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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • BREAKING: Buhari appoints Dembos as NTA Director-General

    BREAKING: Buhari appoints Dembos as NTA Director-General

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr Salihu  Dembos as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the appointment in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In the statement signed by Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the minister said the appointment is for a tenure of three years in the first instance.

    Adeyemi is a Special Assistant to the President (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture

    As contained in the statement, “until his appointment, Dembos was the Executive Director, Marketing, of the NTA.

    “Dembos’ career as a media professional spans over 20 years.

    “He has served as General Manager of two NTA Stations, in Lokoja and Kano; and as Zonal Director, NTA, Kaduna, among other appointments”.

  • Insecurity: The worst is over – FG

    Insecurity: The worst is over – FG

    The Federal Government says the worst is over with regards to the daunting security challenges in the country. It added that terrorists, bandits and their cohorts will never hold sway anywhere in the country.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing he jointly addressed with some of his colleagues.

    Others are Ministers of Defence Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.

    Mohammed said the security challenges the country had faced were daunting and ranged from terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, crude oil theft, armed robbery and sundry crimes.

    He added that the challenges were undoubtedly the greatest to the peace and security of the country since the 1967 to 1970 civil war.

    “It is the kind of challenge that would have overwhelmed many nations, but thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Today, we are here to tell you that while we may not be there yet, our military and other security agencies have succeeded – and are succeeding – in substantially restoring security across the nation.

    “We can say, I want to repeat, that the worst is over and peace and security are gradually returning to the land.

    “Please don’t misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion because we may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it will not be on the scale that we have witnessed in the past,’’ he assured.

    The minister said the successes recorded was sequel to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to crush those terrorising the citizens and there should be no hiding place for them.

    He thanked the President for his purposeful leadership as well as the military for their ability to rise to the occasion.

    Mohammed also commended the media for their watchdog role and called on them to endeavour to give a big part to the successes being recorded by the security agencies.

    Speaking in the same vein, Aregbesola said the security challenges the country faced mostly preceded the President Buhari’s administration.

    He equally commended the security agencies for rising to the challenges and for largely degrading the groups and persons constituting the threats.

    “What we face now mostly are flashes of cowardly attacks from the rumps of groups that have been routed in one location, moving to another to give the false impression that they are still strong.

    “Our ultimate goal is to eliminate them altogether and restore total and lasting peace over every inch of Nigerian soil.

    “We have been doing this and will continue to do so through the operations of the four agencies under the Ministry,’’ he said.

    The Minister of Defence who gave accounts of the military operations across the country said they were achieving greater results through synchronised ground and air bombardments of the terrorists.

    “We have been forcing many of them, including Commanders to surrender in droves, with members of their families.

    “Areas where terrorists hitherto had some freedom of action are being cleared, socio-economic life is gradually returning to most parts of the North East.

    “Erstwhile Internally Displaced Persons are now returning to their ancestral homes to start life all over, in dignity, under safer and more secure environment,’’ Magashi said.

    Specifically, the minister said in the past four weeks, more than 3,407 Boko Haram Terrorists including members of their families have surrendered.

    Additionally, he said 66 terrorists were neutralized including one of the key ISWAP Commanders, Modu Chaka Bem Bem and 20 of his fighters, while 55 were rrested and 52 civilians rescued.

    He said troops recovered large quantities of ammunition and illicit drugs while the surrendered and arrested terrorists have been subjected to profiling and the relevant legal processes.

    Magashi said for the first time, no single incidence of piracy was recorded in the country’s waters in one full year.

    He said in the past four weeks, several illegal oil refining sites, consisting of 493 dugout pits, 512 storage tanks, 413 cooking ovens and 59 wooden boats were destroyed.

    Additionally, he said several weapons, vehicles, vessels and equipment were recovered.

    The minister said about 25,800 barrels of crude oil, 3,200 liters of Premium Motor Spirit and 2,000 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene were recovered during various operations while 21 pipeline vandals were arrested.

