BOSS NEWSPAPER The
Vol.1 No.1
ISSN-2052-1979
Saturday, November 14, 2015
www.thebossnewspapers.com
TECH NEWS P8
The Allegations that got MTN into trouble in Nigeria
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he cliché “To whom much is given, much is expected” seem to be true for telecommunications giant, MTN, especially as it pertains to its operations in Nigeria. MTN launched its Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM), service on August 8, 2001 connecting 100,000 lines (24 hours after another licensee, Econet Wireless began) and from the get go; it benefitted a lot from being a pioneer. Not only was a sim card sold for as much as N30,000 (today it is virtually free), MTN got loads of tax reliefs and concessions, because the then Obasanjo government wanted to make sure that its plan to democratize telephony had no hitches.
LIFESTYLE P11
Marion Ayonote makes history at the House of Fraser
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Story by: Michael Effiong
he may be based in London, United Kingdom but Aw a r d - w i n n i n g designer Marion Ayonote is a proud Nigerian-and the feat of having her products displayed at the high brow, House of Fraser is a major achievement for a label that is barely 15 years in business.
“I DID NOT STEAL
NIGERIA’s MONEY” – Former Minister, Diezani Cries Out
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Story by: Dele Momodu
hat you are about to read is probably the most anticipated story of the year birthed in the long awaited authoritative investigative newspaper of the future. This pregnant saga fell into labour last week in the pre-natal wing of Pendulum ward of Thisday clinic and it has now given birth to a big bouncing baby christened The Boss. This is an apt metaphor for the melodramatic scoop
which is the cover of the first edition of what I believe will be a catalyst for unbiased investigative reporting in Nigeria. The Boss had long been conceptualised as a Leadership newspaper to occupy the void created by lack of true and credible investigative journalism in some traditional and online media. The original plan was to launch in December or early January. But the Diezani-Alison Madueke story changed all that. It
was too compelling to restrict to the Pendulum column alone. And here we are with what promises to be an exciting addition to the media landscape in Nigeria and beyond featuring an enthralling cover story that will run and run. After that effervescent introduction in Thisday, in which Nigeria’s most influential newspaper published the meeting between this reporter and the embattled former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, everyone requested for details of the encounter. Some unbelieving Thomases even suggested the story was pure fiction, or at the very best “faction” to borrow Kole Omotoso’s word. They wondered why a more comprehensive interview could not be published, garnished with clear crispy pictures of Madame Diezani. CONTINUES ON PAGE 3
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“I DID MY JOB TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND INTENTIONS�
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-MRS. DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE
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It was obvious many had read the story in a hurry and did not assimilate the carefully worded tale of a woman in deep pain and anguish for variety of reasons. Of course there were insinuations that it was a public relations stunt but mercifully most readers thought it was a well-balanced story. It even went viral. At any rate, those who took their time would have noticed that I had to settle for such a gripping monologue because it was virtually impossible to extract more information from a cancer patient who had spent her day with her medical team in a private London hospital. Our protagonist had also probably taken the risk of meeting this reporter in order to check if he was going to play the quintessential antagonist or do his job professionally and dispassionately. That meeting obviously impacted on her decision to open up eventually, two days after Episode One. A call came through on Friday, November 6, 2015, from a female aide of Mrs. AlisonMadueke to request for a meeting the following day at 2.30pm at a location yet to be determined. The appointment was immediately approved. Later in the evening, this ubiquitous aide made yet another call shifting the appointment forward by a few hours to 11am the same Saturday. My response again was yes. The pot that would eat pepper must endure some heat, says a Yoruba proverb. The Diezani story was worth all the sacrifice in the world. In other climes, journalists would have shown more than cursory interest in chasing that super exclusive chat. Her copyrighted picture would have fetched a few million dollars, probably. Anyway... A text message flew into my phone very early Saturday
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Unfortunately, no one ever remembers the things that went right but everyone remembers and tends to emphasise the things that went wrong…”
morning. It contained the address and full postcode of a new venue different from the one of two days earlier. Not to worry. My wife offered to chauffeur me again but without her sister this time around. While on our way, the female aide called to ask if we were going to make the 11 o’clock time pronto or arrive late. I replied we would arrive earlier rather than later. I would soon understand the import of her question. Madame Diezani was apparently on her way and I was expected to be comfortably seated prior to her arrival. Presumably, so I would not know how and from what direction she had come. There was no sign this time of any overbearing or anxious security man. Mrs. AlisonMadueke had laughingly dismissed as funny my James Bond imagination of Thursday, in any event. Since the meeting was supposed to be strictly one-on-one, my wife had to wait in the car while I was away. The venue turned out to be a popular restaurant near Regent’s Park, famous for its breakfast.
