Folarin Kehinde

Following recent undersea cable cuts that challenged connectivities in many countries in the West African region, Nigeria has called for a coordinated and multilateral approach by the region to protect shared telecommunications infrastructure, and diversify connectivity to ensure uninterruptible connections.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, made the submission in a statement delivered at the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) which held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from the 19th to 22nd March 2024.

Dr. Maida, whose message was delivered at the WATRA AGM by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Nnenna Ukoha, stated that the recent submarine cable cuts that resulted in nationwide outages on multiple networks in 12 African countries has raised the urgent need for the subregion to establish a mechanism to protect itself from damage to submarine infrastructure and its attendant impact on the subregion.

Maida referred to a report by Cloudflare, an IT service management firm, which indicates that about six countries, including four West African countries, were still suffering from the outages caused by the submarine cable cuts, to buttress the call

“Securing telecom infrastructure is paramount for fostering Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and enhancing investor confidence in the West African sub-region. The reliability and resilience of telecommunications networks are crucial factors that investors consider when evaluating regional opportunities.

“By ensuring the security of these vital assets, we can attract more investment, spur economic growth, and enhance our competitiveness on the global stage. A secure telecoms infrastructure not only facilitates efficient communication and connectivity but also signals a commitment to safeguarding critical assets essential for business operations. This assurance can significantly boost investor confidence and create a conducive environment for sustainable economic development,” he said.

According to him, “the impact of events like cable cuts highlights the need for a coordinated, multilateral approach to protecting shared infrastructure across our member nations.”

Maida therefore, proposed “the urgent need to set up a framework for joint monitoring, risk mitigation, and emergency response procedures for the submarine cables that pass through the sub-region.

“Further to this, we recommend that the WATRA Working Group on Infrastructure expand its mandate to spearhead the development of a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the subregion’s telecommunications networks and associated infrastructure thereby proactively bolstering resilience through improved disaster response protocols to better insulate ourselves from future disruptions.”

He advised that the goals of the Working Group would be to strengthen sub-regional infrastructure resilience, promote the diversification of the sub-region’s connectivity, conduct regular capacity assessments, as well as facilitate the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure in member countries.

The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly, was established in 2002 as a common platform for national telecommunication regulatory authorities in 16 member states to promote the adoption of regulations that stimulate investment in telecommunication infrastructure to deliver more affordable, accessible, faster and secure communication services to citizens.

At the 21st WATRA Annual General Meeting, issues pertaining to accessible and affordable telecommunication services in the sub-region were discussed, including improved consumer protection, quality of service, roaming and conflict resolution for consumers.

A major highlight of the AGM was the reelection of Nigeria’s Engr. Yusuf Aliyu Aboki, as Executive Secretary, for a second term in a unanimous vote by the member countries.

The EVC of NCC commended Engr. Aboki for his firm, inclusive and visionary leadership, which saw the successful delivery of WATRA’s 2022 — 2025 Strategic Plan, noting that Nigeria and indeed the sub-region was proud of the milestones he has achieved during his first tenure.

He further advised the WATRA Executive Secretary to build on the achievements of his first tenure, through stronger partnerships and deeper collaboration while advancing the interests of the sub-regional body.

President Bola Tinubu has again cancelled any elaborate celebration of his 72nd birthday on Friday March 29, 2024.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy on Sunday, March 24, President Tinubu urged his associates and well-wishers across the country not to organise any event in celebration of his 72nd birthday.

Tinubu noted that he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman,” the statement read.

“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways.

“As the leader of our country, President Tinubu in deference to this challenging times will not host any birthday event and does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.

“President Tinubu appreciates the honour of being the leader of Africa’s leading nation at this time and he is working very hard to make life better for the generality of our people.

“According to him, because of the present mood of the nation and recent killing of the officers and men of our Army and Police in Delta State and recent spate of security breaches by criminal elements in different parts of Nigeria, there should be no form of birthday event and placing of birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers. Goodwill messages should not be placed on radio and television stations too.

“President Tinubu enjoins friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name.

“Although the President appreciates the gallantry of our armed forces in freeing our children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State and in Sokoto State, he will use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable, more secure, virile, prosperous and united Nigeria.”

Recall that in 2022, Tinubu cancelled his 70th birthday celebration to honour the victims of Kaduna train attack.

Similarly, the president cancelled his 71st birthday colloquium in 2023 and fixed prayers for the country.

Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, has escaped from custody.

Premium Times reports that Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on Friday, 22 March, from the Abuja guest house, where he and his colleague were in custody after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.

The Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.

It remains a mystery how Anjarwalla got on an international flight despite his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, remaining in the custody of the Nigerian authorities.

