News
Senate Moves For Mobile Phones Registration
In a bid to put certain abuses of mobile phone services, the Nigerian Senate may soon come up with a law making it mandatory for the registration of mobile phone subscribers by every mobile phone service providers in the country.
A bill providing for that, sponsored by Senator George Thompson Sekibo ( Rivers East), midweek, passed its second reading.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Sekibo said the Bill, if passed into law, will sanitise the system, put criminals who use mobile lines to conduct their illegal businesses at bay and make users more responsible.
Though the lawmaker commended the advent of mobile phones saying the services have improved communications in the country she said mobile phones have been used to perpetrate criminal activities and atrocities that have posed great dangers to the society and had been difficult for security agencies to track down because the phones are not registered.
In his words, “the bill seeks to ensure responsible usage of any mobile number and services by the respective owners, and to prevent the occurrence of certain abuses of such services.
”The wide and free ownership of mobile phone numbers without stringent checks has brought with it a lot of disadvantages. Consequently, GSM phones are now being used to commit all manner of crimes and atrocities.
“The nefarious usage of mobile phones appear easy because mobile phone numbers are not registered by GSM service providers.
The bill, therefore, seeks to ensure the proper registration of all owners of mobile phone numbers in the country by their service providers, in order to check illicit use of mobile phones and facilitate the bringing to justice any GSM subscribers that abuses the mobile phone number registered in his or her name.”
According to Senator Sekibo, the perpetrators of mobile phones crimes, sometimes hide their numbers to harass and intimidate victims saying, “At other times, the subscribers’ numbers are not hidden as they appear confident of going free after committing the crimes.
The proposed law will also check the usage of the phone services by foreigners resident in the country or visiting as their phones registration would be linked to their International Passport for identification .
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi noted that its only in Nigeria that One can just pick a SIM cardfrom the street without registering his personal data.
The bill was read a second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Communications for further investigation and recommendations.
The two arms of the National Assembly, Wednesday, marked the end of this legislative year (2009/2010) and proceeded on a two-week, break.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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