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Politics › Re: Video Documentary: The Untold Story Of Nigeria's WW2 Heroes by naptu2: 8:01pm On Nov 08, 2015

[size=14pt]The Second World War[/size]

During the Second World War, the Regiment served in many parts of the world and played a distinguished part in the defeat of the Italians in East Africa and the Japanese in Burma. The Royal West Africa Frontier Force provided the largest colonial expeditionary force to leave any colony and it was a West African division which was the first ever to be entirely supplied by air. The following paragraphs give, but a brief outline of the most complex and diverse operations in which the Nigeria Regiment took part.

https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/376668_10150454520787790_1427595130_n.jpg
Troops of the Nigeria Regiment, 3rd West African Brigade (Thunder), boarding a Dakota Transport plane (circa 1943).

At the outbreak of the war, the Nigeria Regiment consisted of five regular battalions with supporting arms and services. In the early part of 1940, plans were made for the move of the 1st West African Brigade to East Africa. The Brigade consisting of 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions, Nigeria Regiment, 1st Light Battery, 1st Field Ambulance, 1st Infantry Brigade, Signals, and the 1st Field Company, R.E.; left Nigeria on June 3rd, 1940, together with a Gold Coast brigade. After taking part in the defence of Kenya, these brigades distinguished themselves in the Abyssinian Campaign. The Gold Coast brigade secured the west bank of the Juba after defeating the Italians at Bulo Erillo, whilst the Nigerian Brigade, by the capture of Merca, played an all-important part in the capture of Mogadishu. On February 13th, 1941, in company with the 22nd East African Brigade, the Nigerian Brigade advanced on Brava.

Despite their training in bush warfare based upon the lessons of the First World War and their short training in mobile warfare, they covered 600 miles between Mogadishu and Harar in twenty-six days, pushing the enemy before them and taking a number of guns, machine guns and prisoners. In the opinion of experts, this advance was the most rapid in the history of the East Africa Campaign.

The Brigade returned to Nigeria on September 5th, 1941 when it received an enthusiastic welcome and it provided the leaven of war-trained men for the great Expeditionary Force which was later to take part in the final defeat of the Japanese in Burma.

In 1940 it had not been anticipated that further troops would be required except for reinforcements and no further units were raised in the earlier part of the year. On the collapse of France in May and June, 1940 however, it was immediately decided to expand the Royal West African Frontier Force on a large scale and an extensive recruiting campaign was started. By the end of 1941 the Nigeria Regiment had, apart from other services, raised thirteen battalions.

These wartime battalions were built around a nucleus of 150 men from the old Reserve Battalion. The 7th Battalion came into official existence on June 8th, 1940 and from a cadre of this battalion a few months later and by local recruitment, the 12th battalion was raised.

Meanwhile the Reserve Battalion had moved to Enugu where the 9th Battalion, which was originally composed chiefly of Nigeria Police (including officers) with a few regular soldiers, was raised: after some time, some of the police were recalled and the battalion on its arrival at Sokoto in January 1941, (after a few months in Calabar) absorbed a large proportion of local recruits. At the same time, the battalions which were at first to make up the 6th Battalion, the 4th Brigade Group, were being formed at Kaduna and the 6th Brigade group was being established in Sierra Leone with the 4th and 11th Nigerian Battalions under command together with a Sierra Leonean and a Gambian battalion and mostly Sierra Leonean supporting arms and services.

In the early months of 1914 the 3rd Brigade Group consisting of 7th, 9th, and 12th Battalions, 3rd Light Battery, 3rd Brigade Group Company W.A.A.S.C, was formed with headquarters at Zaria. Later the 9th Battalion transferred to the 4th Brigade Group at Kaduna and the 6th Battalion came from that group to join the 3rd.

The 81st and 82nd West African Divisions were then formed for service in India and Burma. The Nigeria Regiment provided the 1st (West African) Infantry Brigade (1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions) the 3rd (West African) Infantry Brigade (5th, 9th and 10th Battalions) whilst the 4th and 11th Battalions had gone to Sierra Leone as part of the “mixed” 6th (West African) Infantry Brigade. When the Divisions went to India, the 11th Battalion remained in Sierra Leone and the 8th Battalion in Nigeria as holding battalions: the 13th Battalion was eventually disbanded and used to strengthen the 8th. In addition to these units with them supporting arms and services, the Royal West African Frontier Force also raised 43 Pioneer Companies and other group of 20 Garrison Companies which saw service in the Middle East, Palestine, Morocco and Sicily.

On their arrival in India in 1943, the 3rd (West African) Infantry Brigade was detached from the 81st (West African) Division and came under the command of General Wingate who was forming a “Special Force” to carry out the Second Chindit campaign. The remainder of the two divisions took part in the campaign in the Arakan.

A detailed and authentic history of the 1st (West African) Infantry Brigade in the Arakan has been published in “A Short History of the 1st (West African) Infantry Brigade in the Arakan 1944-45”.

