Monthly Archives: January 2013

Read more about the article No Plan To Restrict The Use Of Social Media – NOA Boss

No Plan To Restrict The Use Of Social Media – NOA Boss

Mr Mike Omeri, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), has said that the Federal Government has no plan to restrict the use of social media. Omeri told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the social media was a lifestyle which everybody had adopted.

He said that the social media was a lifestyle adopted by people, governments, youths and personalities, adding that it was just the use to which it was put to that should be checked.

``There is no plan at the moment to restrict the use of social media, but what the agency is doing is to encourage people to do the right thing, NOA cannot control the lifestyle of individual; that will become too excessive,'' Omeri said.

He said that the agency would soon unveil a strategy for the use of social media, adding that a situation where it was being use for criminal activities was undesirable.

``The NOA at its level now in addition to sensitising Nigerian in allowing themselves to become susceptible to criminal and other deviant behavior on social media, is planning to engage media practitioners to discuss its role in the social development of the country through the use of social media,'' he said.

Omeri said that the agency would partner with media houses to come up with effective strategy that would ensure Nigerians did not fall victim of the negative side of social media.

``We will ensure that our people do not fall victim of what should otherwise be a source of news information and entertainment,'' he said. According to him, the best thing to do now is to sensitise the people to do the right thing by deploying the social media for good purposes like education, and some social purposes that are not danger prone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a few people had become victim of the use of social media such as facebook, twitter, Badoo, to go, among others.

NAN recalls the case of Cynthia Osogwu, a post graduate student of Nasarawa State University who travelled to Lagos to meet his facebook friends on the guise of transacting business, but was raped and killed. NOA has, however, promised to ensure that Nigerians were sensitise on the positive use of social media and sensitise the people on the danger inherent in abusing it. (NAN)

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Central African Rebels Expect ‘Open Negotiations’ In Libreville

A member of the delegation of the Central African rebels to the Libreville peace talks with the government, Christophe Gazam Betty, says he expects "open negotiations". Betty said on Thursday, ``We expect open talks without any ``pre-condition" about the departure of President Francois Bozizé.''

``What is at stake for us is to quickly put in place a solid team in Bangui capable of implementing a 'Marshal plan' for the Central African Republic with the support of the international community.

``We must avoid a generation of Central Africans taking the country hostage," Betty, who represents the Convention of Patriots for Peace and Justice (CPJP) within the umbrella Séléka rebels, told PANA over the phone at the start of the talks.

According to him, without waiting for the end of the talks in Libreville, they must restore national cohesion in the country, badly damaged by the confusion between rebels and Muslims.

``Part of the national community has been demonised since the beginning of the rebellion. We must quickly mend the strained relations with our Central African Muslim friends. ``What is important is for all to get together to give a shot in the arm to the Central African Republic," Betty, who heads CPJP's political and diplomatic affairs unit, added.

Delegations of the government, the rebels and the opposition have arrived in Libreville for the talks under the aegis of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEAC). The international community has been repeating calls urging rebels and the government to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

``Negotiations are more than ever necessary. Parties are requested to respond without delay to the invitation of the Economic Community of Central African states to start the peace parleys planned in Libreville," the French ministry of foreign affairs said late last week.

The Francophonie International Organisation (OIF) also encouraged the holding without delay of a political dialogue that takes into account elements likely to guarantee sustainable peace and enhanced democracy in the Central African Republic.

The rebels' march towards Bangui, the Central African capital, was halted in Damarra, some 75 km from the city. Nearly 400 South African soldiers have arrived in Central African Republic while France has increased the number of its soldiers in the country to more than 500. (PANA/NAN)

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Power Grab: Women Take Over Jonathan’s Government

While a disorderly opposition dithers in plotting to seize power from President Goodluck Jonathan, they may already have been outflanked by a coterie of powerful women who now call the shots in the same administration they are targeting to supplant.

Read full story in today's edition of LEADERSHIP.

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Britain Warns Of More Syria Violence, Must Step Up Response

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's intransigence and brutality mean there is a serious risk violence in Syria will worsen, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Thursday.

``If a violence scenerio is expected, then the international community must ``step up" its response,''Hugue added. ``President Assad's speech last week urged the Syrian people to unite in a war against his opponents.

``Given the regime's intransigence and brutality, there is a serious risk that the violence will indeed worsen in the coming months," Hague told parliament.

``If that happens the international community's response will have to be stepped up. So we will not rule out options to save lives and protect civilians," he added. (Reuters/NAN)

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Nigerian Journalists Most Poorly Paid, Says NTA Manager

Mr Banji Sarumoh, the General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin, said that Nigerian journalists had the worst conditions of service in the world. Sarumoh made the statement on Wednesday in Ilorin at a session taged ``NUJ Parliament'', organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara chapter.

He observed that the media played pivotal role in the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria. He blamed poor funding and proliferation of media houses for the impoverishment of journalists, urging the NUJ to clamp down on media houses that could not pay staff salaries.

“Nigerian journalists have the worst condition of service in the world and this is because of proliferation of media houses. “What journalists collect in Nigeria today is very ridiculous when compared to the job we do.

“The NUJ should guard against the proliferation; why must someone set up media outfit, when he knows he cannot pay salary?"   Sarumoh advised journalists to embark on developmental and investigative journalism and be conscientious while discharging their duties.

He said there was need for journalists to avoid unnecessary romance with politicians, to give the profession good image. “We have fallen short in areas of developmental and investigative journalism; what we do most is politicking and writing political stories.   “Embarking on developmental journalism will help the nation and the people as a whole,” the general manager said. (NAN)

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