Like Nollywood, Like Buhari: Elected In Nigeria, Consumed In U.K. -Reno Omokri

Read Mr Omokri's article below..

I am sure my readers were rudely shocked out of their reverie by the eponymously named Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who announced to a bewildered nation that the Federal Government, whose spokesman he is, is making preparations to stop Nollywood and Nigerian pop stars from shooting movies and videos abroad.

Said Lai Mohammed, ?This government has agreed that henceforth, whatever we consume in Nigeria in terms of music and films, must be made in Nigeria. We cannot continue to go to South Africa or any other country to produce our films and then send them back to be consumed in Nigeria."

It was perhaps lost on Lai Mohammed as he spoke that his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected in Nigeria by Nigerians is not being consumed in Nigeria.

And while we were still grappling with the absurdity of Lai Mohammed's comments, his colleague in office, Kemi Adeosun, added to the comedy that this government has become by announcing that the Buhari administration plans to tax beggars! 

According to the honorable (?) minister, "You are supposed to pay taxes even if your means of income is begging."

This is the reason why I have said that a polytechnic graduate like Kemi Adeosun is not sufficiently qualified to handle our complicated economy! It doesn't matter if the polytechnic she graduated from is in the U.K. 

In civilized nations, they place beggars on social security, but in Nigeria our polytechnic graduate finance minister wants them taxed! Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari's daughter got married in a lavish ceremony which attracted several private jets to Abuja. Rather than beggars, Kemi Adeosun can pursue their owners for taxes!

President Muhammadu Buhari is in a U.K. hospital. His children study at U.K. schools. His wife shops at U.K. stores. He and his family are more U.K. oriented than they are Nigerian oriented. Yet it is Nollywood shooting a few movies abroad that Lai Mohammed complains about. I am told that the Federal Road Safety Corp wants to perform psychiatric evaluation on reckless drivers. The FRSC should not limit its psychiatric test to reckless drivers. They should also start performing them on reckless ministers like Lai Mohammed and Kemi Adeosun!

And when given the chance to explain himself two days after making his faux pas, Lai Mohammed doubled down on his comments and insisted that TV/radio programming meant to be consumed in Nigeria must be made in Nigeria, saying inter alia "This is because we cannot continue to develop the economies of the other parts of the world from the sweat of Nigerians and at the expense of the Nigerian economy".

Lai Mohammed forgets that our Presidential jet has been languishing at London's Stansted Airport for over 80 days and accruing daily charges in the thousands of U.K. pounds per day. 

As at today, the amount of charges our Presidential jet has accrued at London's Stansted Airport could have paid 2,000 Nigerian workers going by the lowest parking rate charged by Stabsted. Why is the jet even there? This joke of a Presidency in their statement justified parking the Presidential jet at London's Stansted by saying it was for 'prestige' reasons.

The Presidency says the Presidential jet is parked at London's Stansted for 'prestige'. The British Prime Minister has no official jet. Maybe she has no 'prestige' even though Britain makes Jets and Nigeria does not! 

Is this not a case of Nigeria's tax payer monies being used to "develop the economies of the other parts of the world from the sweat of Nigerians and at the expense of the Nigerian economy", to borrow Lai Mohammed's words? 

Lai Mohammed who now wants to stop Nollywood from making videos abroad, forgot that his All Progressives Congress relied on foreign consultants to win the 2015 elections! 

They go abroad to win elections. They go abroad to  educate their children. They go abroad for healthcare. But they do not want Nollywood to go abroad to make money! Perhaps Lai Mohammed wants to reduce Nollywood stars to beggars so they are eligible for taxation by Kemi Adeosun!

Since we the citizens have not complained that President Muhammadu Buhari is receiving medical treatment abroad should the Buhari administration now complain that we make movies abroad? Lai Mohammed should not provoke us. 

The Financial Times of London called our President a "frequent London resident" in their recent Oped wherein they stated that he has done 'nothing' to improve the Nigerian economy, yet his government is complaining that they will stop our movie makers and artists from making movies and videos abroad. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Nigerians (mostly government officials) spend $1 billion annually on medical tourism while less than 1% of that is spent on shooting movies and videos abroad. Lie Mohammed should get his priorities right!

I am even thinking that since Lai Mohammed does not want Nollywood to make movies abroad, perhaps Nollywood should just contract the making of films abroad to President Muhammadu Buhari and his family. After all, they are always abroad! 

