Quality of Service (QoS): Using FOI to demand fairer connectivity by Remmy Nweke - Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS

Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

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.

For millions of Nigerians, the quality of service (QoS) delivered by mobile network operators remains an everyday frustration. Dropped calls, delayed SMS messages, buffering video streams, and unreliable data connectivity have become a near-normal part of life across the country. 

Yet behind these inconveniences lie questions of accountability, transparency, and regulatory will, questions that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is uniquely positioned to help answer.

At the heart of Nigeria’s digital revolution stands an uncomfortable paradox: while mobile penetration continues to soar beyond 210 million active lines, the actual quality of those connections often leaves much to be desired. Consumers pay increasingly higher tariffs for services that frequently underperform, and yet there is limited public access to the data that could expose why these gaps persist. 

It is this information gap, between what operators promise, what regulators publish, and what citizens experience, that makes the FOI framework a potential game changer for digital fairness.

Nigeria's E-Waste crisis reaches critical mass, as regulators, industry demand unified national action - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Nigeria's spiraling electronic waste problem has reached a critical juncture, demanding immediate, unified national action from all stakeholders, from top regulators to individual digital citizens.

This urgent call resonated profoundly at the 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue in Lagos, where the nation's foremost environmental agency issued a stark warning, buttressed by appeals from the event's convener for a concrete national strategy.

ADC chairmen condemn NURTW's Sego, demand immediate action against threats - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over threats and intimidation by suspected political thugs, particularly targeting its members in Lagos State, reports ITREALMS.

The party's local government chairmen, ITREALMS gathered reported incidents of attacks, threats, and disruptions, which they believe could escalate into violence during the 2027 general elections.

Fresh crisis rocks NUPENG as Stakeholders demand resignation of President, General Secretary - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been thrown into fresh turmoil as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch and its stakeholders have called for the immediate resignation of the union’s President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, reports ITREALMS.

The demand, contained in a statement signed on Sunday, September 21, 2025, by Comrade Preye Odede-Graham on behalf of PTD elders and stakeholders, bore the imprimatur of Comrades (Alhaji) Tajudeen Abubakar (Kaduna Zone), Chief (Comrade) Edafe Osas (Warri Zone), Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP) (Port Harcourt Zone), and Comrade Kolade Fadahunsi-Ojelabi (Lagos Zone).

Suspected fraudsters disguised as assassins to defraud journalist, demand N20 million as saving grace - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Suspected fraudsters disguising as assassins have threatened to eliminate the Founder of Penpushing Media, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, with an option to spare him if he could cough out N20million as saving grace.

The gang led by a member who identified himself as Femi Poly, at about 7.30am put a phone call across to the journalist that they had been assigned to eliminate him, but had a rethink on carrying out the operation.

‘We have your photograph, we are assigned by somebody close to you to kill you, but we observed that you are an elderly man, and decided not to carry out the assignment, but to reach out to you if you can offer us N20million’, the suspects said.

The gang operating with mobile phone numbers +2349036869898, +2348080858130 when asked who was their sponsor and what was the reason given to them to warrant the assignment to finish the journalist, said he would be provided the information after paying them the N20million demanded.

‘The person is your close associate, who told us he had issues with you, but can you keep it to yourself if we reveal the identity, which we shall do that after payment of the N20 million’, the suspects said.

When the journalist told them he has no such amount, the gang said they would reduce the amount to N500, 000, and after telling them he could also not afford such an amount, the suspects further reduced it to N150, 000.

The journalist again told them that he could not also raise the N150,000 immediately, and that he had N10,000 as at the time of the conversation, the gang said he should send the N10, 000, as part-payment, and immediately they provided an access bank account with number 0002884692 with the name *Aminu Adamu*.

Meanwhile, the journalist, however, said he has informed the police of the development adding that as at the time of filing this report police authorities have commenced investigation into the matter.

MMS: Lagos nutrition stakeholders demand fast-tracking transfer of counterpart funding - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The nutrition stakeholders in the Lagos State, have demanded for the fast-tracking of transfer for counterpart funding to facilitate timely release of the Multiple Micronutrition Supplement (MMS) and other nutritional aided medication to requisite health facilities in the state, reports ITREALMS.

This demand was made at a day policy dialogue on the MMS by the Lagos State Committee on Food and Nutrition in collaboration with Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) which brought together a diverse group of participants, including the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, government officials, representatives from civil society organizations, nutrition partners (Alive and Thrive, Nutrition International), healthcare professionals, media, representatives, and other key stakeholders.

