TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ban

  • Russia 2018: World Cup referee banned for life

    A World Cup-bound referee has been banned for life for a match-fixing attempt in Saudi Arabia just weeks before he was due to fly to Russia, says the country’s football federation.

    The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) says Fahad Al Mirdasi confessed to offering to fix the King’s Cup final between Al Ittihad and Al Faisaly.

    According to the SAFF, 32-year-old Al Mirdasi contacted an Al Ittihad official, who handed the messages over.

    Fifa has requested more information.

    “Fifa notes the information that referee Fahad Al Mirdasi has allegedly been banned from all football-related activities by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF),” the world governing body told BBC Sport.

    The SAFF added that Al Mirdasi, who has been a Fifa referee since 2011, admitted soliciting the corrupt payment after being taken into police custody.

    British former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg – who became Saudi Arabia’s head of referees in February 2017 – replaced Al Mirdasi for Saturday’s King’s Cup final, which Al Ittihad won 3-1 after extra time.

  • Codeine ban: NDLEA arrests 17 suspects in Ilorin

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara Ccommand, has arrested 17 suspects in different parts of the state while trying to smuggle the drug to other destinations for sale.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had banned companies from producing codeine.

    Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin, the state Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Onah Ogilegwu, said his men arrested 13 suspects with assorted drugs in different locations across the state.

    He said: “13 suspects were arrested at various locations by the Air Force authority in Ilorin and transferred to the command with assorted hard drugs,” he said.

    Ogilegwu stated that the Command on Saturday nabbed another two suspects with 12 cartons of codeine containing 600 bottles of the product.

    “The two suspects were in the taxi trying to travel down north with the drug but my men intercepted their car and while checking they discovered 12 cartons of codeine.

    “They confessed that they are travelling to Kaduna with the drugs to deliver them to a man.

    “They said that they have been involved and making money from the business for a very long time.”

    He added that on Tuesday another two suspects were arrested along Tanke area, Ilorin, by personel of the agency.

    “Surveillance was placed in the area following a tip off. Men of the command swung into action and the two suspects arrested are presently undergoing investigation,” he explained.

    Ogilegwu charged all drug sellers and producers to abide by directives to submit banned substances in order to receive commendation from the command,” adding that failure to do so will lead to arrest of culprits.

    He added that other assorted drugs like Tramadol should be placed on poison box by the pharmacists and should be sold strictly on medical doctor’s recommendation.

    “Any other vendor found selling drugs aside licensed pharmacists will face the wrath of the law when arrested,” he warned.

    He also urged the Federal Government to fast track a bill to ban production, sales and distribution of the drugs.

    NAN

  • Codeine ban not because of BBC documentary – FG

    The Federal Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that its decision to ban codeine as a pharmaceutical agent did not follow a report by the BBC that highlighted the danger of the substance.

    Olajide Oshundun, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement that the announcement on May 1 only coincided with the publication of the BBC documentary which started running on April 30.

    “The body of the statement released by the ministry yesterday indicated that a working committee had been constituted by the government and they submitted an interim report,” he said.

    “The memorandum was submitted on April 30 and it was due to that the minister took the step to ban codeine and that is why the statement was issued. It was only a coincidence that the government took action almost immediately after BBC’s broadcast,” Oshundun said.

    “The government did not take action due to the report,” he emphasised. “The action was done as a result of the memorandum.”

    The Committee on the Codeine Control Working and other related Matter Group (CCRWG) was set up on January 23, by the Minister of Health Isaac Adewole in Abuja.

    In February, Oluwatoyin Odeku, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Ibadan who chaired the CCRWG, provided an update about the work of her committee and said codeine addition amongst married women was on the rise.

    The ministry also shared a link holding the memorandum document on its website. The link showed that an immediate ban of codeine was the first of 13 recommendations made by the committee.

    The BBC reported on Tuesday that the ban on codeine came as a result of its story, even though the broadcaster noted that a ministry spokesperson had clarified that the action was the culmination of a long time effort aimed at curbing codeine addiction and its attendant social implications.

    In 2016, an investigation by the Nigeria-based International Centre for Investigative Reporting published a two-part investigation into how codeine and other substantives were threatening a generation of young Nigerians of northern origin.

