No fewer than 6,000 protesters took to the streets in Los Angeles yesterday, Saturday against the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in the November 8 polls. The protest marked the fifth day of demonstrations in cities nationwide against Trump’s Presidency. Trump, a Republican nominee beat what book makers have described as conventional political wisdom by defeating Democrat nominee, Hillary Clinton in the election.
One of the demonstrators called on Americans to sign a petition on Moveon.org to abolish the Electoral College, saying: “Trump didn’t win the popular vote. I don’t understand why we aren’t pushing that harder.”
Passing a megaphone among them, some demonstrators talked about the importance of finding a direction forward while others said that they wanted a female President, and still others admitted to feeling as if they had let Hillary Clinton down. One woman, who said she was transgender, warned listeners against getting violent, saying: “if we get violent, we get stopped.” Trump’s attacks on people who are in America illegally and his comments about women, among other things, brought many of the protesters to the streets. Hours after Saturday morning’s anti-Donald Trump protest, some of those who took part in it gathered on the steps of City Hall to share their thoughts on the election. Source: Los Angeles Times. [myad]
“I know that all of you here are great patriots in your own way; you could have disappeared and possibly worked in Dow Jones, or somewhere else, or may be Germany or somewhere and you are ever here and you have not checked out. It is a very good thing.” These are the words of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo shortly before he rang the closing bell at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos. Osinbajo, who commended the top Nigerian business men and women for the good work they have been doing everyday, made t clear that the private sector and government need to work hand in hand at this time to weather through what he called ‘the great challenges.’
“And always, everywhere in the world, the stock exchange very quickly recognizes where there is an economic challenge because you see it, all the indicators show very clearly that there are complications and there are problems. “So, I want us to see ourselves as partners working together to ensure that we are able to take our nation up from where we are at the moment to a great and permanent prosperity.” The Vice President, who also spoke to news men said that the government would continue to create an enabling environment for industry and for businesses to thrive.
“We are trying to work on infrastructure and we are also trying to work on tax incentive and all manner of incentives’ regime that will enable businesses to do better. You know what the immediate challenges are; foreign exchange, power in some cases and all of that. But all of these are issues that we are working on day by day and my interaction today with the council has also helped a great deal in trying to understand some of the more immediate issues that we are trying to confront and I am trying to see how how we can deal with them. “Essentially, we recognize that this is a partnership: Private sector and government. Government deals mainly as a regulator and partner in such a way and ensuring that the private sector does business and does it well and efficiently, because the private sector owns the economy. So for us, this is an important engagement and this where we are, that is why I’m here.” Osinbajo stressed that the most important thing for the country is that there is engagement already on listing, adding that several major companies have already indicated that they want to be listed on the stock exchange.
He said that for the privatized companies, the government is fully ready to encourage listing in the stock exchange.
“It is the stock exchange that is the important driver of economic activity and an important driver of investment, so, for the federal government that is absolute necessity. I don’t think there is any need to wonder whether the federal government would be interested or would want to enable listing but we certainly want to encourage it. That is the reason why I’m here, to promote interest in the market, federal government sent me and I’m doing so.” The President said that incentives will come from the exchange and that the government will encourage an incentive regime.
“We want to encourage business generally. Where there are opportunities, for example, when we think it should be entirely on the advice of the NSE council, when the council for example, or the market makers believe that there are things that can be done to make life easier in some way or there can be things to be done we are happy to listen to those things. “As you know, the President just inaugurated an Ease of Doing Business Council. The whole idea is to look at the entire incentive regime, to look at the infrastructure, look at all of the different areas where we can encourage and enable the business environment.” [myad]
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima has said that the floating dockyard being built by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA) will open new windows of opportunity in the maritime industry in West Africa.
Senator Yerima spoke when he led some members of the Committee to evaluate the extent of work on the floating Dockyard being built in Galati, Romania, said that the opportunities will not only be limited to job creation or conservation of foreign exchange but will include capacity building and wealth creation in the industry.
Senator Yerima said that with an average of 5,000 ships calling at the Nigerian ports annually, 400 active coastal vessels and several fishing trawlers, the demand for ship repair and maintenance facilities can only be on the rise.
He lamented the absence of modern functional floating dry docking facilities in the country which has forced ships and vessels to go overseas to undertake mandatory routine dry docking.
