TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ban

  • We’re waiting on Buhari’s promise to lift ban – Twitter

    We’re waiting on Buhari’s promise to lift ban – Twitter

    The social media platform, Twitter, which is currently banned in Nigeria, says it looks forward to being reinstated there following “productive” discussions with its government.

    Their statement follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement that the month-long ban on Twitter will be lifted, but only after certain conditions are met.

    An unnamed Twitter spokesperson said on Friday shortly after the president’s broadcast: “We continue to engage with the Nigerian government and we are committed to charting a path forward to the restoration of Twitter for everyone in Nigeria.

    “Discussions with the Nigerian government have been respectful and productive – we look forward to seeing the service restored very soon.”

    In June, the Nigerian government announced the suspension of the popular microblogging site from Nigeria, citing activities that allegedly threaten the country’s corporate existence on the platform.

    The ban came a day after Twitter deleted Buhari’s tweet threatening to deal with Igbo youths “in the language they understand”.

    The tweet was deemed genocidal as it referenced the onslaught of the Nigerian state against Biafrans during the civil war.

    Since then, Nigerians can only access the site by bypassing the government’s obstruction via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

    Attorney-General Abubakar Malami had earlier threatened to prosecute those who continue to use the platform but made a U-turn, saying only corporate entities were liable for prosecution.

    Following the global condemnation of the Twitter ban in Nigeria as well as other diplomatic interventions, the Buhari regime set up a panel to negotiate terms upon which the ban would be lifted in Nigeria.

  • [BREAKING] Independence Day Gift: Buhari orders conditional lifting of Twitter ban

    [BREAKING] Independence Day Gift: Buhari orders conditional lifting of Twitter ban

    In what appears like a surprise gift to Nigerians on the 61st anniversary of the nation’s independence, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he had directed a conditional lifting of the ban placed on the operations of the micro blogging site, Twitter, in Nigeria in June.

    The president disclosed this in his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 61st independence.

    He described the social media as a very useful platform but regretted that some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.

    The President said, “Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.

    “However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.

    “Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.

    “To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.

    “ Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.

    “The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are National Security and Cohesion; Registration, Physical presence and Representation; Fair Taxation; Dispute Resolution; and Local Content.

    “Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.

    “As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.”

  • FG bans over 2,000 Nigerians, foreigners from travelling abroad, coming into Nigeria for one year

    FG bans over 2,000 Nigerians, foreigners from travelling abroad, coming into Nigeria for one year

    The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has banned over 2,000 Nigerians and foreigners from traveling abroad and into the country for one year, for evading the Coronavirus Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the country’s international airports.

    The National Incident Manager (NIM) of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), Mukhtar Muhammad, disclosed this at its briefing on Monday, in Abuja.

    Muhammad said that the names of over 2,000 citizens’ and foreigners’ had been pasted at all the major federal medical facilities where medical experts were assigned to give care to Nigerians and foreigners that had travelled into the country during the COVID-19 third wave.

    He said government had insisted that passengers, who arrived into the country, especially from high risk countries, must be quarantined in a government provided facility, and that the passports of those who failed to comply with the protocol had been suspended for one year.

    “We have included the provision of quarantine for passengers, who arrived from high risk countries and people who evaded these protocols have been penalised by publishing their names, as well as suspending their passports for one year.

    “Let me assure you that so far we have published the list of over 2,000 people who evaded quarantine in our health facilities. And we have gone ahead to ensure that their passports are suspended, so, for every action there are consequences,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the PSC on May 1, 2021, issued a Travel Advisory for Passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey.

    The precautionary measures were a necessary step to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and breaking the chain of transmission to the population, according to the chairman, Boss Mustapha.

    Under the measures, passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of these three countries within fourteen (14) days prior to the visit to Nigeria, were required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities.

    But many passengers failed to observe the compulsory isolation or to present themselves for the PCR repeat test on day seven, various findings have shown.

    The PSC had previously also published names and passport numbers of defaulters.

  • 100 days after ban, FG gives updates on meetings with Twitter

    100 days after ban, FG gives updates on meetings with Twitter

    The Federal Government has again pledged to restore Twitter services in the country, hundred days after the tech giant was banned in Nigeria.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

    He said that the government is working hard to restore Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

    “Honestly, we have gone very far. I won’t be specific but we have gone very far,” the minister said.

    “Honestly, it is going to be very soon. Just take my words for that. Even Twitter itself gave a progress report on our talks with them.

    “If I want to quote them rightly, they said it has been quite productive and respectful. As to how soon is soon, if the operation has been successful for hundred days now, we are just talking about a few more days.

    “I can assure Nigerians that we are not unmindful of the anxiety and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Federal Government suspended Twitter operations on June 4 after the social media giant deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari for “violation of the company’s abusive behaviour policy”.

    A day after, the suspension was effected by telecommunications companies.

    The country joins nations like North Korea, China, and Iran in halting operations of the social media platform.

