Maida urges Nokia to invest in Nigeria’s ICT R&D

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has requested Nokia Networks to increase its investments in Research and Development (R&D) to support the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria.


In a press release signed by Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs on November 26, 2023, Maida spoke when a delegation from Nokia Networks of Finland led by the Deputy Minister, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Jarno Syrjala, visited the Commission recently to explore further opportunities for mutually-beneficial relationships.

He told the delegation that the Nigerian government is keenly interested in harnessing Nokia’s capabilities through technology transfer to support Nigerian youths in technical skills.

The Nigerian government is targeting training of three million youths in ICT skills to advance the country’s digital economy.  “We are keen on getting the youths employed, as our Ministry is targeting three million youths for skills acquisition,” the EVC said.

Maida informed the Nokia contingent that the Commission places primacy in R&D as the bedrock of any knowledge economy, and for advancement of innovation.

He, therefore, urged Nokia and other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), to explore R&D opportunities to deepen local content development in Nigeria.

While congratulating Maida on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator, Syrjala said the purpose of the visit was to explore areas of collaboration to support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.

Syrjala recalled Nokia’s continued partnership with communications service providers in Nigeria, as well as cable and other operators to deliver critical network systems with high performance, reliability, and security.

He noted that Nokia already has an R&D centre in Nigeria, and would target greater investment in this regard.

MNJTF Troops Neutralize 4 Boko Haram Terrorists in Northern Borno State, Nigeria

By Emmanuel Daudu

On 21 November 2023, troops of Sector 3 Mutinaltional Joint Task Force neutralized 4 Boko Haram terrorists in Walo (Gashigar) and Kudagurgu (South of Malam Fatori) in Northern Borno State, Nigeria.

According to a press release signed by Lieutenant Colonel
Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief of Military Public Information
N’djamena – Chad during the weekend, 24 November 2023, narrated that during an advance to Gashigar to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops encountered and neutralized 2 terrorists at Walo (Walada). The operation resulted in the recovery of 2 AK-47 rifles, 3 magazines, and 29 rounds of 7.62-millimeter special ammunition.

Similarly, troops  deployed in Malam Fatori conducted a fighting patrol to Kudagurgu, where 2 other terrorists were neutralized, and a significant cache of items, including IED making materials, one AK-47 rifle, and 3 magazines, were recovered.

These successful operations reflect the commitment and bravery of the Sector 3 MNJTF troops in their effort to totally defeat terrorism and create a peaceful environment in Lake Chad Basin region. The recovery of lethal weapons and other terrorism materials demonstrates the dedication and effectiveness of the troops in ensuring the safety and security of the region. The MNJTF remains resolute in its commitment to achieve its mandate.

Data Analysis on the impacts of illicit drugs in West Africa: Official Launch of the WENDU Report

Data Analysis of illicit Drug Impacts in West Africa: The ECOWAS Commission in Collaboration with ENACT Proceeds to the Official Launch of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) Report

According to a summary sent to the media by Mr. Kouadio Serge, Programme Officer IT and Communication, ECOWAS, the context of combating drugs and their consequences in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with and the Enhancing Africa’s capacity to respond to transnational organised crime (ENACT), has proceeded to the official launch of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) Report in Accra, Ghana on 27 November 2023.

This significant event brought together various participants from civil society, national offices responsible for combating drugs in ECOWAS member states, and nearly seventy-five online participants including students, researchers, institutes,development partners, and other international organizations interested in drug-related data. The WENDU report offers valuable insights into the statistics and trends on illicit drug supply and use in the West African region. The report provides extensive data on drug seizures and arrests, including the types and quantities of drugs seized, as well as the number of individuals arrested, categorized by gender. The insightful discussions during the event will cover the latest estimates and trends concerning drug abuse, drug supply, and trafficking in substandard and counterfeit medicinal products across West Africa. One of the key highlights of the report pertains to the efforts made by national governments and their responsible institutions in curbing the supply of drugs within the sub-region.

During the opening ceremony, Dr. SINTIKI Tarfa UGBE, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, on behalf of Prof. Fatou Sow SARR, Commissioner of Human Development and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, commended the implementers of the Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organised Crime (ENACT) for their support for the WENDU Report. She stressed the importance of this report and the policy brief, which will greatly assist the ECOWAS Commission and its partners in identifying critical areas of drug prevention and control in West Africa that can be supported either as part of their ongoing programs or as new areas for collaboration.