I was a bit surprised and disappointed at the choice of location. I was hoping she was going to give me access to her now famous apartment which was said to have been bought at a most staggering amount, or the new multi-billion dollar home that was rumoured to have triggered the alarm leading to her arrest, claims she would dismiss as tales by moonlight. I called the mobile number I had been given as I approached the doorway of the restaurant and her female aide emerged from the bowel of the restaurant to lead me to a somewhat secluded corner where a table had been reserved. I was seated facing the entrance and hoping I could catch her glimpse whenever she arrives. After waiting for about 20 minutes or so, I heard some footsteps and the once most powerful woman in Nigeria surfaced. She looked slightly better than at our last meeting for which I was glad. I sprang to my feet as we exchanged pleasantries. I mentioned to her that she looks better and she said she’s been resting and gaining strength in preparation for the radiotherapy sessions expected to last five agonising weeks. She ordered for full English breakfast while I settled only for a cup of cappuccino. But when the meal arrived, she didn’t eat it because she has lost appetite for food generally and was more on
Dele Momodu with Former Minister, Diezani
fluids but had hoped this would return if she saw the food. She then asked for American coffee, water and fresh lime instead. She also ordered for tea at some point. Most of the time we spent talking, she coughed intermittently into a napkin and dabbed her mouth with it but she was clearly determined to pour out her obviously heavy heart despite the discomfort I could notice she was struggling to endure. Let me reiterate for the sake of those who missed the first part of this story that our two meetings took place on Thursday, November 5 and Saturday, November 7, 2015 at different locations. The first was in a private apartment while the second was in this restaurant. Unlike the first which lasted less than half an hour, we were able to spend more time together this time. Indeed, we were at it for a total of just over four hours, and I believe she spoke from the heart, I believe, but the reader is always the judge. There were several off-the-
COVER STORY
record interludes. More than anything, we were both careful not to discuss in detail matters which might impact on the cases and legal problems now bedevilling her. I did not expect otherwise. Mrs Alison-Madueke is a smart and intelligent woman and had recently benefited from being advised by lawyers both in the UK and Nigeria in connection with her arrest in the UK and the search of her Abuja home. Getting and persuading her to talk in detail about a lot of issues was therefore very difficult. There were other reasons. First, was her obvious paranoia of the Nigerian press. She’s been bruised, battered and blistered, especially in print and on social media. She’s been scandalised, summarily tried and precipitously convicted by the media, according to her. She did not expect anyone to lend her an ear or listen to her now muffled voice. On top of her problems, she’s having a running battle with the
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most dreaded form of cancer of the breast and she’s had to undergo surgeries to remove the lumps and later some chunky tissue. The treatments have not been that successful and it’s been a dingdong affair for this once ebullient and elegant lady. We had to give assurances of not sensationalising her story if granted access. Of course it has never been our practice to do so and thus, this was not a problem. We promised not to embellish her stories in any way or reveal off-therecord discussions which were truly personal and confidential and had nothing to do with her travails. There was a strict proviso that no form of recording would be allowed and we had to adopt the novelistic style. The result of that covenant is what you’re reading
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today. We must note that we were highly restricted and encumbered by strings of events as well as existing litigation and other possible future developments. We could not get as much revelations as we expected but the little we managed to get provided enough insight into a woman who had achieved so much and enjoyed substantial accolades before the sad turn of events. Had she remained in Shell, where she became the first and only female Director, and shunned the murky water of Nigerian politics, maybe she would have savoured the klieglights forever. We knew it was going to be very difficult getting pictures in her present not too genial or glamorous condition. That was practically
tough on our first meeting as she was just returning from her hospital rounds and looked totally exhausted. We however succeeded in getting a few pictures this time some of which we are revealing for the first time today. The Diezani Alison-Madueke story is a classic study in the intrigues of power-play. Barely months ago, she was at the pinnacle of the temple as Minister of one of the biggest oil-producing nations on earth. She was elected the President of the powerful Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). And the world was at her feet. The cancer issue had crept in, like a thief in the night, but was being treated and managed by the best doctors available in England. There was that optimism that all shall be
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well at the end of the day until everything that could go wrong started going wrong, like in Murphy’s Law. Madame Diezani confirmed that she and the government she served loyally and passionately never thought for one second that the Nigerian general elections could turn out the way it did or that they would suffer the crushing and devastating defeat that they did. The first and major casualty would be the woman who controlled the destiny of Nigerians as Petroleum Resources Minister. Under her care, a whopping $20 billion was alleged to have literally vamoosed into thin air. Till this day, no one has come forward to authenticate the veracity or otherwise of such mind-boggling claims. Instead we’ve received conflicting figures
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on the supposed infractions. This is a story like no other and it cannot be told like any other. It is a tale from the super highway of power and the fast lane of confusion. Nothing is sweeter than power and money, in no particular order, as long as you have both you are in the rarefied company of national decision-makers. And nothing is sadder than having both and falling from grace to grass or from fame to infamy. Mrs AlisonMadueke had the world not just at her feet but firmly in her palm. She could apparently turn a certified pauper into a certificated billionaire within the twinkle of an eye. In short, she could make and unmake. Diezani was the subject of many fables. And this is the crux of the matter. Her closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan and the influence she wielded on him was never a hidden matter. This lent credence to the mystical power over the Nigerian economy that it was claimed she possessed. I fired my first shot from that direction and it was as if she expected it. “Is it true that a sister of yours has a kid or kids for President Jonathan?” I asked. “That is totally untrue as I don’t have any such sister or relative!” she said. She wondered how people could fabricate such blatant lies.
