What Nigerian Editors told Senate over NPC bill 2018 - ITREALMS Online

Communique issued at the end of the Standing Committee meeting of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, held on Friday, July 20, 2018, at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The Standing Committee discussed the state of the nation and the media and took particular note of the Nigerian Press Council Act 1992 (Repeal and Enactment Bill 2018) which is currently before the Senate and has passed second reading.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors vehemently condemns the bill which seeks to criminalise journalists and journalism practice, takes away the power of the law courts and usurps the constitutional duties of academic institutions and regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Guild observes that those behind this bill have been unrelenting in their quest to cage the media under different guises, as the bill has come up under different administrations since 1961. This bill bears semblance of obnoxious Decree 4 of 1984 and Decree 43 of 1993.

The Guild is piqued that the Senate could bring such a bill to the fore in spite of a subsisting court case on the same subject without minding that it is subjudice.

The Guild frowns at the attempt by the promoters of the bill to arrogate to the council the powers to decide which training institutions and professional qualifications attained there from, should be acceptable for journalism practice in Nigeria. This clearly abrogates the mandates of relevant accrediting bodies.

The Guild wonders why the sponsors of this bill are fixated on muzzling the press using draconian laws which are clearly targeted at making the watchdog toothless. Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, are clear on the role of the media.
 

The Guild perceives this bill as provocative, primitive, anti-people and anti-press freedom at a time when advocacy for free press is gaining stridency across the world.

It is noteworthy that there is nothing in this bill that shows how the council intends to create an enabling environment for the media to thrive as it is the case in other sectors of the economy. This is particularly galling at a time the media industry is in dire straits.

The sponsors of this bill are clearly undemocratic and appear to suffer illusion of grandeur. They seemed to be totally oblivious of the fact that the media houses are businesses set up with investments apart from being the fourth estate of the realm.

The Guild condemns the bill in its entirety and will never nominate any of its members to serve in a council that seeks to cage the media, destroy the profession and criminalise journalists.

Indeed, it is the opinion of the Guild that this bill should be consigned to the dustbin where it rightly belongs.

Funke Egbemode                                     Victoria Ibanga

President                                                   General Secretary

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Glo unveils Smartphone Festival, offers customers freebies - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

Globacom has unveiled an initiative tagged ‘Smartphone Festival’ aimed at giving unbeatable value to its customers who desire to own various categories of smartphones, reports ITRealms.

The company is making the offer in partnership with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, Infinix and Techno, among others.

With the Smartphone Festival, Glo customers will be able to get smartphones of their choice at the best price from any Gloworld shop across Nigeria. In addition, each smartphone purchase will come with six months of free data, extended warranty, screen guards, memory cards and phone covers, among many other freebies.

Globacom said customers will also be entitled to free recharge card or voice bundle on every purchase just as they will enjoy personal attention and first-class customer care service.

A statement from Globacom’s head office said the offer was conceived as a way of encouraging numerous customers to own smartphones of their choice so as to be able to harness the immense benefits inherent in the communication tool.

“The offer is consistent with our commitment to meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations,” the company said.

Smartphone Festival will hold every two months and will last for 15 days. Globacom customers who wish to avail themselves of this offer are required to walk into any of the company’s retail outlets nationwide to pick any smartphone of their choice.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NELMCO's example in public assets disposal - ITREALMS Online

Commentary@ITREALMS:

Nigeria is a country witnessing many developments. In an era of many controversies, a positive aspect still appears in an obscure corner. Disposal of public assets can conform to due process and extant laws. An agency is walking the talk.

As civil society activists, we pry over many agencies of government, advocating for due process and anti-corruption as spearheaded by the present federal administration. We stumbled on an agency largely unmentioned in the past, the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Ltd/Gte (NELMCO), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing that is saddled with the responsibility of disposal of the Non-core properties of the defunct PHCN.This body has set a new standard in public assets disposal in Nigeria.

Our interest in the activities of the agency was triggered by the echo created by the recent “Expression of Interest” published by the agency in most national dailies and the current Federal Tenders Journal requesting reputable organisations to serve as Valuers, Sales Agents and to provide comprehensive inventory for the Non-core Assets of the defunct PHCN.

