With Kano Centre, Nigerian Pushes For Data Sovereignty, Better Security, By Garba Shehu

February 14, 2023

With a clear vision of the importance of Data Centres to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, President Muhammadu Buhari recently commissioned the Kano Data Centre, put in place by the ever-achieving Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, constructed by Huawei, a leading information and communications technology infrastructure provider.

It is an enormously significant project which has got little or no public attention.

Experts say that it will save Nigeria billons of Naira a year due to power outages and other disturbances. Data centres eliminate a portion of this loss.

A data centre is a space or building used to “house networked computer systems or servers and associated systems such as telecom systems and networking components (switches, routers). They are used to organize, process and store large amounts of data.

A centre like the one just commissioned provides reliable data storage on a massive scale without the glitches of portable technology.

The Kano centre has (2.2petabyte storage capacity). A petabyte is a unit of information equal to one thousand million bytes. This one, alongside the Abuja Data Centre with 1.7 petabyte storage capacity will jointly provide a national digital sovereign cloud. These two will greatly improve the modernization of the communications infrastructure in Nigeria, create a favourable external investment environment, enhance the communication efficiency between the government and the public, and improve the satisfaction of government services (improve e-governance).

Most importantly, Kano will Provide full backup services for the primary Data centre facility in Abuja.

The Kano Prefab DC solution includes Huawei’s intelligent power supply and distribution technology such as iPower, the iCooling and intelligent thermal management solution that improves power usage effectiveness (PUE) with a centralized smart management system (iManager). These innovations help to build a datacentre solution that is simple, green, intelligent, and secure.

It will provide full-fledged availability zone which allows for independent operation and regional cloud computing service delivery. Its containerized design provides for high scalability.

The infrastructure has a capacity to provide at least 120 direct jobs and huge number of indirect jobs.

The Kano Data Centre Project is a major component of the phase 2 of the National Information and Communications Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) Project. It is strategically located in the capital city of Kano State, North West, Nigeria and a model of the envisioned full-fledged National Data Centre concepts that support the Data Sovereignty aspirations of the Nigerian Government.

In 2019 and 2020, the Nigerian government promulgated the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030 and the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 to accelerate digital transformation and digital economy development. The National ICT Infrastructure Backbone Phase II Project is one of the most important projects for implementing Nigeria’s national ICT strategy, especially on Broadband penetration.

Following the activation of the NICTIB phase 2 project in November of 2020, the final detailed design of the facility was embarked on and received the approval of stakeholders.

The Government of Kano State, in appreciation of the strategic impact of such proposed state-of-the-art facility, allocated a befitting plot of land for its development within the Nasarawa GRA.

Manufacturing activities and mobilisation to site commenced in May 2021.

The facility is composed of a 600sqm Tier 4 datacentre with capacity of 72 rack cabinets (66 IT racks and 6 network racks) and fully equipped cloud infrastructure of 2.2PB storage capacity, 6,144vCPUs and 9TB memory; a regional office building of 3 floors, with private and open office spaces, Network Operations Center, Training facilities, meeting rooms and colocation room with a total of 900sqm of space; and Comprehensive power systems of 33KVA utility source, dedicated transformers (1250 kVA capacity) and backup generators (600 kW capacity).

The cost of this project is put at USD 21,402,336.09 as captured on a commercial BoQ (including Abuja DC IT equipment of $11,562,590.83) that was recommended by BPP (2016) and approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC (2017). The final approval and implementation started in 2021 with zero variation. Specifically, the Kano Datacentre infrastructure and IT equipment cost a total of $9,839,745.26. The Initial design of the Project (Data Centre & Office Building) was for 24months. However, it was technically completed in nine months, commencing in May 2021 to March 2022.

Under the Buhari administration, the Information, Communication and Technology sector (ICT) has accelerated the diversification of the economy and contributed an unprecedented 18.44 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Minister Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami calls it the “New Oil” because the contribution of the sector to the GDP has risen above oil. The continuous growth of the digital economy depends on large-capacity and highly reliable ICT infrastructure. Data is the core asset of the new era. Only a large-capacity and highly reliable infrastructure can ensure data security in Nigeria and store key government data and people’s livelihood data.

On this path, the Ministry of Communications and the Digital Economy has been working tirelessly. The establishment of the Galaxy Backbone Kano data centre will be a key milestone in this path. It will greatly accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, provide powerful technical facilities for the booming digital economy, create a favourable external investment environment, improve the efficiency of communication between the government and the public, and improve the adoption of government services.

