NCC Boss Announces 97 Percent Readiness For 5G Deployment In Nigeria

October 14, 2021

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has confirmed that the Commission is 97 per cent ready for the full implementation of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology in Nigeria.

Professor Danbatta dropped this hint at the annual African Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTech 2021) held in Lagos on October 13, with the theme: “Embracing Changes and Digital Transformation in the New Normal.”

Focusing his presentation on “NCC as a Digital Transformation Crusader and Nigeria’s in-Road to 5G Deployment,” Professor Danbatta said that, following the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a change in the dynamics of people’s interaction, especially on the Internet.

According to him, almost every means of communication has become virtual in one way or the other.

Professor Danbatta said that this paradigm shift in communication has led to significant increase in network connectivity requirements as a result of unprecedented upsurge in Internet traffic, occasioned by the use of a plethora of web applications such as Zoom, Microsoft teams, WebEx, Goto, Webner and so on.

He said this has made remote work, virtual meetings, virtual studies and virtual healthcare delivery, among others, the new normal.

According to the Professor, even though, the network infrastructure in Nigeria has demonstrated some capacity to contain the surge in internet traffic, a lot of work is being done by the Commission to boost network capacity, sensitise the public and ensure accessibility to affordable connectivity during the period of the pandemic and beyond.

Due to the network traffic demand, the Executive Vice Chairman said that the NCC is working with operators to implement a number of initiatives to ensure network expansion.

These, he said, include ongoing plan to auction spectrum in 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) band to operators for the deployment of 5G network in Nigeria.

“Consistent with our mandate as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA-2003) and other guiding legislations, we have been working to ensure the penetration of broadband services in line with Federal Government’s targets, as contained in Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020 to 2025.

“Already, we are set for the auction some spectrum slots in 3.5GHz band. The other day I was at the National assembly, I informed the senate that we were 95 per cent ready for 5G. Today as we speak, I am delighted to tell you that we are already at 97 per cent completion,” Danbatta said.

“The Committee set up to auction the Spectrum has already developed and Information Memorandum (IM) which is already published for inputs and comments from all industry stakeholders. Prior to this, a 5G deployment plan was developed and we have since secured Federal Government’s approval.”

He said that this is in addition to a lot of other initiatives being put in place by the Commission to improve broadband connectivity in Nigeria, adding that the surge in Internet traffic induced by Covid-19 has continued to challenge National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and other arms of governments to ensure deployment of adequate resources such as spectrum and other forms of support to increase network resilience and accessibility to telecommunication services.

“Emerging technologies such as 5G, which NCC is driving aggressively in Nigeria, Internet of Things (IoT); Cloud Computing; Quantum Computing Augmented/Virtual Reality, and similar emerging technologies are playing a critical role in improving remote communication over the internet with great user experience. The NCC is committed to promoting this inevitable change and enhance user experience through effective regulation of the telecoms sector.”

The NCC boss was represented at the event by Engr. Oluwatoyin Asaju, Director, Spectrum Administration.

Also in attendance was The Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde.

Other key industry stakeholders participated at the one-day Forum, which also featured exhibition by some sector players.

Ex Senate President, Iyorcha Ayu Emerges North’s Consensus Chairman For PDP

Editorial staff

October 14, 2021

A former Senate President and minister, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as North’s consensus candidate for the post of national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr. Ayu, a Christian from Benue State, North Central Nigeria, will be ratified as national chairman at the national convention of the PDP scheduled for October 30 and 31.

PDP leaders from the 19 states that make up Northern Nigeria, had converged on the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro and ratified the adoption of Dr. Ayu as the northern region’s consensus candidate.

This was after he was presented to the entire North by the leaders of the party from the North Central zone, following his unanimous adoption on Tuesday at the Benue Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, as the north central zone’s candidate.

Dr. Ayu assured stakeholders that he would run a purposeful party.

He called on the party leaders to join him to reposition the PDP with a view to ensuring that it bounces back stronger and take over the Presidential Villa in 2023.

He said that under his leadership, no one could use money to buy his conscience and no single man would own PDP.

“PDP belongs to all, not one man.”

The PDP had last month, zoned the position of national chairman to the North and furthered micro-zoned it to the North Central.

