Telecom
Reps Ban Hosting of Data Abroad, Order NITDA to Ensure Compliance
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to mandate the localisation of data and operations by telecoms firms in the country in the interest of national security.
The house urged the Federal Ministry of Communications to take necessary action to address all undermining activities of the telecommunication firms operating in Nigeria by ensuring strict compliance with Data municipal laws.
This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP- Enugu) on Wednesday at the plenary.
Earlier, Ujam said that the Nigerian Communications Commission Act of 2003 vested regulatory responsibilities over the ICT sector on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
He said that the NCC was mandated to ensure compliance with the obligations of service providers under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007, in addition to the Universal Consumer Bill of Rights.
Ujam said that the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) guidelines for Nigerian content development in communication and information technology required all ICT companies to host all government and consumer data locally within the country.
According to him, it is what is obtainable in most countries which have laws that contain explicit data localization requirement.
He said following revelations by Snowden and WikiLeaks of the surveillance programmes by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), efforts to keep data within national borders gained acceptance globally.
Ujam said that many countries now paid particular attention to data privacy issues and governments across the world had adopted stringent measures to ensure data sovereignty.
He explained that the Office of the Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC) was a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established as a sustainable institutional framework to enforce compliance.
Ujam also recalled that the ONC hosted the first Annual Summit on Data Localisation in Nigeria, in collaboration with NITDA on Jan. 26, 2016 to ensure compliance with Article 14 the guidelines.
The Article addresses data and information management, mandating data and information management firms to host government data locally, a breach of which had been criminalised under the NITDA Act of 2007.
According to him, Data nationalism can be mandated by an Act of Parliament that explicitly requires data on citizens to be stored on servers physically located within national borders as stipulated in the NITDA Act.
“There is need to make data available for easy access in support of law enforcement and national security objectives with particular reference to the pervasive threats of terrorism/insurgency and kidnapping in the country
“Not only that Telecoms Operators storing data abroad is contrary to statutory provisions, some Telecoms Firms are relocating their Network Operation Centres to India.
“And their business activities remain in Nigeria, thereby exposing the citizens and the nation in general to security threats.
“Nigeria’s data security is in danger by such a development with grave implications on national security, as the centres would be monitored by foreigners from outside the shores of Nigeria,” he said.
In her contributions, Rep. Rita Orji (PDP-Lagos) said Nigerians were constantly complaining over foreigners managing bio data.
According to her, it is not done anywhere in the world except in Nigeria.
Also, Rep. Adamu Chika (APC-Niger) said that the motion was important for national security.
He said that prevention was better than cure as it was not safe to leave such critical information in the hands of foreigners.
The Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Information Technology to ensure compliance.
Social Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship (SIDE) initiative, a flagship project under the Digital Access Program (DAP) by the UK NG Tech Hub, is geared towards addressing the critical need for accessible, safe, and secure digital access among underserved populations in Nigeria.
In collaboration with the Network of Incubators and Innovators (NINE), the SIDE project has engaged entrepreneurs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions, utilizing selected innovation hubs to provide support. The aim is to address sustainable solutions that target economic data, risk capital, infrastructure, and advisory gaps within key sectors. By leveraging digital innovation, the project seeks to alleviate poverty and address challenges faced by SMEs in identified markets and sectors, particularly those affecting underserved populations.
The SIDE project is a 4-month acceleration program tailored for entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs developing sustainable, relevant, and scalable solutions to local challenges through digital innovation. Focused on various economic indicators aimed at poverty alleviation, the program is supporting entrepreneurs in developing sustainable and scalable solutions across key sectors such as health, education, food security, employment, and climate change.
The initiative began with the design and validation of a research-focused challenge brief in collaboration with Nigeria’s academic ecosystem. Subsequently, a call for applications was made, resulting in over 900 submissions. From these, 60 startups were selected to participate in the Masterclass phase, conducted in collaboration with partner hubs in Adamawa, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Kwara, and Osun.
Following the Masterclass and pitching sessions, 12 startups were chosen to participate in a 16-week acceleration program, culminating in a Demo Day scheduled for June 25, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This event aims to provide SIDE startups with a platform to showcase their progress, attract potential investors, receive valuable feedback, and network with industry experts, thereby facilitating the growth and scalability of their businesses.
Event Highlights:
The Demo Day will feature stakeholders from Nigeria’s vibrant tech ecosystem, providing them with an opportunity to witness impactful solutions and extend their support. Join us as we accelerate change and empower communities through digital solutions.
To register for the SIDE Demo day: visit https://sidenigeria.com/
Having any questions, further information or need to make inquiries, kindly email us at [email protected] or visit our website: https://sidenigeria.com/.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards organized by Nigerian CommunicationsWeek.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, (R) receiving Lifetime Achievement Award from Mr. Ayotunde Coker, MD Open Access Data Centre (l) at the 2024 Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards
For the past three decades, Nnamani has been a driving force in Nigeria’s digital space, particularly in interconnected services and data centers, which are now considered the backbone of the digital economy. Industry experts acknowledge his significant contributions.
“We are honored to present you with the Lifetime Achievement Award,” declared Mr. Ken Nwogbo, founder of Nigerian CommunicationsWeek, at the ceremony that highlights initiatives propelling Nigeria’s ICT sector on the global stage.
This award recognizes Nnamani’s unwavering commitment to providing innovative ICT solutions that fuel Nigeria’s flourishing digital economy. He was one of only four individuals chosen for this esteemed honor by a meticulous selection panel.
Under Nnamani’s leadership, Digital Realty (formerly Medallion Data Centres Limited) has become the most interconnected data center facility in West Africa. It boasts the region’s number one peering point, providing a crucial link for submarine cables, long-distance providers, fixed and mobile service providers, Over-the-Top (OTT) providers, internet exchanges, Value Added Service (VAS) providers, and global Tier 1 service providers.
Nnamani’s influence extends beyond Nigeria. Over the past 30 years, he has actively promoted the development of telecom infrastructure in several African nations, including Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, and Angola.
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