Tag: NCC

NCC-CSIRT flags ‘HiddenAds’ malware that jeopardizes users’ privacy

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has flagged a new malware, HiddenAds, which has infiltrated Google Play Store that can impact device performance and jeopardize users’ privacy.

In its advisory of August 8, 2022, NCC-CSIRT classified the virus, first identified by the McAfee Mobile Research Team, as high in probability and damage potential.

The malware infiltrated the Google Play Store in the form of several device cleaners or optimization apps.

According to the summary provided by NCC-CSIRT “Upon installation, it can run malicious services without the user opening the app. It also spams the user with irrelevant advertisements. The apps have received downloads ranging from 100,000 to over a million.

“Some of the apps HiddenAds masquerades as are: Junk Cleaner, EasyCleaner, Power Doctor, Carpet Clean, Super Clean, Meteor Clean, Strong Clean, Windy Clean, Fingertip Cleaner, Keep Clean, Full Clean – Clean Cache, Quick Cleaner, and Cool Clean.

“When a user installs any of the aforementioned apps, whether the user has opened the app or not, a malicious service is immediately installed on the device. The app will then attempt to blend into the app tray by changing its icon to the Google Play icon that every Android user is familiar with. Its name will also change to ‘Google Play’ or ‘Setting’. The device will then be bombarded with ads in a variety of deceptive ways, severely impairing the user experience,” the advisory stated.

Anyone that installs the compromised app will experience their device performance suffering significantly, clicking on the ads may result in stealth downloads/installation of other malware, users may inadvertently subscribe to services and be billed on a monthly basis, and the privacy of users will be jeopardized.

NCC-CSIRT advised users to avoid downloading questionable apps or apps they are unsure about while those who have installed any of the identified malicious apps should immediately delete them.

It further disclosed that where the malicious app’s icon and name have changed, it can be identified by the fact that it is removable while the legitimate Google Play app cannot be uninstalled.

The advisory recommended the installation of anti-virus/anti-malware software with a proven track record for detecting and removing malware.

The Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

The CSIRT also works collaboratively with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risks incidents by preparing, protecting and securing the Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, problems or related events.

August 9, 2022
Olubadan of Ibadan backs clamour for protection of telecom infrastructure

The advocacy for telecom infrastructure protection across the country by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) has received royal blessings and support of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who has urged every citizen in Nigerian to take responsibility for the protection of telecom facilities for mutual benefit of all.

The monarch, who spoke through the Ayingun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Ademola Odunade, at the Village Square Dialogue (VSD) of NCC at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan recently, advised the Nigerian public “to support NCC to achieve its objectives of protecting telecoms consumer because this should be seen as a collective responsibility.”

The event, which was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of the NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, was designed to discuss one of the most important issues affecting the operations of the telecom industry – the protection of telecoms infrastructure to guarantee improved quality of service for benefits of businesses and the consumers.

Akande, in his address to guests at the forum that witnessed large turnout of traditional rulers, representatives of telecom operators and consumers, asked the consumers and other stakeholders to join hands in protecting telecoms infrastructure in their communities to ensure sustained connectivity.

Akande said the objective of the consumer engagement was “to explore how we can all protect telecom infrastructure to continue to provide us with life-supporting services and we are happy to bring this programme to Oyo State to really sensitise telecom consumers and other critical stakeholders in this regard.”

Prof. Akande noted that without telecom infrastructure, it will be difficult to communicate with family and friends over long distances while conducting banking, insurance, or access government services, education, entertainment and other essentials of life.

“This means that telecom infrastructure is important, and we must all ensure that we guard and protect this Critical National Infrastructure,” Akande said.

He also listed such destabilising situations in the telecom sector to include the negative attitudes and actions of hostile communities; theft of diesel, batteries and power generators from base stations; digging up and cutting of fibre optic cables; sealing/locking up of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites and other disruptive activities which must be tackled decisively.

Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Efosa Idehen, who commended the consumers from the Ibadan axis for turning out in numbers, pledged the Commission’s commitment towards the care of the consumers. Idehen stated that NCC has the responsibility to protect, inform and educate the million of telecom consumers in the country.

“Therefore, part of activities to deliver on this mandate is this type of programme holding in Ibadan today. We value your feedback on all kinds of services you receive in the telecoms sector but most importantly, we implore you to join hands in protecting telecom infrastructure in your areas,” he said.

