MTN offices close shop as Nigerians protest xenophobic attacks

The MTN Nigeria outlet in Ikeja, Lagos has been shut after some Nigerians took to the streets to protest xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

This comes after reports on violence against Nigerians living in South Africa went viral.

Earlier on Thursday, the telecommunications company issued a statement condemning xenophobic attacks.

“MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence,” the statement read.

“We seek to connect people, bring people together and provide a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. We are against all forms of bigotry and discrimination; they should have no place in society.

“Everyone has the right to a world where their rights and freedoms are respected — the right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.”

At the time of filing this report, there were unconfirmed reports on an MTN office in Uyo.

Newsmen have reached out to the company for confirmation.

Branches of Standard Chartered Bank, another South African business operating in Nigeria, had signs condemning xenophobic attacks.

In July, the telecommunications company directed its staff to stay away from its offices after the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened to picket its outlets.

Federal government begins clampdown on roadside cooking gas retailers

The Federal Government has begun clampdown on illegal gas plants and roadside retailers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly known as cooking gas, an official said.

Mr Bassey Nkanga, DPR’s Operations Controller, Port Harcourt Zone, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Monday on the sideline of the department’s ongoing surveillance on gas plants in Port Harcourt.

NAN reports that government had in May stopped customers’ ownership of cylinders as well as barred the refilling of gas cylinders by the roadsides and other unauthorized places.

The policy, the government said, would require that the ownership of LPG cylinders rest solely with the dealers and distributors.

According to Nkanga, the department had held several meetings with operators of gas plants and LPG retailers to introduce them to standard minimum requirements acceptable in the industry.

“The new model by government; decanting (transferring from one gas cylinder to another) is not allowed, trans-filling is also not allowed.

“That is why we are encouraging, enlightening, and engaging them (retailers) to adopt the new methodologies, whereby, somebody would have to drop (empty cylinder) and pick another one with gas.

“The era of decanting, transcanting and transferring from one cylinder to the other is no longer going to be allowed

“So, we have been talking to them (retailers) and they even formed a union to register for the Category D licence. A lot of them have turned up, and so many are yet to turn up,” he said.

Nkanga further said that government was also clamping down on operators of illegal gas plants; those operating without valid licence and others operating within residential areas.

He said most of the outlets lacked basic and standard minimum requirements like fire extinguishers and detectors, water sprinkler, temperature gauge, pressure and volume, among others.

The department, he said, had brought in competent personnel to oversee its gas division and ensure that operators function within stipulated guidelines and regulations.

“We also had several meetings with various stakeholders in the gas sector. We told them those operating without licence will not be allowed to operate again.

“We even gave them two months within which they have to renew their licences; and we have decided to pull the full weight of the law on those operating without valid licences.

“There is a fine for those operating without valid licence; and those that are illegal, we will hand over to the security agencies. It is illegal to operate without licence.

“This exercise has just started on the gas facilities, and it would be continued. We have requirement and you must meet the requirement before you are allowed to set up a gas plant,” he said.