Business News
Sale and use of pre-registered SIM card, Illegal- NCC Official warns
Emilia Nwokoro, Southeast Zonal Controller of the NCC has strictly cautioned against the sale of pre-registered sim cards.
In line with the Commission’s mandate to ban pre-registered sim cards, Emilia Nwokoro, Southeast Zonal Controller of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has strictly cautioned against the sale of pre-registered sim cards. She noted that sale of such products is criminal.
She made this statement during a courtesy visit to the zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
The Commission moves: Nwokoro noted that the commission has begun to move about mopping up unregistered sim cards and warned customers to make sure their sim was duly registered. She also advised against the patronage of roadside sim card sellers.
“The sale and usage of pre-registered SIM cards are illegal and that is why we are mopping up such cards.
[READ ALSO: Improve service quality or risk sanction – NCC warns Telcos]
“Our enforcement team is already in the field clamping down on those selling such cards by the roadside,” she said.
Recall that Nigeria’s Communication Minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami set September 25th, 2019 as the deadline for registration of all sim cards in the country, after which pre-registered or partially registered sim cards would cease to exist in the country.
The exercise reduced the number of improperly registered SIM cards from 9.2 million to 2.42 million within one week.
Restating the commission attempts in providing better network, she advised subscribers to get better services by porting to any network of their choice.
“When a subscriber is not satisfied with the telecom operator, he has the right to port and this affords him the opportunity to change to any network of his choice while retaining his original number,” She said.
She urged subscribers to take advantage of the toll-free line by the commission to give feedback about the services rendered to them by their network providers. On its part, she said the NCC has intervened in issues like data roll-over, unsolicited message and data depletion. She assured the public that they will continually get value for their money, hence the visit.
[READ ALSO: NCC moves to track cybercriminals]
What you should know: Nwokoro’s public enlightenment visit is part of the Commission’s numerous moves in clamping down on the sale and usage of pre-registered SIM cards in the telecommunication industry.
Coronavirus
FG warns Nigerians about on-going N3million COVID-19 grant scam
FG has warned Nigerians to beware of scammers using phishing links to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerians about an ongoing N3million COVID-19 scam in circulation.
This was disclosed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning via its Twitter handle.
According to the government, the scam targets Nigerians looking to benefit from the Federal Government assistance to businesses affected by COVID-19.
In the tweet, it warned about some phishing links being shared on social media, requesting for applications for N3 Million FG Grants.
It tweeted, “The general public should note that these phishing links are generated by Scammers and intended to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Government requests for applications are only via official channels & websites.
“It has come to our attention that a link is being shared via social media requesting for applications for a FG N3 Million grant.
“The general public should note that this is a SCAM. Any requests for applications are only via official channels & websites. Pls beware! #FinMinNigeria.”
It has come to our attention that a link is being shared via social media requesting for applications for a FG 3 Million grant. The general public should note that this is a SCAM. Any requests for applications are only via official channels & websites. Pls beware! #FinMinNigeria pic.twitter.com/C0Z2EcUbQF
— Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (@FinMinNigeria) October 27, 2020
What they are saying
Okebunmi Omolaja, has tasked the Federal Government to take its warning further from the social media to other publicity tools in order to spread the information across Nigeria.
He said, “The Ministry can help by carrying the awareness campaigns to States radio stations or federal officers in each States to meet the CDA Leaders of their traditional rulers palaces/govt schools premises.”
The Ministry can help by carrying the awareness campaigns to States radio stations or federal officers in each States to meet the CDA Leaders of their traditional rulers palaces/govt schools premises.
— okebunmi omolaja (@Okebunmilajman) October 28, 2020
Coronavirus
COVID-19: Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown – Buhari
President Buhari has called on Nigerians to do all they can to avert a second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari said that the Nigerian economy is too fragile to go into another lockdown, as the second wave of coronavirus forces some European countries – Germany and France, to enter another phase of lockdown.
The President disclosed this in a social media statement on Thursday afternoon via his official Twitter handle.
Looking at the trends in the other countries, we must do all we can to avert a second wave of Covid-19 in Nigeria. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 29, 2020
Buhari said Nigeria will work hard to control its local spread, as the country can’t afford a lockdown.
“Looking at the trends in other countries, we must do all we can to avert a second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown,” President Buhari said.
(READ MORE:#EndSARS: Hoodlums loot Yakubu Dogara’s house in Jos)
What you should know
According to a Bloomberg report, the rising cases of COVID-19 in Europe have led to another phase of lockdowns, with the Eurozone’s 2 biggest economies, Germany and France announcing new lockdowns restrictions.
“The measures we’ve taken have turned out to be insufficient to counter a wave that’s affecting all Europe,” said French President Emmanuel Macron
In August, Nairametrics reported that President Buhari approved the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another 4 weeks.
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in real terms declined by 6.10% (year-on-year) in Q2 2020, ending the 3-year trend of low but positive real growth rates recorded since the 2016/17 recession.
Business News
FG to invest in the deployment of Mini-grid systems to power 5 million homes in 2021
The Minister said the government will invest in Mini-grid systems that will provide power for 5 million homes in 2021.
In a bid to provide remote communities with clean and affordable energy, the Minister of Power, Engineer Sale Mamman has disclosed that the Government is set to invest heavily in the deployment of Mini-grid systems that will provide power for 5 million homes in 2021.
This disclosure was made by Engr. Sale Mamman in a statement released into the mainstream media via his official Twitter handle.
READ: Electricity: Nigeria now has an installed generation capacity of 13,000MW – Minister of Power
It is virtually impossible to have the National grid covering every geographical point within Nigeria, that is why Government is investing heavily in the deployment of Mini-grid systems which can easily get to the most remote communities and provide clean, affordable energy.
— Engr. Sale Mamman (@EngrSMamman) October 29, 2020
The Minister explained that it is virtually impossible for the National grid to cover every geographical point within Nigeria. He emphasized that this reality prompted the present administration to sort out alternatives, and as a result, the Government is set to invest heavily in the deployment of Mini-grid systems, which can easily get to the most remote communities and provide clean, and affordable energy in 2021.
READ: Nigeria to fix irregular power supply in 40 years- Senate
What they are saying
The Minister, in his statement, said, “It is virtually impossible to have the National grid covering every geographical point within Nigeria, that is why the Government is investing heavily in the deployment of Mini-grid systems, which can easily get to the most remote communities and provide clean, affordable energy.
“In 2021, part of our priorities at the Ministry and two of its implementing agencies will be on providing these Mini-grid systems for communities and stand-alone home solar systems. We have a target of 5 million homes. Clean, affordable, and accessible energy for all.”
(READ MORE:FG set to create at least 5 million jobs for youths in the power sector – Minister of Power)
What you should know
The Minister of Power, Engineer Sale Mamman, at the 2021 budget defense before the House of Representatives Committee on Power in Abuja, yesterday disclosed that Nigeria’s installed grid power generation capacity has grown from 8,000MW to 13,000MW under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
READ: UPDATED: FG appoints Eweluka as NBET MD, as finance, power ministers wrestle
The Minister also pointed out that the distribution system had the capacity to evacuate 5,500MW of power, which is a significant improvement from 4,500MW in 2015.
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