Stakeholders in the ICT industry have urged the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to focus on its developmental agenda and not delve into the functions of other agencies.

They gave the advice during an event organised by the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFO), to discuss the pending 2021 NITDA Bill, on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Ayoola Oke, the Chief Executive Officer of ICT Derivatives Ltd., said the old NITDA Bill had a central purpose to facilitate adoption of ICT throughout the nation in private and public sector, and consequently support its infrastructure and connectivity.

Oke said that however, the new bill now had a heavy presence of regulatory functions which raises the question of if NITDA wanted to continue as a developmental or a regulatory agency.

He said the agency’s primary function was to focus on developing business, talents and job creation, noting that there were agencies already carrying out regulatory functions in the ICT industry.

“Adding regulatory functions to its agenda would only lead to duplicating existing laws and policies,” Oke said.

Mr Jide Awe, the Chief Executive Officer at Jidaw Systems Ltd., on the other hand said that NITDA Bill expectations were critical to the sustainability of Nigeria’s digital economy drive.

He said that NITDA’s aim was to create jobs, increase economic growth, and improve the quality of life for citizens.

Awe said that digital economy had grown, and growth factors require attention.

He said that sustainability of Nigeria’s digital economy drive was crucial as it was a key driver of innovation and sustainable development.

Awe said, “Developments, regulatoy interests, sustainability issues, and challenges must be considered.

“We need to understand that disruption and innovation demand different approaches,” he said.

Also, Peculiar Showale, Executive Assistant at Paradigm initiative, said that a sector by sector review of the bill by the Senate and House Committee on ICT made the bill appear to be an attempt to unnecessarily duplicate regulatory powers of some existing government agencies.

She said that while the NITDA Bill seeks to promote and regulate the development of the Nigerian technology sector, its implementation could potentially create regulatory and compliance hurdles for businesses in the digital economy space.

Showale said that this could potentially be discouraging to new entrants, leading to a slowdown in the industry’s growth.

In his opening remarks, Omobayo Azeez , Lead Executive at PIAFO, said that keen interest had followed issues around the proposed NITDA Bill 2021, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the NITDA Act 2007 that established the agency.

According to Azeez, the bill, which is now pending at the National Assembly, is aimed at creating a regulatory framework for the development of the Nigerian IT sector and digital economy.

He said: “While this on its own may not be a bad thing, there are fears that if the bill is passed the way it is, it may exert negative ripples on the ICT sector.

“There is no doubt that NITDA has been a major contributor to the Nigeria ICT development alongside other agencies of the government under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and beyond.

“However, the dusts raised around its pending bill could not be ignored in the interest of Nigeria’s growing ICT sector and the country’s fast-pacing digital economy drive,” he said.

The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that in August 2021, the NITDA Bill, which proposes to repeal and amend the extant NITDA Act, was released.

A review of the NITDA Bill revealed that there were a number of proposed significant changes to be introduced to the current regulatory landscape of the information technology industry and the digital economy.

The NITDA Bill seeks to introduce a licensing regime for operators in the Information Technology Industry and Digital Economy.

The bill will empower the agency to issue regulations that provide for licensing and authorisation criteria including renewal, suspension, and revocation conditions, to promote free market operation and competition, among other things.



Source: NAN

Nigerian-born music superstar, business visionary and international nomad Oluwatosin Ajibade popularly known as Mr Eazi has announced the formation of a new pan-African music group, Choplife Soundsystem.

A statement signed by the singer revealed that Mr Eazi had joined forces on new music dance project merging music and community and live events.

The statement added that the group will also consist of UK-based, Kenyan-born Afrobeats selector and tastemaker DJ Edu, as its resident DJ, along with an informal crew of contributing DJs, artistes and producers from across the continent. 

"Mr Eazi will be the primary vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem recordings, and will also serve as its MC or Minister of Enjoyment at live events. 

"Choplife Soundsystem derives its name from the popular West African pidgin slang phrase chop life, meaning “enjoy life,” along with the traditional Soundsystem that are the backbone of Jamaican music culture. 

"In Jamaican parlance, a soundsystem is a mobile crew of DJs and MCs, typically financed by a prominent local businessperson, who present music together at public events, such as street parties, clubs and festivals," it read.

It was gathered that recent years have seen international outfits like producer Diplo’s Major Lazer project put their own spin on the format, functioning as both creators and performers of original music, as well as a tastemaking DJ crew. 

The statement however read that with Choplife Soundsystem, the always-visionary Mr Eazi is putting a modern, African twist on soundsystem culture, incorporating genres like Amapiano and Afrobeats to curate the ultimate African party experience both on original studio recordings and at curated live events. 

