The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said the World Bank will soon be executing a solar auction framework that will reduce the cost of solar tariff in Nigeria.

The Head of the Renewable Energy/Corporate Planning and Strategy, NERC, Engineer O. Jonathan stated this during a webinar competency centre renewable series of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN).

He said: “We are having some challenges which have to do with integrating the solar energy into the national grid. Those challenges, many commissions, have come to the aid of the commission.

“World Bank presently is bringing out a solar auction framework. That solar auction framework, once it commences, it will allow the developers and the cost of solar tariff will go down.

“That is the essence of the solar auction. It will open the space for all the contractors in Nigeria to be in it.

“In financing and investment, the World has outlined how they will support in the distribution and transmission segment, not in the generation.”

Head Supply, HSEQ, and Technical at MEMAN in a communique made available to journalists on Friday remarked on the importance of the workshop in advancing Nigeria’s energy transition agenda. The workshop was titled: “Energy transition through solar energy.”

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engineer Abiola Kosegbe, said there is a deficit in the energy needs of Nigerians and Lagos State residents, in particular.

She stated that Lagos State has set an ambitious target to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with initiatives like the “Solar for All” program playing a crucial role in achieving this goal.

She stressed the need for continued investment in infrastructure, supportive policies, and collaboration to sustain the growth of renewable energy in Lagos and across Nigeria.

Kosegbe said: “Advancement of renewable technologies and the transformative potential for the energy sector. We know that there is a deficit in the energy needs of Nigerians and in Lagos State, in particular. That cannot just be over-emphasised.

“We stand on a new era of advancement in renewable technologies. We need to fill the gaps that we are faced as we are in Nigeria today. Solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy are not just alternative sources.

“They are becoming the backbone of sustainable energy future. Innovations in this fields are driving efficiency, reducing costs and unlocking new possibilities.

“Focusing on solar power, for example, recent breakthroughs in the energy storage are dramatically increasing solar efficiency and making it more accessible than ever.

“Wind energy too, has seen remarkable strides with development of larger more efficient turbines and offshore installations that harness stronger and more consistent winds.

“For Lagos State we have set an ambitious renewable energy target. We are aiming to generate 50% of electricity through renewable sources by 2030. Solar energy is leading the charge with Lagos state government launching initiatives like Solar for all programme, providing affordable solar energy solutions for homes and businesses.

“In Lagos State today, we have seen the solar energy adaption grow by 200% in the last two years.

“The advancement in renewable energy technologies are not just shaping the future of energy, they are defining it, with continues innovation and dedication, we have the opportunity to create energy sector and in deed a society that is clean, resilient and sustainable for generations to come.”

Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, said both the federal and state governments need to commission and adequately fund national research programmes on specific solar solar photovoltaic (PV) component aspects so that it will enhance the localization of some percentage of technology in Nigeria.

His presentation which focused on advancing solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in Nigeria, was delivered by the Director, Renewable Energy Department, Sulu Bolaji Fulani Ibrahim.

He stated that solar PV holds immense potential to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape, with applications ranging from home systems to large-scale utility projects.

According to him, there is a critical need to adopt the latest solar technologies to ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money.

He underscored the importance of policy documents such as the National Energy Policy and the Renewable Energy Action Plan in guiding the development of solar energy.

He added that the strategic use of Nigeria’s mineral resources, such as lithium, is crucial for supporting local content and driving the renewable energy industry.

He said: “We need do to have parameters for assessment so that we have value for money. This is for cost effectiveness. We also have to look at the technology readiness level and the local content of the solar PV technology.

“For technology readiness, most of the solar PV components we are using in Nigeria today are at the highest meaning that technology is matured. For local content, we have minerals that are key to energy transition.

“One of them is lithium. So we need to take advantage of the minerals reserves that we have. We need to develop the local content.”

From smart watches and digital assistants to connected cars, web-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) devices and technologies are transforming daily life and industry.

To ensure the integrity and safety of IoT systems, Kaspersky experts are contributing to the development of a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for IoT devices: “ISO/IEC TS 30149 Internet of Things (IoT) – Trustworthiness principles”.

This standard is being established in collaboration with experts from the Joint Technical Committee 1 between ISO and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The standard sets out the factors making IoT devices safe and trustworthy, analysing the relations between unconditional trust and assured system dependability, formalising the general concept of trust.

With the complexity of today’s IoT solutions and increasing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting these devices, having a technical understanding of solutions is crucial for mitigating the inherent risks of these products.

Kaspersky perceives trust as a concept to ensure all relevant stakeholders understand the specific trust elements of an IoT solution, and any potential risks in their given use case.