We gathered that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has previously valued the PHCN Non-core Assets listed by the agency in the recent publication, in 2015. However, due to unfavorable public perception about the processes leading to the selection of the Valuer and also doubts about the amounts quoted as values of the properties which were believed to have been compromised.

Our checks also indicated that for any sale of public property to be deemed successful, that property must have been valued within twelve months from the date of the sales. This we believe has necessitated the revaluation that is being carried out by NELMCO.

Many of the bidders reported shock by some of the requirements put up by NELMCO as a prerequisite for participation in either Valuers or Sales Agent for the disposal of the PHCN Non-core Assets. They stated that some of the stringent conditions adopted by NELMCO has never been seen in the history of Nigeria, not even during the widely acclaimed monetization sales processes.

Some of the conditions listed by the agency includes strict adherence to the BPP Guideline for the disposal of public assets. We also gathered that the bidders must also meet up with requirements such as BPP Registration, CAC, Tax Clearance, Company Audited Account, Company Profile with CV of Staff, Experience of Firm as well as PenCom, ITF, NSITF, Esvarbon, NIEVES Registrations amongst others.

To our amazement, this will be the first time that government agencies such as Esvarbon and NIEVES who have the mandate to certify and regulate estate surveyors in Nigeria will play an active role in public assets disposal in Nigeria. In addition to the requirements mentioned above, the inclusion of the two bodies by NELMCO has come to dwarf all the previous sales regimes of public asset disposals in Nigeria.

A further look and we were also delightedly informed that both EFCC and ICPC will also serve as observers of the entire pre-qualification process and will also be present at all the meetings.

We also gathered that the Comprehensive Audit was routed by NELMCO after the agency discovered the existence of certain stranded PHCN properties during the preliminary audit of PHCN Assets Nationwide carried out in the six geo-political zones sometime in 2017. During the exercise, it was  learned that NELMCO recorded many stranded PHCN Properties that were unknown at that time that were not sold during the monetization exercise as well as during other sales regimes undertaking by the PHCN Management and whose records were lost to the fire incident at the PHCN Headquarters in 1991.

So in a bid to recover these assets, NELMCO published an “Expression of Interest” for the procurement of services of reputable consultants that will carry out a Comprehensive Audit of all PHCN properties dating back to the era of Niger Dam, ECN, NEPA and PHCN. This we also discovered to be the first time an agency of government is going out at such monumental scale to recover stranded public assets in Nigeria.

As the sale process continues, it is important to task the management of the agency to keep the high standard it has set not just now but even after the sale. That an agency is prepared to abide and even raise the bar of public asset disposal is a commendable development.

*Contributed by Abdulahi Ibrahim, a program officer with Power Sector Transparency Watchdog

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Osun 2018: Wole Adedoyin emerges HDP Governorship candidate - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The national publicity secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), who is also the national President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Mr. Wole Adedoyin has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) for the September 22 Osun state governorship election, reports ITRealms.

The party’s publicity secretary in the state, Mr. Dada Olusegun told newsmen yesterday in Osogbo that Mr. Wole Adedoyin, a former pioneer Secretary of Oyo IPAC (Interparty Advisory Council) and former CNPP (Conference of Nigerian Political Parties) Secretary emerged at the party’s primary held on Wednesday 18^th of July. The primary was supervised and monitored by four INEC representatives.

Mr. Wole Adedoyin was 2008 recipient of the Oyo State Merit Award in Literary Art and was also nominated last year for the prestigious Future Africa Award in Education category endowed by the University of Sussex. He is also a foundation member of the working committee of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum ICT (NCCF ICT) and Association for Information and Communication Technology for Local Content (ICT LOCA), initiatives founded by Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) under the political administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that ICT practitioners are allowed to benefit from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content and Development (NOGICD) Act. Mr. Adedoyin has Chaired political parties like Democratic Front for People Federation (DFPF), Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), United Progressive Party (UPP), African Peoples Alliance (APA) and Hope Democratic Party (HDP).

