InfoTech
First Term: Experts Score Buhari Administration High On ICT
By Funmilola Gboteku and Florence Onuegbu
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous growth during the first four years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Information Technology (IT) experts attribute the growth to the various friendly ICT policies put in place by the Federal Government.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in his candid assessment, says the Federal Government has done quite well in the last four years.
“I think it will be fair to say a score of 80 per cent, owing to the progress the administration has made in the past years, ‘’ he notes.
Adebayo says the industry has made a lot of progress in terms of broadband penetration; hence, achieving the broadband target and even surpassing it.
“We have more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) coming into the ICT sector and because of the relatively stable policy of government, the industry has been able to support a number of other sub-sectors of the economy.
“So, on the average, we are able to say that the Buhari’s administration has done quite well in the last four years,’’ he says.
Adebayo says unfortunately it appears that the progress of ICT in the country is being taken for granted.
He laments that telecommunication no longer has a mention by the government as one of the priority sectors.
According to him, it should not be, because ICT is a major driver of the economy.
“We are the infrastructure of infrastructure and we think that wherever issue of development is being discussed, ICT should be in the forefront.
“Other sectors that the government is making efforts to develop are all dependent on ICT in one way or the other.
“So it would appear that we are no longer in the first line of interest of government; which should not be.
“As you know, we are in technology industry and technology is changing by the day; hence, the need for new investments, for new hardware and software.
“So we think that as part of our development as a nation, ICT should continue to be one of the issues of development that we should consider,’’ Adebayo explains.
He says there is no enough protection of the industry by government, as there are issues of base stations’ closure and seizure.
Adebayo says the industry is quite vulnerable and such vulnerability has exposed the issues of multiple taxation and multiple regulation.
According to him, taxes and levies have increased to 39 across all tiers of government in the country.
“I think that government should consider harmonisation of the taxes and levies. Telecom is on the exclusive list of the Federal Government.
“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the sector, even from issues of interference, multiple taxation and regulation.
“So in my view, the major problem that we face is the issue of site closure and multiple taxation.
“We have issue of foreign exchange and government solved the problem. So the issue of multiple taxation is something the Federal Government must look into.
“I think the time has come that government should take up ownership and protection of infrastructure. We continue to require investments both foreign and local investments; and people will not invest if the industry is unstable,’’ he says.
Ikechukwu Nnamani, the Chief Executive Officer, Medallion Communications says the Buhari’s administration has done well in the arrangement reached by the National Executive Council in respect of Right of Way (RoW) fee.
Nnamani says a number of states have been able to lower their RoW rates, which has enabled deployment of more fibre infrastructure.
Muhammed Rudman, the President of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) wants the Federal Government to prioritise significant investments in ICT infrastructure in the next four years.
Rudman notes that although through government’s contributions to the ICT, the industry has been able to deepen broadband penetration by 33 per cent but more effort needs to be made in ensuring that the rural areas also benefit from it.
He explains that the government already has laid-down policies regarding the ICT industry.
“The best time to implement the policies, which include the deepening of broadband penetration and building infrastructure is now.
“My advice is actually to have an ICT roadmap, that would ensure both the government and private sector identify all the stumbling blocks in the industry and address them.
“The players in the ICT industry should actually have an agenda that they will push to the government every year, so that the sector can grow,’’ he suggests.
Rudman points out that it will go a long way if the president can also resolve the issue of RoW and multiple taxation which are some of the major challenges faced in the industry, most especially by telecom companies.
He notes that those challenges were some of the things slowing down the telecommunications industry, while urging the government to address the issues.
The NIRA boss adds that the government needs to continue investing heavily in the sector, because it has played a big role in terms of revenue generation and also creating employment for citizens.
Also speaking, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, the President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) says a lot has been achieved in terms of broadband penetration during the President’s four-year tenure.
“In 2014 to 2018, broadband was between 18 to 20 per cent.
“However, according to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we now have 33 per cent broadband peneration, which shows that a lot has been achieved in last four years of the Buhari’s administration.
“To sustain the growth, the government should set another benchmark for 2019 to 2023 where we should be looking at a minimum of 70 per cent or more broadband penetration.
“The government through some of its agencies like NCC is ensuring that Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) develop both the rural and sub-urban areas.
“NCC is supporting infracos by giving them some money to develop their structures and services,’’ Ogunbanjo notes.
