Category: Technology - Page 8 - African News Today

SIM Card to be Linked to National Identity Number – FG

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

SIM Card to be Linked to National Identity Number – FG

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has directed that SIM cards be linked to National Identity Number (NIN). The directive follows an earlier order by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the suspension of new SIM card registration by network operators pending a database audit. The minister who issued the new directive on Monday during an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry, gave telecoms operators two weeks to link subscribers’ registered SIM cards on their networks to their NIN, which is currently being issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He further added that submission of NIN by subscribers must take place within two weeks from today December 16, 2020, and end by December 30, 2020...

Insecurity: DSS Absolves Security Agencies of Blame, Asks Nigerians for Support

14Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Insecurity: DSS Absolves Security Agencies of Blame, Asks Nigerians for Support

The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked Nigerians to rally support in checkmating insecurity rather than blaming the security agencies. The call was made by the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, in Abuja during the Security and Emergency Awards (SEMA 2020), where the organisation was conferred with an award by a security tabloid, Emergency Digest. Bichi who was represented by Peter Afunanya, service spokesperson said the support of the citizens was vital, especially in gathering intelligence. He stressed that was a need for Nigerians to recommit themselves to building a nation where the security of life and property is guaranteed. "We call on Nigerians to support security agencies and the government. Security is no longer for government and security agencies; there is...

FG Slashes Data Cost by 50 Percent – Pantami

10Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

FG Slashes Data Cost by 50 Percent – Pantami

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said government has crashed the cost of data to below 50 per cent of its initial price in January 2020. Pantami disclosed this in a statement issued by his Technical Assistant (Information Technology), Dr Femi Adeluyi, dated December 9, 2020. The minister said that the average cost of 1GB of data has reduced from the January 2020 cost of N1,000 to N487.18 in November, 2020, representing more than 50 per cent slash in the price. The statement read, “Measures have been put in place to significantly reduce the average cost of data. The average cost of 1GB of data has reduced from the January 2020 cost of N1,000 to N487.18 in November, 2020. This was based on a Report by the Nigerian Communications Comm...

9Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Information Technology, News, Nigeria

NCC Halts Sale, Registration of New SIM

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered Mobile Network Operators to immediately halt the sale and activation of new SIM cards pending an audit of the Subscriber Registration Database. This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC Director of Public Affairs who disclosed that it was pertinent for operators to comply until the audit exercise had been concluded. Adinde said that the audit was directed by Dr. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, noting that an exemption might be granted following approval from the Federal Government through the commission. According to the director, sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license would be meted out to operators who fail to comply with the di...

NCC Approves e-SIM Trial for MTN, 9mobile

2Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Nigeria

NCC Approves e-SIM Trial for MTN, 9mobile

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has granted approval for two mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile, to carry out trial on the workability of embedded Subscriber Identification Modules (e-SIM) Service in Nigeria. The regulatory body added that the trial would run for a period of one year, noting that it would involve testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the two networks. A statement by the Public Affairs Director of NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde said the trial is subject to compliance with a number of regulatory conditions. Dr Adinde announced that the conditions include full compliance by the MNOs with the Registration of Telecoms Subscribers Regulations 2011; the Mobile Number Portability Regulations and Business Rules 2015. He added that guidelines on SI...

#EndSARS: ‘We Had Option to Shutdown Social Media’ – Minister Says as He Advocates Cyberspace Regulation

2Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Youths

#EndSARS: ‘We Had Option to Shutdown Social Media’ – Minister Says as He Advocates Cyberspace Regulation

Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development said that even though the Federal Government had the option to shut down the social media space to quell the #EndSARS protests that took place last month, it chose to allow the freedom of expression. The minister who disclosed this while featuring on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme said there was need to ensure control of the cyberspace. Dare said other nations had undertaken measures to assert some level of limitation over the social media space but Nigeria remained an exception. The minister while admitting that the social media have enormous benefits, said that as a country, we must start to think of how to curtail fake news. There must be some level of responsibility and some level of punishment to those that...

CBN Website Hacked? Bank Reacts to Speculated Hacking

17Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN Website Hacked? Bank Reacts to Speculated Hacking

Nigeria’s apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has dismissed speculations of its website being hacked on Friday. The reports became rife after the website of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was hacked yesterday (Friday) by a group. In a statement on its official Twitter handle, CBN said that its website was safe and secure as opposed to reports of it being hacked. The bank asked Nigerians to desist from spreading false news as its website had not been tampered with and fully secured against hackers. The CBN said, “Contrary to claims on social media alleging that the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been breached by malicious persons, we wish to state categorically that our website is secure. “We also wish to advise the online community to desist from ...

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

3Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified the concession of the automation project of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed said the automation project will cost $3.1 billion. She noted the project will be concessioned for 20 years. The council also approved N13.122 billion for automation of airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and consequent transformation of the airports from their current analogue to full digital operations Ahmed said, “The main objective of this project is to completely automate every aspect of the customs business and to institutionalize the use of smart and emerging technologies that will enhance the statutory function of the Nigerian Customs Service in the areas of revenue gener...

Angola’s Internet Population Surpasses 6 Million

29Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Angola’s Internet Population Surpasses 6 Million

Angola’s National Director of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Matias Borges has said the country now boasts of over 6.8 million internet users. Borges said 6,857,062 users of internet services have been registered in all parts of the country, noting that 22,000 km of fiber optic has been installed in 18 provinces, CGTN reports. The country plans to continue developing telecommunications and communication infrastructure to help promote good governance, state reform, and modernization of the public administration, Gorges said. He said, “The goal is to enable the entire population to benefit from the advantages of telecommunications, even those people who live in the most remote areas of the country.” The director added that Angola plans to increase broadband capaci...

Google Celebrates Kenyan Hero, Mekatilili wa Menza

9Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Kenya, News, Women Empowerment

Google Celebrates Kenyan Hero, Mekatilili wa Menza

Google has dedicated a customized Doodle on its homepage to honouring Mekatilili wa Menza, Kenya’s foremost liberation fighter. She is famed for leading the Giriama people to counter colonial masters in the early 20th century. Google in a tweet said, “Today, we honor Mekatilili wa Menza, the Giriama Wonder Woman who had a heart that was full of passion. Passion for freedom. Freedom against the oppressors of her people. We remember that her resistance quest led to her imprisonment in a far land in western Kenya and that she had to walk 965 kilometers to get back to her land after escaping from the prison.” Kenyan coast celebrates her legacies during the festivities of the popular Malindi Cultural Festival, a yearly event of local history and price. Coronavirus restrictions may hind...