“The few land based dockyards in Nigeria are not even functioning optimally. Sometimes Nigerian ship owners have to go to neighboring Cameroon to dry dock vessels paying in scarce foreign exchange.”
The Senate Committee Chairman said that the NIMASA floating dockyard will be the first one stop comprehensive floating ship repair and maintenance facility in West Africa and will have the sub region as its primary market.
He advised NIMASA to target offshore and coastal vessels as well as ships calling Nigerian ports, with a promise that whatever legislative backing the Agency will need will be given by the National Assembly.
Senator Yerima commended the current leadership of NIMASA for being focused, ingenious and industrious.
“Dr Peterside and his team have proven that they are tested managers of men and resources with a vision to put the maritime industry on the path of accelerated growth thus they will enjoy the support of patriotic citizens including this Senate Committee.” [myad]
I do not share the view of those who assume that by some kind of miracle, in the shape of electoral-college defections, Hillary Clinton would still, on the strength of winning the popular vote, supplant Donald Trump as US 2016 President-elect. We might as well begin to live with the reality of a Trump Presidency, sad and traumatic as that outcome may be. And coming to terms with that, despite our disappointment, calls for a forward-looking approach on the part of the Nigerian government.
The United States remains Nigeria’s most strategic partner. More than one million Nigerians live in the United States and a significant percentage of that immigrant population has distinguished itself in academia, the health sector, public service, and other aspects of American life. Nigerians are perhaps the most visible and the most influential set of immigrant Africans living in the United States today. It is indeed possible to argue that there is no neighbourhood or community in Nigeria today that does not have at least one representative in America.
I know many families who have never been to Abuja but who talk about America with such frightening familiarity without ever seeing the inside of an aircraft. Their claim to such glory is the presence of a cousin, a son, a daughter, an in-law or other relatives, in the United States – it doesn’t matter if the fellow is a failed husband or wife, or he or she is washing plates, or doing security guard work, a jail term, or struggling to survive as a human being, or he or she is permanently trapped in America because coming home could be a vote for shame.
Nigerians love America, thus. The British colonized our country and Britain still remains a second home of choice for many middle class Nigerians, but America holds more than a special attraction for many wannabe Nigerians. America is Nigeria’s land of golden dreams, the country that our youths want to flock to. Many of our politicians have Americans passports. The only Nobel Laureate that we have also holds an American Green card. Churches and mosques across Nigeria hold special prayer sessions for that Green card and when you have a child living in America, you are free to assume that the Living God has answered your prayers.
In terms of trade, Nigeria is America’s foremost partner in Africa. The United States through the auspices of the Nigeria-US Bilateral National Commission and similar diplomatic commitments in the African Union and ECOWAS and through other international protocols is actively involved in Nigeria’s health, security, agriculture, financial and human rights sectors. We are in addition, a big market for America’s exports in Africa and a stabilizing force for global security within the region and the continent. Where the problem lies and where a foreign policy challenge needs to be addressed, is the emergence right now, of an incoming President who has expressly declared that African Presidents are thieves and that Nigeria is particularly a problem, because its leadership is both “corrupt and insensible”.
Person-to-person diplomacy is perhaps more relevant than government-to-government relations because the former impacts greatly on the latter, and any student of international relations can only ignore this at great cost. We have, despite our cultural, diplomatic and trade relations with the United States, an in-coming American President who hates immigrants, Muslims, and who considers Nigerians a threat to the US working population.
Whatever the situation might be, Nigeria has a duty and a responsibility to defend the interest of Nigerians doing business with the United States in one form or the other. Our residual interest in American politics and its outcomes should go beyond individual interests, and political emotions and rest on Nigeria’s corporate interest. Strategically, what does Donald Trump’s victory mean to us? What are the implications for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States? What are the plans in place or in process, to protect Nigerians and Nigerian Americans who may suddenly find themselves in a threat situation under a racist and isolationist American Presidency? What can or should the Nigerian government do to protect Nigerians in the US diaspora from the uncertainties of America’s transition?
