News
National Library Develops App to Issue ISBN, ISSN Numbers within 48 hours
In line with President Buhari’s cardinal agenda of ‘ease of doing business’,The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has launched an app that will enable publishers who apply for the International Standard Book Number and International Standard Serial Number to get the number within 48 hours.
Even as they have commenced this year’s national readership promotion campaign to promote reading culture.
The Chief Librarian/CEO of National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Lenrie Aina, who disclosed these during a press conference in Lagos, stated that the application was developed by staff of the National Library of Nigeria to make it easier for book publishers, authors and other interested persons or organisations to apply for, and obtain international standard numbers(ISSN & ISBN) for their publications within 24 hours, regardless of time and location, without necessarily visiting any of their offices.
According to Aina, the Act establishing the National library stipulates that all publications emanating from Nigeria should comply with international standard through the issuance of ISBN for books and ISSN for journals, newspapers and magazines.
“Before, if you apply for ISSN or ISBN, it involves a process; you come either to the headquarters in Abuja or to any of our branches. We have 27 branches in Nigeria and it takes a minimum of 10 to 30 days before you can get the number.
“But with this application, all you have to do is go to our website, stay in your offices and you will get the ISSN/ISBN within 48 hours.”
Aina also announced that the National Library of Nigeria has commenced this year’s national readership promotion campaign with the theme, “Reviving Moribund Culture of Reading in Nigeria for Sustainable National Development.”
The campaign which has already commenced in Anambra and Cross River will go around all the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory.
The campaign will feature reading competitions among secondary and primary schools; book parties in motor parks; advocacy visit to maternity homes to encourage nursing mothers to introduce reading to their children at early age and NLN/NYSC reading forums, a collaboration that will extend the campaign to all the local governments through the corps members.
Aina who pointed out the need for more people to cultivate the act of reading said prizes such as books, shelves, computers and reading tablets will be given out to student-participants across locations.
Ogba Ogbaga, an Abuja-based lawyer, has said that he has been instructed to institute legal proceedings against MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, 9mobile and MultiChoice Nigeria, operators of DStv, over what he described as unfair consumer practices relating to expiring data bundles and television subscriptions.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ogbaga said his law firm, GIMBG Legals, received instructions from its client, KAA, also known as KaaTruths, to challenge the companies’ subscription policies in court.
According to him, the proposed suit will question whether telecom operators and DStv’s subscription models comply with provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and other applicable laws.
Ogbaga alleged that telecom providers operate internet data services that are unfair to consumers, claiming subscribers sometimes do not receive the services they paid for but still lose their subscriptions once the validity period expires.
He also criticised DStv’s subscription model, arguing that consumers lose paid viewing time due to factors such as power outages, adverse weather conditions and service interruptions, while subscriptions continue to count down regardless.
“Our clients have complained that MTN data services are unduly one-sided,” Ogbaga said, adding that the legal action would also extend to other telecommunications providers and DStv.
He said the court action would seek judicial determination on whether the companies’ subscription practices comply with consumer protection laws.
The lawyer also invited interested legal practitioners to collaborate on the case, saying his firm would provide updates as the matter progresses.
In a separate Facebook post on Wednesday, Ogbaga said previous policy discussions, town hall meetings and debates at the National Assembly had failed to address the concerns raised by consumers.
He argued that telecom operators regularly carry out maintenance and network upgrades that temporarily disrupt services without extending customers’ subscription periods, while DStv subscribers also lose viewing time because of electricity outages and weather-related disruptions.
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has commenced the issuance of new licence certificates to insurance companies that successfully met the industry’s new minimum capital requirements, marking the formal beginning of a new regulatory era aimed at strengthening the financial capacity, governance and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s insurance sector.
At a ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, presented the new licence certificates to compliant operators, describing the exercise as a major milestone in the industry’s recapitalisation programme.
According to the Commission, a total of 43 insurance companies declared compliant with the new capital requirements are expected to receive the new licence certificates in phases.
Omosehin congratulated the successful companies, saying the issuance of the new licences signals the beginning of a stronger regulatory framework anchored on improved capitalisation, sound corporate governance, innovation and sustainable growth.
He urged operators to leverage their enhanced capital base to develop innovative insurance products, improve operational efficiency and deepen insurance penetration across the country.
The Commissioner said the Commission expects the recapitalised companies to deliver stronger financial performance while maintaining high standards of professionalism and customer service.
He also announced that NAICOM’s next major regulatory initiative would be the implementation of the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) framework, under which insurers’ capital levels would be aligned with the risks inherent in their respective business portfolios.
According to him, the new framework will further strengthen the industry’s resilience by ensuring that insurers maintain capital commensurate with the risks they underwrite, thereby enhancing policyholder protection and boosting market confidence.
Omosehin reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to removing regulatory impediments where necessary while maintaining effective oversight to safeguard policyholders and strengthen confidence in the insurance market.
The issuance of the new licence certificates marks the commencement of a phased transition to higher capital standards aimed at improving the financial capacity, solvency and claims-paying ability of insurance companies operating in Nigeria.
Management of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek Media has withdrawn its publication titled “Adefolarin Ogunsanya and the Allegations of Shareholder Interference and Self-Dealing at Pan African Towers,” which was published on its platform.
The decision to retract the story follows an editorial review to ensure that the platform maintains the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism in reporting matters that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek acknowledges that the issues raised in the publication remain before the courts and have not been finally determined.
Accordingly, the organisation has decided to remove the article from its platforms pending the conclusion of the legal processes or the availability of additional verified information.
The publication regrets any inconvenience or misunderstanding the report may have caused to readers or any individuals or organisations mentioned in the story.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek remains committed to the principles of balanced, factual and ethical journalism and will continue to uphold professional standards in its coverage of judicial and corporate governance matters.
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