The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Netflix cuts subscription fees

    Netflix cuts subscription fees

    America’s streaming giant, Netflix, has reduced its subscription prices in more than 30 countries over the past week, Wall Street Journal has reported.

    The subscription cut is to be applicable to certain tiers of Netflix in those countries and in some cases, the cost of a subscription is slashed to halves.

    Some of the countries benefiting from this gesture include Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Libya, Iran, Kenya, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

    “We know members have never had more choices when it comes to entertainment and the company is committed to delivering an experience that exceeds their expectations,” a Netflix spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal.

    The spokesperson added that the company was updating the pricing of plans in some countries.

    Although the subscription cuts were said to be a strategy to boost the company’s competitiveness, according to The Wall Street Journal, it is also a way of bringing in more subscribers.

    Last year, Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers in Q1 2022, and an additional 970,000 in the second quarter (Q2) of the same year.

    The company also said it would introduce an ad-supported and cheaper subscription plan in partnership with Microsoft – a multinational tech corporation.

    The aim was to boost subscription numbers.

  • Ericsson eyes net zero tech strategies

    Ericsson eyes net zero tech strategies

    Telecoms vendor, Ericsson has set Net Zero target as key pillar of its overall company and technology strategies.

    Head of Technology and Strategy, Ericsson Networks, Freddie Södergren, who spoke after the company emerged the overall sustainability leader in a study conducted by ABI Research that evaluated the capabilities of telecom vendors to reduce energy use and waste across the industry.

    He said: “We started our sustainability journey at Ericsson many years ago with a strong focus on supporting our customers. We have been closely working with them in recent years to achieve their energy and sustainability targets. Energy performance and achieving Net Zero targets are key pillars of Ericsson’s overall company and technology strategies.”

    ABI ranked more than 80 telco vendors and suppliers based on the two key areas of implementation and impact. The assessment provided a matrixed view of the ecosystem of companies that can best support service providers in their drive toward improved sustainability.

    Ericsson led the assessment overall for implementation – ranking highest for sustainable networks and business, and number one in the main radio access network (RAN) categories, including Massive MIMO, 5G RAN, AI-driven software, and antenna solutions, according to ABI’s “Sustainability Assessment: Telco Technology Suppliers” research report.

    In terms of impact, Ericsson also topped the list among vendors for its Net Zero emission targets. The company is determined to halve its value-chain emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2040. Ericsson has also committed to become Net Zero in its own activities by 2030.

    Principal Analyst at ABI Research, Kim Arrington Johnson, said: “In the sustainability assessment, Ericsson received strong scores for innovation and sustainable impact, due to the close co-design of Ericsson Silicon with hardware and software playing a crucial role in creating high-performing, lightweight, and energy-efficient products. Ericsson designs and builds RAN hardware equipment with sustainability in mind.”

    Vendors and suppliers were scored in each equipment category against a set of impact and implementation criteria weighted in terms of their importance, ability to reduce carbon emissions and waste, and the levels at which the equipment has been implemented across the industry. (See below an example of the scoring method used).

    The final stage took each company’s aggregated overall score and grouped the companies into relevant market segments (traditional vendors, non-traditional vendors, software vendors, and chipset and component vendors). Ericsson ranked number one in this overall score.

    ABI Research says in its report that focus on network energy performance and product energy management is critical to Ericsson’s sustainability efforts. The analyst firm highlights as a “product impact example” the triple-band, tri-sector Radio 6646. This Ericsson radio cuts energy use by 40 percent compared to triple-band single-sector radios and is 60 percent lighter (less aluminum used in the product).

    ABI Research also assessed Ericsson’s other sustainability efforts such as its Global Product Take-Back Program, as well as Ericsson’s initiative with its strategic suppliers to set their own 1.5°C aligned climate targets.

    The Ericsson USA 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas, is one example of sustainable manufacturing practices by the company highlighted in the report. The factory has been recognized as a global front-runner in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and awarded by the World Economic Forum with the prestigious “Global Lighthouse” designation.

    Being named the leader in ABI Research’s sustainability assessment is a recognition of the efforts and achieved results of Ericsson’s Net Zero ambition. The company continues to step up the challenge and has recently launched more than 10 new hardware and software products that will cut carbon emissions and site footprint, increase energy performance, and boost network capacity. The new solutions will be showcased at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 Barcelona.

  • Nigeria’s two-month non-oil export earnings hit $75m

    Nigeria’s two-month non-oil export earnings hit $75m

    Earnings from non-oil exports in October and November rose to $75million, figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have revealed.