It has been seen how the brigades came into being and that the history of the Arakan campaign is available for the students of the roles played by the 1st and 4th Brigades, but this account would be woefully incomplete, as there is nothing published without some special preference to the 3rd and 6th Brigades. The two West African Divisions were made up as follows: The 91st from the 3rd Nigerian Brigade Group, the 5th Gold Coast Brigade and the 6th Brigade with the 4th battalion of the Nigerian Regiment and Brigade groups from Sierra Leone and the Gambia and their supporting services, the 82nd from the 2nd Gold Coast and 1st and 4th Nigerian Brigades and the Nigerian Recce Regiment which became one of the greatest thorns in the Japanese side in Burma.

The original role of the 3rd Brigade was defence against Vichy French to the north and north-west of Nigeria and training was pursued with a view to fighting in open country and orchard bush. A similar role was the part of the 6th Brigade in Sierra Leone.

In August 1914, the 3rd Brigade Reconnaissance Company was formed and by January of the following year it had become a complete unit with a full complement of equipment. Meanwhile the first Auxiliary Group was being formed in Ibadan. They were originally W.A.A.S.C and enlisted as first-line carriers trained to arms and as stretcher-bearers: their services earned much praise later on in Burma and in Nigeria they undertook important duties on works of construction.

Training was interrupted intermittently from the middle of 1941 due to supposed threats of French invasion. The most important of these alarms was at the time of ‘Richelieu’ incident at Dakar and the last at the time of the British and American landings in North Africa in November, 1942. At that time, a brigade with a squadron of Free French Tanks was massed along the northern frontier of Nigeria ready to start a counter-offensive if the Vichy French should attack. All however, went off peacefully.

Following exercises in January 1943, the news of the future employment of the West African Expeditionary Force was divulged and from then onwards till embarkation there was feverish activity. Training in thick jungle fighting was carried out at the Olokemeji Battle School and in swamp fighting around Lagos.

On September 27, 1943 the brigade embarked at Lagos and landed in India on November 5, 1943.

The 3rd Brigade which was detached from the 81st (West African) Division was introduced to a very specialised form of warfare. Shorn of its Field Battery, Recce Squadron, Group Company and Auxiliary Group, the remaining units were reorganised into ‘columns’ two to each battalion. The columns were trained for long range penetration. Equipped with unfamiliar weapons including flame-throwers and carrying their heavier weapons on mules they were required to operate behind enemy lines dependent on air-supply drops and living for long periods on the rations they carried in their packs.

The brigade went into action alongside British and Ghurkha troops in March 1944. The Special Force’s object was to establish itself in the heart of Burma on the Japanese lines of communication supplying the Japanese forces including Assam and those retreating slowly in front of General Stilwell’s Chinese-American Army advancing on Myitkina from the north. Third Brigade’s initial role was to hold ‘fortresses’ on the lines of communication, based on which other columns operated against the Japanese.

The six Nigerian columns, having being flown into Burma from Assam, were concentrated near Mawlu in two fortresses, ‘Aberdeen’ and ‘White City’, 6th Battalion was at the road and rail block at White City, and 7th Battalion was allocated a mobile role in the White City area. White City was almost immediately subjected to a very strong Japanese ground and air attack which was successfully resisted during the whole of April. In May it was decided that Special Force should move northward to join forces with General Stilwell. White City, was evacuated, a column of 12th Nigeria Regiment being the last to leave and the brigade moved northward, fighting a series of actions on the way.

Concentrating in the area near Mogaung at the northern end of the “Railway Corridor”, later to be the main axis of the final victorious southward thrust into Burma, the brigade mounted a series of attacks on a strong Japanese defence position known as “Hill 60”. This position had orders to resist to the last man and succeded in holding out until eventually reduced by the British 36th Brigade heavily supported by artillery and air craft. Third Brigade had almost succeeded in capturing the feature on one occasion and only failed through lack of artillery and air support.

By this time the brigade had suffered heavy casualties. It had fought in the most appalling conditions through the heaviest rain for four months, living on hard rations – sometimes lucky to get five days rations in a week – and seldom having a roof over its head. When hill 60 had been taken, the brigade was therefore withdrawn and after a period of recuperation, started training again in Central India at the end of 1944 for a further campaign. This time, the three battalions were divided up among composite brigades of British and Gurkha troops, with whom the Nigerians established excellent relations.

The third Chindit campaign did not, however, materialise. The successful British advance in Burma had made long-range penetration no longer necessary or practicable, so Special Force was disbanded

Reorganised once more on orthodox lines, the brigade joined the 81st (West Africa) Division in an arear near Madras, where training was commenced for a sea-borne invasion of Malaya.