And those people complaining about the President spending much time in the U.K. misunderstand Lai. It is okay for the President to go abroad at public expense but not okay for Nollywood to do the same at their own personal expense! 

The spokesman of a President who spends more time in London than Nigeria has the guts to condemn Nollywood for making movies abroad. What a comedic administration!

And the comedy continues! 

When Garba Shehu says that the Jonathan administration increased the activities of terrorists, he betrays a very shallow grasp of history which I will now prove with the benefit of some historical facts. 

When the Jonathan administration imposed a state of emergency in certain local governments in the Northeast of Nigeria to contain terrorists, it was precisely Muhammadu Buhari that said on Monday the 3rd of June 2013 that 'the military offensive against Boko Haram is anti North'.

Again, after the Jonathan administration banned Boko Haram in 2013, it was precisely Lai Mohammed, President Buhari's current minister for information, who on Monday the 10th of June, 2013 said that banning Boko Haram was unconstitutional and that "the proscription stifles the press and tampers with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians."

So it is therefore rich for the Buhari administration to start making these claims against the Jonathan government.

It may be that Garba Shehu is not aware that this administration has lost any credibility it has especially as regards the anti terror war. 

On Thursday the 24th of December, 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari told the world that Boko Haram was 'technically defeated' and gave himself a pat on the back after claiming that the terror group had lost its capacity to conduct  "conventional attacks".

Since that time, Boko Haram has attacked military barracks and military formations multiple times as reported in the media.

Since that time, there has been an upsurge in suicide attacks with more than 30 attacks reported in the media. In the last week alone there have been three such suicide attacks with almost 20 deaths, according to media reports.

There has also been attacks on military and police convoys with Boko Haram terrorists releasing a video this week of several women it says it kidnapped from a police convoy.

Just two days ago (Thursday, July 20, 2017), the US State Department released a statement indicating that 75% of all global deaths from terrorism in 2016 originated from Nigeria and four other nations!

Nigerians may want to note that it was under the Buhari administration that the World Economic Forum on Tuesday June 20, 2017 listed Nigeria as the fifth most dangerous country in the world because instances of Fulani Herdsmen terrorism are so rampant and continue with impunity. 

Fulani herdsmen operating in Nigeria were also named the fourth most deadly terrorists group in the world by the Global Terrorism Index on Wednesday November 18, 2015. This is not surprising in a situation where a governor, who happens to be a close confidante of President Muhammadu Buhari, confessed to giving Fulani Herdsmen money.

It may also be recalled that on February 2, 2017 the US Congress cited Nigeria "as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world and that impunity for those responsible for the killing of Christians in the country seems to be widespread.?

All these are proof positive that not only has Boko Haram not been defeated, they have metastasized under Buhari and indeed other terrorist groups have become emboldened to expand their activity nationwide.

Nigerians will remember that the Jonathan administration was able to crush Boko Haram in the first quarter of 2015 which was why the 2015 elections were able to hold throughout the entire Northeast of Nigeria.

The question that Nigerians may want to ask is if elections can hold in all areas of Borno state today. The answer to that question will show Who between President Buhari and former President Jonathan really defeated Boko Haram.

Reno's Nuggets

Never argue with a man who wants to win an argument. You are listening to understand him. He is listening to disagree with you. In the same vein, do not stay around people who do not see your worth or you will start to believe them and it is then you will truly be worthless. And note that if a tree only has access to the sun, it won't mature. It needs the rain to fall before it can bear fruit. If man only see good times he won't mature. Success is a mixture of good and bad times #RenosNuggets

Reno Omokri is a Christian TV talk show host and founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center and the Helen and Bemigho Sanctuary for orphans. He is the author of the worldwide amazon #1 bestseller Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years: Chibok, 2015 and Other Conspiracies and three books, Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God, Why Jesus Wept and Apples of Gold: A Book of Godly Wisdom

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You Are The Author And Sustainer Of Hate Speeches- PDP Tells Lai Mohammed

