The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • APC and the question of power rotation

    Sir: With election of President Muhammadu Buhari for his second term, it seems the door to 2023 elections campaign has been opened. Although, there were initial speculations that the president may seek for third term, the president has since debunked the rumours while assuring Nigerians he would only serve for two times as stipulated in the 1999 constitution. The clarification was made during the recent NEC meeting of APC in Abuja.

    However, what has continued to baffle many Nigerians is the question of whether or not the ruling party has reached an agreement on the controversial zoning arrangement. In the buildup to the 2015 election, the then ruling PDP was enmeshed with power rotation crises following the breach, by President Goodluck Jonathan of the power zoning arrangement instituted by his party. The inability of the party to resolve the crises contributed greatly towards its woeful performance and ultimate defeat. Now, it is history.

    The 2023 election is still far away. However, those who have been watching or monitoring the political development in the country may rightly or wrongly say that the alignment and re-alignment of political forces have begun in earnest. It appears the ruling party is in the state of dilemma on the issues of power rotation. The person who fired the first salvo was the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. He made his position known in prologue entitled “Defeating a determined incumbent – The Nigerian experience” which he contributed to the book – Power of Possibilities and Politics of Change in Nigeria written by Salihu Lukman, director general of Progressive Governors Forum. He described zoning of political offices as barrier to political equality. He called for the expulsion of zoning and application of merit in our politics. More recently, the acting chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Musa Liman Kwande stated that northerners will only vote for a northern candidate.

    Read Also: 2023: Early moves to checkmate Atiku

     

    In no distant time, other similar socio-cultural organizations will emerge and expectedly state their positions. The sublime threats and counter threats will unarguably heat up the polity and further divide the country along the traditional fault lines even before the election period.

    The framers of our constitution have done a wonderful job when they enacted laws that mandated each state to produce a ministerial slot. The 1999 constitution also came up with the principle of federal character in order to give every ethnic group a sense of belonging. The constitutional provisions are aimed at addressing the problem of marginalization and under-representation across political zones.

    Each of the six geo-political zones is blessed with people of timber and caliber, people who have excelled in various field of human development and could hold any position if given the opportunities. No region has the monopoly of competent hands.

    It is obvious power rotation has helped tremendously in promoting unity in diversity. It has addressed the problems of power domination by certain zone in the country. By adopting the principle of power sharing before it was discarded due to selfishness and greed for power, the PDP deserves commendation. The ruling APC should learn a lesson from PDP’s self-inflicted zoning problems that consumed it in 2015. The leadership of the party should speak up about its zoning position in order to calm fraying nerves and clear the doubt in the minds of their stakeholders, candidates and party supporters.

     

    • Ibrahim Mustapha,

    Pambegua,Kaduna State.

  •  Unpaid delivery bill

     

    The detention of one Mrs. Angela Morgan and her baby in a private hospital in the Akute area of Ogun State over an unpaid bill of N160,000 again brings to the fore the healthcare problems in the country. Her case is a metaphor for all that is wrong in a country with a dysfunctional health insurance. This brings back sad memories of the long drawn battle between the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Secretary and the Minister of Health that just eloquently speaks to the value public officers place on the health of citizens.

    Beyond delivering her baby through Caesarean section, the woman seems to have some underlying illnesses because her husband reportedly said she needed two pints of blood to be transfused into her but he could only afford to pay for a pint. The woman is too sick to either walk, work or breastfeed her baby. The hospital has equally stopped attending to both mother and child.

    This has dire consequences for the family of Mrs. Morgan and the nation. The husband cannot be fully productive given the psychological impact of what his family is going through. The baby is missing the most valued nutrition at birth – breast milk. Given the poor health of the mother, the parental bonding would be missing and this is not too good for the baby’s development. The lack of attention for the mother and the child equally implies that the baby must have missed all the necessary neonatal immunisations. No child should be subjected to what this baby is facing. Neither should this mother die in a country with the resources and human capital available in Nigeria.