Anna Lixi, the Head of the Governance and Security Section at the EU Delegation to Ghana, congratulated ECOWAS for its efforts in the fight against organized crime through the report and other projects such as OCWAR-T, which is co-funded by the European Union and Germany. She also assured the continuous support of the European Union in the framework of combating drug trafficking and other activities related to transnational organized crime.

Mr. Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) in Ghana, expressed his gratitude to ECOWAS and all the partners who participated in the drafting of this report. He emphasized the need for member states and civil society to use this report after its launch. All comments and recommendations are welcomed. He also stated that Ghana is committed to working with other ECOWAS member states in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in the region.

The official launch event has served as the platform for unveiling the insightful 2020-2022 report of the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU). The report will be presented to ECOWAS management and posted online for the public.

Understanding The November Rain In FCT And Other Parts Of The North-NiMet


The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, through it’s Central Forecast Office (CFO) has explained the recent rainfall witnessed in the northern part of the country especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November, 2023.
The Agency observed from it’s social media handles, that this took the public by surprise as it is expected that at this time of the year the north should be transiting or have transited into harmattan season, which is characterized by dust, cold and winds.

Explaing further, NiMet CFO disclosed that observation indicated an opening that linked mid-latitude Trough with the thermal-lows over the West-Africa. This mid-latitude trough pull the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD) far northward above the country (from approx. Lat 8.00N to about 12.00N withing 48hrs), by implication there was mass influx of moisture far into the country, especially to the western half of the country. Conversely, ITD is expected (normally) to have a southward displacement during this season.

According to NiMet, with this moisture influx, and already high energy in the atmosphere, it is only natural that there would be condensation and formation of clouds. The cloud build-up over the Northwestern and Northcentral parts of the country (including Abuja, FCT) resulted into thunderstorms that was experienced recently on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November, 2023.

Climate variability is the main factor responsible for this phenomenon. It results in modulation of natural atmospheric processes which contributes to short-term fluctuations in weather, due to both natural and anthropogenic influences on the global atmospheric processes, which has given way to changes in patterns of weather and climate conditions in the atmosphere. This is not exclusive to Nigeria alone, the statement reads.

In recent times, human activities particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have led to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This enhanced greenhouse effect is causing changes in the Earth’s climate, a phenomenon commonly referred to as climate change.

NiMet observes, monitors, predicts and reports weather and climate information on all our socio-media platform, including our website. The weather of the days in question were equally forecasted and was well reported. However, this is not a change in the season as predicted, rather, fluctuations based on temporary weather modulators.
NiMet assures it will continue to update the general public on necessary weather updates.

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NEMA launches reviewed National Contingency Plan as Information Minister applauds initiative

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched a reviewed National Contingency Plan 2023-2025 as the Honourable Minister of Information Alhaji Idris Mohammed applauded the initiative aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response in the country.

Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed who launched the plan in Abuja described the occasion as “significant milestone in our collective efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our nation.” He added that plan has become imperative given that ” Nigeria has experienced quite a number of human and natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other unforeseen events which can occur at any moment, causing immense devastation and disruption of the functioning of the society. It is our duty, as disaster managers and citizens, to ensure that we are adequately prepared to respond swiftly and efficiently to such situations.”

He appreciated the participation of stakeholders towards the review of the plan and said “we represent a diverse range of expertise, backgrounds, and organizations, all united by a common goal: to launch and put into formal use an effective National Contingency Plan that will guide us in times of crisis.”

Furthermore, he said “the past months and years, countless hours of hard work, research, and collaboration have gone into the development of this plan. Experts from various sectors have contributed their knowledge and experience, drawing upon lessons learned from past disasters and incorporating the latest best practices in disaster management.” He specially thanked UNICEF for collaborating and supporting NEMA in the process of reviewing the plan.

He also spoke on the areas covered in the plan that “NEMA in collaboration with UNICEF and other stakeholders carried out a risk analysis of Nigeria in 2021. The exercise was carried out across the geo-political zones of the country and covered different risks and hazards at the Local Government Areas (LGAs) level, including floods; epidemics; conflict and violence amongst others.”

“The objective of the analysis was to identify, assess and rank risks with a view to understanding related vulnerabilities and capacities, while fostering effective risk management approaches among agencies addressing the same or similar threats. The outcome of the risk analysis guided the review of the National Contingency Plan.”

