NLNG, Rivers renew commitment to healthcare, infrastructural development - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and the Rivers State Government have renewed their commitment to developing healthcare and infrastructure in the state, reports ITREALMS.

During a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, NLNG’s Executive Management, Dr. Philip Mshelbila (Managing Director and Chief Executive) and Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye (Deputy Managing Director), assured the Rivers State government of the company’s continuous support for the State through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to meet common goals of sustainable development.

'Don’t be deterred, remain steadfast, renew your social contract with Chief Ephraim Nwuzi on Saturday' - ITREALMS

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Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has condemned in the strongest terms, the criminal invasion of the premises of a Federal Lawmaker and APC candidate for Etche/Omuma Constituency, Chief Ephraim Nwuzi, by masked men, reports ITREALMS.

Eze who alleged that the masked men were later revealed to be security agents executing the orders of Gov. Nyesom Wike, at the wee hours of Wednesday. 

NCC, Lottery Commission renew MoU - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Wednesday in Abuja, signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, with provisions to deter unapproved lottery and gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta noted that the MoU, which will impact the gaming industry, is in sync with the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) and is in a bid to promote fair practices in the industry for the protection of telecommunications consumers in relation to lottery and gaming activities.

NCC yet to renew MTN's UAS license, says 'its under process' - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has declared that the renewal of MTN's Universal Access Service (UAS) in the country is under process, reports ITREALMS.

NCC also confirmed that MTN has applied for the renewal, but yet to be granted.

AFRINIC, AFRALO renew MoU @ICANN59

ITRealms:

The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) to recommit to continuous to work together in improving the development of Internet ecosystem in the region, reports ITRealms.

AFRINIC, ITRealms reports, is the regional Internet registry (RIR) for Africa with headquarter in Ebene City, Mauritius, while AFRALO prides itself as the home of the individual Internet user community for the African region and who are interested in the developments within the Internet Cooperation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as a way of contributing to shaping the future of the Internet.

ITRealms also reports that the renewed MoU was signed by the duo of registry’s chief executive officer, Mr. Alan Barrett and AFRALO chairman, Dr. Abudelaziz Hilali, who doubles as the president of Moroccan Internet Society at the ICANN public policy forum which ended in Johannesburg at the weekend.

The initial collaboration MoU, ITRealms gathered, was signed since 2013 and latest is expected to build upon the strong foundations already in place, continuing the commitment to work together and combining efforts for the benefit of the AFRINIC community and the AFRALO At-Large community.

In the MoU, AFRINIC and AFRALO agree to continue conducting capacity building events, create awareness and promote regional and global participation for Africa’s Internet stakeholders on matters of Internet development.

In his remarks at the signing ceremony, AFRINIC CEO, Barrett, commended the ongoing collaboration between the two, saying that it has provided a broader platform for advancing the case for Internet and development in Africa.

“As our communities and focus areas overlap considerably, it is in our mutual interests to come together to create and share awareness and encourage participation in African and global Internet governance matters,” he said.

In his own part, the AFRALO chair, Hilali appreciated AFRINIC for previous support and collaboration and commended the decision to advance this path, saying it’s for the benefit of the region.

In attendance to witness the ceremony was the chairman, AFRINIC Board, Mr. Sunday Folayan and At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) chairman, Alan Greenberg among others.

Remmy Nweke/ED, OPs

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Pix 1: AFRINIC CEO Alan Barrett in handshake with AFRALO chairman Aziz Hilali while ALAC chair Alan Greenberg looks on after the signing.
Pix 2: The signing proper taking place.

Right activists call for renew efforts to end violence against children

ITRealms:

As the world marks the 2016 Children's Day celebration, human right activists are calling for renewed efforts to end violence against children, reports ITRealms.

They noted that with the theme of this year’s Children’s Day, “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage” helps to shed a much needed light on the unprecedented levels of violence against children in Nigeria in the recent past and present.

In the North East, they acknowledged witnessing and continued to witness grave violations of children’s rights - killings, abductions, sexual violence and use in suicide bombings by Boko Haram. More than 1.2 million children have been displaced - more than half of them below the age of 5.

"However, children living away from the crisis in the northeast are also at risk of violence," UNICEF in a press statement said.

