₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s telecommunications networks lost 1,275,573 internet users in February, with MTN losing 714,700 subscribers, the highest.

The NCC made the disclosure in its internet subscribers’ data for February.

The publication indicated that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks dropped from 91,304,755 in January to 90,029,182 in February.

It also showed that, of the 90,029,182 internet users in February, 89,998,873 were on GSM networks, while 30,309 were on CDMA networks.

It showed that the GSM service providers lost 1,275,573 internet customers as they recorded 89,998,873 users in February as against 91,274,446 they recorded in January.

The CDMA operators retained 30,309 internet subscribers in February as recorded in January.

The data revealed that MTN had 30,300,705 subscribers browsing the internet on its network in the month under review. MTN recorded a drop of 714,700 internet subscribers in February after recording 31,015,405 in January.

According to the data, Globacom had 26,932,485 customers surfing the net on its network in February, revealing a decline of 143,787 users from the 27,076,272 who surfed the internet on the network in January.

Airtel had 19,468,684 internet users in February, reducing by 149,801, the number of customers in its January record of 19,618,485.

The data also showed that Etisalat had 13,296,999 customers who browsed the internet in February. It recorded a decrease of 267,285 users from the 13,564,284 users it recorded in January.

The NCC data revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 30,309 internet users on their networks in February, maintaining their January record.

According to the data, Visafone had 30,305 customers surfing the internet in February, while Multi-Links had four.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/25/mtn-nigeria-loses-714000-internet-subscribers/

– About 150,000 Of Them Now Verified & Receiving N30,000 Monthly Stipends

AT the last count 149, 669 Nigerian graduates of the 200,000 engaged by the Federal Government under the N-Power Volunteer Corps are now collecting their monthly stipends of N30,000 monthly having been physically verified and deployed across the 36 states and FCT.

According to Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President made this disclosure while giving an update today on the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration .

Besides, Akande added that the Federal Government has also approved an additional N4500/monthly to all the 200,000 N-Power beneficiaries to purchase an electronic device which would be loaded with different applications that would further enhance the skills of the beneficiaries and afford them additional training opportunities during the two-year duration of the job program.

This device grant is in conjunction with the Bank of Industry (BoI) who has extended an asset finance of 20 months to each of the 200,000 N-Power beneficiaries.

While each of the beneficiaries after being verified would select their choice of device amongst nine different BOI pre-approved vendors, the price ranges from N3,000 to N6,700 monthly deductions for the next 20months.

Therefore in some cases the N4500 device grant would cover the full monthly deduction cost while in other cases the graduate authorizes BOI to deduct the additional differential cost from their monthly stipends depending on the device chosen.

The Vice President’s Spokesman also noted that 6 of the 9 BOI pre-approved vendors are indigenous local brands in pursuit of the Buhari administration’s push for Local Content.

He said almost 100,000 graduate N-Power beneficiaries have completed their orders for the devices as at press time, adding that the Bank of Industry is in charge of effecting the orders made. The plan is to conduct the order of the devices in two batches of 100,000 each, one after the other.

It was further disclosed that all the 149,669 N-Power beneficiaries now collecting their stipends have been physically verified and deployed, while their given bank account information have also been matched with the Bank Verification Number.

The SSA said that, in December, about 112,475 of the N-Power graduate beneficiaries received the N30,000 monthly stipends, and the number came close to 150,000, both in January and February meaning about that number are now receiving their up-to-date stipends from the N-Power Volunteer Corps.

Akande also noted that now beneficiaries across the 36 States of the Federation, and the FCT have been verified, totaling the 150,000 figure. He said the balance 50,000 of the 200,000 beneficiaries engaged by the FG are those who so far could not be paid for various reasons.

This includes those who were disqualified during verification on the basis of age-over 35, and inadequate academic qualification. The N-Power is for university, polytechnics and College of Education graduates only. There were also some of the selected 200,000 who were ‘no shows’ meaning they simply did not report for verification at all.

