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ATCON Boss Cautions Telecom Subscribers

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14 years ago

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Telecom subscribers across networks that are pushing for the implementation of mobile number portability have been urged to tread softly.

The President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Titi Omo-Ettu who spoke in Badagry, Lagos last week, while delivering lecture at a three-day training programme, organised by ATCON and the Information Technology Industry Association of Nigeria (ITAN), for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Journalists, cautioned those seeking for the implementation of mobile number portability for the purpose of achieving quality of service, to have a re-think, since the motive would be defeated.

Omo-Ettu said, Mobile number portability is a system that allows telecom subscribers to port their GSM numbers by moving the numbers from one network to another service provider, without changing their original numbers.

According to him, subscriber with a particular network who is not satisfied with the kind of services being offered by the network operator, can decide to move his or her GSM number to another network where services may be better, also retaining the original number with the new network operator.

He recalled that the idea of moving GSM numbers from one network to another in order to get quality service, is already defeated in Nigeria, since every subscriber is registered with all networks and carrying more than three GSM numbers from more than three network operators.

Furthermore, he explained that the reason for having multiple phone lines is to enable subscribers place calls through the network that they think serves them better at a particular point in time.

He noted that Nigerians are not patient, hence they change their GSM numbers at will. “If they had been patient and remained with one network, it will be easier to push for number portability to enable them move their GSM numbers to all networks at will, while retaining their original numbers”, he said.

Moreso, said that the only good reason for insisting on number portability could probably be to maintain individual and organisational stability, saying that individuals and organisation who want to be identified with a particular number, have good reasons to push for number portability.

Furthermore, Nigerians, before now, have been clamouring for the implementation of number portability across networks, citing African countries like Kenya and Ghana that are currently implementing number portability in their countries.

He added that Nigeria started agitating for number portability long before Ghana started, Ghana commenced number portability this year.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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1 day ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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