The 6th Brigade, including the 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment and the 6th Light Battery and a Field Survey Section, were in August 1943, the first West Africa troops to land in India. After training they proceeded to the Burma frontier area in the Arakan and before the end of the war, the 4th Battalion was established over the frontier on the headwaters of the Kaladan River valley which was the scene of its operations for nearly 14 months. The 4th Battalion was supplied entirely from the air , whilst a jeep track , known as “West Africa Way”, was constructed behind it through what seemed impossibly precipitous country. This remarkable feat covered no less than 73 miles. The rest of the Brigade and a Gold Coast brigade (the 5th) together forming the 81st Division, from which the 3rd Brigade had been detached to serve with the Chindit under General Wingate, followed and together were the first large force ever to be supplied entirely by air.

In the early months of 1944 the brigade advanced down the Kaladan valley as a left flank guard to the main 15th Indian Corps’ attack on Akyab. This attack for various reasons failed and though the 4th Battalion reached further south that year than any other large body of troops on the whole front. The division had to withdraw with the rest of the corps; after delaying tactics supported by detachments of the Reconnaissance Regiment, which up to this time had been undertaking aggressive landing operations along the coast towards Akyab, it held positions near the frontier throughout the monsoon and so forestalled the much vaunted Japanese advance on Calcutta.

The 4th Battalion led the return to Burma after the Monsoon by driving the Japanese off the precipitous slopes of Frontier Hill and the brigade advanced again down the Kaladan and parallel valleys. So successful was this outflanking movement, which was joined in January 1945 by the 82nd West African Division and resulted in joint capture by the two West African Divisions of Myohaung, that little resistance was put up in Akyab to the rest of the Corps. After the capture of Myohaung, the 81st Division, including the 6th Brigade, returned to India for rest and further training for an attack on Malaya, but an armistice was signed before this was launched. During the operation in the Kaladan Valley, the troops lived and fought in extreme jungle conditions, the only adjuncts of civilisation in the way of weapons, food, clothing, or shelter, being what they could carry themselves or what could be dropped from the air they faced these conditions for months on end in a way no other troops were ever called upon to do for such long periods. They acquitted themselves well and played a major part in driving the Japanese out of the Arakan.

The end of the war came before the West African Divisions could carry out their plans for the attack on Malaya and so, after a period of rest and vocational training in India, they returned to their home countries in 1946 with a record of which they could be well proud.

The Japanese were usually contemptuous of their foes and the following extract from a captured Japanese war diary is therefore worth recording.

The enemy soldiers are not from Britain but from Africa. Because of their belief, they are not afraid to die, so even if their comrades have fallen they keep on advancing as if nothing had happened. It makes things rather difficult. They have an excellent physique and are very brave, so fighting against these soldiers is somewhat troublesome.

The following are some of the honours won by Nigerian troops of the Royal West African Frontier Force during the Second World War 1939-1946: Distinguished Conduct Medal, 8; Military Medal, 58; British Empire Medal, 20; Mention in Despatches, 243; Certificates of Good Service, 39; Act of Gallantry, 1.

Myohaung Day ( January 24th) is the annual day of remembrance in honour of Nigerian soldiers killed in Burma. November 11th of each year is the annual commemoration day of Nigerian soldiers killed in the two World Wars.

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Politics › Re: Video Documentary: The Untold Story Of Nigeria's WW2 Heroes by naptu2: 7:57pm On Nov 08, 2015

naptu2: [size=16pt]Nigerian armed forces[/size]

The Nigerian Army grew out of the Royal Niger Company Constabulary and the forces of the old Lagos Colony and Niger Coast Protectorate.

When in 1886, the Royal Niger Company received its charter, it organised its constabulary which at first consisted of five British and two African officers and about 400 rank and file, of whom more than half were Fantis (from the Gold Coast). In view of the critical situation that followed French encroachments on the territory of the Niger Company in 1894-1897, the British Government decided to raise a local force and Colonel (later Lord) Lugard was sent out to raise and command it.

By the beginning of 1900, the force had become a thoroughly well-organised and disciplined corps which was called the West African Frontier Force. In that year, the greater part of it under Colonel (later General) Sir William Wilcocks took a very prominent part in the Ashanti campaign.

At the end of 1901, all the colonial military forces in British West Africa were modelled on the same basis and constituted into the West African Frontier Force, each dependency being responsible for the maintenance of its own regiment or battalion. The Northern Nigeria Regiment consisted of two batteries and two battalions, to which was added a third Mounted Infantry Battalion. At the same time, the Lagos Constabulary became the Lagos Battalion and the Niger Coast Protectorate Force, with a portion of the Royal Niger Company Constabulary, became the Southern Niger Regiment.

On the amalgamation of Lagos and Southern Nigeria, the Lagos Battalion became the second battalion of the Southern Nigeria Regiment.

When the Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated on January 1st, 1914 the two Regiments became one, which was designated the Nigeria Regiment.