I have seen a couple of congratulatory messages here and there and a lot of casual commentaries on the subject, but what we need is far more strategic thinking at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The officials should wake up and realize that it may no longer be business as usual with Washington. Our last ambassador to Washington DC, Professor Ade Adefuye was a well-educated diplomat and scholar with vast international exposure and a robust, aggressive personality. He brought that to bear on his job, and he achieved results. Right now, we don’t even have someone of his rank and stature in Washington. The Senate is busy still staring at the list of ambassadorial appointees, and no one knows when many of the critical vacancies will be filled. We need a man or woman in Washington post-haste: an ambassador who can represent Nigeria’s interest, and who can settle down, even without presenting letters of credence, long before Donald Trump’s inauguration, and who must be the right man or woman for the job. The Trump Presidency is interested in America only; every other diplomatic post in that country must look out for its own interest. America is too important to the world, too tied to the global network of interests to be allowed to disconnect.
At other levels, Nigeria must seek more active cooperation and collaboration with the United States. We need not be told that Nigerians living in the United States today are just as anxious as the Mexicans. There is no gainsaying the fact that the incoming American President considers Nigerians a terrible set of immigrants. He has in the course of the campaigns shown a capacity to seek out groups and peoples and demonize them. In the interest of those vulnerable Nigerians (because no matter what, some Nigerians are linked to the US forever), and all the other strategic interests between our two countries, the Nigerian government must engage the emerging Trump establishment in Washington DC, proactively. It is not enough to just send a rhetorical congratulatory message. That is mere routine. But it is worse that President-elect Donald Trump has not deemed it necessary to call any African leader on phone. African leaders must learn to stand up for themselves but what measure of respect should we expect with the kind of leaders we have across Africa? And what quality of respect should any of our leaders give to a man who said this, referring to Nigeria:
“No sensible President continuously travels round the globe while his country Nigeria is in terrible hardship and economic mess. It can only happen in Nigeria where all that matters to the President is the full introduction of Islam, the annihilation of his political opponents and absolute extermination of the old Eastern Nigeria. Buhari, prior to his questionable victory at the polls as the President of Nigeria made lots of promises which he obviously failed to keep and in most cases denied.”
There are usually consequences for this kind of effrontery in diplomatic relations. If Donald Trump ever offers to visit Nigeria, President Buhari must snub him. Donald Trump also said:
“Look at African countries like Nigeria or Kenya for instance, those people are stealing from their own government and go to invest the money in foreign countries. From the government to the opposition they qualify only to be used as a case study whenever bad examples are required.
“How do you trust even those who have run away to hide in the United States, hiding behind education? I hear they abuse me in their blogs but I don’t care because even the internet they are using is ours and we can decide to switch it off from this side. These are people who import everything including matchsticks.
“In my opinion, most of these African countries (like Nigeria) ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance.”
The man who would be sworn in, January 20, 2017, as President of the most powerful country in the world also said: “To make our country big and powerful again, we have to get rid of Muslims, Mexicans and Africans, and in particular of Nigerians. They take us away from our work, job places intended for honest diligent Americans. When we don’t give them jobs, these Muslims arrange terrorist attacks.”
“We have to move Africans. Nigerians are everywhere now. I was at the meeting in Alaska and only Africans were everywhere. How do you think where they are from? From Nigeria! I saw them in each state where they got a job. Why can’t they find a job in the hometown in their native country?’ I know, because corruption reigns in their country. Their government plunders people. Therefore, they come here and take us away from our work.
“When I become a President, we will send all of them home. We will construct a wall along the Atlantic coast. We will colonize them, because probably, they haven’t felt what is it from (the) British.”
Nigeria and Donald Trump! It is left to the Nigerian government not to behave as if these statements do not matter. The typical response could be that these declarations are true and they may well be, but in diplomatic relations, such aggressive conduct, carried through in formal situations, would be considered consequential. In view of what and who Trump is however, Nigeria needs to fashion out a new policy towards the United States in line with our foreign policy objectives. One point is that President Trump may not necessarily be the Trump of the campaigns. But knowing his mindset, we should build our defences. Our foreign policy team working on Nigeria-US Bilateral National Commission should see the urgent need to define and protect Nigeria’s strategic interest as the United States goes through an uncommon transition between now and January 2017. [myad]
An independent opinion poll survey recently carried out by MediaEdge Polls, has come out with a damning revelation that online media has taken the shine off the sales of the conventional hard copy newspapers in Nigeria.
More than 78 percent of those who responded to the survey questions by the company, which is an Opinion Poll Survey unit of CBD MediaEdge Communications Limited, admitted that sales have gone down significantly, while 22 percent said the sale has been upward for the period polled.
