Tag: NCC

JUST IN: 180 million telephone lines linked with NIN – NCC

Over 180 million telephone lines are now linked with the National Identity Numbers (NIN), the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof Umar Danbatta disclosed on Tuesday.

He said this following the capturing of over 60 million Nigerians by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the National Identity Numbers (NIN) database.

Danbatta also said from available statistics, the telecommunications industry has bounced back with broadband penetration peaking at 41 percent while active telephone subscribers have increased by over one million.

He spoke while delivering his address during the Public Inquiry on three Regulatory Instruments on the Rule Making Process at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

More details later…

October 5, 2021
NCC launches telecom campus conversation

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched Telecom Campus Conversation as a means to sensitise telecom services consumers who are students.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Telecom Campus Conversation was launched by the NCC on Thursday at the University of Abuja with the aim to expand the scope of its consumer enlightenment programme.

NCC said the new initiative was targeted at creating awareness for university students on their rights and obligations as telecom consumers.

NCC further said the new programme was conceptualised as well to sensitise students to several initiatives put in place for the purpose of consumer protection and empowerment.

According to the Commission, the new initiative was conceptualised in 2019 with the hope that it would come to fruition by 2020 but that due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the conversation could not hold in 2020.

TNG reports NCC launched the Telecom Campus Conversation with the theme: “Telecom consumer rights awareness: the role of students”.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mr Efosa Idehen gave an overview of the initiative, emphasising two key areas.

Idehen pointed out that the areas, which were consumer affairs bureau mandate and the platforms of consumer education were the various consumer-centric initiatives of the commission.

He added: “We have several platforms for carrying out consumer education to ensure that consumers are well informed and adopt the use of various mediums to pass the message across to consumers.

“We have social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and others for consumer enlightenment and complaint management,” he said.

He listed some of the Commission’s initiatives to include: Emergency Toll-free Number 112; the NCC Consumer Complaint Toll-Free Number 622; and the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) Short Code 2442.

He added that the regulation on forceful subscription and measures put in place to check cases of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards are some other initiatives.

Earlier, the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs, NCC, Hafsat Lawal explained that the event would introduce students to all the initiatives of the NCC as regards consumer protection and SIM registration.

The deputy director added that the students would also be exposed to the importance of SIM-NIN linkage, cyber-security and how to protect themselves while on the Internet, amongst other things.

“It is our hope that today’s sensitisation will encourage all of you to be more informed, educated and protected as telecom consumers.

“It is our hope that it will inspire you as students to amplify the voice of the Commission by informing telecom consumers of their rights and obligations.

“Our presentations today will educate you on all you need to know about the role NCC is playing in telecom consumer protection as well as other consumer-centric initiatives and activities designed for the benefit of consumers,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, appreciated the NCC for choosing the university to launch its maiden edition of Telecoms Campus Conversation in Nigeria.

The VC was represented by Dr Evans Ashigwu, Head of Department, Electrical and Electronics of the University.

Also, the President of the Student Union Government, Yusuf Dauda, thanked the Commission for sensitising students to know their rights and obligations as telecom consumers and promised to sensitise other students.

September 30, 2021
Senator Durojaiye, another good man with love for technology, makes a deserved exit – Okoh Aihe

