Connect with us

Saturday 1st April, 2023

Telecoms

Telecoms Consumers’ Interests Are Of Paramount Importance To The NCC- Danbatta

Danbatta assured telecom consumers across Nigeria that the Commission will not rest on its oars until the challenges of telecoms consumers have been reduced to the barest minimum.

Share Post

Published

on

Prof, Umar Danbatta, NCC Executive Vice Chairman making a speech during the WoDayrld Press Conference to commemorate the 2021 World Consumer Rights

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated that all activities of the Commission are designed to give assurance to the consumers that their interests are of paramount importance to the Commission, insisting that without the telecom consumers, there will be no telecom operators and there would be no regulator.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta stated this in Abuja on Monday at a World Press Conference in commemoration of the 2021 World Consumer Rights Day.

Danbatta seized the opportunity to assure millions of telecom consumers across the country that the Commission will not rest on its oars until the challenges of telecoms consumers have been reduced to the barest minimum.

“Suffice it to say, that, the NCC seeks the occasion of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day to restate its commitment to Protecting, Informing and Educating the telecoms consumer. We call this our PIE Mandate to the consumers which embodies our philosophical commitment to strengthening all our consumer-centric initiatives and policies,” he said.

The EVC noted that as the global community celebrates the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2021, the NCC is aligning with the philosophy of this day to reiterate its commitment towards providing accurate, adequate and timely information and education that enables the consumer to make informed decisions and feel protected.

Spotlighting how the Commission’s vision interconnects with the international consumer rights movement, Danbatta recalled that the Commission had declared 2017 as the Year of the Telecom Consumer, in recognition of the central place the consumer occupies in the telecom ecosystem and in the emergent digital economy.

ALSO READ  Telecom Facilities Now Critical National Infrastructure In Nigeria- FG Declares

“In the same year, the World Consumer Rights Day focused on “Better Digital World”. The declaration by the Commission and the focus by WCRD 2017 emphasised the need to build a digital world consumer can trust,” he said.

He stated that the theme for this year’s World Consumer Rights Day is, “Tackling Plastic Pollution,” and emphasized that the activities and actions slated for this commemoration are to raise awareness and engage state and non-state actors on the global plastic pollution crisis.

This focus, according to him, is coming three years after the NCC drafted the Nigerian Communications Industry E-Waste Regulations in 2018.

“The objective of the Regulation is to manage E-Waste; promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery; improve the environmental management system of operators in the telecom industry, and reduce greenhouse emissions as well as enhance sustainable development efforts,” Danbatta noted.

The EVC said that in reconnecting with the theme for this Year’s celebration, it bears restating, that, while the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is concluding processes to issue the regulation on Electronic Waste, it is mindful of the fact that many ICT and telecom devices have plastic components, whose waste materials could worsen plastic pollution.

“In other words, we reckon that improper disposal of such disused ICT-plastic embedded products have a grave implication on public health, and especially in achieving Goals 11, 12 and 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

“These goals speak to the imperative of adhering to practices that enhance Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production; as well as Climate Action respectively,” Danbatta said.

ALSO READ  NCC Lists 21 Benefits Of 5G To Businesses, National Economy And Way Of Living

He disclosed that worried by the recurrent cycle of fraudulent deployment of fake and substandard mobile devices – usually made of iron and plastic components, the Commission collaborated with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other relevant government agencies to inaugurate a committee to implement Mobile Devices Management Systems (DMS).

This initiative he said is designed as a Public-Private Partnership aimed at combating the proliferation of fake, counterfeit, substandard and cloned communication devices in the telecommunications industry, adding that the expectation is that only genuine materials malleable to enduring usage are available for consumer use.

He recalled that the NCC also implemented a strict type-approval process that ensures all equipment used in the telecommunications industry are of a suitable standard, both for the good of the consumers and for the preservation of the environment.