He also suggests that government needs to have refined policies that will gear the industry toward achieving 75 per cent penetration by 2025.
Ogunbanjo urges the Federal Government to invest more in the sector because the ICT industry is the future of Nigeria, aside from oil and agriculture.
Most ICT industry experts are of the opinion that President Buhari’s administration has done quite well in the ICT sector of the economy and can do better in the second term.
The expert, however, note that the industry is a work in progress.
They point out that it is imperative to tackle the challenges of multiple taxation and multiple regulation, if further growth must be achieved in the ICT industry.
By Emmanuel Oye-Adeniran
Data is becoming a vital resource in the digital age, propelling innovation and decision-making in many sectors of the economy such as Construction, Healthcare, Agriculture and Finance. However, data ethics and privacy worries have increased along with data gathering, storage, and analysis growth.
Discussions concerning the ethical use of data and the defence of individual rights in a society that is becoming more interconnected revolve around these issues. This article looks at the importance of data privacy and ethics as it affects today’s world.Many years ago, before the advent of digitalization, it was of no consequence to share an individual’s information with or without consent which made it quite interesting as there were no laws safeguarding individual’s data, in fact, people did not bother much.
However, in the new era of digitalization, a person’s data must be treated as private.
They have entrusted you with their bank details, contact addresses, etc and they must be kept private.
Cybercrime has become so prevalent globally that many have argued it has come to stay. Well, this might not be untrue considering how long it has become an issue on the front burner.
A synopsis of data privacy between the 16 and 19th centuries reveals that privacy was mostly a problem with physical areas and communications. The necessity of maintaining communication secrecy was brought to light by the development of the postal system in the seventeenth century (Ref: Mark Elliot, Anna M. Mandalari, Miranda Mourby, Kieron O’Hara).
In today’s age of online shopping, social media interactions and AI technology, it has become evident that various platforms usually collect people’s data for various purposes, ranging from marketing intelligence to improved user experience.
A look at some of the elements which are related to Data privacy and ethics in today’s world:
(i)Transparency and Accountability:
Stakeholders are holding digital businesses more and more responsible for their ethical behaviour and data policies. Gaining the trust of users requires being open and honest about the goals, techniques, and possible risks associated with data collecting. Businesses should make their policies on the gathering, handling, and distribution of personal data easily understandable.
User permission and data control procedures should also be simple to understand and intuitive. Accountability techniques, such recurring audits and impartial supervision, can guarantee that businesses follow legal and ethical criteria.
(ii) Bias and Fairness:
The computer is obviously not intelligent without human input, and so it must be fed with the right unbiased information. If the Algorithm is discriminatory towards a social class for instance, then this nullifies the essence of Data ethics.
Algorithmic bias poses a significant ethical challenge in technology use. Machine learning algorithms, while powerful, can perpetuate and amplify biases present in training data. This can result in discriminatory outcomes, reinforcing existing social inequalities.
Ethical technology use requires ongoing efforts to identify and mitigate bias in algorithms. Companies must prioritize fairness and equity in designing and implementing AI systems, ensuring that technology serves diverse populations without perpetuating discrimination.
(iii)Consent and its role:
The use of ambiguous policies often makes it almost impossible for users to make very safe and informed choices about the implications of sharing their data and so it is imperative that policies be made simpler for users to understand. This would by a long shot, provide a proper decision-making process.
(iv)Empowering users:
Enabling consumers to take control of their data is essential to using technology ethically. It is critical to give people easily available tools for controlling privacy settings, comprehending data usage, and making defensible judgments about disclosing personal information. Initiatives aimed at raising user knowledge and education can support people in advocating for their right to privacy and navigating the digital world. By enabling people to take charge of their digital identities, businesses can cultivate a climate that values data security and online privacy. People must be given more rights to their data.
Conclusion
In today’s ever-evolving world of digitalization, it is imperative that stakeholders especially corporations adhere to the rules of data ethics and privacy.
Every clime must ensure that their users are protected by establishing laws and reviewing such existing laws to protect their users. Some of the data protection and ethics laws like the Pan-African initiatives of 2014, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) issued in 2019 and the European GDPR which came into effect on the 25th of May, 2018 are some of the efforts by various governments across the globe to stem the abuse of peoples’ rights to their Data. The laws are quite clear and focus on some salient points such as, Increased accountability & transparency, Empowerment of individuals, Standardization across the EU and Encouragement of best practices. These laws must be adhered to.
