Info Tech
Outrage Over Presidency’s N682m Gold Plated iPhones
ABUJA – Criticisms have continued to trail the alleged order for 53 gold-plated iPhones 5S mobile handsets by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the commemoration of the country’s 53rd independence anniversary in October.
The lid over the phone deal blew open Tuesday when a UK-based newspaper, The Independent, reported that a British-born businessman, Amjad Ali, who owns Gold and Co. in Dubai said he had instruction from the Nigerian government to supply the exclusive phones at a princely sum of £50,000 per unit and £2.65m (about N682m) in total.
Ali explained that his company would strip each unit of the special devices and “then plate them in copper, nickel and then pure gold.
He said: “We have limited units per region and each is numbered and placed in a handmade wooden box with a certificate of authenticity and wax seal.”
In a curious twist following the groundswell of disparaging comments by Nigerians against the government, the foreign newspaper, said: “In an earlier version of this article, the founder of Gold and Co. claimed the Nigerian Government had ordered 53 gold iPhones. He now informs Independent Online that the order in fact came from an individual in Nigeria.” The retraction did not, however, stop the condemnations.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS, social activist, Yinka Odumakin, said if the purchase was true, it would be the height of financial recklessness.
“If there is any truth to the allegation that the government is involved in this purchase, it would be the height of financial recklessness, because the expenditure will not add any value to the country. Besides, what is there for us to celebrate at 53?” he asked.
Another activist and writer, Richard Akinnola, described the government’s action “as total insanity.”
Akinnola, who went down memory lane, said that in 1983, people shouted over an expensive champagne specially made for the Chairman of the defunct ruling party, National Party of Nigeria, NPN, Chief Adisa Akinloya, “but now it is Jonathan’s Gold iPhone.”
On his part, National Coordinator, Concerned Human Rights of Nigeria, CHRN, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, described the action as “totally irresponsible, wicked and a clear statement against the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian masses.”
Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, said “it shows the profligacy of the Federal
Government and its misplacement of priorities. Nigeria is a preponderance of poor people, who live below the standard poverty line and that should be a concern to the Federal Government, rather than giving the outside world the wrong impression that all is well,” Adeniran stated.
While Ihekaire and Adeniran believe the purchase of the gold plated iPhones negates common sense, National Coordinator, Civil Society Club of Nigeria, CISOCON, Comrade Babatunde Ashafa, said the deal was motivated by elite interest.
“In whose interest is the Federal Government doing that? For over 14 years of democracy, there is no conducive environment for economic activities. What we have are companies closing down and epileptic power supply,” he stated.
The revelation about the gold-plated iPhone deal is coming on the heels of strident public condemnation of the government over its inability to profer solutions to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, insecurity, erratic power supply, infrastructure collapse and rising corruption, among others.
The Federal Government has, however, denied placing order for the procurement of the controversial gold-plated iPhones.
The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja debunked media report alleging that it ordered 53 gold-plated iPhones to mark the country’s 53rd independence anniversary.
A statement signed by Mr Joseph Mutah, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Information, said the reports were ‘mere’ fabrications.
The statement said the story “is false in its entirety and nothing but a figment of the warped imagination of the authors.”
It said that neither the Federal Government of Nigeria nor any of its agencies contemplated or placed order for gold-plated iPhones for the celebration.
“We, therefore, call on Nigerians and the international community to disregard the story linking the Federal Government with the importation of the gold-plated iPhones.
“The blatant falsehood in the story is one of those mischievous attempts at tarnishing the image of the Federal Government.
“Nigerians are hereby advised to watch out for people intent on blackmailing the government for political reasons,” Mutah stated.
It advised individuals who have enough resources to contemplate importation of such luxury items to invest their wealth in the country for job creation and economic growth.
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
Today, September 12, the tech corporation Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, their newest iPhone model.
According to a Forbes story, this model, which will be introduced at the company’s “Wanderlust” event in Cupertino, California, will be available in four variations: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Here are five things you should know about the new iPhone 15 model.
1. The new model is made of titaniu, not stainless steel as some other Apple smartphone models, Senior research analyst at DIGITIMES, Luke Lin reports.
2. The Pro Max model will feature double the optical zoom on the iPhone 14 as it comes with a newly-introduced ‘periscope lens upgrade, performing 5-6x optical zoom.’
3. The Pro models will carry an A17 bionic chip expected to make it perform faster.
4. The iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C charging port, the same port featured on some Android phone models.
5. Due to its titanium shell, the new model is anticipated to be more expensive to purchase. The following is the speculated price list, as reported by Forbes:
The iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus at $899, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 ($100 increase), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,299 ($200 increase).
In an effort to reduce the exorbitant cost of Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, the Infrastructure Bank Plc announced its collaboration with FEMADEC Group on Monday to offer 500 buses powered by autogas (Compressed Natural Gas).
Partners in the agreement claimed that the project was created to provide citizens with dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly travel options, taking into account the negative effects of the nationwide increase in PMS costs.
Under Decree No. 51 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1992 Constitution, the Infrastructure Bank, originally known as the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, was founded in 1992 to promote the quick development of infrastructure throughout the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on its partnership with FEMADEC, the bank said, “The preliminary offer extended by TIB lays a solid foundation for the expansion of FEMADEC Group’s CNG bus fleet.
“With plans to introduce 500 CNG buses within the next five years, commencing with an initial batch of 50 buses in the forthcoming year, this proposal stands poised to instigate significant change.
“The acceptance of this proposition by FEMADEC Group, notably championed by Fola Akinnola, the Group Chief Executive Officer, is a testament to their zeal and dedication to this alliance.”
The bank described the partnership as a “pivotal endeavour that is primed to redefine Nigeria’s public transportation landscape, offering dependable, cost-effective, and ecologically conscious travel alternatives for citizens, while harmonising with the nation’s broader sustainability ambitions.”
“This partnership represents a remarkable stride towards a more ecologically aware future for Nigeria’s transportation sector, highlighting the shared commitment of both TIB and FEMADEC Group to sustainable advancement and progress.”
It said FEMADEC Group’s strides in operating Compressed Natural Gas buses, including the existing fleet of 20 CNG buses under LAMATA, underscored their unwavering dedication to ecologically sound solutions, a commitment predating the fuel subsidy removal.
“Their leadership within the CNG value chain is undeniable, and the new alliance with TIB underscores their foresight.
“This partnership seamlessly aligns with TIB’s sustainability objectives, echoing their resolute endorsement of the government’s net-zero and climate change agenda.
“The bank’s aspiration to champion Nigeria’s infrastructure progress is evident in its endorsement of pivotal initiatives like this, yielding expansive positive impacts on both the environment and society,” the bank stated.
The bank added that it would continue to make a significant contribution to the country’s growth as a leading financial institution committed to advancing effective and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
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