Idehen advised members of the public to report any suspected cases of threats to telecoms infrastructure to law enforcement agents in their areas for necessary interventions. He reminded them that they can call toll-free numbers 112 in cases of emergencies or 622 to report complaints bordering on telecommunications services to the NCC.

August 7, 2022
NCC restates commitment to fund research as VCs attend roundtable

Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has restated the commitment of the Commission to commit more funds to research and prototypes resulting from grants from the Commission to the academia.

This is coming at the backdrop of the recent revelation that the Commission has committed more than N500 million in funding research across the Nigerian universities.

Akande told a gathering of vice chancellors and professors from universities in the southern parts of the country at a roundtable conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, that the Commission acknowledges the importance of working with stakeholders to engender innovations and build indigenous technological capabilities that would strengthen the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.

“We want to use this opportunity to assure you that the Commission will continue to give support to the educational sector in the interest of national development. We will also continue to encourage research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions,” Akande said, explaining that the essence of the roundtable was to dialogue with the academia, industry and other stakeholders on how research efforts and prototypes can be transformed into commercially-viable products that solve real-life problems.

“Consequently, the Commission will continue to allocate the requisite resources to research, development and innovations necessary for the industry to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country,” Akande said.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, Josphine Amuwa, said academia is a key driver of innovation in all spheres of human endeavour.

He said this is why his leadership at the Commission is determined to not only give grants to the academia but also support the commercialisation of the prototypes developed to deepen the indigenous technological capabilities which would support the overall development of the industry.

NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska, who was represented by Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the Commission, Bako Wakil, revealed that the Commission had, so far, awarded a total of 49 telecom-based research grants to the academia out of which 10 prototypes have been successfully developed.

“We are hopeful that these sessions will culminate in the development of a common framework that would facilitate the commercialisation of the existing prototypes and future research outcomes (prototypes) for the benefit of the economy and the industry,” he stated.

Coming shortly after a similar roundtable in Kano for the northern region, the event organised by the research prototypes and Development R&D Department of the Commission, was aimed at bringing together Resources persons, business savvy industry experts, the academia, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), entrepreneurs and renowned individuals who have successfully commercialised their inventions to brainstorm on the way forward for research output commercialisation.

August 5, 2022
NCC restates commitment to fund research as VCs attend roundtable

Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has restated the commitment of the Commission to commit more funds to research and prototypes resulting from grants from the Commission to the academia.

This is coming at the backdrop of the recent revelation that the Commission has committed more than N500 million in funding research across the Nigerian universities.

Akande told a gathering of vice chancellors and professors from universities in the southern parts of the country at a roundtable conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, that the Commission acknowledges the importance of working with stakeholders to engender innovations and build indigenous technological capabilities that would strengthen the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.

“We want to use this opportunity to assure you that the Commission will continue to give support to the educational sector in the interest of national development. We will also continue to encourage research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions,” Akande said, explaining that the essence of the roundtable was to dialogue with the academia, industry and other stakeholders on how research efforts and prototypes can be transformed into commercially-viable products that solve real-life problems.

“Consequently, the Commission will continue to allocate the requisite resources to research, development and innovations necessary for the industry to continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country,” Akande said.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, Josphine Amuwa, said academia is a key driver of innovation in all spheres of human endeavour.

He said this is why his leadership at the Commission is determined to not only give grants to the academia but also support the commercialisation of the prototypes developed to deepen the indigenous technological capabilities which would support the overall development of the industry.

NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska, who was represented by Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the Commission, Bako Wakil, revealed that the Commission had, so far, awarded a total of 49 telecom-based research grants to the academia out of which 10 prototypes have been successfully developed.

“We are hopeful that these sessions will culminate in the development of a common framework that would facilitate the commercialisation of the existing prototypes and future research outcomes (prototypes) for the benefit of the economy and the industry,” he stated.

Coming shortly after a similar roundtable in Kano for the northern region, the event organised by the research prototypes and Development R&D Department of the Commission, was aimed at bringing together Resources persons, business savvy industry experts, the academia, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), entrepreneurs and renowned individuals who have successfully commercialised their inventions to brainstorm on the way forward for research output commercialisation.

