General News
Yes to Phone Bugging Scheme
Opponents of lawful interception (LI) don’t have a leg to stand on when they argue that the legally sanctioned official access to private communications, such as telephone calls or e-mail messages by security agencies is violation of citizens’ privacy.
This is beacuae lawful interception has become increasingly necessary because of the sophistication of criminal enterprises in exploiting emerging communications channels such as the internet.
The anonymity technologies provide offer them comfort.
Today, illegal and unauthorized Internet usage has increased due to open communications policy in Nigeria and despite all the efforts to curb and detect these illegal usage activities, criminals have continued to thrive due to many back door paths.
In fact, technology savvy criminals are the greatest threat to Nigeria’s national security.
Terrorists love the Internet and exploit all possible way of communications among themselves through the Internet.
Politicians also use of Internet to spread their propaganda and message to their supporters.
Illegal betting organizations make use of Internet for illegal transactions.
Drugs and weapons dealers exploit the Internet to close on drug and weapons smuggling deals.
The concern here is that we are closing our eyes and waiting for kegs of gunpowder to explode in our faces.
Criminal activities pose real challenge to organizations responsible for protecting public safety including the police and courts.
But with lawful interception, in response to a warrant from a judge, lawful interception is performed simply by applying a ‘tap’ on the telephone line of the target, making it possible for security agencies in Nigeria to listen to terrorist and criminal cell phone calls and gather communications intelligence on their dark activities.
It is highly desirable and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the major proponent has sufficient backings from Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and all other powers enabling it in that regard.
A draft guideline posted on NCC website requires service providers and Internet service providers to implement their networks to explicitly support authorized electronic surveillance.
“These regulations are made to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of Communications in Nigeria, the collection and disclosure of intercepted Communications. These Regulations shall; provide the legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of Communications in Nigeria and to put into effect the provisions of sections 146 and 147 of the Act; specify the nature and types of Communications to be intercepted; prescribe penalties for non-compliance with these Regulations; provide a notification procedure to the Commission of all Warrants issued, amended renewed or cancelled under these Regulations; ensure the privacy of subscribers as contained in the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria is persevered” the commission said.
According to the NCC, a fine of N5 million awaits a service provider or any of its officers which fails to comply with the provisions of the regulation.
“If such an offence is continuing, such a Licensee or officer shall be liable to a daily default penalty of N 500,000; the Commission may revoke the License of the Licensee for failure to comply with the regulation. The Commission shall give a prior written notice to the Licensee of such revocation, not less than [30] days to the withdrawal of the License. In addition the Commission may institute an action for non-compliance by way of an injunction or a specific performance or any or such other judicial means of enforcing a duty or obligation imposed on a Licensee pursuant to this regulation” it said.
Lawful interception has existed since the inception of electronic communications in the form “wiretapping”, it has become increasingly necessary now because of the sophistication of criminal enterprises in exploiting emerging communications channels.
It is expected to be undetectable with secure transport to authorized law enforcement agencies as well as scalable and high availability to accommodate changing network environments.
Lawful interception will also help address concerns over ARPU, telecommunications fraud, denial of service attacks, customer satisfaction, and growing security fears – particularly over global terrorist activities.
It makes a lot of sense in today’s unstable environments which requires intelligence information to prevent and combat crime.
But in implementing lawful interception, there must be high security requirements to prevent possible manipulation and misuse.
There is also need to complement the multifaceted regulation of lawful interception with elaborated provisions of law concerning the requirements for the design and development of lawful interception systems.
If lawful interception is not in place, think how much chaos criminal gangs can mete out on Nigerians and the country.
Victims of internet and telephone crimes deserve justice; potential victims deserve protection.
Then and only then can Nigerians enjoy the benefits of ICT.
Conoil Plc is spreading joy this Valentine season as the first group of winners in its Valentine Bonanza promotion have been announced and rewarded. Launched on February 14, the campaign continues to delight customers at participating retail outlets.
The initial raffle draw, conducted on February 21, saw fortunate customers receive ₦10,000 worth of free petrol each. The draw was carried out publicly, with media representatives present to ensure full transparency. With the promotion still ongoing, more customers have the opportunity to join in and potentially be among the next winners.
A Conoil Management spokesperson explained that the initiative is a way to show appreciation to loyal customers for their ongoing support. “Our customers have responded impressively to the bonanza, with strong participation recorded across our stations,” the spokesperson said.
The second and final phase of the promotion is now in motion. Customers who purchase at least 10 litres of petrol at any participating Conoil station remain eligible to win in the grand finale raffle.