According to Mr. Dada, the primary which outcome was accepted by all members was peaceful and democratic. 

He said delegates from fifteen local governments were accredited and at the end of the exercise, Mr. Wole Adedoyin emerged as consensus candidate of the party.

Mr. Olusegun Dada said that HDP is the only party that meant well for the masses and urged the people to vote for her candidate comes September 22 and continue to support it.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Why Press Council Act must accommodate digital journalism - Chike Eze - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

An astute supporter of online journalism in Nigeria, Chief Chike Eze, has urged the NationalAssembly (NASS) to ensure that the current amendment on the Nigerian Press Council Act of 1992, must accommodate digital journalism, reports ITRealms.

He also said this has become expedient as there are at least two major forces, namely the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN).

ITRealms recalls that the National Assembly has before it, a billing seeking for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Press Council Act of 1992, as amended and to enact Nigerian press Council Act 2018 being sponsored by Senator Suleiman Adokwe.

Reacting to the proposed amendment, Chief Eze described as greatly flawed as it does not accommodate online newspapers and blogs.

According to him, even nothing else, there are already two professional organisations in this sphere and I believe that both bodies should be represented in the council.

“It's important that GOCOP and OPAN should take an interest in this bill,” he declared, stressing that they should ensure that the “bill accommodates digital journalism platforms and does not muzzle the press.”

ITRealms gathered that currently, as being proposed by the bill, the composition of members of the council consist of chairman and 21 others drawn from various media industry associations including representatives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), training institutions, National Assembly, Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and executive secretary to the Council, one of who must a legal practitioner and another a woman.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Digital inclusion demands digital identity says D-G NIMC - ITREAlLMS

ITRealms:

Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz, has identified digital identity as a critical factor for individuals to access social benefits including subsidies and entitlements, reports ITRealms.

According to Engr. Aziz, since public and private sector agencies require proof of identity as a prerequisite for providing services to individuals, failure to prove identity forms a major barrier barring people from accessing social benefits.

In a keynote paper entitled ‘Digital Inclusion: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies’ he presented at the 27^th annual conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in Ibadan, Oyo State, the NIMC D-G noted that inability to prove identity is one of the biggest barriers preventing access to benefits, subsidies, exercise of basic rights as well as claiming entitlements.

“Without knowing who the people are, no government or private sector will be able to effectively deliver important services such as social safety net, elections, agriculture, pension and education, among others,” he said, stressing that identity is a pre-requisite for a country’s economic, social and political progress and development. “good identification works hand-in-hand with greater use of internet, payments and skills for a vibrant digital economy.”

Emphasising NIMC’s role of offering “digital identification through the enrolment and issuance of a unique identifier National Identification Number (NIN), Engr. Aziz stated that “beyond the term ‘digital’ inclusion are issues about quality of life, democracy, exclusion and who gets what, when and under what circumstances.”

To actualise digital inclusion with attendant benefits for the citizens, Engr. Aziz called on information and communications technology experts as well as government and private sectors to “be prepared” he charged:

“Construct robust high-speed broadband networks, create incentives for investment in new technologies, build required human capital for productivity growth, and rethink curricula to emphasise digital skills.

“When negotiating trade agreements, make sure issues of data privacy and cybersecurity feature prominently – strike a balance between protecting individual rights and remaining open to digital flows.

“Rather than relegating old debates about digital inclusion, it is time to accept the reality of the new era of digital economy and work to maximise its benefits, minimise its costs, and distribute the gains inclusively. Only then can its true promise be realised,” he advised.

He listed the benefits of digital inclusion to include social interaction and cohesiveness, wellbeing, personal health, economic and life changes, self-efficacy, skills and capabilities as well as civic engagement and participation.

  

Engr. Aziz explained the term ‘digital divide’ as “patterns of unequal access to ICT based on income, race, ethnicity, gender, age and geography that surfaced during the mid-1990s when the internet made steady progress.”

He explained that redefining the term ‘digital divide’ as consisting of ‘multiple divides’, namely: an access divide, a skills divide, an economic opportunity divide, and a democratic divide allowed researchers to study the experiences or attitudes of the disadvantaged groups in relation to intervention programmes.”