By Okoh Aihe
Senator Augustine Olabiyi Durojaiye went home last weekend and his family, friends, well-wishers and political associates gathered at Ijebu Igbo to prepare him for the journey and wish him a befitting farewell. And he had lots of them, from the public sector to the private sector and politics where he had featured with his best elements of character in place, he had his crowd and they did not disappoint him as he embarked on that journey which every human must go alone.
Of the three Chairmen of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) while I was there, he was the only one I was not really close to until one day in November 2018. He was billed to speak at Africacom in Cape Town, South Africa, and I was also attending the programme along with a couple of my colleagues. In the flight his seat was to my right but he was by the window. I love aisle seats and they serve the purpose of convenience especially in overnight flights when somebody would have to use the restroom a couple of times.
As final instructions were being given before takeoff, I saw him fiddle with the seat belt and I immediately got up to help him fix it. That night I told myself, my work starts here at the airport. He would not have to fret for anything as long as we are together on this trip.
Do not get me wrong. At 85 at the time, Senator Durojaiye was very strong, with an imposing height not blemished by age. He was a man of steel inside of his body, a fact, perhaps reinforced as a pro-democracy veteran, having been kept in detention in those days of the long fight against military dictatorship, causing Amnesty International to designate him a Prisoner of Conscience.
In that flight I did not see Senator Durojaiye as an NCC Chairman but as a father figure. Each time I looked at his direction I saw my father in his eyes. My father never had the benefit of formal education but he overworked himself to ensure all his children from his three wives went to school. But just at the time that some of them were strong enough to be able to get him flight tickets, he went home, perhaps too tired, to wait for a little harvest for a life of toil. Anybody close to his age with respectable behaviour would always earn maximum respects from me. Besides a couple of days earlier Senator Durojaiye had suffered a personal tragedy with the loss of his daughter. This was the reason the son travelled to South Africa, ahead of him, to be with him all the time. He insisted on making the trip, according to him, because he didn’t want to give the organizers the ordeal of searching for a headline speaker just a few days to the conference.
There was something about Senator Durojaiye, the enthusiasm to engage people and talk about the plans of the Buhari administration to use technology to turn the fortunes of Nigeria around. There were about 450 speakers that year but he particularly enjoyed significant attention not on the grounds of age but his sincerity in marketing the nation. When he spoke that morning, he placed a lot of emphasis on the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) which, he said, was one of the cardinal platforms President Muhammadu Buhari hoped to use to affect the life of the youths by way of extending digital IT skills and education to the younger generation. He was very interested in seeking the help and cooperation of international IT organizations. In that trip he was more of a salesman for Nigeria, talking only about the strength of the nation and the deep capacity of the youthful population to learn new IT skills and apply same in building new businesses. Listening to him one wouldn’t think there were challenges in the country and I think that he made his presence felt.
Senator Durojaiye behaved like a man possessed with the spirit of those who birthed the dream of DBI. The Digital Bridge Institute is funded by the NCC to produce manpower for the telecommunications industry. Much latter the dream was expanded to include building capacity for academics in a train-the-trainer programme. DBI was a strategic vision for the telecommunications industry which has hardly been understood by those who would later superintend the regulatory agency.
At the tipping point in the growth of the industry in early 2000, it was discovered by the Engr. Ernest Ndukwe led team that the country did not have enough trained professionals to pick up sensitive jobs in the industry. The few that featured at the top were headed hunted outside the country. At inception, some equipment manufacturers had training facilities at DBI. I still remember that the DBI training facility in Jabbi, Abuja, was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In those days, everybody was happy for the telecommunications industry and was ready to share in its glory. OBJ pulled every stop to place the industry on priority list. That encouraged the expansion. NCC built DBI offices in different parts of the country, really massive facilities, like the NITEL Training School, Oshodi in Lagos, which it acquired and gave massive remake. It was the same excitement that led to building the massive DBI building at Mbora, Abuja.
DBI was not for self-aggrandizement but clearly intentioned as a transformational institution for a much younger generation of Nigerians. Unfortunately, DBI today looks misunderstood, misapplied and inexorably rudderless.
Even with all his exploits and trajectory in life which he never wore on his shoulders as chevrons, Senator Durojaiye underestimated the shenanigans of the modern day Nigerian civil servant and politician. So, three years into his tenure as NCC Board Chairman, Senator Durojaiye was removed from office for reasons which pale into white luminance when viewed against the dark cumulous hanging all over the place. It is not always a good strategy for the fellow who lives in a glass house to use his abode as a bomb shelter.
In terms of understanding the vision of the NCC and DBI, Senator Durojaiye could share the same platform with Ahmed Joda, pioneer Board Chairman of renaissance NCC. But both of them are gone now, and they deserve their rest. There is enough time for those who find themselves in such sensitive positions to work for nation, not self or tribe.

September 22, 2021
INEC, National Assembly, 5G and an overburdened NCC, By Okoh Aihe

By Okoh Aihe

The country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken advantage of every little opportunity to spruce up its image lately. One of such moments was the bunkum decision taken by the National Assembly to allow electronic voting in the amended Electoral bill but not allowing transmission of results electronically as the country was not technologically matured for it. The amended bill also now mandates INEC to consult with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) before taking such far-reaching decision.