“On the whole, 90% of media professionals said economic factor is affecting the purchasing power of readers and is the major factor for downward sale. Another 70% said Incursion of social media is the major factor. 50% said competition from other newspapers is responsible, while 40% said logistic constraint is the major factor.
“Instructively 80% of media professionals believe that the future of online news media is bright and might edge out the traditional media in the future, while 10% said the future is not as rosy for the online news media.”
The report of the survey, signed by the chairman of the CBD Media Edge Communications Ltd, Isiaq Ajibola said that the original aim of the survey was to understand the pattern of migration to the online platform and the impact it has had on information dissemination since 2010 to date.
Part of the report is reproduced hereunder:
“…in order to understand the newspaper readership and behavioral pattern in Nigeria, with particular reference to online incursion has shown a stiff competition between the two news sources in the last five years.
The original aim of the survey was to understand the pattern of migration to the online platform and the impact it has had on information dissemination since 2010 to date.
The survey was based on online and direct questionnaire approach and administered to a fairly large population. The survey was conducted between September 2nd and October, 12th, 2016 and about 3000 respondents were sent the questionnaire using both the online and field survey method. The survey targeted two main respondents; the General Public, and Media Professionals like Publishers, Editors, and Commercial Managers etc amongst Nigerian adults (18+). The instrument of data collection was online and field questionnaire, while specific platforms like Facebook, Email, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, etc., were used to reach respondents.
Media Professionals were specifically asked to assess the possible impact of online news platform on sales. About 78% of them admitted that sales have gone down significantly, while 22% said the sale has been upward for the period polled.
When asked what could be the reasons for the decline, 89% believe that the proliferation of online news is the factor that has affected the sale of hardcopy significantly, while only 11% of said the effect of online is insignificant.
On the whole, 90% of media professionals said economic factor is affecting the purchasing power of readers and is the major factor for downward sale. Another 70% said Incursion of social media is the major factor. 50% said competition from other newspapers is responsible, while 40% said logistic constraint is the major factor.
Instructively 80% of media professionals believe that the future of online news media is bright and might edge out the traditional media in the future, while 10% said the future is not as rosy for the online news media, as they believe that the hard copy still has hope of dominating the media landscape for a long time.
A survey of the general public on their preference and primary sources of news consumption , shows that 75% of the respondents rely on the newspapers ,followed by 65% respondents who rely on Social Media, 52% on Online Newspapers, 46% from Television, 39% from Radio, and 34% from Magazines.
Similarly, the general public who preferred accessing news online were asked to state the reasons for going online for news rather than buying a hard copy of their favourite newspaper. About 69% of them said they went online because it is cheaper and provides ease of mobility, 68% respondents said because it is accessible and faster, 52% said online provides more regular updates than hard copy, while 36% said it is more interactive than hard copy, which means readers can instantly make comments or react to any editorial content unlike in the hard copy.
More instructive is the fact that the survey discovered that 78% of the respondents spent less than N5,000 monthly in purchasing hard copy of their favourite newspapers. This means their preference for online content has reduced their purchase of hard copy. The economic factor which affected their income is also a consideration, as majority of Nigerian readers are low income earners. This assertion was proven when they were asked to assess the cost of sale of newspapers in Nigeria today, as 46% of them believe the cost is beyond the reach of the average Nigerian, while 23% said the cost is moderate.
In conclusion, there is a general trend of migration to online news, of which economic factors are major determinant followed by the social media influence. The incursion of various news media, news aggregators, social media, etc, are responsible for the downward trend in the sale of hard copy of newspapers, coupled with distribution problems, competition among newspapers and the current economic recession which has affected the purchasing power of respondents particularly the low income earners. The future look bright for the online newspapers and it will continue to grow as asserted by cumulative numbers of respondents of up to eighty percent, while ten per cent are undecided another ten percent admitted that despite online incursion, newspaper will continue to grow.
While commenting on the survey report, Azubike Ishiekwene, MD/ Editor – in -Chief of The Interview and member of the Board of the Paris – based Global Editors Network, Said ;
”I think it’s no longer a question of print versus online. It’s about content and how journalism adopts, adapts and innovates.” In his own comment, the Editor- in Chief and CEO of Daily Trust Newspapers, Manir Dan- Ali said: ‘It is useful to have this finding which aims to shed light on an area that the media has been relying on conjectures and anecdotes. What is particularly useful is the take of members of the public whose conclusion is that, while online may come to dominate the media landscape, there is still space for print, even if in a reduced sense, in the short to medium future.’