"Inspired to take the vibe and spirit of his successful Ghana holiday party Detty Rave on the road, Mr Eazi “soft launched” Choplife Soundsystem with events in Cotonou, Benin; Stockholm, Sweden; and Kigali, Rwanda in 2022. 

"Mr Eazi will announce further details about Choplife Soundsystem, including new music releases, partnerships and live events, later this Spring," the statement read.

In his words, Mr Eazi said "I’m going back to where I started from, hosting the biggest parties at uni, that was how I started singing. I am looking forward to this new and fun ride and I can’t wait for all the music to start dropping and the accompanying live experience.”

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An Abuja-based businessman, Alhaji Mubarak Musa, the Chairman, Al-Mubee Group, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as well as the Department of State Service over threat to his life and family.

According to Musa, it was pertinent to make those petitions because one Achema Stephen Akpa had on two occasions stormed his construction site in Abuja and physically assaulted him, destroyed his properties and made threats to his life.

In a series of petitions addressed to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, the complainant had alleged that the said Akpa had not just intimidated him but also went a step further to assault him physically, after which he made threats to his personal life and property.

The petitions which were sighted by the paper, were filed by Mustapha Mahmud Ibrahim Chambers, for the said incident that happened on December 1, 2022 and February 4, 2023.

In the petition titled: "Petition against Achema Stephen Akpa for Criminal Intimidation, Assault and Threat to my Personal Life and Property", the solicitors craved for the intervention of the AGF and the IGP.

The petition read thus, "We are the Solicitors of on whom we represent and hereby write to your good office for your kind intervention.

"Our client is a law-abiding citizen who is into Real Estate management here in Abuja. Our client and Mr. Achema have been good friends for awhile until this afternoon around 12.40 pm when Mr Achema stormed our client's site located at Emperor City and Almubee Estate in Wuye district of Federal Capital Territory Area of Abuja with hoodlums in their numbers.

"To my greatest surprise as Achema Stephen came down from his Vehicle, he came to me directly and started chanting all sort of words and before could realize, he slapped me and started punching me with some heavy blows on my face together with his boys.

"Infact, they chased those who wanted to come to my aid away. I was humiliated in front of the public mercilessly for reason I don't know.

"Afterward, he returned to his vehicle and told to watch out what will happen to me within 24 hours. He then said to me "I will kill you". I immediately reported to the Police at Wuye Division for swift action.

"After assaulting me, Mr. Achema left with a serious warning that he will come back to finish what he has started, threatening that I should either leave Abuja now or he will wipe me out with my family entirely from the face of the earth.

"Sir, I don't want to take this threat with laxity because of what my eye saw today, therefore I am pleading with the Inspector General of Police to kindly order for the arrest of Achema Stephen with his criminal gang to ascertain what is really happening and to ensure the safety of my life and that of my family."

In another petition to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, he said Achema allegedly made a return but this time to his site in Wuye Abuja with three vehicles loaded with arm thugs and started destroying properties.

The petition also read thus, "I wish to bring to your notice that as a law abiding citizen, the above Achema Stephen Akpa has been threatening to kill me and take over my properties since last year which necessitated my petitions to the Minister of Justice/Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Security Service DSS dated December 1, 2022, seeking the intervention and investigation from the relevant authorities."

He lamented that rather than arresting and inviting Achema for investigation, he moves around in disdain for constituted authority, "resorts to names dropping that he has all the law enforcement senior officers in his pay roll and that his senior brother is a military general.

"On February 4, 2023 at about 11:40 am he went to my site in Wuye Abuja with three vehicles loaded with arm thugs and started destroying my properties, shooting into the air, attacking my private guards and workers in the site with cutlass, iron rod and sticks.

" The private security guard responded and overpowered and chased away the arms thugs and fled leaving Achema Stephen Akpa before police men from Wuye Division brought the situation to normalcy.

"My private security guard and other workers on the site who sustained various degrees of injuries from the attack were rushed to hospital for medical attention.

"I am using this medium to call on the commissioner of police to use his office to urgently arrest this ugly situation before it degenerate to loss of life."

He further alleged that he once received a message from a man claiming to be a DSS personnel and requesting him to report in his office tomorrow morning.

"The text reads thus: My name is Julius. I am directed to invite you to the DSS FCT
command, Asokoro by 10 am tomorrow Friday, December 2022"."

Based on the foregoing, he craved the indulgence of the IGP and DSS to swiftly intervene on the matter.

Afterwards, Musa went a step further to request for armed policemen to reinforce security in his company given the existential threat facing him.

In another petition to the IGP sighted by this paper, he applied for armed policemen from the Special Protection Unit ISPO Bases 7 and 20 to provide guard and escort duties to his company,
AL-MUBEE Group.

The said company specialises in general
contract and merchandise with a good number of expatriate Indigenous staff
and engineers who manage the affairs of the company.