    In spite of the development, many in the country have devised means to sidestep the ban including the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

  • Judoka, coach banned 10-year each for quitting Tokyo Olympics to avoid Israeli

    Judoka, coach banned 10-year each for quitting Tokyo Olympics to avoid Israeli

    Algerian Fethi Nourine and his coach have been suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation (IJF).

    The sanction was for the act of withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics after the draw set him on course for a bout against an Israeli.

    The 30-year-old was due to face Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool for his first bout in the men’s 73-kg class.

    Victory would have paired him with Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the next round.

    Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible for him to compete against Butbul.

    The Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew the accreditation for both Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef and sent them home from the Tokyo Games.

    The IJF, which had temporarily suspended Nourine and Benikhlef, said the pair used the Games “as a platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda”.

    This breached the federation’s code of ethics and the Olympic Charter.

    The duo of Nourine and Benikhlef are banned from all IJF events and activities through to July 23, 2031.

    However, they can appeal their bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the IJF said in a statement.

    The incident was not the first time that Nourine had withdrawn from competition to avoid facing an Israeli opponent.

    He pulled out of the 2019 world championships in Tokyo for the same reason.

    Tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flared again this year as confrontations in contested Jerusalem triggered cross-border clashes

  • Insecurity: Kaduna govt bans transportation of livestock

    Insecurity: Kaduna govt bans transportation of livestock

    The Kaduna State Government on Thursday said it has banned the transportation of livestock to other states.

    Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, said, “after wide consultations and series of thorough security reviews, the Kaduna State Government has banned the transportation of livestock from the state to other states in the country.”

    He said the ban also prohibited the transportation of livestock into Kaduna State from other states, saying both bans take immediate effect

    According to him, the government also wishes to reiterate that the transportation of donkeys into the state is a criminal offence and anyone found engaging in this will be prosecuted accordingly.

    He said, the Kawo weekly market which usually holds every Tuesday in Kaduna North LGA has been suspended with immediate effect.

    “The Government of Kaduna State wishes to highlight that the previous directives suspending weekly markets, and selling of petrol in jerrycans in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru LGAs, as well as banning the felling of trees for timber, firewood and charcoal and other commercial purposes in Birnin Gwari, Kachia, Kajuru, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru LGAs, are still in force,” the statement added.

    “Citizens are hereby informed that all these directives will be vigorously enforced by security agencies.”

  • Twitter reacts to FG’s decision to lift ban

    Twitter reacts to FG’s decision to lift ban

    Social media giant Twitter has reacted to the decision by the Federal Government to lift the ban on the use of its platform in Nigeria.

    “We recently met with the Nigerian government to discuss why Twitter has been blocked and ways to resolve the matter,” a spokesperson for the microblogging site was quoted as saying by Reuters.

    “Our aim is to chart a path forward to the restoration of Twitter for everyone in Nigeria. We look forward to ongoing discussions with the Nigerian government and seeing the service restored very soon.”

    This followed the announcement by the Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that the government would lift the ban on Twitter in a matter of days.

    Mohammed who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday revealed that the status of the conversation with the social media giant had gotten to an amicable stage.

    He explained that agreements had been reached in all areas, except three that have been unresolved.

    One of the pending issues centres on the condition that Twitter establishes a legal presence registered as a Nigerian company with an office address and an employee to serve as a country representative in Nigeria.

    Although Twitter did not turn down the condition in totality, it insists that the earliest time it can establish a company will be by 2022.

    Before the ban on the microblogging site, millions of Nigerians, including public office holders and institutions make use of the platform for various purposes.

    Just like every other user expressing a view or sharing information, President Muhammadu Buhari posted a tweet on June 1.

    The President who received security reports from the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the series of attacks on its facilities had threatened to treat Nigerians “misbehaving” in “the language they understand”.

    “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigeria Civil War.

    “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” the Nigerian leader had said in his tweets.

    Barely a day after President Buhari tweeted, Twitter took down the post which it said violated its rules.

    Two days after the microblogging site took down the President’s tweet, the government announced that it had indefinitely suspended Twitter’s operations in the country.

    The persistent use of the platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence was one of the reasons cited.

    But the government said it had nothing to do with the deleted tweet.

    It had also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

    This sparked a widespread outcry from individuals and groups within the country, as well as members of the international community who asked the government to rescind its decision.

  • UAE relaxes ban on transit fights from Nigeria, five other countries

    UAE relaxes ban on transit fights from Nigeria, five other countries

    The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced that it was relaxing restrictions for inbound passengers from six countries, including Nigeria.

    The country’s National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) said the lifting of the restrictions will take effect from August 5.

    The country in January had announced a ban on transit flights from Nigeria as it battled a rise in COVID-19 cases.

    However Tuesday’s announcement will allow passengers from the six countries – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Uganda, and Nigeria – to be able to transit through UAE airports, as they present negative PCR tests taken 72 hours before departure.

    “Travel for transit passengers from all countries from which transit passengers have been suspended will be resumed in advance provided that the passenger’s last destination is accepted with a laboratory check-up within 72 hours of departure and state airports will allocate special lounges for transit passengers,” NCEMA said.

