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General News

.ng Domain Offers Identity, Security on Cyber space–Uduma

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Mary Uduma, president, NIRA
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Mary Uduma is the president, executive board, Nigeria internet Registration Association (NiRA). She assumed the role in September 2010, after serving as vice-president since 2009.
Uduma has also served as member of NiRA’s Interim Board of Trustee and was a director of Consumer Affairs Bureau with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) where worked for over 16 years.
The NiRA President is a Chartered Accountant and had worked at Deloitte and Touché, before joining NiRA.
Her portfolio also includes work at a public accounting firm and a bank. She is a member of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). She spoke to peter ugwu on a wide range of issues.

NiRA’s Achievements
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) started in 2009 and we had only 2,000 domain names then.
Over the years, we have been progressing. We have raised, not just funds, but the uptake of domain names have increased from 2,000 to about 60,000. That is a lot of achievement owing to the rate of adoption, understanding of the importance and governments’ support or interest in the scheme.
We just had our annual general meeting where we reported that our domain names grew more than 50%; from 10,000 to 16,000 within the year under review.
Although, we have not reached the peak, at the same time, it is an achievement. That is why we coming up with some interventions that will encourage Nigerians-students, small scale businesses, artisans, etc., to register on n.g. 

Nigerians and .ng Adoption
The reason it appears Nigerians are skeptical about .ng domain name adoption, migration or switchover is based on the obvious belief that made in Nigeria products are not genuine.
But, over the years, we have proven to them that have signed on to the domain name that it is secured as any foreign domain name they might want to align themselves to.

Nigerians and Foreign Domain Names
On our part, we have gone to the extent of easing the registration periods; such that within 24 hours you can get done with your registration.
It is just like .com, but people are still looking as: What is that? Am I sure it works? Is it not 419 (fraudulent)? However, we are making breakthroughs, especially with the Federal and State Governments (through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)) on our side by saying they must be on .gov.ng, every other business person would like to follow-suit.
We have at various occasions highlighted the important of .ng; a Nigeria’s Code Top Level domain name, an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for Nigeria only.
General, the awareness level is still low; that is why we are eager to educate, inform and mobilize the people. It was as a result of our advocacy that even the Government thought of embracing .gov.ng. We are committed to work with the registrars; they are our partners and channels to achieve this.

Incentives to Drive Public Interests
The intervention we are bringing to the fore is such that those who have domain names, but have not been able to develop a website, we want to encourage them on that.
They registered with the Registrars, but presently offline, so we want to make sure they are online. With a token (amount of money) they will join the league of website owners and users.

Registrars Complaints
Although, the registrars have sought for reduction in the amount they remit to NiRA, but we are relent enough. We are not taking much from them; we have even gone ahead to remove any CAP on it.
We told them, from whatever u sell just give us a little amount. It is no longer percentage based.  We just need little amount of money to run the secretariat; pay our bills, etc. 

MDAs Yet to Subscribe to Nigeria’s Domain Name
Yes, there are cases of ministries, departments and agencies of the government who are yet to give-in to .ng domain name, but that is going to change.
With a steering committee on switch to .gov.ng, there are programmes lined out to ensure, for instance, every civil servant adopts at the work place.
The truth of the matter is that domain name switch over is work in progress and we are making progress.

August Deadline for .ng Internet Domain Switch Over
Yes, in a bid to protect state apparatuses from deliberate and unintended abuse, NiRA came up with the deadline for State Governments, Ministries and parastatals as well as local governments in the country have till August this year to host their websites on the country’s name .ng top level domain.
Apart from offering a cover to the assignees, the country will, through the process, set up and operate a unified ICT infrastructure platform that permeates through all tiers of government and its agencies.
It is not news that the creation of the .ng domain-based websites and email addresses followed discovery that some civil servants have inadvertently transmitted sensitive government data and information through their own free email addresses which pose national security challenges.
To meet the deadline, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is collaborating with NIRA to ensure a smooth migration for the states and local governments.
The decision was reached by the council involved to rally all stakeholders for wholistic implementation.

