SIM Registration, NIN, Data Privacy & FOI: What citizens should know about their data by Remmy Nweke - Telecoms Clinic @ITREALMS

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In this episode of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS by REMMY NWEKE, he unpacks citizens’ right to know who accesses their identity data, linking Nigeria’s FOI Act with data protection and digital accountability.

Preamble:
Across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, the intersection of identity management, telecommunications, and data governance has become both a foundation for national security and a field of contention for citizens’ rights. 

From the compulsory SIM registration and integration of National Identity Numbers (NIN) with telecom accounts, to the rising conversation around the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and data protection laws, a new question emerges at the heart of Nigeria’s digital society: who truly controls our data, and who has the right to access it?

For many Nigerians, the experience of data collection begins with necessity; linking SIM cards to NINs, obtaining Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), registering for voters’ cards, or enrolling in social welfare programmes. Yet, beyond these transactional interactions lies a broader narrative about trust, accountability, and the balance between state surveillance and citizens’ privacy.

Solemnity of All Saints: A call to holiness for all by Chris Uruakpa - ITREALMS

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Today, 1st November, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a feast dedicated to honoring all the Saints, both known and unknown, who have attained eternal glory. On this day, we remember not only the celebrated Saints but also those whose holiness may have gone unnoticed, yet whose lives continue to inspire faith and virtue.

These holy men and women are examples for us to emulate, their lives remind us of the beauty of living faithfully according to the Gospel. We also seek their prayers and intercession, trusting in the unity of the Communion of Saints, that great spiritual fellowship linking God’s people in heaven, on earth, and in the state of purification.

Innovation: How First Bank turned Lagos into Africa’s electric playground - ITREALMS

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The Lagos Lagoon glistened in shades of blue and gold as electric powerboats sliced through the water, cheered on by an ecstatic crowd that lined Victoria Island’s waterfront from Saturday, 3 October to Sunday, 5 October. 

For two unforgettable days, Lagos became Africa’s capital of clean energy, glamour, and innovation, all powered by First Bank of Nigeria, the sponsor of the continent’s first-ever E1 Lagos Grand Prix.

EDITORIAL: When hospitals become graveyards: The shame of UNTH, Enugu - ITREALMS

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The death of Mrs. Charity Unachukwu at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, after what her family describes as 12 hours of bureaucratic delay and neglect, is more than a personal tragedy. It is a mirror held up to Nigeria, reflecting the decay of our health system and the betrayal of citizens by institutions meant to preserve life.

Hospitals are supposed to be sanctuaries of healing. Instead, stories like Charity’s turn them into graveyards where negligence, incompetence, and indifference claim more lives than the ailments patients bring. It is telling and damning, that testimonies of other families quickly followed, each recounting a similar experience of abandonment at UNTH. This is no coincidence. It is a pattern.

Nigeria Prize for Science 2025: No winner, but standards and hope endure by Remmy Nweke

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The 2025 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science closed without a winner, as the Advisory Board and judges concluded that none of the 112 entries submitted met the rigorous benchmarks of excellence demanded by Africa’s most prestigious scientific award.

At a press conference in Lagos, Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board, said the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to protect the credibility of the Prize, which is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).

Editorial: Land and Leadership in Igboland: Time to sign development pact - ITREALMS

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Recently, Chief Allen Onyema revealed how land battles frustrated his efforts to site Air Peace’s multi-billion naira Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Enugu and Anambra. His lament is more than personal; it is an indictment of Ndigbo. And it is time we faced the truth without excuses: our greatest obstacle to development is ourselves.

Here was a once-in-a-generation project requiring 34,000 square meters, that is roughly 76 plots of land for infrastructure that would have created 50,000 jobs, saved Nigeria ₦360 billion in foreign exchange annually, and placed the South East on the global aviation map. Yet instead of rallying to secure it, communities bickered, families fought, and vested interests strangled the vision. Land disputes and selfish claims over airport lands became more important than regional progress. What a tragedy!

RoW Waiver: The Hidden Backbone of Anambra's Digital Revolution by Chukwuemeka-Fred Agbata - ITREALMS

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Across Nigeria, one of the biggest hurdles to broadband expansion has been the prohibitive cost of Right of Way charges: the fees telecom operators must pay to lay fibre-optic cables across state-owned land, which drastically slows down digital infrastructure rollout.