    “Emergencies, crises and civil aviation announce the exclusion of new categories of passengers from some of the banned countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda, as of August 5.

    “These categories include those with valid residency permits who have received full vaccination doses in the UAE and 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose and who have vaccination certificates approved by the official authorities in the country.”

  • CAF bans Enyimba FC captain for one year

    CAF bans Enyimba FC captain for one year

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned the Captain of Enyimba football club, Oladapo Augustine for a year over a doping violation.

    Announcing the ban via a statement on Monday, CAF said it found the prohibited substance “Prednisolone/Prednisone” in urine collected from Oladapo after the Total CAF Confederation Cup 2020/2021 first leg fixture in Cairo.

    Prednisone is an anti-inflammatory steroid prescribed to treat conditions such as asthma, COPD, and rheumatologic diseases.

    “CAF Disciplinary Board decided to suspend the player Augustine Oladapo from all football-related activities for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of notification of the provisional suspension namely 4th July 2021,” the statement partly read.

    The ban, according to CAF, commenced from 4th July 2021, the date of notification of the provisional suspension.

    CAF added, “The result of the player Oladapo Augustine urine test in Bottle “A” which was collected in match N °153 between Pyramids FC (Egypt) Vs Enyimba FC (Nigeria), played on 16th of May 2021 in the frame of Total CAF Confederation Cup 2020/2021 was considered positive due to the presence of a prohibited substance “Prednisolone/Prednisone”.

    “On 18th June 2021, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was informed of the result and asked the player to indicate if he wishes to request the analysis of sample “B”.

    “On 22nd June, CAF received the reply of Enyimba club through NFF indicating that the player has elected to not request the analysis of the ‘B’ sample.

    “The club had indicated that any trace of the prohibited substance might have resulted from the prescribed medication the player was on during the same period, and they have communicated the club’s doctor’s report detailing the medications that were prescribed.

    “The player Oladapo Augustine was provisionally suspended from all football activities until a final decision is rendered by CAF Disciplinary Board.”

    Earlier in May, the People’s Elephant midfielder tested positive for a banned substance in a routine test carried out on him after the two-time CAF Champions League winner’s game against Pyramid FC of Egypt.

  • Siasia hails CAS on FIFA ban reduction, laments NFF neglect

    Siasia hails CAS on FIFA ban reduction, laments NFF neglect

    Former Super Eagles Chief Coach Samson Siasia on Friday commended the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for reducing his life ban from football to five years.

    Siasia, while briefing newsmen in Abuja, said CAS judgment was a big relief worth celebrating, adding however that he had wished the ban was completely cleared.

    “I want to thank CAS for their judgment which has given me hope to return back to what I know how best to do.

    “I’m happy I’m gradually out of the hook, because in a couple of years I will go back to what I know how best to do,” he said.

    Siasia however decried the fact that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) did not give him any support throughout his trying period, in spite of his meritorious service to the nation.

    The former Super Eagles forward added that most of his colleagues even abandoned him, except for a few who supported him.

    The coach who at different times led the national under-20 and under-23 teams to continental honours however commended the Nigerian media, particularly those in the sports sector, for standing by him.

    “Even my close friends abandoned me. Even, for the Legends Game organised by FIFA, I have not been invited again.

    “I don’t know what I did to them even when I wasn’t guilty of what I was accused of,” he said.

    Siasia however contended that his case was supposed to be a government problem.

    “When the life ban pronouncement was first declared by FIFA, I met with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development who barely resumed office then and briefed him, But all the minister could say was that there was no money.

    “But I have invested in human beings in this country by training lots of young players who are stars today.

    “How will I fight FIFA? I don’t have that strength, but the government can stand up and stand for me. But everyone left me in the dark,” he said.

    On whether he was going to further appeal, the coach said he was going to consult with his lawyers in Switzerland, especially as it (the appeal) would cost about 100,000 euros.

    “I will have to meet with my lawyers and decide what next to do in the next couple of days.

    “If am going to go for appeal, we have to be sure of what will come out of it. I don’t want to think or talk about how much has been spent. If I have to appeal to CAS, I’m going to cough out at least 100,000 euros,” he explained.

    An associate of Siasia, Opukiri Jones-Ere, frowned at NFF’s neglect of a man he described as a legend in the country’s Football history.

    “It’s very unfortunate that not even a word came from NFF. It’s not just appalling, but disappointing. If Nigerian football authorities can’t come out to say anything, it’s rather regrettable.

    “NFF has not come out to say, maybe ‘there’s no money, but we are behind you’ even when the current NFF president is from the same side of the country. Other African nations are watching.

    “Instead, in the peak of the trial, even an official vehicle with Siasia was withdrawn from him,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CAS delivered its judgement on Monday and also dismissed the fine of 50,000 Swiss Francs he was ordered to pay.

    In August 2019, FIFA announced that Siasia had been found guilty of accepting an offer to receive bribes in an attempt to manipulate the outcome of matches.

    Sisia however denied the allegation and took the matter to CAS.