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Expanding People’s Access To Government Services

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13 years ago

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By most accounts, all
the facets of human endeavour in the contemporary world are driven by Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Observers note that Nigeria is striving to catch up with the trend in order not to be left out in the ICT-based civilisation of the 21st Century.
In demonstration of the country’s determination to adopt global best practices in ICT applications, the Ministry of Communication Technology recently inaugurated a single window website: the Government Service Portal.
It is a website where anyone can have access to all kinds of information about Nigeria, ranging from government to citizens, business and foreign national services.
The inauguration in April was in line with Nigeria’s efforts to join the global initiative of “getting government online’’ to improve public service delivery to the citizens.
Few months after its inauguration, observers have described the website as a veritable channel for the citizens to access timely information about government services.
They noted that the government could, via the website, also get feedback on the citizens’ reactions to various topical issues.
The contents of the portal, which is being managed by the Ministry of Communication Technology, are currently available in three languages — English, French and Spanish
At the website’s inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said that it was just one of the ministry’s projects aimed at stepping up ICT use in the country. According to her, the portal— www.services.gov.ng – will also enable the people to have access to information on the services provided by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
She listed some of the newly-automated processes and services that were already available on the portal as patent and trademark registration, evaluation and accreditation of academic certificates and farmers’ registration.
Others include registration and accreditation of seed companies, seeds’ import and export permits, application for spectrum licence, licensing procedures for class type licence and licensing procedures for individual type licence.
Johnson noted that the project was the outcome of a survey which the United Nations (UN) carried out across 48 countries on “Innovative e-Government Practices’’ among nations.
Their finding is that citizen service delivery is topmost on the government innovative technology adoption all over the world.
Thus, governments’ use of the Internet to deliver government services has revolutionised the speed and effectiveness of government service delivery and public administration across the world.
Therefore, governments increasingly recognise that e-government offers not just a new technology but also a mechanism to transform the way government operates; and we can no longer be left behind,’’ she said.
However, Johnson noted that a number of government services, which were rendered by various MDAs, could now be accessed online via the new website.
“What we have done is that we developed a single point of entry for Nigerians and other stakeholders to access government services online.
With this website, you can tell from a single point, what is exactly available as to the government services online,’’ she added.
The minister stressed that in addition to creating a single window of entry into government services; the ministry would liaise and work with other ministries to introduce subsidiary online services.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Henry Akpan, said that the portal would promote investments that would enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“The services portal will not only give access to government information, services or processes, but it will also give businesses as well as other stakeholders the means to reach the government. “By doing so, citizens and businesses will benefit in terms of saving costs, time and efforts, while the government will also gain through service-citizen engagement, feedback and trust,’’ he said.
The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc., Mr Gerald Ilukwe, said that even though Galaxy was the main ICT service provider for Federal Government establishments; the company was only a key partner in the website project.
He said that his company only functioned as the technology enabler, providing a robust and secure platform through which services could be provided or accessed.
He pledged that the company would continue to work hard to improve the citizens’ confidence in the government service portal by ensuring its smooth operations.
“We will also continue to make significant efforts in terms of building all sorts of software and hardware protection for the website. Galaxy Backbone, with the support of the ministry, the Federal Government and the National Assembly, has been able to make some investments in ICT infrastructure development,’’ he said.
Nevertheless, Ilukwe underscored the need for separation of roles between the policy/programme coordinator, the technology provider/enabler and the online service owner/provider for the success of the new venture.
“Similar programmes have failed in the past due to confusion and overlapping roles,’’ he added.
All the same, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, said that the portal would stimulate the transformation of Nigeria into a country with a conducive business environment.
Dikko, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashar Yusuf, noted that the cost of doing business in Nigeria was hitherto cumbersome, adding that the development accounted for the recent poor economic rating of the country.
However,  the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on ICT, Rep. Shehu Gusau, urged the ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sensitise all the Nigerian embassies abroad to the use of the portal to attract investments into the country.
The lawmaker also advised the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to provide Nigerians with hitch-free Internet access to enable them to use the portal, especially in the rural areas.
Observers maintain that all things being equal, the Government Service Portal will spur national development, as vital information about government services will be readily available to all and sundry.
Emmanuel Olaniruha writes from NAN

 

Emmanuel Olaniruha

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Konga Launches Tech Sales Drive In Nigeria

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3 weeks ago

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May 6, 2026

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As demand for connected tools continues to rise among consumers and businesses, Konga has launched a month-long technology sales campaign aimed at boosting access to digital devices and services in Nigeria.
The e-commerce platform said its “Konga Tech Month” campaign, which runs from 1 to 31 May 2026, will offer discounts of up to 50 per cent on a range of products, including smartphones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators and accessories.
The company, in a statement said the campaign was designed to address increasing demand for genuine and reliable technology products in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy, where more individuals and businesses are relying on digital tools for communication, education and productivity.
Konga said it partnered with global technology brands including Samsung, LG, ASUS, HP and Starlink for the campaign.
A key feature of the initiative is the participation of Starlink, which Konga said has designated the retailer as an authorised support centre in Nigeria. The arrangement allows customers to access in-person assistance at selected Konga retail outlets for product purchases, installation guidance and troubleshooting support.
The company said customers would also have access to special discounts on Starlink kits during parts of the campaign.
Konga added that shoppers purchasing products from the official Samsung and LG stores on its platform will benefit from free delivery, while its same-day delivery service, KongaNow, will enable faster fulfilment of urgent orders.
The company encouraged customers to use its mobile application to access app-exclusive offers, flash sales notifications and selected free shipping deals.
Konga said the campaign aligns with broader efforts to improve digital adoption in Nigeria by making technology products more affordable and accessible, adding that direct partnerships with original equipment manufacturers would help ensure customers receive authentic products while improving consumer confidence in online technology purchases.
The company described the campaign as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in Nigeria’s e-commerce and technology retail market through pricing incentives, logistics improvements and partnerships with global brands.
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Telcos Explain Service Disruptions ……As Nigerians Consume 4m Terabytes Data