PDP has criticized Lai Mohammed for condemning hate speeches that are presumably dominating the media. While speaking at a meeting at the National Council on Information in Jos last week, Lai Mohammed decried the rate of hate speech and fake news being circulated in some section of the media. He alleged that some persons were behind the multi-billion Naira project to discredit this government by circulating hate speeches and fake news.
PDP has reacted to Lai Mohammed's comment saying he is the author and sustainer of hate speeches in the country. According to the opposition party, APC had in its quest to clinch power from PDP in the past elections, launched hate speeches and fake news on all media spaces and this has continued in their administration. PDP  says Lai Mohammed and indeed any of the APC leaders for that matter are not in the Position to teach any lessons on appropriate public speeches. The party says APC should first apologize to Nigerians for their serial lies, inciting and hate speeches with which Nigerians were deceived into believing that they had something to offer. Read the party's statement below

The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is taken aback over the recent vituperation by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in which he accused opposition in the Country as being responsible for hate speeches, disinformation and fake news. How convenient! This is another lie from Lai Mohamned!! Mr. Minister is invited to review his past speeches/statements as Spokesman of opposition ACN/APC and then he will agree with us that the APC leaders/members are the architect and sustainers of hate speeches in our dear Country, Nigeria.
2. In case Lai Mohammed has forgotten, let us remind him and his Parties, the ACN & APC that in their desperate quest to grab power by all means, organized and carried out series of campaigns of calumny as opposition designed to mislead the public, discredit the Person and Office of past PDP led administrations especially, that of the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR in order to cause disaffection amongst Nigerians against his government.
3. Alhaji Lai Mohammed as the Spokesman of ACN at a press conference in April 2013 raised a false alarm alleging that the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Jonathan had awarded an oil pipeline protection contract to serve as a smokescreen in funding activities that would create chaos in the South-West region. Of course, it turned out that no such contract was ever awarded by the Jonathan Administration.
4. Still in April 2013, the ACN Spokesman now Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed mischievously alleged that President Jonathan had issued a Presidential Directive targeted at witch-hunting the Former Governor of Lagos State and Leader of the ACN , Bola Tinubu in order to stop the Merger of the Party with other political parties. This also turned out to be a hoax.
5. Also before the 2015 General Elections, the Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun in November 2014, vowed to form a parallel government if the Elections were rigged. His statement was later re-echoed by the Presidential Campaign Director-General of the APC, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and now Minister for Transport. Talk about distractions, intimidation, harrasements and hate speeches, and that defines the APC leaders and members.
6. Let us not forget the Infamous inflammatory statements by General Muhammadu Buhari that caused wide spread violence and killings of Nigerians in the 2011 General Elections. The General repeated almost the same statement on the 14th of May 2012 in Kaduna State when some CPC members from Niger State paid him a visit. He was quoted to have incited his supporters saying “…if what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’’ To date, President Mohammadu Buhari has neither refuted the Statement nor offer any explanation for it. What could be more hateful than such a call for pogrom or mass murder of innocent Nigerians. The list of such hateful and inciting speeches by the APC leaders and especially their erstwhile Spokesman is endless. It was a period of one lie, one day. All in the desperate bid to grab power at all cost. Now that they have the power they don't know what to do with it.
7. Lai Mohammed and indeed any of the APC leaders for that matter are not in the Position to teach any lessons on appropriate public speeches. They should first apologize to Nigerians for their serial lies, inciting and hate speeches with which our people were deceived into believing that they had something to offer. They should then undergo the serious ritual of self purgation without which there will be a constant relapse into their goebbellian tactics as we continue to witness. It is so ironic that those who haul mud at people do not ever want sand thrown at them. If you are not ready to take the heat you better leave the kitchen.
8. Lai Mohammed's statement must be seen for what it is: a desperate attempt to divert attention from his government's woeful failures. When this government first assumed office we were inundated with daily sermons of how terribly the PDP had destroyed the Economy. Now that it appears that cliche is well worn out they must find so called hate speeches by the Opposition to blame for their woes.
9. Our advice to the APC Government is that it should concentrate on doing the business of the people and to endeavor to speak the truth always. Lies can take you thus far but in the end it cannot be an alternative to the truth.
God bless the PDP! God bless Nigeria!!
Signed:
Prince Dayo Adeyeye
National Publicity Secretary, PDP.

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Lai Mohammed's Jollof Lies By Reno Omokri

An article written by Reno Omokri. Please read on. That Lai Mohammed has reduced himself from minister for information to minister for explaining why President Muhammadu Buhari does not attend to official duties is now obvious! Instead of busying himself generating ideas for the betterment of Nigeria, he is more concerned with generating excuses for Buhari's failure!