Really that was good for INEC because if you recall the last Governorship elections in Osun and Kano States where the processes suffered abracadabra infusion midway, nobody will want to credit INEC even with the minutest respect. But Nigerians love peace and they had to let that pass so that peace could reign although the peace we see is as stable as quicksand. In perpetual motion with little prospect for anchor hold.

INEC’s pride has been injured and now it has come out smoking, telling Nigerians the story that was always there but subdued for selfish intents, that it has laws insulating it even from the President of the nation. There was such occasion last week when the body, at a press conference pointed, the attention of the media to Section 160 of the constitution, which says:

“Subject to subsection (2) of the section, any of the bodies may, with the approval of the President, by rules or otherwise regulate Its own procedure or confer powers and impose duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its functions provided that in the case of the Independent National Electoral Commission, its powers to make its own rule or otherwise regulate its own procedure shall not be subject to the approval or control of the President.”

The aforementioned has been in existence, for which INEC was in deficit in terms of compliance. It is encouraging that a catharsis has taken place causing INEC to go on image burnishing. The body enjoys my sympathy and support.

I want to observe that the law makers were not ignorant of this provision, instead, through unnecessary mischief that could be very harmful to the nation on the long run, they voted against a clear emergent need in the polity in these trying times, thus, putting the shenanigans of a party over and above every interest of the people.

It is not only clear from the foregoing that INEC cannot be subordinated to the whims of the NCC by law but the law makers should be duly informed, even if they already know but pretend to the contrary, that the NCC is already overburdened by a minister sitting astride the Commission and subjecting every of its action and decision to very parochial politics. Why can’t the lawmakers find out what is choking the NCC to near helplessness even when officials of the system pretend that everything is fine while choking to absolute paralysis?

Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is a politician whose love for politics, sunshine and media exposure takes precedence over every other interest. Everything must be manipulated to secure advantage including media attention even if it means obfuscating the import of the subject matter.

For instance, the policy on 5G technology deployment was approved last week by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and so much attention was splashed on the development by the media. The NCC has since completed a trial run of 5G in the country with only one outcome; that it is safe to do 5G in Nigeria and some of the operators can scale up their operations to provide the services, should they be able to pay for the license.

I am happy that such significant step has been taken for which I reserve a little praise for Pantami but there is too much politics in the process, too much media attention grab. I have spoken to some technocrats to find out if such media spin was necessary. What they tell me is that it should have been managed within the ministry with the tacit tech support of the NCC which will implement the policy. Discretion is a stranger to some of the people in this administration.

But there are other things that trouble me, the most significant one being that the 5G licensing process should not be subjected to politics. Technology has serious aversion for politics because the latter stifles its advancement, progress and expectations.

Some decisions have been taken previously for which the nation continues to suffer, unable to reap the benefits of the kind of tech explosion people expected. One of such decisions was the sale of Etisalat which transmuted to 9mobile overnight. The process wasn’t properly interrogated and whoever bought it wasn’t in the right standing to do so at the time, no matter the considerations. Proof. A company with about 23m subscribers under 9mobile has plummeted to 12, 908, 092, which is only 6.89 per cent of the market. A company that was competing for market space has lost it all of a sudden; its failure is putting pressure on the other operators. Politics.

The coming of Mobile money operations were eagerly anticipated by Nigerians who dreamt of the opportunities to do money transactions without heading for the banks whose operations and efficiency have been impaired by COVID-19. Unfortunately during the licensing which was done by the Central Bank with other bodies like the NCC making ancillary contributions, decisions were taken above capacity and competence. Today there are mobile money operations that remain as infantile as when they started. The sector is unable to generate the job explosion expected.

Oh, how they hurt. Politics and misdirected patriotism.

This is why I want to inform that the coming of 5G is major development. This is one reason the National Assembly must remove extraneous weight from the NCC so that the regulator should concentrate on its core functions. But it should also be very interested in the execution of the 5G licensing process so as to stem failure before we induce it.

The licensing should not be about empowering a part of the country. Nigeria is a nation. This nation shouldn’t be a scorn or a scum because of adventurers who chanced into very vital positions without capacity to understand public expectations from such offices.

Let there be no mistake about it. At some point there will be punishment for the malfeasance acts of those who deny us the opportunity to smile today, although there are those who are stubbornly convinced that Nigerians don’t get punished for their failures while in office.