Published

3 weeks ago

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May 6, 2026

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Telecom operators have explained the constant disruption to telephone services in the country, blaming it on persistent fibre disruption and vandalism.
This is coming as Nigerians further prioritise data usage in the first quarter of 2026, with statistics showing that the citizens increased their consumption to four million terabytes within the period.
Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, while speaking at the on a television programme, at the weekend, painted a grim picture of an industry under siege.
Adebayo revealed that the persistent issues of dropped calls and slow Internet are not due to neglect by operators but are the direct result of an “industrial nightmare” of sabotage, vandalism, and criminality.
He described telecom operators as the ‘infrastructure of infrastructures” that supports every other sector, from banking to security regretting however, that this critical backbone is cracking under the weight of constant attacks.
In a startling revelation, Adebayo exposed the disparity between the safety of international infrastructure and the vulnerability of domestic networks.
He noted that the undersea fibre optic cables in the Atlantic have suffered barely one outage in two years.
In stark contrast, the terrestrial fibre optic cable running from Lagos to Kano is cut an average of 40 times every single day.
“If you have fibre cut as many as 40 times a day across the national network, there is no way that that will not impact the quality of service,” Adebayo stated flatly.
He explained that these cuts, often caused by reckless excavation or road construction, bleed the industry dry financially and force congestion onto remaining network routes.
Recall that the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, said operators suffered 1,883 fibre cuts in the first three months of the year.
Beyond fibre cuts, the ALTON chairman highlighted the rampant theft of diesel, batteries, and generators at cell sites. He cited a bizarre situation in a Lekki community — one of Nigeria’s wealthiest corridors — where residents lacked public electricity for four months but demanded flawless service.
Operators, he revealed, are often forced to pay local community groups just to transport diesel to sites under the cover of darkness.
Perhaps the most alarming revelation was the security situation facing technical staff.
Adebayo disclosed that there are vast territories in Nigeria where engineers cannot respond to faults after 6:00 p.m. due to the threat of attacks by armed vandals and non-state actors.
Despite the doom, Adebayo noted a silver lining. He said the recent 50 per cent tariff adjustment approved by the government has restored investor confidence. He confirmed that capital is finally flowing back into the sector after years of stagnation.
Adebayo who warned that money alone would not fix the problem, issued a passionate call to the government, demanding that vandalism of telecom infrastructure be treated with the same severity as crude oil theft.
In a related development, March subscription statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in 90 days in the first quarter of 2026.
Specifically, from January to March, Nigeria recorded 4.06 million terabytes of data, the highest level since the NCC began tracking the data. The development further confirmed data as the new ‘oil’ as more Nigerians do stuff online.
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Platform Petroleum Unveils ICT Hub For Niger Delta Youths

Published

3 weeks ago

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May 6, 2026

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In a move to  boost the digital education and technological empowerment in Rivers State, the Platform Petroleum Limited has inaugurated the O.B. Lulu-Briggs ICT Centre for Digital Innovations in Obonoma, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area .
The state-of-the-art facility, commissioned recently,  represents a significant intervention aimed at bridging the digital divide and expanding access to information and communication technology across riverine communities in the Niger Delta.
Commissioning the centre, former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely investment in human capital development and a catalyst for educational advancement in underserved areas.
The ICT centre equipped with over 280 interconnected computer systems, positioned it as a major hub for computer-based testing (CBT), digital training, and innovation-driven learning.
It is expected to serve residents of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, and Degema local government areas, thereby reducing the need for students and job seekers to travel  to urban centres for examinations and digital services.
Chairman of Platform Petroleum Limited, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, said the project was conceived in response to the increasing demand for digital literacy in a rapidly evolving global economy.
He emphasised that the centre goes beyond infrastructure, serving as a gateway to global opportunities for young people in the region, particularly in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and technological innovation.
According to Lulu-Briggs, equipping youths with relevant digital skills remains critical to enhancing their competitiveness and enabling them to participate meaningfully in the global knowledge economy.
The facility, named after his father, Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives targeted at promoting education, enterprise, and socio-economic development in host communities.
Beyond its CBT capabilities, the centre also features dedicated spaces for training, collaboration, and enterprise development, alongside residential and support facilities designed to enhance learning outcomes.
In his remarks, Lulu-Briggs urged host communities to take ownership of the facility by ensuring its protection and proper use, stressing that its long-term value depends on collective responsibility and commitment.
The O.B. Lulu-Briggs ICT Centre is widely regarded as a strategic investment that will not only improve access to digital education but also strengthen Rivers State’s emergence as a growing hub for technology and innovation in Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the inauguration described the project as a transformative intervention capable of narrowing the digital gap, stimulating innovation, and creating sustainable opportunities for thousands of young people across the region.
Dignitaries at the event included Vice Chairman Ojunekwu Augustine Avuru and Managing Director/CEO John Anim, as well as traditional rulers, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and youth representatives.
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