Others who could not be paid were those whose personal information details were faulty, including those whose marital status have changed. There are also those who used different names and differing personal information. And lastly there are also those whose banking information simply do not match with their BVN banking records.

In the case of those whose marital status have changed, Akande explained that their information is now being updated through the various States and FCT Focal Persons and then they would be represented for payment. He also disclosed that those who have sought redeployment to other states are among the 50,000 and in such cases, they will be considered alongside those to be replaced from the N-Power waiting list where necessary.

The process for the replacement of those who did not show up and those disqualified would also resume shortly to bring the number back to 200,000 for the first batch of the 500,000 promised by the Buhari administration.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/14/fg-approves-additional-n4500-monthly-electronic-device-grant-n-power-beneficiaries/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent letter to parliament notifying lawmakers that he has resumed his duties, his spokesman said on Monday.

It follows the president’s return on Friday after medical leave in Britain that lasted nearly two months. His spokesman Femi Adesina, in a message posted on Twitter, said Buhari would receive a briefing from the vice president “in a short while”.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/13/buhari-writes-nass-resumed-duty/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

Banks are seeking customers to buy surplus foreign currencies they hold following the flooding of the banks with dollars by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In an effort to support and shore-up the value of Naira, CBN resolved to flood commercial banks dollars.

The banks are reported to be holding excess forex and were seeking customers to buy foreign the currencies.

The banks have cleared the backlog of requests for foreign currencies for basic travel allowance, school fees and medicals.

A banker told NAN that his bank had so much dollars that its marketers were asked to encourage customers to request for the greenback.

The source said that the bank wanted to avoid a situation where it would be forced to return excess Forex to the CBN.

Doing so would force the CBN to reduce the quantity of Forex sold to the bank.

Another source from First Bank said following the CBN intervention, the bank had succeeded in clearing all pending requests for Forex as far back as September, 2016.

Also, a source in Guaranty Trust Bank commended the decision of the CBN to flood the market with Forex, thereby allowing the banks to meet legitimate requests from its customers.

It was also gathered from Heritage Bank that prior to now, the bank published the names of individuals and companies it disbursed forex to in a page of any particular newspaper.

“Right now, we take two or three pages in the newspaper to publish names of legitimate individuals and companies that we disbursed forex to.

“We have more than enough foreign exchange to meet the request of our customers for school fees and others,” NAN was told.

In a data released by the CBN, the apex bank, within three weeks, injected more than 1.4 billion dollars for both wholesale and retail intervention into the interbank Forex market.

Mr Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, is optimistic that the CBN would be able to sustain its intervention on the forex market.

Teriba told the NAN that increase in oil production and high oil prices had increased the foreign reserve base of the country.

“We are back to a situation where the forex at the disposal of the CBN is likely to go up.

“The CBN could not intervene in the forex market in 2016 because of low oil production, prices and because foreign reserves were also low.

“Today, oil price is up, reserves have also gone up, the outlook of the oil prices is stable and production in Nigeria is going back to capacity; so it has the capacity to intervene.

“In a couple of months, the apex bank should be able to meet all of the demands and all the multiple exchange rates will converge.”

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/13/excess-dollars-flood-nigerian-banks-seeks-customers-surplus-forex/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, will today release the list of all the broadcast stations owing it N5 billion licence fees.

Addressing broadcast stakeholders in Abuja, Director-General of the commission, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, decried the situation where many stations have refused to pay their licence fees.

according to him, the statutory act of informing the NBC, six months before the expiration of licence and signifying intention to continue as a licensee, is ignored.

According to Vanguard, the decision was in conformity with the commission’s earlier announcement that it would clamp down on all erring broadcast stations flouting the rules.

The commission had last month gave indication that before the end of this month, it would weld the big stick on operators who have refused to pay up their license fees to date.

“Our licensees carry on, as if they have their licenses for keeps and the NBC cannot withdraw licenses. It is important to remind us all that ALL licenses are provisional, no matter how long you have held them. And for emphasis, I want to let you know that stations owe over N5Billion as license fees.