    The BBC story received widespread mention following its broadcast on Monday, with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Aisha Buhari commending the British broadcaster for its public service endeavour.

     

  • I don’t sing songs that encourages anyone to do the wrong thing- 9ice

    Akande Abolore, better known as 9ice has reacted over the recent ban placed by the National Broadcasting Commission on his song, ‘Living things’.

    Recall that his colleague, Falz had slammed him subtly over his lyrics in an interview.

    According to him:” You are an entertainer, in a position as a role model to younger ones, and in your music record you are singing and greeting all the yahoo boys, all the fraudsters, you are calling their name personally, you are hailing them… Calling them, hailing wire wire, all of these make them believe that it is good and it is not. You are destroying our future”.

    When asked to react to the ban of his song, he revealed that he isn’t aware of the ban, adding that he had been out of the country performing at shows.

    Hear him:” My song has been banned again?I am surprised that they banned my songs because most of my music is to inspire the youths to work hard and ensure they do things the right way. I don’t sing songs that would encourage anyone to do the wrong thing. I have been in this industry for a while and I know better than to do such because I know a lot of people look up to me in the society” he told Punch.

    Why Tekno rejected model-for-video shoot- Paul Gambit

  • #BBNaija: Big Brother bars housemates from taking alcohol, smoking

    Big Brother has placed an injunction on housemates from drinking alcohol, smoking and using swear words in the house till Friday.

     

    The ban on offensive language and drunkenness was proclaimed by Miracle, the new head of house.

    “No swear words, no alcohol and smoking till Friday,” Miracle read out the new rules to his dumbfounded fellow contenders on Tuesday morning.

    The housemates are not happy with the ban.

    Reacting to the ban, Teddy-A, said: “Make I go sleep since I can’t smoke something. Big Brother is targeting some people”.

    7 million deaths, but Nigeria is doing nothing to curtail Tobacco smoking

  • Boko Haram: Borno State Govt bans vehicular movement on three highways

    The Borno State government has banned vehicular movement on three major roads in the state due to the ongoing military clearance operation against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information and Culture Affairs Dr Bukar Bulama made the announcement yesterday in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Bulama added that the government had prohibited vehicular movement on the roads to be observed between January 30 and February 4.

    He listed the affected roads to include Konduga – Bama – Banki; Bama – Gwoza and Maiduguri – Damboa – Gwoza.

    Bulama said the action was based on the advice of the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He noted that the measures was imperative to prevent fleeing Boko Haram insurgents escaping military offensive in the Sambisa Forest from infiltrating the communities.

    “This is to inform the general public that, beginning from 30th January and 4th February, 2018, civilian vehicular movement on Konduga – Bama – Banki, Bama – Gwoza and Maiduguri (from Moloi axis) – Damboa – Gwoza road is hereby prohibited.

    “This action is taken in the interest of security of life and property of citizen of the state, based on advice of the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole”.

    Bulama added that the government regretted inconveniences the temporary restriction might cause the people.

    He reiterated the commitment of the government to the protection of lives and property as well as restoration of peace to the state.

    The commissioner called on the people to be vigilante and report suspicious movements or persons in their communities to security agencies.

    “The usual understanding, support, cooperation, prayers and strict compliance to the order by all and sundry is highly solicited,” he said.

     

  • Wo video ban: I’m not promoting tobacco to get people killed – Olamide

    Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide badoo has reacted to the airplay ban NBC (National Broadcasting Commission) placed on his latest song ‘Wo’.

    The YBNL boss in a tweet says he has no intention of promoting tobacco to get people killed with his music. The ban came after Federal Ministry of Health led by honourable Minister Isaac Adewole said Olamide’s new street anthem ‘WO’ is in violation of Tobacco Control Act 2015.

    It warned that ‘Wo’ video had “dangerous public health content”.

    Speaking, the YBNL boss said he loves Nigerians and has no intentions of promoting tobacco in Nigeria.

    On his twitter page @Olamide_YBNL, the music star wrote: “No intentions of promoting tobacco to get people killed.

    “I love my people, I love my country, one love, one Nigeria #ClearTheAir Oya Wo!”berop

    Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of health has praised Olamide for coming out to speak against the alleged tobacco promotion in his Wo video.