    Both the mother and child are supposed to enjoy certain rights as enshrined in some United Nations Charter as regards human and child rights. In a country with one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates, this story must be a wake-up call for the health authorities and the governments at both federal and state levels to restructure the health insurance scheme and equally upgrade the government hospitals in states so that the poor can access affordable healthcare. Health is wealth and while Nigeria is not known to care about statistics and functional data, cases like this under review should be the red flag that authorities need to act.

    Read Also: Stakeholders call for increased funding for immunisation

     

    Global institutions like the UN and WHO have repeatedly warned Nigeria about paying little attention to the education and health sectors. Even when there are global benchmarks for budgetary allocations, Nigeria repeatedly neglects them. Consequently, these two very vital sectors have been in steady decline and the evidence is seen all over with the very poor economy that the country has. If health is wealth and education is the bedrock of development, it logically follows that each nation’s growth is symptomatic of their investment in the education and health sectors.

    The NHIS must be made very functional so as to save lives. The dubious Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) that racketeer with funds in their care must be reined in and held accountable. Human capital is the soul of any nation and as such, governments must make sure that lives are preserved and the quality of living high enough to make citizens productively happy. Being the most populous black nation must equally be made valuable through making sure that healthcare is affordable.

    It does seem that the fact that political leaders can seek medical care outside the country is partly responsible for the lethargic attention to the health sector in Nigeria. Yet, without the likes of Mrs. Morgan, there would be no government. The fate that has befallen the woman and her baby should not happen in a twenty-first century Nigeria. There must be better healthcare plan to help every citizen.

     

  • Amnesty for cultists

    The ‘Centre of Excellence, Lagos, has been blessed with pro-active governments since 1999 when the country returned to civil rule, and the result has been an ordered developmental plan in all spheres, including security matters. While there may have been a slight disruption recently, over the years, successive governments in the state have invested huge resources in security, to ensure safety of lives and properties. Despite these efforts, cult-related criminality continues to pose a challenge.

    Last week, the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, raised concerns about cult criminality, and said his government would offer amnesty to cultists willing to turn a new leaf. According to the governor, “the security council believes we can open up the period of amnesty for them. We want them to come forward to turn a new leaf. I do not want to use the word rehabilitate.” Hopefully, members of the cult groups terrorising parts of the state would grab this opportunity.

    We support the plan of the state government to employ the carrot and stick method to deal with the challenge. But it must be made clear that those who fail to take advantage of the offer will be dealt with in accordance with the law. No doubt, the centralised policing architecture is making it difficult for a proactive state like Lagos to deal with some of the security challenges. While huge resources have been expended, the state, like many other states, has no full control over the police.

    So, granting amnesty has become a common option amongst state governments, since forceful actions have been unable to eradicate their respective security challenges. Starting from the Niger Delta, granting amnesty to criminals has become one of the options to deal with security challenges in the country. Recently, some states in the north-west offered amnesty to stem criminality in the region. We therefore urge Lagosians to support the government’s plan to stamp out that dent on the state’s security architecture.

    For those willing to turn a new leaf, amnesty; but for the incorrigible cultists, the full weight of the law. Of course, the huge improvement in security in the state has been made possible by the state government with support from corporations and residents who have contributed to the state’s security trust fund. With the fund, the state has been able to provide patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, extra allowances for security agencies, and other enablers to ensure substantial security for the buzzing mega city.

    Read Also: Amnesty for cultists, others underway in Lagos, says Sanwo-Olu

     

    Of note, Lagos has become the destination for Nigeria’s teeming youths from other states who are unable to gain opportunities in their states. With little or no education or skill, most of these migrants just saunter into the state, and in no time constitute security challenges. According to media reports, no fewer than 20 persons were killed between September and now, in cult-related clashes. Within the period, there were clashes in Ajah, Ikorodu and Oworonshoki, among other suburbs.

    It is also reported that the Aiye and Eiye cults are amongst the leading cult groups in those areas, who have made life very difficult for Lagosians. Hopefully, the ongoing military exercise, ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ would help flush out some of the miscreants disturbing the peace of the state. The state also will need to device opportunities for those turning a new leaf. Most of them can be sent to farms, to learn farming skills.