Abductors demand N2.2bn ransom on Lagos merchant, Fouani, 3 others - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


The kidnappers of the Managing Director of Fouani Group of Companies, Mr. Mohamed Fouani, the franchise distributors of LG and Hisense Electronics products in the country, at the Lagos waterway, have reportedly contacted the company and family, demanding $1.5 million, about (N2,243,250,000.00 billion) as ransom, just as the Police said it has intensified investigations, reports ITREALMS.

An unconfirmed reports quoted this Sunday morning by ThisDay as saying that Mr. Fouani and three other Lebanese, were kidnapped on Friday evening, June 14, 2024 at the axis of Falomo Bridge, Ikoyi, Lagos, while travelling from Apapa to Victoria Island by boat.

Journalists demand change in Google, Meta's media policies - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Google, Meta and other tech giants are making it more challenging to access independent media content in Belarus, exiled journalists have told the European Commission.

By complying with restrictions Alexander Lukashenko's government has imposed, these companies have "become tools for a totalitarian and authoritarian regime to put pressure on civil society instead of helping to promote independent media," the exiled journalist Natalia Belikova told the Financial Times in January.

CBN blames current exchange rates to influx, demand, supply of USD - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

… Tighten your belt till last quarter’24

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CB\n) has blamed the unsavoury foreign exchange rates in Nigeria to influx and demands of the United States Dollars (USD), reports ITREALMS.

Just as inflation pressures may persist, till fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), while the exchange rate pressures are also expected to reduce with the smooth functioning of the foreign exchange market within that period.

Nigeria's missed gas demand windfall: Implications and remedies by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigerian economy depends largely on hydrocarbons. Yet, in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the subsequent energy crisis that gripped European countries due to a reduction in gas supply from Russia, Nigeria found itself ill-prepared to seize the opportunity presented by the surge in demand for natural gas. 

Despite possessing more than 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, Nigeria failed to capitalize on the unprecedented rise in global gas demand. This lack of foresight and inadequate investments have significant implications for the nation's energy sector and its economic development.

CSOs demand account of huge NURTW revenue in Lagos - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Foremost Anti-Corruption and accountability Civil Society Organizations, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Enough is Enough (EIE), PLAYYA, Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Campaign Coalition against Bad Governance (CACOBAG) have condemned the recent appointment of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as M.C Oluomo, as the chairman of the newly constituted Parks and Garages Management Committee of Lagos State by the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to manage and oversee the commercial Motor Parks and garages in the state.

The appointment of Oluomo was contained in a statement delivered by the State's Commissioner for information and strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.

The groups in a statement signed by their Directors said the appointment was illegal on the ground that there is currently no known law in Lagos State backing this appointment. Moreso, according to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the management of all parks, garages and bus-stops within the State falls under the purview of the Local government Councils, and not the state government.

The groups referred to Section 1(e) of the fourth Schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) which provides thus: “The main functions of the local government council are as follows: (e)Establish maintenance and Regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, Markets, “Motor Parks” and Public conveniences (emphasizes ours).

Recall that Oluomo who was the Chairman of NURTW (Lagos Chapter) was sacked by the national body of NURTW, earlier in the week, for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination, abuse of office and incitement.

The appointment of MC Olomo as the Chairman; Alh. Sulyman Ojora, as Deputy Chairman; erstwhile AIG of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, as the government liaison officer in the committee; Taiwo Olufemi salaam, as secretary and 21 other members has takeneffect. They are to report to the State ministry of transportation.

Though the groups commended the motive behind the committee of the state government “To Ensure that activities and events of NURTW are not allowed to threaten the law and order in the state, however, the civil society organizations pointed that the Lagos State Parking Authority Law provides for a Chairman and a six (6) members only, of the Authority; therefore, constituting a 25 - member committee contradicts the State Parking Authority Law.

“The state Parking Authority Law is clear, Section 2 (a & b) has spelt out unambiguously the composition of the Authority. More so, the position of liaison officer is unknown to the law.

“However, section 12 (1&2) of the Parking Authority law provides for a general manager who shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and who shall be in charge of the general administration of the Authority and transaction of its day- to- day business.”

Recall that HEDA wrote to the Lagos State lawmakers through the Speaker, just recently asking them to repeal this same law on the ground that the role of managing parks, garages and bus-stops falls exclusively on the shoulders of local government councils as enshrined in Section 1 (e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).

