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CBN reacts to alleged recruitment portal

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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has reacted to an alleged recruitment portal.
Isa Abdulmumin, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications in a statement disclosed on Thursday, described the purported recruitment portal as fake and baseless.
The apex bank clarified that it is not carrying out any general recruitment exercise and will never request the BVN of intending applicants nor discriminate against persons with physical disabilities.
It advised Nigerians to be conscious of activities of fraudsters.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN is currently not carrying out any general recruitment exercise,” he said.

We’re not responsible for social media contents monitoring-NCC

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The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has said it is not the regulator of the contents of the social media networks that many stakeholders have complained about.

The submission came during a recent visit of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), led by its Executive Secretary, Blessing Akinsolotu, who sought the intervention of the Commission on the worrisome and misleading content of social media platforms.

“We know that NCC, as the regulator of the telecoms industry, has greater role to play in helping to curb the spread of fake news and incendiary contents that Internet users put on social media platforms. Therefore, we want NCC to partner with us in this regard,” he stated.

Akinlosotu said the situation demands immediate intervention of key stakeholders to ensure that the content of the social media and the Internet are credible and enhance national social cohesion.

Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Mr. Reuben Muoka, who received the group on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, informed the organization that Commission’s mandate does not extend to controlling the content of such media platforms.

According to Muoka, the major role of the telecom regulator is to facilitate the deployment of telecom infrastructure that provides different types of telecommunications services, including improving broadband that enhances robust Internet experience, and ensuring fair competition as well as the protecting of telecom consumers.

Muoka said the mandate includes making services available, accessible and affordable for Nigerians who may leverage such access to engage in digital social mediation for the benefit of the individual, businesses, and the nation’s socioeconomic growth.

In the performance of its functions, Muoka said the Commission promotes collaboration and partnerships with different stakeholders such as NCSCN, in creating awareness and promoting access to different categories of consumers in the country. He said the Commission looks forward to furthering collaboration with NCSCN in its efforts to align with the aspirations of users of telecommunications services across the country.

The NCSCN, a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, commended the Commission for its people-oriented and consumer-centric regulatory activities.

The Council also seeks collaboration with NCC to spread messages of the Commission’s consumer enlightenment programmes to Nigerians in the grassroots through its over 100-member Civil Society Organisation (CSOs).

Akinlosotu also invited the Commission to partner with the NCSCN in hosting a conference aimed at tackling the seemingly intractable diffusion of fake news, particularly on social media networks.

FG spends N41.6bn on broadband connectivity projects for higher institutions, airports, markets

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The federal government has commenced the implementation of phases Two and Three of the N41.6 billion Nigerian Communications Commission’s Broadband Connectivity Interventions in critical sectors of the Nation’s economy.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, disclosed this at the letters distribution ceremony to the beneficiary institutions in Abuja.
Pantami stated that the first phase had been implemented 80 per cent after the Federal Executive Council and FEC approved the intervention on 29th March 2023.
According to him, the funds for the interventions were Internally Generated Revenue, IGR from Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
He said the phases 2 and 3 broadband connectivity would provide services to 49 Higher Institutions of Learning, 20 Airports and Six Markets.
Pantami added that the total number of interventions across the Country on broadband connectivity is 113.
“The first phase has been implemented on average 80 per cent; in some institutions, the implementation level is up to 90 per cent within that range. Because of this, I feel it is the right time to commence Phases 2 and phase 3.
“On Wednesday, 29th March 2023, I was at the Federal Executive Council where I presented a memorandum for this event we gathered here. The two memos covered 49 higher learning institutions, 20 airports and six markets. So by implication, each memo represents a phase. So we are here for phase 2 and phase 3. The total amount we have committed to this is approximately N41.6 billion.
“The second and third phases are here; we have to provision 20 airports, six additional markets, and 49 institutions of learning. We have prioritized polytechnics in this phase; we will prioritize colleges of education in the next phase.
“All in all, we can safely say we have 113 interventions from this number. Nineteen universities in the first one, one college of education, 20 markets, 49 additional institutions of learning, six additional markets and 20 airports, you can simply say we have 113 interventions so far from the 41.6 billion Naira to be spent as part of our donation to other sectors from our internally generated revenue through the telecommunication sub-sectors”, he stated.
On his part, the Chairman Board of NCC, Prof Adeolu Akande, said the interventions were designed to diversify the Nigerian economy as envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It Is a project conceived by the minister for communications and digital economy to drive the quest for the diversification of the Nigerian economy as envisioned by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari”, he said.
One of the Beneficiary institutions, the Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof Lawal Bilbis expressed delight concerning the interventions saying it would boost the digitalization of Nigeria’s educational institutions.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu lauded the initiative, he said, “It is true airports are connecting points; they are social and economic enablers”.