The project was coordinated by Galaxy Backbone Limited, and constructed by Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, a leading ICT company that has been In Nigeria and a strong partner to the nation’s ICT sector. The project makes Kano the largest date storage hub in the country and it is expected that it will pave the way for greater ICT contributions to Nigeria digital and overall economy.

Garba Shehu, SSAP (Media and Publicity)

Nigeria Moves To Attain Upper Middle-Income Status, Tagged “Nigeria Agenda 2050”

Editorial staff

February 14, 2023

The National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed “Nigeria Agenda 2050,” designed to take the country through to Upper Middle-Income Country and subsequently to the status of High-Income countries by the year 2050..
The Agenda was presented at the NEC meeting today, February 14, by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to State Governors and other members of NEC, including federal ministers.
Speaking after the presentation and discussion by Council members, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided over the meeting, said that the plan “captures a lot of the expectations for Nigeria in the future and hopefully implementation which is key if effectively done.”
this was even as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba said that the Federal Government has taken unprecedented steps in ensuring the operationalization of the plan, especially with the inauguration of the Steering Committee of the National Development Plan by the Vice President.
Professor Osinbajo had earlier today, inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Development Plan.
On 9th September, 2020 the President inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC) for the preparation of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2021 – 2025 and Nigeria Agenda 2050.
Highlights of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 as presented to NEC is as follows:
*Nigeria Agenda 2050 is formulated against the backdrop of several subsisting development challenges in the country.
*These challenges include low, fragile, and non-inclusive economic growth; high population growth rate, pervasive insecurity, limited diversification, macroeconomic and social instability, low productivity and high import dependence.
*Nigeria Agenda 2050 is a perspective plan designed to transform the country into an “Upper-Middle Income Country”, with a significant improvement in per capita income.
*The plan aims to fully engage all resources, reduce poverty, achieve social and economic stability.
*It also targets developing a mechanism for achieving a sustainable environment consistent with global concerns about climate change.
*The plan therefore presents the road map for accelerated, sustained and broad-based growth and provides broad frameworks for reducing unemployment, poverty, inequality, and human deprivation.
Agenda 2050 is to help Nigeria attain her desire to successfully join the group of upper middle-income countries and subsequently to high-income group.

This requires significant improvement in the country’s per capita GDP which will be powered by rapid and sustained economic growth.

Nigeria’s long-term ambition is to improve its per capita GDP from about US$2,084.05 in 2020 to US$6,223.23 in 2030 and US$33,328.02 in 2050, with rapid and sustained economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

The Nigeria Agenda 2050 projects annual average real GDP growth of 7.0 percent.

The real growth rate of the GDP of the first medium-term NDP 2021-2025 on average will be 4.65 percent and this will increase to 8.01 percent in the second NDP; subsequently, it is expected to increase to 8.43 percent in the third.

Consequently, the number of full time jobs created will be roughly 165 million during the Agenda period to spur poverty reduction.

The number of people in poverty will decline from the roughly 83 million in 2020 to about 47.8 million in 2025 and to 2.1 million by 2050, thus taking a significant segment of the population out of poverty.

Tinubu Is Next Nigerian President, Buhari Pronounces In Imo

February 14, 2023

President Buhari has said that the Presidential candidate of his All Progrssives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be the next president of the country God willing.

He said, at the presidential campaign rally in Owerri, the Imo State capital today, February 14 that he accompanied Tinubu to the state to sell him to the people and expressed gratitude for the massive turnout at the rally.

The president had earlier paid a courtesy call on traditional rulers in the state at their council chamber where he had also canvassed support for Asíwájú’s election.

The Chairman of the Traditional Council in the state who received Buhari, Eze Udo, Dr. Eze Okeke, conferred on the president the Chieftaincy title of Nwanne Dinamba, meaning a brother in The Diaspora.

Speaking at the rally, Asiwaju Tinubu said that he would work assiduously to advance the legacies of President Buhari, saying: “you know the president with honesty, integrity and dependability. We will continue with his incorruptible and being straightforward attributes.”

The APC Presidential candidate promised to prudently manage the nation’s resources and increase the revenue – generation capacity as he did when he was Lagos governor.

To the people of Imo, Asíwájú Tinubu said he would further invest in education as President Buhari who upgraded two institutions in the state to universities did, and help to make the state a tourist destination.

