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NCC Receives International Awards
Nasiru Yusuf
The contributions of the the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the fight against insecurity in the country has received global endorsement with the Commission bagging two prestigious international awards at the weekend.
Leading the pack is the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA) 2020 won by the Commission for its harmonized emergency number, 112 and the construction of Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) in 36 states of the Federation and the FCT with 19 states already operational and additional 5 ready for activation.
The presentation of the IPRA Golden Global Awards (GGA) 2020 to the Commission had been scheduled to hold earlier this year in Germany but could not hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCC also received the African Public Relations Association’s (APRA) Certificate of Excellence for its efforts in “leveraging the emergency communication centres for national security.”
However, at the Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA) 2020, where the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Malam Mukhtar Sirajo, handed over the coveted trophies to the Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu, the NCC was declared Winner of ‘Emergency Management Security and Emergency Management Award.
The NIPR President commended the NCC for a culture of professionalism in the management of its corporate communications and public relations, noting that ‘this has been largely responsible its enviable corporate image and the many awards it had attracted over the years.’
In the same vein, the NCC was also presented with a Certificate of Excellence for ‘Outstanding Accomplishments in Category of Emergency Management’ at the award.
Speaking at the event, Yushau Sh’uaibu of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, lauded the NCC for launching an impressive campaign on its emergency communications project.
“The ECCs were activated as a one-stop shop for receiving distress calls from the public and dispatching same to appropriate Emergency Response Agencies (ERAs) for timely response and resolution of the distress.
“The ECC project had been in limbo until a new management under the leadership of Danbatta, embarked on the construction and operationalisation of the ECCs across states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) till date,” he explained.
At the maiden edition in 2019, the Executive Vice Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Umar Garba Danbatta was recognised as ‘Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador for Security and Emergency Management in Nigeria’ while the NCC, as a corporate organisation, was given with the ‘Corporate Social responsibility Award in Security and Emergency Management in the country.’
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasised that in light of disruption in the technology world, it is keen on balancing healthy competition with entry of disruptive technologies to ensure sustainable telecoms industry growth and development in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta, stated this during a presentation to the Commission by a delegation from SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportations services company, in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement sent to KANO FOCUS by commission’s spokesperson Ikechukwu Adinde on Friday explained that SpaceX is in the process of launching a low-earth orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites to provide low latency, high bandwidths Internet to all corners of the globe and has identified Nigeria as a critical market.
It recalled that SpaceX has been in discussion with NCC virtually over the past several months to begin the process of pursuing all necessary licenses to bring Starlink, its satellite-based broadband services to Nigeria.
“Having made substantial progress in the discussion, the Commission granted SpaceX’s request for a face-to-face discussion to gain better insights on the prospects of their proposal.
“Led by SpaceX’s Starlink Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight and supported by the company’s consultant, Levin Born, the company provided an overview of its plans, expectations, licensing requests and deployment phases during the meeting,” the statement said.
After the presentation by SpaceX team, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Ubale Maska, who stood in for the EVC, said NCC will work on necessary modalities to ensure that it balances the need for healthy competition vis-a-vis the entry of new technologies, in order to protect all industry stakeholders.
“As the regulator of a highly dynamic sector in Nigeria, the Commission is conscious of the need to ensure that our regulatory actions are anchored on national interest. We have listened to your presentation and we will review it vis-à-vis our regulatory direction of ensuring effective and a sustainable telecoms ecosystem where a licensee’s operational model does not dampen healthy competition among other licensees,” Maska told the SpaceX delegation.
Maska further stated that the Commission is interested in making necessary regulatory efforts to drive the coverage of rural, unserved and underserved areas of the country through the accomplishments of the lofty targets contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025. He noted that the plan’s target of 70 per cent broadband penetration target, covering 90 per cent of the population by 2025 is also in line with government expectations in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2010-2030.
Other Senior Management staff of the Commission, at the briefing include the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu; Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Mohammed Babajika; Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil; Director, New Media and Information Security, Dr. Haru Alhassan and Director, Spectrum Administration, Oluwatoyin Asaju, among others.
The statement added that “Section 70 (2) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, empowers the Commission to regulate the provision and use of all satellite communications services and networks, in whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship or aircraft registered in Nigeria.
“This is for the purpose of ensuring a well-developed and organised satellite communications market with appropriate legal framework that meets international best practices, encourages innovation, promotes competition and guarantees public safety in the rendering of commercial satellite services.”
