West Africa
How Nigeria’s Latest Gas-Related Power Crisis Could Have Been Avoided
Image sourced from the Electricity Hub. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_cc8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_cc8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } On 28 May 2021, Nigeria’s national power generation dropped to 3,059 MW and for the subsequent seven days remained below 4,000 MW, 6% below-average production. Low pressure on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) left several gas turbine power plants with an insufficient gas supply, leading to plant shutdowns and widespread power blackouts. Unlike gas turbine power plants, gas engine power plants have the flexibility to function during low gas pressure events. This flexibility significantly lowers power production risk, a supreme advantage in the context of gas supply disruptions and systemic power shortages. Power cuts in Nigeria are ...
Unknown writers threaten Delta with mayhem for banning open grazing
A group of unidentified persons on Sunday threatened to attack Asaba and Agbor in Delta State should Governor Ifeanyi Okowa fail to withdraw his support for the ban on open grazing within 72 hours. An unsigned letter containing the threat was pasted at strategic locations in Asaba, including the fence of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel along Infant Jesus road. The letter, titled, ‘Fulani jihadist warning: An open message to Delta State,’ was dated June 13, 2021. It read, “This is to inform Delta State that the Fulani of Usman Dan Fodio leadership shall do everything it can to uphold the legacy of our heritage of open grazing; for we are nomadic people from origination and shall never negotiate the ownership of Nigeria, West Africa and Sub-Sahara. “We hereby demand the Governor ...
Facebook, Instagram & Other Social Media MUST Register with Nigerian Govt to Continue Operations
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_653.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_653.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } A week after the country indefinitely suspended social media service Twitter, the Nigerian Federal Government has said that any social media giant, including Facebook, Twitter and others must register in the country to continue to be able to do business and operate unhindered. Users who access Twitter against the ban will be prosecuted, the government warned on Wednesday. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, yesterday also revealed that Twitter has contacted the Nigerian government to begin “high-level discussions” in order to begin operating in the country legally once again. The Minister had disclosed this information while briefing the media after the weekly Fede...
Nigerian Lawmakers to Investigate Government’s Twitter Ban
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_050.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_050.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed a new resolution to investigate the legality of the indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in the country. The investigation was announced on Tuesday. This represents the first major move by the legislative body on the suspension of the social media service. The government’s decision to suspend Twitter has been met with significant criticism from Nigerians. The country’s National Assembly has also been criticised for their perceived silence and inaction on the matter, reports Tech Cabal. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says that the members of the lower chamber have been “inundated with comments about the ...
Airtel Nigeria Awarded “Best in Test” – An Interview with Hakan Ekmen of umlaut
Hakan Ekmen, CEO of Telecommunications for umlaut. Hakan Ekmen, CEO of Telecommunications at umlaut – an international, full-service, cross-industry, end-to-end company that offers advisory and fulfilment services to clients all over the world – chats with ITNA about umlaut’s recently published telecommunications report in Nigeria and the company’s future plans in Africa. Here’s what transpired: umlaut is well known in the Telecommunications industry, but that’s only part of the story. Can you please tell us a little bit more about umlaut? umlaut is a technology-driven and future-oriented company, providing services to numerous sectors and industries, like automotive, energy, aviation, rail and telecommunications. We transfer our expertise and knowledge across the industries. Our own value...
Senegalese navy seizes 8 tonnes of cannabis resin from boat
The Senegalese navy on Sunday intercepted a boat smuggling over 8 tonnes of cannabis resin through the waters off the West African nation’s coast, the armed forces ministry said in a statement. The vessel, which was flying a Togolese flag, was stopped 140 kilometres (87 miles) from the coastal capital of Dakar with seven crew members on board. After escorting the boat to a naval base in Dakar, the authorities discovered the 8.37 tonnes of hashish split between 279 bags. The boat was also carrying sacks of plaster, the ministry said on Monday. It did not provide a street value for the seized drugs. Earlier this year, authorities in Niger seized 17 tonnes of cannabis resin worth around 31 million euros ($37 million), the largest bust in the country’s history. According to Interpol, drug king...
Cybersecurity and Data Protection Laws Urgently Needed Across Africa
The pandemic has driven home the high value of personal data to the global economy, while also highlighting its vulnerability to abuse and attack. In response, governments around the world have been reviewing their data privacy and protection laws and regulations, including in South Africa and Ghana. Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky recently noted that cyberattacks are set to rise in African countries, especially in the key financial centres of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. The cybersecurity firm noted that rapidly evolving digital techniques had led to an increased risk of Advanced Persistent Threats and hacking-for-hire events in Africa. South Africa In South Africa, the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act was signed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in early June 2...
Nigeria Threatens to Arrest and Prosecute Users Avoiding Twitter Ban
Image sourced from Mfidie.com. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_a87.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_a87.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Nigerian government has ordered federal prosecutors to arrest and prosecute users of the Twitter app in the country after a blanket ban on the social media company went into effect on Friday. Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, issued the directive Saturday in a statement signed on his behalf by his spokesman, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu reports CNN. “Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to swing into action and commence in earnest the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-...
Nigeria Bans Twitter Indefinitely After It Deleted President Buhari’s Tweet
Image sourced from CNN. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Twitter’s operations in Nigeria have been “indefinitely suspended” says the Nigerian government, following an announcement, ironically on Twitter, by the Ministry of Information and Culture. PRESS RELEASE FG Suspends @Twitter Operations in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/7z5BQ0Mi3U — Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021 “The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” the statement reads. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The reason that was given for the ban, via the statement po...
TB Joshua: Let us dedicate June 12th to prayer and fasting
Prominent Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua has revealed he will not be holding a public celebration for his incoming 58th birthday on June 12th 2021, calling for the day to be dedicated to “prayer and fasting”. “As you know, I am a man of the people. So, the wound of one is the wound of all,” Joshua stated in a televised message posted to his multiple social media accounts. “As things stand, you may have realised it will not be easy for me to celebrate my birthday under the present circumstances,” he continued, adding that many who wanted to visit Nigeria for the occasion “are troubled by the situation all over the world”. “We see their fear and their worry. I feel their pain; I feel their worry,” the cleric, who is the founder of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, compassiona...
Tech-Driven Agriculture to Boost 50,000 Women and Youth Farmers in Nigeria
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_809.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_809.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Building on its work to boost food security in Nigeria through technology-drivenagricultural services, Thrive Agric has launched a 1-year project to support 50,000 smallholder farmers growing rice, maize, and soybean. This comes as part of Thrive Agric’s commitment to strengthen agricultural value chains in the country, including for these three staple crops. The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) is backing this effort with a $1.75-million co-investment grant. Thrive Agric /* custom css */ .tdi_3_be9.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_be9.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } A natural partner for the Trade Hub, Thrive Agric has already helped...
MTN Plans to Build New ICT Centre in Ghana
Sourced from TheTechieGuy (https://thetechieguy.com/) MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita has made a three-day visit to Ghana and launched major projects that the operator aims to achieve by 2022, Ecofin reported. It intends to improve and expand network infrastructure to bring quality telecom services to rural areas and supporting Ghana’s QR code project and other digital initiatives such as combating cyber-attacks and developing women’s participation in ICT, he said. Mupita also revealed MTN’s intention to build an ICT centre in Ghana and finalise the opening of 30% of MTN Ghana’s capital to local investors by the end of the year. MTN plans to open up 30% of the capital MobileMoney by January 2022, too. Since March, the company has initiated a strategic repositioning to attract third-party capita...