[size=14pt]First World War[/size]

On the outbreak of war with Germany in August 1914, steps were immediately taken for the defence of Nigeria and for offensive action against the neighbouring German colony of The Cameroons. The Nigeria Regiment and Police were mobilised and volunteers from the European community were enrolled as members of the Nigeria Marine Contingent and the Nigeria Land Contingent.

https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296384_10150454291007790_317926525_n.jpg
Colonial troops of the 1st Battalion, Nigerian Regiment, about to depart Kaduna for action in German Kamerun (1914).

An early advance into German territory along the Benue and Cross Rivers met with failure, our troops in the north being driven back from Garua, a strongly defended position and in the south being similarly overpowered by superior forces at Nsanakang, after inflicting very heavy losses on the Germans.

However, a large expedition under Brigadier-General (later General) Sir Charles Dobell compelled Duala, the chief town of the Cameroons, to surrender unconditionally on September 27th 1914. The expedition consisted of African troops from all the British West African Colonies and French African troops. It included two battalions and a battery of the Nigeria Regiment and a large number of civilians were attached as temporary officers and non-commissioned officers. Ships of The Royal Navy and of the Nigeria Marine co-operated with the troops. After the fall of Duala, General Dobells troops secured both lines of the railway, but the heavy rains prevented a further advance till the end of 1915.

Early in 1915 Colonel (later Brigadier-General) Cunliffe. Commandant of the Nigeria Regiment, who had taken over command of the troops on the Nigerian border, had invaded Garua. He was assisted by French troops from the Chad district by a naval gun, the moral effect of which so affected the native garrison that the German commander was compelled to surrender on June 10th, 1915.

Leaving a small force to watch the German garrison at Mora, an almost impregnable mountain position, General Cunliffe then marched south to Banyo, where a powerful German force had deliberately prepared a very strong position on an extended hill feature similar in many ways to Mora Mountain. Cement had been freely used in the construction of fortifications, there was an ample water supply and the Germans had announced their intention of holding out there till the end of the war.

General Cunliffe advanced on the position under cover of darkness and at daybreak became heavily engaged at close quarters. The attack was pressed for two days and nights, but on the third night, under the cover of a heavy tornado, the larger part of the Germans succeeded in making their escape from the hill. However, a considerable number remained and surrendered at daybreak the next day. General Cunliffe continued on his way south to effect a junction with General Dobell’s troops and a simultaneous advance was made by another column from the Cross River.

Towards the end of 1915, a general advance was made on Yaunde, the new German Headquarters.

General Cunliffe’s troops from the north, General Dobell’s from the west and French and Belgium troops from the south-east converging on the town left the Germans no option but to evacuate it and it was entered by our troops on January 1st. 1916. The German troops retired towards Spanish Guinea and in spite of a close pursuit, succeeded in escaping into neutral territory, where they were disarmed. Mora, the last stronghold of the Germans, capitulated on February 18th, 1916 and the conquest of the Cameroons was completed.

In November 1916, a contingent from the Nigeria Regiment proceeded to East Africa under the command of Brigadier-General Cunliffe. It consisted of nearly 200 British and over 3,000 African and later 330 British and 3,000 more Africans were sent to reinforce the contingent. In addition to this, about 4,000 carriers were recruited in Nigeria for service in East Africa and a number of men were also recruited for service with the inland water transport in Mesopotamia. The Nigerian troops took part in some of the severest fighting in East Africa and they suffered heavy casualties, but their gallantry in action and the uncomplaining way in which they bore the hardships of a particularly arduous campaign won for them the highest praise. Over 80 decorations were awarded to the British and about the same number to the African ranks.

The contingent returned to Nigeria in March 1918 and received an enthusiastic welcome. After the return of the contingent from East Africa, it was reorganised as a brigade for further service abroad and was about to proceed to Palestine when the armistice was signed. The brigade was then demobilised and the regiment reduced to its normal size. In recognition of its services during the Great War, His Late Majesty, King George V of Britain awarded Colours to the Regiment, bearing the following honours: Ashanti 1873-1874, Ashanti 1900, Behobeho, Nyangao, East Africa 1916-1918, Duala, Garua, Banyo and Cameroons 1914-1916.

On March 14th, 1928, His Late Majesty King George V approved that the title of the forces be changed to the Royal West African Frontier Force.

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Politics › Re: Video Documentary: The Untold Story Of Nigeria's WW2 Heroes by naptu2: 4:30pm On Nov 08, 2015

Ogbeche77:
These brave men fought another mans' war in a foreign land and absolutely nothing to gain..No thanks to white imperialism, lots of heroic achievement by the black man has either been under reported or never celebrated. I still have that flash memory while I was 11 years in Lagos Island; of a group of old men in horrible condition begging for money at Lafiaji, each with a shabby looking placard written World War 2 heros.. It never made sense to me. All history book I came across on WW2 never reported the heroic feat of West African Soldiers.. The much overrated Hollywood hasn't also deem it feet to make a movie with this narrative.
Africans have to start telling their own stories. Oga naptu2, kindly educate us on what was left out in this short documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5gSlraEGSo

Bookmarked for when I get home.

