Headlines
Stakeholder engagements key to broadband implementation – Danbatta
Nasiru Yusuf
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta, says government is putting greater emphasis on continuous engagement of different stakeholders to secure their buy-in towards achieving the targets of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025.
Kano Focus reports that Mr Danbatta stated this at the first stakeholder consultation with telecommunication industry players on the implementation of the new national broadband plan held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services and Chairman, Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC), Ubale Maska, Mr Danbatta said the Ministry and its agencies, as well as the industry must work together towards the attainment of the set goals.
At the event, which is the second of the multi-stakeholder consultation process by the BISC, Danbatta noted that the 30 percent broadband targets set in the previous NNBP 2013-2018 were met and surpassed due to “our collective efforts, policy direction, regulation and financial commitment by industry players.”
He said there were, however, some targets that were not met in the previous plan because of various challenges that are presently being addressed.
“The NNBP 2020-2025 has, once again, identified initiatives to be implemented by different stakeholders in order to achieve the set objectives of the plan. The importance of broadband to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), socio-economic development, and especially the digital economy, cannot be over-emphasized,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chairman of BISC, Usman Abdullahi, said the forum was to avail the industry players and representatives of government a veritable platform to collaborate, and discuss ways to accelerate broadband implementation for sustainable development of the telecommunications sector and advancement of the digital economy.
Project Director, BISC, Abubakar Maina, made a presentation providing information to stakeholders on previous and new targets, timelines, milestones, strategic pillars, initiatives in the pillars, as well as governance structure in the new broadband plan.
The forum was well attended by industry operators, especially the Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) both physically and virtually, who gave useful inputs for steering the course of implementation of the new broadband plan to success.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the new broadband plan on March 19 2020, following the development of the plan by a committee, set up by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on December 16, 2019.
As a follow-up, on July 9, 2020, the Minister, inaugurated the BISC, which is primarily saddled with the responsibility of ensuring effective monitoring of the implementation of the new broadband plan.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, has inaugurated the Kano Online Media Chapel, marking a new chapter for digital journalism in the state.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Sunday at the NUJ Secretariat, was attended by top government officials, media executives, and stakeholders, including the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, and the NUJ Kano Council Chairman, Comrade Suleiman A. Dederi.
During the event, the following officials were sworn in to lead the new Chapel:
• Chairman: Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo (Publisher, Independent Post)
• Vice Chairman: Kahdija Aliyu (Publisher, Paradigm News)
• Secretary: Isiyaku Ahmad (Publisher, Stallion Times)
• Assistant Secretary: Zahrau Nasir Ahmed (Publisher, Daily Watch 24)
• Financial Secretary: Zainab Abdurrahman Mai Agogo (Publisher, Kakaki24)
• Treasurer: Abbas Yushau Yusuf (Publisher, Nigeria Tracker)
• Auditor: Musa Ahmad Durumin Iya (Publisher, Alifijir News)
In his acceptance speech, Chairman Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, emphasizing that the Online Media Chapel would not compete with traditional media but complement it.
He stressed the importance of promoting ethical, responsible, and impactful journalism in the digital era, pledging to uphold the highest standards of truth, fairness, and integrity.
“We are committed to fostering professionalism, unity among practitioners, and building the capacity of online journalists to meet global standards,” Dangambo said.
Commissioner Waiya described the inauguration as a historic moment for Kano State, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting media reforms. He called on all online practitioners to embrace unity and professionalism, promising that all necessary support would be provided to strengthen the Chapel.
The formation of the Kano Online Media Chapel is seen as a major milestone aimed at uniting online journalists under one umbrella to ensure the delivery of authentic, reliable, and development-driven information to the public.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday nabbed a 60-year-old grandma Safiya Shamsu at Samegu area of Kumbotso LGA with 5.6kg skunk, a strain of cannabis.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Femi Babafemi announced this in a statement issued on Sunday.
The statement added that another suspect Muntari Labaran, 35, was taken into custody following the seizure of 100 litres of codeine syrup from him at Yalwa quarters of Dala LGA.
“In another major interdiction in Jigawa state with a follow up operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence on Wednesday 23rd April seized consignments of opioids being moved from Kano to Niger Republic and Yobe state through Jigawa.
“The psychoactive substances were being moved in a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked ABJ 182 NW at about 2:30am on Wednesday along Kano- Ringim road, Gumel town when anti-narcotic officers on patrol intercepted them with two suspects: Abba Ibrahim, 28, and Shuaibu Umar, 29 arrested.
“Recovered from the Sienna vehicle were 200,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin. A swift follow up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, at his residence located at Mil Tara, Layin Technical area of Kano while additional 1,584,000 pills of tramadol 250mg stacked inside a Nissan 18-seater bus marked DAL 372 XA and a room in his house were discovered and evacuated. This brings the total number of the recovered opioids to 2,001,500 pills,” the statement added.
While commending the officers and men of Kano,and some Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced that the airlift of pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj exercise will officially commence on May 13, 2025.
The Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u Danbappa, revealed this during an inspection visit to Hajj training centers in Ungogo and Bichi Local Government Areas.
The visit was part of the state’s preparations for a smooth and successful Hajj operation this year.
Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u stated that, according to the schedule released by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Kano State will be among the first to begin the airlift of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using Max Air airline.
He emphasized that the Board had concluded all necessary arrangements ahead of time to guarantee a seamless transportation process and to ensure the welfare of pilgrims throughout the exercise.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Yusif Lawan, urged intending pilgrims to consistently attend the Hajj training sessions organized across the state.
He explained that the training was crucial for educating the pilgrims on the rites of Hajj and ensuring they perform the religious exercise properly.
Alhaji Yusif also cautioned pilgrims to comply fully with the guidelines set by both Nigerian authorities and Saudi Arabian officials to avoid any disruptions during the pilgrimage.
The Chairman, alongside board members, committee members, and directors, participated in the visit to assess the level of preparedness at the training centers.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kano pilgrims and ensuring a successful 2025 Hajj operation.
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