This is our modest and noble contribution to knowledge that will help shape the media industry in Nigeria, as part of our corporate social responsibility.
President Muhammadu Buhari leaves for Marrakech, Morocco tomorrow, November 14 to attend the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22.
A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the President will participate in the official opening plenary on November 15 where he will deliver his national statement during the High Level Segment of COP 22.
Adesina said that the Presidential address is expected to highlight, among other key issues, Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and policy actions aimed at tackling climate change through environmental sustainable efforts.
He said that Buhari will also use the occasion of his speech to rally international support for the clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta and the resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin.
“While in Marrakech, the President is scheduled to attend the Africa Day Commemoration at COP 22 with the theme, “Moving from Commitments to Action with Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and African Renewable Energy Initiative.”
The Presidential spokesman said that Buhari is expected to attend the Summit of African Heads of State on the sidelines of the Climate Change conference.
He said that COP 22, which will be attended by representatives from 197 countries including world leaders, environment ministers, government officials as well as a wide range of representatives from civil society and the private sector, is the first meeting of State Parties since the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement on November 4, 2016.
“The legally binding international Agreement on climate change, among others, addresses issues of global warming, including its impact on food security and agriculture.
“It would be recalled that President Buhari signed the Paris Agreement on September 22, 2016 at the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Buoyed by that commitment, the Nigerian delegation is optimistic that COP22 will provide a platform to promote and enhance delivery of the purpose-driven environmental sustainable agenda of the Federal Government.” [myad]
Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, inched towards the 2018 World Cup in Russia as they beat their Algerian counterparts today, Saturday in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State by 3 goals to one. This was even as President Muhammadu Buhari hailed them for the beautiful outing.
It was the Chelsea pair of Victor Moses and Mikel John Obi who put Nigeria ahead in the Nigeria’s campaign to qualify for the World Cup.
Moses opened the scoring for the home side after he latched onto the ball and made his way towards the box in the 25th minute. He attempted to pass the ball but it rebounded off a defender, even as the winger regained possession and rounded his marker before driving in a low shot into the back of the net. His Chelsea teammate, Obi then doubled Nigeria’s advantage three minutes before the break after receiving a through-ball and firing in from close range with the Algeria defence attempting, unsuccessfully, to appeal for offside. The goal stood, though, with Obi appearing to be onside before Schalke’s on-loan Tottenham midfielder, Nabil Bentaleb, brought Algeria back into the game with his stunning long-range strike in the 67th minute. But an unmarked Moses struck again in added time after driving in Ahmed Musa’s pass from the right to end the contest 3-1, which ensures Nigeria extend their lead at the top of Group B to six points, four more than second-placed Cameroon.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, immediately after the match, quoted Buhari as describing the 3 -1 victory of the Super Eagles against Algeria as the height of patriotism and professionalism
President Buhari celebrated what he called “the very-much improved national team for meeting our expectations during the entertaining and action-soaked encounter.”
The President commended the team and its handlers for displaying uncommon strength, determination and high professionalism in the onward and steady progress to the 2018 tournament in Russia.
He gave assurance that “with six points in our kitty from two impressive wins, the Federal Government and indeed all Nigerians will continue to support them to make the nation proud.
The President also commended the Akwa-Ibom State government for hosting the match and the fans for their good conduct and sportsmanship throughout the game. [myad]
A suspected kidnapper, Joshua Okoh, has confessed that kidnapping is a big business through which he has now become a millionaire.
Joshua Okoh, who was paraded by the Delta State Police Command along with his accomplices, told news men that he was already planning to open a private business when he was caught by the police.
Okoh said: “kidnapping is like a business to me. Lack of job and bad economy forced me into crime. I almost became a millionaire from this business.
“I chose kidnapping because that is what I can do best. Now I am in trouble; but since I started this business, I’ve never killed anybody.
“What me and other gang members did was to just collect the ransom and let the person (victim) go. We did pity them, but we did not have any other option.
“I have carried out about five successful kidnappings and my share ran into millions of naira. I bought cars with the money and proposed to establish a business before this arrest.
“It is not as if we liked the job, but we were forced into crime by rich leaders and brothers who do not help, but would rather exhibit wealth in your presence.
“It will interest you to know that most people who are victims of kidnapping are set up by their own brothers and sisters who they refused to help, just like this one that led to our arrest.