European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Stoke City Vs Chelsea (1 - 0) On 7th November 2015 by naptu2: 7:58pm On Nov 07, 2015

aalangel:
Remembrance silence for who?

Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday in the UK. It marks the sacrifices of British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the two world wars and other conflicts.

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Politics › Re: FG Should As A Matter Of Urgency Start Exploring The Coal Deposits In Enugu. by naptu2: 2:25pm On Nov 06, 2015

Clean coal debate.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/coal/nijhuis-text

Sports › Re: Nigeria Vs Mexico: FIFA U-17 Semi Final 4 - 2 Full Time! by naptu2: 12:23pm On Nov 05, 2015

Aarenasbaba:
But today is 5th of Nov and 12:00am don pass

They meant to write 12am on Nov 6th.

1 Like

Sports › Re: Nigeria Vs Mexico: FIFA U-17 Semi Final 4 - 2 Full Time! by naptu2: 12:22pm On Nov 05, 2015

femi4:
Forget DSTV, if you dey lag and have good terrestial antenna. These stations do broadcast all eaglets matches live
NTA10, AIT, TVC, OGTV, DBN

And NTA2 Channel 5

Investment › Re: South African Lawmakers Worried About What Could Happen To Shoprite, Stanbic etc by naptu2: 11:46am On Nov 05, 2015

This is the person who's opinion I was waiting for. He is the perfect person to comment on this matter.

Cyril Ramaphosa was one of the major activists that fought against arpatheid (along with Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo and Walter Sisulu). Many people thought that he would become the Deputy President of South Africa in 1994, but that position went to Thabo Mbeki.

Ramaphosa left politics after that and went into business. He was a major beneficiary of the ANC's programme to ensure that black businessmen had a greater share in South Africa's corporate world. He chaired many companies, including MTN.

He is now back in politics and he is currently the Deputy President of South Africa.

So, let's hear what the former activist, MTN Chairman and current Deputy President of South Africa has to say.

[size=14pt]Ramaphosa: MTN must obey Nigerian laws[/size]

Paul Vecchiatto and Mike Cohen | Bloomberg

06:59 05/11/2015

Cape Town - MTN Group [JSE:MTN], Africa’s biggest mobile- phone company that’s facing a $5.2bn fine in Nigeria, must follow the rules in countries where it does business, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

“We will obviously be taking note of what is happening with a view of seeing how the company involved responds and reacts in this matter,” Ramaphosa told lawmakers in Cape Town on Wednesday. “We would like our companies to comply with the laws and regulations of countries where they operate, without violating those.”

The comments by Ramaphosa, a former chairperson of MTN, suggest South African authorities may leave MTN to fend for itself as it seeks to have the penalty reduced. MTN shares have slumped 14% since October 26, when Nigeria’s industry regulator imposed the fine for failing to disconnect customers with unregistered phone cards.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has given MTN until November 16 to pay the fine, which relates to the timing of the disconnection of 5.1 million subscribers and is based on a charge of 200 000 naira ($1 005) for each unregistered customer. Nigeria is Johannesburg-based MTN’s biggest market with 62 million clients as of September.

“It does seem like in the case of Nigeria, there were issues, and those issues need to be addressed,” Ramaphosa said.

“If this fine is indeed imposed as it is, it is going to impact on South Africa as well, as our revenue fortunes from a taxation point of view are going to be lower.”

South African authorities may be reluctant to confront their Nigerian counterparts following a series of diplomatic spats that have soured relations between Africa’s two biggest economies. The most recent occurred in April, when Nigeria’s government ordered its two most senior diplomats in South Africa to return home for consultations following a wave of attacks against immigrants, including Nigerians, in Johannesburg and Durban.

“South Africa does not have a track record of defending its national company champions internationally,” Nic Borain, a political analyst who advises BNP Paribas Cadiz Securities, said by phone. “On the face of it, this fine seems seriously over the top. Ramaphosa’s words about the issue seem weak as they veer too much on the side of caution.”

MTN summoned

South Africa’s telecommunication and finance ministries didn’t immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

Lawmakers plan to summon MTN officials to explain why the company was fined, Nkhensani Kubayi, chairperson of Parliament’s telecommunications committee, said by phone from Cape Town. The panel also intends questioning the South African industry regulator to determine whether MTN is compliant with local rules, with hearings likely to take place next year, she said.

