Telecom
Tough Call against Use of Phone While Driving
Mobile phone use while driving is common, but it is widely considered dangerous due to its potential for causing distracted driving and accidents.
Use of mobile phone when driving are opposite sides of a coin.
Cell phone technology is supposed to help us carry out the tasks of daily life but using it while driving is dangerous and stupid.
Today, there are nearly 150 million telephone lines in the country, all playing integral roles in the lives and businesses of the owners.
But making or receiving call while driving is a significant distraction and increases the risk of the driver crashing and causing harm to other road users.
Many different studies have shown that when drivers use a cell phone while driving, it can be very dangerous.
Despite warnings, mobile phone use while driving is still very common in Nigeria.
There are two dangers associated with driving and cell phone use, including text messaging.
First, drivers must take their eyes off the road while dialling.
Second, people can become so absorbed in their conversations that their ability to concentrate on the act of driving is severely impaired, jeopardizing the safety of vehicle occupants and pedestrians.
The distraction of using a cell phone while driving is the same as fiddling with the radio, dealing with kids and pets, applying make-up, eating and so on.
Nigeria has banned use of mobile phone while driving but many have continued to ignore the law leaving tears, blood and avoidable damages in their wake.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) road traffic accidents are a significant cause of injury and deaths in the country.
Many of the deaths are preventable and are caused by sheer recklessness.
Some of them are caused when drivers who use cell phones on wheels are distracted from the road.
A recent World Health Organisation’s ‘global status report on road safety’ also indicates that well over one million people are killed on the world’s roads every year, half of these being pedestrians and motorcyclists.
As many as 50 million people per year are injured in road traffic accidents, many sustaining severe permanent disabilities and loss of mobility.
As far back as six year ago, Lagos state signed the Lagos Traffic Bill, making it drive or ride a vehicle while using a hand-held mobile phone.
The penalty is a three-year jail term or a fine of N20, 000 for first offenders and N30, 000 for subsequent offences or both for any other breaches subject to the discretion of the presiding magistrate.
FRSC should also invoke the penalty in the Act establishing it which stipulates that punishment for use of cell phone on wheels is a fine of N4, 000.
Other state governments must also follow in the step of the Lagos State government because life is precious and should not cut short by reckless loose ranting cell phone users.
The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) must also review the convenience cell phones offer against the hazards they pose.
But well-meaning Nigerians must not wait for the law. They should start acting responsibly now and avoid putting other motorists and Nigerians in dangers.
The FRSC and NCC should embark on a nationwide public enlightenment exercise on the dangers of driving, smoking, talking and texting on the mobile phone while driving or riding.
Telecom
9Mobile Blames Network Outage on Data Center Fire in Lagos
9Mobile, mobile network operator, has blamed a network outage this week on a fire incident at its main data center in Lagos.
The fire is said to have happened on Tuesday night (December 17), leading to network issues for 9Mobile’s customers until Thursday.
9Mobile said it had experienced multiple fiber cuts which had led to some of the disruption.
Its customers have taken to social media to complain about a lack of voice and data services.
9Mobile is estimated to have more than 11 million mobile subscribers.
The latest outage follows a six-day outage that impacted the carrier in July.
“9Mobile sincerely apologizes for the recent service outages experienced by our valued customers which have affected our ability to provide voice, data, and internet services. We understand the frustration these disruptions have caused and deeply regret the inconvenience,” said 9Mobile in a statement.
“Our technical team has identified the root causes of the outages including a fire incident at our main data center in Lagos last night which severely impacted services, especially in the Lagos and South-West. We are grateful for the swift intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service, which helped prevent further damage.”
The cause of the fire was not revealed by the carrier.
Acknowledging the fiber cuts, 9Mobile explained that prior to the fire, a fiber cut on the backbone links in Lagos led to a total data outage across the country. Other vandalism incidents in Lagos and Abuja led to a total service outage in the southwest and a data service outage in the north of the country.
Telecom
Sytemap Announces 50% Discount on Verified Lands for Women, March 8–14, 2025
Sytemap, a trusted leader in land acquisition and technology solutions, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower women through affordable and secure land ownership.