    For a more enduring solution however, we urge the Federal Government to grant Lagos its deserved special funding to enable it meet the needs of its ever increasing  population.

    ‘These challenges are why Lagos State needs special funding from the Federal Government. The state also will need to device opportunities for those turning a new leaf. Most of them can be sent to farms, to learn farming skills’

     

  • Kogi Elections: Strengthening early warning response mechanisms

    By Omolola Mamedu, Lokoja.

    Sir: The November 16 governorship election in Kogi has come and gone but undesirable reviews on the elections have continued to flood the media space. The election was marred with violence despite the early warning signs and recommendations to relevant actors in the election process. The police and the election management body failed to improve on the lapses from the February 2019 presidential election. The level of violence witnessed and reported during the governorship election was alarming and it raises concerns about the state of our elections, not just in Kogi but as we move ahead towards attaining sustainable electoral democracy in Nigeria.

    During the pre-election period, early warning reports were disseminated to all relevant stakeholders ahead of the elections, aimed at providing pointers to incidents that could mar the process.  An early warning system by itself does not automatically prevent conflict from happening, but however provides vital information for action to prevent violence or mitigate the consequences of electoral violence.

    Early warning is about obtaining first-hand information and using that information to inform planned interventions in the mitigation of such incidents; but how well has these early warnings signals reported impacted and helped in preventing the outburst of electoral violence in the just concluded governorship election in Kogi State?

    In spite of all the early warning signals and trends of violence reported, Kogi election still experienced increased record of electoral violence outweighing the 2019 presidential election precedents.

    For instance, the October conflict scan analysis meeting organized by Search for Common Ground; a Civil Society Organization which observed early warning signs before, during and after the elections, had in attendance representatives from the police force, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Civil Society Groups (CSOs), Media and other stakeholders. During the meeting, early warning incident tracked from all 21 LGAs in Kogi State were critically discussed and analyzed as with recommendations.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks fair, transparent polls for Bayelsa, Kogi elections

     

    Top on the discussion was the high rate of political party and candidate violence, which has triggered down to all forms of electoral violence between politicians and their supporters, proliferation of arms by political thugs, vandalism and destruction of properties and instrument of campaign, intimidation and threats to citizens, harassment and abduction of individuals who were loyal to opposing parties and in other instances incidents of death reported from some quarters in the state.

    Other areas of concern were the worrisome rate of vote buying and voter inducement, inter-communal clashes and inciting comments and hate speech during campaigns and rallies to spur violence. With all these incidents heralding the pre-election environment, what was experienced during the election was predictable. Concerns and worries were raised by journalists and other participants at the meeting, but again assurances were given by the police which promised to enforce patrol during the elections and create visible policing to apprehend miscreants and ensure peaceful election on Election Day.

    Early warning concerns on report on fake policing and political thugs sewing and wearing police uniforms to disguise like the Nigerian police was also raised during the stakeholders meeting in Lokoja with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu in attendance. This was supposed to put the police and security agents on alert and to help them strategize on how to dislodge fake policemen brought in to disrupt the polls on Election Day.

    It is rather unfortunate that things still went awry with thugs seemingly overpowering security agents or in some instances, seen to connive with thugs to execute their mission.

    The lesson here is on the need for system strengthening of the national early warning and early response mechanisms. The call is for a holistic approach in reviewing and analyzing data received on early warning signals and to strategize on how to develop an Early Response System (ERS) which addresses these early warning concerns. If deliberate attention is given to the information provided, it will go a long way to prevent, predict the outbreak of incidences and appropriately device measures to mitigate violence that poses as a great threat in attaining electoral stability and peaceful elections.

  • Obtaining national ID with tears?

    SIR: A few days ago, I attempted to obtain a reprinted copy of my national identity card, which I could not trace but what I experienced was disturbing. I had reported at one of the closest collection centres on obtaining relevant information on what it takes to get the national identity card reprinted but I could not complete the exercise because I needed to make an online payment and thereafter come along with the printout for further processing.