Big world corporations must put the customer’s rights at the front burner.
By Engineer Seun Omotoso
Introduction
AI developments are driving a change in network engineering. Historically, network engineers were responsible for building, deploying, and managing physical and virtual network infrastructures to ensure flawless connectivity and data flow.
However, incorporating AI into network engineering is transforming how networks are maintained, optimized, and secured. This article examines the importance of network engineering in the AI field, focusing on significant advancements, applications, and future prospects.The Intersection of AI and Network Engineering
Enhanced Network Security
(i) Threat Detection and Response: AI-powered security systems can recognize and respond to threats in real-time.
(ii) Adaptive Security Policies: AI can generate and update security policies in response to developing threats. This adaptive strategy ensures that the network is constantly safeguarded against the most recent security threats.
(iii) Incident Response Automation: AI systems can automate incident response tasks such as isolating affected network segments, blocking malicious traffic, and initiating recovery protocols.
AI-Driven Network Management
(i) Automation: Artificial intelligence enables the automation of common network management tasks such as configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. AI-powered systems can detect problems, apply solutions, and optimize network performance without requiring human intervention.
(ii) Predictive Maintenance: Machine learning algorithms can analyze previous network data to identify possible failures and performance degradation, allowing for proactive maintenance and reduced downtime.
(iii) Self-Optimizing Networks: Artificial intelligence (AI) can dynamically alter network parameters to optimize traffic flow, bandwidth utilization, and resource allocation in real-time.
Network Analytics and Insights
Performance Monitoring: By examining enormous volumes of data, AI technologies offer profound insights into network performance. These understandings aid in the detection of bottlenecks, the comprehension of user behaviour, and the enhancement of network efficiency in general.
AI can predict patterns in network consumption and assist with capacity planning, which ensures that network resources are scaled in accordance with demand.
User Experience Optimisation: Artificial intelligence (AI) can recommend ways to improve user experience, like cutting down on latency and raising service quality, by examining user interactions and network performance
Key Technologies for AI-Driven Network Engineering
Machine and Deep Learning
Machine learning algorithms are at the heart of AI-powered network management, allowing systems to learn from past data and make sound judgements.
Deep learning, which can handle complicated and high-dimensional data, is utilized in increasingly advanced applications such as picture and voice recognition in network security.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables network engineers to engage with AI systems through natural language commands. This makes network management more understandable and accessible.
Internet of Things (IoT) Integration
AI assists in managing the enormous number of IoT devices connected to current networks. It provides seamless connectivity, efficient data routing, and security for IoT ecosystems.
Some key challenges
Skill set development- Network engineers especially in developing climes, must learn new machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. It takes ongoing education and training to stay up to date with technical developments.
Scalability-Scalable AI solutions are necessary to manage the expanding scale and complexity of contemporary networks. Effective algorithms and substantial processing power are needed for this.
Inter-operability- AI integration with the current network architecture can be difficult. For operations to run smoothly, new AI-driven technologies and legacy systems must be compatible.
Data privacy and security- It is crucial to protect the security and privacy of data used by AI systems. To stop breaches and misuse, network engineers need to put strong data protection mechanisms in place.
In summary
The field is changing as a result of AI’s incorporation into network engineering, which offers previously unheard-of levels of automation, security, and efficiency. AI’s place in network engineering will only rise as the complexity of networks and the need for seamless connectivity increase. In order to keep ahead in this quickly changing sector, network engineers must embrace these improvements, updating their skills on a regular basis and embracing new technology. Artificial Intelligence-powered intelligent, adaptive, and resilient networks are the wave of the future for network engineering.
Engr. Seun Omotoso is the Managing Director of Techwise Consulting and he writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has assured of the government’s dedication and commitment towards creating a conducive business environment that will enable multinational companies to expand their investments in the country with a view to contributing to the nation’s economic growth and development.
Edun gave the assurance when he received and met with a delegation in his office in Abuja from Microsoft Nigeria, led by the Country Manager Nigeria, Olatomiwa Williams.
The Minister welcomed Microsoft’s commitment to Nigeria and emphasized the administration’s understanding of the strategic importance of sector leaders like Microsoft.
