IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Chris Onyemenam, the Director General, National Identity Management Commission, the guest speaker at the April edition of Information Value Chain Breakfast Forum, stated this at a monthly breakfast forum organised by Digital Jewels Limited. He said registration had already begun in Lagos and Abuja.

According to Aderounmu during the inauguration at College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Osun State University main campus recently, the forum will discuss how best automation or computerization of existing paper-based procedures to enhance access and delivery of government services to the citizens will drive economic growth.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has restated its commitment to support government’s digital transformation agenda, through the planned auction of two additional 3.5GHz spectrum licenses for the massive rollout of the country’s Fifth Generation (5G) network in 2023.

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who restated the commitment at the TechTV Digital Agenda Forum, which held in Lagos recently, said the Commission would not be distracted by any group, having put all necessary measures in place to ensure the success of the spectrum action this December.

This, among other issues formed the summation of a communique issued at the end of the third meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology, NCCT, held in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State recently.

To achieve the Federal Government’s target of five-fold increase in broadband penetration in Nigeria by 2017, the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) has solicited the cooperation of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

James Lalu, executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has expressed the readiness of the organisation to partner the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on the inclusive smart city project.

He said this while receiving representatives of the FCTA, department of social welfare, in his office on August 15, 2023.

Lalu reaffirmed the need to use the FCT as a model city that will be more accommodating of PWDs through the adoption of minimum accessibility standards.

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), umbrella body for all Information Technology (IT) professionals, has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buahri on the need for a harmonised national database for the country.

Buhari had recently given directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that collect biometric data, to harmonise the collection and usage of biometric data instead of replicating efforts.

One major thing identified by stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry that will impact both the sector and the economy as a whole will be the faster implementation of the New National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025).

Indeed, a notable achievement of the sector in the last one year of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in the ICT sector is the draft of the broadband plan, championed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali-Pantami with the support of the Prof. Umar Danbatta-led Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

e-Government Strategies (NeGSt) has unveiled the Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (TAS) project, a digital tool designed to eliminate corruption, improve efficiency, create employment and increase the size of the Nigerian economy.

Speaking at the virtual unveiling of TAS, the Executive Vice Chairman, NeGSt, Dr. Felix Obada, said having achieved success with the pilot project, NeGSt is set to boldly fulfil its mandate and help Nigeria address endemic corruption and inefficiency in the delivery of government services with the launch of TAS.

The current public private partnership between the Delta State Government and Mobile Software Solutions Limited to drive technology innovation through a dedicated hub, will help diversify the state's economy beyond oil.

Following the dearth of technology skills among Nigerian youths, governments across all levels are beginning to device new ways of developing human capacity skills in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), designed to drive technology innovation across the country.

The first set of lucky recipients would get theirs on September 30 as part of independence anniversary celebrations. According to the NIMC timetable, about 100 million Nigerians are expected to be issued the NIN within 30 months; the exercise is targeted for completion in 60 months.

The Director General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Barr Chris Onyemenam who disclosed this in Abuja at the stakeholder's workshop on Biometrics, Demographics Data Standards and Verification Procedures for the National Identity Management System (NIMS) said the commission is targeting more than 150 million Nigerians for registration in the pilot six locations.

The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) at the weekend officially commenced the provision of In-Orbit Test (IOT) service for the Belarus National System of Satellite Communications and Broadcasting called Belintersat.

The service which NIGCOMSAT won through international bidding, it was learnt, would rake in $6 million for Nigeria for the 15-year period the service would last.

Nigeria and Turkey are now best buddies on satellite communications

A deal that would allow the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (Nigcomsat) to deploy telecoms services via satellite has been signed by the company and its Turkish counterpart, the Turkish Satellite Company (Turksat).

The agreement was signed in Ankara, Turkey, by Kazeem Kolawole Raji, executive director of NigComSat and Hasan Huseyin Ertok, vice-president of the Turkish company.

When it begins full commercial operations next month, Nigeria’s replaced communications satellite, the NigComSat-1R, will provide bandwidth connectivity to over 60 per cent of governtment’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT Limited, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, disclosed this during an interactive session with reporters in Abuja.

He listed the benefits of the satellite to government agencies and other business enterprises to include reduction in the cost of bandwidth acquisition, which costs Nigeria N75billion yearly.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged the support of the FCTA for the proposed Smart City Project of the Niger State Government at Suleja town, bordering the Territory.

Malam Bello who made this pledge at a meeting with a delegation from Niger State led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, expressed delight at the call for a partnership between the FCTA and Niger state.

Nihilent, according to the agreement would work with NITDA in defining the character and ethos of the e-Governance awards through various activities including identification of different award categories, formulation of awards criteria, and formation of awards committee by selecting members, amongst others.

Onyemenam said on Sunday at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that multiplicity of identification had been a major challenge facing the commission.

To achieve the target, the Director General, NIMC, Dr. Chris Onyemenam, said the Commission would establish collaboration with all the 774 local government areas in the country under, the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON. Stressing the need for the collaboration while speaking at the pre-summit meeting of first Local Government Areas Summit on the National Identity Management System in Abuja.

The Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC) has said that its Single Window Investors Portal (SWIP) that aimed to facilitate business and investments in the country would be available by the first quarter of 2021.

Mr Sabo Isiaku, Head of Corporate Services Division, NIPC, disclosed this on Monday, in Abuja, at the NIPC Media Retreat organised for Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN).