Monthly Archives: March 2013

US Consulate: Foreigner Kidnapped In Lagos

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LAGOS, March 25,  The US Consulate in Lagos, Sunday said a foreigner was kidnapped in highbrow Victoria Island, Lagos.

The foreigner’s identity or nationality was however not disclosed by the Consulate in a message to American nationals living in Nigeria, the AFP reported.

"The US Consulate General in Lagos received a report that an expatriate was kidnapped on Victoria Island on Saturday, March 23 at approximately 11 pm.

"Local Nigerian law enforcement confirmed this incident," the Consulate said.
THEWILL called the Lagos State police and national police force spokespersons for more information on the development but the calls were not acknowledged as at the time of writing this report.

Source: thewillnigeria.com

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria needs N350bn annually to meet water, sanitation target – Ochekpe

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Nigeria needs N350 billion yearly to meet water and sanitation target, says the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe.

Ochekpe said this in Abuja at an event to mark the 2013 World Water Day. She said that available statistics had shown that only 60 per cent of the population had access to safe drinking water while 32 per cent had access to sanitation facilities.

According to her, this falls short of MDGs target of 75 per cent and 65 per cent  for water and sanitation respectively. Ochekpe stressed that water and sanitation services were platforms for inter-sector collaboration and partnership among relevant institutions. The minister noted that sectors such as power, agriculture, environment, health and education needed water as an essential ingredient in the transformation agenda programme.

She, therefore, urged all stakeholders to play their expected roles so that the water sector would be positioned effectively to achieve the MDGs target by 2015, the vision 20:2020 and the Africa water target.

The minister also underscored the fact that with the nation’s growing population, access to quality drinking water and sanitation had become  a challenge. This challenge, she said, could not be tackled by the government alone, especially with the lean resources and competing needs, hence, the need for cooperation.

The minister further stressed the need to improve the sector’s performance and to expand the water infrastructure to meet all demands. “Nigeria is blessed with abundant water resources potential estimated at 267 billion cubic litres of surface water and 92 billion cubic litres of underground water,” Ochekpe said.

Earlier, Mr Michael Ojo, the Country Representative of WaterAid, an international NGO, said that his organisation would join the subscribers of `End Water Poverty’ and `Keep Your Promises Alliance’ to call on decision makers to stick to pledges they had made. “Making access to water and sanitation a priority and ensuring improved access beyond the 2015 MDGs deadline is a key priority for WaterAid as I’m sure it is for everyone here.”

According to him, Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf  is launching a WaterAid report called ‘Everyone Everywhere’ at a UN event on water in The Hague, The Netherlands, as part of activities to commemorate the day. Ojo, therefore, urged all present to sign a petition banner for the ‘Keep Your Promises Campaign’ as part of their cooperation on this year’s World Water Day celebration. In her goodwill message, Ms Irina Bokova, the UNESCO Director-General advocated for a stronger water governance between and within states.

“Cooperation must be our key word; this is essential to preserve our ecosystem, to eradicate poverty and to advance social equity, including gender equality. Women are key actors, we must empower them fully with the rights to match their responsibilities.” Bokova said that ensuring equality in access to and control over water resources was important for the well-being of current and future generations. The theme for this year’s celebration is “International Year of Water Cooperation”.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: Ministry plans 40% cassava inclusion in bread making by 2015

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has concluded plans to increase to 40 per cent by 2015 the cassava inclusion in bread making from the current 20 per cent. Mrs Toyin Adetunji, the Technical Adviser on cassava to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this on Friday.

She said “Our target is 40 per cent. But as far as today is concerned, we have 20 per cent inclusion well established and we have trained some master bakers across the country. So far, we have trained about 385 master bakers. We have also trained big bakers like the Park ‘N’ Shop, United Trading Company (UTC) and Butterfield bread.”

According to her, some other master bakers will be coming on board the training in order to achieve this target. She said that the bread could be found on major streets across the country, adding that it was not labelled like that of the master bakers.

She commended the master bakers for their support to the ministry on cassava bread. She said that the ministry had also organised a training programme for the bakers to enable them to have a compact milling system of cassava and wheat flour. Adetunji disclosed that one of the flour millers had decided to go into cassava flour production

“The challenge we had at the beginning was mixing the products and what we are doing now is to remove that by getting this compact milling system.” The compact milling system is a technology that mixes the cassava and wheat flour together to have the composite flour.

