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 Stop making movies projecting Nigerians as uncivilised – Yul Edochie tells Nollywood producers Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has urged filmmakers in the country to desist from making movies that project Nigerians as clowns and uncivilised when they travel abroad. He noted that movie producers are tarnishing the image of the country with such storylines. He advised them to rather tell stories where Nigerians travel abroad and proffer “traditional solutions to problems and become leaders over there.” On his Instagram page, Edochie wrote: “I wish our producers will stop making films where Nigerians travel abroad, dey mumu. We sell ourselves short with such storylines. “Oyibo people will never make a movie where a white man is foolish on African soil. Instead they’ll make the white man smarter than all the Africans in the movie. “It’s intentional. They use movies to sell themselves as superheroes, while we use ours to run ourselves down. “Let’s make movies where a Nigerian goes abroad a...

 NCC warns Nigerians against use of pre-registered SIM cards The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians on the dangers of purchasing pre-registered SIM cards. The Commission emphasized that this practice was illegal and could lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment. The NCC highlighted that individuals using such SIM cards might inadvertently become implicated in crimes such as identity theft, financial fraud, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Moreover, the NCC pointed out that the use of pre-registered SIM cards compromises the accuracy of consumer information and hampers efforts to track criminals effectively. By using such SIM cards, the reliability of data collected on consumers was undermined, making it challenging for authorities to identify and apprehend the actual perpetrators of crimes. The NCC’s message aimed to educate the public on the risks associated with pre-registered SIM cards and encourage compliance with legal gu...

 NUPENG, PENGASSAN demand helicopter landing fee reversal Petroleum workers, under the auspices of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, have called for the withdrawal of the newly imposed landing charges on helicopter operators. In a joint statement on Thursday by NUPENG’s General Secretary Afolabi Olawale and PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa condemned the Federal Ministry of Aviation’s imposition of exorbitant fees on helicopter operators during this period of economic hardship for businesses and citizens.  “These new charges, which include a four per cent charge on the gross revenue of helicopter operators, as well as additional levies and taxes, pose a grave threat to the sustainability and viability of the helicopter transport sector that is critical to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. “We recall that a recent memo directed helicopter operators to compulsorily pay for he...

 GOV OTTI PLEDGES COLLABORATION WITH NAFDAC TO FIGHT FAKE DRUGS, PAYS HOMAGE TO DORA AKUNYILI'S MEMORY  Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has paid homage to the memory of the late former Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili. Governor Otti, who said he had close family relationship with Professor Akunyili and her equally late husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, called for a minute silence in honour of the two, when he met with the Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in Government House, Umuahia, on Tuesday. The NAFDAC DG had called on Governor Otti as part of her working visit to Abia State. The Governor commended Professor Adeyeye for the passion that she brought to bear on her work, saying she reminded him so much of Professor Akunyili. "Reading about you, talking to you and the way you have carried on with the function of directing the affairs of your office in NAFDAC, any time ...

 STUDENT LOAN APPLICATION PORTAL GOES LIVE MAY 24 The student loan application portal will open on May 24, 2024, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) said on Thursday, May 16.   NELFUND spokesman Nasir Ayitogo said: “The management of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) led by its Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr are thrilled to announce the 24th of May, 2024 as the official date for the opening of the portal for student loan applications.” The statement further read, “Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.   “The portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently. “We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.  “Students can access the portal on http://nelf.gov.ng to begin application.”  It said the mo...

 ACTOR CHRIS PRATT'S 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY' STUNT DOUBLE TONY MCFARR IS DEAD Tony McFarr, the stuntman who has played a double for some of Hollywood's biggest stars, especially Chris Pratt, has passed on at the age of 47.  He died on Monday, May 13, at his home just outside Orlando. His family doesn't know the exact circumstances of his death just yet. His mother, Donna, told TMZ he was active and healthy.  The medical examiner's office is running toxicology tests on Tony's corpse. The Orange County Medical Examiner also confirmed that an official cause is still pending. Tony began his stunt career in the industry in an episode of the network television hit "Bones" back in 2011. He went on to perform stunts in well-known projects like "Homeland," "Teen Wolf," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1," "Furious 7," "Captain America: Civil War," "The Accountant," and "Allegiant" ...

 Florida principal arrested for aggravated battery to a child he claimed to be "protecting".  In an incident that occurred on Friday May 10th, Marion County Sheriff's deputies were called to Destiny Leadership Academy in Ocala, Florida. The call was in regards to a physical disturbance between a student and the principal. When deputies arrived on scene, they made contact with the principal, 33-year-old Dontay Prophet. Prophet was quick to put his own spin on an encounter he had with an unnamed student. He allegedly told deputies the entire incident was nothing more than him attempting to prevent harm to the child.  However as deputies reviewed security footage it became very clear that the exact opposite was true. Footage showed Mr. Prophet preventing the child from leaving the room for nearly an hour. During this time frame, Prophet can be seen repeatedly striking the child with a charging cable, striking the child in the face, restraining the child on the ground, admini...