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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • FG not prohibiting foreign production of films, music videos- Lai Mohammed

    Contrary to social media outrage over the proposed ban on music videos and films shot outside Nigeria, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has debunked saying that the Federal Government will ban the production of movies and music videos shot outside Nigeria.

    The Minister made the clarification on Tuesday during a Creative Industry Financing Conference with the theme ‘Financing the Film, Television and Music Industries,’ held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island.

    He noted that the Federal Government would not alter the aspirations and rights of the artistes and producers

    According to him: “At COSON, I said that I would work to amend the National Broadcasting Commission’s code to ensure that if a product is designated a Nigerian product, it must be produced in Nigeria. I didn’t say that, henceforth, all music and films would or must be produced in Nigeria.

     

    “All I said was that if a programme is designated as a Nigerian content programme, we will amend the code to ensure that it is produced in Nigeria. I didn’t say I’ll ban the production of Nigerian movies and videos overseas.”

     

    Entertainers like Ruggedman, Yemi Alade, GT Da Guitarman, and Jaywon had earlier shared their opinions on the misconstrued statement made by the minister.

     

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

  • FG announces $1m venture capital to support entertainment industry

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of information and culture on Monday announced the establishment of a one million dollar Venture Capital to boost the Creative Industry.

     

    The minister made the statement at the opening of a two-day Creative Industry Financing Conference holding in Lagos.

     

    According to him, 20 people, each investing 50,000 dollars are expected to help make up the required amount.

     

    The minister said so far, five people had offered to invest 50,000 dollars each and expressed the optimism that more investors would come forward.

     

    Mohammed said the Venture Capital would provide seed money for young and talented Nigerians to set up businesses in the Creative Industry.

     

    He said that the conference was considered with a view to taking the Creative Industry into a golden era of smooth access to short and long term financing.

     

    According to him, the conference is being jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Think Tank Media,

     

    Mohammed said the government was according great attention to the Creative Industry because of its capacity to create one million jobs in three years, boost the economy and allow the creative talents of the youths to blossom.

     

    The conference was declared open by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

     

     

  • Why we are stopping shoot of movies, music abroad — Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has given reasons why the Federal Government is discontinuing showbiz practitioners from shooting their jobs outside Nigeria. Lai Mohammed made this known when he spoke at the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) House in Lagos.

     

    Mohammed said the proposed ban would help confront the exploitation of perceived gaps in the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, NBC.

    According to him:”The NBC code today as it stands has been exploited and not defined and that’s why movies being directed by Nigerians with Nigerian actors, actresses can be shot in South Africa and then brought back to be consumed in Nigeria. All we are saying is that we are going to amend the code in a manner that it will not be possible for you to exploit any loophole there to go and shoot outside Nigeria film, music or programs that are meant to be consumed in Nigeria” he told Premium Times.

     

    He stressed that the proposed ban isn’t directed at any particular incident. Hear him:”It is not directed at any particular incident, every country should respect the local industry of other countries. For example, in Ghana, they introduced a law today that demands visiting actors to pay a thousand dollars to the government coffers while visiting directors and producers pay 5,000 dollars. We must create an enabling environment and also generate revenue from our creative industry. The argument is simple, when you go to shoot a film offshore, you use the work force of that country to develop the capacity of that country and you improve the economy of that country and that is what we are trying to do here.”

     

  • Music videos, films must be shot in Nigeria- FG

    The Federal government has declared that steps are being taken to discourage the production of Nigerian films and music videos outside the country.

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed made this statement on Saturday in Lagos when he paid a visit to the headquarters of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

     

    Mohammed condemned the situation whereby films, reality TV shows and music were made outside Nigeria for consumption by Nigerians.

     

    He said the situation had hindered empowerment of practitioners in the industry, the development of the sector and the nation’s economy in general.

    Hear him “This government has agreed that henceforth, whatever we consume in Nigeria in terms of music and films, must be made in Nigeria,” he said.

     

    “We cannot continue to go to South Africa or any other country to produce our films and then send them back to be consumed in Nigeria.

     

    “The Broadcasting Code and the Advertising Code are very clear on this. For you to classify a product as a Nigerian product, it must have a certain percentage of Nigerian content.”

     

    The Minister noted that what was happening today was that Nigerian artists were often flown out of this country to go and make their recordings.

     

    “When they get there, they will patronise the economy of that country and then bring the products back to Nigeria for us to consume.

     

    “It is like somebody going to China or Japan to make a product that looks like palm wine and bring it back home to label it Nigerian palm wine.”

     

    “It is Nigerians that pay for the consumption of these products and therefore they must be allowed and encouraged to participate in their production.

     

    “I am going to meet with the relevant stakeholders over this, to see that whatever amendment that is needed to be made to our Broadcasting Code in this regard, is done urgently,” he said.

     

     

  • Presidency/Senate faceoff: We’ll resolve crisis amicably – Lai Mohammed

    Presidency/Senate faceoff: We’ll resolve crisis amicably – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed on Wednesday in Abuja assured that the fresh crisis between the Presidency and Upper Chamber of the National Assembly would be resolved amicably.

