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(Nigeria)  Old and new subscribers to telecoms service provider, Globacom, will benefit from a new MiFi and Router offer which connects up-to 32 Wi-Fi-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and game consoles at once. The offer gives subscribers FREE 60GB and 180 GB data upon purchase and activation of a MiFi and Router respectively According to the company, the devices ensure faster downloads, faster music and movie streaming, faster gaming experience and seamless video calls on various smart devices can be used by Students, corporate employees, small and medium scale businesses or by individual subscribers on the go seamlessly. “ Nigerians can purchase the devices from any of our Gloworld one-stop shops or partner outlets.  All they need to do is insert a registered Glo SIM into the MiFi or Router device to access the free 60GB and 180 GB once the device is switched on”, Globacom stated in a press release on Wednesday. The ...

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court in Lagos has stopped President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country, and shutting down the stations for allegedly failing to renew their licenses. Trial judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko on Monday, granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE. SERAP and NGE had last week filed a lawsuit against Buhari and NBC, asking the court for “a declaration that section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten to revoke the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and to shut down the stations is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression.” In the suit, SERAP and NGE had asked the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and NBC, their agents from revoking the licenses...

(Nigeria) Glo subscribers have been commended for their massive  support to the company in the last 19 years. Globacom commenced operation on August 29, 2003. In a statement in Lagos, Globacom stated that "it ha s  been an eventful and fulfilling 19 years of operations". Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Bisi Koleosho, who thanked Nigerians, particularly Glo subscribers, for their faith in the company, assured them of the company's commitment  to the provision of world-class communications and digital services.  This, according to him, is part of the corporate promise by Globacom at launch to build a robust communications and technology infrastructure that would provide a top-notch network that will stand test of time. Mr. Koleosho said, " As we celebrate our remarkable achievements these past 19 years, we wish to thank our subscribers for keeping faith with us these past 19 years. We assure them that Globacom will remain ...

(Nigeria) A  Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki , Ebonyi State,  has convicted and sentenced a job scammer, Emeka Anaga, to a total of 404 years imprisonment, for conspiracy and fraud. Justice Akintayo Aluko on Wednesday gave the verdict through zoom, while delivering judgment in a separate charge filed against the convict by the Abakaliki Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC. The convict was arraigned in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State division of the Federal High Court, in 2018 and 2019, where Justice Aluko was formerly sitting, on 39 and 6 counts charges marked FHC/AI/8c/2019 and FHC/AI/62c/2018, on a 39 and six count charges respectively. In the charges, the convict and one Barrister Ken, said to be at large, were accused of introducing themselves to their victim, as a staff of Etisalat telecommunications Limited now 9Mobile, and that he was capable of securing them contract to supply fuel to   in all telecommunication companies. To...

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently instruct Mr Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, and the National Broadcasting Commission , NBC ,  to urgently withdraw the threat to revoke the licenses and shut down the operations of 53 broadcast stations in the country over alleged failure to renew their licenses.” The NBC had last week revoked the licenses of the 53 broadcast stations and threatened to shut down their operations within 24 hours over alleged N2.6 billion debt. The NBC has now asked the stations “to pay all outstanding license fees on or before August 23, 2022 or shut down by 12am on August 24.” But in a letter signed by SERAP ’s deputy director , Kolawole Oluwadare, the organi s ation said, “The threat to shut down 53 broadcast stations is neither necessary nor proportionate. If carried out, it would offend the legal principles of equity and equality of access to mass commu...

(Nigeria) Telecommunications Service Providers in the country have announced plans to increase the cost of calls, SMS, and data by 40 percent. This is coming, despite the huge profits declared by the telcos last year. Association of Licensed Telecommunication, ALTON, in a letter to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC , on Wednesday, entitled "Impact of the Economic and Security Issues on the Telecommunications Sector," attributed  the proposed tariff hike to the rising cost of running a business in the nation. The umbrella body for telecom companies including MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9Mobilie, while proposing the increase in calls and data rates, added that to further help telcos during this economic crisis, the commission should explore and provide other means of penalising operators rather than punitive monetary sanctions; extend the payment timeline of relevant regulatory levies and fees; prevail on the Federal Government to sign the executive order declaring telec...

(Nigeria) President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday warned Multichoice Nigeria not to dare Nigeria by going ahead to hike the tariffs of it's products while the matter is yet being investigated. Inaugurating a seven-member adhoc Committee of the Senate headed by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, the Senate President warned that no foreign operators in the country should take Nigeria for granted. The committee was set up by the Senate on Wednesday, April 30, 2022, against the backdrop of an announcement of tariff hike by the Multichoice pay TV service provider, DStv. "No operator should take us for granted. We mean business. We want you to be here. Nigeria always provide the climate for you to do your businesses but don't abuse the laws of our country. "Our consumers here are people who are innocent and we are prepared to protect them. "Meanwhile, stay action. No increase. No increase. And that is to say don't dare our coun...

(Nigeria) A National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos, has ordered Airtel Networks Limited to pay its former employee, Mr. Abdul-Hakeem Olasewere, N165,986,419.98 for wrongful dismissal. Trial judge, Justice J. D. Peters ordered Airtel to comply with the judgment "immediately". The sum comprises N100million as exemplary damages, N60million as as general damages and N1million as cost of this action. The judge also ordered Olasewere to pay Airtel N4,986,419.98 as outstanding balance due on a vehicle loan. "All the sums of money due and payable under this Judgment shall be paid with interest at the rate of 20% per annum from the date of this Judgment until final liquidation," Justice Peters held. The judge made the orders in Suit: NICN/LA/90/2014 filed by Olasewere through his counsel Dr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, while Oladapo Adeosun, SAN, represented the defendant. The claimant averred that he was employed by the Defendant on February 1, 2008, and, based on h...

