Broadcasting
Distributor, NCC Raid Pirates of The Figurine
Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution), distributor of the award winning film, The Figurine (Araromire) has stepped up action to protect the movie from the pirates with its recent raid, in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) of shops in the Alaba International Market, Lagos.
The market is dubbed as the hub of piracy activities in the West African sub region.
Last month, Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution) sent a petition to the Lagos Office of the Copyright Commission with respect to The Figurine. Another petition also came from Sun-Tab Film Nigeria Limited in respect of its film, Eti Keta already being pirated and sold in some shops at Alaba market. The pirated and original copies of the said work were sent alongside the petition, the commission said in a memo.
The officials of the commission swung into action and carried out long hours of surveillance followed by a test purchase of the said work to confirm the actual shops where the sales were being made.
Subsequently, the NCC Lagos Office conducted an anti-piracy raid on the said shops at Alaba Market. In all, about 11 shops were raided and exhibits impounded. Investigations is still on-going, inventory been done and all machineries put in place in case any of the shop owners of the affected shops shows up for claims or complaint. The rights owners have stated that they will continue with the action until the piracy of their works are eliminated. Plans are underway to arrest the owners of the shops.
A statement by Hi-Buzz reiterated its resolve to see the infringers of The Figurine brought to book. The vibrant young distribution company also thanked the NCC for being proactive in this issue. “For us at Hi-Buzz, we are committed to protecting the works we distribute because that is the gain of someone’s labour and it is also business for us too, so in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, we will hunt and arrest any infringer of The Figurine anywhere in the country, wherever he is hiding to carry out the nefarious activity.”
The market association in Alaba is working with The Figurine distributor and the government agency saddled with copyright protection. “The market association is very cooperative and they are equally miffed that such act of piracy is going on in Alaba after they have assured government of the cooperation in the fight against piracy. The owners of the shops are on the run but the association’s executive has assured that they will assist the police in apprehending the suspects.”
The original DVD of The Figurine comes with almost four hours of content including the two-hour movie and additional features such as The Making and Deleted Scenes. It’s available at retail stores all over the country, the Hub Media Store in The Palms and Silverbird Galleria and is also available on the streets.
The Figurine (Araromire) movie won five AMAA awards in 2010 including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Lead Role, Best Heart of Africa Film, Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. It was official selections of Rotterdam International Film Festival, New York Africa Film Festival and FESPACO. The movie got an honorary mention at the Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA.
Broadcasting
MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
Broadcasting
IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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