In 2022, one of the earliest and boldest steps taken by Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, was the removal of the Right of Way (RoW) charges for laying broadband fibre across Anambra State.

From Flight Mode to Full-Blown Trauma, a question for Ibom Air by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS4GenZee

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So I'm scrolling, right? And I see this video that just breaks me. It's about Comfort Emmanson, and honestly, her story is a whole mood, but the one you never wanna feel. 

A faulty phone button led to her being dragged and shamed. And for what? For a "5 minutes of madness" moment? Nah, the airline's got some explaining to do. This isn't just a drama-filled clip; it's a deep dive into how messed up the system is.

Can we talk about how a simple trip to Lagos became a whole saga? 🤯 Comfort was literally just trying to get off her flight. She said she had a faulty phone, and the flight attendant, Juliana, was just not having it. 

Comfort Emmanson: A fragmented digital identity by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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The chaotic aftermath of a viral event can splinter a person’s identity into a hundred different pieces, each one fighting to be the true narrative. No one embodies this digital fracturing more than Comfort Emmanson. Her life, writes REMMY NWEKE, was not only stolen by a moment of trauma but was then fragmented and commodified by the digital world.

Dateline, August 10:

Before the incident of August 10, 2025, Comfort Emmanson was a hopeful aspiring professional. Online, she curated a public-facing digital life as a “Digital creator” and an aspiring “Fashion model.” With a modest following of 238, she built an identity she wanted the world to see.

Then came the incident at the airport on August 10. A simple altercation over a faulty phone escalated into a public, humiliating ordeal.

Digital self exposed:
In her own words, she was pushed, dragged, and had her clothes pulled off, all while being recorded. Her physical body was exposed, but her digital self was about to be obliterated.

As the video of her trauma went viral, her identity was suspectedly hijacked. Suddenly, a new profile appeared, this one a "Public figure" with a staggering 29,000 followers. This was not Comfort’s page or is it; it was a public spectacle, a digital stand-in for the "missing Kirikiri neighbour."

Her own anguished words, "only God can fight my battle," were reduced to a tagline for this new, impersonal platform. 

Her plea to followers to follow her "only page" was a desperate and futile attempt to reclaim a narrative that was no longer her own.

Fragment online life:
The final, chilling fragment of her online life is perhaps the most telling. A social media post Facebook page on August 18 by 12:37am, attributed to her, carried the cold, cynical message: "If you no get money bro avoid me."

Our Missing Kirikiri Neighbour: Passenger or Conductor? by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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Genuine case of air rage?
As the controversy surrounding the Ibom Air incident continues to unfold, many questions remain unanswered. 

The video of the passenger being dragged off the plane has sparked outrage, but some have raised concerns about the events leading up to the altercation. 

Nigeria's tech evolution: Senator Natasha's drones redefine capacity building by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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In this edition of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS, veteran tech journalist REMMY NWEKE vividly details how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's pioneering drone and digital skills program is revolutionizing capacity building across Nigeria, illuminating its potential to foster self-reliance, advance environmental sustainability, and usher in new era of tech-driven entrepreneurship nationwide.

 

Preamble:

In a nation where technological innovation is rapidly reshaping industries and empowering communities, a notable shift in capacity building is taking flight, quite literally.

If Kemi Badenoch were Igbo - ITREALMS

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If Kemi Badenoch were Igbo


Her actions would have affected the entire Igbo race

Her private decision to disparage Nigeria daily

Editorial@ITREALMS: Applause for OAU for wiping Gen-Z into line - ITREALMS

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In an age where digital trends often dictate societal norms and unbridled self-expression is glorified, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has done what many institutions shy away from: it has decisively moved to instill discipline and wipe the excesses of the 'Generation Z' into line.

The recent "Decision Extract" from June 13, 2025, detailing strict dress codes and behavioural mandates, is not merely a set of guidelines; it is a clear, unambiguous declaration that OAU will not compromise on standards, even if it means confronting the prevailing youth culture head-on. This bold stance deserves not just recognition, but a full-throated applause.

Nigeria's Falcons clinches 10th WAFCON Championship, triumphs over Morocco - ITREALMS

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Nigeria's Super Falcons have indeed made history by winning the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) championship, defeating host Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final match, reports ITREALMS.

The Falcons came from behind to win the game, with goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Gift Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini securing their 10th WAFCON title.

