September 7, 2024

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1 Ngelale, Tinubu’s spokesman, resigns

2 Tinubu promises to replicate China’s infrastructure in Nigeria

3 NAFDAC signs MoU with National Counter Terrorism Centre

4 House of Reps. C’tee pledges to end medical tourism

5 Counter-terrorism centre, NAFDAC sign MoU on terrorism prevention

FCCPC logo
Economy/Business

FCCPC explains $200m fine against Meta, WhatsApp

By Ginika Okoye

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has said that the 200 million dollar fine against Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC was based on discriminatory practices and sanctionable offences committed.

The acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that the penalty was slammed on the companies after three years of intensive investigations.

Abdullahi said the companies were found culpable of denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self determination, unauthorised transfer and sharing of personal data which was not the practice in other climes.

He said the companies gave options to data subjects in other climes to decide whether their data should be shared or not.

”Only last week, FCCPC issued a final order and imposed a monetary penalty of $220,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty Million USD) against Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC over discriminatory practices in Nigeria.

”This is an investigation that has taken place for the past three years and I was part of it.

”We found out that when you register for the first time to join WhatsApp, there is a column that says you have agreed for your data to be shared for research.

”That is opposed to other climes where you have the choice of saying yes or no so, that is discriminatory at the first instance.

”Secondly, we found out that they share our data across platforms,” he said.

According to Abdullahi, the Commission is already getting international accolades for the investigation and sanction.

”We are getting international accolades that at last, there is a competition authority in Africa that is standing against all these anti-competitive practices by multi-national agencies.”

On his achievements through his seven months tenure in the Commission, Abdullahi said that FCCPC implemented measures to curb price gouging, promote fair competition and protect consumers.

Abdullahi said the Commission had also carried out a review of the stand-alone curriculum for consumer education in secondary schools across the country.

He said the Commission introduced sensitisation for traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders, to enhance capacity and empower them as consumer protection agents in their localities.

According to him, the most common consumer complaints in the electricity industry include exploitative billing, unlawful disconnection, non-metering of customers, lack of transformers and other salient issues.

”Given the relevance of electricity as a critical utility, the Commission prioritised intervention in the industry to tackle prevailing issues and improve service delivery.

”This we did by implementing various programmes and initiatives aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the sector,” he said.

Abdullahi said the Commission would continue to work tirelessly to promote competition and protect consumers to create a vibrant economy that would benefit both businesses and citizens.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCCPC published its final order in which it imposed a penalty of $220 million and a reimbursement fee of $35,000 on WhatsApp LLC and Meta Platforms, Inc.

The penalty is for violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), following a joint investigation conducted by the FCCPC and Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC). (NAN)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of NDPC, some dignitaries and media representatives at the one year anniversary of the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act
Science & Tech

Commission urges Nigerians to trust national identification systems

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called on Nigerians to trust the data collection and digital identification systems by the government.

The commission said that the call became necessary as the national identification systems served as foundational identification means to protect their information.

Its National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said this on Tuesday at a news conference to mark the one year implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NDPA bill was signed as an Act of parliament by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023.

Olatunji said this was a major achievement and requirement for the country to participate in the comity of nations in the area of digital identification.

He said that issue of privacy was still vague to a lot of citizens which was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that people needed to repose confidence in the process of digital identification.

“On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the bill as an act of Parliament and that was a testament that this ecosystem is beyond anybody. It is a global phenomenon that no forward looking country can afford to neglect.

“We are grateful that President Tinubu understands the power of technology which is at the bedrock of anything you do, digital technology is the foundational identity.

“An average transitional Nigerian needs the National Identification Number which is the foundational identity.

“It is that foundational identity that institutions that collect data reference when the need arises and which is why we need to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for it to work.

“If people don’t believe in digital identity, there is no way they will understand your message on data privacy,” he said.
He said the government was working on having a proper data interface for easy interoperability.

Olatunji said that the rights of Nigerians was important to the government, hence signing of the Act which had brought positive impacts.