August 4, 2022
From Telecommunications to Broadcasting, Desperate Times indeed – By Okoh Aihe

Although this government gives the impression that things are pretty cool in the country, there are some strands of activities which really magnify the desperation with which those in authority are trying to paper over the nastiness of the times.

Two of them played out recently. At a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, the government announced that it was ready to introduce excise duty on telecommunications services in the country. The tax was pegged at 5 per cent for every one thousand Naira of recharge card purchased, for instance. You will still be charged even if you bought just N100 worth.

In the broadcast sector, the government is spoiling for a fight with BBC and Trust TV for their coverage of terror activities in the northern part of the country which the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as a glamorisation of the bandits who are inflicting pain on the country. He informed the nation that the government has indeed directed the broadcast regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction the organisations.

Very desperate times indeed. The meeting in Abuja is obviously a response to the failing fortunes of the economy which has been on a free fall. The airlines are shutting down and flight tickets within the country have soared beyond reason, international flights have nearly been shackled by cost, Emirates is reducing flights to Nigeria because it cannot remit money from the country because of Dollar scarcity, and you need over N700 to buy just a dollar; everything is going up, and in fact life has become so expensive and very meaningless, that the only tangible commodity across the nation is hopelessness.

The Abuja meeting was more of an announcement than a stakeholders gathering although it actually provided opportunity to the service provider to table their protestations.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, in his opening remarks, pointed to the Finance Act, 2020, which states clearly that “Telecommunications services provided in Nigeria shall be charged with duties of excise at the rates specified under the duty column in the Schedule as the President may by Order prescribe pursuant to Section 13 of the Act”. The regulator was only fulfilling a responsibility in facilitating an understanding among stakeholders so that they can maintain full compliance with government policy.

The Nigeria Customs Service attended the meeting armed with the excise valuation of 5 per cent and payment schedule of the 21st day of every month. While the Ministry of Finance presented a draft Order awaiting the President’s signature. This Order may be cited as Customs and Excise Tariff, Etc. (Consolidation) Act Excise (Telecommunications Services) Order, 2022.

From all indications it was fait accompli that the Telcos must pay that money. But is it the telcos really?

You see, all over the world, the telecommunications industry suffers an industry curse, to the effect that the wealth and success of the industry easily exposes it to the various governments as low-hanging fruits that must easily be harvested to bridge revenue shortfall or gap. Nigeria is not an exception, except that the tax cocktail is overwhelming the industry to the point of inertia. The operators are nearly drunk with tax exaction and they complained about it very bitterly at the forum.

Industry bodies, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON) remonstrated bitterly, that: “We currently pay a lot of taxes, running into 39 of them, so we can’t add more to the existing burden. We won’t be able to absorb this on behalf of subscribers.”

The tax must be passed to the subscribers, some of them still earning the minimum wage of N30,000, which is not paid regularly as monies coming into the federation account have been in staggering decline.

The industry has received massive support from a rare corner. Speaking in Lagos at the Maiden Edition of The Nigerian Telecommunications Indeginous Content Expo, a furious Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, observed that the 5 per cent excise duty was one tax too many, while declaring that the industry could not be taxed to death, having been very supportive of the nation’s economy. He admonished the government, which he is part of, to breathe more life into other sectors of the economy. It is a principled position that may yet declare the good part of Pantami in the face of a government whose debt burden is more than the revenue it generates.

While Pantami got some much needed ovation in Lagos, same cannot be said for Alhaji Lai Mohammed who seems to have been angered by the BBC and Trust TV for giving bandits generous TV time. The government spokesperson has vowed to direct the NBC to deal with the two stations according to the laws of the land. His position has not enjoyed salutary acceptance by some other stakeholders of the broadcast industry.

I have had to spend some time watching the two documentaries – The Bandit Warlords of Zamfara by BBC and Nigeria’s Banditory ‘The Inside Story’ by Trust TV. From one journalist to another, I have loads of appreciation for the daring enterprise and creativity of the teams involved in the projects. What has long been suspected was confirmed with visual reality and exactitude. The bandits are no apparitions and they don’t live in space. They have their locations, they have neighbours and friends and even their victims know where they live and their pattern of migration.