It's on these grounds that our groups calling on the Lagos State government to rethink its decision and follow the rule of law as it's appropriate in the interest of Peace and Order that the Governor has promised the people.

We also demand a probe into the collection of multiple taxes and levies imposed on buses, tricycles and motorcycles in Lagos State. It has been investigated and confirmed that N123 billion is being collected per annum. The amount is likely to have increased as the levies collected daily are as follows:


Big Bus - named "LT" b/w N14,000 & N15,000; Small Bus - named "Danfo" b/w N8,500 & N9,000; Tricycle named "Keke" b/w N1,400 & N1700; Motorcycle named "Okada" b/w N800 & N1,200.


We expect the State Governor to expedite actions in this matter, without any delay.

Personal Computing Devices demand declines in MEA - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Personal Computing Devices (PCD) market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been reported as being on the drop side which is made up of desktops, notebooks, workstations, and tablets, reports ITREALMS.

According to the latest insights from International Data Corporation (IDC), PCD declined by 7.7 per cent year on year in Q2 2018.

The global technology research and consulting firm's Quarterly PCD Tracker shows that shipments fell to around 5.4 million units for the three-month period, which represents the lowest quarterly volume recorded for more than seven years.

"While this marks a considerable decline for the overall market, the PC segment actually performed well, with desktops experiencing strong growth and notebooks experiencing only a small decline," explains Fouad Charakla, IDC's senior research manager for client devices in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. "However, there was a much more significant decline in tablet shipments, and only the aggressive distribution push of certain Far-Eastern players prevented an even steeper decline."

The biggest decline in PCD shipments was seen in the 'Rest of Middle East' group of countries (which comprises Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Palestine). "Iran accounted for the largest chunk of this decline, with the country's worsening economic situation further weakening the local currency, which in turn caused shipments into the country to become more expensive and demand to decline," says Charakla. "The MEA region's largest single market, Turkey, experienced something similar, with the country's currency weakening to new lows against the U.S. Dollar, causing a significant increase in the cost of imported devices and a corresponding decline in demand."

In stark contrast, South Africa experienced strong year-on-year growth in PCD shipments after the rand reached one of its highest levels against the US dollar in recent times. "Market players operating in the country continued to take advantage of this opportunity throughout Q2 2018, with imported PCs costing far less than previously for both local channels and end users," says Charakla. "Other countries that saw strong year-on-year growth for the quarter were Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Lebanon."

IDC's research shows that the leading PC vendors remained unchanged in Q2 2018, with the top five all occupying the same positions as Q2 2017. While HP experienced a significant year-on-year jump in its share of PC shipments for the quarter, all the other major players saw their shares shrink, with the exception of Acer, which remained flat. It is also worth noting that the top three vendors accounted for more than 80% of the region's commercial PC shipments in Q2 2018.

Chuks Egbune/ED, Ops

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Stakeholders demand improved curriculum, technology hubs for students - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Some Lagos stakeholders have demanded from government at all levels to upgrade education curriculum and provide more technology hubs for students in tertiary institutions, reports ITREALMS.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders made this call at the closing of a free four-weekend Java training programme organised by Paradigm Initiative.

About 17 undergraduates from the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State College of Health Technology attended the training.

Mr James Onyenenue, a Java Consultant, said that government should empower and encourage more institutions by providing enough computers in schools.

“Imagine a situation where the government says every student should have access to a computer or laptop, it would be a different story.

“There is the challenge of networking for young people to meet with those who can empower them in coding.

“If the government can create a platform such as Co-Creation hub where students can have access to learning or meet other experienced and professional programmers, it will change a lot of things,” he said.
 
Mr Solomon Ogunbowale, a Computer Science student at the University of Lagos, said that the four-weekend training had exposed him to programming not taught in schools.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Jukuns back Gen. Danjuma, demand inquiry on Army's atrocities

ITREALMS:

The socio-cultural organisation of Jukun people, Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN) has thrown its weight behind its elder kinsman General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), who at the weekend, called on his people to rise and defend themselves against rampaging Fulani herdsmen and their colluding military partners, reports ITRealms.

National Presidentm JDAN, Chief Bako Benjamin said in Lagos, alongside top executive of the association on Monday, that majority of Nigerians are unaware of the calamity and atrocities that has befallen Jukun people in the last four years and the nation's press does not pay enough attention to report to the world the silent ethnic cleansing and genocide ongoing in southern and central Taraba.