“I believe the South African government should be doing more than having a watching brief on what MTN does,” Athol Trollip, a lawmaker for the main opposition Democratic Alliance, said by phone. “They should give leadership on this.”

http://m.news24.com/fin24/Tech/News/Ramaphosa-MTN-must-obey-Nigerian-laws-20151105

Investment › Re: South African Lawmakers Worried About What Could Happen To Shoprite, Stanbic etc by naptu2: 7:55am On Nov 05, 2015

[size=14pt]Why NCC Acted[/size]

27 Oct 2015

May 1, 2010: Telecom operators in Nigeria were mandated to start collecting biometric and non-biometric personal information for each new subscriber in an effort to improve information gathering towards enhancing national security. This was initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in collaboration with other security agencies and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

November 7, 2011: The SIM Registration Regulations came into force. Section 19 of the SIM Registration Regulations sets out a fine of N200,000 for every SIM card which is found to be fully active without proper registration details while Section 20 of the Regulations also stipulates a fine of N200,000 for failure to deactivate any SIM Card without proper registration details.

November 2013: Operators were directed to fully bar any newly registered SIM card, which failed to perform a voice or data communication within 48 hours after its registration.

September 2014: The NCC, to whom operators upload registrations every month, shared details back to the operators of registration records that the NCC judged as invalid on the NCC system. Operators were directed to clean up their registration records through deactivation or reconcile the records within a 30-day period.

July 8, 2015: The NCC directed operators to deactivate all pre-registered SIM cards (SIMs registered but without a record of activity) within a period of 21 days - from July 8, 2015 to July 29, 2015.

August 4, 2015: Operators, representatives of the NSA, Director State Security (DSS) and the NCC held a meeting to discuss issues around SIM registration in Nigeria. The issue of invalid registrations was highlighted as a major threat to national security and a directive was issued to all telecommunications operators to deactivate all SIM cards with improper/invalid registration details by August 11, 2015.

August 17, 2015: The NCC and security agencies conducted a compliance audit on all operators between August 17, 2015 and August 19, 2015 following the expiry of the deadline of August 11, 2015, for deactivation of improperly registered SIM cards. The NCC disclosed, at a press conference on the same day that despite sharing a list of invalid registration details with operators, MTN had made little or no effort towards compliance with the deactivation directive whilst other operators had largely complied.

September 4, 2015: A high level meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria was called at the presidential villa. This meeting is unprecedented in the Nigerian business industry as the telecom CEOs were brought to meet the heads of the main security agencies and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, in order for the compliance with the deactivation directive to be emphasised.

Operators were advised that continued non-compliance would lead to the imposition of penalties of N200,000 per improperly registered SIM card, and that all businesses must respect the law or risk licences being revoked. The Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria implored operators to take the matter seriously noting that (i) security and safety of the people is No. 1 on the president's agenda; (ii) 70% of kidnappings, violent crimes and insurgence are facilitated using unregistered SIM cards making it impossible to trace the perpetrators; (iii) government supports the private sector but companies must operate within the law; (iv) in other countries heavy fines are levied on the private sector for non-compliance (e.g. JP Morgan’s $20bn fine).

It was also agreed that (i) operators were to immediately reconcile the records of their deactivations against the list of invalid registrations earlier shared with operators by the NCC by September 7, 2015; and (ii) a penalty of N200,000 per unregistered/poorly registered SIM card would be imposed as stipulated in the SIM Registration Regulations 2011.

Despite the above detailed entreaties and warnings over a 12-month period (from September 2014), on the importance of ensuring that only SIM cards with valid SIM registration details are active on telecommunications networks, MTN failed to comply with the directive to deactivate improperly registered subscribers.

September 2015: Following repeated warnings and compliance enforcement visits as detailed above, MTN only made a partial attempt to bar unregistered subscribers in selected areas over a few days in September 2015. Other operators had fully complied and reconciled their deactivations with the invalid registrations shared by the NCC up to four weeks earlier.

October 22, 2015: Having reviewed the registration records of all the telecom operators and having taken into consideration their compliance records, the NCC imposed a fine on MTN alone for non-compliance with SIM registration. This unprecedented fine is indicative of the magnitude of the transgression and the seriousness with which the NCC and the authorities are approaching this issue. It is also more likely to ensure that the willful non-compliance by MTN ceases.
Non-compliance

MTN’s non-compliance with the directive is unfortunately not an isolated incident. It needs to be seen in the context of a general pattern of non-compliance with regulatory directives that actually predates the current SIM registration infractions.

•Source: Nigerian Communications Commission

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/why-ncc-acted/223896/

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Politics › Re: "My Husband Dele Giwa Wasn't A Womaniser" - Senator Florence Ita-giwa by naptu2: 7:19pm On Nov 03, 2015

JustCurious:
Wow! Never ever knew she was the wife of the late Dele Giwa. R.I.P D.G

They got divorced in the early 1980s, but they were still friends. They actually kissed themselves in court after the divorce was granted.

1 Like

Politics › Re: Goodluck Jonathan Meets With Buhari (Photos) by naptu2: 5:20pm On Nov 02, 2015

plainol:
The pictures don't add up. They are not taken the same day. These are lies.

File photographs/stock photographs are used to illustrate a news story. The photographs might not be of the actual event in the news story, but might instead be a photograph of the people involved in the story or of a similar incident.

