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Editors’ Guild Reacts To Shutdown Of Broadcast Stations

Published

3 years ago

August 19, 2022

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has expressed concern over the shutting down of over 50 broadcast stations by the National Broadcasting Commission for failing to pay their renewal licence fees.

Recall that the NBC, on Friday, directed 52 broadcast outfits, including the African Independent Television, Silverbird Television and the broadcasting corporations run by various state governments to shut down their operations.

The NBC said the directive became imperative following debts incurred by the broadcasting organisations amounting to at least N2.6bn.

The Director-General of the NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, disclosed this to journalists at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He said all the television and radio stations affected must halt operations in the next 24 hours.

In a statement on Friday, signed by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Friday, the Editor’s Guild in Nigeria said the action, if not reversed, would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs in a country where jobs were scarce.

“The NGE is worried because media houses, which played and continue to pay a key role in the nurturing and development of democracy can’t just be off air no matter the reasons.

“While the Guild is not against broadcast stations fulfilling their financial obligations to the NBC, we note that the current harsh operating environment that has crippled every sector in our nation was not taken into account by the NBC before its action.

“Currently, it is difficult for private stations to import broadcast equipment due to the high exchange rate. We are all aware of the high operational cost, including the cost of diesel to power their generating sets”, the NGE stated.

The Guild added that several broadcast stations are just managing to survive in the midst of the high competition in the industry following the licencing of hundreds of more stations by the NBC.

The NGE called for a review of the NBC Act to increase the lifespan of a broadcast licence from five to at least 10 years.

The body of editors also advocated a reduction of the licence fees considering the fact that several broadcast stations now operated in the country, saying for instance, the Lagos zone alone now had close to 50 radio stations.

The NGE tasked the NBC to enter into dialogue with the affected stations to restructure the debts owed and work out convenient payment period to ensure their survival.

“A caring government should be concerned about the possibility of job losses than revenue generation. After all, one of the functions of the NBC is working for the survival and the development of the broadcast industry.

“A critical stakeholder in the nation’s democratic space cannot be shut out at this critical moment of our democracy, especially when the country is preparing for the 2023 general election,” the statement added.

The NGE urged the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Independent Broadcasting Organisation to enter into a dialogue with the NBC with a view to find a lasting solution to this recurring issue of licence renewal fees, which often led to threats of shutdown.

News

FG Trains Students On Entrepreneurship Development In 100 Higher Institutions – Official

Published

1 hour ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

Mr Mohammed Baba, Asst. Director, Finance and Account, Federal Ministry of Finance, says the Federal Government, through the ministry has trained students on entrepreneurship development in not less than 100 higher institutions in the country.

He stated this on the sideline of training lectures for the students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi on Friday, adding that the training was carried out under the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) of the ministry.

Baba, who noted that the training was a project of President Bola Tinubu, said that the present administration saw the need to catch the ‘youth young’ so as to be self-sustained without relying on government employment.

“We have covered more than 100 tertiary institutions and with this initiative, the generation to come will be better.

“They have to have entrepreneurship skills so as to be able to fall back and grow as entrepreneurs and become employers of labour in the event of not getting a white collar job.

“The plan A is to give theoretical knowledge which is what we are doing now and the plan B is to give the practical aspect where the funding will come in the form of a grant to the entrepreneurship department which will be shared to the most qualified entrepreneurs in schools,” he said.

He advised the students to make the best use of the grant when it finally arrived as they are being looked upon to become successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour to better the country’s economy.

Baba also urged them to approach the Bank of Industry for loans to make their entrepreneurship knowledge a reality even before the coming of the federal government’s grant.

In her lecture, Mrs Deborah Tatimi, a facilitator, said that YOUWIN is to inspire, equip and make the students to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable career option by providing them with the mindset, skills and tools needed to build successful businesses.

This, she said, would reduce over dependence on government for jobs and help them in fostering a culture of self-reliance, innovation and employment.

Earlier, Alh. Kasim Salihu, the Registrar of the polytechnic, commended the federal government for selecting the school for the training and called on the students to listen attentively, saying that entrepreneurship is key to national development.

Salihu, who assured that the students of the school were well groomed on entrepreneurship development theoretically, called on the federal government to come up with grants to help them actualise and practicalise their skills.

News

How Nigerian Man Hacked US Varsity, Stole $235,000 – Officials

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested by British authorities following a request from the United States government after he was indicted on charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
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‎According to US prosecutors, Adepoju hacked into the email system of a Pennsylvania construction company working for a university, then created fake accounts to impersonate staff and divert payment.
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‎The US Department of Justice, in a statement on its website on Thursday, said Adepoju, who was arrested on September 15, 2025, is awaiting extradition to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
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‎The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleged that between March and April 2023, Adepoju remotely accessed a protected computer belonging to the construction company.

READ ALSO:Lagos Skit Maker Hacked To Death By Suspected Cultists
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‎He allegedly altered email rules, set up a spoofed domain, and used it to send fraudulent payment instructions to the university.
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‎Relying on the emails, the university updated the construction firm’s payment details to a fraudulent account controlled by Adepoju, transferring about $235,266.
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‎The funds have not been recovered.
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‎Acting US attorney, Troy Rivetti, said, “Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities.
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‎“Even from halfway across the world, however, Adepoju was not beyond the investigative reach of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His arrest in the United Kingdom underscores our district’s unwavering commitment to aggressively locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide with the assistance of our law enforcement partners—both here and abroad.”

READ ALSO:Nigerian Jailed In US Over $6m Inheritance Fraud
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‎FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, Kevin Rojek, added, “Criminals who think they can reach across the globe into the United States to line their pockets at the expense of the American public need know one thing: the FBI and our partners are not going to let you get away with it.
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‎“We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be. Email compromise schemes are not victimless crimes; they are one of the costliest threats large and small businesses, universities, and organizations face today.”
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‎Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Islamic Cleric With Human Flesh In Oyo
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Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, while the computer fraud charge carries up to five years.
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‎The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office led the investigation, while Assistant US Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting the case with support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
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‎Authorities stressed that an indictment is only an accusation, and Adepoju is presumed innocent until proven guilty
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News

JUST IN: Resident Doctors In Abuja Suspend Indefinite Strike

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

The Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has suspended the indefinite strike.

The President of ARD-FCTA, Dr George Ebong, disclosed this to DAILY POST on Friday.

He said its members are expected to resume work on Monday, 22nd September 2025, at 8 am.

He noted that the strike suspension comes after the intervention of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils & Ancillary Matters and respect for FCT Minister Nyesome Wike.

However, Dr Ebong revealed that none of its demands had been met as of filing the report.

“The senate intervened. Even though none of our demands have been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister. “We hope the minister will listen to us, because we respect him,” he stated.

Recall that ARD-FCTA began an indefinite strike on Monday over poor working conditions, remuneration and other demands.