Also, he said rather than lampooning Danjuma for his candid view which was coming after a thorough analysis of the situation, the Nigerian military should have launched an investigation into the weighty allegation and fish out her culpable members.

JDAN, he said, demands for a Commission of Inquiry to look into several cases of atrocities, human rights violations and banditry committed by some security forces in Jukunland  against the innocent people, who are being killed by herdsmen, whose homes and farmlands are being burnt with wanton impunity and whose lives means virtually nothing to the very people who have sworn to defend them and the nation against aggression.

On developments in some parts of the country, especially Taraba State, Bako said the retired General was speaking exactly the minds of his people and out of frustration, stressing that Danjuma statements was a reflection of what presently goes on in Taraba and elsewhere around the middle belt, where several villages and town have been sacked and indigenes chased away by Fulani herdsmen who invaded their communities with the full backing of security operatives. 

"Rather than carpet our revered elderstatesman, the Jukun people have been anxiously waiting for the time when Fulani herdsmen who have killed entire villagers in our land will be arrested and paraded. We are peace loving people, but our people are being arrested in our land and been killed by those who otherwise came for pasture for their cattle," he said.

Bako lamented that parading Jukun youths on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Gen Danjuma’s criticism of their handling of their roles for taking pictures of the ongoing violence in their land, is simply exposing the ugly underbelly of the Nigerian military and heir complicit in the whole tragic saga unfolding in Taraba State, adding that where that is the case, the pople would be left with no choice than to defend themselves. 

“We are anxiously waiting for when Fulani herdsmen that have killed and wiped off entire villages in our land would be paraded. We have not travelled to anybody's land to look for trouble, but our people are been arrested in our land for snapping pictures. What Jukuns expected is for the Nigerian military and the federal government to launch an investigation into the weighty allegations that  General Danjuma raised not to be beating about the bush in denials without substance,” he said.

Bako further alleged that there are widespread reports of glaring bias and nepotism by the Nigerian military's Operation Ayem Kpatuma particularly in Takum and Ussa local government areas since they arrived.

For example, he said, there was no single presence of Fulani herdsmen in the two local government areas for over a year now since their last mass killings of the people, which saw them abandon the area and flee until the soldiers arrived on the same day with them in the name of Operation Ayem Kpatuma.

“No sooner had they arrived in the peaceful communities that burning of houses and killings resumed. As if that's not enough, the soldiers went about unleashing a campaign of terror and intimidation against Jukun people, breaking into homes and confiscating hunting dane guns, cutlasses, bows and arrows, and left the Fulani herdsmen fully armed with their weapons to continue their campaign of terror in the countryside.”

We have evidences where severally attempts by our youths who were driven out of their villages to defend their communities against the herdsmen by soldiers until the herdsmen are done.

“Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), is eagerly waiting for a commission of inquiry into the atrocities that was committed against our people in Takum and Ussa local government areas to  clear the good name of the Nigerian Army and bring the collaborators and perpetrators to book,” Bako insisted.  

Benjamin observed that close to 50 villages in southern and central Taraba exist only in name as Fulani herdsmen has wiped out the indigenous population and are presently commandeering the villages.

He said persistent plea on the government to come to the rescue of the people have fallen on deaf ears and atrocities got worse with each passing day.

 “When operation Ayem Kpatuma was launched by the federal government, Jukun people jubilated and thought their misery has come to an end, only to discover that military operatives of the program started arriving together with thousands of Fulani herdsmen that had fled the area previously with their cattle.

“Our fear was confirmed when no sooner they arrived in the peaceful communities that burning of houses and killings resumed.

Ayo Midele/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Enugu LG Election: Groups demand replacement of PDP candidate

ITRealms;

An amalgamation of civil society and socio-political groups in Nsukka local Government Area of Enugu State, under the aegis of Nsukka Democratic Movement (NDM), has rejected the candidature of Mr. Patrick Omeje as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship flag bearer, urging the party to replace him, reports ITRealms.

The coalition, comprising Independent Nsukka Solidary Agenda Worldwide, United Nsukka Indigenes for Good Governance, Nsukka Arise for Change, Nsukka Youths Empowerment Initiative, Greater Nsukka Congress, Alliance for Democratic Governance, among others, insisted that if the PDP candidate was not replaced, they would mobilise opposition against the party in the council come November 4, 2017.  

