GSM subscribers to pay more for data from Dec.1

Subscribers of the Global System of Mobile telecommunications across the country would pay more for data with effect from December 1, 2016, The PUNCH learnt on Monday.

Although the telecoms companies declined to speak on the matter, top management workers across the networks confirmed the story to our correspondent, saying that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior management employee of Etisalat Nigeria said, “The NCC issued the directive late last week on the orders of the Federal Government. We have not announced it yet because most of the major telcos have been meeting the NCC on how to reverse this policy, because it will be too harsh for Nigerians.

“However, we further gathered that the Federal Government took the decision having discovered that data rates are very low-priced in Nigeria, compared to other countries, including nearby African countries.

“The government might have also taken the decision given that Nigerian subscribers have been kicking against the proposed nine per cent Communication Tax, whose bill is currently in the National Assembly.”

Pleading not to be mentioned, an employee of MTN said, “What this means is that MTN, Airtel, Etisalat And Globacom will increase their data rates as from December 1, 2016. A data plan of N1,000 for 1.5 Gigabytes will now be increased to N3,000 at N1,000 per 500 Megabytes.”

In text messages sent out to its subscribers, MTN, Africa’s mobile telecommunications giant, confirmed that it had agreed to implement the directive of the NCC.

The MTN text read, “Dear customer, please be informed that from 1st of December, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC for operators. Thank you.”

The PUNCH could not obtain an official response from the NCC at of the time of filing this report.

However, a representative of the commission said that the telecoms regulator was unaware of such plans by the operators, even as she said her bosses had claimed ignorance of the circulated message.

“We are unaware of it. I just asked my bosses; they are unaware. We will forward your query to MTN for appropriate attention,” she said over the telephone.

However, in a letter by the NCC to the operators sighted by our correspondent, the commission stated, “This rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost-based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.

“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably, small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted from the price floor for data services.”

It added, “For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 per cent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.

“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.

“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.”

Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said that the NCC representative was being economical with the truth.

He said that for MTN to have sent out millions of text messages to its subscribers “clearly shows that the NCC indeed issued the directive.”

Ogunbanjo, however, said that the association would resist the tariff hike, adding, “We will challenge it in court. We are going right away to set the machinery in motion. We are also going to do an urgent letter to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, which we will drop in his e-mail box.

 “Unfortunately, the notice is short; today is November 28, yet the order will take effect from December 1. It is not just good for broadband penetration, whatever the reason may be. It is against telecoms subscribers.”

According to him, data availability means more youth engagement because they use data to develop apps and build software.

“But with what the NCC has done, these boys who develop apps will be slowed down and limited. The cost of doing business will also increase,” he added.

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Statistics Shows that 30 million Bank accounts has been abandoned by Nigerians

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  The total number of inactive bank accounts in Nigeria stand at 30.26 million despite efforts by banks to retain old customers and attract new ones.
  
  The accounts, activated by commercial banks for new holders but later abandoned to dormancy by the customers now constitute 32.42 per cent of the total 94.388 million activated bank accounts in the country.
  
  Consequently, only 64.128 million accounts that represent 68.7 per cent of the total activated accounts domiciled in commercial banks are functional.
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  According to the latest industry statistics obtained by Daily Trustfrom the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc over the weekend, the growing wave of new, active and dormant accounts across savings and currents account types in the country has been progressively steady.
  
  Giving the year-to-date (YTD) analysis of the latest report up till October this year, NIBSS indicated that a total of 4.13 million accounts have become dormant within the period, jacking up dormant account base to the current figure from 26.042 million it stood at the end Q4, 2015.
  
  NIBSS further stated that from a figure of 85.018 million accounts in December 2105, total account base in the country has grown by 11.02 per cent as 9.37 million new accounts were activated within the period.
  