For example, Victor Osimhen scored in the Golden Eaglet's match against Brazil. A newspaper might use a picture of Victor Osimhen that was taken in a previous match to illustrate the story of the game against Brazil. It doesn't mean that the story is false.

However, some news organisations mark such pictures with the word "file" or "stock" to show that the pictures are not of the actual event in the news story.

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Politics › Re: A Passage To India By Femi Adesina by naptu2: 3:51am On Nov 02, 2015*

duwdu:
Thanks for trying to help, but that doesn't make an image appear. Instead, it gives just a blob. Or, did you try it in this case/secure server and it worked for you? In any case, I don't think you can get to a resource on a secure server if you change its URL to non-secure, unless you're using a hacked medium. But if your suggestion works for some, by all means they're welcome to please use it.

P34c3
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Here's an example (using the URL you provided).

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Buhari-India_dress.jpg?itok=_qT4Bs2x

[img]http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Femi_Adesina-India.jpg?itok=-EPH8zsq[/img]

Politics › Re: How Buhari Was Conveyed From Indian Airport (Photos) by naptu2: 10:59am On Nov 01, 2015*

naptu2:
Sigh! Why do we always do this when a Nigerian President travels abroad? Two years ago people falsely claimed that President Jonathan did not get a "proper reception" in China. I had to create a thread to counter that false assertion. Similar false claims were made earlier this year when President Buhari went to the US and now this.

Golf carts are often used to transport world leaders at international summits. They've always been a regular part of visits to Camp David by foreign leaders. There's nothing strange about the fact that President Buhari was transported in a golf cart. The Indian Prime Minister also rode in a golf cart during the summit.

Some are trying to convey the impression that the golf cart was the only vehicle that he was transported in while he was in India. That's obviously false. The Indians used over a hundred brand new luxury vehicles for this summit. 55 of the vehicles were Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles that were provided by Toyota India. Several of the vehicles were Mercedes Benz S Class vehicles and President Buhari was driven in an S Class Mercedes Benz while he was in New Delhi.

Also note that President Buhari was in India for an international summit. It was not a state visit.

President Buhari in India (picture by Bayo Omoboriowo/State House)
https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Buhari-India_dress.jpg?itok=_qT4Bs2x

US President George Bush drives British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a golf cart at Camp David (2007).

https://secretaryofinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gw-bush-gordon-brow-in-golf-cart.jpg

President and Mrs Reagan ride in a golf cart.
[img]http://4.bp..com/-PPHnyl8Mnrc/Tm6BZwssKQI/AAAAAAAAAbM/dRdQzypOt4E/s640/reagan-golf-cart.jpg[/img]

Angela Merkel rides in a golf cart at Camp David (left). Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Portugal is about to get on board a golf cart at the G8 summit at Camp David (right).

[img]http://4.bp..com/-cSX4299JgQA/T9qDOTswrCI/AAAAAAAABYI/TYkfg6OnEgI/s640/g8-golf-carts-camp-david.jpg[/img]

US President George HW Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ride in a golf cart
https://img.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/05/06/Obituaries/Advance/Images/Gorbachev-edit-017.JPG?uuid=r78KJngQEeCx7xrm7jHbTg

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) gestures as he travels in a battery operated vehicle while visiting an exhibition at the IG stadium complex during the opening session of The India-Africa Summit in New Delhi on October 29, 2015. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and Africa must join forces to call for reform of the United Nations to reflect the growing power of emerging nations on the global stage. AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH

https://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/494798004-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-gestures-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXn%2Ffwv2KSUXMgJjkekoCwRN34wBFUzd2eMlMegQU0bYk7rHQpmu8BDnSmiAAHSAnUg%3D%3D

https://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/494798014-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-is-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXpLDtREwPlw6iKbPbWs%2FLDKAq8xT4NCJo%2BrzgZU1FtxlA2rNvdRYkiQiiFrUZWSuDQ%3D%3D

https://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/494797960-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-travels-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXmgCumLecse1cu%2FsYy7C%2FuNor%2B7ipV7%2FP9Ssr8p1tdbRv27CoMAHteUM52Ol5%2FNg%2BA%3D%3D

Politics › Re: Photos/video How The Indians Welcomed GMB & How They Welcomed Kenya's President by naptu2: 10:29am On Nov 01, 2015*

Sigh! Why do we always do this when a Nigerian President travels abroad? Two years ago people falsely claimed that President Jonathan did not get a "proper reception" in China. I had to create a thread to counter that false assertion. Similar false claims were made earlier this year when President Buhari went to the US and now this.

Golf carts are often used to transport world leaders are international summits. They've always been a regular part of visits to Camp David by foreign leaders. There's nothing strange about the fact that President Buhari was transported in a golf cart. The Indian Prime Minister also rode in a golf cart during the summit.