I know that sometimes the truth told at a time a government is in trouble could be very unnerving and particularly irritating. But looking at those pictures no matter how disheartening, I see positives. For instance, they tell stories with lavish pictures. What advantage can the government squeeze out of these works? What engagements need to happen for security efforts to enjoy some traction, and even in terms of pursuing a negotiated resolution? How can the government squeeze out some positive advantages from the documentaries instead of blanketing them as stage-managed flagellations. You can see that I am not interested in saying that if those who made the documentaries could access the bandits in their locations, what makes it so difficult for the Nigerian security forces to do the same?

But can the NBC go after BBC and Trust TV because the government has directed it to? I have tried to speak to some broadcasters and they couldn’t provide me with any comforting answer. For instance I watched the BBC documentary on YouTube. Some are of the opinion that the NBC cannot punish YouTube for curating a programme.

This is what I think. Confronted with a multiplicity of problems across the nation, the government is getting too desperate to sift solutions out of a maze of challenges. So will this government impose 5per percent excise duty on telecommunications services? I believe it will do so no matter how much we cry because a government operating on net zero really doesn’t care so much. But the subscribers will have to cough it out.

Will this government punish the BBC and Trust TV for spilling the inconvenient truth? I believe it will for the simple reason that a government in this kind of position, of near epidemic hatred by the people, will always see the acceptance of hurtful truth and reality as manifest weakness. Unfortunately, quite a number of people who watch TV today do so on their phones, iPad or tablets or even computers. With a little network coverage and data subscription, the subscriber will have express permission to as many TV channels as possible.

This is where control is difficult and nebulous punishment uncharible. Instead stakeholders should always seek ways to squeeze opportunities out of increasing challenges. Truth be told, development in the tech sector – telecommunications, broadcasting and other emerging technologies – far exceeds human cognition, cogitation and comfort. Control, I say, is difficult, especially if such a package carries a truth.

August 3, 2022
NCC doles out N500m for research in Nigerian Universities

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has committed over N500 million to Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions across the country to facilitate research and innovations to promote developments in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta who disclosed this at a two-day Regional Roundtable with Academia, Industry and Other Stakeholders which ended in Kano at the weekend, said the funds have been committed to research grants to universities and tertiary institutions, including professorial chairs in the universities in salient areas to drive technology development.

Danbatta said the Commission is now focused on supporting the academia in the commercialisation of the prototypes from these innovative researches as this is relevant to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s policy towards achieving indigenous technology for sustainable development of our country.

He said the roundtable organized by the Commission was to provide the necessary platform to support the commercialisation of locally- developed telecommunications innovations which NCC has been sponsoring.

“The Commission collaborates with the Academia in maximising the contributions of tertiary institutions to innovations and sustainable development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry as finance is needed to drive possible success of these endeavours, ” Danbatta said.

Danbatta said these efforts has enabled the Commission to contribute to national efforts to ensure overall growth of the industry and create wealth for innovators, saying all these are fundamental to the objective of the NCC’s R&D-oriented programmes.

On the basis of these, he said ideas, inventions, and improvements that emanate from the academia are required by the industry for improved efficiency and productivity.

Danbatta said appreciable impacts had been achieved since the Commission reinvigorated research grants for telecommunications-based research innovations from Nigerian academics, focusing on successful commercialisation of locally developed solutions to foster and deepen the uptake of indigenous technology by Nigerians.

NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr Ubale Maska, also disclosed that the Commission, has so far awarded 49 telecom- based research grants to the academia out of which 10 prototypes were successfully developed and displayed to industry stakeholders.

He said the R&D efforts of the Commission were aimed at actualising some of the 8-point Pillar Eight of National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030, focusing on Indigenous Content Development and Adoption.

The event, which featured series of panel session discussions, particularly focusing on sub-themes that addressed the overarching theme of the stakeholders forum from different perspectives, drew participants from the academia, telecoms industry stakeholders, financial services sector and other critical sectors or the economy.

Participants deliberated on understanding commercialisation and entrepreneurial model within the university and industry perspectives as well as brainstormed on investment/ funding opportunities for prototype development, sustainability and the sale of new products in the market place.

August 2, 2022
NCC Chairman decries theft, vandalism of telecom infrastructure

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has decried the theft and vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure across the country.

NCC Chairman, Prof. Adeolu Akande decried the theft and vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure across the country on Friday at the inauguration of Village Square Dialogue in Ibadan.

