Telecom Archives — Page 8 of 9 — Business Bells

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Category: Telecom

  • FG Planning To Replace BVN With NIN – Minister

    FG Planning To Replace BVN With NIN – Minister

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has said the Federal Government plans to replace Bank Verification Numbers with the National Identity Numbers.

     

    The minister said this while briefing newsmen after a facility tour and inspection of the ongoing NIN enrolment exercise at NIMC and other designated centres in Abuja.

     

    He said he had made a presentation to the National Economic Sustainability Committee and drew the attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor on the need to replace BVN with NIN.

     

    According to him, the BVN is a regulator’s policy, while NIN is a law.

     

    He said, “The strength of the law wherever you go is not the same with a policy of one institution.’’

     

    The minister noted that BVN was only applicable to those who had a bank accounts while NIN was for every citizen and legal resident in the country.

     

    “BVN is our secondary database, while NIN and the database is the primary one in the country that each and every institution should make reference to NIMC,” he said.

     

    Pantami boasted that Nigeria was at the forefront in Africa in regard to data protection regulations, claiming that the level of security in the entire database was 99.9 per cent.

     

    He said, “That is why we came up with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation that we always enforce and this is applicable to the database at our disposal.

     

    “We take care of it and make sure that security is excellent and we don’t allow anybody to compromise the content because it is a trust from our citizens given to us.’’

     

    Giving reasons the government engaged private agents for the NIN enrolment, the minister said the move was in line with the global standard.

     

    He emphasised the need for NIMC to focus on regulatory work and set the standards for biometrics registration, measuring of heights, standard for data to be collected and general verification.

     

    In another development, Pantami has called on the organised private sector to enhance collaboration with government, adding that the economy of Nigeria is dependent on how it faired.

     

    Pantami said this in his address at National Directorate of Employment/Federal Government’s Special Public works programme commissioning where 11,000 unemployed youth in Gombe State were engaged with work tools.

     

    He said an enabling environment was key to harvesting the gains associated with private sector, stressing that the current dispensation had provided friendly atmosphere for businesses to thrive.

     

    The minister said, “The economy of Nigeria relies more on the private sector than the public sector.

     

    “If you look at our GDP collectively, it is approximately around $450bn which is the highest in Africa. If you compute, you will discover that the entire stage of government particularly the federal level is approximately around 8.5 per cent, while that of the private sector is more than 91.5 per cent. Government cannot do without collaborating with the private sector.

     

    “What government must do is to provide enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and this is what we have been doing every day to come up with policies for the private sector to thrive.

     

    “This is what brought about tax holiday, visa on arrival in Nigeria, online registration of companies by CAC.”

     

    While hailing the public works initiative, the minister said it would reignite social service.

  • [Fraud ALERT]: FG Debunks Individual NIN Registration Website, Warns Nigerians Against Online Enrollment

    [Fraud ALERT]: FG Debunks Individual NIN Registration Website, Warns Nigerians Against Online Enrollment

    The Federal Government through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has debunked it has approved an alleged individual National Identification Number (NIN) registration website.

     

    In a statement on the official twitter handle of NIMC on Monday, the commission said the website is not associated with NIMC.

     

    While warning Nigerians not to become victims and to protect their personal information, the NIMC disclosed that the website (http://bit.ly/NIN-ONLINE-REGISTRATION) is run by fraudsters.

    “Disclaimer. The website is not associated with NIMC. It is run by fraudsters. Protect your personal information, do not become a victim,” it stated.

  • Minister Lauds MTN For Appointing Nigerian CEO

    Minister Lauds MTN For Appointing Nigerian CEO

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has commended MTN Nigeria for appointing a Nigerian to lead the telecommunications and ICT services provider.

     

    According to a statement issued on Sunday, Pantami gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by MTN’s Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, Chief Executive Officer-designate, Karl Toriola, and Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo.

     

    The statement said the aim of the visit was to officially introduce the CEO-designate to the minister and to demonstrate commitment to the MTN Nigerianization Agenda – an initiative geared at increasing local participation in the telco’s top management and promoting local content.

