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CAPDAN Raises Alarm, Says Computer Village Under Police Siege

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Computer and Allied Product Dealers at Computer Village (CAPDAN), Ikeja, have sent ‘Save Our Soul’ (SOS) message to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over extortion and abuse of operational guideline by his men dispatched to secure or monitor the market environment.

Mr Ahmed Ojikutu, president of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) in a telephone interview with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek alleged that the officer attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) are making lives miserable for their members, calling on the IG for a wide-range investigation.

According to Mr. Ojikutu, SARS officer make over N7million weekly from the market following indiscriminate arrests and harassment of traders and other technicians predominately young people.  

He said that several frantic efforts to attract higher police authority’s attentions to the cases yielded no meaningful results. 

In Mr. Ojikutu’s words, “The officers and men of the Force have turned Computer Village to an ATM which will not accept any longer. With racking technology, it is easier to dictate who stole a phone. Meanwhile, the buyer of such phone is traced to Computer Village, men of the Force would arrest anybody that, out of omission or Commission, touched the phone. Computer Village is made up of young people who are daily struggling to make a living.

“So, when a customer comes to shop one and the device they need is not there, the shop owner wouldn’t just allow the customer to leave. He will approach owners of shop two or any other who has such device and sell. We are not denying the fact that in a market of such magnitude there must be bag eggs.

“But, even among the Police officers there are bad eggs. So, what the Nigerian Police officers do is that when a phone is lost and tracked to Computer village, they would arrest about ten people who might have touched the phone in one way of the other; and they are bailed with up to N250,000.00.

“I have met with the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, the two Area Commanders, reported to the constituted authorities, but the officers in the field are not willing to change.

I think there will be imminent protect that will shake the town. We are awaiting to exhaust the last line to be aware of what is happening.

Have You Addressed Members to Shun Stolen Items?
“We have spoken to them, but the truth is that technology has advanced. People will still sell their used phones or swap it, so, the issue around genuineness of a phone will still be there. Therefore, if there was an armed robbery or kidnapping case, technology has so advanced that it will be easy to dictate who first handled the phone, the location and time. Let the police arrest the culprit and not rope in others just to enlarge their pockets.

“On our side we are working against illicit practices and have set code of conducts for our members. The Police should do their work with all sense of diligence and professionalism not the current self-serving and extortions in the name of arrests. It leads to a lot of frame ups. They do this daily. At this end, we are saying no it. In fact, we don’t know if they have collaborators who are more interested in seeing these suffering young people undergo series of harassments in the hands of the Police.

“Computer Village is made up of mostly young people; and where young people are, they are bound to commit crime, but that shouldn’t give anyone the impetus to one to abuse those genuinely going about their businesses.

“It is a burning issue, and technology has come to stay. So, let them arrest the criminals and prosecute them. Under one week we countered cases where the Police collected over seven million naira (N7million). Though, we have reported to the authorities it has continued. When you push people to the wall, when they turn against you it will be fierce and brutal.

“The Inspector General (IG) of Police is a good man, the Commission of Police in Lagos, a good officer, the Area Commander in Ikeja is doing fantastic job, therefore, we don’t know who are giving the corrupt and bad eggs in the Police force the audacity to traumatize us in our business area. Who are these bad eggs? If people want to revolute they will not consider those who are good, the general aphorism would be ‘Nigerian Police is Bad’”.

Fighting Crime, Substandard Devices and Perpetuators
He expressed CAPDAN’s readiness to work with relevant government bodies in the fight against crime, and riding the market of substandard products.

The CAPDAN president told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek whereas they are ready to collaborate, no cartel or interest can be above the government.

“So, if there were cartels cloning others’ phones, it wouldn’t be like they can’t be stopped, but without direct involvement of constituted authorities like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to clamp down, it is not going to be very easy. Therefore, we need their direct collaboration to rid the country of these substandard or cloned phones which constitute problems to the innocent citizens. We are open to partnerships, needing the backing of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), etc., but the bureaucratic settings usually cause challenge to get effective collaboration. If you want to clamp down, we are ready to volunteer information that will assist you. When the cartel know it is not profitable any more to import substandard products, they will naturally leave the market and the public will be the direct beneficiaries.  

Advice to End Users
“We are coming up with a product called ‘Phone-Range; an online platform to assist buyers check the genuinely or otherwise of any device they want to buy at the Computer Village. We will notify the public about the solution when it is unveiled”.

However, efforts to get reactions from the Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State proved abortive.

 

 

 
 

 

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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Court orders Binance to release data of Nigerian Users to EFCC

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Binance Holdings Limited has been ordered by Justice Emeka Nwite of a federal high court sitting in Abuja to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

The order was granted following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho. In the motion deposed to by Hamma Bello, an operative of the EFCC attached to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), he stated that they “received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a crypto currency exchange platform.”

