Mobile phones courtesy thetechherald
Apologies to Patito's Gang (BEN TV – SKY Channel 184) but Nigeria is indeed a big contract. Some politicians are looking for what to grab before the end of their tenure in 2011. Since the glorious oil blocks are no longer 'available' they have switched to the opportunity to become GSM Operators because of the 'fat' revenue operators make which runs into billions of naira per annum. Most mobile phone subscribers are unaware of the politics behind a consensus to remove NCC Vice-Chairman Ernest Ndukwe because specific lawmakers are using a section of the media to get the support of the masses in a battle of unfair justification. Where were the present lawmakers when NCC was under ‘construction’? Some of them should not reap from where they did not sow and House-com or House-glo should not ‘destroy’ NCC because of selfish aggrandizement.
Problems started in 2007 when NCC refused to honour President Umaru Yar’Adua’s directive to license the Nigerian Satellite Communications Company Limited (NIGCOMSAT). Ndukwe was accused of protecting exiting GSM Companies but he explained in a working paper (to the House of Representatives) why NIGCOMSAT was not qualified for a spectrum license. According to The Guardian, Ndukwe said: It would be a breach of Section 39 (3) of the Communications Act of 2003 to issue the agency a license to provide retail telecommunications services. It must be emphasised that NIGSCOMSAT owns 40% in Gicel Limited and NCC cannot grant a multiple license. NIGSCOMSAT also owns Peoples Network Limited.
Some of those that supported NIGCOMSAT against NCC were nursing the idea of becoming GSM Operators and maintained that it would bring down GSM tariff, effective competition and job opportunities but the issue of fixing problems of poor services were not addressed and neither were they interested. Nigeria’s communication satellite NigComSat-1 collapsed last year; beyond repair. It affected the National Open University, major satellite broadband users, a few banks and security firms. The satellite was built by a Chinese company at the cost of $340 million and N40 billion was used to launch it. Nobody has commended Ndukwe for not licensing NIGCOMSAT. Why? Even if NIGCOMSAT was qualified for a license it would have left its GSM subscribers worse off when NigComSat-1 collapsed than the services available to existing GSM Subscribers although they are still complaints of poor services. Literally, Ndukwe 'saved' the nation billions of naira. *UPDATE: Ndukwe threatens litigation by Lucas Ajanaku.
Cool Fall For Kufuor
Former Ghanaian President John Kufuor must be a lucky man with such a ‘fat’ retirement package. About $400,000 is not too much for Kufuor to start an international business and move on with his life. Six cars that will be replaced every four years may not be too much for him and members of his extended family although he was not a poor man before he became a president. Two additional houses should keep him happy. Well, if other African leaders and legislatures gave out such freebies to ex-presidents maybe nobody would think of looting the treasury. Was Kufuor honest and needed to be compensated for being clean? Now, how much are former Ministers, Governors and Commissioners entitled to because the truth is bitter and they must also be compensated? Life begins in Ghana and it maybe better for the government to set the ball rolling. Ghana is definitely ahead of most African countries where over $400,000 would have been kept in a Swiss account before power is relinquished. Well, what a ‘cool-fall’ for Kufuor!
Enter the Place – 2Face feat Sound Sultan
TuFace in 'Bluebeard' Scandal
This is the second time that 2Face is facing allegations of ‘copyright infringement’. Orlando Julius claimed that he was the original owner of the song African Queen but put the blame was on the producer. Recently, UK based songster Komo aka komoblastic claimed that the song titled Jungle Don Mature ‘belonged’ to him. Komo told The Punch that 2Face will no longer be able to perform the song live in the UK. The allegations affected 2Face’s new album launch because it was obvious that he had a ‘problem’ and he made ‘unclear’ comments on TV. Was komo trying to call 2Face a pirate or bluebeard? Time will tell… Other Afro hip-hop Artistes should learn from the mistakes of other singers. Verbal agreements are normally useless and senseless. Komo became popular in the UK a few years ago with the songs Jam Dem and Nwantiti (u drive me crazy).