*President Muhammadu Buhari  (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to review and rescind his reported approval for security agencies to access people’s personal details via NIN-SIM linkage without due process of law.” President Buhari had in February reportedly given his approval for some security agencies to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties. But in the suit number FHC/L/CS/448/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the approval for security agencies to access people’s personal details via the National Identification Number, NIN, without due process is consistent with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality.” SERAP is asking the court for “an order setting aside President Buhari’s approval for security agencies to acces...

(Nigeria) Director-General of the  National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has advised Corps Members to ignore online messages from criminals offering postings to preferred locations.  He gave the advice on Wednesday while addressing the 2022 Batch 'A' Stream One Corps Members at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Fanisau, Jigawa State.  Ibrahim stressed that postings and relocation were done free of charge, and warned them against making payments to anyone for those purposes.  The Director-General further warned that it was criminal to present fake medical reports for the purpose of obtaining concessional posting, adding that anyone caught doing so would face the full wrath of the law. He also decried the situation whereby some Prospective Corps Members with serious illnesses conceal their conditions in the course of registering for enlistment in the National Service.  According to him, the essence of disclosure of...

*Prof. Mansur Bindawa (Nigeria) The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Professor Mansur Bindawa as a Non-Executive Commissioner on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. The confirmation of the nominee on Tuesday followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Communications. The report was laid and presented by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (Kwara Central), on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central). Oloriegbe, in his presentation, said Bindawa’s nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, was in compliance with the provisions of Sections 5(3); 8(1); and 11(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. He added that the nominee met the statutory requirements regarding his professional and educational competence for appointment as Non-Executive Commissioner on the NCC Governing Board. He disclosed that preliminary checks did not reveal any record of indictment against the nominee by any administrative...

*NCC corporate head office in Abuja (Nigeria) The Senate on Tuesday received a request to confirm the nomination of Professor Mansur Auwalu Bindawa as Non-Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission. The request was contained in a letter dated January 10, 2022, and read on the floor by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary. President Buhari in the letter explained that the request was made pursuant to the provision of Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act. In another letter date January 4, 2022, President Buhari requested the chamber to confirm the nominations of Nnamonso Ekanem (Akwa-Ibom) and Mahmud Magaji (Niger) as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission. Ekanem and Magaji are expected to represent the South-South and North-Central zones, respectively. The letter reads in part: “In accordance with the provision of Section 154 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerians (as amended), I hereby prese...

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices and leadership position to “direct the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to provide our organisation with a copy of the agreement recently signed with Twitter, Inc, and to widely publish the details of any such agreement.” SERAP also urged him to “direct Alhaji Lai Mohammed to clarify the manner and scope in which the agreement with Twitter will be enforced, including whether the agreement incorporates respect for human rights, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international obligations.” In the letter dated January 15, 2022, by SERAP deputy director,  Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Publishing the agreement would enable Nigerians to scrutinize it, seek legal remedies as appropriate, and ensure that the conditions for lifting the suspension of Twitter are not used as pretexts to suppress ...

*President Muhammadu Buhari  (Nigeria)Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit asking the court for “an order of perpetual injunction to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami from unlawfully shutting down telecommunication networks in any part of the country.” In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1323/2021 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja SERAP is asking the court to “determine whether the shutdown of telecommunication networks in any part of Nigeria by the Buhari administration is unlawful, and a violation of the rights of access to correspondence, freedom of expression, information, and the press.” SERAP is also asking the court to “determine whether the shutdown of telecommunication networks in any part of the country is inconsistent with the principles of legality, proportionality and necessity, and the rights of access to correspondence, freedom of expression, information, and t...

(Nigeria) Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has come out tops on the gainer's chart in a quarter 3 report released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. NCC, in the report, indicated that Glo has continued to be the key driver of voice and internet subscriber growth in the country with 86% of the quarter-on-quarter growth recorded across the industry. This translated to 2,804,450 new subscribers and expanded its active customer base to 52,934,990 at the end of September, 2021. Airtel gained 369,842 new subscribers just as 9mobile recorded 75,341 new subscribers. However, MTN had a hard time adding to its subscriber base as it plummeted with the loss of 4,266 existing subscribers during the period under review. Globacom also had the most growth in new internet users’ growth, accounting for 68% of the total growth which stood at 1,497,139 subscribers with 38,902,243 internet users against 37,875,966 in Q2. Airtel finished Q3 with 36,706,811 data subscribers as against 36,...

*President Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari, asking the court to “declare illegal and unconstitutional the plan by the administration to track, intercept and monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls, and text messages of Nigerians and other people, as it severely threatens and violates the right to the preservation of privacy.” The suit followed the proposal in the Supplementary Appropriation Act signed in July 2021 to spend N4.87bn to monitor private calls and messages. The amount is part of the N895.8bn supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1240/2021 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining President Buhari and any other authority, persons or group of persons from unlawfully monitoring the WhatsApp messages, phone calls and text messages of Nigerians and oth...

*Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said that Nigeria has now become the technology investment destination in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that the Buhari administration will continue to step up efforts in providing stable macroeconomic, conducive business environment, infrastructure and security nationwide.   He added that Nigeria can reap more rewards from maximizing its immense potential, especially that of its youths, in a sustainable way in a knowledge-based economy. This is especially so because there is indeed a shortage of tech talents in the world, and Nigerian youths can fill that global gap.  Osinbajo stated this on Thursday during a one-day working visit to Kaduna State, where he was the Special Guest of Honour at the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST 6.0), with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable Knowledge-based Economy." KADINVEST, now in its sixth edition, is a platform to showcase and promote Kaduna State an...