If not properly handled a 5G licensing failure will be one burden this administration will bear forever. I do not expect failure anyway. I pray that those involved in the process will shield their biases and be able to take sound decisions that will make Nigerians happy.

September 15, 2021
Peer Review of Nigeria at last stage – NEPAD boss

Princess Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has said the peer review of Nigeria has reached its last stage.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Akobundu, who is the Coordinator of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), made this known during the weekend at the “African Single Market World Commodity Summit and Expo 2021 with Digital Economy in Africa”.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had given approval for the African Union Continental Secretariat of the APRM to commence the process of the validation of the country’s Peer Review.

Speaking during the summit, Akobundu, who became the second recipient of Africa Achievement Award after Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, said when completed, the Peer Review will expose areas where Nigeria can learn from other nations, and where other nations can learn from Nigeria.

Represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Dr Enobong Emmanuel Abraham, the NEPAD boss said: “Nigeria is currently undergoing second peer review from the African Union AVRM office, and we are at the last stage of it.

“Peer review comes every four years, but the last time this was carried out was in 2008. You can see the length of time it is taking. President Muhammadu Buhari graciously approved the peer reviewing of Nigeria.

“It is a self assessment exercise voluntarily assented to by individual African Union nations to review itself in all areas of activities and sectors, socioeconomic and political sectors to see where our strengths are, our weaknesses are and to learn from other nations, and for other nations to learn from us in those areas that we have capacity, we have strength and better performance shown”.

Meanwhile, Dr Abraham said Akobundu since assuming the position of the National Coordinator and CEO of the AUDA-NEPAD in 2016 has accomplished various feats.

Abraham said the AUDA-NEPAD had undergone several reforms under Akobundu, and that since she came into office, over 3,000 youths and women have been empowered through AUDA-NEPAD across the country.

Also speaking during the event, was Chairman and Chief Coordinator of the summit, Mr Angelo Peter Elosia, who said the African economy has come of age and that there is a need for leaders in Africa to come out with a sustainable policy document that will drive growth and development for the continent in a digital age.

TNG reports from the 1st of January 2021, Africa commenced the African Single market policy and to this end all African Heads of States signed a document proposing a single market to ensure ease of doing business for African countries.

To this end any goods coming from Africa irrespective of the country should be regarded as single during export to any part of the world.

The idea behind the policy is to ensure that such goods will not be subjected to multiple taxation as well as be given tax waivers where and when necessary.

While welcoming guests to the event, Chairman and Chief Coordinator of the summit, Mr Angelo Peter Elosia said the summit is all about investments in Africa, stressing that the aim of the summit was for all the exhibitors and participants to showcase what they are doing and achieving in investment in Africa.

He said his organization has been organizing such a summit for 20 years now but that the African Single market world commodity summit just started in January and it is in this 2021 event that it started a global awareness for it.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said digital technologies are critical for Africa’s single market economy, and that digital technologies are changing the way people live and work.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbata made this known at the “African Single Market World Commodities Summit & Expo 2021 with Digital Economy in Africa”.

Prof Danbatta was represented by NCC’s Director of Digital Economy, Engr. Rev. Nwaulune Augustin at the event said the progression made in digital technologies became more prevalent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Danbatta’s remarks at the event reads: “It is a great honour to be given the opportunity to speak at the “African Single Market World Commodities Summit & Expo 2021 with Digital Economy in Africa”.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission, in its capacity as the regulator of Nigerian telecommunication sector which is one of largest on this continent, understands the need for sustainable strategies that take into consideration the future of communication and its impact on stakeholders as well as the economy at large.

“The evolution of our Telecommunication sector has driven the need for Africa as a whole to have a salient role in the formulation of policies that drive information communication technology and its global reach.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission in its continuous effort to spearhead this role is improving its performance matrix through its Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 which aligns with the mandate of the Federal Government on Digital Economy.

“The SMP 2020-2024 is built on the pillars of adaptive and sustainable regulatory excellence, universally pervasive and inclusive broadband access, promotion of digital economy through regulations and initiatives, dynamic market development and last but not least, sustainable and strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders.

“This plan plays a vital role in accelerating the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 which aims to increase broadband penetration, critical to the success of worldwide online broadcasting.

“The switch to digital is affecting all areas of life and business. In recent years, the world witnessed digital transformation of broadcasting from traditional broadcasting. Digital technologies are changing the way in which media content is produced, disseminated and consumed.

