NCC wades into problems of unsolicited text messages

     

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has waded into the problems of unsolicited text messages that customers of service providers receive on their phones.

Vulnerable subscribers have been inundated with messages which service providers send often unsolicited, and the providers charge subscribers by making deductions from them as the providers steal from them to be rich.

NCC directed all service providers to, from July 1, 2016, activate the “DO NOT DISTURB” facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose what messages to receive from the various networks.

With this direction the operators have been mandated to dedicate a common short code (2442) which will enable subscribers take informed decisions.

In a statement by Tony Ojobo, director of public affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the action was taken in order to protect subscribers from the nuisance of unsolicited texts, and therefore a direct regulatory response to the yearnings of the subscribers.

By this action, he explained, the commission has invoked a regulatory provision which had hitherto been overlooked by the operators.

“Taking cognizance of the broad range of services which include: banking/insurance/ financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods and automobiles, communication/ broadcasting/ entertainment/ it, tourism and leisure, sports, religion (Christianity, Islam, others), the commission directed the operators to give the necessary instructions and clarifications that will enable subscribers subscribe to a particular service/services /none at all,” Ojobo said.

“In fact, a Full DND which is SMS “STOP” to 2442 does not allow the subscriber to receive any unsolicited message from the operators at all.”

Below are the various options:

§  “SMS 1” for receiving SMS relating to Banking? Insurance/ Financial products to 2442

§  “SMS 2” for receiving |SMS relating to real Estate to 2442

§  “SMS 3” for receiving SMS relating to Education to 2442

§  “SMS 4” for receiving SMS relating to Health to 2442

§  “SMS 5” for receiving SMS relating to Consumer goods and Automobiles to 2442”

§  “SMS 6” for receiving SMS relating to Communication/ Broadcasting Entertainment/IT to 2442

§  “SMS 7” for receiving SMS relating to Tourism and leisure to 2442

§  “SMS 8” for receiving SMS relating to Sports to 2442

§  “SMS 9” for receiving SMS relating to Religion to 2442

Ojobo added that the decision of the commission does not affect personal messages or person to person messages which are private communication by individuals.

He urged the operators to comply immediately with the direction issued by the commission and never again harass subscribers with unwanted messages.

Source: thecableng

DTSG APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF NEW OBI OF UBULU-UKU

The Delta State Government has approved the selection and appointment of Chukwuka Akaeze1, as the new Monarch of Ubulu-Uku, in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State.

Chukwuka Akaeze, new Obi of ubulu-uku

This disclosure was made by the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Patrick Ukah, who confirmed in a post exco briefing of Journalists in Government House, Asaba, that the Delta State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, had approved the appointment of Chukwuka Akaeze 1, as the new Obi of Ubulu Uku.

Ukah, who stressed once again that the state government had been completely neutral and un-involved in the selection process, said that the approval for the appointment had been done in consideration of verified assurances from the community that all the traditional processes required for the selection of a new Obi in the kingdom, had been duly complied with and since there was no petition to the contrary before the state government, challenging the selection process and formalities, the decision to grant the approval had been given accordingly.

The Delta Information Commissioner, noted that the government had not been intimated with any date for the coronation ceremony for the new Obi of Ubulu Uku and while emphasizing that it was not the responsibility of the state government to fix the date, added however that the general public would be informed accordingly once the community selects a date for the coronation.

Governor Okowa with Obi Chukwuka Akaeze 1, 

Delta watchers will recall that Ubulu-Uku community in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State had installed a new King in the kingdom, in February this year, 45 days after the community’s former monarch was abducted and subsequently murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The new Monarch, a 17year old secondary school student and the son of the late King, Obi Ofulue lll was installed with the traditional title of Obi [Agbogidi] Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I.

The installation of Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, followed the recent demise of his father, Obi Edward Ofulue III at the hands of persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who abducted him on January 5, 2016, along Igbodo- Obior road.

On the installation of the new Obi, the Palace Secretary, Joseph Obaze, said it was in line with the custom and tradition of the people of Ubulu-Uku that a king is said to be dead only when a new one is installed and his first son crowned as king.

The newly installed Monarch and his family had then been escorted to Government House Asaba, by the people of Ubulu-uku community, shortly after the installation, and formally introduced to Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in a very brief courtesy visit, after which he immediately left the state and country to continue with his education.   

SOURCE: Flashpoint News   

Tremors: Residents flee Oyo communities

Residents of some communities in Saki West Council Area of Oyo State on Wednesday abandoned their homes in panic following reported earth tremors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected communities included Medina, Balako, Salam Salam, Dauru-Salam as well as parts of Oke-suna.

Some of the residents, who relocated, told NAN that with the threat, the likelihood of earthquake was not impossible as the noise being heard from beneath the earth surface was frightening.

