News

7,000 Telecom Masts Face Demolition

Published

2 years ago

November 10, 2023

The National Assembly has set up an ad hoc committee to look into the prevailing challenges militating the growth and development of the nation’s Telecommunications sector.

The Chairman , the House Committee on Telecommunications, Hon. Peter Akpatason, announced this on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Committee by the new executive of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON in Abuja.

He said the committee’s terms of reference would be to look into the myriads of challenges militating the growth of the nation’s Telecommunications sector, dissect them and come up with broad-spectrum solutions that would lay the challenges to rest for the benefit of the economy and the growing youth population yearning for job opportunities.

He applauded ATCON for its immense contribution to the nation’s economy in terms of 18% contribution to GDP and job Creation as well as other ripple effects of their services on other sectors of the economy.

Akpatason said, ” This Committee recognises the role of the telecoms sector in driving growth and Innovation, contributing 18% to the GDP.

“We stand ready for necessary legislative interventions in line with our goal of strengthening the existing relationship between the various stakeholders in the industry.”

In addition to the promise made, the House Committee Chairman assured that his committee would convoke a Stakeholders forum aimed at addressing all the multi-sectorial challenges bedevilling the telecom sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The idea, he said is to tackle issues ranging from insecurity, multiple taxation, Right of Way, and lack of access to funding, as well as erasing all bottlenecks constituting a clog in the wheel of progress of the sector.

To demonstrate the importance attached to the Committee, he said that the committee would be chaired by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Dr Midala Usman Balami and consult all relevant stakeholders to make inputs in its proceedings.

Earlier, the President of ATCON, Tony Emokpere informed the house that they came into the strategic meeting to seek the support of the House in addressing the mounting challenges encumbering the growth of the telecoms sector of the economy.

He said ATCON felt that the intervention of the House became imperative given the fact that the performance of the sector impacts largely on the activities and performance of other sectors of the economy, hence the need for their legislative intervention.

“Our New NEC in our quest to fulfill its mandates to its teeming members has embarked on this strategic courtesy visit to the Representatives Committee on
Telecommunications seeks the committee’s legislation to create an enabling environment that would further increase investment into the sector as well as foster growth and development in the sector.

“As you all know, the sector
currently contributes over 16% to Nigerian GDP, second only to agriculture and it serves as a source of employment to many Nigerians directly and indirectly.

“Our Vision is to facilitate as well as accelerate the growth and development of the Nigerian Telecommunications and ICT Industry through constructive policy
advocacies and effective collaboration with all tiers of government and privately
owned telecoms and ICT companies (local and multinational).

“The Association holds meetings with the government at all levels with the sole
aim of collaboration to create an enabling operating environment for members as well as grow and develop the telecoms and ICT industry in Nigeria.”

Tony, who shared thoughts on ATCON’s 30th Anniversary, issues confronting the Telecoms sector collaborations and policy advocacy and industry issues called for legislative interventions.

He further cataloged some of the challenges that are undermining the performance of the sector as follows: Challenges of funding; local content; multiple regulations; issues of Rising Cost of Doing Business; critical National Infrastructure; Wholesale Tariffs for Leased Lines; Right of Way and
Government Stimulated Demand.

The ATCON boss, lamented that the Telecom infrastructure has
suffered undue harassment from State and Local Government Regulatory
Agencies, pleaded with the lawmakers to speedily pass the Critical National Infrastructure bill, saying, “It will be a welcome development if telecom infrastructure is legislated as critical National Infrastructure.

“This is important because telecom infrastructure is central to the country’s socio-economic progress. We seek this committee’s legislative intervention in passing this bill into law.”

Meanwhile, some of the committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of telecom services provided by the industry operators and queried ATCON on the incessant cases of drop calls, data theft, and poor infrastructure upgrades.

In his response, the ATCON President said the issue of drop called is traceable to low infrastructure coverage, hence the need for government support in infrastructure upgrade and expansion.

On data theft, he said most apps on Android and other smartphones run continuously without control and advised users to switch off their data when not in use.

On diversification, he said the issue is already been addressed by ATCON members.

A member of the committee, Hon. Ademorin Kuye said, “If we want to encourage local content, we must be ready to take responsibility by matching foreign brands in terms of value and quality.”

On the request for waivers, he said the government has been receiving all manner of requests for waiver and insisted that the government would grant only those that would impact on the livelihood of the Nigerian people.

In the same vein, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu noted that over 30 million Nigerians are yet to see Mobile phones and called on ATCON to expand its infrastructure deployment to cover the unserved areas, especially the rural communities.

He reminded ATCON of the recent threat by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA to demolish over 7000 telecom masts spread in various airports for alleged disruption of flight operations.

Hon. Afam Ogene also lamented the poor quality of service by the telecom operators and tasked ATCON members to be more visible in their CSR projects.

He specifically charged them to invest in football and other sports where their impact would be felt more by Nigerians.

In his remarks, the vice Chairman of the house, Dr. Mindala Balani assured ATCON that the Committee would work with them to provide quality and needed telecom services to Nigeria consumers.

News

Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

6 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

News

How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

8 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

11 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.