L-R: Consultant to SpaceX, Levin Born; Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Oluwatoyin Asaju; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Ubale Maska; SpaceX’s Starlink Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu, during the SpaceX’s presentation to the Commission in Abuja.
Yamadawa community foils armed robbery attack, kill suspect
Nasir Yusuf
Yamadawa community in Kano metropolis have foiled armed robbery attack in the late hours Thursday which led to the arrest of two suspects.
KANO FOCUS eye witness in the area told journalists that on Thursday around 11 pm two armed robbery suspects have attacked a resident in front of his house at Yamadawa Quarters, Gwale local government area, Kano State and attempted to snatch his Toyota Corolla Motor Vehicle.
He said upon alighting from the car, the victim used car door and knocked down one of the armed robbery suspects and took to his heels shouting at the top of his voice, which attracted the attention of members of the community.
According to the eyewitness on realizing their plan had failed, the armed robbers started shooting sprodically and snatched tricycle in an attempt to escape.
He added that the residents overpowered them and beat them handed them over to the police.
The police spokesperson in Kano Abdullahi Kiyawa confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday evening.
Mr Kiyawa revealed around 11 pm on Wednesday, police received a distress call on armed robbery at Yamadawa quarters.
He said on the receipt of the report, teams of policemen mobilized to the area where they arrested the suspects with the help of the community.
The police spokesperson identified the suspects as 24 year old Abdullahi Ismail of Sani Mainagge Quarters and 24 years Abubakar Hussein of Kankara local government area, Katsina state.
“Suspects sustained various injuries on their body and were rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital Kano for treatment. Abdullahi Isma’il was confirmed dead by a medical Doctor.
Corpse of armed robbery suspect Abdullahi Ismail
“On preliminary Investigation, the other suspect, Abubakar Hussain confessed that, they attacked the victim with intent to rob him of his Motor Vehicle,” he said.
pistol recover from armed robbery suspects
Mr Kiyawa said the Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko, has ordered transfer of the case to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Command for discreet investigation.
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano state Executive Council has given approval for the implementation of new minimum wage for academic and non-academic staff of the two state own universities, with a monthly release of N49, 695, 509.26 million.
KANO FOCUS recalled that the state government has earlier reversed minimum wage of civil servants from N18,000 to N30,600 in March.
The state government, however, said that accumulated arrears from the time of the approval of the new salary structure to date would be determined pending improvement of the current financial situation in the state.
The state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, announced this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.
He said the two institutions, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil would receive monthly allocation of N24, 560, 479.72 million and N25, 135, 029.54 million respectively for the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II (CONTISS II).
Mr Garba said the council has also approved the award of contract for the supply and installation of two 1,500 KVA generating sets at Watari 75mld Water Treatment Plant to address acute water supply shortage to the towns and villages served by the treatment plant.
He said the contract, which is worth N355, 027, 831.20 million was awarded to Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Limited for the treatment plant designed to serve Watari-Kano Pipeline, Watari-Bagwai Pipeline and Watari-Tsanyawa pipeline each with separate pumping outlet.
The commissioner also disclosed that approval has been given by the council for the release of 11 resident doctors to pursue Residency Training Programme in different fields of specialization at various teaching hospitals in the state.
Mr Garba stated that the medical doctors were on permanent and pensionable appointment under the state Hospitals Management Board and were able to secure admissions with either Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital or Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for the residency programme.
He said the training programme was to enable the medical officers graduate as consultants in their various fields of specialization under the state government sponsorship of the bonding policy that also stipulates the payment of monthly salary and annual project/book allowance of N372, 000.00 for the duration of the programme.
The council, the commissioner said, has also approved the creation of an additional department at the state Contributory Healthcare Management Board to handle the processing of claims for fee from facilities without using health maintenance organization.
He said the measure saves the agency substantial amount of resources and to equally comply with Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and the National Health Act which prohibits the engagement of third-party administrator to handle the claim processing.
NCC to Balance Competition with Disruptive Technologies for Sustainable Telecoms Growth
Kungiyar Vigilante ta zargi rundunar ‘yan sandan Kano da bata mata suna
Shan shayi na kare mutum daga cutar hanta-Masana
Kani ya kashe wansa a Kano
Yamadawa community foils armed robbery attack, kill suspect
Gwamnatin Kano ta bada umarnin rufe gidajen Abinci da na Biredi
Kasuwancin Cryptocurrency Haramun ne- Bn Usman
Yin sahur da ‘codeine’ na rage mana wahalar azumi- matasa a Kano
‘Yan sanda a Kano sun kama makocin da ya jagoranci yiwa makocinsa fashi