     

    Ndukwe gave the assurance that plans were underway to give Nigerians more access to the MTN opportunity.

     

    “In spite of the current limitations, we are working with stakeholders to increase local ownership of MTN Nigeria and at the same time increase equity in Nigeria’s capital markets,” he added.

     

    Pantami also praised MTN Nigeria for its corporate social investment activities through the MTN Foundation.

  • MTN Expands NIN Enrolment Capabilities To Rural Areas

    MTN Expands NIN Enrolment Capabilities To Rural Areas

    MTN has said it is exponentially increasing capacity to provide National Identity Number enrolment services across its customer interaction touch points pan-Nigeria, rural locations inclusive.

     

    The telco in a statement issued on Thursday said it had deployed an onsite appointment booking system designed to limit indoor crowding, alongside standard COVID-19 safety protocols at its service centres, adding that it planned to launch an online version shortly.

     

    The company said this was to further support the Federal Government and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s efforts to drive the NIN registration.

     

    According to MTN, a reliable and sustainable national identity management system would deliver multiple benefits to the telecoms industry and the country as a whole by aiding national economic planning and enhancing security, governance and service delivery at all levels.

     

    MTN reiterated its commitment to roll out thousands of enrolment devices across all geo-political zones, noting that it had already commenced enrolment for NINs at a limited number of its service centres across Nigeria.

     

    “We seek the continued patience and understanding of our esteemed customers and the public as we continue scaling up capacity,” said the Chief Customer Relations Officer for MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye.

     

    He gave the assurance that the telco was working with the NIMC and Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to expand the number of enrolment centres, and ensure they provided an access point for as many Nigerians.

     

    “This involves close collaboration between other Mobile Network Operators and NIMC to ensure certification and technical integration is seamless while offering maximum possible protection from COVID-19,” Nwoye added.

     

    He said MTN was committed to collaborating with the government to ensure Nigerians had access to a location where they could enrol in the NIN system, while simultaneously registering their SIM cards, which he noted was critical to the expansion of the digital economy.

  • Digital Ecosystem Will Create Value, Wealth For Nigeria –NITDA

    Digital Ecosystem Will Create Value, Wealth For Nigeria –NITDA

    The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Friday, Kasifu Inuwa, observed that creating a digitised ecosystem would guarantee value creation, wealth and prosperity, for a digital economy.

     

    Inuwa made the remark at the unveiling ceremony of the first Nigerian assembled Hyundai KONA Electric Vehicle, launched by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in Abuja.

     

    He said that creating an ecosystem was the only way to easily get value that would enable growth, wealth and prosperity, citing the introduction of electric vehicles into the country, as a welcome development that would enable the nation advance to a vibrant economy.

     

    Inuwa further said that the country needed to advance from assembling cars to building parts, adding that already NITDA was working with start-ups, young Nigerian entrepreneurs, to develop ground breaking ideas on automobiles, using Internet of Things (IoT), renewable energy, and other relevant emerging technologies.

     

    He recalled that the recent ground breaking National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (NDIEC), established by the agency, was in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.

     

    He said that NDEPS, and other activities of government, was designed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

     

    “The NDIE Centre is intended to provide facilities that would encourage inquisitive perspectives and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to transform their skills into products.

     

    “The centre will provide the opportunity for start-ups to accelerate their innovations, through design, thinking sessions and co-innovation workshops,” he added.

     

    He commended the Director-General of NADDC, Mr Jelani Aliyu, the council’s partners, Stallion Group, for their innovation and contributions to the technological advancement of Nigeria.

     

    Inuwa, in the company of other dignitaries, took a ride in the newly unveiled vehicle.

  • NIN-SIMs Linkage: Bilesanmi Blows Hot, Urges Buhari, Pantami to Stop Sacrificing Subscribers’ Lives

    NIN-SIMs Linkage: Bilesanmi Blows Hot, Urges Buhari, Pantami to Stop Sacrificing Subscribers’ Lives

    • Says NIN/SIM Deadline Extension Should Be for Six Months, Not 8 Weeks

     

    By Adejuwon OSUNNUYI

     

    With the ongoing NIN-SIMs linkage deadline extended by eight weeks, the Association of Telephone, Cable TV & Internet Subscribers (ATCIS) has again challenged Nigerian authorities for its continued indifference attitude of exposing Nigerians to the risk of losing their lives while trying to register for the National Identity Number as well linking same to their SIM cards.