While quoting the United Nations pledge to get everyone online by 2030, Engr. Aziz said “millions of world citizens need help, including Nigeria,” if they are to meet the UN’s 2030 aspiration.

And, to meet such, he said, efforts must be doubled in such areas as awareness, training initiatives, easy access to hardware and software for citizens, digital content development (relevant, meaningful, accessible), digitally-delivered services (e-government), implement digital inclusion strategies based on principles of equal opportunities, participation and integration, empower citizens, individuals, companies, government to access, adapt, create knowledge via use and exploitation of ICT, provide sustainable solutions that deliver economic, institutional & developmental benefits of using digital technology, and introduce digital literacy at all levels of our educational curricula.

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3 CSOs partner on New Media, Citizens & Governance Confab - ITREALMS Online

ITRealms:

Three civil society organizations namely, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative and BudgiT will hold the third edition of their New Media, Citizens, and Governance Conference in Abuja in October. The organizers made this known as registration for the conference opened, reports ITRealms.

According to ‘Yemi Adamolekun, the Executive Director of EiE Nigeria, “the conference will shed light on how new media leverages technology and platforms to connect, curate and share information in innovative ways.  As a subset of new media, ‘social media’ requires interaction and it is this element that opens areas of risk – security and privacy challenges.”  

“Social media has continued to play a crucial role in the political landscape of the world. Political office holders (elected and appointed), political office campaigners, government departments and agencies have utilized social media as a tool to lure and engage the constituents who benefit from their services,” Adamolekun added.
 

Chidi Odinkalu, the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, will present the keynote address, while the conference is expected to welcome leading thinkers from across Africa as guest speakers.
 

It would be recalled that the 2nd edition of the conference was held in October 2016, 18 months after Nigeria witnessed the peaceful ouster of an incumbent president through the ballot; the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history. The conference served as a follow up to several discussions on the use of new media in elections and as a tool for holding government officials and institutions accountable. The 3rd edition of the conference will happen in Abuja, Nigeria on October 24 & 25, 2018.

Speaking on the development, Oluseun Onigbinde, the Co-founder of BudgiT said, “The conference creates an avenue to discuss rights and responsibilities of citizens and government in using new media in mutually beneficial ways. NMCG would include an array of panels on national security, social media conduct, national orientation and technical sessions, with experts and prominent voices in Africa invited to speak at the 2-day conference.”

Tope Ogundipe, the Director of Program of Paradigm Initiative called on active citizens to register to attend the conference to ensure their voices are heard. “Governance in the 21st century is a citizen-led affair. The office of the Citizen is the most important office in contemporary politics, and we must all play our part in ensuring good governance by leveraging our citizen power. The NMCG Conference is another opportunity to devise better ways of deploying citizen power for the good of our society“, she concluded.  

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New customers on Airtel get 100% bonus on data - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

... Customers to also get 8x Value of Recharge

Leading mobile services provider, Airtel Nigeria is offering new customers on its network 100 per cent bonus on any data bundle purchased as well as eight times the value of any recharge, reports ITRealms.

Under the new offer, new customers get 100% bonus on every data bundle of N100 and above, and also get eight times bonus on any recharge, which will be split along the following: Main account, 100%; Voice, 250%; data, 250%; social, 100% and Family & Friends, 100%.

For example, if a new customer buys 3GB data bundle, he/she automatically gets 6GB with a validity period of one month. And when a customer refills with N100 worth of airtime, he/she gets credited with N100 in main account; N250 bonus for voice; N250 bonus worth of data; N10o for Social and N100 for Family & Friends, totaling N800.

Airtel says the new offer will empower more Nigerians, improve productivity and help more telecoms consumers stay connected with their friends, loved ones and business associates.

Commenting on the newly revamped SmartConnect package, Ag. Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said the company is committed to sustaining the SmartConnect’s history of creating value and offering mouth-watering opportunities for telecoms consumers.

“The SmartConnect package has a rich and interesting history of placing absolute power in the hands of telecoms consumers. With the package, we are offering choice and freedom to customers – the power to do whatever they want to do at a very affordable rate and on a reliable and robust 4G Network.