ICT Professionals Missing at National Conference
I wouldn’t know why ICT professional bodies were not invited. However, I know that there are ICT professionals who are part of the conference, representing other groups. I can point out one or two people who are ICT professionals who are there.
Because it is a constitutional matter NBA will be given the prominence. There are many Institutes in the country; I wouldn’t know if there were given prominence.

Institutions and Domain Name Registration
There is a zone dedicated to educational institutions, the .edu.ng. It’s not only the educational institutions that are given priority.
The military, businesses, in fact, every sector has its designation.

Why Businesses, Individuals Should Switch To .ng Domain
First, as an organization in Nigeria, n.g is your identity on the cyberspace. It is your ICT currency. If you must trade on the cyberspace in Nigeria, trade with the currency.

Security, Skeptics And The Domain Name
There is no string of internet domain that is more secured than .ng. We have said this time without number. In fact, .ng registrars with the approval of NIRA are planning promos aimed at creating awareness on .ng.
Just few days ago, the American government warned the citizens and businesses to stop using Explorer due to security implications.
For instance, if someone takes your name under .com, the process of getting it back is long, but with us the process is seamless and fast. We are also signing NiRA on Domain Name System Security Extension (DNSSEC) which is the highest level The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has provided. Our practices are in line with the international best standards and the infrastructures also.

Centenary Celebration and Free Domain Name Registrations
We now have the (centenary) registrars. They are the ones to give the domain names out, not directly by NiRA.
When they have done so and from their reports we can ascertain. We just finished the first phase consultations with them.
And we are going to run it for hundred days. And we are going to begin by the next quarter.  

 

 


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General News

Nigeria to Launch 4 Satellites for Surveillance, Others

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Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the launch of four satellites aimed at strengthening Earth observation capabilities and improving national security, according to Uche Nnaji, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Nigeria to Launch 4 Satellites for Surveillance, Others

Uche Nnaji, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology

Speaking at the 22nd National Council on Innovation, Science and Technology (NCIST) in Abuja, Nnaji said the satellites include three Earth Observation models and one Radar Aperture satellite. The council meeting was held from 12 to 14 May under the theme: “Research, Develop, Innovate and Commercialise: A Cycle for National Prosperity.”

“Just last week, the Federal Executive Council approved that Nigeria launch four satellites—three Earth Observation satellites and one search satellite,” the minister said.

According to him, the Radar Aperture satellite will be capable of capturing images under various conditions, including nighttime and rainfall.

“The search satellite is the one that will pick images both day, night, during rain, every time of the day, and that is technology in play. The military can use it effectively,” he said.

Nnaji noted that this will reduce Nigeria’s reliance on purchasing data and imagery for monitoring remote areas like the Sambisa forest.

On policy development, he said an inter-ministerial committee is reviewing the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and working on establishing a National Research and Innovation Fund.

“As a country, we can no longer afford to ignore the widening gap between research and real-world impact,” Nnaji said. “For decades, valuable research conducted in our universities and institutions has remained underutilised, disconnected from industries and policy.”

He pointed out the challenges faced by young innovators, including a lack of structured support and financing to transform ideas into marketable products.

“Let this 22nd edition of NCIST mark the beginning of a new chapter, one where every research has a roadmap to industry,” he said.

Nnaji called for sustained efforts from researchers, private investors, and regulators to ensure innovations are protected and supported. “The government must build and enforce regulatory frameworks that protect, support, and incentivise innovation at every level,” he added.

He said the council’s resolutions would be forwarded to FEC for formal adoption and reaffirmed the ministry’s plan to restore the council’s annual meeting schedule after delays pushed the 22nd edition into 2025.

Esuabana Nko-Asanye, the ministry’s permanent secretary, described the meeting as a platform to promote inter-sectoral collaboration and address challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, and climate change. She said 109 memoranda were presented, highlighting proposals on issues like commercialising research, boosting funding for innovation, and building capacity in emerging technologies.

“The richness and diversity of these submissions underscore the growing recognition of science, technology and innovation as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable development,” Nko-Asanye said.

George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented by Morris Mbaeri, said building a resilient innovation ecosystem is key to national development. “This cycle is very essential in addressing real-world challenges and unlocking long-term prosperity,” he said.

Azikiwe Onwualu, president, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), urged the government to increase research and development spending to 3% of GDP and proposed the establishment of more RDIC clusters that integrate academia, industry, and startups.