    The CBN stated in its November economic report that non-oil export earnings rose by 16.9 per cent to $0.40billion, from $0.35billion in October.

     “Non-oil export earnings rose by 16.9 per cent to $0.40billion, from $0.35billion in October, due, largely to sustained favourable commodity prices at the international market.

    “This was due to the 7 per cent and 16.1 per cent increase in other non-oil products and re-exports to $0.38billionn and $0.02billion from $0.36billion and $0.01billion respectively.”

    According to the report, analysis by direction of trade revealed that Brazil was the major destination of non-oil export products with a share of 13.7 per cent.

    Exports to the Netherlands were 12.6 per cent; 11.6 per cent to China; 6.7 per cent to Belgium; and 6 per cent to Japan. The major commodities exported were urea, which accounted for the largest share of 21.0 per cent, followed by cocoa beans with 20.2 per cent; and sesame seeds, 9.3 per cent.

    Receipts from the top five non-oil exporters declined by 13.7 per cent to $0.15billion, from $0.18billion in October.

    Further analysis revealed that Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Ltd and Dangote Fertilizer Ltd were the top two exporters with shares of 13.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent of the total, respectively, from the export of urea and fertilizer.

    The third was Outspan Nigeria Ltd with a share of 6.5 per cent from the export of cocoa beans. Starling Global and Ideal Ltd came in fourth, with 5.8 per cent from the export of cocoa and cashew nuts.

    British American Tobacco Nigeria Ltd came in fifth place, with 4.4 per cent from the export of cigarettes.

    On crude oil and gas exports, the report said, “Crude oil and gas export receipts declined to $3.90billion from $4.30billion in October. A breakdown reveals that crude oil export receipts fell by 9.0 per cent to $3.30billion, from $3.65billion in the preceding month.

    “The decrease was driven by the fall in the price of Nigeria’s reference crude, the Bonny Light, by 3.3 per cent to an average of $93.36pb, relative to $96.57pb in October.

    “Similarly, gas export receipts declined by 6.0 per cent to $0.60billion from $0.64billion in October. In terms of share in total export, crude oil and gas accounted for 90.2 per cent. Of the total crude oil and gas export, oil constitutes 84.6 per cent, while gas accounts for 15.4 per cent.”

  • FinDev Canada okays $55m for farmers

    FinDev Canada okays $55m for farmers

    FinDev Canada is providing a five-year amortised term loan of up to $55 million to ETG Group to support smallholder African farmers connected to international markets.

    ETG empowers farming communities through the distribution of quality fertiliser and agricultural inputs to optimise yields, through its network of strategically placed distribution centres and storage facilities, logistical solutions and creating local and international markets for their produce.

    With the support of its foundations, ETG developed numerous initiatives to uplift farming communities and is a key player in the Sustain Africa program, which supports quality input products, such as fertilizer, as a necessary step toward food security.

    “This loan is a real opportunity for FinDev Canada to contribute towards food security in a time when different global challenges have had a severe impact on food supplies. In addition, this provides an opportunity for future engagements and increases FinDev Canada’s impact across the African continent,” Chief Investment Officer of FinDev Canada, Paulo Martelli, said.

    ETG’s Chief Treasury Officer, Anish Jain, said: “One of ETG’s top priorities is to play an active role in establishing food security in Africa. We remain passionate and committed to uplifting farming communities through the provision of quality inputs, agronomy support, training and development on smart agriculture techniques and to implement value addition through processing locally.

    “We are extremely grateful to FinDev Canada for providing us with another facility to increase our efforts.  We have built a strong relationship with the institution and look forward to creating a positive impact with their support.”

    FinDev Canada is already a lender to ETG, who has since developed a gender action policy to be finalized early this year and is working to improve women’s economic empowerment, which is a key priority for FinDev Canada.

    ETG also supports Sustain Africa, an emergency response and resilience initiative to improve availability, affordability and effective and sustainable use of fertilizers while avoiding market distortion, founded by the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rabobank and International Fertilizer Association with the support of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

    Through this investment, FinDev Canada became the first development finance institution officially recognized as a supporter of Sustain Africa.

  • NCC, MNOs assure of network availability

    NCC, MNOs assure of network availability

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and mobile network operators (MNOs) yesterday said there were no network outages during the presidential and National Assembly elections that took place over the weekend.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Garba Dambatta, said there were no network problems across the country, adding no such report was brought to the attention of the Commission.  He restated the commitment of the regulatory body to the provision of seamless services to the subscribers during and after the elections.