I soon followed with what I regarded as an upper-cut: “It was said that you and the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan were in permanent conflict; why was it so?” She responded that their relationship was cordial enough and she gave the former First Lady the respect she should give the wife of her boss. She went further to say that “What people don’t know is that we’ve been family friends for long. My mum, Mrs Beatrice Agama, has always played the role of a godmother in the Niger Delta and all the militants love and respect her. I come from a royal privileged background and lacked nothing.” She said she was not unaware of certain insinuations about an intimate relationship with the former President but she never bothered her head about them because some people had made up their minds to spread those ugly tales about her. “If you are in the corridor of power, you must expect anything, including mud and even bricks being thrown at you.” Now wait for the next shot! “You’ve been linked to so many young guys who made so much money from you and later absconded or turned against you… What was between you and Chris Aire, Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore,
Tonye Cole, Dapo Abiodun, Wale Tinubu, Igho Sanomi and others?” I queried her. Madame Diezani’s response was calm and unruffled: “I vehemently deny any intimacy or liaison with any of these gentlemen.” She noted that she is happily married like most of them are happily married and asserted that she is not the Scarlet Lady that people paint her to be. She sees those rumours as insults on accomplished women who cannot be seen in sensitive positions without running riotous with some men. She said it was important to put in context how she met most of them: “I was the Chairman of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board and I did my job to the best of my ability and intentions. My boss and I were determined to empower Nigerians, especially the young ones, who had the brains and guts to dare.” She pointed out that her firm belief and desire to empower Nigeriains stemmed from the manner that she and her parents and siblings were unceremoniously dumped out of Shell Camp where her father worked and lived while she was young. The memory was apparently traumatic as I could notice her wiping her eyes with another napkin. She said “I remember that day vividly. It was definitely one of the worst days of my life. We were not even allowed to finish eating before they hurriedly packed our belongings, threw them into trucks and drove us into an uncertain, unknown future.” She continued “I was determined that what my father fought for, which was to ensure that Nigerians had a greater say in the scheme of things in Shell and thus in the petroleum industry would be championed and achieved by me in Government” She noted that in every government, some people must land the big jobs which every human being would love to have. She said “I chose to empower mostly Nigerians and took the power away from foreigners who used to dominate the sector. That was why we pushed for the
COVER STORY
Nigerian Content Bill, which mercifully we got through. So you cannot expect some forces not to hate me but I was shocked that Nigerians themselves were ready to crucify me mostly on rumours and not verifiable facts. Most leaders before me have suffered a similar fate so I take some comfort from that experience.” She added that people seem to forget that she is happily married to Rear Admiral Alison Madueke and would not do anything to jeopardise her marriage or smear herself in the eyes of her husband, children and family. She also said that some of these men were unknown to her until she became a Minister and that although, in some cases, they later enjoyed a cordial relationship with her, it was no more than the kind of relationship she enjoyed with other successful Nigerian businessmen who respected and admired her for the way she was bringing Nigerians to the forefront of the industry: “It is unfortunate that things didn’t work perfectly all the time as expected and as a leader I take the blame for those imperfections, but I’m certainly not a demon as being portrayed. I have no doubt that I served my nation well, the reason my colleagues at OPEC supported me despite the opposition from my own people. I still maintain that level of relationship with my former colleagues despite not being in government.“ I then asked, why is she so controversial? “Controversy has nothing to do with your qualifications or performance. As a matter of fact, people often hate you for knowing so much and for being efficient and confident which they mistake for arrogance. We had to confront so many challenges, including oil theft and general insecurity but we did very well even if we did not succeed 100 percent. I must say that some of our own people delivered responsibly while a few of them breached the faith and wasted the opportunities handed to them by my boss, President Jonathan. Unfortunately, no one ever remembers the things that went right but everyone remembers and tends to emphasise the things that went wrong…” We soon moved the discussion to the many allegations of financial impropriety under her tenure, especially the alleged disappearance of $20billion and other wasteful spending authorised by her. She observed that she could not go into any real details because of the criminal investigations in Nigeria and England as well as the civil case
COVER STORY
here. However she told me she would try and provide general details about these matters because it was important to shed some light on her own involvement from the vantage point of someone actually in Government who believes these things simply cannot happen. She was visibly angry at the mention of the $20billion: “If there is one issue I must pursue in this world it is the biggest lie of this money. How can $20billion disappear just like that? Where did it disappear to? Is it possible that such an amount would not be traceable? This is more painful coming from someone I considered a good friend who should appreciate the gravity of such allegation. I challenge anyone to come forward with facts showing that I stole government or public money. I’ve never stolen Nigeria’s money…” “Rather, I worked hard to halt the rampant business of roundtripping. When I brought in Reginald Stanley to clean up the place, I requested for a list of the defaulters. There were about 92 of them and I made sure we sanctioned them. You can imagine the threat to my life but I was ready to defend the economic interests of my country. In fact, we were able to reduce the oil subsidy by about half. No one has applauded our effort. “There were those who said the then Governor of Central Bank must have been angry at me because of the way the Presidency treated him. In all honesty, he was being blocked from seeing the President by some of Oga’s people (presidential aides) but it had nothing to do with me. I was the one who even told Oga about the development and Oga said he would meet him in London on one of his trips. Unfortunately my boss fell ill and was rushed to King Edward Hospital and the meeting was aborted.” “Sanusi and I had been friends. There was no way I would have done anything bad to him. He even came to my house to inform me about his interest in heading the African Development Bank and we discussed for about two hours. I promised to support him and I spoke to Oga about it. We were together on the Reconciliation Committee that looked into the accounts of NNPC. Yes there were gaps but not on the alarming scale being circulated. Markafi (former Governor of Kaduna State) did a thorough job. You know he is a very sound accountant.” What about the allegations that
