Author: Rommy Imah

With the coronavirus pandemic affecting countries all over the world, misinformation is on the rise on the internet. While it’s easier to track down the origin of posts on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s hard to do the same on end-to-end encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp. In order to limit the damage, the popular chat app is introducing a new limit on forwarding messages: You can now only do that to one chat at a time. That limit kicks in once the message has been forwarded more than five times in total, according to a report in the nextweb.com. Just…

Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, yesterday paid surprise visits to the Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) in Kano and Kaduna. The visits were aimed at ensuring that the toll-free 3-digit National Emergency Number, 112, is being put to effective use in this critical time of Coronavirus pandemic, as well as the national objective of enhancing the security of lives and properties. Danbatta’s visits were also informed by his realization that, with Coronavirus spreading across the globe and more people living in isolation, the NCC’s 112 toll-free number could play a crucial role of…

The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has described the purported claims in some quarters especially, the social media platforms that 5G technology is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic as not only baseless but should be discountenanced by Nigerians as false information. ATCON said in a statement signed by its national president, Mr. Olusola Teniola, that the claims have not been substantiated by any conclusive empirical evidence, by either the World Health Organisation or other health research institutions. “There has been no issuance of 5G Licence to any of our members to build and deploy 5G network in Nigeria…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has insisted that there is no correlation between 5G Technology and COVID-19, explaining that 5G is an advancement on today’s 4G technology, designed to transform the world positively.  The NCC’s explanation is coming on the heels of the recent development in which misleading materials with no proven evidence are being circulated to link Coronavirus with 5G Technology. 5G is a fifth generation of mobile technology which is an improvement on today’s 4G technology with enhanced capabilities and provides the platform for new and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has described as untrue, speculations making the rounds that 5G Technology is the cause of the Coronavirus pandemic, explaining that the virus is also spreading in places without 5G networks like Nigeria. “There are many parts of the world that do not have 5G coverage yet, but are still affected by the virus e.g. Parts of United Kingdom, Iran, Russia has no 5G for commercial use (except for some of their military deployments) etc,” ALTON said in a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Head of…

By Emeka OPARAH One would ordinarily have dismissed the “controversy” around 5G technology and the strange connection with COVID-19 being stridently pursued by some people as ignorant rants occasioned by the morbid fear of the rampaging Coronavirus, but with the prevailing circumstances of fear and tension, I have elected, as one familiar with the workings of the telecommunications industry, to say something. Several years ago, I was part of a global campaign by mobile telecommunications operators to debunk a widely held belief that telecommunications base stations emitted radiations that led to Cancer. As an organization, my employers then spent a…

Nigeria’s leading retail bank, Access Bank Plc has unveiled a revolutionary mobile banking application- AccessMore, as part of its effort at ensuring that its customers have easy access to their funds as well as carry out seamless transactions during this period of COVID-19 pandemic. AccessMore is a new mobile payment application built on cutting-edge technology, offering tailored and personalized services, and excellent customer experience. It is an innovative mobile payment application that offers a “more than banking experience.” The new App is in line with Access Bank’s promise at integration to bring the best of the Access and Diamond mobile apps together…

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has given clarifications that no license has been issued for the deployment of 5G network services in the country. The Minister said the clarification was based on available records in his office and the earlier report received from the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. Pantami revealed that the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), of which he is the Chairman, has neither deliberated on nor released any bulk frequency spectrum for the deployment of 5G. The Minister said in a statement he personally signed that this clarification…

Google on Thursday published reports for Nigeria and 130 other countries showing whether visits to shops, parks, and workplaces dropped in March when many governments issued stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Google’s analysis of location data from billions of users’ phones is the largest public data set available to help health authorities assess whether people are abiding by shelter-in-place and similar orders issued across the world. Its reports show charts that compare visits in recent weeks to subway, train, and bus stations; grocery stores; and other broad categories of places with a five-week period earlier…

As more and more people nationwide brace for the immense human, economic, and social cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board, Management and Staff of MTN Nigeria and the MTN Foundation have reiterated telco’s commitment to helping Nigerians stay connected and support efforts to contain the outbreak. MTN Nigeria said that COVID-19 is a new test of the country’s collective strength, and has responded to this by deploying the first phase of a broad set of investments in support of the national effort to contain the pandemic. Towards this end, MTN Nigeria said it is supporting the Federal and State…