Sunday Igboho Lands In Hospital Over Suspected Kidney Ailment

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho has allegedly been rushed to the hospital on the suspicion of kidney and lungs ailment.

One of his lawyers, Yomi Aliyyu made this known today, October 13. He told BBC Yoruba in an interview that Sunday Igboho possibly developed the illness in Benin Republic prison custody.

“Igboho was not diagnosed with this sickness before he was arrested in Cotonou. It was so critical that they had to rush him to the hospital. I can’t tell if he has been returned to the prison from the hospital but what I know is, he’s battling ill health and it seems his kidney and lungs are already being affected.

“Even though I cannot tell which part of his body the sickness has really affected, I know it has to do with his internal organs.”

The agitator has been in detention in the French-speaking country since his arrest in Cotonou on July 16, 2021. He was about to board a flight with his wife to Germany when he was arrested.

While the reasons for his continued detention remain unclear, the Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria had declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition after a raid on his Ibadan residence on July 1.

Sunday Igboho was in September awarded N20 billion as damages by Oyo State High Court over the invasion of his residence by the DSS.

Some of the items he alleged were taken during the raid include N2 million cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewellery and wristwatches, two mobile phones, among others.

Source: Qed.ng.

Anambra Election: We’ll Crush IPOB, Other Criminals, Police Boss Assures Voters

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has assured electorate in Anambra State that his men are ready to crush members of the rampaging Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other criminals thereby securing public space for the November 6 Anambra State gubernatorial election.

The Inspector General gave the assurance, today, October 13, during a strategic meeting held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force Squadrons in the country, as part of efforts to specifically contain the activities of criminal elements in the South-East and particularly guarantee a safe and secure environment for the elections.

The Police said that the leadership of the Force has commenced the reorganization, re-equipping, training and re-orientation of the PMF with the goal of strengthening its operational capacity and re-situating the unit to accomplish the task of confronting violent crimes in the country.

He charged the Squadron Commanders to upscale their supervisory roles to ensure their personnel demonstrate high level of professionalism, firmness, courage and respect for human rights while carrying out their duties.

The police boss said that the Nigeria Police Force in the coming days will be implementing a robust national security action plan to refocus the internal security dynamics of the country in addition to securing the electoral processes in the Anambra State Gubernatorial election including the protection of personnel and materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and critical national infrastructure.

The IGP noted that the Police Mobile Force, will as usual, form a critical component of the operational plan, to deter any subversive elements that could threaten or disrupt the smooth conduct of the election.

He reiterated that the Force will continue to do all within its powers to combat all forms of criminality and violent crimes including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and violent extremism, amongst others, across the country.

Buhari Announces N600 Billion Loans For 2.4 Million Farmers, At World Food Day

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced N600 billion loans to support 2.4 million farmers across the country. The loan will be disbursed through the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support project (APPEALS).

President Buhari, who spoke today, October 13, at the opening of the National Agricultural Show/Exhibition of the 2021 World Food Day in Abuja, said that his Administration is not resting on its oars in addressing the challenges of the country’s agricultural sector.

The theme of the 2021 edition of the Agricultural Show is: “Our Actions are our Future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, said: “the Federal Government, through the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support project (APPEALS), has set aside N600 billion as loan support to farmers across the country.

”No fewer than 2.4 million farmers are expected to benefit from the loan which has zero interest.

”The gesture will support farmers in the country, to improve their productivity aimed at boosting the country’s food security, improving farmers’ production and increasing exports.

”It is gratifying that the sector is being treated as a business, no longer as a development project, with massive distribution of high quality farm inputs, dissemination of appropriate research results and significant enhancement of the agricultural commodity value chains.

”I would wish to reiterate and it is clear that if the agricultural sector must be made more productive and food systems sustainable, we must all be prepared to invest massively in the sector and rise to the call against looming food crisis as predicted by the World Bank, FAO, AfDB and other key actors in food and agriculture.”

The President said that since the beginning of the 2021 farming season, the Federal Government had distributed inputs to states, across the country to boost food production.

”Nigeria recorded a boost in the production of her major staple crops especially, maize and rice, which rose from 12.8 and 12.3 to 13.94 and 14.28 million metric tonnes (MMT).