“This progression became more prevalent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The surge in digital broadcasting such as the diffusion of online streaming has necessitated the need for a critical look and subsequent adoption of emerging trends.

“However, in order for African broadcasting outlets to compete globally, they need to go beyond staying abreast with recent technology and swift dissemination of information, to ensure that they maximize their reach in underserved areas locally while striving for notable international presence.

“As traditional business models are also gradually substituted by both emerging start ups as well as digitally transformed existing players, media companies and broadcasters need to develop new digital-based business strategies to be able to compete and retain their audiences. This cannot be achieved without broadband penetration.

“Broadband penetration in Nigeria has increased, going from 21.69% in January 2017 to 39.79% as at July 2021, with approximately 45 million and 75 million subscribers respectively. With a population of over 200 million according to the World Bank, there is still work left to be done.

“The initiative to increase broadband penetration led to the identification of Target Areas in synchronisation with the Commission’s Strategic Vision. An integral area identified was fibre infrastructure.

“Consequently, a Broadband Implementation and Monitoring Committee was established to evaluate broadband infrastructure deployment. The NNBP is targeting the provision of 120,000Km of fibre optic nerwork, broadband speed of 10Mbps and 25Mbps in rural and urban areas respectively.

“There is an expectation of 60% Digital Literacy, 70% Penetration and 90% Coverage by 2025. Additionally, the plan recommends 95% of LGA Headquarters with fibre, 60% of all Base Transceiver Stations with fibre as well as the local manufacture or assembly of three smartphones in Nigeria.

“This year, a select number of Infrastructure Companies were given the go ahead to begin a Fibre roll-out that will reach underserved areas across the nation. The roll-out is in conformity with the license agreements already issued to these companies and will be effectively monitored throughout the deployment lifecycle. The fibre roll-out is one of several other Enterprise Strategic Initiatives that were identified, notably:

“Stakeholder Education and Engagement MOUS Implementation and Monitoring; Developing a framework for regulating Over the Top (OTT) services; Developing a framework for facilitating emerging technology services in Nigeria; Revision and expansion of licensing categories; Identify high yield market segmentation, and Exploring other channels of broadband deployment.

“These initiatives will ensure that the Commission remains well informed and prepared for the metamorphosis of communication.

“In conclusion, the Nigerian Communications Commission is persistent in its regulatory mandate. It has strongly urged and provided an enabling environment for telecommunication companies to thrive and adopt emerging technologies.

“The Commission’s dedication to sustainable communication is evident in its Strategic Management Plan which ensures the effective implementation of the National Broadband Plan, and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.

“The Commission is determined to fully engage in the digital advancement of the different Communication factions to that which rivals its counterparts in the global industry”.

Other participants and exhibitors at the event Includes Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Aviation Management Authority (NAMA), the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture.

All of these government agencies were all there to showcase investment opportunities in the various sectors of the economy, and the quality of export products from Nigeria and Africa as well as sustainable development of water resources and agriculture in Africa.

September 13, 2021
BREAKING: Senator Durojaiye is dead

Fourth Republic lawmaker, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, who was once chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is dead.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Durojaiye was elected Senator for the Ogun East constituency of Ogun State at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform.

He took office on 29 May 1999. He also used the tribal title Otunba as a pre-nominal style, thereby highlighting his position as a chieftain of the Yoruba people.

According to sources, Durojaiye died in the early hours of Tuesday in Lagos State while receiving medical attention.

Born in 1933 in Ogun, Durojaiye earned a BSc (Economics) London, and an LLB, London.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1979, and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He also graduated from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

He worked for 35 years in the Nigerian public sector, including 28 years as a Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Mint.

He also worked with the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve System in the U.S.A and the City University London between 1964 and 1982.

The Fourth Republic lawmaker was an elected member of the 1988/89 Constituent Assembly.

In 1992 he was a candidate to run for President of Nigeria on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), losing to M.K.O. Abiola.

In December 1996 Durojaiyi was arrested by the military regime of General Sani Abacha, and was imprisoned for 560 days and mistreated while in jail.

Durojaiye was an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999-2003). After taking his seat in the Senate he was appointed to committees on Judiciary, Establishment (Chairman) and Special Projects.[6]

In December 2002 he recommended a life jail-term for anyone who perpetrated election fraud.

