NEWS
NATCOMS Rejects Alleged Tariff Hike, urges NCC to Nullify it

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has rejected the alleged Telecoms tariff hike and called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to nullify its approval.
NATCOMS made this known in a communiqué issued after its National Exco held an emergency meeting on the planned tariff hike of Telecommunication Services in the Country.
The communiqué signed by its National President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo and the National Secretary Bayo Omotubora, also advised operators to embrace other options of generating funds for their operations.
The duo explained that the new increment would make telecommunication Services more expensive by 40 per cent and attract 12.
5 per cent tax rate, pricing two thirds of Telecoms Services Subscribers out of its market.“Under the new tariffs regime, a voice call will rise from N11.00 to N15.40 per minute, short message services will jump from N4.00 to N5.60.
“One GB data bundle will move from N1,000 to N1,400. This represents additional digital costs consumers will have to square up with at the beginning of a new year among other harsh economic realities of Nigeria of today.
“This is a complete negation of the statutory duty of NCC to protect the interest of Telecom Services Consumers.
“We are aware of the arguments of the Telecoms Operators that there has not been any tariff increment in a decade, multiple levies slammed on them by different tiers of Government and the dollarization costs of their equipment.
“But truth be told, there are many other avenues through which the operators can generate funds to meet their rising operational costs without putting unbearable burden on their consumers.”
NATCOMS suggested the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market, for instance, as a veritable avenue for the operators to raise funds to meet their costs requirements.
“This Association considers the decision of the NCC as very insensitive and not in the interest of Telecoms Services Consumers.
“The unrelenting rise in prices of Goods and Services in the country has made life extremely difficult for the generality of citizens who are the consumers of telecom services.
“The new increment is therefore one additional burden too many.”
NATCOMS noted that telecoms services were taxable services under the Value Added Tax Act amended in 2019, by the Finance Act, to raise the tax rate from 5 per cent to 7.5 Per cent.
“That increment brought about untold hardship to our members, many of whom have been forced to cut back on their telecommunication requirements.”
The association urged the NCC to reconsider its decision in the interest of the generality of citizens.
The NCC, when contacted for its reaction, said all issues around the tariff hike should be ignored.
The Commission also said that it would provide an official statement to the public to clarify all speculations about Telecoms tariff hike. (NAN)
Health
NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in cholera cases across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in nine states.
During a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, expressed concern over the rising number of cholera infections as the rainy season begins.
He warned that the situation posed a serious public health threat.
“As of April 28, 2025, over 1,141 suspected cholera cases and 30 deaths have been reported across multiple states, with Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, and Zamfara among the most affected,” he said.
Idris attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and widespread open defecation.
He said the NCDC was working in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and development partners to strengthen surveillance, improve access to oral rehydration therapy, and promote hygiene education.
On Lassa fever, he reported a decline in weekly cases but warned that the disease remained persistent in endemic states such as Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi.
“We must not relax. The virus is still circulating in the rodent population,” he cautioned.
He also noted continued transmission of Mpox, with recent cases reported in Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“While no deaths have been recorded in the past month, the virus continues to spread through close contact,” he added.
On Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Idris stated that outbreaks had occurred in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe states, predominantly affecting children and young adults.
He said vaccination campaigns were underway in high-burden areas, supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Gavi.
Idris further emphasised the urgent need for the rational use of antibiotics in managing the ongoing outbreaks, warning that misuse, particularly in cholera and Lassa fever treatment, could worsen antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“We must remind our health workers and communities that not every illness requires antibiotics.
“Inappropriate use during outbreaks is a silent pandemic that could undermine our ability to treat infections in the future,” he warned.
He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, proper waste disposal, and early medical attention when symptoms of any of the listed diseases were observed.
“Public health is a shared responsibility,” Idris said, calling on the media and civil society groups to support risk communication and community engagement efforts
General News
FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegboyega, who assumed on on May 2, took over from Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi , who has been redeployed.
NAN further reports that the new sector commander until his appointment was the Zonal Head of Operations at Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo.
He was was enlisted into the service of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Nov. 1, 1993, and was appointed as the Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, a post he held till 1998.
Adegboyega was later redeployed and appointed the pioneer Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the erstwhile Acting Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Mr Danyaro Yakasai.
In 1999, he was redeployed to the then Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRAS) as the Staff Officer (Statistics) and in 2003, he was posted to Imo Sector Command as Staff Officer (Operations).
The new sector commander was in 2005 redeployed to Owo Unit Command in Ondo State as the Unit Head of Administration and Human Resources, a position he occupied until 2009, as an Assistant Corps Commander l.
After several promotions and awards, he was promoted to his present rank of Corps Commander in April 2022.
The new sector commander was redeployed on April1, 2022 to the Federal Road Safety Command and Staff College, Udi, Enugu State, as Director of Coordination, a position he held till July 2023.
In July 2023, he was redeployed to Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo as the Zonal Head of Operations.
Adegboyega was born in Abeokuta on July 25, 1969, to the family of Late Pa Femi Adeleye and Mrs Felicia Adeleye from Ayetoro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta, from 1974 to 1979 and later proceeded to the prestigious African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, from where he obtained the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) in 1985.
He bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in the year 1992 and later did his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Enugu with the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Adegboyega received commendations for his outstanding performance and was subsequently given automatic employment by the FRSC Management in 1993.
He is married to Mrs Oluwayemisi Elizabeth and the union is blessed with four lovely children.
JUDICIARY
Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

A Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public peace, following their inability to meet their bail conditions.
The defendants are; Ismail Oladipupo, Ridwan Raji, Biodun Gbadamosi, Usman Mohammed, Samuel Olowu and Sunday Akande.
Due to their inability to meet bail, the Court President, Mrs S.
M. Akintayo, ordered that the six defendants be remanded in Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo.Akintayo had admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail after they all pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.
The court also ordered that the defendants should provide two reliable sureties, one of whom must be a community leader.
However, the six men could not meet the bail conditions and therefore were remanded at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.
Akintayo subsequently adjourned the suit until June 24 for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 14, at 12:45 a.m., at Agbaje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ayeni said that the defendants were arrested after they were caught using various dangerous objects such as cutlasses, broken bottles and stones, daring anybody to confront them.
According to him, the six men by their actions allegedly caused apprehension and fear in the entire community.
He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 416 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. II Law of Oyo State 2000