Month: August 2024

On the eve of Nigeria’s August Protest, the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) held its highly anticipated one-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja.

The event marked an important step forward in fostering dialogue between government actors and the private ICT sector. Despite the looming threat of national unrest, the event attracted a significant number of high-ranking officials from both state and federal levels, demonstrating the importance of the discussions at hand.

The meeting saw a robust presence from the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, as well as agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Notably, there was also a strong turnout of state officials, including Commissioners, Senior Special Assistants, Director Generals of ICT agencies, and Permanent Secretaries from over 20 states. This underscored the critical need for synergy between operators and state governments to optimize the benefits of ICT for citizens. The event marked an important step forward in fostering dialogue between government actors and the private ICT sector. The states want to engage with operators and are willing to promote a synergy to optimise the benefits of ICT to their citizens working closely with operators.

Representatives of ICT companies expressed their grievances about multiple taxation, right-of-way issues, and infrastructure security, highlighting the need for cooperation between ICT companies and local governments. For instance, the Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Justin Beshel, revealed that the state has a single tax platform to eliminate multiple tax points and supports operators with a Build-One policy and infrastructure framework.

Discussions also touched on the importance of clear communication and streamlined processes for obtaining operational permits. Several state officials, like the Special Adviser on ICT to the Ogun State Governor, Dayo Abiodun, stressed the need for direct engagement with state governments to facilitate business operations.

Abiodun emphasized that operators can secure swift responses to their requests by adhering to the appropriate channels, such as addressing correspondence directly to the Governor’s Office and to his own office. However, some participants argued that this approach seemed overly narrow. They suggested that a more institutionalized and comprehensive framework would offer greater efficiency and certainty in obtaining operational permits and approvals from government offices.

Chinwe Okoli, Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State on Innovation & Business Incubation, along with Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, highlighted that Anambra State has already established a robust framework for engagement. They noted that the state has clear policies in place to enhance the ease of doing business, and it is now up to the operators to leverage these opportunities.

The most significant outcome of the meeting was ATCON’s success in establishing a channel for effective communication between operators and state governments, facilitating the resolution of some of the sector’s most challenging issues.
The event marked an important step forward in fostering dialogue between government actors and the private ICT sector. ATCON President Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere highlighted the association’s commitment to bridging the gap between operators and state governments, ensuring mutual understanding and action for the sector’s development.

Despite the challenges, the ICT sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP surged above 13.5% in Q4 2023, indicating significant opportunities for growth. The ATCON meeting demonstrated that progress could be accelerated through enhanced collaboration between operators and state governments.  Even its critics will admit that the  initiative has successfully opened a channel for effective communication, paving the way for a more cooperative and efficient ICT sector in Nigeria.

Perhaps, more than anything else, the gathering highlighted that operators require support beyond the federal government to achieve their business objectives, and ongoing dialogue is crucial for building an industry that benefits all stakeholders. ATCON’s initiative to foster this communication is a commendable step towards that goal.

© ITEdgeNews

Some residents of CUDA, IBB, Satellite Town, and Edim Otop have expressed concern about the three-month-long power outage.

Residents stated that meetings had been held, and complaints to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) had yielded no positive results.

According to them, the situation became more unbearable as other zones within the same community had reliable power while they remained in the dark. Bassey Okon, a small-scale business owner of a barbershop, told Sentrytimes that his barbershop was his main source of income, but the blackout forced him out of business because of the high cost of petroleum.

“I use a borrowed generator, but my service prices must remain constant because it is difficult to raise prices and retain customers, so we must bear the consequences, but this situation has hurt me.”

“The electricity bill is better than constant fuel consumption because I spend over 5,000 naira on fuel in a day and the amount we charge customers cannot cover the fuel bill unless I have a large number of customers, which is not always true.

“I can tell you, like many others here, that we have been weighed down, crippled, and left with no hope until the power people decide to look our way,” he lamented.

Many other residents have made similar complaints, claiming that the situation has exacerbated the area’s security situation by making them more vulnerable to insecurity due to the darkness.

Mr Stephen Okara, a business owner near CUDA, claimed that the problem was caused by an overload of the area’s main transformer, which caused it to fail repeatedly.

He urged the government to intervene in the restoration of their light issues, which have resulted in massive losses in the current bleak economy.

The Member of the Council, Federal College of Education Kano State, and Chairman of the GFO Orim Foundation, Chief Hon (Dr) Martin Orim, has assured Cross River State’s resilient youths that the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu value their trust and are committed to addressing the challenges they face in the state and country in order to restore the state and country’s prosperity.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Chief Martin Orim stated that while he deeply feels struggles and the current difficulties in the country, he assured that the difficult times will eventually pass. “I encourage all of us to be patient and work together to support Governor Bassey Edet Otu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in fulfilling their campaign commitments”, he noted.

Hon Martin Orim expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the youths for how they handled the current nationwide protest, saying that their decision to refrain from participating in the protests, despite the numerous challenges, demonstrates their maturity and wisdom.

The Member of Council further noted that the composure and dignity with which Cross River youths upheld peace and harmony during this challenging time of the nationwide protest exemplify the enduring Spirit of Peace within the state. He said that the youths’ steadfast composure, dedication, and resilience set a powerful example of the state’s collective strength as a community.

“I thank you for choosing peace and for being beacons of hope. Together, we will work towards creating a brighter future for our district and a thriving state for future generations. Thank you, and may God bless you abundantly”, Orim concluded.

On Thursday, August 1, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urged those demonstrating against President Bola Tinubu’s administration to engage in constructive dialogue.

Wike expressed that the government is open to listening and is prepared to guide them on various governance matters they might not have been aware of.

He said: “Let me take this opportunity to commend the people, the youths of Abuja for not being violent. We have said severally that it is better to dialogue with the government and keep the peace. He who makes peace will at the end of the day enjoy the dividends of peace. I still want to talk to our people that we are still ready to sit down and dialogue with them and let them know things that they may not know because information is power. I commend the protesters in Abuja who have refused to be violent.”

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and frontline aspirant for the Chairmanship position of Obanliku Local Government Area, Chief Sunday Ayang has advised youths to shelve the proposed nationwide protest billed to commence today, Thursday, August 1, 2024, and engage in dialogue with government representatives.

Chief Sunny Ayang who spoke during an interface with a group of youths in Obanliku noted that engaging in any form of protest at this time will be an ill wind that will not be beneficial to the people of Obanliku.

He admitted the fact that hardship and hunger were indeed biting hard on Nigerians, he however pointed out that the best way forward is to have a positive and robust engagement with representatives of government, critical stakeholders, leaders of thought and other meaningful unions.

He highlighted that the youths should think of measures they can collaborate with the government towards tackling unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and a decaying educational system.

He further admonished the youths not to join the protest, emphasising that it was anti-progressive and anti-developmental. He took a reminiscence on the 2020 #EndSARS protest which led to the loss of lives, vandalisation and looting of private and government properties, and businesses. “We are yet to recover from these losses and we can’t afford to experience such a negative trend any longer.”

He concluded that “the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu has a listening ear and he is already doing everything possible towards ensuring Obanliku people and the state at large enjoys democratic dividends. So far, his intervention includes payment of 2024 WAEC fees, road construction and rehabilitation, release of funds for settlement of outstanding gratuities, payment of grants, etc. He will do more to assuage hardship, let’s give him some time. “