she owns choice properties everywhere? “It is so sad that anyone could say such about me. Let me say something to you, I live with my husband in the same
added that her involvement in the conclusion of these transactions was limited and that some of the contracts had been executed before she became Minister of Petroleum
Controversy has nothing to do with your qualifications or performance. As a matter of fact, people often hate you for knowing so much and for being efficient and confident which they mistake for arrogance. We had to confront so many challenges, including oil theft and general insecurity but we did very well even if we did not succeed 100 percent. I must say that some of our own people delivered responsibly while a few of them breached the faith and wasted the opportunities handed to them by my boss, President Jonathan. Unfortunately, no one ever remembers the things that went right but everyone remembers and tends to emphasise the things that went wrong…”
house we’ve lived since we married in 1999. Ask anyone who knows us. Our house in Abuja was bought in 2007 by my husband and as an architect and lover of interior décor I did it up to our own taste. It is not over the top because I have good taste and appreciate bargains. I shop in regular shops like B & Q to do up all the places where I live. Anyone who tells you I have houses anywhere should feel free to publish them. That was how they said I bought an expensive property in Vienna. I went to court and I won the case. I never saw the house before except in picture. The house I stay in London is rented. As a woman I love to look good. Some of my dresses and jewelleries are often dumped on me by those I buy from and I pay them when I can” She went on to explain that virtually all the transactions in respect of which allegations of corruption are being levelled against her went through due process and that the Group Managing Director of NNPC was actively involved in ensuring that the best international practices were maintained. She
Resources. In some other cases she only got details after the contracts had been concluded when approached by some businessmen who complained about the terms. She usually admonished them to forego the contracts if they felt they were not profitable and seek other ventures
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within the industry. She reiterated that she could not speak in detail since she is currently facing charges and criminal investigations in England. But she emphasised that her boss neither discriminated against nor favoured anyone. She claimed some of those who benefited the most were even in opposition and mentioned how a renowned opposition leader and vocal critic of the Government at the time met her on about three occasions to discuss his interests in the business of oil. “My boss didn’t want Nigerians to suffer because of politics so we agreed to offer certain support to a company we knew was owned by the opposition once we were satisfied they controlled the market substantially and have what it takes to deliver the goods nationwide. We were that tolerant…” (To be continued)
NEXT WEEK DIEZANI SPEAKS ON BUHARI, ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR AND HER BATTLE WITH CANCER…
“I called my only biological son, Chimezie, 14, in April this year and said to him Mummy has cancer… He asked me if Mummy was going to die…”
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ISSN-2052-1979
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EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL TEAM ISSN-2052-1979
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The Allegations that got MTN into trouble in Nigeria TECH NEWS
That early lead helped MTN grow in leaps and bounds, and today, it is the largest network in terms of subscriber base in Nigeria. In addition, MTN Nigeria contributes a huge chunk of the profit declared yearly by the MTN Group. That is why anything that affects MTN in Nigeria would definitely shake the MTN Group, little wonder that when the news broke that the company had been slammed with a whopping $5.2billion (Over 1Ntrillion) fine by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), it hit the parent company like a Tsunami. MTN shares came tumbling down, losing a massive 20 per cent in minutes, and fearing the worst, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) ordered a temporary suspension on trading of the shares. It was a face-saving announcement from the Board that stemmed the tide, and calmed frayed nerves. That was not all, pronto, the Group Chief Executive, Sifiso Debengwa rushed to Nigeria to meet with the NCC officials but there was no truce, he went home empty handed-and it was no surprise that he had to resign his position early this week. How did MTN get itself into this billion dollar mess? Well, insiders revealed that even before Mike Ikpoki, its first ever Nigerian MD/CEO assumed office, the behemoth has allegedly established a culture of shunning impunity, regulatory authorities at will and it was just a matter a time before the Pharaoh who knew Moses would depart the throne and the hammer would come crashing down! The analysis below captures the full story of the MTN $5.2 billion debacle. It takes the reader through the NCC rules and how MTN found itself in these troubled waters, highlighting MTN’s penchant for ignoring directives. Background Subscriber Identification Module or SIM card registration is