    Reacting to Olamide’s tweet, the health ministry replied via their official handle, “We are in the business of public health promotion. It is not in our mandate to ban music. We thank Olamide for his cooperation. One Nigeria!”

  • Trump bars transgenders from serving in US military

    President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that transgender people may not serve “in any capacity” in the US military, citing the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” their presence would cause.

    In late June, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis had delayed for six months a plan put in place under Barack Obama’s administration to start accepting transgender recruits.

    An estimated 2,500 to 7,000 transgender people are among the 1.3 million active duty service members.

    But, former Defence Secretary Ash Carter had given the military until July to develop policies around allowing people who had already identified as transgender to join the military if they met physical, medical, and other standards.

    Military chiefs had argued that they needed more time to assess policy, and requested an extension of six months past July.

    There isn’t an official tally of transgender people serving in the military, but Mr Carter quoted an estimate from the think tank Rand last year when making his decision, saying that there are around 2,450 transgender personnel in some active position in the US military. Other groups like the Transgender American Veterans Association, American Military Partner Association, and OutServe-SLDN have said that the figure is higher at 15,500 transgender personnel in the military.

    There are approximately 1.3 million active service members in the US military, and 1,510 in the Select Reserve.

    Following the loosening of restrictions on transgender people last year, there were as many as 250 service members who had announced they were in the process of changing their gender identity, or who had been approved for a formal gender change in the Pentagon’s personnel system.

     

  • FG cannot dictate to the entertainment Industry – Entertainers react to FG’s proposed ban on shooting music videos abroad

    Entertainers have taken a stand against the federal government’s plan to ban shooting of music videos and films abroad. The purported plan made known to the Minister of Information, Alhaji. Lai Mohammed recently in Lagos has sparked off reactions among popular Nigerian entertainers saying the planned policy will do more harm than good to the Nigerian economy.

     

    TheNewsGuru in an exclusive chat with some of these showbiz practitioners reports that they urge the federal government to lead by example.

    Nigerian Afro-pop singer and CEO, Next World Entertainment, Jaywon opines that the federal government needs to be part of what the Nigerian entertainment Industry has become.

     

    According to him:” They should be proud of us for putting Nigeria on the entertainment map of the world without structures or enabling environment from the government”.

    He notes that If the government wants the planned policy to work, then they should lead by example.

    “If they want us to do everything in Nigeria they should lead by example. As a good leader or father, you should lead by example”, he said

    Nigerian soulful singer Gt Da Guitarman argues that though made in Nigerian goods and services are good for the economy, but there the country lacks the conducive environment needed to get things done .

     

     

    He says:” While encouraging our local industries and patronising Made in Nigeria goods and services is a great move to grow our GDP If the opportunity cost of choosing to produce a particular good and service is lower for one nation than for others, then that nation is said to have a comparative advantage.

     

    “It is simple economics. If it’s cheaper to get better quality out of the country at a reduced price, it’s dumb for any serious businessman to continue patronising all in the name of buying Nigeria. There is no conducive environment to get things done here from the epileptic power supply to security amongst several other issues. So before the government will say such, I will say to them:” Put your house in order”.

     

    He added that Nigerian entertainers represent the whole of Africa and have grown beyond the shores of Nigeria.

     

    “Also, our artistes are not just local artistes, now they represent the whole of Africa, we are multi national brands with fans all around the world and Nigeria is just a market out of many others.

    “The entertainment industry is a goldmine and can be a major revenue earner for the country if she so wishes to tap into it. I find it rather cheesy that the government wants to dictate to an industry they didn’t support. We cry daily on deaf ears about piracy amongst other ills” he laments.

     

     

     

    Yemi Alade, aka “Mama Africa”, stated her fears through her Instagram page, saying that the policy would hinder the growing collaboration between Nigerian singers, their international counterparts, and the global competitiveness of the Nigerian music.

    “So will all the money artists have spent shooting videos that are yet to be released be refunded?

    “You might think that a musical video is just a thing we do! It’s a business! You don’t understand. .The video directors we use around the world are also Nigerians,” she said.