“This coincidental connection between the 2021 theme for World Consumer Rights Day, “Tackling Plastic Pollution”, and the proactive initiatives of the Commission towards protecting the environment as well as efforts on tackling electronic waste in Nigeria tells the story of a shared vision for a satisfied consumer,” Danbatta noted.

DigitalTimesNG understands that the press conference was conceived to highlight NCC’s commitment to protecting the telecom consumers and to highlight the regulatory role of the Commission with respect to protecting the Rights of the Telecom Consumers and to connect it with the global significance of today’s celebration.

The NCC also used this year’s commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day to unveil a new Consumer Handbook – a compendium of consumer information materials compiled to enhance education and protection of the consumer.

ALSO READ  Danbatta, NCC Boss To Deliver The Bullion Lecture 2021

The World Consumer Rights Day is observed every 15th day of March.

 

Share Post

Telecoms

NCC Committed To Strengthening Regulation Of Telecom Sector, Says Danbatta

Published

on

L-R: Nnena Ukoha, Head, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs, NCC; Dr. Funmi Akinyele, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Food Basket Foundation International (FBFT) and Chairperson, Safeguarding Online Civic Space Group; Chidinma Okpara, Project Officer, FBFT and Nafisa Rugga, Head, Digital Media, NCC, during a courtesy visit by FBFT to the Commission in Abuja recently.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the regulation of the country’s telecommunication sector, particularly by providing solid infrastructure and general industry regulations.

In this regard, the Commission said it would continue to consult stakeholders on issues affecting telecommunication services deployments and developments, in line with its culture of inclusiveness, collaboration, and partnership as predicated in its strategic focus.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission (EVC), Professor Garba Danbatta, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of Food Basket Foundation International (FBFI), led by its Chief Executive Officer, Funmi Akinyele, during a courtesy visit to NCC Headquarters in Abuja.

While commending the Commission’s regulatory excellence, highlighting its effort in ensuring there are regulations, frameworks and guidelines to guard the telecoms sector and online civic space, Akinyele expressed concerns about the state of social media with uncontrolled content.

She said the visit to the regulator was to explore areas of collaboration in its programme to protect the digital civic space by combating misinformation and disinformation while mitigating risks to the digital civic space to ensure electoral integrity before, during and after the 2023 General Elections.

This initiative, she explained, comes under one of FBFI’s projects, dubbed ‘Safeguarding Digital Civic Space for Electoral Integrity (SDSEI).’

But Danbatta who was represented at the event by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, informed the team that the Commission is not responsible for the content of the social media as there are other government agencies that are responsible for that.

ALSO READ  Stakeholders Attribute Telecoms Sector N2.3trn Contribution To Q2 GDP To industry’s Regulation

However, the Commission he said, has engaged in several aspects of protection of the users of the Internet, such as initiatives towards Child Online Protection (COP), deployment of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT), set up to monitor cyber-attacks in the Nigerian cyberspace, in addition to the activities of the Commission’s department of New Media and Information Security set up to address issues of cybersecurity.

“We have tried not to be a closed organisation. We give lots of premiums to consultations and collaborations, especially in the areas that will ensure that the consumers and stakeholders understand what is going on and make input that enriches the quality of regulations, as well as being able to access the information they may require to safeguard themselves and the society,” he noted.

Muoka also invited the group to join the NCC in carrying out enlightenment campaigns to educate telecom consumers on their roles and responsibilities in order to use the Internet and telecommunication platform safely to counter misuse and abuse.

Share Post
Continue Reading

Telecoms

Beware Of Pirated YouTube Software-Related Malware- NCC-CSIRT Warns

Published

on

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has warned that those looking to acquire pirated software and resources risk becoming victims of cybercriminal gangs that are using AI-generated YouTube videos to distribute malware.

The NCC-CSIRT further warned in its advisory that falling victim could be significant for individuals and organizations, resulting in critical damage like data theft, financial loss, identity theft, system damage, and reputation damage.