    After making the online payment and returning to the same collection centre, it was practically impossible for me to gain entry as a result of the mammoth crowd of people, mostly students, waiting to obtain copies of the national identity cards for registration for examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), now made compulsory.

    As laudable as the idea of making registration for the exams mandatory may look like, the burden placed on students to acquire the national identity cards before they can be registered for the examinations should be reconsidered. Apart from the youths, I saw elderly persons probably trying to obtain the cards for their children and wards. I saw another group of students loitering around, looking confused, tired, exhausted and frustrated. It was revealed that the candidates had been at the centres as early as 4 am to get enrolled but were left stranded due to poor network, faulty working tools, and power failure. Many of them complained of preferential treatment by officials of the commission, who allegedly attended to enrollees based on their relationships.

    Read Also: National Identity Card: Gawuna urges mass registrations

     

    I left the place annoyed, sad and disappointed at the time wasted in addition to citizens being subjected to unnecessary punishment all in the name of obtaining a national identity card.

    The current challenge being experienced is not limited to NIMC, as most state institutions in Nigeria provide poor services, lack the discipline to accord customers due respect and value for their hard-earned resources. This ugly trend has also crept into the business sectors such as banks, insurance, and manufacturing industries where people are treated shabbily. It is rather unfortunate that offices such as the Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM), and Consumer Protection Council (CPC) appear to have neglected the people and are not seen as doing enough to protect the people when it comes to quality service. For now, the burden placed on students should be removed.

     

    • Adewale Kupoluyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

  • Leading push for 5G revolution (2)

    In this concluding part of his series on the fifth-generation technology deployment, LUCAS AJANAKU sheds light on the challenges and benefits of this important milestone in the country.

    5G represents the future. While tremendous progress has been made since the advent of GSM in Nigeria, 5G will be the bedrock of future communications. According to GSMA’s Policy Position on 5G spectrum, ‘5G is expected to support significantly faster mobile broadband speeds and lower latencies than previous generations while also enabling the full potential of the IoT.’

    5G will revolutionise the way of life: from education to agriculture, security to entertainment, and governance in general. On education, 5G will transform our education system. The availability of a fast wireless network will enable virtual learning. For our educators, 5G will empower them to reimagine what is possible inside and outside their classrooms. The ability to download high quality, the feature-length documentary in seconds, hosting a guest speaker via hologram or tutoring students virtually in real-time will speak to a 5G-powered Nigeria.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionise health care. 5G will make it easier to determine potential diagnoses and decide on the best treatment plan for a specific patient. By moving to 5G networks, health care organisations can use the AI tools they need to provide the best care possible-from wherever they are in the hospital or clinic.

    According to Prof. Dambatta, the three key benefits of 5G networks are much higher data rates (1-20 Gbit/s), enabling consumers to download content more quickly; much lower latency (1ms), allowing users to experience less delay/lag when requesting data from the network – a latency of milliseconds, imperceptible to humans; and increased capacity as the network expands.

    5G will facilitate streaming, downloading and uploading of huge quantities of data at a much faster rate than we are currently able to. This means higher definition video either from TV or using video conferencing. Additionally, 5G is designed to facilitate a wealth of new applications for wireless technologies.

    Driverless cars and drones will be able to safely and near-instantaneously send and receive information about their surroundings that will allow them to operate safely.

    Immersive virtual and augmented realities will become increasingly feasible experiences as the large quantities of data associated with HD graphics and processing external data can be transferred between devices accurately and quickly

    Many key health care functions are beginning to use AI to determine potential diagnoses and decide on the best treatment plan for a specific patient.

    Additionally, AI can help predict which patients are more likely to have post-operative complications, allowing health care systems to provide early interventions when necessary.

    Mobile AR shopping experiences will revolutionise retail, with customers able to visualise products in a local environment. In-store, AR will enable shoppers to view additional information on a product simply by pointing their phones at it while businesses will work more quickly and more efficiently-in turn, saving costs and increasing revenue.

    In the area of rural connectivity, many countries are looking to 5G for better connection; allowing more people to start businesses from home and opening up opportunities.