“Signing the law gave us more credibility in the new administration and that is why we have attracted lots of attention within Nigeria and across the globe.

“The remarkable thing about the law is that we applied for the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) in 2022 as a bureau and our application was rejected because we did not have a National legislation on data protection.

“Having been accredited less than one year now, Nigeria is on the front page of the GPA’s news letter for this quarter which is a big deal for us.

“The law legitimised the NDPC and we have gained global recognition, and in terms of economic value, we have an ecosystem that is worth over N10 billion now. The law has positioned Nigeria for digital presence,” he said.

Speaking on the benefits of the law to Nigeria, he said the commission gained the opportunity to host Data Protection Officers (DPOs) across Africa on a conference in May 2025.

Olatunji said the conference would impact the economic value of the country in the areas of tourism and culture, perception of the country at the global level and foreign direct investment.

“In terms of job creation and training, we have done a lot to ensure we deepen data protection in Nigeria.

“Part of what we are doing in the ministry is to train 10,000 public servants on responsible data management which the portal is already open.

“We have also licensed a national certification body that has been designed in a way that there is something for everyone no matter your career.

“We are going to launch the free training of 1000 DPOs that will be certified trainers which the process is ongoing and the portal will soon be open and that is part of the job creation initiative of the President,” Olatunji said.

According to him, there are so many things coming to this ecosystem and this is one good thing coming out of Nigeria and we all should support the process.

Mr Solomon Odole, Project Coordinator for Nigerian Digital Identification for Development (ID4D), said the news conference was an opportunity to create more awareness on data privacy.

“There are a lot of people that hear about this but they don’t understand the content of the law and its provisions.

“This is an opportunity to pass the message that we are interested in their personal information as citizens of Nigeria,” he said.

Odole said that the ID4D project was ready to support the commission to discharge its mandate and ensure that citizens’ personal information were safeguarded. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Illustration for website
Science & Tech

Website hosting coy advocates data protection, cybersecurity

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

A website hosting company, TFHost, has called for protection of data and cybersecurity to ensure safety online.

Head of Sales, TFhost, Mr Victor Matthias, made the call on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Matthias cautioned Nigerians that while using the internet, there was need to ensure cybersecurity, which attacks were inevitable but could be avoided.

He said there was need to engage the internet wisely, while having a personal internet experience and data protection.

Matthias said that social media platforms had great impact on digital marketing, created visibility for online businesses, but had its limitations.

According to him, most social media platforms accessible to Nigerians are internet spaces owned by other individuals who they cannot guarantee the safety of their data.

“Nigeria is an evolving country in terms of internet penetration, especially with hand-held devices, people are coming into social media and then to websites and blogs.

“If you want to do online business, engage in online activities to an extent, you need a blog or a website for people to take you seriously.

“You can’t do business and leave it on social media, social media is essentially not your space, it is somebody’s space, the person is just giving you access,’’ he said.

The TFHost official said that while hosting the website of its clients, the company kept evolving to meet global best practices on data protection.

He said the company was accredited by Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA).

“TFhost mandate is to register different types of domain names for individuals, Small Medium Enterprises, Corporations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, others.”

He added that its services included email hosting, shared hosting, cloud hosting, virtual private server hosting, dedicated hosting, wordpress and reseller hosting.

According to him, the reseller hosting will give opportunity to refer others for people to earn money.

Matthias said that TFhost was committed to reducing carbon footprint through sustainable data centres and renewable energy sources.

“We support digital literacy programmes and online education initiatives plus partnerships to ensure better ICT penetration for Nigeria and Africa in general.

Mr Joshua Itebu, Technical Head of the company, said that any individual found active online was susceptible to attacks.

“If you put out anything online, you need to have an open mind of being prone to attack, whereas emails and websites are also usually prone to attacks.

“For emails, people need to do a regular change of password, avoid using common passwords that can be easily guessed and change it within three to six months.