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a standard requirement that is increasingly prevalent the world over. Authorities and regulators mandate subscriber registration in order to control crime and offer security to mobile telephony customers and to the community at large. May 1, 2010: Telecommunications operators in Nigeria were mandated to start collecting biometric and nonbiometric personal information for each new subscriber in an effort to improve information gathering towards enhancing national security. This was initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in collaboration with other security agencies and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). November 7, 2011: The SIM Registration Regulations came into force. Section 19 of the SIM Registration Regulations sets out a fine of N200, 000 for every SIM card which is found to be fully active without proper registration details while Section 20 of the Regulations also stipulates a fine of N200, 000 for failure to deactivate any SIM Card without proper registration details. Specifically, newly purchased and activated SIM cards are required to block outbound calls u n t i l
submission of registration details, where this registration is not completed within 30 days of activation then the SIM must be fully barred from the network. June 30, 2013: Following the expiration of an initial grace period provided to existing subscribers to register their SIM cards, the NCC mandated all
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operators to deactivate all unregistered existing SIM cards on their networks by June 30, 2013. November 2013: Operators were directed to fully bar any newly registered SIM card which fails to perform a voice or data communication within 48 hours after its registration. Directive to deactivate improperly registered SIM cards September 2014: The NCC, to whom operators upload registrations every month, shared details back to the operators of registrations records that the NCC judged as invalid on the NCC system. Operators were directed to clean up their registration records through deactivation or reconcile the records within a 30- day period. July 8, 2015: The NCC directed operators to deactivate all pre-registered SIM cards (SIMs registered but without a record of activity) within a period of 21 days - from July 8, 2015 to July 29, 2015. August 4, 2015: O p e r a t o r s , representatives of the
Michael-Ikpoki-CEO-of-MTN-Nigeria
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National Security Adviser (NSA), Director State Security (DSS) and the NCC held a meeting to discuss issues around SIM registration in Nigeria. The issue of invalid registrations was highlighted as a major threat to national security and a directive was issued to a l l
SIM Registration Regulations 2011, and that all businesses must respect the law or risk licenses being revoked. The Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria implored operators to take the matter seriously noting that (i) security and safety of the people is No. 1 on the president agenda; (ii) 70% of
MTN-CEO-Sifiso-Dabengwa (He resigned as a result of the crisis)
telecommunications operators to deactivate all SIM cards with improper/invalid registration details by August 11, 2015. August 17, 2015: The NCC and security agencies conducted a compliance audit on all operators between August 17, 2015 and August 19, 2015 following expiry of the deadline of August 11, 2015, for deactivation of improperly registered SIM cards. The NCC disclosed, at Press Conference on August 17, 2015, that despite sharing a list of invalid registration details with operators, MTN had made little or no effort towards compliance with the deactivation directive whilst other operators had largely complied. September 4, 2015: A high level meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria was called at the presidential villa. This meeting is unprecedented in the Nigerian business industry as the telecom CEOs were brought to meet the heads of the main security agencies (the National Security Adviser; the Director of State Security; the Director of Military Intelligence) and the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, in order for the compliance with the deactivation directive to be emphasized. Operators were advised that continued noncompliance would lead to the imposition of penalties of N200, 000 per improperly registered SIM card in line with S.19 & S.20 of the
kidnappings, violent crimes and insurgence are facilitated using unregistered SIM cards making it impossible to trace the perpetrators; (iii) government supports the private sector but companies must operate within the law; (iv) in other countries heavy fines are levied on the private sector for non-compliance (e.g. JP Morgan’s $20bn fine). It was also agreed that (i) operators were to immediately reconcile the records of their deactivations against the list of invalid registrations earlier shared with operators by the NCC by September 7, 2015; and (ii) a penalty of N200, 000 per unregistered / poorly registered SIM would be imposed as stipulated in the SIM Registration Regulations 2011. MTN’s disregard for compliance Despite the above detailed entreaties and warnings over a 12 month period (from September 2014), on the importance of ensuring that only SIM cards with valid SIM registration details are active on telecommunications networks, MTN failed to comply with the directive to deactivate improperly registered subscribers. The NCC and security agencies informed the public during a press conference held on August 18, 2015, that, as at the expiration of the 7-day deactivation deadline ending on August 11, 2015, MTN had failed to fully deactivate any
subscriber. September 2015: Following repeated warnings and compliance enforcement visits as detailed above, MTN only made a partial attempt to bar unregistered subscribers in selected areas over a few days in September 2015. Other operators had fully complied and reconciled their deactivations with the invalid registrations shared by the NCC up to 4 weeks earlier. The consequence of MTNs refusal to comply with the directive is even more pronounced as fully half of all the invalid registrations shared by the NCC belonged to MTN. These SIM cards with invalid registrations pose a grave security risk to the country as their registration information cannot be used to successfully identify their owners in the event of a security issue involving any of these SIM cards. The recent kidnapping of the former finance minister Chief Olu Falae is one example of this risk; the kidnappers used MTN SIM cards and MTN was unable to provide any registration data for those SIMs. Non-compliance MTN’s non-compliance with the deactivation directive is unfortunately not an isolated incident. It needs to be seen in the context of a general pattern of noncompliance, with regulatory directives that actually predates the current SIM registration infractions. November 8, 2012: The NCC directed operators to cease all promotions in an effort to address persistent Quality of Service issues within the industry. On April 2, 2013, the NCC lifted the ban on promotions for EMTS, Airtel and Globacom based on appreciable improvements in their Quality of Service while the NCC indicated that MTN’s ban on promotions would remain in place following the lack of improvement in its Quality of Service. MTN’s ban was subsequently lifted in June 2013. For the duration of the ban however, MTN failed to comply with the restriction on promotions, continuing to offer promotions below the line for the period of the ban. April 2013: The NCC published its Determination of Dominance 2013, wherein it declared MTN a dominant operator in the voice services and wholesale leased lines market and imposed an obligation to offer undifferentiated on-net and off-net tariffs on MTN among other restrictions. Enforcement of the obligation commenced in July 2013. MTN failed to comply with the obligation from July 2013 to