This will ensure that there is a good mix of both products and this will help remove the issue of adulteration. According to her, an investor has set up  a company that produces the enzymes required to have a good blend of cassava and wheat flour in Lagos.

“Fortunately a company in Lagos State is making the enzymes and for those who prefer to have their enzymes imported into the country, there is a fiscal policy that is supporting that. The policy will reduce tariff on the importation of the enzymes to zero. So when you import the enzymes it attracts zero tariffs.” She added that there were other major distributors engaged in distributing the enzymes to bakers across the country.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: 61% of banks’ customers complain of hidden charges

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NOI Polls has revealed that majority of customers of banks in Nigeria complain of hidden charges on them for banking services.

Latest weekly poll results released by NOI Polls revealed that the majority of banking Nigerians (61 percent) agreed that Nigerian banks are exploiting their customers through hidden bank charges. In addition, First Bank was judged to have the best customer service delivery closely followed by GT Bank. These were the two key findings from the Bank Customer Service Snap poll done in the week of March 11th 2013.

NOI Poll also explained that it under took the study following conversations among the banking public on poor service delivery and unexplained charges by banks on transactions.

It is against this backdrop that NOI Polls sought the opinions of banking customers on customer relations and service delivery of Nigerian Banks over the last quarter.

“It is our hope that the results from this poll will guide banking executives and relevant Corporate/Customer service champions to re orientate the industry on quality service delivery and sustained customer relationship, after all  the ‘customer is king” NOI Poll declared.The NOI Polls survey asked respondents five specific questions.

The first question sought to establish the perceptions of Nigerians about the bank that had the best customer service. Respondents were asked: Which Nigerian bank has the best customer service? It is also pertinent to note that respondents were informed that the bank selected did not have to be their personal bank.

Overall, by a slim margin the majority (29 percent) stated that First Bank has the best customer service followed by GT Bank with 26 percent. These two banks were perceived to be the best banks by a considerable distance. They were followed by Zenith Bank (nine percent), UBA (eight percent), Ecobank (seven percent) and Access Bank (six percent).

Analysis of the results showed some interesting facts. First Bank is mainly strong in terms of customer service in the South East (37 percent) and South South (35 percent) while GT Bank is particularly strong in the South West (35 percent).

Zenith Bank is second to First Bank in the South East with 16 percent while UBA is second to First Bank in the North West with 21 percent.  Analysis according to gender shows more female (31 percent) rooting for First Bank over GT Bank (23 percent) whilst there is only a difference of one percent for the males.

Respondents were subsequently asked: Why do you think the bank mentioned has the best customer service? Overall, the majority of respondents (35 percent) chose the Bank mentioned because the “Staff are friendly and helpful”. This is followed by 22 percent with the explanation that “Staff are knowledgeable and efficient” and 13 percent each mentioned “Staff are good at settling complaints” and “Staff are patient with customers”.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Three Zimbabweans arrested for penis enlargement in South Africa

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Three Zimbabweans were among seven people who have been arrested in the past few months for putting up “Penis enlargement” posters in South Africa’s Johannesburg central business district, municipal police said yesterday.

“They were charged in court, and three of the suspects were deported to Zimbabwe and one was deported to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo),” Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said. The charges relate to contravention of municipal by-laws.

“Four more suspects were tracked and traced since November last year and have been fined R 1000 per poster, which amounts to between R10 000 and R20 000 per individual.”

Minnaar said if the fines were not paid, warrants of arrest would be issued. “It is embarrassing to see such posters in public places. The war against illegal posters will continue,” he said

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Makosi auditions for Big Brother Africa

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HARARE – Former United Kingdom (UK) Big Brother contestant Makosi Musambasi is keen to join 2013 Big Brother

Africa.
The controversial Musambasi who was part of the UK Big Brother in 2006, attended auditions for Big Brother Africa in Harare yesterday along with equally colourful socialite and fashionista Pokello Nare, dancehall queen Lady Squanda and urban groover Taurai Mandebvu.

The auditions also involved former Miss Curvy Tanya Chikuni and Lady Squanda’s boyfriend DJ Stayera.
But it is the controversial Makosi’s participation in the Big Brother Africa auditions that is to stoke interest.
Makosi who made a surprise into the auditions dressed in a blue and yellow traditional garb largely kept a low profile during the exercise and quickly made her escape after she had been auditioned.
The former UK Big Brother contestant who has been in Zimbabwe ever since she returned to Zimbabwe through Nigeria, garnered ceaseless controversy as part of UK reality show seven years ago.