     

    The concern of the association becomes imperative in the light of growing cases of Coronavirus pandemic in the country and the sad loss of lives recorded on daily basis to the dreaded disease.

     

    Speaking at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the National President of ATCIS, Prince ‘Sina Bilesanmi said while the NIN-SIM harmonization could be said to be important, the lives of subscribers are more important.

     

    Bilesanmi said President Mohammadu Buhari should heed the voice of reason by suspending the NIN registration in the face of rising cases of the Covid-19.

     

    According to the ATCIS President, “It is very disheartening that at a time when people are encouraged to stay at home and stay safe; when social distance has been acknowledged as the most potent prevention of further spread of the virus, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has thrown caution into the wind by forcing the subscribers to fight for their SIMs from being blocked, while in the process get their lives endangered.”

     

    “Honestly, I don’t know the reason behind this call for registration at this odd period of coronavirus pandemic. Our government must put health and safety of our people into consideration because COVID-19 is real.

     

    “COVID-19 is not a glamorous disease, neither is it a hoax. Except our government is deliberately trying to endanger the lives of Nigerians, the exercise should be suspended immediately.”

     

    The Business Bells recalls that the NIMC staff had embarked on strike action over what they described as exposure to risks of COVID-19, among other demands.

     

    Before the suspension of the strike, many Nigerians had expressed frustration while trying to get enrolled for their NIN, just as some alleged that they were asked by NIMC staff for financial inducement before they could be registered.

     

    Speaking further, Bilesanmi said, “More importantly, we expect the government to do better and abolish the fear around NIN-SIM harmonization by extending the deadline as recommended to avoid losing the gains of the exercise to a possible explosion in Coronavirus cases which is more life  threatening than a SIM without a NIN.

     

    He noted that the NIN/SIM deadline extension should be for at least six months, and not the 8 weeks as announced by the Minister of Technology and Digital Economy.

     

    In the opinion of ATCIS, the insistence of the government on the new deadline, April 6, 2021 for the full linkage of NINs to the over 208 million active telephone subscribers in the country has led to human deluge at various NIN registration centres in the country.

     

    The association said since the government made the irrational decision to disconnect all telephone subscribers without NIN on the stipulated deadline, it has observed from its visitations to different state centres of the National Identity Management Commission that the centres have become a breeding ground to COVID-19.

     

    “We find it rather absurd for the government to insist on ‘NINing’ of all subscribers within such can unrealistic deadline, given that NIMC had only managed to issue about 43 million NINs even with its about 14-year hard work.  Does the Minister really want Subscribers to sacrifice their lives to retain their telephone lines? We wonder!”

     

    “Minister, NCC and the MNO’s disclosed that so far, about 56.18 million NINs have been collected by telcos. This may be seen as an achievement on the part of the government and its agents. However, given the current precarious state of public health in the country, ATCIS’s concern goes beyond how many NIN-SIM linkages have been achieved, but at what human cost?”

     

    The National President of ATCIS however urged the 106.2 million subscriber members yet to be linked  to submit their NINs before April 6, 2021 deadline.

     

    According to him, subscribers should act responsibly by observing COVID-19 preventive protocols as they go out to enroll at various NIN registration centres across the country.

     

    While speaking on the license granted some other private and public organisations by the commission to provide NINs in order to address the crowds at commission’s offices, the ATCIS  urged the federal government / NIMC to compel the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to ensure that personal data of subscribers are safe with its members ( telecom operators).

     

    “ALTON should assure ATCIS that subscribers’ NIN-data are safe with its members,” he said.