The Village Square Dialogue is an NCC telecommunication consumer outreach programme at the grassroots.

Akande said there was need to protect telecommunication infrastructure toward ensuring quality service delivery.

He said that there was also need for stakeholders and consumers to protect telecommunication infrastructure, because
security agencies in the country could not be at the sites all the time.

The NCC chairman said that without the telecommunication infrastructure, banking, finance, education, entertainment and effective communication with distant family members, would be difficult.

Akande said that the outreach programme was designed to engage stakeholders in the sector.

“We are here in Ibadan to discuss one of the most important issues affecting protection of telecommunication infrastructure.

“Telecommunication infrastructure are important and we must ensure we take it as critical national infrastructure.

“We need cooperation of members of the public and consumers to protect the infrastructure.

“We are doing this across the country to seek support of Nigerians and telecommunication service providers,” he said.

Also, Mr Efosa Idehen, the NCC Director of Consumers Affairs Bureau, said that mandate of the Bureau was to protect, inform and educate consumers on the need to protect communication infrastructure.

Idehen said that protection of public infrastructure was a collective efforts and not only the NCC.

“Let’s all work together to ensure that the infrastructure is protected for better and quality delivery,” he said.

Commenting, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, the Chairman, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), thanked NCC for effective regulation of the nation’s communication sector.

Ibikunle thanked the NCC chairman for counting Ibadan worthy for the senstisation programme.

In his remarks, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, describing the event as a welcome development, urged people to cooperate with NCC toward securing telecommunication gadgets.

July 30, 2022
Nigerians to start paying 12.5% tax on calls, SMS, other telecom services

Nigerians will soon start paying a 12.5 per cent tax on making calls, sending SMS and other telecommunications services as the Federal Government plans to implement a five per cent inclusive excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria.

The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said this at a stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

The five per cent will be added to the already existing 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on telecommunications services.

Zainab, who was represented by the Assistant Chief Officer of the Ministry, Mr Frank Oshanipin, said the five per cent excise duty had been in the finance Act: 2020 but was not implemented.

She said the delay in its implementation was a result of government engagement with stakeholders.

“Payments are to be made on monthly basis, on or before the 21st of every month.

“The duty rate was not captured in the Act because it is the responsibility of the President to fix the rate on excise duties and he has fixed five per cent for telecommunication services which include GSM.

“It is public knowledge that our revenue cannot run our financial obligations, so we are to shift our attention to non-oil revenue.

“The responsibility of generating revenue to run government lies with us all,” she said.

Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Owners of Nigeria (ALTON) said the burden would be on telecommunications consumers.

“It means that subscribers will now pay 12.5 per cent tax on telecom services, we will not be able to subsidise the five per cent excise duty on telecom services.

“This is as a result of the 39 multiple taxes we already paying coupled with the epileptic power situation as we spend so much on diesel,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, (ATCON), Dr Ikechukwu Nnamani, said the five per cent excise duty on telecom services did not conform with present realities.

Nnamani was represented by the Executive Secretary, Mr Ajibola Alude.

He said that the state of the industry was bleeding and suggested that the five per cent excise duty be stepped down as it could lead to job losses.

“t is not well intended, because the industry is not doing well currently,” he said.

The Controller General of the Nigerian Customs (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali, who was represented by the Assistant Controller, Mrs Lami Wushishi, said all active telecom service providers would pay the five per cent excise duty.

Executive Secretary ALTON, Mr Gbolahan Awonuga, said the five per cent excise duty was not healthy for the industry.

Awonuga said that the telecom service providers were already paying two per cent of their annual revenue to the NCC.

“We pay two per cent excise duty to NCC from our revenue, 7.5 per cent VAT and other 39 taxes.

“We are going to pass it to the subscribers because we cannot subsidise it,” he said.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, in his remarks, said the excise Duty was to have been implemented as part of the 2022 fiscal policy measures.

Danbatta said the industry had considered the earlier scheduled commencement date of June 1, inadequate and duly took this up with the Federal Government.

He said the NCC had engaged with the federal ministry of finance, the Nigerian customs service and consultants from the World Bank to get needed clarifications.

“These engagements enabled us to better understand the objectives and proposed implementation mechanisms of the excise duty.

“We consider it imperative that these implementing agencies should also meet directly with telecom industry stakeholders to address areas of concern.