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As Lai Mohammed manifests the lie in his name -by Reno Omokri

Article written by former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Read below...

Lai Mohammed, in true manifestation of his name, told a lie, when he scolded the advocacy group Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) by saying that their use of 'impudent' language should "should have been reserved for those who did nothing in the first 500 days of the girls’ abduction".

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Killing of Christians: Lai Mohammed a liar from the pit of hell – Reno Omokri

Former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, has said the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed is a ‘liar’ for describing the killing of Christians by Muslims in Nigeria as a ‘fallacy.’

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Lai Mohammed Flies Private Jet To Delta State, Nigerians React (Photos)

 

According to the information shared by human rights activist and lawyer Inibehe Effiong,Lai Mohammed yesterday flew to Delta state in a private jet despite President Buhari banning his Ministers from flying a business class.Below is what he wrote and see how Nigerians reacted below....

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‘We need DNA test to determine if Lai Mohammed or Satan is Father of lies’ – Reno Omokri

Former Special Assistant to ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri has in a rant against Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said a DNA test needs to be conducted to determine between Satan and Lai Mohammed, who is the father of lies.

Reno wrote on his Twitter page yesterday:

If not that The Bible said Satan is the father of lies, I would have thought that Lai was Lie’s father and wished him happy Father’s Day!
I think it is high time we do a DNA test on lies to determine who is its real biological father between Lai Mohammed and satan #DNA

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Why Nigerians Think I Am A Liar - Lai Mohammed Opens Up

Nigeria's Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed has spoken out about why many Nigerians consider him a huge liar.

Lai Mohammed

 

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has explained why most Nigerians perceive him as a political liar.

 

He said that being the face of opposition for so long before joining the government at the centre gave Nigerians the wrong ideas about him.

 

The Minister, while speaking during the Osasu Show anchored by Osasu Igbinedion herself on AIT, said Nigerians blamed him for lying because they had associated him with the opposition party for ten years.

 

Lai Mohammed said no one could fault the facts and figures he had presented to Nigerians so far, stressing that he had since challenged Nigerians to point to any particular lie he told but that so far, no Nigerian had pointed to any.

 

He said: “I think I carried two major burdens. The first burden I carried is that I was the face of opposition for almost a decade and I think quite a big section of the internet has not forgiven me for the role I played in the coming of this government.

 

“Many of them hold me personally responsible for the defeat of the PDP. I am flattered by that but the truth of that.

“It was Nigerians that wanted a new government and I was just one of the instruments.

“I have always asked anybody to come out and say Alhaji Lai Mohammed, this is what you said at this point and we found it to be a lie and nobody so far has come out to say anything.

 

“You can fault me on emotions but you can never fault me on facts and figures.”

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How a Woman was Detained By Police Because Her Husband Criticized Lai Mohammed

In this interview with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU, Mrs Dorcas Jolayemi, the wife of a journalist detained for criticising Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, recounts her eight-day ordeal in the custody of the Kwara State Police Command

 

A human rights organisation claimed you spent eight days in police detention because of your husband’s poem, which was critical of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. Can you narrate the events that led to your arrest?

 

On April 29, 2020 policemen came to my house in Ilorin, Kwara State, but I was not at home. I had gone to visit my brother-in-law. I was told that when they realised I was not at home, they came to my brother-in-law’s house in a Hilux van. They were about four policemen altogether. They said they had come to arrest me and I stood up. They kept asking me where my phone was and I told them it was with my son.

 

They said I must follow them to their station with my phone. Eventually, I got the phone and we left. On getting to the State Criminal Investigation Department, they began to interrogate me. They asked why I obstructed the arrest of my husband. I asked them what they meant by that.

 

They asked me when last I spoke with my husband and I told them I spoke with him in the morning. They said they wanted to arrest my husband and he fled to Maro in Kwara State. They said I was the one who advised him to run away and switch off his phone. They played a recording of my phone conversation with my husband.

 

Apparently, they had bugged my phone and that of my husband. I admitted that, indeed, I told my husband to run away, but it wasn’t a crime because I didn’t harbour him. I only asked him not to come home, which is what a typical wife would do. I heard the police wanted to arrest him and I didn’t know the reason why they wanted to arrest him. I told him to run away because I wanted him to be safe. They said for that, I would pay for it. I was brought before their boss and the man insulted me, calling me a stupid woman. He said I shouldn’t have advised my husband to run away. The man said I would pay for it and they took my statement. I was there from April 29 to May 6.