  • Imposition of foreign cultures destroyed many African countries – Lai Mohammed

    Imposition of foreign cultures destroyed many African countries – Lai Mohammed

    Adoption of foreign cultures, traditions and religions is at the base of the destruction of many African countries.

    The declaration was made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at the opening of the sixth edition of the Edinburgh International Cultural Summit in Edinburgh, Scotland.

    He said that if the African continent had been left alone with its culture, tradition and religion, it would have developed better and at its own pace.

    At an interview he granted to newsmen at the summit, the minister underscored the importance of culture and its industry to development, civilisation, economy, stability and security of nations.

    A transcript of the interview was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by Mr Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President (Media).

    Adeyemi is attached to the Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.

    “When we look back to what happened to us in Africa, we see that in trying to bring a new religion, they destroyed our cultures.

    “In destroying our cultures, they did not only destroy our ways of life, but also the essence of our lives.

    “Most of the destruction on the African continent today emanated from that action,’’ the minister was quoted as having said.

    Mohammed also told newsmen that a play written by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Whole Soyinka, “Death and the King’s Horseman’’ captured the essence of the destruction of African cultures and traditions through colonial incursion.

    “In the play, you would see that the British colonialists simply did not understand why the king’s horseman should die with the king and he was arrested.

    “In arresting him, they thought they were protecting him not knowing that they were destroying the whole cultural and traditional ecosystem,’’ he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed also noted that African countries’ medicines and healthcare systems were rooted in their cultures, but rather than the colonialists to understand them, they were frightened and destroyed their essence.

    The minister stressed that the summit was apt because it centred on diversity and equality of cultures and peoples.

    He said from submissions of participants at the event, the world had come to realise that peoples and their cultures might be diverse, but they must be treated equally.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the summit had “Culture and a Sustainable Future’’ as its theme.

    It focused on the urgent need for the construction of an investment plan for the future.

  • FG begins embargo on terrestrial PayTV

    FG begins embargo on terrestrial PayTV

    The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the Whitepaper on the Digital Switch-Over (DSO), which prohibits terrestrial Pay TVs from self-carriage of their signals.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Integrated Television Services (ITS) Ltd. and NTA-Star.

    ITS is one of the two federal government licensed signal distributors in the DSO project – transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting – the other is Pinnacle Communications Ltd.

    The terrestrial Pay TVs, to be affected by the embargo , are Startimes and GoTv, while the analogue terrestrial stations like Channels, NTA, AIT, TVC, and stations , owned by states, will also be wholly contents providers.

    Speaking at the event, the minister said: “With this MoU, ITS will utilise the structures and facilities of NTA-Star, a terrestrial payTV platform, spread across the country, for signal distribution.

    “In other words, ITS will henceforth become the signal distributor on the structure of NTA-Star.

    “At the moment, NTA-Star has over 70 transmission sites spread across 35 states and the FCT, thereby effectively covering a large portion of this country with their signals.

    “We will strive to cover at least 70 per cent of the country with Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) signal and then deploy Direct To Home (DTH) to provide 30 per cent signal to areas in difficult terrains such as riverine and mountainous areas’’.

    Mohammed explained that with the agreement. Startimes decoders would have multiple encryptions, which would enable viewers to enjoy free contents, alongside paid contents.

    He assured that the MoU would open the floodgate for channels to be licensed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), thereby creating jobs and enhancing quality television experience,with compelling contents.

    According to the minister, the agreement is a game changer in the efforts to complete the DSO before the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Specifically, he said the agreement would fast-tack DSO rollout and take it to a higher pedestal.

    Mohammed said that DSO was a global project, backed by treaties and it was meant to usher in ‘all-digital’ terrestrial broadcast services for sound and television.

    He said the DSO aimed at creating a more equitable, just and people-centered information society, by allowing wider choices in TV and radio channels.

    He listed other advantages of DSO to include, improved picture, enhanced information services and increased market competition and innovation.