    The shift from hardware to a software-based network environment will bring about lower overheads for mobile operators. Those savings will, in turn, be able to be passed on to business customers.

    With network slicing, it will be possible for businesses to own their private 5G network, precisely set up according to its specific business needs. 5G will certainly have much greater capacity across a much wider range of spectrums, but it will also use that space more intelligently, assigning only the resources necessary for each application.

    Read Also: Huawei eyes global leadership in 5G networks

     

    Challenges

    There’s global concern over the security of 5G but the EVC said the trials will involve the security agencies, who play major roles in the security architecture of the country.

    The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria, (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the regulator needed to evolve a roadmap for telcos to embrace to roll out services on the technology.

    “African countries are exchanging information and experiences on what they are seeing, the promise of the 5G roll out in the area of enhanced broadband mobile services in our individual countries as well as addressing the anxiety of the citizens by giving them information that will make them receptive to this branch of important technology that is emerging that’s virtually here,” he said during a panel discussion at ITU World in Budapest, Hungary.

    Continuing, he said: “We need to have an idea about the levels of radiation from the devices, the devices we intend to connect, especially when you bear in mind the levels of devices connectivity density that 5G will be driving. I am talking of a million devices in an area of a kilometre by kilometre and most of these are domestic appliances. I think concerns will arise as to whether the levels of radiation coming from these devices conform to the non-ionisation standard for devices. “The manufacturers of these technologies and services are saying that they are safe. But the regulator is saying I need to check so that I can assure the subscribers of new services that, yes it’s safe for them to use.”

    The future road ahead is yet challenging and these challenges require concerted efforts from the government, regulator, telecommunication companies and Nigerians in general.

     

    The cost implication of 5G

    5G requires a lot of investment in infrastructure because of its dependence on MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs) antennas that have very large numbers of antenna elements or connections to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to users is that more people can simultaneously connect to the network and maintain high throughput. Dozens of antennas and transmitters will need to be installed for each device, and the relatively low distance that 5G signal waves can travel will require regularly spaced transmitters and receivers. This is more evident if a device such as a driverless car or drone is expected to move while receiving and transmitting information.

    While some operators across the world are sceptical about 5G’s ability to generate profits, governments’ realisation of the importance of implementing 5G for the future economic prosperity and security are developing strategies that have resulted in public investment into 5G. The move was aimed at easing the cost of private businesses responsible for creating the required infrastructure.

    For consumers, the 5G marketplace will be very competitive, with all major telephone companies planning to offer 5G services and products. Although there are not yet figures on how much 5G packages and devices will cost, the competition will ensure that the costs of components and network access are not prohibitive.

     

    5G, 4G

    5G network is designed to carry data up to 10 times faster than 4G networks. This means high definition (HD) movies can be downloaded in seconds. Recent testing by Qualcomm revealed ‘real-world’ download speeds of 100Mbps for 90 per cent of users: even taking signal disruption from buildings, other users and other transmissions into account, ‘real-world’ 5G will give better rates than ‘ideal’ 4G.

    If smartphone users currently have a 5G-enabled cell phone, the service will work perfectly with that. However, if you do not have a 5G phone, you may need to get one to enjoy a 5G network service.

     

     Impact on smartphone design

    There have been concerns that 5G’s dependence on lots of antennas for extreme accuracy will have an impact on the aesthetic design of products. Massive MIMO gives 5G networks a better performance than 4G in terms of data transfer rate and link reliability. It also means that 5G devices will require 64 to 256 antennas and beyond. 4G devices, on the other hand, tend to need no more than eight. Finding space for these antennas while maintaining existing designs will require a rethink from the ground up.

     

    Role of fibre in 5G network

    Fibre will play a large role. Industry consensus is that 5G radio networks opt for fibre as the preferred technology for back haul and front haul wherever possible because of 5G’s bandwidth requirements. The density of radios for 5G will drive the requirement for network convergence between wired and wireless traffic, increasing the requirement for fibre network solutions that focus on providing the density, accessibility and flexibility to support multiple applications needed for the future.