     

     

    UK based Nigerian RnB singer, Janine Ayorinde Temitope a.k.a Ms Jaie sees the subject matter from a different point of view. She affirms that the government doesn’t understand the language of the people.

    “It is issues like this that made me leave the country. The government needs a union; it does not understand the language of the people”.

     

    Nollywood actress, Chinenye Uyanna notes that the federal government needs to focus on other pressing issues rather than trying to regulate an industry they have not contributed to.

    “I think the FG is just confused. They can’t ban us from filming abroad. FG should focus on pressing issues and leave the entertainment industry alone.

    “They can’t regulate what they didn’t build or know nothing about. They should also ban their kids from schooling abroad and ban themselves from travelling abroad for medical treatment.

     

    “Even the presidency should stop taking all those trips for medication abroad when they can use our ‘made-in-Nigeria’ doctors. My point is, let them lead by example. Charity, they say begins at home…let them lead, and then we can follow. The truth is, the government needs to attend to more pressing needs like how to stabilise electricity and reduce tariffs, how to provide other basic amenities to help improve the standard of living of her masses.

     

    “A lot needs to be done and this call for a ban isn’t top on the list of the problems we have as a country. I pray that God gives this government direction to know exactly how to tackle the numerous problems we have in our dear country”.

     

     

    For Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Yetunde Bakare the purported policy is a misplaced priority. She says: “It doesn’t make sense at all in as their children schools abroad and they do go for treatment there too. They don’t have any right to tell artistes where they should do business. They should live by example and make Nigeria a better place first; honestly, to me, it’s a misplaced priority”.

     

    In the same vein, light skinned actress and movie producer, Bukola Ojo says:” Banning music videos and movies being shot abroad is a wrong move for the federal government, what government involves herself in issues like this? Artistes should be able to shoot wherever they want to, whenever. Nigeria has more pressing issues than all these trivialities”.

     

     

    Nigerian rapper and CEO Twentieth September Wears, Ruggedman in an open letter to Lai Mohammed, minister of culture and tourism, criticises the proposed plan.

    “It is wrong to try to bully your way into the Nigerian entertainment industry you did nothing to help build. It is absurd to say you will ban entertainers from shooting music videos or movies abroad. Your reason is that we go there to enrich their economy with Nigeria’s money.

    “If you want entertainers to stop going abroad to shoot music videos and movies, then government officials should stop going abroad for medical checkups, vacations etc.

    “We can use all those billions spent in funding foreign economies to equip our schools, hospitals and other parastatals”.

     

     

  • I Go Dye react to ban on movie, music production abroad

    I Go Dye react to ban on movie, music production abroad

    Ace humour merchant, I Go Dye, born Francis Agoda has reacted to Federal government’s planned ban on music videos and movies being shot abroad.

    The Warri born comedian in his Instagram post urged the federal government to partner with the entertainment industry, rather than creating unfavourable policies.

    According to him:“Undoubtedly, entertainment: Music, Comedy, Sport and Film productions are the highest-ranking human resource export from Nigeria. The government should protect their intellectual property and invest into its capacity building.

     

    “I have observed with keen interest the recent reports credited to the honourable minister of information and culture, proposing to ban the production of our indigenous films abroad.

     

    “Instead of such pronouncements, I expect a mutual partnership with government and all stake holders in the entertainments industry.

     

    “What level of support has government provided to a growth of entertainment in terms of protecting their works?

     

    “Piracy is still on the high, most of the actors, actresses and producers do not earn what is obtainable in other parts of the world in terms of technical, social support and general contribution to their well being. I recommend that instead of putting laws to check the issue of films produced outside Nigeria.

     

    “Government should invest in the sector to develop it, introduce partnership that will bring about government earning funds from the services provided through technical equipment, logistic sites, and the establishment of a standard Nollywood village.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWrjeTYAKaN/?taken-by=igodye_

    “More so soft loans should be provided to aid film production, while the ministry of information and culture should engage the film writer and producers to build contents that can significantly profile our image as a country instead of confrontation, which will not be in the best interest of both the government and the artistes.”

     

    I Go Dye joins entertainers like Yemi Alade, Peter Okoye and Ruggedman who have reacted over the trending issue.