TECH NEWS
October 2014 when the NCC eventually granted MTN a waiver to offer differentiated on-net and on-net tariffs despite MTN’s noncompliance with the on-net pricing restriction in the first instance. July 2013: The NCC directed MTN to withdraw the Virtual Top Up plus offer for being in violation of its pricing obligations under the 2013 Dominance Determination. May 2014: The NCC issued a ‘Final Warning’ to MTN to comply with its pricing obligations under the 2013 Dominance Determination or face penalties. October 2014: The NCC imposed sanctions on MTN for violating its pricing obligations under the 2013 Dominance Determination through its ipulse offer. August 3, 2015: The NCC directed that, from August 24, 2015, all operators were to stop the automatic migration of data bundle subscribers to Pay As You Go (PAYG) browsing upon depletion of their data bundles. As at October 8, 2015, only Globacom and Etisalat had complied with the directive with MTN characteristically failing to comply. Q2 2015: In the NCC quarterly compliance enforcement report for Q2 2015, out of the 6 sanctions imposed on operators for various acts on non-compliance, MTN was involved and sanctioned for 4 separate infractions. As it stands today, MTN’s persistent violations have forced the NCC to impose the unprecedented sanction of suspending all regulatory services to MTN following its accumulation of over 28 separate and proven infractions. Recent Developments Thursday October 22nd, 2014: Having reviewed the registration records of all the telecom operators and having taken into consideration their compliance records, the NCC imposed a fine on MTN alone for noncompliance on SIM registration. The fine of N1,040 trillion is in line with Section 19 of the SIM Registration Regulations specifying N200,000 per unregistered SIM and the penalty has been applied for the 5.2m MTN SIM card registration records found to be non-compliant by the NCC. This unprecedented fine is indicative of the magnitude of the transgression and the seriousness with which the NCC and the authorities are approaching this issue. It is also more likely to ensure that the wilful noncompliance by MTN ceases.
LIFESTYLE
The
BOSS NEWSPAPER
My Success Secrets
11
-Marion Ayonote
"My mother has been my main source of strength. Always has been supportive and full of praise. She is very kind. My father passed on whilst in my final year at University. He is the main inspiration behind my MA logo, that was how he wrote the M in Marion. I think he would be delighted. I had a fantastic childhood; growing up in the North and South of Nigeria. Although, I do not speak any Nigerian languages, I appreciate the culture and diversity of the various ethnic groups�. Though Marion who began her early life in Nigeria has made history as the first Nigerian to have been so recognised for her creativity, innovative craftsmanship and unique designs by such a world-acclaimed store, she tells us, "this is just the beginning, I am learning the business of fashion". That answer, is the quintessential, ever humble Marion. Despite the fact that her designs are now worn by stars such as Tyra Banks, Ashanti, Ana Ivanovic, Keri Hilson, Erica Campbell, Edy Ganem, three time Grammy Winner, Kerry Clarkson and many A-list celebrities and has hit world acclaim, she still has her feet firmly on the ground, looking up at a rosy future. Describing how the journey began in an interview with DivaGalsDaily, Marion whose shoe pieces stand out because they reflect the personality, lifestyle and aspirations of its owner said she was introduced into fashion at a very young age. "My mother had an exciting wardrobe and my sisters and I would rummage through her outfits, trying everything from hats to dresses, shoes and sunglasses. The shoes were high heeled and
Apple Pump
oversized, it was hilarious" She continued, in another interview with Edge Radar "My mother has been my main source of strength. Always has been supportive and full of praise. She is very kind. My father passed on whilst in my final year at University. He is the main inspiration behind my MA logo, that was how he wrote the M in Marion. I think he would be delighted. I had a fantastic childhood; growing up in the North and South of Nigeria. Although, I do not speak any Nigerian languages, I appreciate the culture and diversity of the various ethnic group. "From that spark during her youthful days her passion for fashion especially footwear grew. Marion who prefers to work with natural materials like reptile skins, horse hair and sting ray uses a number of trims and accessories to accentuate her work. What could be called her big break came in 2001 when she was invited to Johannesburg to exhibit at the South Africa Fashion Week and there, she was introduced to an agent in Paris who agreed to showcase her shoes at their showroom in Rivoli, in Verona Italy-and things just blew
Avalon Stingray
up from there. According to her "Then came opportunities to exhibit in Dubai and my debut at GDS Dusseldolf and Tranoi, Paris set me off on the right path." But she has a Mayfair-based bridal couturier to thank for horning her skills in the shoe design world. That Couturier introduced Marion to a famous shoe designer who became her mentor who then shared his knowledge of production and trade exhibitions, working with agents, retailers and others in the industry. "He was very generous with his time and it was a privilege to have had those one-on-one sessions. Thereafter, I would get my samples made in Italy and make appointments to show them to him. I sought his approval and he seemed quite impressed with the outcome. I also studied the works of Perugia, Clergerie and Blahnik. They were not many female shoe designers at the time, especially in Africa, so it was a bit of a task" She continues "I was quite young when I started my label and had no understanding of business. I did not know how to price my collection; I'd get lots of orders and then get stuck. Paying the
