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NCC Frowns, Lists Dangers of Sealing Base Stations

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Eugene Juwah, EVC, NCC
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Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed displeasure at the incessant closure of telecommunication Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites across the country by various agencies of the federal, state and local governments, warning that no government agency has the right to seal  any BTS, highly regarded as Critical National Infrastructure, without permission by a competent court of law.

Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs at NCC, the Commission pointed out said that shutting base stations of various telecom operators truncates smooth operations by the affected service providers, especially when the agencies have not been permitted by any court to embark on the clampdown.

Ojobo, said, “The attention of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to the incessant closure of telecommunication Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites across the country by various agencies of the Federal, State and Local Governments.

“While the Commission encourages its licensees to fulfill their obligations with respect to the payment of all legitimate taxes and procurement of relevant permits, it is however, disturbed by the indiscriminate closure of telecom facilities without exhausting available dispute resolution mechanisms.

“It is a fact that telecommunication infrastructure are considered Critical National Assets, hence, the action of sealing any BTS sites has sever security implications, especially owing to the prevalent security challenges being experienced in the country today.

“In addition, the sealing of BTS sites portends grave consequences on the already constrained Quality of Service (QoS).

“No individual or agency of government has the powers to seal any public infrastructure except with the pronouncement of a court of competent jurisdiction”.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) being the sole body responsible of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, he said, frowns at the action of any BTS site and would like to use this medium to emphasize on the need for all stakeholders to desist from this act.   

In 2012 alone, the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) sealed over 50 telecom masts nationwide.

In 2013, both Glo and Visafone base stations were sealed by NESEREA at various locations.

This year, Enugu State Government pounced on MTN, even as Edo State, Osun and Lagos have threatened to hand similar punishments to telecom operators for reasons ranging from environmental nuisance, non-remittance of taxes and use of inadequate equipment.


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SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

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SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.

SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

SHELT

The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.

SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.

“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”

The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.


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Meta Names Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as President

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Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.

Meta names ex-Trump adviser Dina Powell McCormick as president

Dina Powell McCormick

The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.

A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.

The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions


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X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the @Twitter account, replacing its profile with a standard notice citing violation of platform rules.

X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

Musk

The action, which occurred on Sunday, January 11, left users encountering the handle greeted by a bold “Account Suspended” message on a black screen, with no details provided on the specific rules broken or the duration of the suspension.

The development has sparked widespread confusion and nostalgia among users, given that Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, approximately six months after acquiring the platform for $44 billion in late 2022.

The @Twitter handle had remained dormant since before Musk’s takeover, serving as a legacy remnant of the platform’s original branding, and its suspension appears to mark the final erasure of the Twitter name amid X’s ongoing efforts to combat spam, impersonation, and rule violations.

X’s official statement on the suspended page simply reads: “X suspends accounts that violate our rules,” without offering an appeal process or further explanation, unlike standard user suspensions.

Public reactions on social media ranged from humorous laments of “RIP Twitter” to speculation that the move resulted from automated moderation or a deliberate cleanup of legacy trademarks.

xAI’s Grok AI described it as a purposeful retirement of outdated elements rather than a genuine infraction, while neither Elon Musk nor X spokespeople issued any comment as of Monday morning.

This incident underscores the evolving identity of the platform under Musk’s ownership, which also saw a domain shift to x.com in 2024, further distancing it from its Twitter roots.

Industry observers note that while the suspension aligns with X’s stricter enforcement policies, the lack of transparency has fueled debates on consistency in applying rules to high-profile legacy accounts.


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