The grand finale is set for February 28 at 12 noon. Motorists in Lagos and Ogun states are encouraged to visit Conoil outlets to collect their tickets and take part in the exciting conclusion of this Valentine celebration.
PalmPay users took to the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign to show how experiences are powered through seamless banking.
It’s the month of love and social media has been filled with couples showing affection with gifts. As digital payments become embedded in everyday life, the way relationships are planned, funded, and experienced is evolving.
Recent insights from SBM Intelligence 2025 ‘Love in the Air’ report show that despite economic pressures, most Nigerians still set aside dedicated budgets for Valentine’s Day, with the largest percentage planning to spend between N51,000 and N100,000, while less than 5% are willing to spend above N500,000.
This growing intentionality highlights the need for platforms that help people manage their money more effectively, offering features like free transfers and tools that make it easier to send, track, and preserve funds while still showing up for meaningful moments.
Through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, PalmPay set out to show how the platform is enabling users to plan, pay, and celebrate meaningful moments with greater ease.
During the Valentine’s season, PalmPay invited couples across Nigeria to share their stories through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, celebrating how digital banking supports their individual expressions of love.
The campaign saw strong participation, with many PalmPay couples submitting entries that showcased how they use the app to plan surprises, pay for outings, and stay connected through everyday transactions.
From these entries, four couples were selected, each showcasing how PalmPay has enabled fast and reliable transactions in key moments.
One video from @simply.omotoshan, one of the selected couples, captures the role of seamless payments in making their spontaneous moments possible.
She said in her entry video: “Our cutest money moment with PalmPay was when we planned our Valentine’s picnic and realized we had forgotten half of the things we needed; literally, half of everything. We rushed to the mall to get cakes, food, decorations, and all the essentials. When it was time to pay, we used PalmPay.
“The transaction was smooth, fast, and stress-free. In no time, we were done setting up our Valentine-themed picnic with everything perfectly ready. Honestly, all our experiences with PalmPay have been easy and satisfying, but this one is definitely our cutest money moment. Thank you, PalmPay.”
A testimonial from the fourth selected couple, Mohammed and his wife, reflects his excitement: “Hello PalmPay, thank you so much for selecting us as one of the winners of the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign. We truly appreciate this. My wife and I are very grateful. Thank you, PalmPay, for the love and support. We’re so happy and thankful for the N100,000 reward. We love you, PalmPay, and long live PalmPay. Thank you so much.”
Beyond the feel-good stories, the campaign reflects a broader shift: fintech is no longer just about transactions, it’s about enabling experiences. Reliable payments, fast transactions, and accessible financial tools reduce the friction that can disrupt important moments, allowing users to focus on connection rather than logistics.
From paying for dinner to managing other expenses, PalmPay continues to demonstrate how digital financial services support modern relationships, proving that in today’s economy, love is not only felt, it’s funded digitally.
KPMG has appointed Tola Adeyemi as Chief Executive Officer for KPMG in Africa, alongside the addition of Professor Olayinka David‑West and George Njenga as independent members of the Africa Governance Council (AGC).
Effective from March 2026, the appointments reinforce the firm’s leadership expertise, underscore a long‑term commitment to Africa and highlight confidence in the continent’s growth potential.
“Africa is one of the most dynamic and promising regions in the global economy, and KPMG is committed to playing a meaningful role in its growth story,” said Tola Adeyemi, incoming CEO for KPMG in Africa.
He continued: “It is a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for both KPMG and the continent. I look forward to building on our strong, connected and high‑performing base to deepen collaboration and deliver consistent quality and impact across our markets.”
KPMG is recognised globally for its commitment to quality, integrity and professional excellence, supported by a strong global network of member firms. Trust remains the foundation of the audit and accounting profession, with high standards of governance, ethics and audit quality increasingly demanded across Africa’s public and private sectors.
KPMG One Africa’s approach brings the continent closer together with strong leadership to strengthen cross-border collaboration and offer shared expertise and consistency which is business‑critical to help clients navigate complex risks and unlock sustainable growth opportunities.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Ben Marx, Chairman of the Africa Governance Council, said: “Tola Adeyemi is exceptionally well positioned to lead KPMG One Africa. In addition to his global perspective as a member of the KPMG Global Council, he brings significant influence and credibility as a respected business leader across the continent.”
The appointments of Professor David‑West and Mr Njenga to the Africa Governance Council, which provides board level governance, further strengthens independent oversight, bringing strong academic credentials alongside deep strategic and business expertise.
“These appointments reinforce KPMG’s commitment to strong governance, accountability and leadership depth,” Marx added. “They complement our established African leadership team, in‑country managing partners and regional senior partners, further enhancing our client‑centric approach across Africa.”
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