She hogged the limelight, by among other things, claiming to be pregnant after having sex in the pool, by being in endless confrontations with fellow housemates and always being drunk.
Pokello, who was wearing a black and white peplum number, was another standout personality among the 50 people that attended auditions for the eighth edition of the 2013 Big Brother Africa.
Efforts to get comments from most of the high profile young stars who attended the auditions were largely unsuccessful.

Dancehall queen Lady Squanda was among the few who agreed to field questions from the media.
“I am confident that I can make it”, said Lady Squanda, who is arguably Zimbabwe’s most celebrated female singjay.
“As an entertainer I really want to entertain people, the whole African continent. I love people. I love Big Brother and I love entertaining people. It is a big platform and I want to be exposed to the whole continent,” she said.
Lady Squanda’s boyfriend, DJ Stayera said he only joined the auditions at the last minute.

“I was accompanying her but when I realised that it was open, I decided to give it a go. It’s a good platform to get exposure and if I can get in it will be a good thing,” he said.
Urban groover Taurai Mandebvu, whose songs have often been ironically mistaken for former Big Brother contestant Rockford Josphats better known as Roki, hopes the realty show will be his stepping stone to bigger things.
“It’s a good thing to get into the house. I want to get exposure as an artiste. I also want to do a bit of damage control as you know what happened last time (referring to the Roki and Maneta Mazanhi expulsion from Big Brother).
“I also want to show that Zimbabwe is a country of diverse people and culture,” he said.
Last year Zimbabwe was represented by Roki, Maneta and Teclar Mazanhi.

The auditions’ requirements included fluency in English, ability to entertain and open-mindedness.
The selection team was also looking for qualities of tolerance, determination and enthusiasm.
Big Brother Africa has reached one million likes on Facebook and currently sits on 285 000 Twitter followers.
These interactive platforms are amongst the many ways that people across the continent will be kept updated on all the latest news on the eighth season of Big Brother Africa.
New housemates will be revealed on May 26 to audiences in 47 countries across Africa – Daily New

 

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Big Brother Africa Season 8 Audition Dates & Venues

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In less than one week, new Housemates will be revealed in Season 8 of AfricaMagic's Big Brother Africa and one of them could be you. Following an overwhelming entry response from the 14 participating countries, AfricaMagic is happy to announce that the Audition phase has arrived and you stand a chance of being a Housemate on of the most successful television series on the continent.

Already concluded Audition dates and venues:

Auditions for shortlisted candidates in;

Ethiopia will take place at Raddisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa on Monday 11 March to Wednesday 13 March from 09:00.

South Africa will take place at The Bassline in Johannesburg on Monday 11 March to Wednesday 13 March from 09:00.

Malawi will take place at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Monday 11 March to Wednesday 13 March from 09:00.

Nigeria will take place at Protea Hotel Leadway in Lagos on Monday 11 March to Thursday 14 March from 09:00.

Botswana will take place at Cresta President Hotel in Gaborone on Friday 15 March to Saturday 16 March from 09:00.

Kenya will take place at The Kenyatta International Conference Centre K.I.C.C in Nairobi on Friday 15 March to Sunday 17 March from 09:00.

Zambia will take place at Intercontinental Lusaka in Lusaka on Friday 15 March to Sunday 17 March from 09:00.

Ghana will take place at Holiday Inn Accra Airport in Accra on Saturday 16 March to Monday 18 March from 09:00.

Namibia will take place at the Hilton Windhoek Hotel in Windhoek on Monday 18 March to Wednesday 20 March from 09:00 am.

Zimbabwe will take place at the Rainbow Towers in Harare on Tuesday 19 March to Thursday 21 March from 09:00 am.

Tanzania will take place at the Atlantis Hotel in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday 19 March to Thursday 21 March from 09:00 am.

Sierra Leone will take place at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown on Wednesday 20 March to Friday 22 March from 09:00 am.

Angola will take place at the Skyna Hotel in Luanda on Friday 22 March to Saturday 23 March from 09:00 am.

Uganda will take place at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Kampala on Saturday 23 March to Monday 25 March from 09:00 am.