“We will strengthen and promote peace and unity in the state and confront violence and man inhumanity to fellow man as that’s the only way growth and development can be achieved.”

The host-governor, Senator Uzodinnma, while welcoming the dignitaries to the state, restated that Imo is part of the Nigerian entity and “in brotherhood the people of the state shall stand with other Nigerians.”

He thanked Buhari for his support for the state, adding that his presence at the rally was a great testament to his determination to get the party to win the next election and to grow further.

The rally was attended by the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, three state governors: Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos) as well as Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege among others,

Others are the APC Deputy Chairman (South), Barrister Emma Enekwu, former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase and APC National Woman Leader Betta Edu.

NDDC Boss Vows To Reposition It To Serve Niger Delta Better

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2023

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has vowed to make the Commission serve the people of Niger Delta better.
She said that the new leadership at the Commission under her watch will work to impact positively on the lives of the people of the region by making transparency and fairness the order of the day.
Speaking yesterday, February 13, during the Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project mid-term review meeting organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), she said: “We are here to serve the people of the region and by extension serve Nigeria. We are here to reposition the NDDC.
“Our interest is to improve the lives of Niger Delta people.

“The monies meant for the development of the Niger Delta must be used for the region.”
The NDDC boss assured Persons with disabilities, women and youths, robust relationship during her tenure.
She insisted on charting a new course for the NDDC, different from what obtained in the past, adding that the new NDDC leadership is there to do things differently.
“We will work with new ideas to be able to achieve the objective of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region.”
Ms. Lauretta Onochie stressed that NDDC was established specifically for the people of the Niger Delta region as an interventionist agency, meant to bring prosperity to the Niger Delta region.

This was as the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor said that Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.
He said that it is design to enhance local civil society’s organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in the country.

Military Vows: No One Can Stop Elections From Holding In Igboland

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

The Military has made it clear that no one, not even any faction of the Outlawed Indegenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) can stop the 2023 elections from holding in Igboland, in the South-East states and other parts of the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who spoke today, February 13 at the 25th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Scorecard Series, said that the armed forces is working in concert with the police and other security agencies to ensure that the menace of criminality from the IPOB is placed under control.

General Irabor, who was responding to a question on the threat by the Simon Ekpa led faction of the outlawed IPOB to stop the elections in the south east zone, stressed that no person or group can stop the polls.

General Irabor said: “no territory of Nigeria is under the control of the Boko Haram or any other terrorists group.

“The armed forces is working in concert with the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the menace of criminalities from IPOB and Eastern Security Network are eliminated.”

He said that all communities in the North-East zones of the country have been liberated from the criminal elements.

According to him, the military is on the mission for final cleansing of the North-East region from terrorists.

The General said that the fact that the military has not ceased operation in the region did not mean that the terrorists are still occupying any portion of the nation’s territory.

The edition featured the Minister of Defence, retired General Bashir Magashi, who presented the scorecard of the ministry.

Source: NAN.

2023 Elections: APC is “Battle-Ready,” Constitutes Legal Team To Fight All Cases

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is battle-ready to face all legal issues that will arise from the 2023 general elections across the country.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, today, February 13, inaugurated the party’s Legal Compliance Committee, with responsibility for more than 1,400 Federal and State elective positions in polls holding later this month and the next.

The committee will be coordinated by the APC National Legal Adviser, Ahmad El-Marzuq, and is made up of carefully selected lawyers. The committee is tasked with the provision of comprehensive legal services to the party during the electioneering period.

At the inauguration of the party were the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo amongst others.
Speaking at the inauguration, Vice President Osinbajo said that the Committee is crucial to the achievement of the party’s electoral ambitions in the 2023 Elections both at Federal and State levels across the country.

The responsibilities of the APC Legal Compliance Committee, he said, include ensuring that all internal structures of the party and external engagements of the party are conducted in accord with established operating procedures and the law; insulating the campaign of the party at all levels against breaches of rules, regulations, guidelines, and laws by ensuring strict compliance thereof; and to develop compliance checklists and protocols, conduct trainings for campaign personnel, and prepare compliance reports for the party, among others.

