The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported that more than 1,100 telecom infrastructure are damaged across the country weekly.

This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, during the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and Sustainability Conference held in Lagos.

“Telecom infrastructure sabotage is not just a crime against property; it is a crime against progress. These actions paralyze businesses, hamper government services, and jeopardize lives,” he said

A report shows that in 2022 alone, over N13 billion was spent by Mobile Network Operators, InfraCos, and other Service Providers in fixing damages to fibre cuts and other telecommunication infrastructure. In 2023, this amount rose to N14.6 billion.

In the same report, operators in the telecommunications sector faced revenue losses amounting to N12 billion in both 2022 and 2023 due to customer compensation, site relocations and fibre resilience costs.

Now N35billion is now lost not just in repairs but in economic opportunity in recent weeks, according to telecom operators.

Nigeria is reported to have over 79,000 kilometres of fiber optic cables laid across the country.

The Federal Government has launched a digital identity App to boost transparency and curb corruption.

Speaking at the State House in Abuja during the launch of the NINAuth mobile app, President Tinubu said that his administration is leveraging technology to drive transparency, efficiency and accountability in governance.

President Tinubu emphasised that a credible and inclusive national identity system is vital to Nigeria’s development and fight against corruption.

He directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to immediately adopt the new platform for staff and data verification saying it will simplify access to public services, cut red tape, and block loopholes where inefficiency and corruption thrive.

The new platform developed by the National Identity Management Commission will allow citizens to verify their identity and control how their personal data is shared across banks, schools, and government agencies.

The Director – General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said that more than 126 million Nigerians are already enrolled on the national database.

He called the app a breakthrough for data privacy and secure digital identification.

Picture: Comptroller – General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (middle ) Director – General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello,, and the Board Member, MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Hajia Lami Tumaka.

The Comptroller – General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has promised a robust partnership and collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in tackling the incidence of human trafficking, especially the emerging stowaway and other illegal movement of victims and other unaccompanied minors at the exit and entry points of the nation.

He stated this while playing host to the Director – General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello,, and the Board Member, MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Hajia Lami Tumaka, as they paid the Custom Boss a courtesy visit at the Service Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit was part of the tripartite engagement and outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NAPTIP and MMS WoFHoF, which was anchored on collective efforts and synergy in the fight against human trafficking in the Country.

Speaking during the visit, the Director General said,” Human Trafficking is an organized transnational crime that thrives on weak inter-Agency coordination.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with its statutory responsibility for border management and trade facilitation, remains one of the strategic partners in curbing cross-border trafficking of persons, smuggling of migrants, and other related crimes”.

She sought the support of the Service in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint capacity building, and sensitization for Officers of both Agencies, Joint Operations, and Inter-Agency task Forces, as well as public awareness and community engagement at border communities.

Also speaking, the Board Member, MMS WoFHoF, Hajia Lami Tumaka, informed the CGC of the planned joint national Conference and Dialogue on stowaways and Human trafficking, designed to enhance understanding of stakeholders and scale up preventive mechanisms of Trafficking in Persons.

In his response, the Controller- General of Customs described partnership as key in the fight against any societal menace, assured of the full support and support of the Customs in all interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of human trafficking in the Country.