 

What exactly was your husband accused of doing?

 

While I was in detention, they played a recording of the poem that was recited by my husband. They asked if I could confirm if the voice belonged to my husband and I said it was his voice. They said how could my husband be insulting Lai Mohammed, a minister. They said it was Lai Mohammed that ordered them to arrest him.

 

When you were in detention, were you tortured by the police?

 

My experience in police custody was horrible. It was my older sister that was bringing food to me. I wasn’t allowed to communicate with anybody. They didn’t let me speak with my son. I slept on the corridor of the toilet. The place was horrible. I couldn’t sleep most of the time because of mosquitoes. I would stay awake most nights to ward off the mosquitoes.

 

Did you have access to your lawyer during that period?

 

No. They didn’t even allow me to talk to anyone, not even to my lawyer.

 

Did the police also arrest other relatives of yours?

 

My husband’s younger brother, Mr Joseph Jolayemi, was arrested on April 28. He was arrested because of my husband. At the time of his arrest, he was accused of possessing a stolen cell phone. However, on getting to the SCID, he was interrogated. The police asked him questions about my husband. They subsequently played a phone conversation he had with my husband. It was obvious that his phone had also been bugged. My brother’s older brother, John Jolayemi, was also arrested.

Who took care of your children in your absence?

 

My brother-in-law’s wife was the one that took care of them.

Did you bribe the police before you were released?

 

When my husband finally presented himself a week later, we were released. He came with a lawyer. So we signed some documents. I can’t really say what happened afterwards. I don’t know if the police were given money or not. My brothers-in-law may know.

How has your health been since your release?

 

My two brothers-in-law and I were all hospitalised after we were released. We spent about a week in hospital. We had severe malaria. It was a traumatic experience.

 

Have you had contact with your husband since his arrest?

 

The last time I saw or spoke to my husband was on May 5, 2020, the day he turned himself in at the SCID. On Thursday, which was May 7, he was taken to Abuja and since then, he has remained there.

Do you know if he is alive and well?

 

Sincerely, I don’t even know if he is alive or not because I have no access to him. Even his brothers are getting information about him from third parties. I don’t know whether he is sick or well. I worry about him every day.

 

Have you made attempts to plead with Lai Mohammed to drop the case?

 

According to my brothers-in-law, they sent representatives to plead with Lai Mohammed to drop the case. They said the Oba of Ilala in Kwara State and some other traditional rulers had gone to the minister to plead with him, but he has refused to respond. Some even went to the minister’s hometown in Oro to plead with elders in his community, but there has been no positive response.

Who has been providing for your family since your husband’s arrest?

 

At present, we are staying with my brother-in-law. He is the one that is taking care of us.

 

Culled from Punch

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Lai Mohammed says Senegal has the best jollof rice on CNN

So Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed was interviewed last night by CNN's Richard Quest who is currently in Nigeria.

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Travel Loan: Lai Mohammed Lied

 

We are disturbed by the latest falsehood published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, 16 May, 2016, and the theatre of the absurd currently playing out in the Federal Information and Culture Ministry, following the recent leak of a letter requesting a loan of N13.2 million from the National Broadcasting Commission to facilitate Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s travel to China. 

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Lai Mohammed says Buhari is taking Nigerian drugs in London hospital

There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has allegedly been hospitalized in London nigerianewspaper.com.ng can report.

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on a programme on Channels TV allegedly said the president is in a UK hospital but still buying Nigerian medication.

nigerianewspaper.com.ng  has been monitoring reactions on the minister’s comment on social media site, Twitter. Some say the minister is a huge disgrace to our nationhood.

Buhari May Be In London Hospital but Still Patronizes Made-in-Nigeria Drugs – Lai Mohammed

Una really made unaselves idiots to these guys

— Uchenna (@Uchez2) May 19, 2017

Buhari is being treated with DONGOYARO, AWOPA, EFINRIN and other local herbs in London
~ Lai Mohammed

— Lere Olayinka (@OlayinkaLere) May 20, 2017

"Buhari May be in London, But he still takes Made in Nigeria drugs" ..Lai Mohammed

Ok Continue Sir !!!!