“At Airtel, we are totally committed to creating innovative products and services that will enrich the lives of our customers as well as enable them to succeed in their professional and personal endeavours,” he said.

The 100% data bonus Offer is available to new customers and valid for 90 days, beginning from the day a customer joins the Airtel Network.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Mobil faults picketing of its office by ex-spy policemen - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The Mobil Producing Nigeria, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, has faulted the picketing of its offices by ex-spy policemen, who provided security for the company, reports ITRealms.

The company, in a statement by its Manager, Media Communications, Oge Udeaga, said it had fully paid all its disengaged staff, including the spy policemen.

The company said the payment followed a Supreme Court judgement ordering that the entitlements should be paid.

Udeaga, who spoke in reaction to the picketing of the company’s office, said: “Following the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) has provided compensation packages for the affected personnel.

“The compensation packages cover all categories of affected personnel, including those in active service, and others who had already left the services of the Company before the judgement.

“In addition, the Company is also offering HR consulting services to assist with employment opportunities with third parties.

“MPN typically retains security services through third parties who are best positioned to provide these core competencies.

“We thank these individuals for their prior service in supporting the safety and security of our operations in Nigeria.”

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Nigeria recommends Hussani for ATU top job - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government of Nigeria has fielded Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussani as its candidate for the position of secretary-general of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) in the forthcoming Plenipoteniary Conference slated for August, this year, reports ITRealms.

Nigeria, ITRealms gathered, signified interest to fill a candidate in the exalted position of the Secretary General of the Africa Telecom Union (ATU) between August 16-17, 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Also, Nigeria gave this hint to the African teleocm body, saying that for the period 2019 to 2022 through a diplomatic note verbale  No. A.90/2018 dated 13th July 2018 sent by the federal government and published by the ATU on its webpage, among other documents acknowledged via a Note-by-the Secretary-General Ref 079/07/ATU/SG-2018 dated 17^th August 2018, that Dr. Hussani is the candidate of choice.

Dr Abubakar Sadiq Hussani, a former assistant professor of telecom engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola,  and the current head of department of telecommunications and wireless technologies of the American University of Nigeria as well as head of programme for the 54-member British Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG). He was proposed by Nigeria as its candidate for the August contest.

The diplomatic document stated that Dr Hussaini possesses a great wealth of experience in telecommunications which are necessary attributes to hold the prestigious office on the continental level.

At the close of nominations on July 17, 2018 only four countries have signified their interest to field candidates for the contest in line with the ATU circular Ref. 06/01/ATU-CIR/2018 of 16^th January 2018. The remaining three are Burundi, Congo Brazaville and Kenya who fielded Mr Constaque Hakizimana, Dr Eric Ndoumba, and Mr John Omo respectively.

Three of the four candidates are accomplished telecoms Engineers while the Kenyan Candidate Mr Omo is a Lawyer. Glancing through the CVs of candidates, if the election is to be determined in terms of technical and cognate experience of managing international organizations, Dr Hussaini of Nigeria stands a very good chance.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NCC, CPC investigate effects of call masking - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS: 

The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Consumer Protection Council have resolved to investigate the effects of call masking in Nigeria on the directive of the National Assembly for the consumers, reports ITREALMS.

This saw to the review of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two government organizations and discuss how to work together to improve complaints resolution of telecommunications consumers.

Speaking at the meeting, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, said masking of calls with another number, especially international calls is a matter that has been trending and the NCC has been directed to address it as it has security implications.

Professor Danbatta said “The office of the National Security Adviser had directed the NCC to put in place, measures that will contain this menace even before the directive from the National Assembly to the NCC and the CPC.

“We have resolved to set up a joint committee to investigate call masking and filing and conclude within a month, and I am very happy with the outcome of the meeting.

“What has happened today is a testimony to an important item on NCC’s 8-point agenda which is strategic collaborations and partnerships with other agencies of government”

Babatunde Irukera, Director General, Consumer Protection Council said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss consumer protection with respect to the telecommunications industry.