”The same is obtainable for cassava, whose production rose from 58.47 MT in 2018 to 73.91MT and is even projected to rise to 93.6 by 2023.

”Growth has also been recorded for groundnut, tomatoes, and sorghum production. Cattle beef, dairy and fish production also rose by 166 per cent, 146 per cent, and 11 per cent, respectively between 2020 and 2021.

”The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics report indicates that Nigeria’s national agricultural import bill also reduced from 1.2 to 1.1billion Naira.”

Also speaking, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, said that the Buhari- administration had initiated programmes and policies towards agricultural development and food security in the country.

Adamu, who thanked God for the World Food Day which comes up on October 16, said that it is a very important day on the calendar of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Source: NAN.

How Tinubu Helped To Thwart Obasanjo’s Third-Term Moves – Ex Senate President, Nnamani

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, helped in thwarting the third-term moves by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to him, Tinubu contributed immensely to the growth of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, which he said are strong factors in his support going forward.

“Your many contributions to the growth of democracy in Nigeria ‘stand strong’. Your role in NADECO and your efforts along with those of others helped in terminating military rule.”

The former Senate President spoke today, October 14, when he visited Asiwaju Tinubu at his Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to extend his good wishes to him after his return from United Kingdom. He presented to Tinubu his new book titled: “Standing Strong: Legislative Reforms, Third Term and Other Issues of the 5th Senate,” due to be presented to the public on Thursday, October 21, in Abuja..

Nnamani said the former Lagos governor’s support was invaluable to him during his time as Senate President, particularly during the bid to stop the Third Term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“You helped many times in stabilising the country. You assisted me a lot during my time as Senate President and particularly in stopping the Third Term project of former President Obasanjo.”

The former Lagos governor congratulated Nnamani for putting together his experience in office and his ideas and thoughts which he said would be helpful for the country.

He called other political actors to endeavour to write books to document their experiences and efforts which would go a long way in helping the nation to solve problems and in nation-building

Avoid ‘Digital Sin,’ IT Expert, Nweke, Cautions Online Publishers At GOCOP Confab

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2021

Group executive editor of ITREALMS Media group, Remmy Nweke has cautioned online publishers against what he called “digital sin” through ‘hotlinking’ of images.
Nweke who spoke at the two-day 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, stressed that it is a ‘digital sin’ for a publisher to consciously link images from another online news medium directly in order to save his own bandwidth.
“It’s like taking rent on another person’s website.”
He said that when viewing a website, it’s not always immediately clear that an image is hotlinked because it blends seamlessly into the page, but that the bandwidth of the real host is in use.
Nweke advised, who is also the Lead consulting strategist of the ITREAL News median, advised GOCOP members to ensure they have standard image sizes which must align with their medium online.
He advised further that Publishers need to know what should be embedded, the cost as regards the financial inflow of the advertisements placed on the platforms so as to aggregate the return on investment.
“You will most certainly decide on how to market your product which is your online platform; basically entrepreneurs think about making profit to sustain the publication.”
According to him, though their deadlines are self-imposed, they must stop clicking on Google Ads on their websites from same internet protocol (IP) address.
“You will ultimately be prepared to incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life by engaging in a series of training designed to build more productive habits. So, please take your health seriously. Health is wealth even in the digital age.”

To Attract More Foreign Investment, Okonjo-Iweala Harps On Improved Security, Lowering Cost Of Business

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

“Improving security and lowering transaction cost for foreign investment, even for domestic investment, would be necessary.

“Nigeria is part of a group of countries negotiating an agreement on investment facilitation at the WTO.

“Once this agreement is negotiated, ratified and is being implemented, it could be instrumental in attracting additional trade-oriented investment.

“To complement investment facilitation, Nigeria has to cut down on trade cost, infrastructure cost, linkage cost, regulatory cost, customs cost, basically, all costs associated with moving goods from tie factory or farm gate to the final consumer.

“Nigeria’s trade costs are too high. According to the World Bank-ESCAP trade costs for 2019, trade costs for African countries are on the average equivalent of a 304 per cent tariff and for Nigeria, it’s even slightly higher at 306%.

“These numbers are one and half times higher than trade cost in high-income countries. Such high costs are not conducive to forming a regional value chain.