    The minister gave the assurance when he briefed State House correspondents alongside the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Malami as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello after the Federal Executive Cabinet, FEC meeting.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Executive Council meeting was presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Mohammed revealed that the threat by the Senate was briefly discussed during the Council’s meeting.

    “Clearly it came up at the meeting but the fact of the matter is that we have a very excellent mechanism for resolving whatever issues are between us and the National Assembly and that is being addressed.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senate on Tuesday frowned at a statement credited to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that the Upper Chamber had no power to confirm certain political appointments being made by the presidency.

    The Senate, therefore, in a four-prayer motion, resolved to suspend all confirmation requests from the executive until decisions of the legislature is respected by the presidency.

    The decision of the Senate arose from a motion raised by Sen. Sani Yerima, following a letter requesting the confirmation of Lanre Gbajabiamila as Director-General of the National Lottery Commission.

    Abubakar Malami, who also commented on the matter, dismissed the assertion that the Council had never discussed the issue of confirmation of nominations or otherwise by the senate.

    He said: “Well the fundamental consideration about the alleged statement is the fact that at no point ever the federal executive council sat down to arrive at the decision in one way or the other as far as the issue of nomination or otherwise is concerned.”

    Malami also disclosed that the council approved a National Anti-Corruption Strategy to further consolidate the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

    He maintained that the anti-corruption strategy would serve as a roadmap to strengthen the enforcement and sanctions in the crusade against corruption.

    “Well, as you are all aware, anti-corruption is one of the major points and major drive of this administration and arising from that the government had overtime recorded very positive progress and development in that direction.

    “As it relates to the idea of the prevention of corruption, a lot of policies were put in place and they have proven to be successful.

    “Policy relating to Bank Verification Number, Single Treasury Account, policy relating to whistleblowing; policy relating to open government partnership and associated policies have all proven (to be) very effective in establishing transparency, accountability and blockage of linkages associated with corruption.’’

    The FCT Minister disclosed that the Council approved the four memoranda presented by his Ministry.

    He stated that the projects approved included final engineering design for ring road number four at a cost of N242 million to be completed in six months.

    “Others are final engineering design for sewage system in the FCT at a cost of N241 million to be completed in 9 months and final engineering design for completion of water treatment plant in the city at a cost of N233 million,’’ Bello said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a one-minute silence was observed at the beginning of the Council’s meeting in honour of elder statesman and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Minister in the First Republic, Alhaji Maitama Sule who died on Monday at the age of 88 years.

  • Stop beating drums of war – FG warns Nigerians

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has admonished those beating drums of war through hate speeches and divisive statements to desist in the interest of the nation’s unity and safety.

    The minister gave the advise on Saturday at the “Lai Mohammed 10th Annual Ramadan Lecture” held in his country home, Oro, Kwara.

    Lai Mohammed expressed concerns over the rate of inflammatory statements capable of causing division and war in the country in recent times.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard those who were engaged in hate speeches as well as their purveyors.

    “In the last couple of months, we have witnessed the increase inflammatory and hate speeches.

    “Hate speeches have been responsible for wars. Rwandan genocide where more than 800,000 people were killed was started by hate speeches.

    “Like people say, wars are not really started by bullets, they are started by words of mouth.

    “Nigeria is too big and God has a purpose for making us one and we shall remain united.

    “There will be differences, but like the Yoruba says, “Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo” (beheading is not antidote to headache).

    “We have been living together peacefully and we will continue to live together, because we have a lot to gain by being united.

    “If there is war today, none of us will escape whether you are young or old whether you are Yoruba, Igbo of Hausa ,” he said.

    The Minister recounted a story he said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo narrated on the dire consequences of the Rwanda war on two judges from that country.

    “The Acting President told us a story that in 1982, he was a young lecturer in the University of Lagos and two Supreme Court Judges came visiting from Rwanda.

    “He said ten years later, in 1992, he went to work in Rwanda and on the street with a bowl in hand looking for food were the Supreme Court Judges that he saw in Lagos.

    “This shows that when there is war, the young, the old, the rich and the poor, we are all victims,” he said.

    The Minister stressed that Nigerians must work together, understand their differences and must never pray for war.

    Mohammed thanked those who attended the lecture noting that their presence was key to its success.

    He said the Ramadan lecture, the tenth in the series, was unique because it’s attendance cuts across religions and denomination.

    The Minister explained that the presence of Christian faithfuls at the event was an indication that Nigerians, irrespective of their religious leaning, could work and live together.

  • VIDEO: Why Buhari is yet to release El-Zakzaky – Lai Mohammed

    …Says he (El-Zakzaky) is in ‘protective custody’

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the leader of the Islamic Movement In Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, is still in protective custody because the federal government is yet to build him a house as ordered by the court.

    According to the Minister, the court ruled that El-Zakzaky be released after his house has been rebuilt.

    He explained that nobody in the country wants to accept him as a neighbour, adding that the federal government decided to keep him in a safe place in Abuja.

    Mohammed maintained that contrary to reports, the Shiite leader, who was arrested by the Army in December 2015, is not in prison, Department of State Services or police custody.