    The minister said he had directed the NBC to embark on a massive, nationwide publicity campaign for the DSO project so that Nigerians could better understand the project and buy into it.

    Earlier, the Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah ,said the MoU was a milestone in the delivery of digital broadcasting with potency to boost the economy.

    “Efforts to deliver Nigeria to digital broadcasting began since 2006, but we consequently missed three deadlines of 2012, 2015 and 2017 respectively.

    “Today, we have found an antidote to our challenge of having a simultaneous national roll out with at least 70 per cent signal penetration and coverage of the Nigeria’s territorial boundaries,’’ he said.

    He thanked the minister for his doggedness, tenacity and commitment to a successful delivery of the DSO project.

  • Government is taking the job of security very seriously – Lai Mohammed

    Government is taking the job of security very seriously – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stated that the government is taking the job of security very seriously, this is coming following the attack on the attack on the convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 12 headquartered in Bauchi, Audu Madaki.

    Mohammed made the claim while responding to questions from State House Correspondents on Wednesday.

    Recall that suspected terrorists attacked the convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, injuring him and killing his orderly.

    Madaki was said to be on his way to Abuja from Bauchi when the terrorists ambushed and attacked him between Barde and Jagindi area in Kaduna State at about 02:30 pm, Tuesday.

    Although the AIG Madaki survived with gunshot injuries, his orderly was shot dead.

    Speaking on the attack, Mohammed said “On the issue of the attack on the AIG in Bauchi, I need further information from the IG as to the circumstances of the attack. But what I know is that bandits would always want to make this kind of spectacular attack just to score a psychological point.

    “But I know that the government is taking the job of security very seriously. As you can see, even today, the Honorable Minister of the FCT has told you exactly what he is doing to ensure that security is improved.

    “Over the last couple of days, I’ve seen that the FCT police command has also given out telephone numbers to call in case of any security breach or information.”

    According to Mohammed, the success of the military has not received as wide reportage as the terrorist attacks.

    “I know that there have been quite a few successes by the military in overrunning the bandits around Abuja in the last couple of days.

    “Regrettably, it’s like when the military is having the upper hand, they are not given the same kind of media coverage as when the bandits attack,” he said.

    On concerns raised by some civil society organisations that the worsening insecurity may hinder next year’s elections, the information minister assured Nigerians that there would be elections.

    He said, “There will be an election. I can assure you. The President has said that he has given the security all the needed support. The Service Chiefs are doing their best and will continue to do their best.”

  • Insecurity: No need to impeach President Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    Insecurity: No need to impeach President Buhari – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as unnecessary the threat by some legislators to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari over security challenges across the country.

    Mohammed, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday in Abuja, said there was no need for such ultimatum, as government was doing all it could to address the security challenges in the country.

    Some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were reported to have expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

    However, the minister, who lauded the senators for their patriotism and concern, said:

    “I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

    “So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility,” he said.

    According to him, the federal government is working round the clock, 24 hours, to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

    The minister also described the reported threat by terrorists to kidnap the president as laughable and a mere propaganda.

    “As to those who have issued threats to Mr President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable,” he said.

    Mohammed also said that the council approved a memo by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, for a standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.

    He said: “You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.

    “This is what the council considered and approved today. And basically is that anybody from Cameroon who is seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convinced the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle, before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.

    “Also they are cases of some of them who have come even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times, to join the separatist movement in Cameroon.

    “So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum.

    “So, all we have done today is to establish the standard procedure to ensure that those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually not insurgents themselves that have come to destabilise Nigeria or people who will c

  • How 1,130 looted Benin bronzes ended up in Germany – FG

    How 1,130 looted Benin bronzes ended up in Germany – FG

    The Federal Government says many of the1,130 looted Benin Bronzes  to be repatriated to Nigeria from Germany got to German public institutions via trade and donations.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Friday in Berlin during the signing of a historic joint declaration between Nigeria and Germany.