The Director General NEMA said the Agency will continue to focus on disaster preparedness actions including continuous revision of risks across the country, supporting States in development of contingency plans and also focus on Early Warning System to enable communities understand the risks they face and linkages to ensure they are able to prevent, prepare and respond to these risks.

He therefore emphasized on preparedness as very important to save lives and minimising the impact of emergencies.

The Honourable Minister of Information in a goodwill message delivered by Director of Information in the Ministry Alhaji Suleiman Haruna commended NEMA for developing the National Contingency Plan for Nigeria, with broad spectrum of stakeholders to address the nation’s emergency preparedness.

He said “disasters have taken a toll on citizens year by year, resulting in loss of lives and livelihoods, and leading to negative multiplier effects.

“Today’s launch is timely as it resonates with the government’s drive to protect citizens from all risks to their well-being, including security, displacement, epidemics, and conflict.

“The plan evaluated twelve (12) different risks, including flooding, health epidemics, and conflict, with a plan to mitigate their impact. Some of these risks are natural, while others are caused by humans, even though poverty and socio-economic disparities were identified as contributors to the latter.

“In developing prevention and mitigation measures regarding human-induced risks, I call on implementing agencies to design strategic communication plans that deploy participatory, dialogic, and horizontal methods rather than the usual dissemination through radio and television.
Strategic communication plans aim for specific audiences and apply a mix of communication channels, including mainstream, folk media, interpersonal, IEC, and new media, ensuring that the message development process is inclusive, consistent, and frequent.”

In a remark, the County Representative of UNICEF Nigeria Cristian Munduate said the UN agency was delighted to work with NEMA in the review of the Contingency Plan.

Munduate who was represented by the UNICEF Chief of WASH Jane Bevan said “we mapped the likelihood of 12 specific risks in the reas of flooding, epidemics, and armed conflict and/or violence across all LG of the country. The risk analysis was launched in December 2021, and is available for all interested stakeholders to read on the NEMA website.”

“In 2022, UNICEF supported NEMA in updating the risk analysis. In addition, in the
course of 5 workshops that convered State Emergency Management Agencies or
SEMA representatives from 22 states, the five zonal contingency plans launched today were developed. While these plans are multi-risk plans, they especially focus on floods primarily, these also consider associated risks, such as cholera. The plans cover all the zones of Northwest, North-Central, South-South, Southeast, and Southwest.

Ministry mounts digitization training for staff

By Emmanuel Daudu

To ensure that all categories of its staff could have practical hands-on capabilities to get paper letters, proposals, files, and other forms of documents received through their registries, un-bound, scanned, quality-checked, and indexed (the four critical stages of digitization), the management of the Federal Ministry of Transportation/Marine and Blue Economy has again mounted a digitization training for its staff beginning from Monday, 27th through to the 28th of November, 2023.

Olujimi Oyetomi,
Director, Press & Public Relations in a press release said, the training was arranged through the Human Resources Management Department of the Ministry and executed by Centrifuge Consulting at the Nigerian Capital Market Market Institute, Abuja.

The benefiting staff of the Ministry were taken through the gamut of enterprise content management (ECM), which describes the state of information, documents, and file management in the ministry before and after the introduction of digitization to the entire business and departments of the entire ministry.

It should be noted that digitization started in the Federal Civil Service in 2019, and the situation that existed in the Service portend high chances of losing a document from a file or leakage of confidential information, significant loss of man hours due to difficulty in locating files/documents, high overhead costs from multiple duplications and distribution, and typically, paper-based archives/store become cumbersome as a repository for documents.

At this batch of training, not less than forty-five more staff from all the departments and units, especially those from the registry, were selected to benefit. Many of the Ministry’s staff have been trained, and these new crops of staff enabled the Ministry to be seen as foremost amongst the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Civil Service to have scaled the deployment of digitization.

So, with proper prosecution of the digitization training, the Federal Ministry of Transportation/Marine and Blue Economy would have benefited from positive information sharing, reduced storage space, efficient workflow, express search and retrieval, environmental friendliness, cost saving, support mobility, prevention of losses, security encryption,  and disaster recovery.

UAE @52: Humanitarian Minister Commends UAE Partnership, Seeks For More Collaborations

Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has commended the existing partnership between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Federal Government to collaborate  with the Renewed Hope Agenda  of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  in addressing humanitarian crises and poverty Challenges  in Nigeria .