    However, the number of fibres 5G cell sites remains an unresolved question at this time as standards and architectures develop, but the answer will likely be somewhere between two and 12 fibres per small cell site. Utilising passive wave division multiplexing (WDM) technology reduces the number of fibres required at each location by sending multiple signals along a single fibre at different wavelengths. These components allow capacity upgrades at a relatively low cost, without the costs and delays associated with adding capacity by way of new construction. WDM, packet-based front haul and bi-directional optics all can reduce the amount of fibre required at each cell site, while, at the same time, the new CU/DU split will increase the number of fibre interfaces needed.

     

  • Buhari and fifth columnists

    Sir: President Muhammadu Buhari must not allow some politicians constitute clogs in the wheel of his progress knowing that masses confidence on him is at stake. Election is over. This is the time to be strict and focused for service delivery to earn accolades after exit from politics in 2023. Those that preferred conceited interests and ambitions to public interest should be laid off. Second term in office by Nigeria’s constitution precedes retirement. But the retirement; fulfilled, glorious or otherwise will be determined by some dynamics.

    The major challenge facing the country is insecurity which has perceptibly given President Buhari sleepless nights. Economy may never boom as targeted until insecurity is dealt with. The twosome; security and economy go hand in hand. And any government that failed to prioritize them is cruising on abysmal failures.

    Unfortunately, scores of citizens that devotedly enrolled in a government institution; National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and graduated since 2013 have been subjected to redundancy and idleness; roaming the streets without vocations by designs of some privileged persons in government.

    Pondering on the unending ugly dramas regarding the admission of NOUN law graduates who had been encumbered from proceeding for their vocational training in the Nigerian Law School for no crimes committed can only make any patriotic persons weep deeply for the nation. The commonest question that must come to mind is; can the country freely move forward with such actors as public officeholders?

    The most horrible challenge any government can face is harboring fifth columnists who pursue selfish agendas distinct from the government they constitute. This is indeed unfortunate. Lack of continuity, unity of purpose and open-mindedness in government is the major task in governance. Any system where personal interests are placed above public interests will collapse.

    Read Also: Buhari for ground-breaking of Transportation varsity in Daura

    The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu’s efforts on the protracted NOUN/Law School crisis have often met a brick wall. Adversaries within, they say, are the worst enemies. And President Buhari must be mindful of such characters as they can sabotage other government’s policies mutely. Like corruption, if you don’t deal with fifth columns within, it will deal with the government.

    No doubt, NOUN/Law School crisis was inherited from two previous administrations, but President Buhari must give these oppressed students the anticipated relief. According to Simone de Beauvoir, “All oppression creates a state of war”. And the time to avert it is now.

    It is bizarre for a unique innovation federal government adopted from developing nations and established with public funds to be subjected to hostility and pull-down syndrome instead of strengthening it to stand. How could human beings willfully, joyfully cripple their fellow citizens?

    Anyway, a fulfilled and glorious retirement after serving the nation is only tenable by remarkable accomplishments, and therefore any detractors within the system should be discharged in the best interest. Thus, let the needful be done.

    • Carl Umegboro, <umegborocarl@gmail.com>

  • Etomi bags ‘highest recognition’ of the British Nigeria Law Forum

    By John Austin Unachukwu

    Pioneer  Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law ( SBL) George Etomi has won the 2019 highest recognition of the British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Etomi received the award for his “distinguished service to the legal profession.”

    The award was presented by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Justice George Oguntade (JSC) rtd.

    Nominated finalists for recognition in other categories are: Adenike Balogun, Adetokunbo Hussain, Hilda Ephraim Adejumo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Lorna Adekaiyaoja, Nwabueze Nwokolo, Tochukwu J. Anaenugwu and Zina Arinze.

    The BNLF had announced in August 2019 that the highest recognition this year is an award for distinguished service to the legal profession which would be presented to Etomi, Founding Partner, GEP Law, Nigeria.

    The British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) is an independent, bi-lateral group which has been internationally established for more than a decade.

    All of the executive members of the BNLF are leading legal professionals in their field from the UK and Nigeria of which members are exceptionally proud.