Peter Obi, Oyedepo leaked call: NCC denies leaking conversation

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The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has denied allegations making the rounds that it leaked the purported conversation between the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi and the General overseer of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Pastor David Oyedepo.

The leaked conversation between Obi and Oyedapo saw the former campaigning for Chirstian votes from the later.

During the conversation, Peter Obi was heard to have described the 2023 election as a ‘religious war’ which had generated controversy.

There were claims by ‘Obidient’, supporter of Peter Obi that NCC conspired with the ruling All Progressives Party, APC to tap into Obi a d Oyedepo’s conversation on the even of the elections.

But in a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Public Affairs NCC, Reuben Muoka disclosed that the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

“The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications, the Commission denies the allegations in their entirety.

“By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

“The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.

The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative Media.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them”, it stated.

NCC recommends two-Factor authentication to secure WhatsApp

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The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has recommended that users of the popular messaging app, WhatsApp, set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to avoid falling victim to account takeover by hackers.

In an advisory issued on Tuesday, NCC-CSIRT noted that WhatsApp, which is a Meta-owned service, is increasingly becoming a prime target for hackers and scammers who are always looking for ways to gain unauthorized access to users’ accounts.

The CSIRT described two-factor authentication (2FA) as an identity and access management security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data.

According to the advisory, “In the world of messaging apps, one of the most popular and recognizable is WhatsApp. WhatsApp is 100 per cent free to use, has a great mobile app, and supports audio and video calls. Whether you rely on WhatsApp for all your messaging needs or just use it from time to time, it is recommended to set it up with two-factor authentication (2FA). With this enabled, you will need to enter a custom PIN every time you log in to WhatsApp from a new device, adding an extra layer of security to your account.”

The Team said, “2FA gives businesses or people the ability to monitor and help safeguard their most vulnerable information and networks. The 2FA is important because it prevents cybercriminals from stealing, destroying, or accessing your internal data records for their own use”. The advisory stated.

The recommendation further states that, “WhatsApp provides two-factor authentication so you can further secure your account using a PIN. It is an optional feature that adds more security to your WhatsApp account, so it is recommended that everyone installs 2FA”.

The CSIRT stated ten steps for enabling 2FA on WhatsApp, which include the following steps:

Open WhatsApp, Tap Settings, Tap Account, Tap Two-Step Verification, Tap Enable, Enter the Six-Digit PIN you wish to use, Tap Next, then enter it a second time to confirm it, Tap Next, Add an email address for extra security (this step is optional but it is an extra way to retrieve your account if you forget your Pin) and then Tap Next.

For those concerned that their PIN might have been compromised or is easy to guess, they can change their WhatsApp PIN or email address by tapping settings.

Two-Step Verification, tapping Change PIN or Change Email Address, Entering a new PIN or email address, and then tapping ‘next’ to effect the necessary changes.

The CSIRT is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence center set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

The CSIRT also works collaboratively with ngCERT, established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risk incidents by preparing, protecting, and securing Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, and problems or related events.

NIS carpets former diplomat Keshi over comment on delay of international passport issuance

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The Nigeria Immigration Service has carpeted the Former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Joe Keshi, over his comment that his wife spent Nine Months on the renewal International Passport.

Keshi had lamented that it took the Nigeria Immigration Service Nine Months to issue his wife’s International Passport renewal in Abuja.

Keshi disclosed this on Tuesday in an Arise Television Interview, saying there is a need for behavioural reformation in Nigeria’s agencies, especially the security agents.

He said, “Nigeria security agencies need to learn from the way developed countries handle things.

“It took my wife Nine Months to get an International Passport renewal here in Abuja; I had to call three former Comptrollers of Immigration before it was done”, he lamented.

But, in an interview on Tuesday with DAILY POST reacting to Keshi’s allegation, the Spokesperson for Nigeria Immigration Service, Deputy Comptroller Tony Akuneme, said the delay experienced by Keshi’s wife was due to irregularities in the passport renewal application.

He explained that International passport issuance takes regular Six-weeks except in case of irregularities, for instance, Names, National Identity Number, NIN and other discrepancies during application.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the use of Third-Party and Touts for Passport application.

He said applicants could efficiently process all passport-related issues directly online.