Irukera said: “it was a very productive meeting and few key things we agreed on is that the CPC needs a good number of guidelines, directions, regulations and initiatives of the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, with respect to addressing consumer issues.

“We are looking to concluding an existing negotiation on an MOU that will define how our relationship goes going forward, and we will open a mutual investigation into quality of consumer experiences in the telecommunications industry, to address a lot of consumer issues.”

The Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Sunday Dare, stated that NCC’s journey with the CPC started many years back with previous MOU’s. 

“We been trying to review the MOU for some months and we’ve come to the final part of it, and what has happened today is to make sure we create the kind of synergy that we need to go forward to protect the consumers”, he said.

Sunday Dare reiterated that the NCC under the leadership of Professor UG Danbatta prioritizes protecting, informing and educating the 154 million telecoms subscribers in Nigeria through various ways, including the interagency collaboration with other organizations like CPC that have a mandate to protect consumers across the country.

PMB @ICC: Proud to be Nigerian - ITREALMS Online

Commentary@ITREALMS:

I've seen him address the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Seen him speak at AU (African Union) summits. Seen him address the European Parliament at Salzburg, France. Watched him speak to the world a number of times at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). And on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, he stood ramrod straight to address the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands. It was a time one felt tremendously proud to be Nigerian.

I have been on the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari to scores of countries round the world, I have seen how he is well respected by global leaders, and how that reverence rubs off on Nigeria. I tell you, despite all the challenges our country currently faces, we have a leader the world adulates. His honesty, integrity, transparency, love for his country, personal discipline, and many others, are stuff that fairy tales are made of.

At 9.35 a.m Tuesday, President Buhari was ushered into into the main hall of the ICC at The Hague. He stood ramrod straight, in a way that belies his age of 75. Before taking his seat, he bowed reverently to the 17 judges, resplendent in their blue robes and white mufflers. The judges were picked from all regions of the world, and four of them were Blacks. Out of those four, the President, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, is Nigerian. All hail our own dear native land!

Judge Eboe-Osuji gave the opening remarks, which dwelt on the history of ICC, its successes, and how it could do a lot better in the immediate future. Turning 20 was a landmark, he stressed, and that was why the Nigerian leader had been invited to present a Keynote Address.

President Buhari was invited to the podium. Another bow, and those brisk strides again! A man they said had died, and been secretly buried this time last year. God is awesome.

That familiar voice came, and one never felt prouder to be Nigerian. The Fulani man, whom some people have tried (and still keep trying) to demonize, demean, and de-market, was addressing the world again. He was addressing a global audience, and people who mattered on this terra firma, were all ears, catching his every word. Again, really proud to be Nigerian.

What did the keynote speaker say? He first commended Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, saying Nigeria was proud of him. He then delved into the history of the ICC, saying it was inspired by the Nuremberg trials after World War 2, which held people accountable for crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of genocide, and aggression. Such court, President Buhari noted, signposts hope for justice to many, and the world surely needs it.

A strong ICC, the keynote speaker added, is a catalyst for other justice efforts, expanding the reach of accountability. And then his prescriptions, going forward:

Let the court make room for hearing serious cases of corruption by state actors that severely compromise the development efforts of countries and throw citizens into greater poverty.

Also, the court could include cases of illicit financial flows where countries are complicit and obstruct repatriation of stolen assets.

"As AU Champion of Anti-corruption, these are issues dear to my heart," President Buhari stressed.
Before concluding his address, the Nigerian President urged the ICC to avoid bias or political motivations in its dealings, and also challenged more states to accede to the Rome Statute, the 20th Anniversary of which was being marked.

He ended on a bright and cheery note. As Nigeria prepares for general elections next year, the process would be free and fair. There would be no repeat of the 2011 post-election riots and loss of lives, which led the ICC to commence preliminary investigations against Nigeria.

The applause was thunderous, as a man of integrity, Mai Gaskiya (the honest man) concluded his address. It was a day of glory for Nigeria, and all Nigerians of goodwill. Truly, a prophet often has more honour outside, than in his own country. But then, this prophet undoubtedly has honour everywhere.

