LAGOS — Barring any last-minute change of mind, all subscribers with four lines and above whose SIM registration data failed to match their National Identity Number, NIN, data, will be barred today.

This is as the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has confirmed that it would not be reviewing its deadline to bar them today.

A reliable source from the commission revealed that the Commission’s position was premised on its objective to clean the country’s SIM ownership database and ensure that criminals do not take advantage of having multiple unlinked SIMs to carry out their nefarious activities.

The source said the commission’s management decided at a crucial meeting it held yesterday to review requests from the telcos for an extension of the verification of NINs submitted.

The source also stated that the Commission is mulling the idea of approving an online application solution for MNOs where their subscribers whose NIN verification failed due to biometric mismatch can update their records on the app while existing subscribers can register additional lines

The source said: “We are not standing back on our decision. March 29th is sacrosanct. Our resolve is hinged on the need to close in on the chaos of untoward ownership of multiple SIM cards with unverified NIN details.

‘’We have instances where a single individual has over 10,000 lines linked to his NIN. In some cases, we have seen a single person with 1,000 lines, some 3,000 plus lines. What are they doing with these lines?

“From our interim findings, the owners of these lines did not purchase them for decent purposes or to undertake legitimate activities.

“We have given them enough time to make the decision of which of their lines they want to keep and discard the others. They did not. All lines in this category with unverified NINs will be barred. They will be then expected to go to their operators and decide which of the lines they want to keep, as well as submit correct NIN details.

“Some people would say they want to use it for car trackers, or IoTs, but provision has been made for these services already. They are not under the ‘Max-4 Rule.’

“Across the world, no country allows you to have 1,000 SIM cards to make calls or texts.”

The Max-4 Rule announced by the Federal Government in April 2021 provides that telecom subscribers cannot have more than four lines per mobile network operator.

The NCC has also provided Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) an extension till July 31st 2024 within which they are expected to verify all NINs submitted by subscribers with four (4) or fewer SIMs, as well as bar those whose NIN fail verification with NIMC.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, to bring to bear his wealth of experience and knowledge in order to achieve his administration’s goals.

Senator Diri gave the charge on Thursday shortly after Prof. Ayawei was sworn in as the 14th SSG inside the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.

Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Mrs Ayibatari Mirin-Johnson, administered the oaths of office and allegiance on the new SSG.

The governor noted that after careful consideration and extensive consultations, he found Ayawei qualified and suited for the crucial role, stating that his appointment was not merely based on the necessity of the position but on his distinguished credentials.

According to the governor, “with Prof. Ayawei’s background as a former legislator, financial manager, accomplishment in the academia and political clout, l have no doubt that you will succeed in your new role.

“Earlier this week, l announced the appointment of the Secretary to State Government and three other officials in exercise of my constitutional powers as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.”

Describing the SSG as the chief administrative officer of the state, Diri stressed the importance of the office, noting that Ayawei’s responsibilities included coordination of activities of all the ministries, departments and agencies as well as coordinating implementation of government’s policies and programmes.

He congratulated him and three other newly appointed officials, which are the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah.

Until his appointment, Ayawei was Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue.

He is also a Professor of Analytical Chemistry, a technocrat, public servant, university teacher and was equally a former member of the state House of Assembly.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included a former Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, the Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemonye Charles-Onyeama, the Chief of Staff, Dr. Peter Akpe, and his deputy, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo.

Others include two former SSGs, Prof Allison Oguru and Barr. Serena Dokubo-Spiff.

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has, with immediate effect, closed down KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

A statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director, of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, said that this was in connection with the discriminatory treatment received by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) at the airport on Wednesday from the outlet.

The statement said that the closing down of the company was in line with Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs, Part C, Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination.

The law states that: “A person shall not deprive another person of access to any place, vehicle or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person.”

The statement hinted that Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managign Director, FAAN, immediately intervened by deploying a management team comprising the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the Regional Manager South West, Mr. Sunday Ayodele, Ag. General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr. Kerri, to investigate the allegation of discrimination against the physically challenged traveller.

Orah emphasised that the shutting down of the facility at the MMIA, where the incident occurred, was based on the findings of the team deployed by FAAN to investigate the matter.

FAAN also directed the KFC management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing to the affected PRM and a policy statement of non-discrimination written and pasted conspicuously at the doorpost of their facility at the airport before it would be allowed to resume operation.

“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected passenger with reduced mobility and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon,” the statement said.

It would be recalled that Debola Daniel, the son of Senator Gbenga Daniel, was ridiculed yesterday because of his disability by staffers of KFC.

Dear Ex Classmates!

Some of us didn’t further education after secondary school.
Some of us furthered to University.
Some of us got married, yes, some of us are not married.
Some of us are still strüggling with life.
Some of us are settled.
Some of us are still finding it dïfficult to eat two meals in a day.
Some of us have traveled abroad.
Some of us went back to the village.
Some of us have seen hëll and still facing hëll.
Some are also deàd. Don’t forget, and some of us, the last time we sat in a class room was the last day we wrote or secondary school last exam paper.

In short, life is not good to everyone.
Whenever you call or run into your old classmate, please, let them or the conversation be simple.
That we are still alive, it’s the thing to celebrate.
Stop making others feel lèss of a value because you’re married, engaged or have multiple degrees.
Life is full of ups and downs. Life can turn around.
You can stretch your hand and be a blessing to your fellow classmates, instead of möcking them simply because you’re in a better position.
Life is not prèdictable, be humble.❤️🍷

ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕖: ℝ𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕖 𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕓𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