    The signing of joint declaration according to the minister, will pave the way for the return of the 1,130 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

    A statement issued on the ceremony in Berlin made available to newsmen in Abuja, said that Mohammed, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada signed for Nigeria.

    In the statement signed by Mr Segun Adeyemi,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Ms Annalena Baerbock, and the Minister of State for Culture and Media, Ms. Claudia Roth, signed for Germany.

    Adeyemi is the Special Assistant to the President (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture

    As contained in the statement, Mohammed said that Germany did not colonise Nigeria and was not part of the looting of the artefacts.

    The minister recalled that the artefacts were looted from the ancient Benin Kingdom during the Benin Expedition of 1897 by the British force.

    Mohammed thanked the government and people of Germany for what he described as the ”single largest repatriation of artefacts anywhere in the world”.

    ”We also want to most sincerely thank the authorities of the various German regions, cities, museums and institutions that have been working in concert to ensure the manifestation of the history-making event that we are witnessing today.

    “By this singular action, Germany has taken the lead in correcting the wrongs of the past,” he said.

    The minister said that Germany and the great people of the nation decided it was better to shape the future by correcting the ills of the past.

    He said pace-setting action by the Federal Government of Germany would become a harbinger of more repatriation of cultural property to their place of origin.

    According to Mohammed, other museums and institutions are expected to take a cue from what Germany has done.

    ”Germany has gained more friends in Nigeria and all over the world by returning to Nigeria what rightfully belongs to it,” he said.

    On his part,  Dada described Germany as the ‘champion of justice and fairness’.

    Also Speaking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany said, ”It was wrong to take the (Benin) bronzes. It was wrong to keep them for (125 years). This is the beginning to right the wrong.”

    According to the statement, in a symbolic gesture signifying the impending return of the artefacts, two of the Benin  Bronzes were handed over to Nigeria at the ceremony.

    The signing was witnessed by top Nigerian and German government officials, including the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, and the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for
    Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Tijani.

  • FG addresses rumoured plan to shutdown Facebook in Nigeria

    FG addresses rumoured plan to shutdown Facebook in Nigeria

    The Federal Government has addressed concerns on rumours making the rounds that it was planning to ban Facebook over the alleged inciting statements by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed addressed the concerns while fielding questions from State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

    Recall that Mohammed had at a meeting with a team from Facebook in Abuja on Tuesday, asked the social media platform to prevent IPOB, from using its platform to incite violence.

    The Minister said people had been killed because of the group’s activities.

    “I had a very fruitful meeting with Facebook yesterday (Tuesday). At that meeting, we expressed our displeasure that Facebook was becoming a power of choice for those who stay outside Nigeria, in particular, to incite violence, killings, burning of government properties, and killing of soldiers and police officers.

    “And that they should do more than what they are doing now in looking at the contents, which are unwholesome, which are being used on their platforms.

    “Incidentally, the BBC did a documentary on this particular issue and found out that some of them who call themselves social media warriors in England, France and other places, have in recent times, been using the Facebook platform to incite violence in Nigeria.

    “And we’ve all seen the real life impact of those war mongering, the young couple who are going to marry, soldiers who were gruesomely murdered.

    “Over this weekend in Anambra state police men were killed, military barracks were attacked. And we did warn Facebook to please do more than what they are doing now.

    “And I must say that their response was quite encouraging. They said they are going to do much more,” Mohammed said.

    Asked whether there is any plan to ban Facebook if the inciting violence continues, he said, “I think I gave you an answer. We had a very robust discussion with Facebook.

    “Facebook saw our point and they said they’re going to do much more than what they are doing. So if they do that, why would we ban them?

    “We don’t ban for banning sake. We ban or we only suspend operations if for any reason, lives are threatened and they do not listen. But this is of engagement”.

  • Buhari to decide fate of ministers who shelved political ambitions – Lai Mohammed

    Buhari to decide fate of ministers who shelved political ambitions – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari will determine the fate of those Ministers who shelved their political ambitions.

