SON Destroys Substandard Goods Worth N7m In Bauchi

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Monday said it had destroyed expired and substandard goods worth N7 million in Bauchi State. The SON Zonal Director, Northeast Zone, Mr Adamu Abba, said during the exercise in Bauchi that destroying the expired and substandard goods was to ensure that only quality goods were sold to citizens. He said the exercise was in collaboration with the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that all the food and non-food items seized were destroyed in a most environmentally friendly way. “This is to protect the lives and property of citizens as well as to save the environment. “The products destroyed include: beverages, cosmetics, mayonnaise, peak milk, agrochemicals, among others,” he said. The Zonal Director reiterated that the fight against substandard products was a collective responsibility of all. He appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious substandard product in the market to the office of SON. Abba commended traders and artisans’ associations for their cooperation as they voluntarily reported most of the expired products to the organisation for proper action. Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the organisation, Mr Murtala Sa’ad, noted that the feat was achieved as a result of commitment and expertise exhibited by his personnel through their weekly market survey. “This resulted in the seizure of the expired, substandard and unbranded products from various shops in Bauchi,” he said. He warned traders to desist from sharp practices, saying the organisation would not relent in hunting defaulters and ensuring that they faced full wrath of the law. Sa’ad advised members of the public to always check for expiry dates of products before using them with a view to safeguarding their health.

NBC Slams Arise TV Final Warning Over ‘Derogatory, Incendiary’ Remarks

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has given the operators of Arise Television final warning on alleged violation of Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu llelah, gave the warning in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Arise Global Limited on Saturday in Abuja. In the letter titled “Preponderance of Derogatory and Incendiary Remarks: Final Warning”, Ilelah said the commission had observed with concern, the preponderance of incendiary remarks allowed on Arise News. “This letter once again seeks to underscore the tremendous responsibility put on the broadcaster to manage array of guests that may feature on the station from time to time. “For the benefit of doubt, on October 5 during the programme – ‘The Morning Show’, anchored by Reuben Abati, Rufai Useni and Ayo Mairo Ese, featured Oladotun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as guests. “The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the legislature, executive, judiciary and Mr President. “Similarly, On October 6, during the programme “Newsday”, it featured Kenneth Okonkwo (Spokesperson for Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks on air. “Your attention is therefore drawn to the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for compliance please,” Ilelah said. The NBC boss explained further that section 1.10.3 says the broadcaster shall ensure that its presenter does not express his or her opinion in the programme, as a matter of professional standard. He said section 3.3.1 (a) stipulates that the broadcaster shall ensure that any information given in a programme, in whatever form, is accurate. Illelah said 3.3.3 (c) provided that the broadcaster shall be above inherent biases, prejudices and subjective mindsets. “According to section 3.3.1(e), the Broadcaster shall not treat any individual or organisation in an unjust and unfair manner in any programme. The NBC boss further explained that section 5.3.3(b) of the code stated that the broadcaster shall, in using political materials for news and current affairs programmes, avoid hate speech, inflammatory, derogatory, and divisive remarks of allusions. “Section 5.5.6 says, the broadcaster shall have a delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable content. “Arise TV is advised to install a delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable contents as prescribed in Section 5.5.6 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. “Please note that henceforth, your station shall be held liable for any infraction on your platform and applicable sanctions shall be imposed as prescribed by Law,” Ilelah stressed.

Infractions: Delist Easynaira, 17 others from Playstore, FCCPC tells Google 

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has asked Google to immediately delete Swiftcash, Easynaira, and 16 other loan apps from the Play Store over regulatory infractions. CEO of the commission, Babatunde Irukere in a statement disclosed that the affected loan apps have been operating on the Google Play store without regulatory approval or in violation of the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending. Other apps to be removed from the Google platform include Getloan, Joy Cash-Loan, Camelloan, Cashlawn, Nairaloan, Eaglecash, Moneytreefinance Made Easy, Luckyloan and Cashme. The removal order also affects Crediting, Swiftkash, Hen Credit loan, Nut loan, Cash door, Cashpal, and Nairaeasy gist loan. Irukera said the Commission would continue to engage with Google to clarify how and why apps that have not received relevant regulatory approvals are available on Google’s platform (Playstore). “Under the Guidelines, only DMLs that have been subjected to regulatory scrutiny and compliance evidenced by written approval from the Commission are allowed on Playstore. The Commission notes that some DMLs have resorted to the use of Android Package Kits (APK) file formats to reach consumers outside of the Google Play store. “This appears to be a device by some of these DMLs to evade or avoid regulatory compliance,” he said. Irukera added that compliance with the Guidelines is mandatory for all DMLs regardless of whether they intend to be placed on Playstore, operate by APK file formats, or any other means for that matter. According to him, failure to comply with the Guidelines is a violation of law and renders any such operation illegal. Meanwhile, the FCCPC boss said all approved digital lenders will now have to revalidate their registration by submitting their information to the Commission. “DMLS operating by any means or on any platforms whatsoever are hereby required to provide evidence of compliance with the Guidelines within five (5) days from the date of this Release. Also, all existing and approved DMLS providing digital lending services through APK file formats in addition to Playstore, are required to provide evidence that such APK operations are in compliance with the law. “All previously approved DMLs or otherwise must revalidate the information provided to the Commission by filling DL Form 01 and resubmit the same,” the Commission said in the statement released on Wednesday. The need for revalidation of registration by the DMLs may not be unconnected with the recent discovery that some of the approved lenders are also engaging in illegal practices of harassing and defaming their customers to recover their debt.