He said: “We should operationalise the National Research and Innovation Council Fund to coordinate RDIC efforts as envisaged in the STI policy.”


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Shell Reports 122 Percent Surge in Oil Spills from Nigerian Operations in 2024

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Shell Plc has reported a significant 122% increase in operational oil spill incidents in Nigeria in 2024, driven largely by equipment failures and persistent sabotage, according to its newly released 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

Shell Reports 122 Percent Surge in Oil Spills from Nigerian Operations in 2024

The company’s Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), which operates the SPDC Joint Venture (JV), recorded 20 oil spill incidents exceeding 100 kilograms during the year up from just 9 incidents in 2023.

The report attributed the surge in operational spills primarily to defective pipeline clamps.

These clamps, which were locally manufactured and used in pipeline repairs after the removal of illegal connections, were found to have factory faults.

Shell confirmed that the manufacturer has since recalled the faulty batch, and SPDC has begun replacing the affected components.

As a result, the volume of operational oil and product spills spiked to 0.37 thousand tonnes, compared to just 0.005 thousand tonnes recorded in the previous year.

Two major spills one onshore along the Trans Niger Pipeline and one offshore at a terminal loading buoy accounted for 89% of the total volume.

SPDC JV has said it is implementing a comprehensive pipeline maintenance and replacement program aimed at reducing such incidents in the future.

Beyond equipment failures, Shell identified third-party interference and crude oil theft as a continuing challenge, noting that 81% of spill incidents in 2024 were caused by sabotage.

There were 84 theft- or sabotage-related spills totaling 2,000 tonnes of crude oil in 2024, compared to 139 such incidents amounting to 1,400 tonnes in 2023.

While the number of incidents declined, the volume spilled increased, indicating that larger-scale breaches may have occurred despite improved surveillance and protection measures.

Shell’s report highlighted ongoing efforts to combat vandalism and protect infrastructure.

The SPDC JV continued to deploy aerial surveillance, drone monitoring, and on-ground patrols to detect and respond to illegal activities and spills more rapidly.

Key anti-theft protection measures were further enhanced in 2024, including:

Reinforced wellhead and manifold cages

Use of anti-theft nuts

Upgraded CCTV systems and networking technologies

In addition, Shell reported ongoing collaboration with Nigerian government security agencies to maintain surveillance and secure the pipeline network and operational areas.

“SPDC JV continued to work closely with authorities to address third-party interference, particularly along our pipelines,” the report stated.

Shell reiterated its commitment to reducing environmental impact through proactive infrastructure upgrades and improved response systems, while also calling for stronger enforcement against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism issues that have plagued Nigeria’s energy sector for years.


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NOTAP Urges South Eastern Entrepreneurs to Embrace Franchising as Business Model  

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Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, DG/CEO, NOTAP
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Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general and chief executive officer, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has advocated Franchising as a sustainable business model for the South East entrepreneurs.

NOTAP Urges South Eastern Entrepreneurs to Embrace Franchising as Business Model  

Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, DG/CEO, NOTAP

She made this call during a one-day sensitization and unveiling of the NOTAP Franchising Guidelines for south east stakeholders and entrepreneurs for a successful franchising business.

The DG who was represented at the event by Mr. Emeka Orji, head of Department Corporate Planning (CP) Department, NOTAP, said that franchising business model had globally been proven to be successfully sustainable due to low business risks associated with it.

She defines franchising as a contractual business relationship between a licensor (the franchisor) and a licensee (the franchisee) that allows the business owner to use the licensor’s brand and methods of doing business to distribute products or provide services to consumers.

She added that in essence, the franchisee pays the franchisor for the opportunity to use his established business model and brand name in running his business.

Dr. Amadiobi said the essence of the workshop was not just organised to explore the possibility of adopting franchising as a strategic platform to transform local dreams into national and global business realities.

She described the programme as an opportunity for business owners and intending entrepreneurs from the Zone  to latch into the huge and untapped potentials provided by franchising business models in becoming business and brand ambassadors.

With over 800,000 franchise establishments across the globe, generating trillions in revenue, she described Franchising as a pathway to economic empowerment.

 

 

 


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