News
We’re Leveraging NigComSAT-1R to Linkup Hinterlands Says Alale @NDSF2021

Dr. Abimbola Alale, managing director and chief executive officer, Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSAT), has said they are leveraging NigComSAT-1R to provide complimentary solutions for an effective digital economy.
Speaking at the 2021 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series on Internet Governance for Development (NDSF) held in Lagos recently at Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, she said they are leveraging the NigComSAT-1R I by linking stakeholders, especially ones in the hinterland.
Alale who was represented by the acting General Manager, Marketing at NigComSAT, Mrs Ibiye Ukoko, dwelt on “The Role of NigComSAT on Digital Cooperation for Enhanced Digital Economy” said that the advantages of using the satellite in this case, include quick and fast deployment, cheaper infrastructure in less commercially viable areas as well as broadcast services.
She cited an instance with a crisis period, saying that since the unrest situation in Nigeria, NigComSAT has had to embark of journeys of critical areas to work and ensure connectivity is provided, back up services to serve and resultant speed, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to ICT infrastructure.
In addition, she said, NigComSAT is leveraging this satellite to promote access to basic and advanced telecom infrastructure and services; develop an enabling environment for ICT applications in other fields cutting across commerce, health, and education to name a few.
Equally, she said they have increased collaborative efforts within the private sector, civil society and government.
NigComSAT, she informed, is a satellite operator having launched the NigComSAT -1R satellite to offer connectivity solutions across its coverage areas. Stressing, this strong digital infrastructure has the capacity to provide effective connectivity across Nigeria and their regions.
“The internet has affected every aspect of our lives and this space is heavily dominated by the private sector, this is why the private sector needs to be heavily engaged as a stakeholder,” she said.
According to the NigComSAT boss, a digital economy speaks to a range of functioning and implementation. Noting that digitization of the Nigerian economy has so far created benefits and efficiencies as digital technologies drive innovation, job opportunities and economic growth.
“The Nigerian digital economy affects all aspects of society influencing the way people interact and bring about broad changes,” she said.
Alale also pointed out that Nigeria’s digital transformation is already having a great impact in the economy as it applies to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in comparison to other sectors.
“The ICT sector contributed 14.07% to the total real GDP in Q1 2020 higher than its contribution in 2019 at 13.32%. In Q2 2020, the sector contributed 17.83% increasing the amount contributed to about N1.78trillion and N1.28 trillion in Q1 while the oil sector contributed 8.93% in the same quarter,” she said.
Furthermore she said that Nigeria e-commerce transactions, for instance, accounts for about $13billion USD, according to London-based Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). Whereas exports in the Nigerian financial service sector also estimated that Nigeria’s e-commerce market value could rise to $50billion over the next 10 years.
In addition, she said that financial technologies have also given rise to new ways of delivering financial services in Nigeria, while the use of technologies advance the efficiency of the payments systems and strengthen Nigeria’s e- commerce sector.
This, she emphasized further digitized networks and intelligent information and communications technologies enable modern economic activities to be more flexible, agile and smart.
“Further digital economy is allowing regional businesses to move away from the local and into the global, in keeping abreast with the long term trends towards market liberalization and reduced trade barriers.
News
EFCC: Accusations Against Our Chairman Are Baseless and Misleading

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly denied allegations of lack of integrity and transparency directed at its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, by columnist Steve Osuji.
In a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, spokesperson, EFCC. the commission described the claims as “worrisome and unjustifiable,” particularly criticizing the personal attacks on Olukoyede.
“More worrisome was his attack on Olukoyede for no justifiable reason. Allegations of lack of transparency, accountability and integrity deficit are wild and clearly off the mark,” Oyewale said.
He questioned the basis for the allegations and defended Olukoyede’s leadership since taking office.
“The question is: in what way has Olukoyede fallen short? Is it by insisting that the right things should always be done? By moving the nation’s anti-graft war forward radically and unprecedentedly?
“By bringing forth a preventive framework to tackle corruption and reaping bountiful gains for the nation?
“By recovering the globally-acclaimed 753 duplexes and other apartments, which are proceeds of fraudulent dealings for the nation?
“By launching the EFCC into a global map of accomplished anti-graft agencies? By handling 50,000 case files in one year?
“By embarking on a courageous internal cleansing system and other progressive initiatives to deepen and strengthen the anti-corruption fight?
“It is cowardly and uncharitable for any columnist to hide under vague and opaque cover to splash mud on Ola Olukoyede, arguably one of the finest breed of anti-graft czars around the world.”
Olukoyede, through the statement, reaffirmed that the EFCC has consistently submitted its annual reports to the National Assembly as required by law.
“Equally preposterous are claims of re-looting of assets by officers of the Commission. For the purpose of clarification, the Commission does not recover monetary assets into its covers and the non-monetary assets that are recovered are disposed of following clear pronouncements by court and proceeds paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account account in the Central Bank in line with provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
“The EFCC does not operate in secrecy. All its operations are regularly communicated to the public, including public auction of assets. To deliberately cast the Commission in the mould of fraudulent engagements or criminality is not only mischievous but also untenable,” the statement concluded.
News
IHS Nigeria, UNICEF Donate Oxygen Plant to Bridge Health Gap in River State