“I will like to use this medium to inform you, that the NBC would be invoking the relevant laws against erring stations. Consequently, ALL stations without exception, are expected to complete all payments owed to the Commission by the 15th of March, 2017,” he said.

He also lamented that the Commission is equally disturbed by the illegal and rampant use of transmission power by stations all over Nigeria, saying that some stations procure transmitters without respecting the stipulated and recommended transmitter power in city-based FM stations.

“The consequence of this is that we have frequency clashes occurring all over Nigeria. As of yesterday, we have compiled a total of 69 stations around Nigeria, that have installed transmitters beyond the transmitter power stipulated in their licenses, and that is not even exhaustive.

“A top Nigerian politician, who was given a license, installed a 10KW transmitter; began transmission even before NBC gave him the permission, and when NBC Engineers went to inspect his facilities, he sent his thugs to chase away our workers!

“Let me make some points clear here: Henceforth no broadcaster would be allowed to import a transmitter beyond the power allotted in the licenses issued. Secondly, stations must ensure that their broadcasts are limited to assigned areas only; and where these areas require less than 2KW power, they must tune their transmitters below 2KW.

“On a final note, All stations that have installed more than allotted TX power are hereby put on notice, that they have six months to procure and install 2KW transmitters. After the expiration of this grace period, we will ensure the de-commissioning of the transmitters installed beyond the allotted TX power!

“Other related technical issues include the refusal of some stations to install aviation warning lights on their masts. Each one of us here realizes that we endanger our collective safety with this terribly unprofessional attitude,” he explained.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/13/list-stations-owing-will-released-today-nbc/

cup done full

In an apparent response to the Senate’s directive, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, has said that he was not employed to wear uniform.

He told TVC on Friday that rather, he was appointed to work effectively.

The Senate had ordered him to appear before it on March 15th in his official uniform as a customs officer.

He was summoned by the fuming senators over the new order by the Customs Service for all old vehicles to pay their customs duty.

Customs offered a 60 per cent rebate for vehicles from 2015 below.

“No! I was not appointed Comptroller General of Customs to wear uniform.

“Does Uniform work or the person behind the uniform?”

If we suspect that smuggled items are taken into your house, we have the right to cordone that house and go in to search.

“Am I doing my job or not? I think that should be what should worry the National Assembly” he said.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/03/10/not-employed-wear-uniforms-customs-cg-ali-replies-senate/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

About two weeks ago i tired making an online payment using access bank's naira debit card but was not successful. I contacted the bank and i was told there's a limit of $100 per month using the debit card. I was also given the option of opening a domiciliary account and then request for ATM card.

But buying dollar at above 400/$ is a luxury too much to take, so i decided to convert my facebook ads account to naira, at most i will be charged in naira using my naira debit card, so i thought.

But to my surprise i tried using my naira debit card to pay for the facebook ads in naira but the transaction returned this error message: "Please contact your bank so they can approve this payment. Once they do, you can try the payment again".

So i contacted the bank again and the attached is my conversation with the support customer care.

What this means is that access bank's Naira debit card can neither be used for making payment in naira or in dollar, and by implication the bank is saying that to make payments online customers must open a dorm account.

There are a lot wrong with this policy and if this is same with other banks i wonder how people make payments through Nigerian bank accounts.

The registrar of Joint Admissions and matriculation board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede has kicked against the three years extension of validity of UTME results.

While responding to questions on the proposed extension, the registrar said: “I believe it is not desirable to extend the validity period of the UTME results and we are going to engage the policy makers to have a reconsideration of that position. The reason given for it was cost but in the long run, that will not reduce cost. You do not extend the validity of a screening examination; what JAMB conducts is called the screening examination”.

“You do not screen a person for a particular purpose and extend the validity period of the results. It is not a certification examination, it is meant for a purpose. It’s just like somebody writing screening examination for NNPC employment and you say the result should be extended. What certification examination entails is that it is not a one chance exams, you do a continuous assessment over two or three years as the case may be and the exam is not only one sitting, it can be more sittings”.