“I can assure you that Joe Keshi’s wife has irregularities; I challenge him to a debate on the same television to make him accept the irregularities on her application. Either her NIN or her passport doesn’t synchronize, and we insist both must synchronize before the passport is produced. I challenge Keshi to produce his wife’s form filled, and you can be sure that a Third party or Touts filled the form”. At times Touts or Third Parties help make applications. And they do not know that those people use fictitious phone numbers and details to fill out the application, so it takes the Service forever to reach such people when there are issues like NIN irregularities. That is the only situation where an application can take one or two months. Yes, there are issues, and we are trying our best to improve, but it is unbecoming of a high-place diplomat to cast aspersions on a federal government agency just because he has retired; I am sure if he were still an active Ambassador; he won’t make such a statement on Television”, he said.

“Most Nigerians who are correcting one error or the other, like their Date of Birth, Names, it takes longer than the regular Six-weeks for passport issuance. Most times, Nigerians don’t tell you they are changing something; they don’t believe we will find out that applicants are trying to change something from their previous records; we now get into a fix because of lack of full disclosure, and they begin to call Immigration”, he stated.

Khosi wins $100,000 BBtitans grand prize

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Khosi has won $100,000 Big Brother Titans grand prize.

The South African Housemate, Khosi defeated Kanaga Jr to emerge the winner of 2023 BBtitans show.

After 72-day of constestation among Twenty Housemates from Nigeria and South Africa, Khosi was crowd the champion of the show.

 

 

 

Details shortly.

CCB invites Keyamo over petition seeking Atiku’s arrest, probe

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The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has invited Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council.
The CCB, in a letter, asked Keyamo to come on April 21 and also help secure the presence of a whistleblower Michael Achimugu to assist in its investigation.
A statement on Thursday by John Ainetor, a lawyer in his chamber, quoted Keyamo assuring that “the crusade for accountability was not a campaign gimmick”.
The legal practitioner vowed to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion, “even after the victory of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
Keyamo had, before the general elections, asked the CCB and anti-graft agencies to investigate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Keyamo accuses the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate of money laundering, breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, and conspiracy.
The minister’s demand followed the revelations of a Achimugu who accused Atiku of diverting public funds after releasing an audio recording of their conversation.
“Atiku colluded with his then boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to fleece the country and steal public funds using what he termed as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs),” Keyamo alleged.

BREAKING:INEC declares PDP’s Peter Mbah winner of Enugu poll

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the Enugu State governorship election.
Mbah emerged winner after defeating his closest rival, Chijioke Edoga of the Labour Party, LP.
The Returning Officer of the INEC in the state, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe declared Mbah the winner on Wednesday evening at the resumption of the final collation of governorship election results in Enugu the over 48 hours after INEC suspended the exercise in the State.
He announced that Mbah scored 160895 to defeat Edoga of LP who scored 157552.

FG okays removal of 5% Excise Duty for Telecoms Services

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L-R: Jacqueline Olowolayemo, Senior Administrative Manager, Mafab Communications Ltd.; Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and Anas Galadima, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, MTN Nigeria, during a press briefing by the Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja on Tuesday (March 21, 2023)

The Federal Government has announced the removal of excise duty for telecom sub-sector of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Industry in line with the recommendations of the Committee it constituted to review the applicability of the Duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, disclosed this on Tuesday (today) at a press briefing organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected by the Minister in August 2022, following which President Muhammadu Buhari suspended its application to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector.

Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee had carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted its report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

The Minister said the Committee’s submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any level should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

“Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms has continued to be a major contributor to Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

“The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in telecom sector is the fact that, despite increase in the cost of all factors of production across sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector,” the Minister said.

The Minister also informed the gathering that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of the Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.

Pantami said: “I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five percent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty.”

The Minister assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as “the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens.”

The Minister further noted that the Digital Economy Sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

Telecom excise duty exemption commendable, it’s send forth gift by Buhari- NATCOMS, ATCON

Speaking on the development in an interview with NewsDirect on Tuesday, the President National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, Deolu Ogunbanjo, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for exempting the telecoms sector from its 5 per cent excise duty.

He described it as a send-forth gift by President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians.

He, however, insisted that the federal government should do more to take the excise duty law back to the National Assembly for necessary amendments.

“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for exempting the telecom sector from the 5 per cent excise. It is a send forth give and retirement gift to the industry.

“However, we will need him to ensure that the excise duty law must now be taken back to the national assembly for amendment; otherwise, any president or Minister may come to implement that law. What the President just did is a pronouncement.

The Executive Secretary Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, lauded the federal government’s decision to exempt the telecommunications sector from its 5 per cent excise duty because the industry is already heavily taxed.

He urged that the federal government should ensure full compliance with the directive.

“We appreciate that the federal government listened to us because the sector is already heavily taxed. I spoke against it. The federal government should cascade its decision to the federal ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning”, he stated.

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