In the petition requesting for police protection, the company said since their services require that they move from one place to another while discharging our legitimate duties, "our request is necessitated by the prevailing security breach across the country and in order to ensure that our expatriates and indigenous staff as well as the Chief Executive Officer of our company are safe and able to carry out our duties without fear of attack by hoodlum".

Meanwhile, in a letter of invitation by the IG Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and signed by the Commander, CP Tunji Disu, then a DCP, dated December 5, 2022, which was sighted by this paper, Achema was invited to come in for an interview.

The invitation read thus, "This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, issuance of dud cheque, obtaining by false pretence, cheating and intimidation against you.

"In furtherance of investigation, you are kindly requested to interview the officer in-charge FIB-Intelligence Response Team (IRT)... in order to respond to the allegation. Kindly report to Inspector Julius Ishaya... on arrival. Your cooperation in this regard will be highly appreciated, please."

However, despite the invitation, Achema did not turn up.

A popular blogger from Kogi State, Isah Amoto Aliyu, has narrated her ordeal in the hands of a senatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party in the state, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who he said masterminded his alleged "abduction" by policemen without a warrant of arrest.

In a Facebook post, on Thursday evening, Aliyu, who runs the Ebira4Real blog, said, after being harassed and tortured to write a statement in police cell, Akpoti-Uduaghan walked in and insisted that he must implicate three Kogi government officials, specifically her opponent in the senatorial race, and two others simply identified as "Atimpo and Hi-speed", before he could be released.

According to the blogger, the allegations against the officials she mentioned as it concerned him were strange to him, so he refuted them and remained in detention for 14 days.

He made these revelations as documents emerged, showing that he had dragged the PDP Senatorial Candidate before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over human rights violation and illegal detention before his eventually release.

Aliyu, in an originating summon, pursuant to Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sought an order of the court to compel Natasha to compensate him with the sum of N50 million as damages for his alleged unlawful arrest and detention.

In his Facebook post on the ordeal, he wrote, "On the 15th of February, 2023 at around 08:50am, I was abducted (they never showed me any arrest warrant) by some policemen in Lokoja and taken to the FCT Police Command in Abuja. It was when I got there that I was served a petition from the Kogi Central PDP Senatorial Candidate, Natasha Akpoti and her husband, with Ebira4real Media and my friend, Zamil as defendants, respectively.

"The petition read: 'Criminal Conspiracy, Defamation of Character, Cyber Bullying and Stalking of Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Barr. Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan'. The references included four (4) posts from Ebira4Real’s page from February 2022 to November 2022.

"After glancing through the petition, I demanded to speak with my lawyer before making any statement. They refused, just as they had seized my phone and proceeded to harassing and torturing me into making statement. Having written the statement under torture, I was taken to an office where I was made to await the arrival of the petitioner. She came few hours later with some of her boys whom I have known and related with over the years.

"She made so many verbal accusations, some of which are that I stalked, bullied her and her entire family since 2019. She said I was being sponsored against her. I sought privacy with her to debunk all these spurious allegations, but she paid no heed, rather gave me conditions to meet if I wanted to be released.

"They include:
- mentioning either Atimpo, Hi-speed or Ohere as my sponsors.
- that I tell her where Yahaya Bello hid guns to be used against her in the elections.
- tell her what my business in the Govt house was (if I was doing dirty deals for the govt).
- tender a public apology on Ebira4real, after which the page should be brought down.

"Because all of these allegations were strange to me, I denied them all and tried to make her see reasons why I was not the person she thought she had. At this point when she laid all of these down, my lawyer had turned up."

"In summary, that was how yours sincerely landed at the former SARS detention center popularly known as 'abbatoir'.  It took them my entire stay there (14 days) for them to come up with a charge before eventually arraigning me. Upon arraignment, my lawyers were right at the door," he narrated.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/257/2023 and filed on February 23, 2023, Aliyu, through a team of his counsels, led by Bala I. Dakum, prayed the court to invoke Order 2 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and order his immediate and unconditional release from the police custody.

The Applicant also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and other Respondents, their privies, agents, officers or representatives, from further arresting and/or harassing him based on the facts leading to the application.

The prayers of the Applicant read in full, "The applicant praying the court for the following reliefs:

"A declaration that the arrest and continued detention of the Applicant since the 15th February, 2023 by the 1st and 2nd Respondents, their privies, agents, officers or representatives at the instance of the 3rd respondent is illegal, unlawful, null and void and amounts to gross violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in the Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

"An order of this honourable court directing the respondents to immediately release the applicant unconditionally

"An order of this honourable court directing the respondents to jointly and severally pay the applicant the sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) only for unlawful arrest and detention.