  In its breakdown, 30.063 million, 2.896 million and 2.365 million new accounts came on board in Q1, Q2 and Q3 2016 respectively, while in October, the figure maintained the upward momentum by 1.12 per cent as 1.046 million new accounts were recorded in the month alone.
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  Meanwhile, further analysis data revealed savings accounts as constituting the largest chunk of the total activated bank accounts as it stood at 66.255 million while current accounts are just 25.58 million.

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Kwara State poly Student demands for #6m compensation after being shot by police

The family of Alhaji Atiku Olugbon of Ote, in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the  Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, to investigate the shooting of  their son, Bukola Olugbon, by a policeman, Abubakar Ahmed.

A relative of the victim, Mr. Ibrahim Olugbon, said, “The police must investigate and punish the culprit to serve as a deterrent to others.” It was gathered that Bukola, who had been admitted to Adedayo Clinic and Maternity on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin, was shot on the premises of a bank.

He told our correspondent that he had gone with his father, Atiku, to a branch of First Bank Plc in Surulere, Ilorin.

He stated that his father wanted to withdraw money  for his school fees and had joined the queue in the banking hall.

He said he was also waiting for his father in the banking hall when a security man attached to the bank challenged him.

Bukola, a second year Civil Engineering Higher National Diploma student of the Kwara State Polytechnic, said he explained to the security man that he was waiting for his father who was in the queue.

He said the security man told him to leave the banking hall, but he explained again that he was waiting for his father who wanted to give him money.

He added that the security man subsequently invited another man, who later turned out to be Ahmed.

Bukola said, “The policeman did not show me any identity and was not in uniform. He asked me what happened between the security man and me and I explained to him. As I made to leave  him, the policeman dragged me back and slapped me. He drew me out from the banking hall and shot at my leg. I don’t know when and how I got to the police station at the B Division Surulere. “They asked me at the police station who shot me and I told them that Ahmed shot me. I was bleeding profusely. I don’t know how I got to the hospital. “I am feeling pains. This can affect my education and my future. I need N6m compensation from the police.He said

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Top: Computer Scientists want Recount of Votes in Three States for Hillary Clinton

 

Hillary Clinton‘s campaign is being urged by a number of top computer scientists to call for a recount of vote totals in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, CNN reports.

The scientists believe that voting machines in the three states – which Donald Trump won – may have been manipulated or hacked. They presented their case in a conference call with Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and campaign general counsel Marc Elias last Thursday, November 17.

If the results in those states flipped to the Democratic nominee, she would have collected 278 electoral votes — 18 more than Trump and enough to secure the presidency.

The group includes  J. Alex Halderman, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Computer Security and Society.

Voting-rights attorney John Bonifaz was also in the conference call.

According to source, the scientists said that Clinton performed poorly – 7% fewer votes – in counties that used electronic voting compared to paper ballots.

They said that while they had not found any evidence of hacking, the pattern needs to be looked at by an independent review.

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With N1,000 You Can Now Open a Zenith Bank Account

Since its inception in 1990, Zenith Bank has strategically positioned itself as the bank for the corporate  giants of industry, the affluent upper middle class, the high networth individuals and the so-called ‘one percent.‘ These fortunate customers have enjoyed the very finest banking services available in Nigeria for nearly three decades. This exclusivity of the bank’s clientele made it perhaps the most aspirational brand in the country, as many young people set life goals that included being able to own an account in Zenith Bank. This was no mean feat to achieve, seeing as it cost at least N250,000 to open any account in the bank.
Until now.

Zenith Bank has recently refocused operations on the retail segment of the banking sector, meaning that the bank’s superlative services are now available to everyone. That almost insurmountable barrier to entry, N250,000, has been reduced to an infinitesimal N1,000.

Furthermore, the bank has made it super easy to open an account with them by introducing an account opening shortcode *966*0# which can be dialed from any phone to instantly open an account and receive your account number. You then need to visit any Zenith Bank branch within 7 days to activate your account.

N1000 to open an account at Zenith Bank?  No one would have thought it possible.