“For the website, always install XXL certificate on your website. This can keep your files and data encrypted and engage in constant maintenance of the website,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Agriculture

Stakeholders collaborate to ensure food security through agricultural survey

By Abigael Joshua

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) stakeholders gathered in Abuja on Thursday to promote food security nationwide through the 50×2030 survey initiative.

The thrust of the 50×2030 survey workshop, organised by the ACReSAL project in collaboration with the World Bank, focused on bridging agricultural data gaps and promoting evidence-informed decision-making.

Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, said the 50×2030 Initiative, led by the World Bank and FAO, aims to develop a fit-for-purpose, integrated, and financially sustainable agricultural survey programme.

He said the initiative will address the country’s data needs and foster a culture of data use for decision-making.

“50×2030 Initiative is a World Bank and FAO led global agriculture and climate statistics programme working in minimising data gap.

“And building national statistics systems and promoting evidence -informed agriculture in 50 low, lower-middle and middle-income countries around the world by the year 2030.

“In Nigeria, 50×2030 Initiative will work closely with the ACReSAL team, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in designing and implementing climate and agriculture focused survey programme in 36 states and FCT,” Lawal said.

He said the survey will incorporate an ACReSAL specific module to track progress and inform decisions.

“Data from the survey programme will inform national programming and policies in the agriculture sector and will inform climate change policies,” the Minister said.

Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project said that indeed 50×2030 is an initiative of the World Bank for 50 countries in the world, who are members of the Bank.

“The initiative is to provide strength and capacity for those nations to enable them capture and gather reliable data from the agriculture site, in other words to ensure food security in the nation.The project will reach out to 36 states and the FCT,” Umar said.

Vinay Vutukuru, Social Development Leader, World Bank said that the project would address the impacts of climate change and food insecurity in Nigeria through data-smart agriculture.

Mr Koffy Dominque, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS said that 50×2030 Survey is aimed at bridging the agricultural data gap.

Dominque said it will also build strong national data systems that will produce and use high quality, timely agricultural survey data in Nigeria.

Dominque who was represented by Tofiq Braimah, said that FAO is committed to continue this effort to make sure adequate capacity is built at national level to sustain the production of agricultural statistics in Nigeria.

“This effort will be designed in such a way that National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will be in the driving seat of this data production to ensure that technical assistance provided in this 50×2030 initiative is sustained.

“With this collaboration, data on core agricultural variables as well as income and labour productivity, production methods and environment as well as use of machineries and equipment will be collected to regularly avail data on agriculture.

“Once again, FAO in collaboration with the World Bank team, is on board to assist the NBS and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in implementing the 50×2030 approach to have an annual agricultural survey in Nigeria for the next five years,” he said.

Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security said that the initiative would unlock the potentials of the agriculture sector and foster economic growth.

Abdullahi who was represented by Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun, Director, Lands and Climate Management Services in the ministry said that food security is imminent in the country through the use of data-smart agriculture.

Mr Yemi Adeniran, Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS said that the launch of the initiative marks the beginning of the significant partnership between ACReSAL and NBS.

Adeniran said this would facilitate the production of agriculture and climate related data in Nigeria till 2030.

“Data and evidence are very key to development solutions across the world. Data enables government and development partners to formulate policies to address development challenges,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Defence/Security

Accurate information crucial in mitigating impact of disasters – NEMA D-G

By Philomina Attah

Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General(D-G), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), says timely and accurate information is crucial in mitigating the impact of disasters and ensuring the well-being of affected communities.

Ahmed said this during the ‘Training of Trainers Workshop on Disaster Information Management’, in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), for NEMA staff and other stakeholders.

NAN also reports that the workshop aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage critical information during disasters.

The NEMA D-G expressed gratitude to UNOCHA for its support in organising the workshop, emphasising the importance of their expertise in advancing efforts towards building a more resilient society.

The D-G, who highlighted the importance of enhancing disaster information management skills, urged participants to put in their best to learn all the skills that would help in disaster management in the country.

Ahmed urged participants to avail themselves of the opportunity of the training to acquire new skills, share their knowledge and experiences, and collaborate with fellow participants to enhance disaster information management capabilities.