"An order of this honourable court directing the Respondents to tender a formal apology to the Applicant by publishing same in two National Daily Newspapers.

"An order of perpetual injunction restraining he Respondents, its privies, agents, officers or representatives, from further arresting and/or harassing the Applicant based on the facts leading to this application.

"Such further order(s) as this honourable court may deem fit to make circumstances of this case."

The Grassroot Mobilization For APC President BAT/Shetti Nationwide (GMP) has called for unity among supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu becomes the President of Nigeria. 

The group made the call during the 8th Edition of Special Annual Prayer For The Next President Of Nigeria and For The Nation.

The annual prayer was hosted by the Muslim Affairs Directorate of the APC Independent Campaign Council.

GMP President, Otunba Abdul Fatai Adegbuyi said "the group had made it her responsibility to be praying for the incoming President which by the special grace of God will be Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

"This is the 8th Edition which is to show gratification for what God had done by actualising our vision.

"It is now left to us to unite, be dedicated to achieve the common aim of making Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

The speaker of the day, Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello also said that he was more scared of the supporters of APC than the elections itself. 

Bello urged the people to shun backbiting and focus on the aim of the group which is making sure the candidates of the party emerge winner in the coming elections. 

"We need to unite, a win for one is a win for all. Our faith is in our hands, it is now left for us to take Asiwaju to that place that we want him to be.

"What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. We should be dedicated and focused. Asiwaju's achievements stands out, everyone has been clamoring for it at the Federal level and he will eventually get there," he said.

Bello further commended the ICC DG, Mr Tayo Ayinde for his efforts and prayed for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-olu/Hamzat.

The DG ICC, Mr Tayo Ayinde also commended the group and the cleric for the prayer and his words of advice. 

Ayinde further urged present members to take note of the advice and share with others so that the collective aim of making Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the next president.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, CP Frank Mba, mni, has commended the residents of the State for their resilience and peaceful conduct, in the face of the biting challenges, resulting from the new Naira policy and paucity of fuel supply in the State.

According to a statement signed by the State Police Command's Spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the CP made this known during a confidence-building patrol conducted by the Police and other security forces in the State, on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

The patrol was targeted at assuring residents of the resolve of the Command to protect lives and property, prevent breakdown of law and order, and improve public safety and security.

"The CP further noted that intelligence at the disposal of the Command indicates that some criminal elements are planning to take advantage of the challenging economic situation to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State.

"He therefore warned that the Police, will not fold its arms and allow persons with criminal intentions, to hide under any guise whatsoever, to unleash mayhem on residents, private and public property, and critical national infrastructure, including banks and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

"The CP assured that necessary security architecture has been emplaced to protect the peace loving people of the State. He stated that the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), have been directed to arrest and bring to book, any person or group wanting to foment trouble and cause breach of peace in the State.

"To this end, the CP, while empathizing with residents, enjoined all parents and guardians, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political and religious leaders, amongst other critical stakeholders, to prevail on their children, wards and followers, not to resort to violence, as all necessary actions are being taken to further ease the pains of the people in this regard," he said.

The Director of Humanitarian Services Directorate in Lagos APC-ICC, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu led other executives and members his team to the Lagos Destitutes Home at Oko Baba area of Lagos Mainland. 

A statement signed by the APC Lagos ICC Humanitarian Services Directorate Media Team read that the Director, who is also the Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu 'Dullar' was accompanied by his colleague, the Executive Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Omolola Essien.

The chanting of "Jagaban" rented the air as the big branded bus filled with edible items, educational and domestic items drove into the 'Home of Potentials' in Okobaba area of Lagos Mainland.

Over 50,000 items worth millions of naira were donated for the Destitutes and their family members as the Executive Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Omolola Essien joined her Somolu Local Government counterpart, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu for the party's activity.

Receiving the representatives of the All Progressives Congress contingents, the Seriki (head) of the community, Alhaji Adamu Jibrin, reiterated the commitment of his members to the progressive party even since the APC presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was the Governor of Lagos State.

Addressing newsmen, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu said humanitarian activities are one of the key responsibilities of the government and that is what All Progressives Congress do from time to time while attending to communities according to their needs.

He however added that Nigerians will rejoice when APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu becomes the President of Nigeria. 

Salawu urged all Nigerians to vote all candidates of All Progressives Congress in their polling units.

The Deputy Director(Humanitarian Services Directorate) Ms. Omobolanle Dabiri added that what they've visited the Destitutes Home for is on the marching orders given to the directorate by the leadership of APC Lagos ICC.  

She emphasized that it is deliberate from the APC-LICC leadership to make a politician that has Compassion  for humanity and that brought Hon. Abdul Hameed Salawu as the Director of the Humanitarian Services Directorate who is living up to expectation.