He called on the members of the committee to be proactive and remain committed to this critical assignment.
“I am therefore glad that we have here an assembly of very committed members of the party, who, by their calling as lawyers, will be able to offer tremendous value for the party through protection of its interests at every step of this electoral process.
“Those of you that have worked with us in the build-up to the 2015 and the 2019 general elections know that the proactive approach we adopted, especially through the ear-on-the-ground work of the Presidential Legal Team, has provided us crucial head-start in tackling some of the challenges that we were confronted with.
Professor Osinbajo insisted that APC has remained the only party anchored on social democracy, social protection and social mobility, especially for the poor.
“Ours is the only party anchored on social democracy, social protection, that is, social mobility for the poor, and justice for the wronged.”
according to the Vice President, the party’s manifesto in 2014, 2015 and 2023 contained the most detailed Social Investment Policy, saying: “in 2015, we became the first government to make budgetary provision of N500 billion for a comprehensive Social Investment Programme; feeding 9.5 million children in our Home-grown School Feeding Programme, providing jobs for 500,000 unemployed graduates through our N-Power programme, many deployed to primary schools in the hinterland as teachers, others trained under the N-TECH, N-BUILD. Our GEEP programme provided 2 million informal traders with small loans via its TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni schemes.
“We also built up the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme. Along with the World Bank and local Communities we complied a register of the poorest Nigerians and began a programme of giving them a total of about N20,000 monthly per household and introduced livelihood support. Our opponents criticized us, for providing money for the poor to do their business, we say to them that is who we are a party committed to lifting the poor out of poverty, but we are also accountable.
“Every person given a loan is properly documented on our electronic perform. They were given money by alerts on their phones so all loans are trackable and the entire process is auditable.”
The Vice President also recalled that the GEEP microcredit programmes, managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI), won several awards including the African Bankers Award twice, as well as getting, other global recognitions.
He said that the party remained committed to progressive left-of-the-centre ideology, adding that despite global economic challenges, the APC administration under President Buhari has achieved much in the pursuit of this vision.
“These are achievements known to even our detractors, though they admit so only behind closed doors. Knowing where we were in 2014, and the challenges we were able to overcome, and knowing the very likely danger of reversal of all that has been achieved by the Buhari administration, our Governors in States, and our legislators at national and State levels, we cannot afford to be nonchalant. Rather, we have to be proactive.”
Earlier, the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Keyamo, thanked the Vice President for his commitment to the service of the party and nation, saying that the importance of the Legal Compliance Committee particularly in the forthcoming elections across the country cannot be over emphasized.
He said that the task before the committee is huge but expressed confidence that given the support of the Vice President and other stakeholders, it will succeed in delivering on its mandate before, during and after the general elections.

General Elections: I Won’t Accept Excuses For Lapses, Buhari Warns Police Boss

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warning to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, that he will not accept excuses for any lapses in the general elections due to commence with Presidential election on February 25.

According to the President, his expectations of them in respect of the provision of requisite security ahead of the 2023 general elections is high.

The President spoke today, February 13, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as he commissioned Critical Operational Assets procured by the Nigeria Police Force.

President Buhari commended the IGP for advancing the Police Reform Agenda of his Administration and for the several initiatives he had brought to the Force, but reminded him of the expectations, saying: “you should, however be reminded of my high expectations of your leadership, particularly, in relation to the provision of requisite security that will engender not just stable security space ahead of the General Elections, but guarantee the credibility of the exercise.

“In this task, I call on the Inspector General of Police and indeed, all law enforcement agencies that will be complementing the police in the election security process to note that the eyes of the nation and the global community will be on you all.”

President Buhari reiterated the centrality of an efficient and responsive police force in strengthening of democracy and the essence of the Police Reform and Re-equipping Agenda which this administration has vigorously pursued:

“We are running a democratic system which is guided by the rule of law and the Police worldwide is recognized as the most symbolic agency within the democratic governance and rule of law process. Therefore, any nation that is desirous of deepening her democratic credentials and advancing the course of rule of law must prioritize the efficiency of her police institution,” President Buhari declared.

He restated his pledge to bequeath a credible democratic culture to the nation, and expressed satisfaction with the brief by the IGP during the meeting of the Council of State on Friday, February 10.

“My pledge is to bequeath to the nation a democratic culture in which the Police will not only be apolitical and impartial during the 2023 General Elections, but also one in which the process will be peaceful and secure and the outcome truly reflective of the free will of the citizens.”

He added that he was delighted that the acquisition of the assets he was commissioning was in tandem with his aspiration.

The President used the opportunity to commend successive leaderships of the Nigeria Police as well as the commitment of the current Inspector General of Police and his Management Team towards the Police Reform of this administration evidenced by notable activities and projects carried out including the recent commissioning of an ultra- modern Police Headquarters and a well equipped Hospital in Yobe State.