NGE'25: Enugu State, Agulu & Amichi lead digital security innovation - ITREALMS

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The 2025 Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) biennial national convention ended at the coal city, Enugu. REMMY NWEKE who was there writes that Enugu's Command and Control Centre, equipped with AI-enabled cameras, enhances crime-fighting capabilities. Agulu and Amichi's CCTV initiatives showcase community-led security; these innovations set a precedent for digital security in the South East.

Prelude:
A few days ago, this year's biennial national convention, 2025 get the coal city agog with the assemblage of exclusive members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), on the theme “Building A Secure and Cohesive Nigeria: The Role of Dialogue, Inclusion and the Media” at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Izuogu Z-600: Africa's first indigenous automobile deferred by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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The Izuogu Z-600: Africa's first indigenous car, a symbol of innovation stifled. Its tale echoes the need for robust support for African ingenuity, writes REMMY NWEKE.

The Visionary Engineer: Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu

At the heart of this story is Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, a brilliant Igbo Electrical Engineer and lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Imo State, Nigeria. Dr. Izuogu was driven by a vision: to design and manufacture Africa's first indigenous automobile.

Telco’s tariff increase and NCC’s patriotism by Toby Prince - ITREALMS

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In the heart of Nigeria's digital economy, a story of patriotism and resilience unfolds. The telecommunications sector, a driving force behind the country's growth, has been facing unprecedented challenges. Despite its significant contributions to Nigeria's social and economic development, the sector has been struggling to keep up with the rising costs of operations.

For nearly a decade, telecom tariffs in Nigeria remained unchanged, while the demand for data and voice services skyrocketed. The cost of operations, however, surged due to rising energy costs, inflation, currency devaluation, and increased costs of importing telecom equipment. These mounting expenses threatened the very foundation of the sector, making it difficult for operators to maintain infrastructure and deliver high-quality services.

iPower: Empowering Nigeria’s renewable energy future - ITREALMS

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For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has been on shaky ground — struggling with unreliable electricity supply, aging infrastructure, and an overdependence on fossil fuels. Grid collapse has become a recurrent experience, forcing households and businesses to rely on expensive and polluting generators. Amid these challenges, past and present governments always paint a hopeful picture of reforms and investments aimed at improving the grid. Yet, in a world rapidly shifting towards renewable energy, true progress will not come from patching up a failing system but from embracing a sustainable, green energy future. Indigenous brands like iPower are already leading the way, proving that Nigeria does not have to be left behind.

The global energy landscape is undergoing a transformation. In fact, with the Paris Agreement, more than 110 countries have committed to a net zero emissions target by 2050. Renewable energy has become the new frontier as nations race to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Solar farms are stretching across the Sahara, wind turbines are rising along coastlines, and battery technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Countries like China, Japan, and the US, which once relied on coal and crude oil, are now investing heavily in clean energy solutions — not just for environmental reasons but because renewables are proving to be more economically viable in the long run.

Trending wrongly: Renaming of military institutions, public infrastructure after PBAT by Dr Moses Paul - ITREALMS

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It is profoundly disappointing to witness the alarming trend of naming public institutions, infrastructure, and military facilities after a sitting president. This act runs counter to established principles of honor, service, and public morality. The recent decisions to name critical institutions after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including barracks, airports, and other facilities, reflect a troubling disregard for historical preservation, respect for our fallen heroes, and the collective legacy of the Nigerian people.

The renaming of a military barracks in Asokoro after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is particularly egregious. Military barracks are not mere structures; they are sanctuaries of sacrifice, discipline, and service to the nation. Naming such an institution after a sitting president, while Nigeria has countless soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our security, is a direct affront to their memory. It disregards the values of humility and honor associated with the armed forces and diminishes the legacy of those whose selfless acts secured our freedom.

Technically: Before roofing your dream house, consider this - ITREALMS

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It's alarming that despite the health implications of asbestos roofing sheets, many house builders in Nigeria still consider it fashionable against zinc, which is much cheaper. REMMY NWEKE in this piece compared the technology of asbestos and zinc roofing sheets, x-raying the pros and cons, as we enter 2025 in an attempt to reduce housing deficit in Nigeria.

Graduating from a higher institution in the North West Nigeria, Amin, 23, journeyed to the South-West in search of a job and better life. He settled down at Okokomaiko and was able to acquire land in nearby Agbara, few years later.