*Femi.Adesina is Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity

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NCS tasks FG on inclusive ICT policy - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, has called on the Federal Government (FG) to formulate a new national information and communications technologies (ICT) policy that will incorporate digital inclusion as a pivotal factor for driving socio-economic and political development, reports ITRealms.

Aderounmu made this call in his address at the ongoing 27th national conference of NCS at the International Conference Centre (ICC), University of Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday.

According to him, the new policy should cover ICT infrastructure, broadband internet, fiber optic communication, local content prioritasation and regulatory framework.

"It's my belief that building a digitally connected, prosperous Nigerian society requires taking advantage of the opportunities of digital inclusion, overcoming its challenges and strategizing for the future," he said.

Also, he identified some three key areas of action to help digital inclusion become a reality in Nigeria to include access, affordability and application.

He explained that access has to do with high speed internet access being available to all members of the society such that people who cannot afford digital technologies could do, so for free in public places.

"Affordability means that access to the internet and digital devices is affordable," he said.

Aderounmu equally said that application implies that digital technologies and services are usable by people with varying levels of digital skills and abilities, including people with disabilities.

"For overall substance national development, nobody should be left behind," he said.

In his opening remark to the occasion, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi urged Nigerians to make the country to be digitally inclusive.

In Oyo state, he said they are leveraging technologies to deploy quality health care for the people.

He also said that in recognizing this fact, Oyo is the only state in West Africa to have The Technical University, stressing that digital inclusion must endear social inclusion to meet a country development plan.

Digital inclusion, he said should be seen as a marathon not a sprint which require Public Private Partnership (PPP) as well as the civil society organizations.

Earlier, the chairman of the conference committee of NCS, Mr Jide Awe, said the conference theme which is on "Digital Inclusion: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies" is reflective of the desire and commitment of NCS to contribute towards the building of a prosperous digital nation that works for all.

Showdown looms with ONSA over shut of 9mobile by River State - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Rivers State Government may be gearing up for a showdown following the violation of ONSA directive that no government agency should seal any Base Transceiver Station (BTS) site as they are designated Critical National Infrastructure, reports ITRealms.

Base Transceiver Station (BTS) denotes a base station in Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication terminology and which consists of an antenna and the radio equipment.

Rivers State through its Inland Revenue Service (RIRS) allegedly shut a regional office and hub site of 9mobile in the state since June 26, 2018.

ITRealms reports that the shutdown is in clear violation of ONSA recent directive by RIRS in sealing 9Mobile Premises where a Critical Site is also situated, which has become inaccessible with the attendant security implications.

Also, ITRealms reports that EMTS has suffered incalculable financial loss as the sales outlet which is within the premises has remained closed, preventing it from serving its esteemed customers.

Additionally, ITRealms gathered,  EMTS suffered severe reputational damage from the bold display of the sealing order on EMTS premises, creating the perception that EMTS is a tax defaulter, whereas EMTS employees have suffered untold hardship due to this wanton act, as its employees have been unable to resume at their duty posts for over two weeks.  

Reacting to this development, the umbrella body of telecom operators in the country, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), also berated the sealing of 9mobile office.

According to ALTON in a letter to the chairman of RIRS sighted by ITRealms and endorsed by both its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and Executive Secretary, Kazeem Oladepo, “All entreaties to meet with the RIRS for a reconciliation was rebuffed; rather, the RIRS has compelled EMTS to make a payment of 30 per cent of the alleged sum amounting to N32,387,561.088 as a pre-condition to unsealing EMTS regional office.

“EMTS has been severely prejudiced by the refusal of the RIRS to give EMTS an opportunity for a Reconciliation Meeting, despite several requests for the same,” ALTON lamented.

Further, ALTON requested RIRS and the State Government to desist from any acts inimical to the normal operations of its members in the State and to unseal EMTS Premises immediately to enable it to continue its operations to offer Rivers State its usual world class services, while granting EMTS audience for a reconciliation meeting at which the matter is expected to be finally resolved.

The ALTON letter was also copied to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade & Industry and Secretary, Joint Task Board (JTB).

Chuks Egbune/GEE

  

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Pix: National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongonu and Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.