IHS Nigeria and its implementing partner, the United Nations Child Education Fund (UNICEF) has expressed satisfaction that the Oxygen Plant recently donated to Rivers State is helping to bridge the health Gap in the state and its environs.
This observation was made recently when officials from IHS Nigeria and UNICEF, carried out a project inspection visit to the plant located at the General Hospital in Eleme, Rivers State.
During the handing over of the oxygen plant to the Rivers State Government in 2024, the facility was reported to have a production capacity of 123 oxygen cylinders and 720,000 litres of oxygen every 24 hours.
The plant was built under a Public-Private Partnership involving UNICEF, the Canadian Government, IHS Nigeria, in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Health through the State Hospital Management Board.
Speaking during the visit to the facility yesterday, the Director of Sustainability at IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga, noted that the oxygen plant has saved lives and is helping to bridge health gaps in the eight other states where similar plants are located.
She further explained that the visit reflects the organisation’s commitment “not only to create opportunities for impact but to also continue supporting the healthcare industry by carrying out such interventions that directly impact individuals and saves lives. This plant is one of the nine oxygen plants we have built across the federation,” she said.
“We are particularly excited that it is helping to bridge health gaps—not just in Rivers State and its environs, but in all the states where the plants are currently located.”
Oguntuga informed that in terms of sustainability “we focus our intervention sustainability on four pillars; ethics and governance, education and economic growth, environment and climate change and finally, people and communities”.
She added that “the visit to the Rivers State oxygen plant is to have an assessment of how well the plant is functioning, the impact it is currently making and to generally understand how the operation is going”.
On his part, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Port Harcourt, Dr Anslem Audu, stated that the plant has been very functional and useful to the people of Rivers State. According to him, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of patients needed oxygen and oxygen was not available. So many children will come down with pneumonia and it will become an emergency, they will need oxygen, but oxygen is not available in the hospital. But with this plant now available no child will die because of lack of oxygen in the hospital. The era of lack of oxygen is no longer there.
Audu added that “You can practically visit any of the hospitals in Port Harcourt and find out that they have oxygen and the product is from this plant all thanks to IHS Nigeria, the Canadian Government and UNICEF”.
The UNICEF field officer, who confirmed that the plant is functioning optimally, said it is producing enough oxygen for the state’s needs.
In his words, “The partnership between these three organizations and the Ministry of Health in Rivers State has really worked, and we are reaping the benefits of the partnership.
He urged the implementing partners, especially the government, to also invest in the sustainability of the facility by providing a source of electricity for the plant to be more functional.
Earlier, the Medical Director Eleme General Hospital, Dr Leechi-Okere Clarabelle, noted that since the day of the unveiling, the plant has been functioning very well. Commenting on impact he noted that “We’ve had success stories whereby oxygen is distributed to public hospitals in the state, including the two teaching hospitals in the state and then we have also extended distribution to some private hospitals within the state.
“We have two hubs that serve as storage and distribution points because of the location of the plant. We produce here and store somewhere in Port Harcourt so that people who come from a far distance can get oxygen from these hubs.
News
JAMB Accuses Student of Securing Admission through Identity Fraud

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has accused a 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate of manipulating his identity and engaging in online blackmail.
Fabian Benjamin, head of public affairs, JAMB, issued a statement on the matter on Thursday.
He said one Chinedu Okeke, currently a 400-level Medicine and Surgery student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), gained admission in 2021 while claiming to be from Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos state.
JAMB said Okeke’s national identification number (NIN) records from 2021 confirm his Lagos origin.
The board stated it does not alter candidate information provided through NIN.
The board, however, said the 400-level student, who is facing potential challenges for incorrect credentials, is now claiming that it retrieved the wrong details for him from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in 2021.
“[This] is unequivocally false, aimed at fabricating a defence for his case,” Benjamin said.
“The evidence suggests that Chinedu altered his records as filled in 2021 before registering for the 2025 UTME, a fact confirmed by even his advocates.”
The board questioned why a 400-level medical student would seek to study mechanical engineering in 2025, especially with “inconsistencies in his claims.”
JAMB alleged that Okeke “took advantage” of Lagos state’s quota in 2021, thereby obstructing the admission opportunities for other deserving candidates from the state.
It added that he then “attempted to manipulate his details with the NIMC” to unjustly claim representation from Anambra state in 2025.
The board criticised “online advocates” for “actively reaching out to Chinedu’s parents to extract emotional narratives rather than factual clarifications, neglecting to seek information directly from the university.”
JAMB affirmed its commitment to maintaining accurate records and preventing candidates from exploiting loopholes.
It warned that if UNN confirms any inconsistencies, it would notify the Medical and Dental Council to consider delisting Okeke.
“When a nation trivialises illegalities, it breeds a future fraught with potential criminality,” Benjamin’s statement concluded.
- Telecom2 days ago
NCC Speaks of Plans to Secure Telecom Infrastructure Nationwide
- General News2 days ago
Airtel Nigeria Drives BFSI and Utility Sector Innovation with Industry-wide Workshop
- Telecom2 days ago
Africa’s Lawmakers Commit to Strengthening AI, Digital Health and Smart Manufacturing Frameworks
- E-Financial2 days ago
UBA Expands to More African Cities, Stamps Footprint in Saudi Arabia
- General News2 days ago
EFCC Says Corrupt Politicians are Using Crypto Wallets to Launder Money
- E-Financial2 days ago
Ecobank Plans to Raise $250m Capital Through Private Placement
- News2 days ago
IHS Nigeria, UNICEF Donate Oxygen Plant to Bridge Health Gap in River State
- Telecom2 days ago
NITDA DG: AI Is an Ally for Innovation, Not an Enemy