    Rather, he said El-Zakzaky is in protective custody with his family, adding that the Federal government cannot be accused of disobeying court orders with regards to the Shiite leader and the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).

    Lai spoke during a monitored programme on Channels television on Thursday.

    In his words: “I think there is a lot of deliberate misunderstanding on these issues. Number one, if a judgment is given and that judgment is appealed, you cannot accuse the government of violating that order if the appeal has not been decided.

    “Two, in the case of El-Zakzaky, how many Nigerians know that El-Zakzaky is not in prison custody, police custody nor DSS custody? El-Zakzaky is in a house with his family. This is the honest truth.

    “He is in what is called protective custody. The court ruled that he be released after his house has been rebuilt but nobody wants to accept El-Zakzaky as a neighbour. So, we have been unable to build the house. So, where do we release him to?

    “In the case of Dasuki, every government will always thread this very thin line between personal liberty and national security. And I think you must give the government the credit to determine what is national security. In the case of Sambo Dasuki, the issue is a grave one.

    “If the person is in possession of $1.2 billion; there are records that he moved in one day $1.2 billion in two transactions – we know the banks he moved them to. And you refused to tell us what you have done with that money, I don’t think it would be prudent to jeopardise the national security of a whole nation because of the individual freedom of one person. Because with $1.2 billion, you can destabilise a whole country.

    “You see, all those who have been disturbing us about rule of law or the other, I just wish they would have the opportunity to be in government for a short time and they will see how difficult it is to balance personal freedom with national security.”

    See video below:

  • Disregard threat by Northern youth – FG

    The Federal Government has, on Wednesday, asked Nigerians to remain calm and disregard the threat issued to Igbos by the Northern youth.

    A coalition of Northern youth, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, had in a press conference asked that Igbos vacate the North and the Hausas in the South to return home.

    Speaking to newsmen after the FEC meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said security measures have been taken already.

    “The issue of one or two groups issuing statements that are capable of destabilizing the polity did not just start today or did not start yesterday.

    “What I want to assure you is that security organizations are very very much on top of this matter.”

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com reported yesterday that prominent Northern youth associations on Tuesday after a joint meeting tagged ‘Kaduna Declaration’ issued a serious threat to Igbos residing in the region to vacate on or before October 1 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) 2017 or face physical attacks.

    Their declaration was premised on the shut-down of major towns in south eastern part of the country on May 30, by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their sponsors.

    The Northern youth organisations, which had their arrowheads in attendance, include Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network on The Igbo Persistence for Recession among others, stated categorically that, never again will they fold their hands and a time has come to take their destiny into their hands.

  • Why Buhari wont release Dasuki, El-Zakzaky, others despite court orders – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has explained why the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is flouting court orders regarding release of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) and leader/founder of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, widely known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

    Mohammed said the government flouts court orders in the interest of national security.

    The minister said this while featuring on Osasu show.

    Responding to a question on why Dasuki and El-Zakzaky have continued to remain in detention, Mohammed said the judiciary does not have the entire picture on the cases.

    Mohammed said, “Every government will balance national security with human rights; every country in the world. It is the level of the balancing.

    “As a government, I will balance national security against human rights; and then I will take a decision. Because there is security, there is stability, that the courts also exist.

    “What I am saying (is) that the court has ruled but the court does not have the entire picture when it comes to national security. I am a lawyer too, therefore I have utmost respect for the judiciary”.

    The Minister stressed that Nigerians cannot pick one or two cases and conclude that the Buhari government is a government of impunity.

    “You cant pick two, three cases which bother on national security to condemn a whole government and say this government is a government of impunity.

    “How many cases are determined daily in Nigeria? I still say every government has that right to balance national security”, he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that there has been several court rulings ordering the release of both Dasuki and El-Zakzaky from detention.

  • Buhari in competent hands, no cause for alarm – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, again on Wednesday assured Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London, the United Kingdom for medical follow-up.

    He said the President was in competent hands in the British capital.

    Mohammed gave the assurance State House correspondents a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    “On the issue of the President’s health, Mr. President is in very competent hands and there is no cause for alarm,” the minister said while responding to a question on the current health status of the President.

    The minister also gave an indication that the Presidency may not sign the 2017 Appropriation Bill recently passed by the National Assembly anytime soon.

    He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies were still busy scrutinising the document forwarded by the Federal lawmakers.

    “On the issue of budget, Ministries, Departments and Agencies are still going through their budgets and they are coordinating with the Minister of Budget and National Planning,” he simply said.

    Buhari left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on May 7 for a follow-up consultation with his doctors.

    His wife, Aisha, on Tuesday, left the country to join him in London.

    According to a statement by her spokesperson, Bisi Olumide-Ajayi, the President’s wife thanked Nigerians who have been praying for her husband.

    The statement read, “The wife of the President, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari today (Tuesday) left for the United Kingdom.

    “Her Excellency will spend some time with her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is presently on medical vacation.

    “She expressed her appreciation to the millions of Nigerians who have been praying for his quick and safe return.”

    Mrs. Buhari’s journey came three weeks after her husband embarked on his latest medical vacation.