Also speaking, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting, NEMA, Onimode Bandele, stressed the importance of the training, saying that it would have cost millions if conducted outside the snores of the country.

He urged participants to ask questions, seek ideas, and remember their roles as trainers, emphasising the need to be prepared to transmit the knowledge gained to others.

He said the workshop would enhance participants’ skills and knowledge in managing critical information during times of disaster.

Outlining the agenda and objectives of the session, the Lead Facilitator, UNOCHA, Mr Frederick Atenaga, noted the importance of practical hands-on training on coordinated needs assessment and information management.

The training, according to him, will enhance participants’ understanding of supporting NEMA’s strengths in various situations, building capacity for data collection, processing, visualisation and promoting innovative approaches.

Atenaga also said that the goal of establishing common understanding and approach was key to technologies and approaches related to disasters across states.

He expressed confidence in the professionalism of the facilitators and reassured participants of a valuable learning experience.

Earlier, Beatrice Lackot, Head of Coordination, UNOCHA, Abuja, reiterated the organisation’s readiness to help NEMA staff and stakeholders to be able to handle disaster management on their own.

She equally appreciated the existing collaboration between UNOCHA and NEMA, especially the opportunity provided to help build the capacity of their Staff.

The workshop represents a significant step towards improving disaster response and management in Nigeria, ultimately leading to better outcomes for affected communities. (NAN)

((www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Ephraims Sheyin

Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) logo
Science & Tech

Commission issues registration guidelines to data controllers, others

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued registration guidelines to data controllers and processors of major importance to ensure the growth of the data privacy ecosystem.

Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations of the commission, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Bamigboye stated that the guidelines notice became necessary so as to clarify on the categories of organisations required to register with the commission as encapsulated in the Nigeria Data Protection ACT (NDPA) 2023.

Referring to Section 5(d), 44 and 65 of the NDPA, Bamigboye noted that organisations of particular value to the economy or security of Nigeria were designated as data controllers and processors of major importance.

“A data controller or data processor shall be deemed to have particular value or significance to the economy, society or security of Nigeria.

“This has made such to be designated as major importance if it keeps or has access to a filing system for the processing of personal data.

“The commission also identifies specific data processing such as those involving sensitive personal data, cloud computing, trans-border data transfers, processing personal data of over 200 data subjects.

“We also classify access to data storage platform of third parties in commercial transactions as necessary factors in considering organisations that are data controllers or processors of major importance,” he said.

According to him, to ease of doing business, particularly for small organisations involved in potentially high-risk data processing, the commission varies the payable fees according to level of Major Data Processing (MDP) involved.

He added that MDP was classified into three levels, which included, Ultra High Level (UHL), Extra High Level (EHL) and Ordinary High Level (OHL) of Major Data Processing.

Bamigboye said that their fees payable were N250,000, N100,000 and N10,000 respectively.

“Organisations in the MDP-UHL categories include but are not limited to commercial banks operating at national or regional level, merchant banks, telecommunication companies.

“Other MDP-UHL Insurance companies, multinational companies and payment gateway service providers.

“Organisations within MDP-EHL category are Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, Micro finance banks, higher institutions, hospitals providing tertiary or secondary medical services and Mortgage banks.

“At the MDP-EHL category we have organisations such as Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, primary and secondary schools, Primary Health Centres, others who engage with data-subjects on behalf of other organisations.”

He added that the breakdown of the categories was contained in the Guidance Notice posted on the commission’s website www.ndpc.gov.ng.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of NDPC, also urged data controllers to avoid activities that may put citizens at risk in the course of sharing their personal data.

Olatunji said “the risks are getting higher even as the opportunities are also increasing.

“We are reminded of the warning by those in the frontiers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, that we have a price to pay for liberty, which is eternal vigilance.

“It is therefore important to properly and functionally identify the persons and the data processing to which we must direct the torch of vigilance.