Some are trying to convey the impression that the golf cart was the only vehicle that he was transported in while he was in India. That's obviously false. The Indians used over a hundred brand new luxury vehicles for this summit. 55 of the vehicles were Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles that were provided by Toyota India. Several of the vehicles were Mercedes Benz S Class vehicles and President Buhari was driven in an S Class Mercedes Benz while he was in New Delhi.

Also note that President Buhari was in India for an international summit. It was not a state visit.

President Buhari in India (picture by Bayo Omoboriowo/State House)
https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Buhari-India_dress.jpg?itok=_qT4Bs2x

US President George Bush drives British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a golf cart at Camp David (2007).

https://secretaryofinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gw-bush-gordon-brow-in-golf-cart.jpg

President and Mrs Reagan ride in a golf cart.
[img]http://4.bp..com/-PPHnyl8Mnrc/Tm6BZwssKQI/AAAAAAAAAbM/dRdQzypOt4E/s640/reagan-golf-cart.jpg[/img]

Angela Merkel rides in a golf cart at Camp David (left). Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Portugal is about to get on board a golf cart at the G8 summit at Camp David (right).

[img]http://4.bp..com/-cSX4299JgQA/T9qDOTswrCI/AAAAAAAABYI/TYkfg6OnEgI/s640/g8-golf-carts-camp-david.jpg[/img]

US President George HW Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ride in a golf cart
https://img.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/05/06/Obituaries/Advance/Images/Gorbachev-edit-017.JPG?uuid=r78KJngQEeCx7xrm7jHbTg

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) gestures as he travels in a battery operated vehicle while visiting an exhibition at the IG stadium complex during the opening session of The India-Africa Summit in New Delhi on October 29, 2015. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and Africa must join forces to call for reform of the United Nations to reflect the growing power of emerging nations on the global stage. AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH

https://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/494798004-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-gestures-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXn%2Ffwv2KSUXMgJjkekoCwRN34wBFUzd2eMlMegQU0bYk7rHQpmu8BDnSmiAAHSAnUg%3D%3D

https://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/494798014-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-is-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXpLDtREwPlw6iKbPbWs%2FLDKAq8xT4NCJo%2BrzgZU1FtxlA2rNvdRYkiQiiFrUZWSuDQ%3D%3D

https://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/494797960-indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-travels-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X7WJLa88Cweo9HktRLaNXmgCumLecse1cu%2FsYy7C%2FuNor%2B7ipV7%2FP9Ssr8p1tdbRv27CoMAHteUM52Ol5%2FNg%2BA%3D%3D

1 Like

Politics › Re: A Passage To India By Femi Adesina by naptu2: 9:52am On Nov 01, 2015

duwdu:
OP @Ofunaofu;

When you post an article in a way that it is NOT properly formatted/does not make for joyful reading, you make the article lose its probable allure. I'm afraid that's what your post has done to this otherwise beautifully crafted, worded, and joy-to-read article - at least the way I took it when I read it directly on SaharaReporters' website. Luckily for me, I did that before encountering this your original post.

And, I think you should please also properly format the link you tried to insert at the end of your post, for it (the link) to be reachable. The way it is, it is not clickable or useful.

Having said all the above, I must commend your spirit of trying to create an awareness on Nairaland for such a beautiful message. Thumbs up!

Dear readers on here, please find below, the subject article the way it appears originally, for your reading pleasure...

P34c3
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The images are not visible. Change "https" in the web addresses to http (i.e, remove the "s" ) to make the images visible.

1 Like

Sports › Re: Larry Ekundayo Defeats Joseph Lamptey In Boxing Battle(photos) by naptu2: 5:37pm On Oct 31, 2015

Video - Joseph Lamptey seizes the Nigerian flag from Larry Ekundayo during the weigh in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0YAjgdWo2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni8mCGCoC18

Sports › Re: Larry Ekundayo Defeats Joseph Lamptey In Boxing Battle(photos) by naptu2: 5:30pm On Oct 31, 2015

This OP sef! Why didn't you make the story interesting by stating what happened before the fight?

The Nigerian came to the weigh in with a Nigerian flag. The Ghanaian grabbed it from him and was about to throw it on the floor. The Nigerian shouted, "where's my flag?" and rushed at the Ghanaian. He took back the flag before people rushed in to separate them.

6 Likes

Politics › Re: Ojukwu On Awo, Zik, Obasanjo, Ahmadu Bello, Fela, Gani & Bianca by naptu2: 8:18am On Oct 31, 2015

Realtol:
How can I get this book?

You can try

1) Bookshops (I got my copy from CSS Bookshops in the 1990s).

2) Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Because-am-Involved-Emeka-Odumegwu-Ojukwu/dp/978246046X

3) You can try to contact Spectrum Books - Spectrum House Ring Road
Ibadan P.M.B. 5612 Nigeria

Phone: 234-[0]2-2310145

Fax: 234-[0]2-2312705

4) You can check out the second hand book sellers at CMS/Marina.

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