However, if you were unable to enter online or submit the entry at your nearest MultiChoice office, the good news is that there is still an opportunity to enter through the Open Auditions on the same dates, venue and time.

The Open Auditions allow individuals that were unable to enter before entries closed one last chance to impress the selection team. All you are required to do is fill in the entry form which is currently available at your nearest MultiChoice office, then make your way to the audition venue where a production team member will assist you.

Remember, entries are only open to persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and who either have a valid passport or will be able to obtain one by the end of March.

The 14 participating countries this year are; Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Producers are looking for persons who are fluent in English, entertaining, open-minded, adventurous, bold and passionate about the Big Brother experience. Importantly the selection team is looking for qualities of tolerance, determination and enthusiasm.

Having recently reached 1 million likes on Facebook and currently sitting with over 285 000 Twitter followers, these interactive platforms are amongst the many ways that audiences will be kept updated on all the latest news on the eighth season of Big Brother Africa, leading up to the 26th of May when new Housemates will be revealed to audiences in 47 countries across Africa.

The prize money of USD 300 000 is up for grabs to the last Housemate standing, will it be you?

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria:Tinubu betrayed me in 2007 – Atiku

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has ruled out joining the merger of opposition parties being clobbered together by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. He lamented his betrayal by the Asiwaju of Lagos when he flew the Action Congress (AC’) flag during the 2007 presidential election. According to the Turaki of Adamawa, Tinubu supported and funded the campaign of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua while the AC had a presidential candidate.

A source close to Turaki disclosed that he has concluded consultations with segments of the political class in his quest to actualize his aspiration. “You know that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is strong willed, democratic and not one to be brushed aside by threat of the overbearing powers of the incumbency. You can trust him to see the campaign to its logical conclusion once he publicly declares his ambition.” Our source said.

Political observers are however wondering on the game plan the former Vice President will deploy to achieve his ambition. They attribute platform as one of the greatest obstacles to his success. “PDP ticket will be difficult for him to secure considering the unstable nature of the governors. He will be naive to rely on them during the run up to 2015 polls. They disappointed him in 2011 and there is no guarantee they will not do so now. ” A member of his inner caucus said.

He is said to have consulted and secured the support of the northern elders forum in his quest. The problem however is that this same group supported him in 2011 when he squared up against President Goodluck Jonathan and lost. With their relevance and political leverage whittled, the question is whether Atiku will be engaging in a wild goose chase in 2015.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria: How Did Amaechi ‘Shun’ The PDP Governors’ Forum?

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It is sad that in politics, when a politician shows uprightness to favour those he or she is with, many of them will show him or her outright unfaithfulness to favour somebody else. This behaviour has portrayed politicians, but most especially, those in our climes like lovers in January, who feign love, just for Valentine in February. The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDPGF) is just like this ‘January Lovers’ doing everything, but anyhow, just for attention.

From the forum’s propaganda mill, they have used the word “shun” instead of “absent” to charactersise Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s whispered noticeable missing in a meeting of Monday 11th March that the forum held. Because Amaechi is the besieged Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that the PDPGF has been fighting hard to pummel, propagandists added that Amaechi conspired with six other PDP governors not to attend the meeting of the PDPGF, chaired by the matchmaker-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

On the other hand, Amaechi did not relent to reply those selling the unsalable story against him. He described them as mischief makers; although many Nigerians knew that that was an understatement to describe who the traducers are.

Giving his reasons why he could not make it to attend the meeting, Amaechi spoke through the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari thus: “Governor Chibuike Amaechi arrived Abuja this morning after speaking at the Commonwealth Observance Day, held at the Westminster Abbey in London. He was in the United Kingdom to make Nigeria proud at the historic event. “Since 1973, Commonwealth Day has been marked on the second Monday in March by a unique multi-faith observance, where globally recognised persons, who are embodiments of the year’s theme spirit, are invited to deliver evidence-based testimonials.”

It can be deduced that the makers and checkers in the hackneyed PDPGF are doing everything unreasonably possible to divert attention from the real issue of mis-governance in the country by bringing Amaechi’s name in their blurred agenda. They did not want to know if Amaechi had other schedules before the narrow-minded meeting. But whether Nigerians will ignore this clichéd Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum or not which was formed to insult Amaechi, is up to them.