“Registration is one in a continuum of measures we are taking in this regard and it is the entry point of accountability going forward.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the commission announced a six-month registration window for data controllers and processors.

They were expected to register with the commission between January 30 and June 30, 2024. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

President Bola Tinubu
General News

Lack of data affecting Nigeria’s growth – Tinubu

By Chiazo Ogbolu

President Bola Tinubu has described the absence of comprehensive data as the major technology affliction affecting Nigeria’s growth and Africa at large.

Tinubu represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shetima, said this at the Comptroller-General of Custom (CGC) 2023 conference on Thursday in Lagos.

The conference had the theme:” Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations.”

He noted that the inadequacy of data had impeded the ability of Nigeria to make informed decisions, perpetrating a circle of missed opportunities and sub-optimal outcomes.

He added that the country had been hindered by the fourth industrial revolution.

“Every part of the world is at the mercy of data and everyday we are reminded of the expanding volume of data upon which our divisions must be rooted.

“Data is the life guiding the ever-evolving landscape of our modern world. It is this realisation that sounds the invaluable goal of this century that prompted Tinubu’s strategic placement of tech savvy in Nigerians critical positions in the government.

“These appointments ensures not only strategic planning but also the cultivation of Nigeria as a hub of refined minds in the global knowledge economy.

“We must not only commit to deploying data to make decisions within the government, but to address the historical inadequacies of Nigeria policy making often impeded by lack of comprehensive data,” he said.

He pointed out that the current governance landscape demands a transformative intervention and the solutions was what had brought everyone here together today.

“The integration of complex data to interpret the volumes of our transitions and interactions is even more needed in international trade because the dividends transcend to determination of revenues.

“Data provides the sharpest links for us to connect the dots. Even in establishing the security of our borders, we can easily determine the traffic of people and goods around a specific border and share indisputable information with other nations with just a punch on our computers,” he said.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the customs service performs critical roles bordering on revenue collection, participation of national and international trade as well as securing the national borders against the infiltration of the country with illegal items, among others.

Sanwo-Olu said the NCS had recognised its role at ensuring modern day technology as a strong driver and an enabler for it to innovate and develop capacity and capability that would take the service to an enviable position.

He added that the NCS would compete and compare with other services of similar likes anywhere in the world with enhanced technology.

“For the country to achieve the N1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target of President Tinubu between now and 2030, the NCS must play a critical role by leveraging technology in data analysis.

“They should be able to form a well-thought-out decision making after analysis, which is critical and germane,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State would continue to provide the enabling environment for trade and as well contribute over 70 per cent revenue to the state government through the NCS.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, noted that without data, one could not plan, urging the NCS to utilise data in their operations.

Ogunwusi urged the controller General to give back to Lagos, where they get their 70 per cent revenue.

Earlier, the CGC of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, noted that the choice of the conference theme, was a strategic alignment with the pressing demands of contemporaries and governance.

He added that the significance of data analytics in customs operations cannot be overstated in a time dominated by information and digital advancements.

“This theme places a spotlight on the indispensable role of technology in trade facilitation, ensuring that our discussions transcend mere theory, rooting themselves firmly in actionable insights.

“So, we therefore, welcome you to a conversation where innovation meets implementation, and worlds evolve into driving force of positive change,” he said.

He pointed out that the service was commited to using meticulous data management to improve security and trade.

“Just as Lagos will never sleep, NCS will remain sleepless until they meet their goal of integrating and streamlining their operations to international standards. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Economy/Business

Africa must harness benefits of big data for sustainable development – NBS

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, says Africa must harness the benefits of big data to achieve sustainable development.

Adeniran said this at a Public Lecture to mark the 2023 African Statistics Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the 2023 African Statistics Day is; “Modernising Data Ecosystems to Accelerate the Implementation of the AfCFTA: The Role of Official Statistics and Big Data in the Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development of Africa”.

He said the theme underscored the importance of embracing new thinking, innovation, and leveraging the power of both traditional official statistics and emerging big data sources.