— Adenekan Mayowa (@Mayourspeaks) May 20, 2017

@DanisaDawo @MBuhari @segalink That man Lai is a HUGE disgrace to our nationhood, anytime he opens his mouth, one crap word or the other is sure to proceed from him.

— #BringBackOurGirls (@feyiwonder) May 20, 2017

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Lai Mohammed Changes Tune on Proposed Ban of Overseas Production of Films, Videos

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed

 Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said he didn't say all music videos and films will be produced in Nigeria, or that the production of music videos or films outside Nigeria will be banned. 

Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has changed his mouth over the proposed review of the National Broadcasting Commission which would have placed a ban on production of Nigerian movies, reality TV shows and music videos abroad.

 

This comes after the Information Minister was heavily criticised by notable Nigerian artistes after his statement during a visit to the headquarters of the Copyright Society of Nigeria.

 

Making clarification on the matter in a statement on Wednesday, the Information Minister stated that the Nigerian government will not do anything to tamper with the rights of artistes in the country. The Minister denied saying that all music and films would or must be produced in Nigeria. 

 

''I didn't say that henceforth, all music videos and films will be produced in Nigeria, or that the production of music videos or films outside Nigeria will be banned. All I said was that if a programme is designated as a Nigerian (local) content programme, we will amend the Code to ensure that it is produced in Nigeria,'' he said, adding: "On that, there is no going back.''

 

The Minister recalled how his office was bombarded with calls from concerned Nigerians when the last edition of the ''Big Brother Naija'' was produced in South Africa, saying he subsequently directed the National Broadcasting Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

 

''Following the findings, we decided to amend the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to prevent a repeat of that development. We are now in the process of doing that, so that anyone who intends to produce a reality show or similar programmes for Nigerians cannot take the production of such shows outside Nigeria.

 

''Nigerians are a very proud and resourceful people, and we are sure that no Nigerian will be against a decision to prevent the jobs that can be done in Nigeria by Nigerians from being exported to other countries,'' he said.

 

In a related development, Alhaji Mohammed has said the Broadcasting Code is also being amended to help develop the local football league.

 

''This (amendment) is not just about the Creative Industry. We are also going to ensure that the NBC Code is amended in a manner that if any company in Nigeria today invests a million dollars in promoting or supporting any (football) team or league outside Nigeria, I want the Broadcasting Code to be amended to the effect that it will not allow that programme to be aired unless that company supports the Nigerian League with a percentage that will not be less than 30 per cent of what was spent.

 

''This is because we cannot continue to develop the economies of the other parts of the world from the sweat of Nigerians and at the expense of the Nigerian economy,'' the Minister said.

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‘Buhari Now Working From Home Due To Failing Health’ – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria's Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, has revealed that ailing ‎President Muhammadu Buhari will now work from his home at the Presidential Villa, marking a turning point in the former military dictator’s regime.

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Biafra:‎ Jonathan faults Buhari, tackles Lai Mohammed

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticised his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, for planning to extend military deployment to the South-South and the South-West.
Jonathan said this in a Facebook post on Tuesday, which was signed on his behalf by his media aide, Reno Omokri.

“However, we want to advise the Buhari administration, which has announced plans to extend the military show of force to the South-South and the South-West through Operation Crocodile Smile, to tread with caution.
“Nigeria is no longer under military rule. In a democracy, you separate the military from the police. The military is not meant to fight criminality within a nation because they are trained to fight a nation’s external enemies.
“It is the police that are trained to fight crime internally. When the military starts doing the job of the police and starts fighting or doing what they call a ‘show of force’, the effect will not be to reduce crime. The effect will be to intimidate people,” he wrote.
Jonathan also lambasted the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for saying the activities of IPOB started because he lost the 2015 election.

The former President said: “The insinuations in the press conference given by Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday, accusing the opposition of sponsoring the IPOB and the fact that he mentioned that Nnamdi Kanu preached Nigerian unity during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan is another clear indication that the present administration has not left propaganda mode for proper agenda mode two and a half year into their tenure.
“If the government, in which Lai Mohammed serves, knows which opposition members are sponsoring IPOB, then they should identify them, arrest them and then prosecute them.”