The in-thing is that the PDPGF is not good for Nigerians’ discussion because it was created to divert attention from the many issues at hand begging for answers. Okay. Must Amaechi be in every meeting assuming he was not outside the country as at the time of the tired PDPGF’s meeting? To be honest, what Amaechi went for is to further clean-up the battered image of the country of which the PDPGF is also a contributor.

It is only a forum like PDPGF that was formed in a hurry to betray Ameachi that would not want Amaechi to travel so that Nigeria will not have a way forward. Anybody saying that if truly that Amaechi was in London for the Commonwealth program, he should have sent his deputy to represent him, should also know that the name is Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and not, Peoples Democratic Party Deputy Governors Forum.

Have Nigerians become so depressed and feeble human beings who are out of touch with reality because of politics? As if Mahatma Gandhi had Nigerians at heart, and he said: “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

In spite of this, Amaechi should be advised not to go wrong when anybody or group was going wrong. Amaechi should not apologize to anybody either. What Nigerians are waiting from the dismal Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum is Christian and Muslim Governors forums. Then again, Amaechi should take a clue from one Steve Maraboli this way: “People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance. And while they seem quite eager to feed you their negativity, please remember that sometimes the diet we need to be on is a spiritual and emotional one. Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action.”

And if anybody doubts his loyalty to the PDP, Amaechi should remind that person of what T.H. White wrote in the work, "Ghostly, Grim and Gruesome" thus: “Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be no such things as love or beauty or faith or hope, if I could be absolutely certain that my love would never be returned, how much more simple life would be. One could plod through the Siberian salt mines of existence without being bothered about happiness. Unfortunately happiness is there. There is always the chance (about eight hundred and fifty to one) that another heart will come to mine. I can't help hoping and keeping faith and loving beauty. Quite frequently I am not so miserable as it would be wise to be.”

Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Author, is the Coordinator, Concerned Non-Indigenes In Rivers State (CONIRIV). Phone: +2348032552855 (OR) +2348057778358. Email: apoet_25@yahoo.com

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: NCC lists success strategies to mobile number portability

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Ahead of the official commencement of the much-anticipated Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has listed roles expected of stakeholders, particularly telecoms subscribers towards making the scheme successful.

The Commission said while service providers and the regulator are getting set to roll out the service, certain important roles are expected from the subscribers using the over 113 million active telephone lines in the country who may want to port their numbers.

The Interconnect Clearing House, which has been appointed by the NCC to create a unified interface billing system, is rounding off exercise by bringing service providers networks on the mobile number portability platform.

Mobile Number Portability is expected to address many of the ills in the industry, particularly that of poor Quality of Service (QoS).

The service will allow subscribers to change operators without changing numbers.

Already, the  Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, recently assured of the readiness of the government to flag off the MNP service soon.

“We are going ahead with Mobile Number Portability, because it is going to give subscribers lots of choice and freedom. MNP will bring new dimension to the competition in the industry. All network operators will have to work harder to earn the trust of subscribers, because they will now have choices.

”MNP will definitely give consumers varieties of choice but the major issue is for us to improve on our infrastructure and improve services, so that we don’t have to be moving from network to network,” she added. Also explaining how telecoms subscribers will benefit from the scheme, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said that when a phone user feels that another operator can offer him a better service than his current operator, mobile number portability will allow him to move and enjoy the coverage, quality or tariff of the new operator while retaining his old number.

Juwah said with number portability the operator can change but your number will be the same, noting that there are roles to be played by the subscriber which will make the process effective and successful, especially in validating the SIM Card Registration process.

“The number to be ported must be a SIM registered with the user’s current operator. The subscriber must physically visit the retail store/customer outlet of the new operator.

“A photo identification card must be presented to the new operator. This means, therefore, that there will be no proxy porting process. Also, a porting will be completed within 48 hours from the port request,” he added.

According to Juwah, Mobile Number Portability is a simple process and will be free; and for the porting process not to be subject to abuse and arbitrariness there will be porting windows, that is, the time within which an already ported number can be ported again.

“So, stakeholders will have to play their relevant roles for the process to work instead of waiting for the regulator to wave a magic wand to right everything, stressing that  MNP is a significant process that the regulator is embarking on at this time after all necessary documentation and will be guided to successful implementation,” he said.

President, Association of telecoms Companies for Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, had recently called on the NCC to ensure that all necessary measures were put in place before launching the service to avoid possible network problem.

Already, the Commission had released the guideline detailing the rules and regulations for implementing an MNP service in Nigeria.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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