Adeniran said the term “big data” refers not only to the sheer volume of information generated daily but also to the diversity and speed at which this data is produced.

“From social media interactions and online transactions to sensor readings and satellite imagery, the sources of big data are vast and varied, creating a variety of information that when properly harnessed, provides unprecedented insights.’’

Adeniran said the strength of big data was in its ability to uncover patterns and trends that may remain hidden in traditional datasets.

“The sheer volume and diversity of these data sources allows us to paint a more detailed and nuanced picture of economic dynamics.’’

The statistician-general said in the context of the AfCFTA, big data could play a pivotal role in understanding and optimising trade patterns.

“Big data analytics can provide real-time insights into the movement of goods, changes in consumer behaviour, and emerging market trends, empowering policymakers, and businesses to make agile and well-informed decisions.’’

Furthermore, he said the integration of big data with official statistics enhanced the ability to assess the impact of policies on sustainable development.

“By analysing a broad spectrum of data, we can measure not only economic indicators but also the social and environmental dimensions of development.

“This holistic approach enables us to craft policies that not only stimulate economic growth but also address societal challenges and promote environmental sustainability.

Adeniran said in essence, the synergy between big data and official statistics opened new frontiers of knowledge and understanding.

“As we navigate the intricacies of the AfCFTA and work towards sustainable development, the judicious use of big data alongside traditional statistical methods empowers us to make informed, anticipatory, adaptive, and impactful decisions.

Mr Obiara Obiabumo, the Statistician-General of Anambra state, pledged to continue to support the NBS and the statistical family to meet the nation’s statistical needs.

Prof. Sarah Anyanwu, the Professor of Economics, University of Abuja, said data was vital in achieving national development objectives in Nigeria such as poverty and unemployment reduction.

“We need data to address inflation, and bridge the infrastructural deficit, we need data in the health, agric, and education sectors.’’

Anyanwu called on the government at all levels to adequately budget for data collation, and analysis to achieve sustainable development in Nigeria.

Dr Godday Ebuh, the National President, Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria, called on the national assembly to increase its budgetary allocation to NBS, saying conducting surveys was an expensive venture.

Ebuh said one of the objectives of AfCTA was to progressively eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods.

“Therefore, if statistics is modernised, documentation of trade could be carried out faster.’’

He commended the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for using big data and empowering its field officers with the needed technology to perform their functions.

NAN reports that the African Statistics Day is an annual event celebrated on Nov. 18 to raise public awareness of the importance of statistics in all aspects of social and economic life. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Health

Nigeria records 27,698 SGBV cases in 3 years – Official

By Leonard Okachie
 Nigeria recorded 27,698 Sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV) between 2020 and 2023,  according to data on the GBV National Dashboard.
Mr Sunday Agbakaba, Data Manager, Federal Ministry Women of Affairs, stated this during the train-the-trainers workshop on the use of the GBV dashboard and reportage, on Tuesday in Umuahia.
He said the data was obtained since inception of the GBV National Dashboard  between 2020 and October 2023.
Breaking down the figures, Agbakaba said the ministry recorded 1,145 fatal GBV cases while 393 perpetrators convicted within the period under review.
Agbakaba said the dashboard also showed 9,636 open cases; 3,432 new cases; 1,741 closed cases and 1,895 follow up cases.
“The dashboard is an innovative central reporting and data visualisation platform for real-time tracking of different types and locations of GBV in the country,” he said.
According to him, the dashboard is designed to enhance SGBV reportage in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said that Abia with 92 reported incidences and four fatal cases was at the bottom of the GBV national dashboard.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Ohanenye said the training was designed to encourage Abia to key into the reportage of the national dashboard, following the increase in the rate of GBV.
Represented by Tony Iwere, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Ohanenye   said that there was need to report the crime so that the perpetrators would be punished.
“We realised that most times, religious leaders or the traditional rulers suppress most of these cases in churches or palaces.
“Rape is a criminal case, no person has the right or mandate to stop such except the court and that is why we are escalating it to the front burner,” the minister said.
Earlier, the Abia Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix said that there were lots of gender based violence happening daily in the state.
She commended the state governor, Alex Otti and his wife for their support towards protection and empowering women and girls in the state.
The commissioner said that no meaningful result would be achieved in the fight against GBV without the political will.
Felix also commended the FWMA for its commitment in the stakeholders’ training on GBV reportage.
“The culture of silence that abates this crime in our society is what we have gathered here today to break.
“We are going to formulate a structure that will help us to work together after this training so that we can have consistent stakeholder engagement ” she said.
 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise is being organised in collaboration between the FMWA, Office of the Wife of Abia Governor, and the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
It attracted representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), law enforcement agents, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali
Science & Tech