manufacturers and not myself, so I had to address the business side of fashion. "With regards to challenges of getting exposed? I find highly vetted trade shows such as London Fashion Week, GDS and the New York , Milan and Paris shows great for exposure and they usually require adequate resources. "But in life, strange things do happen, I was on a call one morning at an event, when a lady from California walked up to me and asked "would you like to be in Hollywood?"And naturally, I thought she was off her rocker but a few months later my shoes were on the RED CARPET at the Globes. Originality and hard work can pay off" That was not all about learning the ropes for Marion, she had an opportunity to speak at an investment seminar for creative businesses in the City of London, and she must have so impressed the audience that a Christina Martinez invited her to apply to become a member of the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD). "I requested information on their criteria and applied. I was invited to meet the Moderator; It is quite a thorough process. The CSD is backed by Royal Charter and
Conqueror Boot
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LIFESTYLE
BOSS NEWSPAPER
had the Duke of Edinburgh as its Patron. So it was quite intense. "I was required to present my portfolio, samples of my work and CV etc. After a series of questions, I was given a chance to defend my designs. I received a response in writing and was awarded a MCSD on November 28th 2005. "Becoming a Member of CSD enabled me to practice to the highest professional standards, there were regular meetings with members from various designers, architects etc. I was to speak at the British Design Council and the courses offered at the CSD
on a variation of themes. I select a topic and immerse myself in it, working through information and detail; I find my inspiration and develop a collection around my discovery. "I prefer not to work with trend forecasts or reports. I travel for inspiration, visiting historic sites and ancient cities; I do so to remove myself from the current season, empty ,my mind and work from a blank space". If you ask Marion about how far she has gone in the business, she would tell you with her trademark gentle smile that she is
feat gleefully infact the site "I prefer not to work with "Make It British" announced thus: "Luxury footwear and trend forecasts or reports. handbag designer, Marion I travel for inspiration, Ayonote has long been admired by the team at Make visiting historic sites and it British and we have regularly lusted after her ancient cities; I do so to beautiful shoes since running remove myself from the a competition on our site back in November last year. current season, empty ,my Marion’s award-winning footwear and accessories have mind and work from a featured in countless blank space.” publications and been spotted on many a celebrity foot, and… drum roll please…...a range of shoes,high heeled courts, sandals, peep toes, ankle and full length
provided me with an insight into intellectual property and contract negotiation. However, I have since left the CSD and now practice independently" Now that she has established herself in the business, Marion says she is not one to follow trends, but works based on inspiration "I work
still a learner but one success tip she confesses that has served her well over the years are the two words: Stay Focused, and she says it is the most important tip she can give anyone venturing into any business or profession. Yes, we say she is Nigerian but the British Media has claimed her
Marion’s shoes and boots will also be stocked in House of Fraser –a first for a British-made women’s footwear line for years, as far as we know! According to the site, Marion Ayonote's products are entirely handmade in England. And House of Fraser items on offer include flat
boots. And they have all been available as the store since October 2015. There is literally something to suit everyone yet this range, typically of Marion Ayonote, feels exclusive and luxurious". Need we say more? Conctact:www.ayonote.com
Women, Power
and Football: SPORTS
The
BOSS NEWSPAPER
13
The Story of Sierra Leone FA boss, Isha Johansen
F
ootball is in my blood. It’s a sport which combines passion, with creativity, teamwork, courage, initiative and strategic thinking. For me it has been a lifelong inspiration, empowering me and driving me upwards to the position I hold today. There have been significant advances made to develop women in football-the success of the women’s world cup 2015 is evidence of that. Nevertheless, it remains highly unusual for a woman, and particularly an African woman to have found such enduring professional fulfillment in the sport. With that professional fulfillment has come great responsibility. As the President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), I lead an organisation which has the power and the duty to effect great socio-economic change in Sierra Leone. Many of SLFA’s recent initiatives have been aimed at doing just that. For example, in the past year, SLFA’s work on the Ebola response has included increasing awareness of Ebola and its transmission among Sierra Leone’s market women, and the FIFA sponsored ’11 against Ebola’ campaign. We have also contributed to the recent flood relief effort. Throughout, I have become increasingly aware of the extent to which poverty, lack of access to education and disasters-whether natural or man-made impact so heavily on the women of Africa. My We know that the lives of African women are very sisters and I have different from the lives of a great role to play in women in the West. We developing our continent; know that they tend to be more marginalised and and Power Play has the less empowered. They are potential to create some of more likely to work in the informal economy, have the opportunities for less access to health care empowerment and and they are less educated. Take pregnancy and education that childbirth for example. The women need birth of a child, which should be an occasion of joy and celebration, is the leading cause of death and injury
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SPORTS
for women in developing countries. In Africa, a staggering one in 22 women dies in pregnancy or childbirth. In the UK, it is just one in 8,000. While conditions such as high blood pressure, breech births and haemorrhaging are easily treated in the UK, African women are likely to die from them because they lack access to good quality health care or a trained midwife.
