General News
Draft ICT Policy: Vote for Guided Convergence
The diverse responses to the draft national ICT policy clearly show the excitement and eagerness of stakeholders to drive growth in the ICT industry. The policy document is aimed at making Nigeria a knowledge-based and globally competitive society. Incidentally, the vision and mission of the document seem at variance with global realities of business competitiveness. Though, the policy document is still a statement of intent, a peep at the policy reveals yearning gaps that may constitute roadblocks to the attainment of a modern and forward looking Information and Communications Technology framework in Nigeria. The ministry of Communications technology got it wrong from day one when it selected an ad-hoc committee with a narrow scope of terms of reference. The committee headed by Professor Raymond Akwule, a distinguished ICT expert with membership drawn from government institutions, was to harmonize all the policies in the different sectors of the ICT industry. But, the committee’s draft appeared to have gone beyond the terms of reference as it contained far reaching recommendations which undoubtedly, were very limited in scope, content and direction. This is because the committee was not broad based with representatives of the various sectors of the industry, including the private sector which is currently driving the sector and the result is the shallow and almost dictatorial draft policy. For instance, the committee which drafted the policy envisages a converged regulator through a policy framework but the realities of the modern day and happenings elsewhere around the world shows that convergence is function of technology and not by fiat. Bringing all ICT regulatory apparatus under a single converged eco-system, sound, as it may appear ordinarily would in the actual sense drive recent gains made by some sub-sectors backward. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek‘s stand is that convergence is a good policy framework. Implementation could become ambiguous with the various existing ‘autonomous’ regulators seeking to alienate those which functions are expected to be consumed under the ‘converged industry’ eco-system. It is pertinent to warn the immediate collapse of the distinct functions of the separate government entities immediately into one converged regulator will do more harm to the industry than good. How do we intend to work-out the converged framework bringing together postal/telecom/computer and allied sectors under a managed eco-system? While regulatory agency with similar functions like NCC/NBC could converge into a single regulatory framework like the United States’ FCC; the same cannot be said of the postal sector coming under the same framework. Rather, the postal sector could be strengthened with a postal service commission to make it become more effective economic player within the ICT regulatory eco-system. Others like Computers, OEMs, software and allied sectors could also be strengthened with relevant legal/legislative backing to bringing the much needed FDI and drive towards the attainment of Nigeria’s Vision 20: 2020 goal objective. The confiscation and appropriation of regulatory autonomy rings chaos especially with the various ACTs setting up the various agencies. Also wresting powers of the Universal Services Provision Fund (USPF) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by the ministry as provided in the draft policy will only create a dysfunctional process. First, government has no business in running businesses. A private sector-like set up like the NCC can run the USPF better that any government ministry replete with inefficiency and corruption. Ministries and the supervising ministers could be changed anytime meaning that adequate monitoring and judicious use of the Fund cannot be entrusted on such erratic offices or officers. The ICT industry is too homogonous to be guided by a policy put together by bureaucratic civil servants who only do as they are told. That why ICT policy did not have any specific prescription on how to rejig the national school curriculum to include ICT education that produce the Bill Gates of this world in Nigeria. The policy also took for granted the issues like cybercrime and lack of laws to govern the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy. Overall, the general assumption is that a draft policy must contain a rolling plan but this policy being bandied about clearly has no signposts. As long as there are no measurable performance indicators, the policy is floating. You cannot manage what you cannot measure. A draft ICT policy is not also the job of a consultant who takes your watch and tells you what time it is. It must be one that the industry is looking at and monitoring at the same time. Another major oversight underscoring the poor job by the committee is the total neglect of the red flags to the development of the industry including the issues of multiple taxation and security of ICT infrastructure.
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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