Developed over the last five years, the standard sets requirements for the trust of cyber-physical systems, including various devices and systems of IoT and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The standard defines a complex and ambiguous concept of trust, as well as principles for building and managing trust in the system life cycle.

The document also describes principles for IoT system trust management and building trusted systems, with the standard annex containing best practices for IoT system trustworthiness.

They include participative (stakeholder-based) approach, trustworthiness characterisation method, system maturity models, and impact assessment, among others. The annex also specifies a trustworthiness view that covers practical aspects of assuring the quality and security of IoT system usage.

The document standard regulates the principles of trust in terms of reliability, security, information security, personal data security, and robustness in the face of attacks. It outlines principles for building and managing trust and confidence in IoT and IIoT systems throughout their life cycle, considering both the informational and physical aspects.

Ekaterina Rudina, Security Analysis Group Manager at Kaspersky, noted: “The operation of IoT systems is a serious process that should be secured on both cyber and physical levels. The trustworthiness of these systems is a key factor for developers and users.

“We are always committed to creating the highest security standards and constantly work on sharing our global expertise. It’s encouraging to see how the international expert community continues to work and to make significant progress in this area.”

Family of Tigran Gamabryan, a Binance executive who has been detained by the Nigerian government, has raised serious concerns about his deteriorating health and the alleged violation of his rights as he approaches six months in custody.

Gamabryan, who has been in detention since February 26th, 2024, is reportedly suffering from severe health issues, including a herniated disc and spinal injury, which have left him unable to walk.

According to a statement released by his family on Tuesday, the prison authorities have refused to provide Gamabryan with a wheelchair, forcing him to remain bedridden. This has resulted in muscle atrophy, requiring him to take blood thinners to prevent blood clots. His condition they said, has worsened over time, and he has also suffered from malaria, double pneumonia, and now severe tonsillitis, which reportedly requires surgery.

The statement also revealed that Gamabryan’s legal team has also faced significant challenges in accessing him.

“From July 26th to August 14th Tigran’s legal team were denied entry to visit him in prison – with no explanation – which is against the Nigerian constitution and the governing laws of the prison in which he is being held.

When the team was allowed to visit him (after it was made public that they had been denied entry), they were only allowed a 5 minute visit which is insufficient time to prepare for his trial, in contravention of the Nigerian constitution (Chapter 4 section 36, subsection 6b). Since then they have been denied entry again.”

The U.S. Embassy, which has been involved in the case, no longer has access to Gamabryan due to his inability to walk to the visitor area.

His family has also expressed concern that his health will continue to deteriorate without proper medical care.

Gamabryan’s detention began under controversial circumstances. He was invited to Nigeria by the government for a meeting and was assured of his safety.

However, during the meeting, his passport was confiscated, and he was taken to a “guest house” where he was held for nearly a month before being formally charged. The Nigerian authorities initially informed the American Embassy that Gamabryan was staying at the guest house willingly.

He was eventually moved to Kuje prison after charges were brought against him by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC prosecutor reportedly stated that Gmabryan was being charged because Binance operates virtually, and he was the only individual they could hold accountable.

“Tigran was invited to Nigeria by the Nigerian government for a meeting and was given assurances that he would be safe. However, during the meeting his passport was taken and he was made to pack his items from the hotel and was taken to a “guest house”.

“After he was detained by them, the Nigerian authorities told the American Embassy that Tigran was staying at the guest house willingly.

Tigran was held for almost one month in this guest house before two sets of charges were brought against him and Binance and Tigran was moved to the infamous Kuje prison. According to the Nigerian EFCC prosecutor, Tigran is being charged because, “The 1st defendant (Binance) is operating virtually. The only thing we have to hold on to is this defendant.”

In addition to the charges from the EFCC, Gamabryan was initially facing tax evasion charges brought by the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). These charges were dropped on June 14th, with the FIRS agreeing to pursue the charges against Binance through a locally-appointed representative.

The trial for the remaining charges began on May 17th, with Binance offering to appoint a local representative. Cross-examination of the witnesses has started, but the court went on recess until October. However, an application to hear the case during the recess was granted, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 2nd.

Despite repeated court orders, the Nigerian authorities have refused to release Gamabryan’s medical records to his legal team and the U.S. Embassy. In response, the judge presiding over the case issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Nigerian prison doctor.

Gamabryan has reportedly missed several significant milestones while in detention, including his son’s 5th birthday, his own 40th birthday, and his upcoming 15th wedding anniversary.

His family continues to plead for his release, citing the severe toll his detention has taken on his health and the violation of his legal rights.