According to Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, (ANIPR),Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister, MHAPA, in a press release on Sunday
26/11/2023,the Minister who was a special guest of honour at the 52nd independence day anniversary  of the  United  State Embassy, over the weekend in Abuja said the exceptional roles and  developmental stride, the UAE shared with Nigeria cannot be downplayed .

“I commend the gaint strides and good relationship between  the UAE and  Nigeria and seek for  further  collaboration to expand the frontiers on investment and Humanitarian support in the years ahead” she said.

The  Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Commended the UAE for renewed partnership, saying that she looks forward to a fruitful engagement with the UAE Government and other stakeholders at COP 28  later in the month in  Dubai.

Earlier the Chief host of the event and UAE Ambassador to Nigeria His Excellency, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, said the 52nd Independence Anniversary with the Theme “Today for Tomorrow”  was inline with the Vision of the government of the UAE.

Al-Shamsi, said the year 2023 is dedicated to sustainability, under the theme, ‘Today for Tomorrow’. which will include initiatives, activities and events that draw upon the UAE’s values of sustainability and the legacy of its Founding President, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Aside the Minister of Himanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation who attended the event among other Ministers and top Government officials to mark the 52nd anniversary ,Also attended was the  Deputy Senate President,Senator Jubrin Barau,  who was the Chairman of the occasion.

The seven emirates who formed UAE are  The UAE was founded on 2nd December 1971, with the sevent Emirates which are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

CONYSSA, FCT To Speak on the Society Approach In Combating Contemporary Internal Security challenges

Maryam Aminu

The FCT Administration has nominated the Coalition of Nigeria Youth on Security and Safety Affairs CONYSSA, FCT to speak on the Society Approach in Combating Contemporary Internal Security challenges for enhanced operational effectiveness at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Nigeria study Tour to FCT

In a statement by the FCT Coordinator, Zaka Nehemiah, he said “the Coalition was nominated by FCT Administration for their activities and swift responsiveness to all Security challenges across FCT

The event is schedule to hold on 27 November to 3rd December 2023 at FCDA conference Hall, Abuja

The program which aims to address security challenges has its theme as : the whole of Government/ Society Approach in Combating Contemporary Internal Security Challenges for Enhanced Operational Effectiveness

All is set for Governor Uba Sani Unity cup in Kaduna state

Barring any last minute change, all is now set for the commencement of the much talked about Governor Uba Sani Unity cup, this Saturday, 25/11/2023 in Kaduna state.

The competition will see teams from the twenty three local government area compete for honour in the about two weeks football fiesta with the winner going home with a giant trophy and other prizes.

More so, the competition is geared towards raising a new football club for the state.

Chairman of the tournament, ex-International, Tijani Babangida told the media that the organization would be top notch as everything has been put in place for a smooth organization of the event.

He thanked the Governor for given him such wonderful opportunity to midwife a football club for the state, maintaining that with the tink tank technical committee he has put in place he is very confident that only the best players would be selected at the end of the day.

“I want to assure our amiable Governor, Senator Sani Uba that we are going to come out with a very formidable squad that would be capable of representing Kaduna in any of the leagues. you know Kaduna state is blessed with untapped football talents, and with the technical team that we have put in place, they would definitely select only and nothing but the best players, and I am very sure that we will have a good football competition,”

The matches are expected to be played at three centers which are, the Kudan Township stadium, Kudan, the Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna and Kafanchan Town stadium, Kafanchan.

KOGI DEMOCRATIC RIGORS: COURT SET ELECTION TRIBUNAL

Usman Aliyu

The Kogi off-cycle governorship election petition tribunal, constituted by the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an-Dongban, is set to begin sitting this Saturday

David Umar-Mike, the tribunal secretary who disclosed this to journalists in Lokoja today said: “By God’s grace, the tribunal will be sitting this Saturday, November 25. David Umar-Mike further explain that they will take expart motions; this is because all they have at hand right now are the exparte motions that will be taken on that Saturday.
“But the work proper may take a few more days because counsels will have to go and start looking for documents at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the rest of them before they file their various petitions.”

He said the constitution of the election tribunal was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act (as amended).
Mr David Umar-Mike who responded to the question of how ready the tribunal is said: the tribunal registry has since opened for business at the state High Court of Justice complex, Lokoja.