He won the AD primaries to represent the party in the Ogun East constituency in the 2003 elections, although he was threatened with legal action by Chief Adamo Olayinka Yesufu, a rival for the nomination.

In the event, the PDP candidate Tokunbo Ogunbanjo won the election.

Durojaiye’s wife Florence Olufunso Adejoke died on 6 June 2009, aged 72, in Ikeja, two months after she and her husband had marked their 50th wedding anniversary.

TNG reports Durojaiye died at the age of 88.

August 24, 2021
Digital economy initiative to make more Nigerian youths self-reliant – Danbatta

Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive, Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020 to 2030, is an important intervention approved by the Federal Government to make more Nigerian youths self-reliant.

Danbatta, was quoted by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC Director of Public Affairs, as making this known during the North-West two-week training organised by the commission, aimed at implementing the Federal Government’s policy to lift Nigerians out of poverty, held at Kano Campus of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).

“We, therefore, express our profound appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and to our Ministry for making this particular training, which is a practical demonstration of one of the important pillars of the NDEPS 2020-2030, possible,” he pointed out.

The NDEPS, is aimed at lifting Nigerians, particularly the youths, out of poverty.

Danbatta urged the Nigerian youths, to put skills acquired as well as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools received during the nationwide digital literacy training exercise to appropriate and legitimate use.

The training, h said, is a brainchild of the Commission, held across each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

Danbatta said the implementation of the recommendations of the committee of experts, as approved by the government, gave rise to the training, which targets 1,000 Nigerian youths to be digitally trained for self-employment.

“The training has provided for you, useful skills, which you have acquired to earn a living for yourself without necessarily relying on government to give you a job. It is our hope at NCC that you will apply the skills appropriately and impact on your friends and associates.

“I also urge you to resist the temptations to sell the laptops and other IT tools you are going to be provided with,” Danbatta told the participants.

“It is consistent with this important policy of President Buhari that the Board of the NCC, two years ago, set up a committee of experts chaired by the former chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, to develop modalities and syllabus for the digital training of youths across the six geo-political zones of the country”.

The objectives of the NDEPS are to support the digital literacy of Nigerian Citizens, Business and Government workers and enable them to acquire cutting edge digital skills.

Others are to achieve a 95 per cent Digital Literacy Level in Nigeria within the next 10 years and to develop digital education curriculum to meet the current and future needs of the Digital Economy.

Others include to ensure that indigenous technology companies are able to participate actively in the government funded technology programmes; and to ensure that the policy and regulatory instruments are fit–for–purpose and actually support the digital business environment.

August 16, 2021
NCC, telecos agree on Frequency Spectrum for 5G deployment

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and major telecoms companies have agreed on instruments necessary for the deployment of 5G technology in the country.

The instruments are the Annual Operating Levy Regulations and the Frequency Spectrum (fees and pricing) Regulations.

The agreement followed a Public Inquiry organised by the NCC on the two key instruments at its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

It was attended by Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta and representatives of major telecoms companies such as Airtel Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Glo Mobile Network, 9Mobile, and other stakeholders.

While Airtel Nigeria agreed with key issues regarding the instruments, MTN Nigeria pleaded for extension of time frame.

But Danbatta assured all stakeholders that frequency spectrum would be assigned and managed in a way that ensures fair pricing and efficient deployment of attendant services.

According to him, the two instruments were not only tailored to meet the challenges of the industry but ensure that all stakeholders are carried along as the country prepares for deployment of 5G technology.

Danbatta said: “More importantly, this Public Inquiry is precursor to the Commission’s current drive to ensure efficiency in spectrum management and the unveiing of next generation services through varied enablers.

“It is in that regard that the Commission issued a Spectrum Trading Guidelines in 2018, to ensure frequency spectrum is readily available to licensees through an effective process.

“Furthermore the Commission has commenced the process for deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology in Nigeria and is driving the provision of such ubiquitous services on making Frequeney Spectrum available to its licensees.

“The efficacy and reliability of these initiatives will be hinged on proper market valuation of the frequency spectrum and fair assessment of levies.”

July 29, 2021
FG extends NIN-SIM verification deadline

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to Oct. 31.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Sunday in Abuja.

They said that the decision was reached following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions in diaspora.

According to the officials, the extension is also to address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.

