Telecom
Pantami Tasks Judges on Laws Harnessing Potential of Technology
Prof. Isah Pantami, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, has urged judges to come up with laws that would effectively harness the potential of technology in the country.
Pantami made the call at the opening of the 2022 ICT Workshop for justices of the Court of Appeal.
The two-day training is part of efforts at improving justice delivery through digital platforms.
In a keynote address, the minister said the ICT training, which is in line with the digital transformation of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, will enhance the skills of justices in the discharge of their duties.
Pantami, represented by Mr Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA, emphasised the need for Justices to ensure legality in all digital systems and platforms, adding that: “Whatever is illegal offline should also be illegal online.”
According to him, technology is not only a powerful tool for scrutinizing and surveillance of people, things and countries, it has gradually taken over every aspect of human endeavours hence the need for adequate laws and enforcement to prevent abuse.
“There is need to extend our laws to manage technology because if we don’t build system with legal minds, it will bring challenge to our democracy,” he said.
According to him, if systems are bias or don’t understand our laws, they will have damaging impact on the people and nation.
“The future is going to be digital, so we should have appropriate laws that will guide in building and deploring technology,” he added.
In her remarks, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, said that the ICT training would help minimize time spent on justice delivery as well as improve the quality of service delivery in the judiciary.
Justice Dongban-Mensen explained that the ICT training intervention was apt considering the happenings and fast technological advances across the globe.
She accordingly charged justices of the appellate court to take advantage of the training to enable them contribute immensely to the nation’s justice system.
“Let us sharpen our ICT skills so as to be on top of our job and maintain leadership of the Judiciary in the African continent,” she added.
Over 50 justices from the appellate court were selected for the training.
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement between MTN Nigeria and Natcom Development and Investment Limited (NTEL).
Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary in a statement released recently said that the agreement covers the lease of NTEL’s 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz spectrum band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz spectrum band, which spans 19 states.
The renewal is for another two-year period, effective 1 May 2025. Additionally, the NCC has approved a one-year lease expansion of the spectrums, covering the remaining 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), effective 1 January 2025.
Commenting on the transactions, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said, “We are pleased with the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement with NTEL, which now includes coverage for all states, including the FCT.
“The lease enables us to enhance our 3G and 4G user experience as we improve coverage and capacity by utilising the spectrums.
“This positions us to capitalise on the growing demand for data and improve the delivery of services to our customers.”
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
NCDC Activates Emergency Response as Lassa Fever Kills 190
CBN Disqualifies 41.65m Shares in Access Holdings Rights Issue
2025 Budget: FG Earmarks N1.5Bn for Airports’ Internet, Others
World Bank Raises Nigeria’s NIN Target to 180m
MTN Nigeria Renews Spectrum Lease Agreement with NTEL
UBA Group Sets Foot in France with Full Banking Services
FG Begins N50 Electronic Levy Deductions from Moniepoint, Other Digital Banks
Report Reveals Most Organisations Fear AI-driven Cyberattacks but Lack Key Defences
Nigeria Risks Missing out on $1.2 Trillion AI Opportunity- NigComSat
Firm Sues NIMC, Others On Digital Rights Breach Allegations
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Africa to Return $100m to Shareholders via Share Buyback
Broadcasting2 days agoSpotify’s ‘Detty December’ Hub and Spotify’s ‘Songs of December’ now live
Broadcasting2 days agoQNET Collaborates with Lagos Food Bank to Aid Vulnerable Children
News3 days agoEgueke, Former Bank Manager Jailed for $46,900 Fraud
Telecom3 days agoFG Gives Banks, Telcos Six-Month Deadline to Resolve N250Bn USSD Debt
Telecom3 days agoNCC Launches Initiative to Combat Fraud, Spam Messaging
Broadcasting2 days agoNERC Discloses $5.7 Million Debt Owed by International Customers for Q3 2024 Electricity Supply
Broadcasting3 days agoAfrica Magic Announces Call for Entries for 11th AMVCA