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Landlord moves to evict Lai Mohammed’s ministry over alleged failure to pay rent

The Federal Ministry of Information under the supervision of Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been given a one-week notice to vacate its Abia State Division office for its alleged failure to pay rent for two years.
The landlord of the property, through his lawyer, Adizua Okoroafor, served a quit notice on the ministry.

Punch newspaper reports that the quit notice was backed by an order of the Umuahia North Magistrates’ Court, which authorised the landlord or his assignee to approach the court to seek an order to eject the ministry.
An official of the ministry, who confirmed the receipt of the quit notice on the condition of anonymity, said the rent of the office complex had not been paid since the current Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, took over the running of the ministry.
He said: “Since Alhaji Lai Mohammed was appointed as the Minister of Information and Culture, he has not taken the welfare of the Ministry of Information seriously. He is using the money of the Ministry of Information to run the Ministry of Culture, but Culture is under Information.
“We have never seen such a situation where a minister will hide in the Ministry of Culture and abandon the Ministry of Information and that is why we are having this issue of non-payment of our rent. Our rent has not been paid for over two years and we are suffering it now.

“We don’t even know what comes next. Our landlord has threatened to eject us any moment from now, and he started a court action against us.
“Our staff members have been advised to take their personal belongings from the office because we may come to work one morning and find out that the office has been locked up.”

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No going back on social media regulation - Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has stated that the federal government will be moving on with its plan to regulate social media.

Lai Mohammed who disclosed this weeks after he denied the existence of a bill for the regulation of social media in an interview with an international news platform, said they have already contacted two major platforms; Facebook and Google.

He told newsmen in Abuja yesterday February 20, that their aim is to ensure that damages are not done to the country through the social media.

 “We are pushing ahead with our plan to sanitize the social media, working with stakeholders. By March 2, 2020, we will inaugurate a stakeholders committee that will deliberate and recommend the way forward.
“We are also planning a major international conference that will bring together the tech companies, media practitioners, policy makers and others as part of efforts to tackle this growing canker-worm
“Last week, I met with representatives of Google and Facebook for the same purpose. The situation is dire, and no nation that values its peace, security and stability will allow an irresponsible use of the social media.
“There has been a spike in the dissemination of fake news and the use of disinformation in recent times. This is not accidental: Fake news, disinformation and hate speech have become the weapons of choice to create tension in the polity and destabilise the country.
“And those behind them, the naysayers, are not about to relent. Those behind this campaign of fake news and disinformation have also deployed new tactics, top of which is the recycling old news items and videos.
“For some people, the 2019 elections are not over. They are stuck in the pre-election mode. And they must continue to use these weapons to put Nigeria on edge.”

Lai Mohammed also revealed plans of floating a new ‘communication regulations’ which will record all calls, monitor WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.

“Another good example is the video of the over 400 young men suspected to be Boko Haram members who were intercepted in Abia State in 2014.
“About two weeks ago, the video came back into circulation, creating panic in the polity. The intention of those behind it  is simple: to create tension and panic in the country."

He pointed out some fake news he claimed were passed off through social media and they include;  President Buhari will be travelling to the United Kingdom for 20 days before proceeding to Saudi Arabia and Austria; Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi was attacked at Rigasa train station in Kaduna and that the Nigerian Air Force killed 250 Boko Haram insurgents.

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Visa ban will affect vulnerable Nigerians - Lai Mohammed tells US

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has reacted to the planned addition of Nigeria to the list of countries on US visa travel ban.

The Nigerian Minister who is in London for a meeting with international media and other think tanks, told Reuters that they will be responding comprehensively if the speculative move is effected.

Lai Mohammed also stated that the move which will affect the vulnerable in Nigeria was informed largely on negative narratives spread by naysayers.

He said;

“On the issue of the travel ban our position is that it is still speculative because we are yet to be communicated. When we are communicated we will respond comprehensively.
“However, in our view it was not well thought out but based largely on negative narratives spread by naysayers.
“I know that we are working very well with our neighbours to ensure that terrorism is addressed. We are working with international community including the EU and the US.
“Our advice to the US is that it should have a rethink on the issue because any travel ban is bound to affect investment and growth in the country and those who will be affected are the most vulnerable people in Nigeria.”

On border closure, Lai Mohammed who stated that the decision has produced positive results in terms of increased revenue, security and boosting the capacity of the farmers, said it was centered on the country's neighbours;  Benin Republic and Niger Republic failure to respect the ECOWAS treaty on transit of goods.