They, however, hinted that there were presently a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of three to four SIMs per NIN in the country.

According to them, the decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicates significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

“As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this will significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.

“The government has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

“The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required.

“With the great number of enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, every citizen, legal resident and Nigerian citizens living in diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs”.

The statement also said that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami commended the Kano State government and other states that had made NIN a key requirement for school enrolments and access to other important services.

Pantami appreciated Nigerians for their patience and compliance with Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration.

“The Federal Government is excited at the news that the use of NIN in the process of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam significantly reduced the challenge of exam malpractices,” Pantami said.

The statement also quoted the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez as “urging citizens and legal residents to make sure they used the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the Oct. 31 deadline.

July 25, 2021
Electoral Act Amendment: Prosecute NCC now for lying under oath – Reps PDP Caucus tells FG

…says 5th columnists scared of free and fair election

…Ubale was procured to lie to Nigerians

The House of Representatives caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Tuesday said the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC officials lied under oath in their presentation before the House on Electoral Act Amendment last Friday.

To this end, the PDP Caucus is demanding for an immediate prosecution of the Chairman of the commission and his officials for falsifying information under oath.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the caucus as stated in a statement signed by the caucus leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda.

TNG recalls that the opposition lawmakers apparently peeved by the show of shame last Friday staged a walk out from plenary during the consideration of both Chambers harmonised report.

Read full statement below:

NCC LIED TO NIGERIANS ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VOTES AND SHOULD FACE PROSECUTION

It was a show of shame on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, July 17, 2020 during the consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The comedy of errors started by the House stopping INEC from appearing before the House to prevent the nation from learning the truth and allowing only NCC to appear to discuss issues on the ability or otherwise of INEC to handle electronic transmission of votes.

Officials of the NCC led by Executive Director, Ubale Maska, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umaru Garba Danbatta appeared and oath was administered on them consistent with the Section 5 of the Legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017.

While testifying before the House, on the adoption of electronic transmission of results from the units, Ubale Maska claimed that the 2018 Technical Report of the NCC showed that only about “50 percent of the polling units had 3G while 49 percent had 2G network and below”. His answers and body language clearly betrayed his intense desire to mislead the House and the nation.

He cleverly sought to rely on 2018 data in 2021, when they knew or ought to know that internet penetration has advanced substantially in Nigeria since 2018 .

Indeed a perusal of NCC Website even today shows that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 (P .33) says that by September 2019, the “Spread of 3G/LTE” had reached 74.2 percent in Nigeria.

Furthermore, MTN, (See their Website) recently announced that they have achieved an extensive nationwide network coverage of 89.9 percent. This is just MTN, not to talk of other Networks.

Perhaps the worst form of perfidy, deception and outright lies is for NCC to hide the Memorandum of Understanding between NCC and INEC in 2019.

“During preparations for the 2019 general election, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had in January 2018, visited the NCC to discuss collaboration that would enhance the electoral process.

“A joint technical committee of INEC and NCC was subsequently formed with a mandate to map out strategies that would reduce human interventions in the transmission of election results. The committee was headed by Maska and co-chaired by Muhammed Lecky, an INEC national commissioner.”

“After several meetings and engagements, it was then recommended that the “INEC/NCC joint technical committee should consider and adopt the traditional data communication service from MNOs using APN as the most appropriate solution for the electronic transmission of election results.” The CABLE reported recently.

The icing on the cake is the categorical declaration by INEC through Festus Okoye, their spokesman that INEC has the capacity to transmit election results from any part of the country, no matter the terrain has put the final nail on the coffin of the purveyors of the falacy that it cannot be done. Electronic Transmission has recently been deployed by INEC in Edo, Ondo, Borno, Kaduna elections etc.

It is obvious that there are fifth Columnists and anti-democratic elements who are afraid of a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

For a witness to be sworn under Section 5 of the Legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017, then proceed to lie under oath and give false evidence to the House is an offence under Section 7 of the same Act. We call on the prosecuting authorities to immediately arrest the officials of the NCC, under Prof Danbatta and all those who procured Ubale Maska and other officials to lie under oath to be criminally investigated and where found culpable, be brought to justice by standing criminal trial.

We must maintain the integrity of our laws and sanctity of our institutions as a nation.

Rep O.K Chinda

PDP Caucus Leader

House of Representatives

July 20, 2021