The NDM in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema and its Secretary, Dr. Joseph Idoko, accused the candidate of intimidating and harassing Nsukka indigenes with siren even before the election, saying “if he can intimidate people with conveys and siren when election has not taken place, we are not safe if he wins the election”.

The groups maintained that “Beyond doubts about his competence and academic qualification, which is currently under investigation by our coalition, he has so far shown that he lacks qualities of a good leader. Worst of all, he seems not to be disposed to learning.

“We see the emergence Mr. Patrick Omeje as a fulfilment of a policy of marginalisation of Nsukka by political godfathers in Enugu state.

“We advise Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to carry out a secret popularity and acceptance test of the PDP candidate in Nsukka as a whole to understand the danger in retaining him as a candidate for the election.

“We will resist, through every democratic means, the replay of the tenure of Prof. Mrs Rose Onah, which was characterised by underperformance in the council if the PDP insists on foisting an incompetent and irresponsible leadership on the people of Nsukka at this time.

“We learnt that the party ensured that only the candidate purchased form for the primary that produced him by those who want to rubbish the good works of the incumbent state government.

“The people’s Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has recorded giant strides, which we cannot fold our hands while a man who, obviously, would erode all his legacies emerges as chairman and take us back to the dark days of non-performance in the council.

“We call on opposition forces in Nsukka to produce a credible candidate for our endorsement and mobilisation of support ahead of the November 2017 local government election to defeat the ruling party in event that the PDP upholds the process that produced Mr. Omeje as its flag bearer,” the coalition vowed.

Odoh Odoh/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Protesters demand El-Zak Zakky prosecution, barricade Foreign Affairs, Justice Ministries

ITRealms:

A set of civil rights organisation, known as Nigerian Youths Collective Against Violence and Terrorism in Abuja on Thursday protesting against the role played by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Ibrahim El-Zak Zakky during the attack on Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai by members of his sect, reports ITRealms.

The incident, ITRealms gathered took place in December 2015 when members of IMN led by El-Zak Zakky attacked the convoy of Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The protest came barely 24 hours after group of protesters under the aegis of Sovereign Rights Coalition, called on the Federal Government to severe diplomatic relationship with Iran over the same allegation of sponsoring El-Zak Zakky.

During the protest which lasted for about three hours in the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), they called on the Federal Government to prosecute the Shiites leader, for acts of terrorism against the country.

The Coordinator of the group, Smart Aigbomian, warned the government against repeating the Boko Haram mistake.

He said, “Nations of the world watched in silence as Nigeria used domestic template to battle what was to become the monster – Boko Haram. In using local politics to resolve what was seen as just another problem, mistakes were made.

“These mistakes must be not be repeated by Nigeria same as the mistake of keeping a un benefitting silence must not be repeated by the world. In the interest of humanity’s collective safety and Nigeria’s continued harmonious existence as a nation, the past must not repeat itself.

“In the past we made mistakes and we are still paying for it dearly for not diligently prosecuting those who went on to become Boko Haram Terrorists.”

According to him, Nigeria is suffering the failure of the federal government to prosecute members of Boko Haram before it escalated into a strong terrorist group.

Aigbomian said, “This same mistake is being repeated by not prosecuting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria for their acts of violence against the state and against citizens of Nigeria. 

“The group’s members have mirrored every single crime committed by Boko Haram in its formative years yet nothing significant has been done to put its members on trial for breaching the peace in manners that resulted in the loss of life and properties.

“We have not seen the authorities arraign Mr. El-Zakzaky for the crimes committed against the nation. We have not seen any of his followers that actively took part in unleashing violence on the Nigerian state being put on trial."

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Exclusively Trending: Online petitioners demand Donald Trump tax returns

ITRealms:

A petition launched by Steven Gill, a resident of Austin in Texas, United States of America (USA) which  is currently trending online with over 400 supporters, have demanded that the Republican presidential flagbearer, Mr. Donald Trump should release his tax returns, reports ITRealms.

Just at the weekend, his counterpart at Democratic party, Senator Hillary Clinton made public her tax returns in the last one year, in a move to force Trump to release his tax returns despite claims that Trump said he donates to charity than Clinton.

According to the petition, which as addressed to the U.S. Republic National Committee and Federal Elections Commission (FEC), respectively, Mr. Gill asked Donald Trump to release his tax returns, has attracted over 400 supporters within a few minutes of setting it up at Change.org. on Saturday, August 13, 2016.