According to Fatima Ishola, a housewife, the persistent noise from below the earth surface had been on the increase in the last couple of months.

“But it got to an alarming level this week and particularly today (Wednesday) when the underground noise and movement became too enormous and unbearable,“ she said.

Another resident, Mr Ismail Muideen, appealed for urgent government intervention, noting that many residents had fled their homes.

Various government agencies had visited the affected areas several times in the last two months.

The Deputy Speaker of Oyo State and indigene of the area, Mr Musah Abdulwasi, confirmed the development to NAN.

`` I have been to the affected areas with very senior members of the Geology Department from University of Ibadan.

“They hinted that there is likelihood of heavy movement of rocks in the water channel beneath the ground in those affected areas.

“They also advised that evacuation of residents of affected areas is the only solution to tremor and possible earthquake after establishing degree of tremor.

“Honestly, they told us that no one could ascertain for now the degree of the tremor and whether it will lead to earthquake or not,“ he said.

Also speaking, the Caretaker Chairman of Saki West, Mr Kareem Adekoge, told NAN that the some agencies which visited the affected areas had already allayed fears.

“Apart from the state Ministry of Environment, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had also visited the area.

“They promised to plant a device that would be used to monitor the tremor level; they also said that the situation might not be as bad as thought,” he said.

Adekoge, however, confirmed that a middle-aged man lost his life as a fallout of the incident.

He said: “I think the man was hypertensive and could not bear the threat of the noise and movement, so we lost him to the incident.

“I also heard some people are relocating but it is only tenants that can do that; will a landlord relocate leaving his property behind? ‘’ (NAN)

Bill Gates, Zuckerberg lose $3.4 billion to Brexit

Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook have lost 3.4 billion dollars to the decision of the UK voters to leave the European Union.

Bill Gates

According to Bloomberg Billionaires ranking, both men were the worst-hit billionaires in the U.S., losing 1.8 billion dollars and 1.6 billion dollars respectively.

In context, the amount lost by Gates is more than the entire wealth of Nigeria’s richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija, who – according to Forbes – is worth 1.73 billion dollars.

Global markets erased another 69.2 billion dollars from the combined net worth of the world’s 400 richest people on the first trading day of the week after the Brexit vote, bringing total loss to 196.2 billion dollars in 48 hours.

The pain on Monday was felt most by Europe’s wealthiest, as 92 billionaires lost 29.4 billion dollars, bringing their two-day decline to 81.7 billion dollars.

These 150 billionaires from the U.S. and Canada lost 26.7 billion dollars on Monday, and recorded a two-day total of 62.5 billion dollars.

China’s 26 billionaires lost one billion dollars on Monday, bringing their two-day total loss to $5 billion, with a 7.4 per cent (18.7 billion dollars) decline in 2016.

Georg Schaeffler, Germany’s third-richest person, fared the worst on the index with 1.9 billion dollars trimmed from his net worth.

Amancio Ortega, a Spanish retailer, who is Europe’s richest person, lost 1.5 billion dollars.
While others lost, there were 69 billionaires on the index who added to their fortunes after the Brexit vote.

Takemitsu Takizaki, founder of Osaka-based Keyence, a maker of electronic sensors, led the gainers with an increase of 579.3 million dollars.
Tadashi Yanai, Japanese retailer and chairman of Tokyo-based Fast Retailing Co., was behind him with a 552 million-dollar rise.

Nineteen billionaires on the index added more than 100 million dollars on Monday. (NAN)

U.S. President to campaign with Hillary Clinton

U.S. President Barack Obama has said he will campaign with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for the first time at a rally in North Carolina, her campaign said on Wednesday.

The campaign said in a statement that the duo will discuss building on the progress made and their vision for an America during the rally in Charlotte coming up in July 5.

Obama endorsed Clinton this month after she won enough delegates to secure the party's presidential nomination, but had yet to actively campaign for her.

Meanwhile, an earlier planned appearance was canceled in the wake of the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida that claimed 49 victims.

Clinton is expected to face Republican Donald Trump in U.S. presidential elections in November, and Obama has stressed the importance of keeping a Democrat in the White House to continue his policies.

Clinton has had a strong lead in most recent opinion surveys.

However, a poll by Quinnipiac University on Thursday found Clinton in a dead heat with 42 per cent support for Clinton to 40 per cent to Trump.
Voters told the survey they believed neither candidate would be a good president. (dpa/NAN)

Delta Lawmakers approve life imprisonment for kidnappers

 The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 28/6/2016 in Asaba approved life imprisonment for any person convicted of kidnapping in the state.

This followed the amendment of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping Law 2016.

Monday Igbuya, Delta Assembly Speaker.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a letter to the House appealed for reconsideration of Section 4, Sub-Section 1 of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping Law, 2016 as passed by the House, which made provision for death penalty.