He said;

“Not only that they are sabotaging the economy of the country but also the security of the nation was being threatened.
“Under the guise of smuggling rice, a lot of small arms and light weapons are being smuggled into the country.”

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Dressing Of Masquerades Can Create 1000 Jobs Per Week For Young Nigerian Men - Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says dressing masquerades could create a thousand jobs per week for Nigerian men.

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Python Dance: Lai Mohammed, Army Chief will end in prison – Zionists

The Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, Tuesday, vowed that Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Minister of information, Lai Mohammed will end up in prison over the recent deployment of troops to Abia State.
DAILY POST reports that the Army exercise code-named ‘Operation Python Dance’ led to a confrontation between the military and the pro-Biafra agitators, resulting to reported death of some youths.

Speaking on the developments, the BZF leader, Barr. Benjamin Igwe Onwuka, who had earlier declared himself President of Biafra, said all the people involved in the deployment of troops to Aba and Umuahia will pay a heavy price over the deaths.
He equally scolded Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, who he said was sabotaging the Biafra project, warning that if he did not retrace his steps, he would be chased out of Biafra land.
Onwuka, however, maintained that “banning IPOB will not affect restoration of Biafra. It is a waste of time; IPOB just a group, Biafra is a country. You cannot ban a nation which came into being in May 1957. So, banning IPOB is just simple waste of their political time.
“I said this because Biafra has already been recognized by the international community.

“We all saw what happened at the just concluded UN General Assembly on September 22, where Biafrans were allowed to protest by the New York Government, but such was not the case with the Nigerian Government. Their rented protesters were denied access. So, this confirms our earlier statement that the US has since recognized Biafra, far back in 2013 by then President Barrack Obama.”
On the army invasion of Abia State, the zionists said “it is clearly a tragedy. It is clearly a military invasion; it has nothing to do with IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu. This is the North invading the East because of Biafra. I want to deeply condemn that act.
“The attack on Biafran soil is an attack on all of us. The army is not supposed to be interfere in the internal security situation of the nation; they are not supposed to get involved in domestic security of the country. So, sending the army to Aba and Umuahia was with an ulterior motive.
“Using Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB to as a pretext to kill young men and women in in Abia and other parts of Igbo land, the North will have to pay for it. So, I condemn in totality the brutality of the army in the name f Operation Python Dance.

“We, therefore, state clearly today that all those involved, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of information, will pay for these killings, They will all end up in ICC and then in prison.
“Any one involved in this military force against un-armed agitators will never go scot-free. We are not only going to take them to the ICC but prosecute the matter to the end until they are made to pay dearly for it. This time around, they will not escape justice. They did it in 1967-1970 and went away with it but it won’t happen this time. Britain and Saudi Arabia will not even save them.”
“For Lai Mohammed, can you see the lopsidedness in his argument? How can someone compare IPOB with herdsmen? These herdsmen have been killing people in their hundreds unhindered and that is why I insist that some Northern leaders are behind Boko Haram and herdsmen.
“So, the statement from Lai Mohammed is rubbish and I am telling him today that he will face ICC over the killings in Abia.
“We are as well calling on the Northern religious leaders, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Emir of Kano to call President Buhari and the Army Chiefs to order.
“They should order them to withdraw these troops and rampaging herdsmen from Biafra land”, he added.
On Fr. Mbaka, he said “it is regrettable that our Church leaders, notable ones, instead of supporting Biafra, they are busy using words that do not in any way reflect what is happening. Look at the killings in Abia, have they said anything.
“Go to South-Africa, Desmond Tutu, an ArchBishop was in in the vanguard fighting for the liberation of the people, but here in Biafra, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka and ArchBishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, and several others are campaigning against the overall interest of the Biafran people.
“They cannot be supporting our opponents openly here in Biafra land. If they don’t wan’t to support Biafra, let them mind their business, let them face their duty of preaching the word of God, but involving themselves in attacking the people is very tragic.
“The Zionists are are warning Ejike Mbaka that he is putting his adoration ministry on the line. All the clerics supporting these killings will be sent away from here by the Biafra government and we will take over that his adoration ground.

“Attacking us and calling us names is unacceptable. People are being killed everyday, has any of them come out to speak against it? We have marked Mbaka as enemy of Biafra.”

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