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Hot Music: Ricky Da Lil B - Backseat

Ricky is a young talented Nigerian Artist with good taste for delivery a hit & hot jams.

Enjoy new hot song from Ricky Mr Kokoletz titled BACKSEAT

Listen Here:

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Top 10 Things Best Friends Can do for Each other

Having a best friend truly is a gift from heaven. Sometimes best friends are siblings, cousins, spouses…or anyone else who fits this list of what best friends do for each other. See who in your life does at least a few of these things, and who you do them for in return:

1. A friend is always there for you

You can call your friend and she will listen, no matter what time it is. You can ask for help when you’re in a pickle and she’ll do all she can to help you out. Even if there is nothing your friend can do, she will still be there to hold your hand (so to speak) and encourage you. At times all a friend needs to do is just be present. A shoulder to cry on may be all you need.

2. A friend accepts you just the way you are.

If you can’t be yourself with your friend then he is not a true friend. A real friend accepts you, warts and all. He knows your heart and loves you for being you. A true friend is not in the business of making his friend into someone they are not.

3. A friend won’t let you compromise your standards.

There is nothing quite as sad as having someone you love try to persuade you to go against what you believe. A true friend will help you be true to the standards you hold dear. She will be proud of you for staying faithful to your beliefs and will help you remain faithful in living these convictions.

4. A friend helps you become your best.

This is done by paying attention to and encouraging your friend’s good qualities. Noticing the good in others helps them be even better.

5. A friend would never ridicule you.

You would never make your friend the brunt of a joke just to get a laugh. If someone is making fun of you, a friend is there to defend you. That’s why it’s important to choose friends with good character-someone you feel good about defending, and who will stand up for you in return.

6. A friend encourages you to follow your dreams.

This means you can share your deepest desires and dreams and she will never make fun of them. She will respect what matters most to you and encourage you to do whatever it takes to reach your goal.

7. A friends prays for you.

Oh, what comfort comes when you know your friend is praying for you. When you pray for your friend it brings the both of you peace. Imploring God in behalf of a friend is a true form of friendship. It brings an inner comfort not available anywhere else.

8. A friend is someone you can have fun with.

Life should be joyful. Having fun with a friend is an important part of that joy. A concert is all the better when shared with a friend. A dinner out is even more delicious when dining with a friend and a hike up the mountain is more invigorating when accompanied by a friend. Having fun with a friend is a key element in a true friendship.

9. A friend is someone you can rejoice with and mourn with.

When something wonderful happens to you the only thing that makes it better is telling your friend about it. It’s like being blessed twice over. When sorrow strikes you it is somehow made easier to bear by pouring your grief out to a friend.

10. A friend is someone you can trust.

Trust comes as the friendship grows. It is not immediate. You know this trust would never be betrayed. Having and being this kind of friend – one who is trustworthy – is truly priceless.

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True Story Of The Man Lynched By Mob In Lagos

As the story of the man lynched by a mob in Lagos continues to dominate the front pages, various accounts of the story continue to emerge. Initial reports that the victim was a 7-year old boy were dismissed by the Nigerian Police and a lawyer who works with the Joint Action Aid has shared the details of the incident on Facebook.

Read his account below:
The true account of the young man lynched and summarily burnt to death at Orile Iganmu last Saturday speaks of the uncertainty and brevity of human life in Nigeria. It was Saturday, the 11th day of November 2016. The venue of this macabre killing orgy was at Augustine Onwualu Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos.

A woman, (name withheld) was walking along the ever busy road of Augustine Onwualu street, Orile Iganmu. She had an Infinix Hotnote 2 handset with which she was making telephone calls in high pitched voice, frantically gesticulating in the process. Close by, on the same street were a gang of 4 notorious thieves, well known in the area for their dare devilry and viciousness. They were there, waiting, prowling and surveying the entire scenery for a vulnerable victim to rob and dispossessed of their valuables as they often do in the past. And successfully too.