     

    Speaking on his determination to continued speaking and fighting for the rights of Nigerian telephone and cable subscribers, Bilesanmi said over the years, in its sustained effort in protecting the interest and right of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria, the association, ATCIS has spent about N367million since 2014 till 31st January, 2021which has basically been on self-sponsored by members without government agency like NCC, NBC and NIMC input.

     

    The association has made over 630 newspaper publications, both local  and international  as well as online news publication, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about  95 landmark achievements so far.

     

  • Just In: Respite As FG Extends NIN Registration to April

    Just In: Respite As FG Extends NIN Registration to April

    In what could be seen as a big relief to most Nigerians, the federal government has again extended the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise by eight weeks, with a new deadline of April 6, 2021.

     

    In statement issued by the Public Affairs Director of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, said the decision was taken during the meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration held on the 1st of February, 2021.

     

    Pantami stated that the extension is to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with their SIMs.

     

    The minister reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enroll for their NIN and link with their SIMs.

     

    The meeting was chaired by the Minister and attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

     

    Others include the MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, Ntel, Spectranet, SMILE, as well as the COO of Globacom.

     

    It was reported that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators.

     

    Each NIN is usually tied to an average of 3 to 4 SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.

     

    This number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021.

     

    Furthermore, over 1060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, while Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.

     

    This is in line with the policy of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to enhance security and make the process of obtaining NINs easier for Nigerians.

     

    The CEOs of the Telcos and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Organisation of Nigeria commended the Honourable Minister for his stellar leadership and commitment to the rapid development of the sector.

     

    It would be recalled that the 4th of February, 2020 was the initial date of the commencement of the National NIN-SIM Registration Policy.

     

    The Federal Government applauds all Nigerians and persons of other nationalities for their understanding, cooperation and for enthusiastically participating in the exercise.

     

    The Minister also commended the efforts of NIMC, NCC, MNOs and all other relevant government and private sector organisations for their unflinching support towards the success of the exercise.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his satisfaction with the progress made regarding the NIN-SIM linkage and commended the Honourable Minister and all stakeholders for their roles.

     

    He encouraged citizens to take advantage of the extension to fully participate in the process.

     

    The Honourable minister implores applicants to follow the safety guidelines at all the NIN enrolment centers and ensure compliance with the booking system in place.

     

    This protocol is in line with the Executive Order on COVID-19 2020 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 27th of January 2021, in keeping with the provisions of the Quarantine Act 2004.

     

    It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of National Identity Number for transactions, including application and issuance of a passport, opening of personal bank accounts, purchase of insurance policies, voter registration, obtaining credit, among others.

  • MultiChoice Slashes Price of DStv, GOtv Decoders

    MultiChoice Slashes Price of DStv, GOtv Decoders

    Pay-Tv giant, MultiChoice Nigeria, has announced a price slash on its DStv and GOtv decoders starting Monday, February 1st, 2021.

     

    The price slash will see the DStv HD decoder, dish kit with Compact package subscription drop from N18, 600 to N9,900 on Confam package, while GOtv decoder, GOtennae with GOtv Jolli package subscription will go from N8,400 to N6,900.

     

    DStv Confam is one of two recently improved DStv packages specially designed for the Nigerian family. With over 120 channels, DStv Confam offers the best of family time with international entertainment, kids, news and sports boasting of a range of channels including SuperSport La Liga, CBS Reality, FOX, BET and Cartoon Network.

     

    GOtv Jolli, also a recently improved package on the DTT offering, offers a broad selection of over 68 local and international channels to choose from. Some of the channels available include SuperSport Football, ROK 2, Telemundo, FOX, Davinci Learning and Africa News.

     

    Speaking at a virtual media briefing held on Friday, 29 January, Chief Customer Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, explained that the price slash is part of MultiChoice’s long line of efforts to lessen the economic impact of COVID on customers and a reflection of its commitment to making quality entertainment more accessible to Nigerians.

     

    “With this discount, we are lowering the entry barrier for new customers to get a DStv or GOtv decoder as staying connected to credible information and other quality programming can be comforting for many families during these trying times,” said Mabutho.