“As the regulator of the telecoms industry, we are responsible for ensuring that industry stakeholders understand their fiscal and other obligations, so that they can maintain full compliance with government policy,” he said.

He added that the excise duty covered both pre-paid and post-paid telecommunications services.

July 29, 2022
What will the NBC do now? – By Okoh Aihe

The place between the hammer and the anvil is not a good place to be at all. No little moment of comfort but always, a foreboding thought of a lingering crush or disaster. A hammer that may come down and do serious damage, yes, even very serious damage.

So, when an organisation finds itself in a very conflicting but potentially dangerous situation, that organisation has ended up between the hammer and the anvil and has to deploy every trace of ingenuity to achieve escape or get the situation resolved. Unfortunately, resolution could come with more challenges.

A little story is unfolding that has placed the National Broadcasting Commission ((NBC), the regulator of the broadcasting industry, between the hammer and the anvil, and I don’t envy it at all. You may say it has been quiet over there but that quietness is growing into a gathering cloud that may not recognise the wizardry of a rain maker.

An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, last week, directed the NBC to address the programming sublicensing complaint filed against Multichoice Nigeria Limited by Metro Digital Limited. Both organisations are licensees of the NBC. The judgment made on July 13, 2022, gave the NBC 21 days within which to call the disputing parties to the round table.

For me, the broadcasting industry is getting very interesting as the resolution of this case could go a long way to determine how business is done in the industry. It will affect the depth of competition. It will affect content development and ownership. It will teach us to watch out for mischief and act very spontaneously once a document is being done, and some smart fellows are throwing in some hidden traps. In fact it will add some accoutrement to the definition of deregulation in the business dictionary.

It may help our understanding to sort the condiments in this complex broth. May 25, 2022, a Lagos High Court gave one Mr Femi Davies judgement against the NBC, in which case Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa completely thrashed the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, describing as ultra vires, incompetent null and void, and therefore perpetually restrained the Commission from implementing it.

In responding to a major complaint against the Code, Justice Lewis-Allagoa said, “I agree with the submission that acquisition of exclusive rights to Broadcast a particular program is an investment for returns and by virtue of the above-stated provisions, no one should be forced to surrender same when it is lawfully acquired…”

For most industry followers, the 6th edition of the Code had suffered expected demise, a reincarnation was not plausible.

Meanwhile there was a residual case in Port Harcourt, where Metro Digital Limited had gone to a Federal High Court with a prayer that the NBC examine its complaints against Multichoice on programme sublicensing. June 18, 2021, the company lost the case presided over by Honourable Justice A.T. Mohammed.

Metro went on appeal, and the wheel of justice began to grind slowly. July 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment of the lower court with the following consequential order:

A declaration that the continued failure of the 2nd Respondent, as a regulatory body, to issue directives on the complaint of dispute by the Appellant after receipt of the complaint is a breach of its statutory duty and has resulted in the continued unjust/unfair denial/frustration of the appellant’s business and infringement of the Appellant’s rights.
An order of mandatory injunction is issued to compel the 2nd respondent to issue directives on the appellant’s complaint against the 1st respondent pursuant to the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, 6th Edition (as amended). The 2nd respondent shall initiate the process for the determination of the dispute between the appellant and the 1st respondent within 21 days of the date of this judgment, under the auspices of the NBC Act, the 6th edition of the NBC Code and its addendum.

The deregulation of broadcasting in Nigeria in 1992 which invited the participation of private investors made broadcasting a business. While there is open broadcasting, the free to air terrestrial transmission, there are others who offer bespoke services, packaging premium programming to titillate the esoteric taste of individuals financially placed enough to subscribe to those programmes.

A certain genre of broadcasting demands cutting edge creativity and painstaking agglomeration of rich but diverse contents for sustained retention of subscribers. Such programming is subject to variegated purchasing, leasing and transmission agreements. Globally, not so many organisations are able to play at this high end of broadcasting, thus leading to a situation where some broadcasters will press for a sublease. Fortunately or unfortunately, intellectual property enjoys a lot of protection from local and international laws, and such protection suffers no ignorance.

When the 6th edition of the Code was being made, quite a few observations were made by those who thought they knew a little thing about local and international broadcasting, raising the alarm that what seemed to be predetermined and personal interests were being laced into the contents. Those who had the knife and the yam continued in their obstinacy.

