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NCC Remits N344.71bn into FG Consolidated Revenue Fund
By John Onah, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said it remmited N344.71 billion into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the last five years.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman,Prof. Umar Danbatta said this, when the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, led by its Chairman, Mr Akeem Adeyemi, paid him a legislative oversight visit in Abuja.
NCC Director, Public Affairs Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Adinde said that Danbatta attributed the successes of the commission in the last five years to its harmonious relationship with the National Assembly.
He said that the telecommunications sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 8.5 per cent in 2015 to 14.30 per cent in the second quarter of 2020.
”Through the support of the lawmakers, especially the Committee on Telecommunications, which the NCC leadership has worked with in the last five years, the commission has been able to generate and remit N344.71 billion into federal government’s CRF.
“The remittance is from spectrum fees and operating surplus.
“In financial value, the 14.30 per cent translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2. The telecoms investment grew from around 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars currently,” he said.
Danbatta said that the NCC has also helped promote financial inclusion by encouraging Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), to actively participate in providing financial services towards actualising federal government’s 80 per cent financial inclusion target by 2020.
“Through collaborative efforts with critical stakeholders like the National Assembly, the NCC has been able to increase broadband penetration from 6 per cent in 2015 to 45.43 per cent as of September, 2020.
“Basic active internet subscription grew from 90 million to 143.7 million.
”Between 2015 and September, 2020, active voice subscription has increased from 151 million to 205.25 million with a teledensity standing at 107.53 per cent,as at the end of September, 2020.
“We are also empowering and protecting the consumers and ensuring we are able to sanitise the industry of improperly-registered Subscriber identification Module (SIM) cards through our impartial regulatory approach,” he said.
Earlier, Adeyemi, said the over sight visit was in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowered the House to carry out its role of checks and balances on the executive.
He commended the leadership of the NCC for its transparency in ensuring remittances to CRF, considering the current revenue drive of the government.
Adeyemi urged the NCC to sustain its current template of ensuring effective regulation of the telecommunications sector, in a manner that would be more mutually beneficial to the industry players, the consumers and the government.
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Finnish Govt Releases Two Ekpa Accomplices, Withhold Identities
By David Torough, Abuja
Two of the suspects arrested alongside Simon Ekpa have been released by the Finnish government.
Ekpa, arrested on Nov. 21, 2024 with four others was accused of terror, incitement to violence and financing of terrorism in Nigeria.
They have been in detention since then.
He was remanded in prison by the Päijät-Häme district court for allegedly “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
”However, sources confirmed that two of Ekpa’s alleged accomplices have since been freed by Finnish authorities.
The names of the released individuals or the specific reasons for their release remain undisclosed.
Government sources, who declined to offer further details, confirmed Ekpa remains in custody.
This development follows an announcement by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, confirming that the country had requested Ekpa’s extradition.
Gen. Musa said the requirements for the extradition of the separatist have been forwarded to Finland Government.
The Defence Chief said, “The Federal Government has actually forwarded most of the requirements to the Finnish Government. So, I’m sure the right thing will be done.”
Finnish government is working with the Nigerian government on ending the violence activities of IPOB in the Southern Nigeria.
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Tanker Fire Kills Five as Collapsed Building Injures Seven
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Five people were yesterday afternoon killed and several property, including two banks were destroyed in a petrol tanker explosion in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State.
In another incident, seven persons were injured after a building collapsed in Rivers State.
The 33,000-litre petrol carrier erupted in flames in a densely populated area of the metropolis when the driver was making a turn on the busy Old Lagos/Asaba Road.
The blast caused widespread damage, setting several houses and vehicles on fire.
Eyewitnesses said residents and passersby attempted to extinguish the flames but the fire continued to rage.
Some houses and vehicles around the scene were severely damaged by the inferno.
The body of a car owner who was reportedly burnt beyond recognition was found on the road.
A witness said, “We were told that the petrol tanker fell by the First Bank in Agbor when the driver tried to make a turn at the old Lagos/Asaba road.”
He described the scene as chaotic and tragic. “As I ran to the scene to find out, it was devastating. Five people have been confirmed dead while property, including two banks, were still burning.”
The witness lamented the absence of emergency response teams. “We are yet to see firefighters at the scene, the fire is still burning as I speak to you now.”
In the building collapse incident however, Mr Evans Bipi, Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development said no death was recorded.
A three-story building fell in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Commissioner, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Emeka Idika, said that the affected building under construction collapsed on Saturday.
According to him, a timely rescue mission by the ministry and that of the Special Duties alongside other joint efforts averted the loss of lives as victims were taken to the hospital for medical care.
The commissioner said no fewer than seven persons sustained various degrees of injuries in the incident.
“It is unfortunate that we are beginning the year with this tragic incident, though no life was lost, this is the 4th building collapse we are witnessing in the state since I assumed office”
“Preliminary investigation at the scene of the incident showed that the building may have collapsed due to the use of substandard materials by the builder.
“Specifically, the use of 12mm rods for decking a building is a clear violation of construction standards, unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as similar cases in the state had been linked to the same cause.
“The property has been sealed pending investigation into the cause of collapse,” the Commissioner said.
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Anglican Bishop, Wife, Children Regain Freedom after Bandits Take Ransome
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Anglican bishop, Rev. Canon Olowolagba, his wife and two children have regained freedom after their kidnappers collected ransom, a family source said.
The Commander of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun), Adetunji Adeleye confirmed the release of Canon Olowolagba along with his wife and two girls.
“The pastor and family have been released,” Adeleye said in a short message on Sunday.
He was kidnapped on Saturday while travelling with his wife, their 16-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old girl living with them, along the Iboropa Road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
A source disclosed that they were released after a ransom amounting to millions of naira was paid.
The money, according to family sources, was raised through contributions from the family, the church, and associations.
The kidnappers initially demanded N75 million but later reduced it.
The Amotekun commander did not give details on how the victims were released.
The police did not to comment on the incident saying the matter was not reported to them.
Armed groups have been seizing Nigerians for ransom especially in the northern part of the country.
President Bola Tinubu has however expressed optimism about the progress made in addressing insecurity across the country.
In his maiden Presidential Media Chat in Lagos penultimate Monday, Tinubu said Nigerians are now safer travelling by road.
In his words, “Today, I have confidence in the security architecture of this country.
“You can still travel on the roads. Before now, it was impossible. It takes just one incident to disrupt an organized environment, but we cannot undermine the efforts of our military because of isolated attacks, such as the one on the Brigade Battalion.”