     

    Mabutho also listed some of the company’s relief strategies deployed during the first wave of the pandemic which include cash donations of N200 million and N50 million to the Federal Government and Lagos State Government respectively, N400 million to the creative industry, whose professionals experienced disruptions in productions; donation of 30,000 Personal Protective Equipment and 30,000 face masks to hospitals and Non-Governmental Organisations as well as an approved inventory worth over N550m highlighting NCDC’s COVID-19 helplines and PSA materials on over 10 channels on DStv and GOtv.

     

    “In addition to the discount we are currently running our DStv Step Up offer which gives our customers on lower packages an opportunity to experience programming on higher packages, and a GOtv Max offer which sees customers on Jolli and Jinja enjoy a special discount of N2,999 instead of N3,600 per month,” Mabutho added.

     

    The discounted DStv and GOtv bundle offer will be available from Monday, February 1st 2021 for a limited time only.

  • MTN Begins NIN Enrollment In Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt

    MTN Begins NIN Enrollment In Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt

    MTN Nigeria said it has commenced enrollment for National Identification Number, NIN.

     

    MTN’s Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, said that the telco had secured Nigerian Identity Management Commission licence for NIN enrollment and had begun enrollment at some of its centres in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

     

    He noted that MTN had invested in acquiring devices aligned with NIMC standard.

     

    He also assured that the number of locations would increase with time.

     

    Aina said, “We have commenced enrollment for NIN at a limited number of locations.

     

    “This number will rise as certification and other dependencies on the Nigerian Identity Management Commission for roll-out of such locations are addressed.

     

    “We have applied for and secured NIMC licence for enrollment. Additionally, we have invested in acquiring devices aligned with NIMC standard.”

     

    “We continue to work with NIMC, NCC and other stakeholders towards resolution of issues which are outside our control, but are nevertheless key dependencies for further roll-out.”

     

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said in a matter of weeks every operator would start NIN enrollment.

     

    He noted that operators had commenced preparatory arrangements in the regard of procurement, licensing and deployment.

     

    Adebayo said, “There are still administrative issues that are now being concluded.

     

    “There were procurement issues which was taking a little bit of time to start, but once operators start, we’ll ensure that the enrollment would commence and be wrapped with full speed.”

     

    Adebayo added that regardless of the difference in time, the entire industry were all committed to the exercise.

     

    Nigerians have been crowding NIMC registration centres in the bid to beat the Federal Government’s February 9 deadline for integration of subscribers’ numbers with their NINs.

     

    This prompted NIMC to license the telcos and other entities to provide identity numbers to those that have not been able to secure their own from the limited registration centres.

  • Airtel Commences NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria

    Airtel Commences NIN Registration in Retail Outlets across Nigeria

    … says it will expand footprints to reach more Nigerians

     

    Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has commenced the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise in its retail outlets across the country following an approval from the Federal Government granting the telco a verification and enrolment license to register citizens.

     

    The telco says while select retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja are now fully operational to register Nigerians for the NIN exercise, work is currently ongoing to expand its NIN footprints to cover more areas and States.

     

    It added that residents of Abuja can now visit Transcorp Hilton situated in Mataima or Airtel showrooms at Carpet Plaza and Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, while those in Lagos can walk into Airtel Express Point, Oyin Jolayemi, Victoria Island or Airtel showroom in Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos.

     

    Lagos residents can also visit the Airtel showroom in Tejuosho, Yaba; Airtel showroom in Isheri Road, Ogba and the Airtel showroom in Oba Akran, Ikeja to register for the NIN exercise.

     

    Speaking on this new development, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, for expanding the registration footprints and taking definitive steps to smoothen the NIN registration process for Nigerians.

     

    “Airtel is always seeking opportunities to cooperate and partner with the Nigerian government on initiatives that will make life easier and better for Nigerians. As a law abiding and responsible corporate citizen, we are always ready to go extra mile for our esteemed stakeholders and that is why we are pleased to partner with the Federal Government and the National Identity Management Commission on citizens’ registration exercise”, he said.

     

    Customers who already have NINs have the option to send their NINs to Airtel via USSD, SMS or through the Airtel Self Care app or website to update their SIM registration details.