He added; “That on receipt of the Intelligence, the team began investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 (twenty one billion, six hundred million dollars).

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others. That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time.”

Bello also said that it is utmost urgent public interest, that the data be provided to enable the commission accomplish its investigation activities. He said refusal of the request woulf largely hamper the commission’s investigation.

Granting the application, Justice Nwite said; “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February, 2024, is hereby granted as prayed. That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”


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Moove Unveils ‘N500M Moove Cares Program’ for All Customers in Nigeria

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Moove, the world’s first mobility fintech platform, has announced the launch of its ‘Moove Cares’ program, introducing a substantial support package aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of ongoing inflationary prices in Nigeria.

Recognising the challenges posed by rising fuel prices for its customers managing their businesses and the additional burden of inflationary food prices on household budgets, Moove is providing support both at work and at home. This program includes fuel subsidies to assist with business operations and a comprehensive care package to support households during these difficult times.

This program underscores Moove’s dedication to ensuring its positive impact in the lives of its customers, especially against the backdrop of Nigeria’s challenging and chronic economic landscape.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is grappling with an acute cost of living crisis and food prices, exacerbated by a confluence of factors including severe inflation, currency fluctuations, and logistical disruptions. This crisis has pushed essential food items beyond the reach of many, with the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics reporting a staggering 35.41% food inflation rate in January 2024 alone.

In the wake of the removal of the fuel subsidy in May, fuel prices in Nigeria have soared to an all-time high, reaching N610 per litre, marking a significant increase from the previously subsidised price of N264 per litre in March 2023.

This sharp increase of fuel costs by 131% has had a ripple effect across various sectors, notably leading to increased transportation fares and a substantial hike in the prices of food and other essential goods.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, Moove has committed to distributing free-of-charge ‘Moove Cares’ packages worth over N150,000 to each of its customers. Starting next week, the program aims to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices and escalating food prices, particularly during the critical periods of Easter and Ramadan celebrations.

‘Moove Cares’ is a testament to Moove’s proactive approach towards corporate social responsibility and customer focused support in these challenging times for the country.

Taiwo Ajibola, Moove’s Regional Managing Director for Nigeria, elaborated on the program objectives, “As a listening organisation, we understand from our customers’ feedback the pressing need for support amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting both fuel and food prices.

“Our Moove Cares program is our small way of providing some much needed support to our customers amidst this extremely challenging economic  environment.”

Since its inception in 2020, Moove has been at the forefront of democratising access to financial services for mobility entrepreneurs. With a presence in 9 markets globally, Moove’s innovative platform has facilitated over 30 million trips, significantly impacting the lives of 80,000 of its customers and their dependents.

As Nigeria navigates through these turbulent economic times, the ‘Moove Cares’ campaign stands as a vital lifeline for Moove’s customers, further solidifying the Company’s position as a socially responsible leader in the mobility fintech sector.

Through this comprehensive support package, Moove reaffirms its dedication to fostering a resilient and thriving community, capable of overcoming the current economic challenges.

 


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Nigeria’s inflation rate rises to 31.7 %

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A report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the headline inflation in the country increased to 31.7 per cent in February 2024 from 29.9 per cent recorded in January 2024.

The recent figure is the highest level of inflation recorded in the country for 28 years. In the Consumer Price Index report for February 2024, it was also stated that food inflation increased to 37.92 per cent in February from 35.41 per cent in January 2024.

It read; “In February 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 31.70% relative to the January 2024 headline inflation rate, which was 29.9%. Looking at the movement, the February 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.8 % points when compared to the January 2024
headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the headline inflation rate was 9.79% points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2023, which was 21.91%.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (YoY basis) increased in the month of February 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2023).

“Furthermore, on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the headline inflation rate in February 2024 was 3.12%, which was 0.48% higher than the rate recorded in January 2024 (2.64%).

“This means that in February 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is more than the rate of increase in the average price level in January 2024.

“The food inflation rate in February 2024 was 37.92% on a YoY basis, which was 13.57% points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2023 (24.35%).

“The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in the prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, oil and fat, meat, fruit, coffee, tea, and cocoa.

“On a MoM basis, the food inflation in February 2024 was 3.79%; this was 0.58% higher compared to the rate recorded in January 2024 (3.21%).

“In February 2024, food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi (46.32%), Rivers (44.34%), and Kwara (43.5%), while Bauchi (31.46%), Plateau (32.56%), and Taraba (33.23%) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.

“On a MoM basis, however, February 2024 food inflation was highest in Adamawa (5.61%), Yobe (5.60%), and Borno (5.60%), while Cross River (2.08%), Niger (2.56%), and Abuja (2.60%) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a MoM basis.”


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