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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.
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Lawyers Drags NLS to Court for Alleged Election Fraud, Data Violation

Two Nigerian lawyers have sued promoters of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) over allegations of electoral fraud and unlawful use of personal data.
The legal actions follow the recent election conducted by the NLS, a breakaway association formed as an alternative to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to elect its national officers.
In one of the suits, marked FHC/ABJ/05/1506/2025 and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, a lawyer, Timothy Tersugh Ahua, is challenging the conduct of the election and the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Ahua named several NLS promoters, including prominent lawyers, as defendants.
They include Senior Advocates, Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, Dr. Ugoji Eze, Secretary of the NLS Electoral Committee, and Chief Bolaji, Chairman of the NLS.
Others named in the suit are Ferguson Chioma Blessing, Chief Emeka Ichoku, and Tejumola Adigun.
Citing provisions of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, Ahua is asking the court to declare that the NLS electoral process violated its constitution.
He is seeking a declaration that all unopposed candidates, including himself, be declared elected, as published by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the alternate Chairman of the NLS Electoral Committee.
Ahua claims he was duly nominated for the position of Secretary General but was unjustly excluded, accusing the defendants of hand-picking candidates in breach of the rules.
He further alleged that the exclusion caused him financial loss, reputational damage, and personal hardship, urging the court to correct what he described as a grave injustice.
In a separate suit before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, another lawyer, Oluwadare Thomas, sued Chief Mela Nunghe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ugoji Eze, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), over alleged violation of his data privacy rights.
Thomas is asking the court to determine whether the use and publication of his personal data by NLS election officials without his consent amounts to a breach of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
He also wants the court to consider whether the use of the NLS name for the election, despite a CAC notice and a pending suit, constitutes contempt of court and abuse of legal process.
He is seeking several declaratory and injunctive reliefs, including a court order restraining the continued use of his personal data and an order compelling NITDA and NDPC to investigate and sanction the respondents.
Thomas is also demanding N50m in compensation for the alleged unlawful processing and exposure of his personal information.
News
NASRDA Celebrates Chief Owolabi Salis on His Historic Space Mission

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has congratulated Chief Owolabi Salis on his successful space flight. He becomes the first person of Nigerian birth to travel to space.
Chief Salis privately funded his space mission, demonstrating the deep interest of Nigerians to participate in scientific, exploratory, tourism and commercial space activities. His achievement highlights new opportunities for private sector engagement in space Program.
This milestone brings significant international attention to Nigeria’s space program, capabilities, while positioning the nation among countries where citizens actively participate in space activities.
In a statement signed by Dr. Felix Ale, director, Media and Corporate Communications, NASRDA, stated that chief Salis’s successful mission represents one pathway for Nigerian space participation. “His achievement complements NASRDA’s ongoing efforts to expand access to space exploration for Nigerian citizens.
“NASRDA received notification of Chief Salis’s mission through our partner organization, Space Research and Exploration Agency (SERA), prior to the flight. His success demonstrates the expanding opportunities now available to Nigerians in the space sector.
“However, it must be emphasized that the NASRDA-SERA collaborative mission, announced in June 2024, remains on course for an upcoming Blue Origin flight. This program represents a different pathway, providing opportunities for broader Nigerian participation through open competition.
“Our collaborative mission will enable Nigerian citizens to participate in astronaut selection and contribute to the development of research proposals. Eligibility extends to all Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above through transparent, merit-based selection criteria.
“Research priorities for the NASRDA-SERA mission will also be determined through public input from Nigerian citizens. This approach ensures the mission addresses national priorities identified by Nigerian citizens,” the statement added.
The application portal for the NASRDA-SERA program will open in the coming weeks. Detailed application procedures will be announced prior to the portal’s activation.
NASRDA celebrates Chief Salis’s contribution to raising awareness about space exploration opportunities for Nigerians. His private investment demonstrates the practical commitment of Nigerian citizens to advancing our national space participation.
Chief Salis’s achievement marks a defining moment for Nigeria’s space ambitions. Nigeria now has both private citizens and government programs actively pursuing space exploration, positioning the nation as an active participant in the global space economy.
For additional information regarding NASRDA programs or the SERA collaborative mission, contact the agency’s Media and Corporate Communication Department.
News
NIA Questions Legality of Reps’ Financial Probe

The Nigerian Insurers Association has urged the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to respect the constitutional separation of powers as it carries out a probe on over 20 insurance firms.
In a statement on Tuesday night, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIA, Mrs Bola Odukale, said the decision of NIA and the affected firms to approach the court was to seek clarity on the constitutional limits of the House Committee’s probe.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives on Monday is investigating no fewer than 25 insurance companies operating in the country for various financial infractions spanning financial reporting, claims settlement, premium remittance, and issuance of policies.
The Chairman, House Sub-Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Kwamoti Laori, during a meeting with the management of the insurance companies at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, said the meeting was convened following the receipt of a petition on infractions by the insurance companies.
In the statement, Odukale said, “The Association wishes to state unequivocally that all actions taken by the NIA and the affected member companies in response to the Committee’s invitations and pronouncements were based entirely on legal advice by its Solicitors. It was on the firm instruction of legal counsel that recourse was made to the courts.
“The objective of approaching the Court is to seek judicial guidance on the legality, propriety, and constitutional limits of the Committee’s intervention in order to safeguard institutional integrity, uphold regulatory independence, and ensure that legislative oversight remains within the bounds of law.
“The Court action seeks to determine whether the current posture of the Committee reflects an exercise of legislative judgment, which, by constitutional design, is the exclusive province of statutory regulators, such as the National Insurance Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange, Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and the National Information Technology Development Agency.
“This raises serious questions about legislative overreach and an erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”
Odukale maintained that the NIA was committed to lawful and constructive engagement with all arms of government, provided that such engagement respects the autonomy of statutory regulators and the boundaries established by the Constitution.
“The NIA will continue to provide its full support to all member companies while upholding the principles of legal compliance and sector-wide integrity,” Odukale concluded.
17 of the companies that went to court were represented by their lawyer, Mr Abimbola Kayode, at the meeting with the committee.
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