we were able to change just some of those things, what women’s? lives in Africa could look like. Imagine how with increased access to education, how many more African girls could do amazing things: they could launch successful businesses, become health workers, run schools, save lives and head nations. Imagine how with better obstetric care,
a vehicle for social change and help reduce the marginalisation of African women both in their immediate societies and globally. We call it Power Play. This project, conceived and given birth to in Sierra Leone, has received overwhelming support from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Both organisations have officially
encourage and find concrete ways to empower women and girls in Africa through football. The second is for all the African FAs, CAF and FIFA to become signatories to the Power Play Memorandum of Understanding – committing to the development of a unified proactive approach which will give African Women and young girls a voice through
Only 37% of births in the least developed countries are attended by a skilled health worker. What of education? For many African girls, five years of education is the most they can expect to receive and they are the lucky ones. Across the continent, 28 million girls between the ages of six and 15 are not in school, and many will never even set foot in a classroom. I would like you to take a moment and imagine with me, if
African women would have healthier children and be less likely to die in childbirth or suffer life altering complications. Every day I imagine how, with the opportunities that I was fortunate to have, many more of my colleagues in the world of football would be my sisters from Africa. Earlier this year, I worked with a Sierra Leonean firm-Elixir Marketing and Media-on an initiative to use football’s power as
endorsed it. In June, I had the great privilege of launching Power Play at the FIFA women’s symposium in Canada and in recent months, I have nurtured it and watched as it has begun to take shape. The initiative aims to deliver two objectives. The first is an annual Power Play forum which will bring together leading academics, African politicians, lobbyists, participants in the world of football, football policy and sports administration to explore,
football. My sisters and I have a great role to play in developing our continent; and Power Play has the potential to create some of the opportunities for empowerment and education that women need in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and share in the work of building strong and sustainable nations.
WORLD’S FIRST LUXURY COMPACT CONVERTIBLE SUV MOTORING
L
Story by: Tosan Aduayi
and Rover has unveiled the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible. Range Rover Evoque Convertible combines the bold design and refinement of Evoque with comprehensive specification and a sophisticated folding roof to create a no compromise, all-season convertible. As the fifth member of the Range Rover family-and the first ever Land Rover convertible-the highly desirable new model combines traditional Range Rover luxury with a distinctive four-seat design and versatile storage. The Range Rover Evoque Convertible has been engineered to meet Land Rover’s most rigorous standards, ensuring exceptional structural rigidity, the trademark refinement, outstanding levels of safety and unrivalled breadth of capability. “Range Rover Evoque Convertible is a vehicle for all seasons,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. “It’s uniquely distinctive design and world-class engineering adds another dimension to the Range Rover family, further enhancing its desirability and appeal.” The global SUV market is forecast to grow by 20 per cent over the next five years* and Evoque Convertible will play a key role in continuing Range Rover’s 45-year success story, pioneering an all-new SUV sector. The Evoque will be available in Land Rover’s key sub-Sahara Afirca markets in the second half of 2016. The fully automated roof stows in just 18 seconds, and can be raised in 21 seconds, at speeds up to 48km/h. When closed it provides
The
high standards of refinement with a layer of acoustic insulation ensuring interior comfort on a par with five-door Evoque. In addition, the position of the roof doesn’t affect load space, with a generous 251-litre boot offering unrivalled practicality for a convertible. The Evoque Convertible features a RollOver Protection Device with deployable rollover bars hidden in the rear bodywork. It deploys two aluminium bars within 90 milliseconds in the unlikely event of a rollover situation to create a survival space for occupants. It also features a high-resolution 10.2-inch touchscreen with Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl™ Touch infotainment system. The system allows drivers to control a multitude of vehicle functions, including the entertainment system.
BOSS NEWSPAPER
15
“The Range Rover Evoque
Convertible has been engineered to meet Land Rover’s most rigorous standards, ensuring exceptional structural rigidity, the trademark refinement, outstanding levels of safety and unrivalled breadth of capability.”
trademark refinement, outstanding levels of safety and unrivalled breadth of capability.
BOSS NEWSPAPER The
ISSN-2052-1979
Introducing the new MERCEDES-AMG GT Vol.1 No.1
www.thebossnewspapers.com
Saturday, November 14, 2015
T
Story by: Tosan Aduayi
he first Mercedes was a racing car and its most recent successor carries this heritage forward. With the new Mercedes-AMG GT, the Mercedes-AMG sports car brand is moving into a new sports car segment. The GT is the second sports car developed entirely in-house by MercedesAMG. Its front mid-engine design with a rear transaxle and use of intelligent aluminum lightweight construction form the basis for a highly dynamic driving experience. Its newly developed AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine underscores the hallmark of AMG driving performance The centerpiece of the Mercedes-AMG GT is thethe new 4.0-liter V8 biturbo, which responds instantly with extreme power at low revs and delivers outstanding performance. Top figures such as 3.7 seconds from 0-60 mph (preliminary) and a top speed of 193 mph (310 km/h), combined with the outstanding driving dynamics will undoubtedly translate into extremely fast laps on the racetrack.
The BOSS Newspapper is published by OVATION Comm. Ltd. ŠOVATION International Reproduction in full or part of its content (without prior written consent from the publisher) is strictly prohibited. www.thebossnewspapers.com email:editor@thebossnewspapers.com