He charged the Police, in line with their service oaths and statutory obligation to the nation, not to disappoint:

“I renew the assurances of my firm trust in your leadership and unwavering support for police. It is indeed, in demonstration of this that I recently approved the release of requisite funds to the Nigeria Police Force towards the continuation of the next phase in the annual recruitment exercise of ten thousand (10,000) Constables in line with extant Presidential approvals.”

This was even as the Inspector General of Police said that the critical assets being commissioned were procured from the Special Presidential Intervention Fund as part of a strategic plan towards stabilizing the security space before, during and after the 2023 General Elections and for the purpose of boosting the capacity of the Nigeria Police to manage civil disorder, in line with acceptable national legal framework and international law enforcement protocols.

He acknowledged the commitment of the President to the uplift of the Nigeria Police, declaring that “President Buhari’s continued support and association during the commissioning of her infrastructure and operational assets presents a clear statement to the premium that Mr. President places on the Nigeria Police and policing issues in the country.”

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, informed President Buhari that the Ministry of Police Affairs had in recent years rolled out robust logistical support and effective policy environment to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the Minister, the day’s event “was not an isolated initiative. It is part of the broad, well thought out and meticulously implemented policing strategy of the Inspector General of Police, which is built on his leadership vision that internal security can be stabilized on a sustainable basis only through a well-equipped, modernized, highly resourced and appropriately trained policing institution.”

Aare Onakakanfo Of Yoruba Land, Adams, Hopes Peter Obi Is Man Of Integrity

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has expressed the hope that the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi would be a man of integrity.

Gani Adams, who spoke when Peter Obi, accompanied by the party’s chieftains, visited him in his house at Omole Phase 2 area of Lagos, said: “Obi’s visit is not an endorsement but it is an opportunity for him to present his party’s blueprint to us as an organisation. With the point he has highlighted so far, it is my hope that he is a man of integrity.

“I appreciate Obi’s gesture and respect for the revered stool of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land. It is a show of passion and dedication. It is a reflection of his understanding of Nigeria’s problems.

“On the presidential election, I will say we are neutral for now. However, as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, we will discuss the issue at the various meetings of our stakeholders both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.”

Peter Obi, who is the former Anambra State governor said that his plans on the economy, security, and others would pull the country out of its present challenges.

He said that the visit to Adams was part of the ongoing consultations on the February 25 election.

Police Arrest Pastor Who Stormed Church In Abuja With Gun

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

Police in Abuja have arrested the presiding Pastor of the House on the Rock, Abuja Chapter, Uche Aigbe, for storming the church with AK47. He was arrested and being detained along with a police Inspector, Musa Audu, who handed his the gun to the pastor.

Pastor Aigbe was arrested after causing commotion when he mounted the pulpit carrying an AK47, during the second service, inside the church’s auditorium. The pastor picked his way to the altar brandishing the gun.

“The (police) Inspector has been arrested. When he was questioned, he said that he gave the gun to the pastor for demonstration purposes during church service.

“Audu has now been detained alongside the pastor. But the FCT CP has submitted a recommendation to the IG for Audu’s dismissal, and he will be facing an orderly room trial soon,” a source said.

Fani-Kayode, In DSS, Apologizes For Raising Alarm On Coup

Editorial staff

February 13, 2023

Director of new media for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Femi Fani-Kayode has appeared before the Department of State Service (DSS), where he apologized for raising alarm over coup de’ tat in the country.

Speaking to news men today, February 13, in Abuja after being interrogated by the officers of the DSS for five hours, Fani-Kayode admitted that he should have been circumspect before going public on the issue.

Fani-Kayode, who is the country’s former aviation minister, described the situation in the country as similar to “war front because we are in a war presently on the political front.”

“While we are experiencing such war, there is the fog of war where we say either the right things or the wrong things. Nobody is infallible. But the truth is when it comes to the issue of national security, we have to be careful.”

He said that the coup alarm raised shock waves across the polity, saying that his action was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies to be on top of the situation if there was any iota of truth in the matter.

The APC campaign spokesman said that he had to honour the DSS invitation because his hands were clean on the matter adding that he is under instruction by the DSS to report back every Wednesday of the week pending the possibility of being charged to court.

He recalled his ordeal in the hands of the DSS, saying: “I was subjected to a thorough grilling. They were very inquisitive and very professional. I wasn’t oppressed and they were not acting on the call for my arrest by the PDP.”

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