Now a smart organisation has secured the support of the Appeal Court to compel the NBC to put the contents of the Code to test. A source familiar with the details of the case told this writer that Metro Digital Limited is asking for a sublicensing of about 27 channels from Multichoice Nigeria Limited. And broadcasting is a business! This may not be the case of one man preparing pounded yam on the basis of another man’s pot of soup. The NBC which has been boxed into a corner by very powerful interests since the coming of the Buhari administration, will now have to make a determination.

Without any aspiration to trading places, the NBC has found itself between the hammer and the anvil. My prayer is for God to give its officials the wisdom of Solomon.

For Eyza, story from a Life

Eyza Trissa Anga has started her journey very early, quite unexpectedly, leaving behind a smile that beautifies life. When her friends from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and members of House on the Rock Church gathered at the Church auditorium on July 15, 2022, in Abuja, it was to wish her a safe journey to that world of no return where she would have to live at peace with her creator forever.

The video wall magnified that bewitching and encouraging smile which remained her winning trademark. Eyza worked at the NCC but she was the kind of a young lady every boss wanted to have in his or her team because she would get the job done, without a squint or wrinkle.

The Pastor who gave a charge put the story very succinctly. “Only God knows how to create a life and tell a story out of that life.” Eyza’s brief stay with us is a great story of a lifetime, and also quite humbling because most people couldn’t believe that all the testimonials were for the young girl smiling down at all of us. She carried an internal pain which eventually abridged her life. Eyza never showed it. Instead she conquered that pain with a smile, large heart and goodwill.

That night Eyza taught us how to live life. This is why I encourage her husband, family and the NCC to be happy that such a large heart and a beautiful soul came their way. The good is hardly interred, Eyza. Go well.

July 27, 2022
Cyber security: Nigeria improving on global ranking – Pantami

Nigeria has improved on its global ranking in cyber security, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has said.

Pantami made this known on the sideline of the Stakeholder’s Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies organised by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in Lagos.

The minister said that Nigeria was not doing badly on the global cyber security index which ranked the country 75 out of 175 countries in 2018.

He said: “In 2020, out of 194 countries we were 54, the country increased by almost 19 and if you look at it the country was improving in the global ranking.

According to him, the country has so many initiatives to ensure that our Cyberspace is protected.

The minister, in his opening remark, also said that regulations were needed due to increased data which would be about 79.4 per cent zettabyte by 2025, adding that regulators should, therefore, be proactive.

Pantami said that Nigeria”s ICT regulatory approach since 2019 hinged on the National Digital Economy policy and strategy for a digital Nigeria based strictly on developmental regulation.

He said that the regulatory approach had been flexible and had not in any way restricted the sector but rather supported its development.

Also, Prof. Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, said that the stakeholders’ contribution was critical in keeping abreast with the development in the telecommunications industry.

Danbatta, who said that the telecommunications industry was dynamic, urged all stakeholders to come and constructively exchange ideas on the Spectrum and regulatory requirements of the Internet of Things (IoT).

According to him, IoT is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring any human intervention (human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction).

“This is increasingly becoming important in the scheme of activities across most sectors of the economy which includes Education, Security, Military Reconnaissance Commerce, Governance, Inventory Management, Health etc.

“The applications of IoT are far-reaching. In the home, IoT can be used for home automation and control, lighting, temperature measurement, entertainment amongst others,” he said

He said that IoT unites assets, advanced analytics and workers by using connected industrial devices to monitor, collect, exchange, and analyze insights to drive faster and better decision-making in an industrial setting.

“Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can be used to track inventory, improve the monitoring of product quality, and automate factories to make them run more efficiently,” he said.

Danbatta said that the nation would witness the advent of 5G technologies another dimension in the IoT Ecosystem as 5G technology is going to enable Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) .

He said that GSMA Intelligence forecasts that IoT connections would reach almost 25 billion globally by 2025.

Danbatta said that with this pace of growth, it has become imperative to prepare for the Regulation of this important technology.

On ‘to Regulate or not to Regulate’ issues, the panellists agreed that there should be standards and regulations, adding that while doing so, innovations should not be stifled.

They also called for collaborative regulation for future innovations.

Newsmen reports that there was also a public presentation of books authored by the minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

July 15, 2022