affected students were female, even as he said several others sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident which took place at the Convention Square within the institution.

The National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku also confirmed the incident, stating that those who were injured have been rushed to hospitals in the area for medical attention.

Baduku, however, could not immediately confirm the number of casualties.

“Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is uncalled for, and very pathetic.

“After our arrangement for the distribution of palliatives to the students which was to hold at the University’s Convocation Square, they (students) suddenly arrived at the venue in their numbers and overpowered the security.

“They broke through the gate into the Convocation Square where the bags of rice was to be shared. Unfortunately, most of our female students sustained several degrees of injuries, while others got suffocated because of the population at the venue for the distribution of the palliatives.

“Right now, I am at the Federal Medical Center, Keffi, where we brought some of our students for emergency treatment. For the numbers of those injured, I cannot confirm that at the moment because some of them are at the school’s clinic while others are here at the FMC, Keffi receiving treatment,” he explained.

LeadingReporters gathered that Governor Abdullahi Sule had extended the distribution of palliatives to students of high institutions in the state.

The state government commenced the distribution of 7:5 kilograms of rice to students across institutions located in Lafia, the state capital on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the sum of N5, 000 each amounting to N35 million were also handed along with the items.

The benefiting students were drawn from the Federal University of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, as well as the School of Nursing and Midwifery Lafia.

Governor Sule promised that gesture will be extended to institutions outside the state capital.

However, the NSUK exercise turned chaotic as students broke into the venue resulting in a Stamped.

watch video below;