Communication

FG Halts Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Realignment Over Submarine Cables
Communication, Infrastructure, News, Nigeria

FG Halts Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Realignment Over Submarine Cables

Lagos, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially abandoned plans for the proposed realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, citing the presence of critical submarine cables along the coastline as the primary reason for this decision. This announcement was made during the 3rd Stakeholders Meeting in Lagos by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi. Key Concerns Over Submarine Cables Minister Umahi detailed that the planned diversion of the highway, which would have traversed through coastal areas, posed significant risks to the submarine cables. These cables are essential for the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, and any disruption could lead to severe network outages across Nigeria. In response to these concerns, telecommunication companies had previousl...
<strong>NBC Okays 67 New Radio, TV Stations</strong>
Communication, News, Nigeria

NBC Okays 67 New Radio, TV Stations

The Federal Government has ratified 67 new broadcast licences for radio and television stations nationwide. This was disclosed by the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mallam Balarabe Ilelah on Thursday. Ilelah urged broadcasters not to relent abiding by the NBC Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act, and any extant law that guides media operations to ensure that the general election is free, fair, and credible. The development comes less than three months to the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Critics label it a parting gift from the Buhari administration. NBC DG asked licensees that are yet to pay their debts to do the needful. According to Ilelah, the approval of the 67 broadcast licences would amount ...
<strong>NBC Fines Arise TV N2m Over Report on Tinubu   </strong>
Communication, News, Nigeria

NBC Fines Arise TV N2m Over Report on Tinubu   

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has announced a N2 million fine for Arise television over a fake report about Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. This was contained in a statement issued by Balarabe Shehu Helah, the NBC Director General. Arise television had broadcast a report that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was carrying out an investigation into Tinubu’s alleged drug trafficking crime. See Also: Tiktokers To Be Flogged In Kano For Defaming Ganduje Social media was agog with a statement reportedly issued by INEC, however, the electoral umpire on Saturday dismissed the report as a handiwork of mischief makers. Following the development, the television station on Sunday tendered an apology to ...
BBC and Trust TV to Face Sanctions By Federal Government
Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria, Power, Terrorism

BBC and Trust TV to Face Sanctions By Federal Government

The Federal Government has vouched to sanction the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Trust TV for propagandising terrorism and banditry. The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed made the announcement on Thursday. This announcement came after media houses, Trust TV and BBC Africa Eye aired documentaries showcasing the activities of bandits and terrorists. Lai Mohammed reacted to the documentaries, calling the media houses unprofessional as they intended on promoting activities of terror and violence. See Also: Bandits Abduct Motorists On Abuja – Kaduna Highway He criticized the media house, Trust TV for interviewing bandit kingpin, Shehu Rekeb, saying the media outlet is promoting the acts of terrorists. The Minister also condemned the BBC, saying...
SIM-NIN: Deactivated Subscribers Storm Telecom Outlets, Queues Mount
Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

SIM-NIN: Deactivated Subscribers Storm Telecom Outlets, Queues Mount

SIM Cards Some telecommunication subscribers were left stranded on Tuesday after telecom companies barred their lines from making calls following a directive from the Federal Government. The Federal Government had on Monday directed telecom companies to enforce compliance with its National Identification Number-Subscriber Identity Module policy by blocking outgoing calls on all unlinked lines after the deadline for the SIM-NIN verification expired on March 31. While giving the directive, the government revealed that 125 million SIMs had submitted their NINs for linkage. The Nigerian Communications Commission stated that there were 197.77 million active telecom subscribers as of February 2022. This means that over 72.77 million active telecom subscribers will be affected...
Telecom Operators Block Unlinked NIN-SIM Calls
Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

Telecom Operators Block Unlinked NIN-SIM Calls

SIM Cards The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has complied with the Federal Government’s order to block certain lines. ALTON says subscribers affected are those yet to link their National Identification Number (NIN) with their SIM. The Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and Head of Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga, made an announcement on Tuesday via a statement. They confirmed that operators received a formal directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Read Also: MTN, GLO, Other Telecoms Companies In Nigeria Threaten To Increase Tariffs The body said lines that are not in compliance with the NIN-SIM Linkage Policy requirement would remain shut out. The policy requires that all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) must be...
NIN-SIM Linkage: FG Orders Telcos To Bar Outgoing Calls On All Unregistered SIMs
Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

NIN-SIM Linkage: FG Orders Telcos To Bar Outgoing Calls On All Unregistered SIMs

Isa Pantami The federal government has directed telecommunication companies to bar outgoing calls on all unlinked lines. Unlinked lines are subscriber identity module (SIM) cards not yet linked with the National Identification Number (NIN). In December 2020, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, announced the integration policy of SIM cards into the national identification number (NIN) database. Ikechukwu Adinde, director, public affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Kayode Adegoke, head, corporate communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), disclosed this in a joint statement on Monday. According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the NIN-SIM policy with effect from the...
NIN-SIM Linkage: Security Agencies Get Buhari’s Nod To Access Subscriber Details 
Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria, Security

NIN-SIM Linkage: Security Agencies Get Buhari’s Nod To Access Subscriber Details 

Some security agencies have got approval from President Muhammadu Buhari, to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties. As a result, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said his office through the Nigerian Communications Commission, has conveyed the approval to the relevant security agencies. He did not give the names of the security agencies.  He, however, said the development would enhance security as it would help security operatives to go after kidnappers and other criminals. Pantami disclosed this while speaking to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event, currently holding Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He said, “Some of the security institutio...
Nigeria To Launch New Satellite Worth N2.5billion In 2022 – Pantami
Communication, News, Nigeria, Uncategorized

Nigeria To Launch New Satellite Worth N2.5billion In 2022 – Pantami

Nigeria is set to launch the second satellite (Sat 2) into the orbit to boost the nation’s satellite communications’ capacity. The announcement was made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, at a one-day working visit and interactions with staff of Nigerian satellite Communications in Abuja. According to Vanguard, the minister hinted that he had secured the approval of President Mohammadu Buhari for purchasing of the satellite. He noted that he had gone further to lobby the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to ensure this was included in the 2022 Budget. Read Also: Nigeria Better With Conditions Met, Keyamo Returns To Twitter The existing Sat1R, which was launched in 2011 with a life span of 15 years, wi...
Nigeria Lost N10.72trillion To Twitter Ban — LCCI
Communication, Finance, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

Nigeria Lost N10.72trillion To Twitter Ban — LCCI

The Nigerian economy lost N10.72trillion to the suspension of microblogging platform, Twitter, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said. The figures were disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by Chinyere Almona, Director-General, LCCI. “In business terms, the cost of the seven-month shutdown of Twitter operations in Nigeria is estimated to be N10.72trillion ($26.1billion) according to Netblock’s Cost of Shutdown Tool,” Almona said. This is a huge loss to Nigeria as it represents about 63% of Nigeria's N17.1trillion budgeted for 2022. Recall that on June 4, the Nigeriag Government announced the suspension of Twitter after the social media platform deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari. Read Also: Twitter Reacts To Lifting Of Ban In Nigeria After Over 200 Da...