Nigeria, other AU countries collaborate to address environmental challenges

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Nigeria and 39 other AU countries on Monday collaborate to ameliorate environmental issues bedeviling the continent using Earth Observation Satellite data for policy making.

The countries gathered in Abuja for the second edition of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and Western Africa Regional Exchange workshop under African Union Commission.

The three-day workshop was being organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in collaboration with University of Ghana and Centre de Suivi Écologique de Kenya (CSE-Environmental Monitoring Centre).

Dr Halilu Shaba, Director-General of NASRDA, said the workshop gathered experts to evaluate areas of insecurity and monitoring of the environment.

Shaba said that insecurity was a common problem among African countries and Earth Observation (EO) had been able to provide data to monitorthe movements of bandits.

In the area of environmental sustainability, Shaba said that in 2022, the agency provided maps of areas that were flooded.

“We have done so much in the area of flood, what we are trying to do now is bring other African countries to speed, they may not have the capacity, facilities to deal with this.

“Nigeria for over 15 years have been serving as the regional support office for UN-SPIDER and UN-SPIDER activates chatter anytime there is flood.

“We have been doing so much but we need to engage in advocacy with actors that are managing these disasters,’’ he said.

Dr Tidiane Ouattara, Programme Coordinator for GMES and Africa, said the workshop served as crucial platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and fostering regional partnerships.

Ouattara said it was through such gatherings that the continent strengthened its collective commitment towards sustainable development and the protection of invaluable natural resources as stated in the AU Agenda of 2063.

“It is through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and cross-fertilisation of ideas that we can collectively tackle complex environmental issues.

“We encourage active participation and partnership from all stakeholders present here today and beyond, as we strive to build a sustainable and resilient Africa,’’ he said.

The programme coordinator recognised inputs from different stakeholders engaged in GMES, saying that AU commission placed great importance to their services.

Ouattara said: ”We expect them to serve as catalysts for transformative action, empowering member states, specifically the beneficiary end-users to make informed decisions that positively impact our environment, economy and society at large.

“By harnessing the knowledge and resources offered by these services, we can address the pressing challenges we face, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development.”

Ouattara also said the AU was committed to gender equality and inclusivity, adding that it underscored dedication to promoting equitable opportunities, empowering women in environmental conservation and sustainable development.

He added: “We want to hear from our Western African GMES and Africa stakeholders, the concrete actions and the way forward with respect to human capital development and utilisation.

“We are here today because someone, yesterday, gave us our chance when we were students, looking for our first job, hence we should give more opportunities to our youths for the better future of Africa.’’

Dr Cheikh Mbow, Director-General of CSE, said the risks relating to the African environment were an impediment to continental development.

Mbow said that GMES was trying to take profit from modern technology like Artificial Intelligence, satellite data, new algorithms and big data analysis.

According to him, this will help to bring the evidence and device ways to invest in environmentally sustainable development.

He added that the workshop was held in Nigeria because it was the hub for human capacity and it is playing a frontline role in the climate change area, among other areas.

According to him, Nigeria will help champion the course of mitigating environmental challenges.

Other goodwill messages were made by Dr Benjamin Botwe from University of Ghana and Dr Matthew Adepoju, Director, Strategic Space Application of NASRDA. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

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