The advisory additionally warned that unsuspecting victims who watch these AI-generated tutorial videos will be duped into clicking on one of the links in the video description, which usually results in the download of data-stealing malware, noting that the number of YouTube videos containing such links has increased by 200-300% months on month since November 2022.

“To stimulate the interest of potential victims, video tutorials on how to pirate sought-after software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and other similar paid-for software are created. These videos are created with AI and feature humans with facial features that research has shown other humans find trustworthy.

“The tutorials in these videos are frequently bogus and steer viewers to links in the description that led to information-stealing malware like Raccoon, Vidar, and RedLine,” the advisory revealed.

The advisory disclosed that malicious actors can create AI-generated videos that include hidden or disguised malware, noting that these videos may appear to be harmless or even entertaining, but they can contain malicious code that can infect a viewer’s device when the video is downloaded or played.

ALSO READ  Smile Thrills Customers With DOUBLE DATA WEEKEND, As Christmas Beckons

“Cybercriminal actors can also use AI-generated videos to trick viewers into downloading malware. For example, they can create a video that appears to be a legitimate software update or security patch, but it contains malware that infects the viewer’s device.

“They equally use AI-generated videos to distribute phishing scams. They can create a video that appears to be from a legitimate company or organization and prompts viewers to click on a link to enter their login credentials or personal information. Once the viewer clicks on the link, they are directed to a fake website that steals their information.

“Additionally, malicious actors can use AI-generated videos to distribute ransomware. They can create a video that appears to be harmless, but when the viewer clicks on a link or downloads a file associated with the video, their device becomes infected with ransomware that locks them out of their files and demands payment to regain access,” the advisory further revealed.

NCC-CSIRT said that to avoid becoming a victim, telecom consumers should avoid downloading pirated software because they are generally harmful and illegal.

Furthermore, the advisory recommends the installation of antivirus software with internet security and keeping it up to date, installing an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution that is comprehensive, and thinking before clicking any link.

 

 

Share Post
Continue Reading

Telecoms

7 Months After Ministerial Objection, FG Removes 5% Excise Duty For Telecoms Sector

Published

on

L-R: Jacqueline Olowolayemo, Senior Administrative Manager, Mafab Communications Ltd.; Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and Anas Galadima, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, MTN Nigeria, during a press briefing by the Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Seven months after the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami led objections to the proposed application of 5 per cent excise duty on Nigeria’s telecom sector, the Federal Government Tuesday officially announced the removal of excise duty for the telecom sub-sector of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Industry.

The removal of excise duty in the sub-sector, Digital TimesNG learnt, is in line with the recommendations of the Committee the Federal Government constituted to review the applicability of the Duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, disclosed this good news on Tuesday at a press briefing organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected to by the Minister in August 2022.

Recall that in response to this objection, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the application of excise duty to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on Excise Duty in the Digital Economy Sector.

Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee had carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted its report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.

The Minister said the Committee’s submissions can be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any level should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

ALSO READ  Stakeholders Attribute Telecoms Sector N2.3trn Contribution To Q2 GDP To industry’s Regulation

“Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms have continued to be a major contributor to the Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).

“The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in the telecom sector is the fact that, despite the increase in the cost of all factors of production across the sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where the cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector,” the Minister said.

Pantami also informed the gathering that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted the telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.

“I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five per cent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty.”

ALSO READ  NCC Alerts General Public On Increasing Incidents Of Fraud Across Social Media Platforms

The Minister assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as “the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens.”

The Minister further noted that the Digital Economy Sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for the government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers.