    Mr Etomi is a distinguished transaction lawyer regularly consulted by multinational companies and top government agencies. He was closely involved in acting for the first mobile telephone service in the country and advises major foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

    He has extensive experience in commercial transactions, spanning arbitration and other ADR methods, aviation, building and construction, banking and finance, energy and natural resources.

    Read Also: Reconciling national security and rule of law

     

    He has represented clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters including public and private offerings, privatisation and major project finance transactions.

    Etomi, who holds a Master’s degree in Law from the London School of Economics also has a special interest in the energy and natural resources field and is a member of the Centre for Petroleum Law Research [CPLR].

    He is a director on the board of one of the top performing utilities in Nigeria where he serves as the chairman, legal, Corporate Governance and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

    Etomi is the first past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law and recently, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies named a centre after him: ‘The George Etomi Centre for Strategic Investment and Corporate Governance.’ He has also been given a professorial chair at the institute.

    In 2016, Etomi was appointed a member of the Body of Benchers, the highest regulatory body of the legal profession in Nigeria. He is a regular facilitator at global business conferences.

    George is as humble in his personal as he is rigorous in his professional life.

  • ‘Overreliance on internet is creating challenges’

    By John Austin Unachukwu

    Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Akinkunmi Akinwunmi, has blamed the challenges of cybercrime, invasion of privacy, election meddling, hate speech, fake news and dissemination of obscene content globally on over reliance on the internet.

    He said these “deleterious conducts have resulted in data loss, reputational damage, loss of revenue, infringement of intellectual property, attack on sovereignty and critical national infrastructure,” he said.

    Akinwunmi spoke at the public presentation of his new book on internet law.

    The book ‘The Nigerian Internet Law’ was  launched and presented to the public at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos under the chairmanship of Mr. Gbenga Oyebode.

    Special Guest of honour was President of the National Council of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),  Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, who was represented at the event by the NSE’s Head of Intellectual Property and Technology, Mrs. Nkem Isizor. The book presentation  also featured a seminar on the digital economy which was delivered by the Executive Head, Legal, Regulatory and  Compliance of Vodacom, Mr. Kolawole Fayemi.

    Akinwunmi said: “The book is a groundbreaking work, which explores what is mostly uncharted territory in the Nigerian legal system.

    “It provides legal perspectives on internet activities based on laws, regulations, judicial decisions, and global development. The book has over 600 pages with detailed analysis on the concept of the internet and various internet-related issues”.

    Read Also: Stakeholders seek social media use against cybercrimes

     

    The author explained that the internet also known as cyberspace, is a global system of interconnected networks of computers and other communication devices that use standardised communication protocols to link devices worldwide to provide a variety of information and communication services.

    He analysed how the internet has changed the world as we know it, how it has permeated virtually all aspect of human actions. How it has made it easier to communicate, network, share contents and transact businesses.

    He  also explained how the development of various innovative online products has made humans dependent on the internet and how it has led to a surge in global Internet usage.

    According to him, out of the 7,753,483,209 people in the world, up to 4.33 billion use the internet (as of July 2019) accounting for more than 56 percent of the world population.

    “Also, as of August 2019, Nigeria had 122,975,740 internet users. Accordingly, internet penetration in Nigeria between 2000 and 2019 is estimated at 61.064%”, he said.

    Akinwunmi noted that on the downside, the continuous reliance of humans on the internet had created the challenges of cybercrime, invasion of privacy, election meddling, hate speech, fake news and dissemination of obscene content globally.

    He said the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act was enacted in 2015 to combat the problem in Nigeria.

     

     

  • Group to honour governor, wife, SAN

    The Mbayion community maiden honourary award is rescheduled to  be conferred on Governor  Samuel Ortom of Benue State, his wife, Dr Eunice and six other illustrious sons and daughters of Mbayion descent including Chief Sebastine Tar. Hon (SAN) on Sunday, December 8, 2019.

    Read Also: Group honours K1 in Georgia

    The time is 11:00am and venue,

    LGEA Primary School Ihungwanor, Mbayion Gboko Local Government Area, Benue  State.