“Even when you do the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) apart from the fact that 40 per cent is continuous assessment, 60 per cent that is written is not one examination; you have parts one and two but that is not the case of UTME which is structured as screening examination. In a screening examination, there is no pass or fail; it depends on the availability of space”.

“May be my predecessor made this known to them but what I found on record is that my predecessor had made it clear that it is undesirable and I think it is not in the interest of this nation because it will make us a laughing stock in the comity of examination bodies because you don’t extend the type of questions we set. Again, when you say it’s for three years, each of the examination is linked with the syllabus the candidates are going to meet at the higher institutions; so, it will create a lot of problems. The Senate will be persuaded by reasons to drop that type of extension”.

The senate had moved a motion to extend the validity period of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by three years.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/16/jamb-registrar-kicks-against-3-year-utme-result-validity/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

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We are currently recruiting suitably qualified candidates for the position below for a number of branches:

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University degree or Higher National Diploma in any Management or Social Sciences related courses with corresponding background in administrative functions.
Minimum of two (2) years post NYSC experience in Office Administration, Customer Services or related job role.
MUST be below 30 years of age.
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Basic Salary of N100,000 per month plus other fringe and company benefits. Staff Bus provision for designated routes will also be covered.

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The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports which surfaced yesterday of the closure of Ondo State House of Assembly.

In a press release Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh O Moshood: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a report on page 40 of the Nation Newspaper of 7th February, 2017 credited to one Damisi Ojo captioned “IG Orders Closure of Ondo Assembly”

“ The report was misleading, malicious and capable of misinforming members of the public on the statutory roles of the Nigeria Police Force to restore law and order, and guarantee the protection of lives and property throughout the country. The story is absolutely a shadowy imagination of the writer and should be disregarded”.

“ It is pertinent to state that there was no time that the Inspector General of Police ordered the closure of Ondo State House of Assembly as alleged by the writer. It is suffice to state that on the 30th January, 2017, there was a report of pandemonium, confusion and disorder in the Ondo State House of Assembly as a result of fracas between two (2) factions who are honourable members of the Assembly over purported change of leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly. Police personnel from Ondo State Police Command were promptly deployed by the Commissioner of Police Ondo State to restore normalcy and prevent total breakdown of law and order in the Ondo State House of Assembly and the attendant anarchy and chaos that may occur in Akure town and other parts of the State”.

“ For the avoidance of doubt, it is imperative to remind the writer and members of the public who might have read the story that, Part II S.4 of Police Act and Regulations among other things states that: “The Police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property…”

“Therefore, the deployment of Police personnel to restore normalcy and prevent further breakdown of law and order in Ondo State House of Assembly was in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State is in charge of all Operations of the Police in the State and does not need to wait for the order of the Inspector General of Police before taking appropriate action in ensuring law and order and protection of life and property”.

“ The Police personnel deployed at the House of Assembly complex in Ondo State are to maintain law and order and not to close down the Assembly. They are under instructions to be civil, firm and strict in the discharge of their duties”.

“ To this end, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to assure the media of its support and cooperation to ensure crime free society and credible reportage. The print media are implored not to allow the pages of their esteemed newspapers to be used by mischievous persons to publish story that are capable of causing disaffections”.

“ The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, will not be distracted or deterred from carrying out his statutory responsibilities for the benefit of good people of Ondo State and all Nigerians”.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/07/nigeria-police-denies-closure-ondo-assemby/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday sacked 10 commissioners and redeployed two others.

A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, indicated that six commissioners were retained, two of which were redeployed to other ministries.

Those retained at their beats included Yusuf Shehu-Usman, justice; Dr. Daniel Iya, health; Sunny Agassi, lands and Mr Gabriel Aka’aka, environment.

The commissioners redeployed are Aliyu Tijani from local government and chieftaincy affairs to education, while Haruna Osegba moves from commerce and industry to local government and chieftaincy affairs.