 

Share Post
Continue Reading
BANKING12 hours ago

Breaking: FirstBank Announces Name Change Of Its Subsidiaries

PARTNERSHIPS12 hours ago

Huawei Partners TD Africa, Unveils State-Of-The-Art Products For SMEs

BANKING1 day ago

Access Bank, AfriGOPay Partner To Boost Nigeria’s Payment Ecosystem

Business1 day ago

Transcorp Posts Strong Financial Performance In Year 2022

BANKING1 day ago

Allegations Against Our MD, Spurious, FirstBank Claims

TechExtra1 day ago

Survival of Today’s MSMEs Depends On Adoption, Adaptation Of Digital Techs, Says NITDA DG

TechExtra2 days ago

NITDA Supports ASF France On Digital Rights Protection In Nigeria

TechExtra4 days ago

NiRA, EFCC Sign MoU To Train Personnel On Cyber Security

Telecoms4 days ago

NCC Committed To Strengthening Regulation Of Telecom Sector, Says Danbatta

TechExtra5 days ago

NITDA, World Bank Train 200 Women On Content Creation

Business5 days ago

MTN’s Funso Aina Wins SABRE IN2 ‘Innovator Of The Year’ Award

BANKING5 days ago

ICSFS Receives Information Security Management System ISO/IEC 27001 Certification

Telecoms5 days ago

Beware Of Pirated YouTube Software-Related Malware- NCC-CSIRT Warns

TechExtra7 days ago

UK-Nigeria Tech Hub And Google Collaborate For Startups

TechExtra1 week ago

Nigeria Recorded Over 1.4 million Cyber Attacks On 2023 Guber Elections Day- Pantami

TechExtra1 week ago

Effective Collaborations Will Enhance Stronger Africa IT Ecosystem- NITDA DG

TECH PRODUCT1 week ago

OPPO Launches Reno8 T Series In Nigeria

Blog1 week ago

As WAEC Prepares To Launch Its Revolutionary Platform, EduStat…

TechExtra1 week ago

Amazon To Lay Off 9,000 Additional Staff

Telecoms1 week ago

7 Months After Ministerial Objection, FG Removes 5% Excise Duty For Telecoms Sector

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: Remita Partners MTN’s Yello Digital Financial Services

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: 9PSB CEO Calls For Targeted Content To Accelerate Growth In Nigeria

BANKING7 months ago

FirstBank Hosts Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) Quarterly Meeting

FINANCE11 months ago

MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank Formally Commences Operations

FINANCE8 months ago

Verdant Capital Raises $10m Of Debt Funding For Zeepay

FINANCE11 months ago

Mastercard, OPay In strategic Partnership To Advance Africa’s Digital Financial Inclusion

BROADCASTING2 years ago

tvN, Korea’s Number 1 Entertainment Channel Debuts On DStv March 1

BROADCASTING3 years ago

ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Turn Up Friday With Pepsi’ Premieres On Africa Magic Channels

Opinion6 months ago

Price Vs Quality: The Nigerian E-Commerce Shopper’s Dilemma

Opinion6 months ago

Resiliency Is the Cornerstone Of Future-Proofing Business Continuity

FINANCE2 years ago

9PSB, Flutterwave Partner To Deepen Financial Inclusion In Nigeria

Opinion7 months ago

The Savvy Story Of National Pension Commission (PENCOM)- Part 2

Telecoms3 years ago

5G Services Go Live In Madagascar, As Telma Launches Ericsson-Powered Network In The Country

Opinion6 months ago

Femi Falana, SAN: Your Client’s Publication On Zinox Chairman, A Cheap Blackmail

Opinion3 years ago

Africa In Motion: Accelerating Africa’s Digital Future

FINANCE2 years ago

Andela Announces $200m Series E Financing

BROADCASTING8 months ago

NBC Fines DSTV, Trust TV, 2 Others N20m For ‘Terrorism Glorification’

SOCIAL8 months ago

Google Back Online After Reported Brief Global Outage

BROADCASTING8 months ago

MultiChoice Partners BON To Upskill 200 Broadcasters

FINANCE5 months ago

Crypto Giants, Binance Plans To Acquire Major Rival FTX

Advertisement

Trending