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How and Why e-Voting Eludes Nigeria

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Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
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Information technology (IT) experts said at the weekend that Nigeria’s failure to adopt electronic voting (e-voting) system is due mainly to the inability of the government to provide basic infrastructure such as power supply.

They also cited the poor quality of service provisioning by telecommunications operators, insisting that the outcome of electronic voting would be seriously compromised if the transmission of ballots and votes via telephones, private computer networks, or the Internet to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) is unreliable.

Electronic voting system is currently not recognised by the Nigerian Constitution and is therefore illegal.

But some Nigerian experts say with the right technology, elections in Nigeria can be conducted electronically without any problems despite the fact that numerous programming and security flaws are found in various technologies everyday.

Professor David Adewumi, president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that he and his colleagues in the country are ready to complement INEC’s efforts.

He accused the federal government of not paying adequate attention to technology by not having computer professionals, on the board of directors of INEC and other agencies whose jobs are IT related.

Adewumi said, “On electronic voting, we are more than ready for electronic voting in Nigeria. The industry has the capacity for it. What government has to do is, get us involved in any of the project that is IT related.

“For instance, computer professionals ought to be members on the board of INEC, because majority of INEC’s activities are computer based. We have to be members of the Board to be able to drive it.

Also commenting, Mr. Rogba Adeoye, chairman, Lagos State chapter of NCS, said, “There is need for forensic experts to up their games, because there will be incidences of litigation that will require the computers and other electronic devices evidences. Law does not recognize ignorance. So, all of us must be at our beats.

“Electronic voting is a bit complex. NCS has been promoting electronic voting and we have the expertise to back it up. However, it is more than that; it must be backed up by the traffic carrier. You have the signal and the backbone to reach every nooks and crannies of Nigeria. So, if it the technology to drive it, yes, we have it, but it goes beyond that. There are other infrastructural needs must be in place before we can say electronic voting is achieving on a national scale. We do give the supportive elements to make it happen; we can verify your cards, make sure your votes are recorded, we later merge.

Elsewhere, Mr Oladipupo Olakunle, managing director, Clicksoft Limited, said, “We are ever ready. One of the ways of doing that is through NCS awards voting pattern. We have seen cases where certain contracts are awarded, even to foreigners during the national electoral processes; however, the indigenous companies have developed fantastic tools that can compete anywhere in the globe. They deserve to be given opportunity. That is what we are saying”.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira

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National Reading Culture (NRC), an online investment platform targeting Nigerians has collapsed, resulting in the loss of billions of Naira for investors.

NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira

The website unexpectedly shut down, blocking users from withdrawing their funds and locking in their investments.

Just like all other investment scams, victims were lured with promises of doubling their money in few weeks.

When National Reading Culture eventually crashed, the operators vanished with users’ funds, leaving investors devastated.

How the Platform WorkedTask-Based Earning:

According findings, National Reading Culture lured users with promises of making money by completing simple daily tasks like reading articles, clicking links, or inviting friends.

They also offered investment tiers to  earn higher daily profits, where users had to deposit their own money into the platform.

Evidence showed the website previously operated as a Chinese job search platform before rebranding into an “earning” scheme.


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NSITF Partners South African Insurer on Digital Transformation

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The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) to collaborate on digital transformation aimed at strengthening worker protection systems and support economic growth.

According to RMA, the agreement was concluded during a visit by its delegation to Abuja.

The partnership will focus on institutional capability development, modernising operating models, improving service delivery and sharing knowledge between the two organisations.

Through the partnership, RMA and NSITF will collaborate to strengthen institutional capability, modernise operating models, accelerate digital transformation and improve services for workers and employers.

The organisations will also explore opportunities for knowledge exchange and the adoption of best practices in social security administration.

RMA said the agreement forms part of its broader engagement with governments, regulators and social security institutions across Africa to support improvements in governance, operational resilience and service delivery.

“Our partnership with NSITF reflects much more than the signing of an agreement,” said Mandla Shezi, group chief executive officer of RMA. “This partnership is not simply about sharing knowledge. It is about co-creating the next generation of African social security systems.”

He added: “By combining our respective strengths, we can help build institutions that are more resilient, more responsive and better equipped to protect workers while supporting national development.”

Shezi said the future of social security depends on integrated systems where prevention, insurance, healthcare, rehabilitation, technology, investment management and institutional capability work together.

 


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Senate Rejects Nationalisation of MTN, DStv Over Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

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Senate on Tuesday rejected calls for the nationalisation of South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN and DStv, as a retaliatory measure against renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Senate Rejects Nationalisation of MTN, DStv Over Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

The upper chamber, however, condemned the attacks and intimidation of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the safety of Nigerians living in the country.

The resolutions followed a motion titled: “Motion on the Need to Halt the Recurring Xenophobic Attacks and Intimidation Against Nigerians and Other African Nationals in the Republic of South Africa,” sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross River South).

The motion was triggered by renewed concerns over attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa following the expiration of a June 30, 2026 deadline reportedly issued by some vigilante groups asking foreigners to leave the country.

During the debate, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun proposed that South African companies operating in Nigeria should be nationalised, while Senator Adams Oshiomhole suggested that profits generated by South African firms could be appropriated to compensate Nigerians who suffered losses if the South African government failed to provide compensation.

Oshiomhole argued that Nigerians should not continue to bear the consequences of attacks against their businesses and lives while South African companies operating in Nigeria continued to make profits.

He said the government should consider using profits from affected companies to compensate victims if South Africa refused to address the losses suffered by Nigerians.

However, the Senate declined the proposal, opting instead for diplomatic engagement and further investigation into the attacks.

Presiding over plenary, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin cautioned lawmakers against relying on unverified social media reports and urged a careful approach to the matter.

Jibrin said Nigeria must condemn attacks against its citizens but should allow relevant committees to complete their investigations before taking further actions.

He directed the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to review previous resolutions on the matter and submit a report within two weeks.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written assurances from South African authorities on the protection of Nigerians and demand the arrest and prosecution of persons responsible for violence, intimidation and looting.

The lawmakers further called for collaboration with other African countries and relevant continental institutions to establish effective mechanisms for monitoring and preventing xenophobic attacks.

Senator Ekpenyong had earlier raised concerns that the attacks were no longer limited to undocumented migrants but had extended to Nigerians with valid work and residence permits.

He described the situation as a threat to the dignity and safety of Nigerians abroad, urging the government to take stronger measures to protect citizens.

The Senate’s latest action comes amid renewed public anger over attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa, with lawmakers insisting that diplomatic solutions should be prioritised over economic retaliation.


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