    The minister stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after the weekly virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The meeting was presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Mohammed said he needed to confirm the position of things as regards the status of the returning cabinet members on whether they have been properly reabsorbed or otherwise.

    The minister said: “The other question about ministers returning or not going, I think you need to give me more time so that I can tell you exactly what the situation is.

    ”Right now, I need to cross-check. I need to confirm again from Mr President what the situation is. You see the final decision on who is going, who’s coming back, who’s not going lies with Mr. President”

    Newsmen reports that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami was physically present at the Council’s meeting on Wednesday, while the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva attended the meeting virtually from their various offices in Abuja.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who also rescinded his decision to participate in the forthcoming party’s primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reported to be on an official visit to South Africa.

    Ngige is attending the International Labour Organization (ILO), global conference on Child Labour in Durban.

    Newsmen reports that President Buhari on May 13 met with the outgoing 10 ministers at a valedictory session in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Ministers are those of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

    Others are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Tayo Alasoadura.

    The Minister of State (Education), Emeka Nwajiuba, who had earlier tendered his resignation, was not present at the valedictory session.

  • FG has taken measures to boost Nigerian film industry – Mohammed

    FG has taken measures to boost Nigerian film industry – Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government has taken series of actions to boost Nigerian film industry.

    Mohammed said this at the closing ceremony and Award Night of a seven-day Zuma Film Festival in Abuja.

    According to him, “the trajectory of the Nigerian film industry has been of great concern for us in this government, and this explains the series of actions we have taken to boost the industry”.

    “I will just touch on a few of such actions: I led a team to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make a case for single digit financing, and this has resulted in the Creative Industry Financing Initiative by the banks and CBN.

    “We have also continuously made it clear to the international streaming companies that they must increase their local investment, including opening offices and increasing the local content on their platforms, if they wish to do business in Nigeria.

    “In the wake of COVID-19, we have come up with a comprehensive report and made such available to development banks like Afreximbank, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), so that they can better understand the sector and invest in distribution and production companies,” minister said.

    He said the Ministry had partnered with the CBN and the Bankers Committee on the renovation of the National Theatre at a cost of 100 million dollars to boost the exhibition revenues of the film industry.

    “This is important because the iconic

    National Theatre was conceived as the hub of the creative industry in Nigeria.

    “Its renovation and the addition of four new hubs, including an international film production facility, will cover production and post-production.

    “These will signify the restoration of the power of the industry and its preparation to play huge roles for Nigeria into the future,” he said.

    The Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr Chidia Maduekwe, restated the corporation’s commitment to better the nation’s creative industry through the promotion and growth of film production and cinema activities.

    Maduekwe said that government remained committed to promoting the growth of the film sector by massively undertaking the required major policy decisions.

    “Film works must be protected. As a creative and an export commodity, owners must earn income – money. The various government funding and support windows have been strengthened.

    “The Bank of Industry and Nexim Bank have continued to deliver in supporting the sector.

    “The corporation is delivering on intentional co-production of treaties that will create the foreign investment and wealth windows for Nigeran film makers,” NFC chief said.

    According to him, NFC intends to sustain its various interventions in the creative sector.

    “As we have come to the climax of Zuma film festival which has been listed on the global film platform of the lnternational Federation of Film Producers Association, we must deliberately resolve to sustain the recognition of excellence and creative performance.”

    Also, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the FCT Administration would partner with NFC in the hosting of Zuma Film Festival for ten years, with Abuja designated as the official host city.

    Adesola added that Abuja, as the host city, would ultimately become the pre-eminent film and tourism destination in Nigeria and Africa.

    He called on Nigerians to invest in creative industry as the FCT Administration was working assiduously to improve Abuja film village.

    Newsmen reports that out of over 3,000 film entries screened by Jury Committee headed by Prof. Omatsola Daniel, 12 won the awards.

    The award winners include Hilda Dokubo, Prof. Bankole Sodipo, Chief Adebayo Salami, Prof. Kalu Uka, Malam Sule Umar, Justus Esiri and Ashley Chijioke.