Headlines
USSD: Banks owe Telcos N17bn – EVC NCC
Nasiru Yusuf
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta has said that commercial banks in the country are owing telecommunications companies over N17 billion following the regulator’s suspension of its Determination on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) pricing last year.
Kano Focus reports that The NCC has recently announced that it had revised the Determination on the USSD in furtherance of its mandate to protect the interests of consumers and support a robust telecommunications sector.
Speaking at ATCON’s virtual forum on “Meeting the Interests of Government, Consumers and Telecoms Companies in the Era of Covid-19 and Post Covid-19 Pandemic for Digital Economy Development, Mr Danbatta noted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami had already been briefed on the development with a view to ensuring a quick settlement of the debt.
Explaining the Commission’s efforts at resolving consumer-related issues, he noted that when the Commission introduced the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) code in 2015, less than 500,000 people activated the code, but there are now 22,722,366 lines on the DND.
NCC revises determination on USSD pricing
Mr Danbatta stated that ninety-eight per cent (98%) of the total service-related complaints received from telecoms consumers within a 15-month period, spanning January 2019 to April 2020, have been successfully resolved by the Commission.
On quality of service, Danbatta said “the Commission has monthly engagements with operators as well as quarterly industry working group on Quality of Service and Short Codes, and is currently monitoring 2G Key Performance Indicators, while the KPIs for 4G are being prepared.”
It could be recalled that the NCC, in a statement released to the media recently, observed that the amendment to its USSD Determination was necessitated by a protracted dispute between Mobile Network Operators and Financial Institutions on the applicable charges for USSD services and the method of billing. As a responsive and effective regulatory authority, the Commission recognises that its policies are not static and may be modified from time to time as circumstances demand.
According to Danbatta, in the interest of the consumers and other stakeholders, the Commission revised the determination previously issued by removing the Price Floor and the Cap to allow Mobile Network Operators and the banks negotiate rates that will be mutually beneficial to all parties concerned.
The NCC also determined that Mobile Network Operators must not charge the consumers directly for the use of USSD channels for financial services in the form of end-user-billing, but revert to corporate billing. The transaction should be between the MNOs and the entity to which the service is provided (i.e. Banks and Financial Institutions).
The Kano state Government under the able leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced it decision to revisit the abandoned trailer park projects in Kano south zonal.
The decision was announced by Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf through his spokesperson Sanusi Bature after an unscheduled to the Dakatsalle site of one of the abandoned projects.
According to the statement, these trailer park projects were initiated by the Rabiu Kwankwaso administration in 2014 at Dakatsalle, Gundutse and Dawanau but they were abandoned the immediate past administration of Ganduje.
The Governor who lamented the rampant blockage of road by heavy duty vehicles creation unneccesary hardship to road users within the metropolis, said the decision to revive the projects particularly at Gundutse and Dakatsalle in Kano South.
“It was unpatrotic for the immediate past administration to have vandalised the third location of these projects in Dawanau, which was expected to serve Kano north but the project site has allocated plots to members of thier families and cronies.” Gov. Yusuf lamented
The Governor further stated that the reasons for resustsiting were for maintaining of safety, ease vehicular movement and economic development.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa added that the Governor has directed all relevant agencies to ensure strict compliance of road traffic and ensure that no major road is blocked by any gathering including Friday mosques within and outside the Kano city.
Similarly, the Governor has revocked all lands allocated within the two trailer parks in Kano south (Gundutse and Dakatsalle) as part of the plan to revisit the projects.
It could be recalled that the projects were handed over to National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO) to operate after completions
Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa
Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
The Executive Governor of Kano State His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf has flagged off the second phase of women empowerment on livestock entrepreneurship.
A statement from the office of the Governor’s Spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa revealed that the women beneficiaries were given three small ruminants (goats) across the 44 Local Government areas of the state.
The iniative was championed under the State’s Livestock Fattining Programme of Kano Agro-Pastoral Development (KSADP).
While flagging off the second phase of programme, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said as part of his administration’s commitment to fighting abject poverty, it has been resolved to coordinate a multi-dimensional approach to supporting the plight of women and youth for self-reliance.
He said under this iniative, the state is distributing seven thousand one hundred and fifty eight (7, 158) goats to two thousand three hundred and eighty six women beneficisries.
The Governor further stated that the programme will include the distribution of one thousand three hundred and forty two (1, 342) cows to women and youth and also one thousand eight hundred and twenty two rams.
While distributing the empowerment, the Governor issued a stern warning on diversion of the animals other than the purpose it was meant for.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano has inaugurated a 7.3 kilometer rural road equipped with solar-powered streetlights valued at over N4 billion in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the project which was launched Sunday, was originally initiated by Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration in 2012 but was Abandoned by the immediate past governor in state.
Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Yusuf expressed joy at fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
“Today, we witness the realisation of a commitment made to the people of Dawakin Kudu,” he said.
Dawakinkudu road
“I am delighted to commission this project, which will significantly enhance the socio-economic well-being of the community.”
The road project was revalidated last year under an agreement with H&M Nigeria Limited, the contractor, to complete and deliver it within the first quarter of 2025.
Sani Ahmad Mairago, Chairman of Dawakin Kudu Local Government, commended the governor for prioritizing and completing the project, describing it as a vital development for the local community.
Kano Govt. Set to Resit Trailer Park Projects at Dakatsalle, Gundutse
Gov. Yusuf empowers Kano women with N2.3 billion on livestock business
Gov Yusuf inaugurates N4bn Dawakin Kudu road
Rural Development: Gov. Yusuf Commissions N4 Billion Road Project in Dawakin Kudu Abandoned by Ganduje
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