From March 8 to March 14, 2025, women—including professionals in Africa and the diaspora—will enjoy an exclusive 50% discount on plots from verified estate developers through the Sytemap platform.
This initiative, themed “Her Land, Her Future,” underscores Sytemap’s commitment to breaking cultural and economic barriers that have historically sidelined women from property ownership. Partnering with over 30 reputable estate developers, Sytemap is creating unprecedented opportunities for women to invest in land with confidence.
For decades, women in Nigeria and across Africa have faced significant hurdles in land acquisition, including high costs, fear of fraud, and societal biases. In fact, studies show that 65% of victims of land scams in Nigeria are women.
Sytemap’s CEO, Nnamdi Uba, stated, “Women have long been marginalized in land ownership, a critical path to building wealth and security. Our mission is not only to make land ownership accessible but to eliminate the fears and uncertainties that hold women back.”
With this initiative, Sytemap leverages its reputation for transparency and cutting-edge technology to offer a simple, scam-free, and empowering process for land purchase.
The campaign is designed to resonate with young professionals, particularly women with good-paying jobs who are ready to invest in their future. For women in the diaspora, the initiative offers tailored support, including seamless international payment options and an innovative plot-monitoring app that allows buyers to manage their investments from anywhere in the world.
Key Features Include:
50% Discount: Available only during the trade fair window (March 8–14, 2025).
Verified Estates: Secure locations vetted by Sytemap and trusted developers.
Flexible Payment Plans: Options to spread payments over several months to ease financial stress.
Digital Monitoring: A dedicated app to track land purchases and allocation progress.
Guaranteed Transparency: Every outright payment comes with instant, verifiable certificate allocation, with land documents delivered within three weeks.
This initiative will launch during the “Sytemap Land Trade Fair 1.0,” an event bringing together key stakeholders, women’s organizations, and influencers to celebrate this transformative moment. Women in the diaspora are encouraged to participate and take advantage of this life-changing opportunity.
Imagine a future where women are equal stakeholders in property ownership, shaping communities and securing generational wealth.
Sytemap invites women across Africa and the diaspora to claim their space and rewrite the narrative of land ownership.
For more details and to reserve your plot, visit https://sytemap.com/women.
Telecom
Konga to Launch Africa’s First AI-Powered Hit Music & Commerce Radio Station
Konga, a leading composite e-commerce group, is poised to transform the Nigerian media and commerce landscape with the upcoming launch of its AI-powered FM radio station in Lagos.
The groundbreaking initiative, set to debut in January 2025, will mark Africa’s first Hit Music & Commerce Station, blending Technology, Entertainment, Commerce and more to drive impactful connections across the continent and the world.
A reliable source reveals that the station – KongaFM will be a pioneering platform to empower brands, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to connect with untapped markets, revolutionizing commerce in real time. While offering businesses a new avenue for product visibility and market penetration, the station promises to deliver non-stop hit music, ensuring listeners enjoy a unique mix of entertainment and commercial opportunities. It will be a completely new experience for Nigerians.
Equipped with state-of-the-art broadcasting technology and staffed by a dynamic new blend of seasoned professionals and youthful talent, the station will begin test transmissions in the second week of January 2025.
Konga’s latest media venture comes as part of its broader strategy to disrupt conventional marketing communications and amplify consumer engagement across sectors, including FMCG, electronics, and digital solutions.
The move is expected to send ripples across Nigeria’s FX market, potentially influencing the pricing and availability of key goods and commodities. This aligns with Konga’s history of innovation in the e-commerce sector.
This initiative will also complement Konga’s existing TV arm and other media services, positioning the brand as a dominant force in Marketing Communications. Together, these platforms will create synergies that set new benchmarks for how entertainment and commerce converge in Africa while streaming globally.
When asked for further details, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, CEO of Konga Group, remained tight-lipped, stating that “full details and official announcements will be made in January 2025.”
The anticipation around this launch continues to grow as industry experts and media enthusiasts eagerly await what is already being hailed as the next major evolution in Africa’s media and commerce space.
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