“Congestion, capacity constraints and high costs in our ports make life difficult for anyone seeking to build supply chain operations in Nigeria and hence, expand trade from there.”

These views were expressed by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala while speaking to President Muhammadu Buhari and his team via a video link on the second day of the Mid-term Ministerial Performance Review at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was minister of Finance in the government of Present Goodluck Jonathan, stressed that Nigeria must cut down not only on trade cost but also infrastructure cost, linkage cost, regulatory cost, customs cost and all costs associated with moving goods from the factory to the final consumer to complement investment facilitation.

Abia Partners With France To Train Abia Youths On Agriculture, Agro Allied Processing

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2021

The Abia State government and the French Government have struck a deal to develop a stronger economic cooperation with special emphasis on agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the Enyimba Economic City in Abia State.
At the end of discussions between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the French Minister of Trade and Commerce, France Riester at the Livestock Summit organised by the French Embassy in Nigeria, the governor said that the partnership would involve vocational training for Abia youths who are willing to engage in agriculture.
The youths, he added, would also be exposed through training, to aquaculture, processing and export of agricultural products as well as support for the development of the MSMEs in the state with particular reference to those engaged in the export of made-in-Aba brands.
Governor Ikpeazu, who sought for stronger partnership between Abia and France in order to give the needed push to economic activities in the state also requested for greater engagement in the areas of livestock farming with a specific focus on Efi Igbo (the local breed of cattle found in Southeast zone).
The governor described his recent trip to France as “highly successful” and that his administration will continue to seek partnerships that will ultimately ensure a better life for the people of Abia state.
“Our focus remains to bequeath a better Abia to the people of the state who entrusted us with their mandate and this trip is one of many such efforts.
“We are hopeful that a lot of positives will come out of the engagement.”
The visit, which was facilitated by the French Embassy in Nigeria also reviewed the planned establishment of a Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) Village at Nsulu in partnership with Schneider Electric of France.
Other areas that were discussed for possible cooperation with France include the Waste to Energy project, Bamboo plantation, production and its value chain, Solar electricity generation, and solar street lighting.
The delegation Governor Ikpeazu led to the Livestock Summit included the Coordinator of Abia State Education for Employment (E4E) Agency, Ndubuisi Endi Ezengwa, Commissioner Nominee and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Ikpechukwu Mgbeoji, Coordinator of Abia Livestock Farmers Association, Uchenna Onyeizu, agricultural expert, Nonso Ogbunamiri, a member of Abia Livestock Farmers Association, Okey Ahaiwe.

NNPC Rallies Stakeholders To Rebuild Some Nigerian Roads Under Tax Credit Scheme

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has rallied critical stakeholders in a move to find lasting solutions to the road network challenges and other lingering issues in the country.
This is part of its effort to sustain the current smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide within the festive period and beyond.
A statement by the Group General Manager,
Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad recalled that following NNPC’s intervention over the weekend, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) called off a planned strike action, agreeing instead to accept the dialogue option proposed by the Corporation.
According to him, such development had sustained smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
The statement said that the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, took a decisive step yesterday, October 12, hosted a major stakeholders’ meeting at the NNPC Towers.
It said that the meeting was attended by the NNPC, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The statement said that during the meeting, the NNPC boss announced that stakeholders have agreed on a framework for NNPC’s intervention in critical road rehabilitation through the Federal Government Tax Credit Scheme.
“We are committed to utilising the Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme to rebuild some of the affected roads in line with Mr. President’s Executive Order 7. Upon our fruitful deliberations today, the NNPC has pledged to support the PTD and NARTO in carrying out quick intervention fixes on some strategic bad spots identified to enable unhindered movement of trucks for transportation of petroleum products nationwide,” Mallam Kyari was quoted to have said.
“Established under the Federal Government’s Executive Order 7 of 2019, the Road Trust Fund Policy/Tax Credit Scheme gives private sector operators an opportunity to fund critical infrastructure with the government.
“Stakeholders also agreed to enforce mandatory installation of safety valves in all petroleum product trucks in the country effective February 1, 2022 with full commitment given by NARTO.
“The meeting also frowned at the abuse of axle load or tonnage limits, with the NNPC agreeing to engage the Nigerian Customs Service for enforcement of preventing the importation of tanks that exceed 45,000 litres capacity.”

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