The meeting, he said, marks a significant step forward in fostering a collaborative relationship between the federal government and multinational technology companies, driving economic development and innovation in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, Microsoft Country Manager for Nigeria, Olatomiwa Williams, stated that the team was on the visit to address recent media reports and explore potential areas of collaboration between the federal government and the technology giant.
The Managing Director reassured the Minister that Microsoft remains committed to its operations in Nigeria, contrary to recent speculation.
He expressed the company’s desire to partner with the government in areas of mutual interest, including cyber security and youth upskilling.
Customs Officers Reject N1.5m Bribe from Vandals – Comptroller
Officers and men of the Nigerian Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Command were said to have turned down N1.5m bribe from suspected vandals of railway tracks.
The operatives of the command on June 8, clamped down on a notorious cartel that specialises in the vandalisation of railway tracks, alongside a truck conveying a 20-foot container laden with vandalised railway tracks.
Also in the process, three suspects were intercepted by the command’s monitoring team at Kajiji along Kebbi Road.
The Comptroller of Customs, Sokoto/Zamfara Commands, Kamal Muhammed, while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto on Monday, said, “The suspects could not tender evidence of allocation from the Federal Ministry of Transport, instead made an overture to bribe the officers with N1.5m and even making an advance cash offer of N300, 000.
“Out of patriotism and integrity, the officers chose the path of honour by detaining them at the command headquarters.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence is the agency mandated to secure critical national assets, conforming with the collaboration policy thrust of the CGC, the Area Command will hand over the suspects, the truck, and its content and the N300,000 cash to the Commander NSCDC Sokoto Command who is here with us for further investigation and prosecution”
Speaking further, he noted that in compliance with the orders of the Comptroller General of Customs to seal up routes used by smugglers to smuggle contraband, officers of the whirlwind tactical team intercepted 11,270 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
He said, “In compliance with the Comptroller General of Customs matching order to seal up all routes used for the smuggling of petroleum products, the Zone ” B” whirlwind tactical team with reinforcement by Officers and men of Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command intercepted 11, 270litrea of Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol.
“The maritime and cross border smuggling of PMS hurts the overall supply chain of the product in addition to the possibility of funding criminal activities with the proceeds.
“Even with the removal of subsidy, the smuggling of PMS brings about an extra cost burden on the country both in terms of security of supply and securing of the scarce foreign exchange used to import the product.”
He added that the command will auction the sale of 11,270 litres of Petroleum Motor Spirits, at the rate of 180 naira per litre to the general public in Sokoto.
“In line with extant laws and the approval by the Comptroller General of Customs, the seized PMS will be auctioned to the general public today at a token of 180 naira per litre.
“Relatedly, last week the Whirwild Zone B tactical team auctioned 20,142 litres of PMS to the general public at Kebbi Area Command”, he added.
Similarly, in August 2023, the Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it rejected the N50m bribe offered by a smuggler involved in the importation of tramadol and other drugs for his container to be released.
The Customs Area Comptroller of Tincan, Adekunle Oloyede, said this while addressing journalists at the command.
He said the suspect, Boniface Ike, accepted ownership of two 40-foot containers arrested with drugs with the duty paid value of N550m.
Unilorin Introduces Self-defence, Combat Training for Students
The Department of Criminology and Security Studies, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has taken steps to equip its students with essential skills by introducing self-defence and combat training as a vocation.
Dr Adedeji Oyenuga, a Visiting Scholar in the institution’s Department of Criminology, disclosed this on Monday in Ilorin.
He spoke at the maiden edition of the combat training at the university’s sports complex.
Oyenuga who is an Associate Professor at the Lagos State University (LASU), however, said the training could not be immediately integrated into the curriculum due to the proposal’s lateness.
He explained that the university had recognised the importance of this initiative and decided to offer it as a vocational activity before incorporating it into the curriculum at a later date.
The don highlighted the significance of self-defence within the context of security studies.
“I commend the University for thinking outside the box and swiftly approving the idea of practical combat training,” he said.
Oyenuga pointed out that the integration of self-defence and combat training into the curriculum reflected the university’s commitment to producing well-rounded graduates.
He said these would be those who are academically proficient and capable of ensuring personal safety and the security of others.
“This innovative approach aligns with the evolving landscape of Criminology and Security Studies, which demands a comprehensive understanding of practical self-defence techniques,” the don explained.
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