Already, the governor has forwarded the names of new nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation to replace those axed.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/07/nasarawa-state-governor-sacks-10-commissioners-redeploys-2-others/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

The Nigerian Custom service (NCS) has announced the self-submission of three officers earlier declared wanted over alleged examination and clearing the ammunition-laden container at the Apapa port, Lagos State.

According to DCG Dan Ugo, Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection; “The Service wishes to inform the public that the three (3) Officers earlier declared wanted in connection with the clearance of the 661 pump action riffles have all reported and are being investigated”.

“NCS remains resolute on its determination to ensure that justice is served to all those found involved”.

An earlier report last week Tuesday noted that the officers, Abdullahi I, with service number 44483 ASC, and Odiba Haruna Inah, with service number 133386, fled after the weapons were uncovered by the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), had said the agency arrested three suspects – Oscar Okafor (importer), Mahmud Hassan (clearing agent) and Sadique Mustapha (escort) – in connection with the arms smuggling.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/06/wanted-officers-nigeria-custom-submits-self-investigation/


Mynd44, Lalasticlala

Amidst speculations and misinformation surrounding the health of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, the planned return to Nigeria today has been extended.

According to statement released sunday by Garba Shehu, “President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors”.

“The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives”.

“Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes”.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/05/breaking-buhari-extends-vacation-till-notice/

The Nigeria Police Force and the Central Bank of Nigeria have disclosed that they would embark on a nationwide arrest of whoever defaces the Naira.

The CBN lamented that there is an increase in the rate of abuse of the currency which contravenes Section 20 and 21 of the CBN act.

Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act stated that whoever sells, buys, sprays and squeeze the naira will be imprisoned for six months or given an option of N50,000 fine or both.

This was disclosed in Abuja by the Commissioner of Police in FCT, CP Muhammad Mustafa during a joint briefing with senior directors from Central Bank of Nigeria.

The police have arrested two staff of CBN and tow other who were caught in the act of defacing the Naira.

Those arrested are Iliyasu Musa, Awua Felix, Mercy Otuma and Abdulwahab Kusa.

The CP said: “The CBN Enforcement Committee on the abuse of the Naira in collaboration with the FCT Police Command carried out raid at Dei-Dei, Jabi and other locations within the FCT which were used for illegal trading and hawking of Nigerian currency, an act contrary to Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act, 2007.

The CP said is part of the effort of the Committee to enforce provisions of sections of the CBN Act, 2007.

“The offence of selling, buying, spraying and squeezing of the Naira attracts six months imprisonment or an option of N50,000 fine or both as the penalty upon conviction.

The police said it recovered the sum of N1,713,200 during the raid.

The CP also said that the suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the Command Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation adding that the case will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.

Also speaking, the Ag. Dircetion on Corporate Communication, Isaac Okorafor said: ”

“This is just the very first one this year, the efforts are going to continue just to let Nigerians know that it is an offence and abuse of our national sovereignty to squeeze, hawk, spray, dance or write on the Naira. It is an offence and we are pleading to Nigerians that they should try to respect the naira because it costs a lot of money to print and it is also an insult on our nation.

The operation would also go to wedding halls and do not be surprised when couples will be arraigned because if you want to give money, give them instead of dancing on our national currency, they do not do that else where.

He also disclosed that the CBN has set up a mechanism to ensure that any staff of the CBN connected with the offence be punished.

“We will also extend it to other banks in the country because this is a battle we must win”.

Earlier, The police also warned intending protesters not to embark on any protest.

According to the police: “Following reports making the rounds on the social media of a planned nationwide protest slated for February 5th, 2017, the Command wants to advise the conveners of such protest to jettison any plan of carrying out the protest on the streets of FCT as it is capable of breaching the peaceful atmosphere.

“The conveners of the protest are also enjoined to adopt legal and legitimate means to register their protest instead of taking over streets of the FCT, which will not be accepted by the Command”.

The Police also noted that it is not in possession of any notification from the group.

http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2017/02/03/police-cbn-threaten-begin-arrest-naira-abusers/