“The Right Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of the House are aware that death penalty is globally no longer fashionable as it breaches human right to life and torture, both of which are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Besides, there is heightened campaign and overwhelming support for the abolition of death penalty globally.

“Since the world is a global village, Delta State cannot be an exception, hence the passionate call to the House to reconsider the Section under reference and change the death sentence prescribed therein to life imprisonment.

The law approved life imprisonment for any person who contravenes section (3) of the Law.

 “Any person who contravenes section (3) of this law commits an offence and shall on conviction be sentenced to life imprisonment without fine”

According to the law, “No person shall kidnap or detain another person or prevent another person from applying to a court for his release or from disclosing to any other person the place where he is being or prevent any person entitled to have access to another from discovering the place where he is held hostage with or without demand for ransom:

 “Any person who initiates a compromise, settlement or refuses to give testimony in court in respect of offences charged under this law shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to be sentenced to life imprisonment

“The owner of a property who knowingly lets or allows his property/ premises to another for the purpose of harbouring any person is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to life imprisonment and forfeiture of the said property to the State”

Delta comes of age at 25, unveils anniversary logo

·       SSG heads planning committee

·       BrandEye is anniversary consultant

The Delta at 25 anniversarylogo after unveiling on Wednesday in Asaba. Right is Mr
. Patrick Ukah who represented Governor Okowa at the event.

Delta State comes of age and the state government is planning big as it marks the silver jubilee of its existence as a state created on August 27, 1991 by the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Accordingly, the state government has begun to put in place structures to make the celebration eventful, beginning first with the unveiling of the Delta at 25 Anniversary logo at a press briefing Wednesday, (29/6/2016) at the Government House, Press Centre, Asaba.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a speech read on his behalf by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah said his administration resolved to celebrate Delta at 25 to take stock of the journey so far, achievements recorded and plot further and better approaches at peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups, new development paradigm and refocusing the fundamentals of government to achieve greater and result-oriented improvements in the lives of the people. “It is with exceeding faith and commitment that I inform you of the resolve of this administration to deepen the development fundamentals of the state to make it primus inter pares among the committee of states in the nation, he said, pointing out that the idea of the celebration is of Delta Silver Jubilee was motivated by the need to review the state of development of the state from inception, examine achievements made and explore the way forward for greater development.

Information Commissioner, Mr. Ukah, 2nd left, addressing the media at the post-EXCO /
Delta at 25 anniversary media briefing. With him are right, State NUJ Chairma,
Mr. Nobert Chiazor, Mr. Mork, Permanent secretary, SSG
 office, Mr Jude agonye, Permanent, Ministry of information.  

Ahead of the celebration, the governor has in December 2015 constituted an eight-man anniversary’s planning committee headed by the Secretary of the state government, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas.

Other members of the committee includes Mr Patrick Ukah, [Information Commissioner]; Mrs Mary Iyasere [Commerce and Industry Commissioner]; Prof. Eric Eboh [Chief Job Creation Officer]; Prof. Sylvester Monye [Senior Policy Adviser]; Chief George Orogun [Economic Adviser]; Mr Sunday Ozege [Special Adviser, Investment] and Mrs Shimite Bello, [Executive Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Development Agency]. Sub-committees have also been constituted.

To implement the programmes of activities for the jubilee celebration, BrandEye, said to be a marketing communications consortium has been engaged as the anniversary’s lead consultant to assist the planning committee drive the project. “The celebration, Okowa said, “will be purely private sector driven with minimal government financial commitment.”

Highlight of the briefing was the unveiling of the Delta at 25 anniversary logo that was created by BrandEye by Mr. Ukah on behalf of Governor Okowa who lauded the achievements of the founding fathers, leaders and past governors of the state, emphasizing that they provided the building blocks for lasting developmental legacies in the state.

Okowa said: “We recall with nostalgia the giant strides of the first Military Administrator of the State upon creation in August 1991, Group Captain Luke Ochulor who set the administrative ball for the development of the state rolling. Thereafter, there were successive governments that took proactive steps to build upon the building blocks of development put in place by Group Captain Ochulor.

“We therefore pause to pay glowing tributes to the courage, ebullience, sagacity and doggedness of past leaders of this great state in the persons of Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, the first civilian governor of Delta State, Compol Alhaji Abdulkadir Shehu, acting Military administrator, Group captain Ibrahim Kefas, military administrator, Colonel John David Dungs (of blessed memory), military administrator, Navy captain Walter Feghabor, military administrator, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the second civilian governor , Honourable Bassey Asuquo, and Dr, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Honourable Sam Obi and Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON).

“These great men left lasting developmental legacies for Delta state. We recognize, salute and them for their invaluable contributions to the development of Delta state and the nation at large,” Okowa said.