Authorities are also said to be working to unravel his intended destination to get him back into custody.

An Immigration official quoted in the report said the Binance executive fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport.

He, however, said authorities were trying to determine how he obtained the passport, given that he had no other travel document (apart from the British passport) on him.

Another source said the two officials were at a “comfortable guest house”. They were said to have been allowed many rights, including telephones, a privilege Anjarwalla exploited to plot an escape.

Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, and Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on 26 February 2024.

The Nigerian government filed a criminal charge against the two executives before a Magistrate Court in Abuja.

On 28 February 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days.

The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data/information of Nigerians trading on its platform.

Following Binance’s refusal to comply with the order, the court extended the officials’ remand for an additional 14 days to prevent them from tampering with evidence. The court then adjourned the case until 4 April 2024.

Also, on 22 March, the Nigerian government approached the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The government slammed Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan with another four-count charge, accusing them of offering services to subscribers on their platform while failing to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to pay all relevant taxes administered by the Service and, in so doing, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as Amended).

According to the Nigerian government, Binance offered taxable services to subscribers on their trading platform while failing to issue invoices to those subscribers to determine and pay their value-added taxes.

In so doing, they committed an offence contrary to and punishable under S.29 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as amended).

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Kayode Cole for issuing a death threat against the Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede.

Cole, according to EFCC’s Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, was arrested at the Lugbe axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The suspect made the death threat through his Instagram page handle: “1billionsecretss”, while commenting on a story posted by a popular Instagram blogger, Instablog9ja on February 1, 2024.

Instablog9ja had posted a story with a caption: “A Religious Sect Is Laundering Money for Terrorists. We Traced N7 Billion Fraud Proceeds to another Religious Group – EFCC Chairman”.

Reacting on the comment section of Instablog9ja, Cole stated that the EFCC chairman would be dead in six months.

“He will be dead in six months. This man will be dead in 6 months, remember I said it,” he said.

In the course of interrogation, the suspect claimed that he was just “chasing clout”.

He will be handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation and prosecution, said the anti-graft commission.

Recall that Olukoyede, had on Wednesday, January 30, 2024, at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during a one-day dialogue on ‘Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption’ revealed that the commission had uncovered how a religious sect in Nigeria is laundering money for terrorists.

The EFCC boss also stated that another religious body was found to be protecting a money launderer after some money suspected to have been laundered was traced to the organisation’s bank account.

Leading Financial Institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed over 3000 food items to vulnerable households and less privileged families in Gusau, Zamfara State.

The donation is a gesture under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative created to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger in the society.

Speaking at the event, the bank’s Regional Head, North West 2, Muhammad Ahijo, noted that “The Fidelity Food Bank Initiative is aimed at alleviating the hardship experienced by many in the face of current economic challenges in the country.

His words “At Fidelity Bank, we recognize the importance of supporting and empowering communities to grow and prosper and we believe that by investing in the well-being of the communities where we operate, we contribute to the creation of a better society for all.”

“We firmly believe that by addressing the root causes of poverty and alleviating hunger, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need. And in light of this, Fidelity Bank has donated 3,000 food packs to vulnerable families in the state, to help them get through these tough times.” He stated.

Applauding the initiative by Fidelity Bank, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mukhtar Lugga, noted that “We are grateful for the kind gesture from Fidelity Bank in providing support to vulnerable households and less privileged families in our community. This is coming at a time when people cannot afford a meal before and during the holy month of Ramadan”.

On his part, the Accountant General of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ali-Akilu Muhammad, thanked Fidelity Bank for its generosity and urged other banks operating in the state to emulate the Fidelity Bank gesture by providing succor to the less privileged families in the state.

President Tinubu has temporarily banned ministers, heads of agencies, and other government officials from embarking on public funded foreign trips.

This was contained in a presidential directive dated 12th March signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Accordingly, the ban is to last for three months from April 1st, 2024.

Tinubu noted that government officials who intend to go for any public funded international trip must seek and get presidential approval at least two weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.

“Mr. President has concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government as well as the growing need for Cabinet Members and heads of MDAS to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.

“Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr. President’s directive to place a temporary ban on all public funded international trips for all Federal Government officials at all levels, for an initial period of three (3) months from 1st April 2024.

“This temporary measure is aimed at cost reduction in governance and intended as a cost saving measure without compromising government functions.

“All government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trip, must seek and obtain presidential approval at least two (2) weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.

“Considering the above, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is kindly requested to circulate this directive to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government”, the memo reads.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to extend the period for the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 appropriation bill from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

In a letter read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, said the president also asked the House to extend the implementation of the supplementary appropriation act from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

He said the extension became necessary to ensure that the provisions of the two acts were fully implemented.

Details shortly…