“It was initiated by a brother of the woman she may have refused to assist,” Okoh confessed.
Others who were paraded before the news men were Anthony Oren, (alleged to be the vigilante boss of Orhakpo community in Ughelli North Local Government); ThankGod Okeperhie and Clement Efanyobera.
The state Commissioner of Police, Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, who paraded the suspects, said that they were arrested in connection with the abduction of a housewife, Mrs. Judith Osayande, in Warri.
“N1.8 million of the N3 million ransom, one Honda Accord belonging to the suspect, the victim’s Toyota Camry with number plate BEN 825JA, two guns and 13 live cartridges were recovered from the suspect,” Ibrahim said. [myad]
Female Muslim students in two universities in California, the United States of America were reported to have been attacked, which has already been described by the law enforcement officers as a hate crime.
According to AFP, both attacks came on Wednesday, the day after Donald Trump was elected president at the end of a campaign during which the Republican was criticized for divisive and inflammatory language against Muslims.
In one of the incidents, two assailants confronted their victim at San Diego State University and “made comments about President-elect Trump and the Muslim community,” according to campus police.
The woman had her purse, backpack and car keys stolen. She went to get help and returned to the scene with police officers, only to find her car had been stolen, police spokesman Ronald Broussard said.
The case was being investigated as a suspected hate crime as well as a strong-arm robbery and auto theft, Broussard said.
“Comments made to the student indicate she was targeted because of her Muslim faith, including her wearing of a traditional garment and hijab,” university president, Elliot Hirshman and interim police chief Josh Mays said in a joint statement.
San Jose State University police said in a statement they were investigating a similar attack against a female student at a campus parking garage.
A male assailant approached the victim from behind, pulling at the victim’s head scarf, choking and throwing her off balance, according to the statement circulated to students on Wednesday.
“Campus officials are closely monitoring the situation as the investigation continues. No arrests have been made,” university spokeswoman Pat Harris said in an emailed statement to AFP.
“We are, of course, very concerned that this has occurred on our campus. No one should experience this kind of behavior at San Jose State,” she added.
New York University’s Muslim Students Association issued a statement on Wednesday saying engineering undergraduates had arrived that morning to find “Trump” scrawled on the door of their prayer room.
The organisation said members were “realising that our campus is not immune to the bigotry that grips America.”
A Muslim student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette told police on Wednesday that she was attacked by two men, one of whom was wearing a white hat emblazoned with “Trump.”
Local media reported a police statement on Thursday however alleging that the girl had made up the attack.
The Lafayette Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (AFP). [myad]
Former military Governor of Kaduna State, retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar has threatened to take the South African telecommunications giant in Nigeria, MTN to court over what he called unsolicited Short Message Services (SMS) and fraudulent deductions.
Umar Dangiwa told news men in Kaduna today, Saturday that he had already briefed his lawyers to file the suit against MTN after his complain over unsolicited messages and deductions were not addressed.
He said that despite assurances by the MTN operatives that it will not happen again, he has started receiving unsolicited messages accompanied by deductions of money from his telephone line.
He displayed two of the latest unsolicited messages which he received on Saturday, one of which subscribed him to a caller tune with a charge of N50, with an option to opt out while the other subscribed him to a package known as ‘Laugh Out Loud’ also with a fee.
The latest messages he received read thus: “Yello, you have downloaded the Callertune <CHECK YOUR ALERT> by TK SWAG for N50.00. This tune expires on 2016-12-09. To delete the tune, send del0733736.
“Dear Customer, you have successfully subscribed to Laugh Out Loud and N50.00 deducted from your account. Your service will be renewed on 2016-11-18. To cancel, text STOP LOL to 55006. Enjoy!”
Umar Dangiwa said that it was unfortunate that this practice has continued despite complaints, adding that it is not about the N50 being deducted from his account, but it is fraudulent to deduct money from subscribers without their consent.
“If you multiply N50 by 70 million subscribers, for example, it means the network is stealing billions of Naira from subscribers on a daily basis. If N50 is multiplied by 70 million for instance, the sum is N3.5 billion, for instance.”
Umar Dangiwa said that he is suing MTN on behalf of 70 million subscribers and believed that the subscribers will be his witnesses in court.
“I have briefed my lawyers,” he said even as he complained that attempts to reach the telecoms regulator, the NCC have failed. [myad]
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