For Mr. Gill, every U.S. Presidential candidate since Richard Nixon has voluntarily released copies of their tax returns to the public so that voters could assess the amount and sources of income, taxes paid, charitable contributions and other data which could affect their propensity to elect them.

He lamented that despite this historical path, Donald Trump has refused to do same, claiming this might affect audits of his returns currently underway.

“This claim, on its face, is absurd, since he would simply be releasing information the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) already has. No new information would be disclosed,” Mr. Gill argued.

He, therefore, insisted that the Republican presidential candidate, Trump, follows the trend of politics in the United States and make his tax returns public.

“We should insist that Mr. Trump adhere to the same custom as past Presidential candidates, and encourage the FEC to make tax return disclosure a requirement in future elections. 

Ekeocha Will/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Demands for IPV6 on increase in Nigeria

ITRealms with Remmy Nweke:

Preamble:

THE 2013 edition of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable ended recently in Lagos, with an indication that many more Nigerians are beginning to show considerable interest in the aspect of Internet Protocol Version Six (IPv6).

Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable is an annual stakeholder assembly organized in Lagos by DigitalSENSE Africa Media, to address the enlightenment needs of Internet community in the country and spur adoption and adaptation, which this year was in collaboration with the Nigeria Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC) and Phase3 Telecom with the theme: “IPv6 and Mobile Services in Nigeria” presided over by the pioneer Admin Contact for the Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), Mrs. Ibukun Odusote.

Fundamentals of IPv6:

IPv6 is a version of the Internet Protocol that has been designed to succeed Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), the first publicly used Internet Protocol, which is still in dominant use across the globe, but reportedly running out, according to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Thus, IPv6 is an Internet layer protocol for packet-switched internetworks, the communications protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet.

IPv6 was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to deal with the long-anticipated problem of IPv4 address exhaustion, hence, IPv6 is intended to replace IPv4, which still carries the vast majority of Internet traffic as of 2013, though as of late November 2012, IPv6 traffic share was reported to be approaching 1 per cent.

Fundamentally, every device on the Internet must be assigned an IP address in order to communicate with other devices. With the ever-increasing number of new devices being connected to the Internet, it was anticipated that more addresses than IPv4 would be able to accommodate would be needed.

IPv6 uses a 128-bit address, allowing 2128 or approximately 3.4×1038 addresses, or more than 7.9×1028 times as many as IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses and which allows only approximately 4.3 billion addresses. The two protocols were not initially designed to be interoperable, complicating the transition to IPv6, an issue IETF alongside other Internet stakeholders are dealing with.

So, IPv6 addresses are represented as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons, for example 2001:0db8:85a3:0042:1000:8a2e:0370:7334, but methods of abbreviation of this full notation exist, as said by some experts.

Patronise only IPv6 Service Providers:

Welcoming participants to the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable to commemorate the global IPv6 in the country, the lead organizer and Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said the theme was drawn based on the fact that Nigerians were not demanding for IPv6 based services, even though IPv4 had since 2011 been exhausted according to the issuing agency, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

She noted that since 2011, the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable platform has continuously raised relevant issues  concerning the need to chart a roadmap for early transition to IPv6 as IPv4 addresses running out. Stressing that the theme was chosen because of issues and challenges associated with mobile services with regards to IPv6.

Mrs. Nweke pointed out the need to migrate to IPv6, saying it cannot be over-emphasised because of the growing numbers of smart devices – phones, tablets, ipad to name a few, Internet users, broadband penetration and with IPv4 running out, it has become imperative to deploy IPv6. Asserting, “Deploying IPv6 is imminent and we cannot but follow now as the world will not be waiting for us, beside Nigerians should be positioned to be able to compete globally.”

According to her, the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable is a platform where all stakeholders in the country gather annually to share IPv6 knowledge and experiences, chart a roadmap for early transition to IPv6 in order to avoid accelerated expense and last minute improvising in the future and promote IPv6-enabled products and services in the country.

In addition, she said the Roundtable aims at stimulating public discourse and creating awareness on the technological cum business benefits of this rapid advancing technology, encourage integration of IPv6 into all aspects of networking and telecommunications infrastructure in the country, celebrate the World IPv6 Day, as well as providing a first-class platform for networking.

She said that the last batch of IPv4 addresses were allocated on February 3, 2011 at a ceremony in Maimi to Asia Pacific Network by the IANA, thus underscoring the extent to which the web has become a ital and all-inclusive part of our daily life and business.