The  Nigeria  Violence Against Children Survey (carried out by the National Population Commission, with the support of UNICEF and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), launched by Government of Nigeria in September 2015, highlighted the  prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence suffered by  children in Nigeria. The survey estimates that half of all children in Nigeria experience physical violence, one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence before they reach the age of 18 years.  Less than 4% get the help they need to recover.

In response, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children on 15 September 2015, in conjunction with the National Priority Actions, which not only set out the key actions of national Ministries and Agencies, but also of NGOs, religious groups and the media. He called upon all States to launch their own campaigns and every Nigerian to play their part in ending violence against children.

Progress has been made. Lagos was the first State to heed the President’s call, launching their own campaign and priority actions in February 2016. Cross River will be the second in June 2016. Bayelsa State domesticated the Child Rights Act. Nine States, with funding from USAID and the European Union, have joined together to develop a model child protection system in order to translate this essential Act into reality. 12 States will hold #iMarch4Children marches today to raise societal awareness on the prevalence and impact of violence against children.

“This year’s Children’s Day offers the opportunity to highlight the significant pledges made  by the Federal Government, NGOs, religious groups and the media last September to join hands to end violence against children, and call for renewed efforts by all stakeholders to turn the commitments they made into action for children”, said Jean Gough, Representative UNICEF Nigeria. 

There is no better time than today to take action. Together, let’s end violence against children.

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NCC may revoke 37 ISP licenses, insists ‘its criminal to operate without license’

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ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has 37 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on its list of those to be revoked before end of July this year, if they are unable to renew expired licenses, reports ITRealms.

A public statement obtained by ITRealms, the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said that the attention of the Commission, has been drawn to the activities of some companies operating internet service with expired licenses.

Some of the ISPs affected are Wesa Globalnet Limited, Voix Networks Limited, Gulk Technologies Network Limited, Oracle Circle Telecommunications Ltd, Entouche Networks Nigeria Ltd, Globalmacrocom Liomited, Nubra Network Limited, Acet Technologies Limited, Aphanet Tehnologies & E-Solutions Ltd, Hi-Tech & Satellite Communications Ltd and Proclaim360 Communications Ltd.

Others are Abuja Connect Limited, NIV Internet services Ltd, Reve-Links Ltd, Al-Wabel Star Trading Ltd, Zysod Communications Ltd, Thorst Ltd, Information Connectivity Solutions Ltd, Valueplus Software Ltd, Inwe Limited, Integrated Broadband Networks Ltd, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Ltd, Royal Red Roses International Nig, LogicRock Ltd, Estream Networks Ltd, XL Communications Ltd, and Omni Networks Ltd.

In addition, NCC listed Panache Technologies Ltd, Aurora Wireless Ltd, Falmur Communications Nig. Ltd, Renna Telecomms Ltd, Artifice Colony Nigeria Ltd, Mindhub Technologies Ltd, Phonetime Technologies Ltd, Croset Telecommunications Nig. Ltd, Single Eagle Technologies Ltd, Network Information Technology Nig. Ltd.

 

He also said that the act of the provision of communications service without valid license is a contravention of the provisions of Section 31, 43 and 44 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

Mr. Ojobo pointed out that in the light of the above, the Commission through the media has drawn the attention of the affected companies to its statutory powers contained in Sections 31 and 45 of the NCA 2003 and the express terms and conditions of the license granted by the Commission and warned that it is a criminal offence to operate communications service without license.

The notice which came as “Warning to Internet Service Providers Operating with Expired License” NCC said that in addition to criminal investigation and prosecution, the commission reserves the power to suspend and/or revoke the said licence in accordance with Section 45 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

In the light of the above, the Commission equally warned all the affected licensees to unfailingly within 14 days from the date of this publication (June 23, 2015) to commence the license renewal process otherwise the Commission may in exercise of its statutory powers commence appropriate enforcement action against any defaulter including but to having their respective license suspended or revoked.

Further, the Commission said it considered the warning necessary to advice the general public, subscribers and all other telecommunications service providers doing business with the affected companies that the companies do not hold a valid license of the Commission, that at the expiration of the deadline, the commission may communicate their activities to the Nigeria Police and issue notice of suspension or revocation of the individual license.

Head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Dept. NCC, Mr. Efose Idehen said that this is a pre-notice to all the concerned companies.

List of ISPs on NCC awaiting revoking list.

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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