“The woman approached. Still talking on the phone and gesticulating with her free arm. She was immediately spotted by the very perceptive eyes of this criminal gang. A brief conference amongst them, she was adjudged a soft target. There was no need for further plans or careful surveillance. After all they had done this successfully in the past. More so, their sheer ferocity makes them a sort of feared mobster in the local vicinity. But it turned out to be a miscalculation. And costly one at that!

“They approached and circled the woman who was oblivious of her surrounding and the imminent attack on her person. The robbery attack was swift and very decisive. She was held from behind by two members of the gang. One of them deftly pruned her hand bag off her shoulder and the same time attempted to retrieved the telephone with which she was making calls from her other arm. The last of the gang stood guard, providing cover for the others.

“They had during their planning stage misjudged the desperation of a Nigerian woman about to be dispossessed. The victim reacted swiftly. She let the hand free and held on tenaciously to her phone. A struggle ensued. The victim plaintively cried out for help. A motley crowd gathered. The other members of the gang, appropriately appraising the situation fled the scene. The fourth member was not so lucky. He continued to engage in an internecine struggle with victim for the phone. In desperation, he brought out a dagger, and cold blooded stabbed the woman repeatedly in the chest, stomach and shoulder. There is a proverb, when a strong animal flirts too much with the trap, he makes his meat available for children to share with teeth.

“The gathered crowd became enraged and promptly apprehended the abandoned thief. He was beaten to stupor, Tied up and set ablaze while the maddening crowd continued to bay for his blood.

“Joint Action Aid was alerted on Monday when video clips of the dastardly murder went viral on social media. We reported the yet another resort to “jungle justice” to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state. The video clips were carefully analysed and some arrest made. The six people arrested through our efforts denied criminal culpability and brought fast talking lawyers.

“More frustrating, the charred remains of the alleged thief had been removed. The area council and Orile Iganmu police claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the corpse. Thus we have a dead zone situation. No dead body, no witnesses and then, most understandably, an unwilling complainant still battling for survival from the grievous multiple stabbing at the hospital. We returned back to the office, again defeated. Frustrated. And defeated.The rule of law is vanquished again. The rule of the jungle continues to win triumphantly

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Baddo Sets to Light up Lagos with Olamide Live in Concert

This has been an amazing year for Nigerian rapper, Olamide. From his sold out world concerts to his chart topping singles, the YBNL boss has decided to crown his many successes of 2016 by announcing the release date for his 6th studio album, “Glory” and the 3rd edition of Olamide Live In Concert, tagged Beast Mode lll.

Like previous editions, Olamide is set to once again, ‘unleash the beast’ at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on the 26th of December, 2016.

According to his team, OLIC I was an absolute success, OLIC II was a massive shut down of Lagos, Nigeria but OLIC III promises to be history making as Olamide and his team are set to bring a concert like never seen before in the history of concerts in Nigeria.

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I'm Finding it difficult to sleep says Imo State Governor

– Governor Okorocha has revealed that he is finding it difficult to sleep because of he wants to change Imo state
– He says achieving that will give him joy
– The governor says Imo is one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has revealed that he is finding it difficult to sleep because of his vision to change the state, Vanguard reports. The governor made the disclosure in Owerri on Thursday, November 17, while inspecting some of his on-going projects in the state.

He said: “My interest is to make sure that by the time I finish my second term, Imo state must have been developed more that it is now.” “I find it difficult to sleep now because I want to change the entire face of Imo so that people from all over the country will come and relax. This will be my joy. “If you look at the current urban renewal programme, we are constructing 3 tunnels, two flyovers and eight lane roads to enable us open our State for transformation to take place.” He added that, “Imo is one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria and so we have to make adequate attention to infrastructure development. You can see all old projects we have remodelled and they are looking good now. ”

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has expressed concern over the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since it came into power more than a year ago. Okorocha also expressed regrets over what he described as the “cold relationship” between the executive arm of government, the National Assembly and the ruling party.

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