She commended Mrs. Odusote, who was ably represented by Mrs. Blessing Korie, a director at the Federal College of Food Technology, Lagos, for accepting to chair the event and to the Internet Society Nigeria chapter and Phase 3 Telecom for their collaboration spirit.

Noteworthy is that Mrs. Odusote, currently the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) was a director, Information Technology in the Ministry of Information and a national coordinator, DigiTest and member, Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria, among others.

In her welcome remark, Odusote commended DigitalSENSE Africa for sustaining the organization of the Roundtable and urged Nigerians to make personal efforts to be part of the evolution, especially on IPv6 adaptation.

Nigeria must be proactive with a trade-in option:

For the chapter officer, ISOC Nigeria, John Otunte Otueneh, Nigeria needs to be proactive on global issues to avoid some administrative setbacks that may occur locally.

Otueneh who discussed “IPV6 and Mobile Services in Nigeria – An ISOC Projection” at the Roundtable, rhetorically asked if Nigeria is ready to migrate to IPv6 on our smart phones, blackberry, iPads etc. and are the devices that are IPv6 compliant, mean that while using them, parents could monitor their homes from their offices. Underlining that in Nigeria “we are only consumers and at the mercy of the western world. We can be very ready if we can build our own equipment.”

He decried the growth of Nigeria technologically which has been limited to what exists in the outer world, stressing that Internet service providers are mainly now the telecom providers, therefore if they are IPv6 ready, there is need for a handshake with them by using phones that are IPv6 compliant.

For users of phones that are not IPv6 compliant, he advised them to ask for compliant products in the market or ICT product dealers, saying they should encourage trade-in of phones with the telecom providers rather than going to buy new phones. He insisted that users should champion the course of Ipv6.

IPv6 drive, a huge success:

Benedict Othello Obaro who represented the chief executive officer of Phase3 Telecom, noted that there is a huge drive to go into the IPv6 which is a huge success, even as Microsoft integrates IPv6 into its operating systems; adding that the challenges is in the skill of manpower to mitigate on the devices with IPv6 when issues arise.

“Skill set is necessary to operate the system. Phones should be IPv6 enabled,” he said.

Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) Mr. Bayero Agabi pointed out the need to build safe cyber space based on trust, adding that content challenge and the payment system require trust for a successful broadband access, coupled with protecting innovation in the cyber space as well as if something goes wrong how do one get justice?

NIRA commends DSA on IPv6 Roundtable

The immediate past Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Ope Odusan said that IPv4 was a unique 32-bit number that identifies the location of a computer network and could be likened to ‘street address’, which enables other computers to find out exactly where you are and deliver information to the end-user’s computer systems.

Also, Mr. Odusan commended the organisers of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable, the DigitalSENSE Africa Media Limited, declaring the firm as champions of IPv6 awareness in Nigeria.

NIRA, he said, recognises these efforts by DigitalSENSE, especially on IPv6 awareness, stressing that IPv4 exhaustion, which paved way for the introduction of IPv6 has a unique 32-bit number which identifies the location of a computer network and could be likened to ‘street address,’ but on the cyber space, which enables other computers to find out exactly where you are and deliver information to the end-user’s computer systems.

He explained that IPv6 is the sixth revision to the Internet Protocol and the successor to IPv4 with a unique feature: using 128-bit addresses. Odusan equally noted that the .ng is owned by Nigerians and a domain name is essential in the internet. Asserting “It is easier for humans to remember numbers that is why the use of domain names.”

NiRA, Odusan had stated, is the custodian of domain names on .ng country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) and handles a lot of issues on the internet and as a member of the Africa Internet Community, recognises the urgency to migrate to the .ng domain names and pledged the support of NiRA for this roundtable forum.

In his contribution to the colloquium, Mr. Odusan said that the successes of IP version 6 has actually allowed more inclusiveness, more devices being included for communication such as cars, fridges and homes to name a few.

“It takes two to tangle, so you need the device makers and the telco’s to really make a success of this,” he said, adding that consumers should demand for products that are version 6 compatible.

Last line:

As we look forward to government acting on the outcome of this Roundtable through its agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the truth is that Nigerians are beginning to demand that IPv6 be integrated in all aspects of networking and infrastructure in the country, which in the near future would ensure that device manufacturers coming into Nigeria or even local manufacturers ensure such devices are IPv6 compliant.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D