    “The issue was not reported to the NCC by INEC. We are committed to the provision of reliable telecoms services always,” NCC, Prof Dambatta assured in an exclusive note to our correspondent.

    Also, the MNOs, acting under the aegis of Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), said there was no disruption of telecoms services before, during and after the elections.

    Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said the group had a network performance report during the period which indicated that there were service disruptions.

    “There is no such thing. Networks were optimal and no such action took place. We have network performance reports over the said period and things were at optimal best.

    “The industry provided the necessary support for the entire process and we commit to supporting all stakeholders at this critical period as always,” Adebayo explained in a note.

    Ahead the elections, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, had inaugurated a committee to advise the Federal Government on appropriate measures to take in protecting the nation’s cyberspace and ICT infrastructure from potential attacks, especially during the 2023 General Elections while the NCC had denied what it described as “fraudulent and misleading information circulating in some social media platforms.

    , insinuating there is a planned shutdown of all telecom networks and relevant ICT units, including online transfer facilities of the banks, with effect from February 23, 2023”.

    It had therefore advised the public, consumers of telecommunications services, and all bank customers to ignore these or similar messages that insinuate deliberate network shutdown or disruption of services in telecom networks.

    “These malicious and subversive messages originated and are being circulated by fraudsters and unscrupulous elements in the society with the intent to cause chaos and panic among the populace.

    “The Commission has received unequivocal assurances from all the service providers to the effect that all the network services are currently in optimal performance, and will not witness any deliberate shutdown or disruptions, especially at this very crucial period of general elections in the country.

    “Therefore, all users of telecommunications and banking services utilizing network facilities are assured of continued optimal service delivery before, during, and after the general elections in Nigeria,” NCC said.

    INEC had, however, through its Commissioner for Voter Education, Festus Okoye, expressed  awareness of challenges with the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). “Unlike in off-season elections where the portal was used, it has been relatively slow and unsteady. The Commission regrets this setback, especially because of the importance of IReV in our results management process.

    The problem is totally due to technical hitches related to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season State elections, to one for managing nationwide general elections. It is indeed not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected in such situations.

    “Consequently, the Commission wishes to assure Nigerians that the challenges are not due to any intrusion or sabotage of our systems, and that the IReV remains well-secured.

    “Our technical team is working assiduously to solve all the outstanding problems, and users of the IReV would have noticed improvements since last night. We also wish to assure Nigerians that results from the Polling Units, copies of which were issued to political parties, are safe on both the BVAS and the IReV portal. These results cannot be tampered with and any discrepancy between them and the physical results used in collation will be thoroughly investigated and remediated, in line with Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.

    “While we fully appreciate the concerns of the public on this situation and welcome various suggestions that we have received from concerned Nigerians, it is important to avoid statements and actions that can heat up the polity at this time or promote disaffection towards the Commission.

    “We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate,” INEC had said.

  • Increased demand may drive oil to $100

    Increased demand may drive oil to $100

    Global demand for crude oil could hit record highs this year – potentially driving prices back up to $100 a barrel, Vitol’s Chief Executive Officer, has said.

    “Demand is expected to hit record levels in the second half of the year. The prospect of higher prices in the second half of the year, in the sort of $90-$100 range, is a real possibility,” Russell Hardy said in a Bloomberg interview yesterday.

    The view factors in a jump in demand due to the reopening of China’s economy, as well as an expected drop in inventories over the coming months. Hardy said demand for most oil products is surpassing pre-pandemic levels, while gasoline is “fairly flat” and jet fuel lingers “in catch-up mode” as travel gradually picks up.

    Brent crude, the international benchmark, has had a choppy start to the year, declining by about five per cent so far in 2023 as high inflation, rising interest rates and recession fears all weighed on demand.

    Yesterday, Brent crude fell 1.4per cent to trade around $81.75 a barrel. The last time it traded within the $90-$100 range was in November.

    Hardy’s forecast has been echoed by other oil experts, including Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy, Ole Hansen.

    “We do not claim to be smarter than one of the world’s biggest shippers and with the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and IEA (International Energy Agency) pointing toward the same trajectory – anything but a deepening economic slowdown or a peace deal in Ukraine would in our view support higher prices later in the year,” Hansen told Insider.

    “Not least supported by OPEC+ being in no hurry to add barrels into higher prices and Russia increasingly being challenged to maintain current production levels,” he continued, and echoed Hardy’s call that crude prices could reach $100 later this year.

    OPEC+, or the OPEC and its allies – including Russia, began cutting oil output last year in a bid to shore up declining prices. In December, the group said it would stick to its production cut target set last October, which is to slash output by 2 million barrels a day till the end of 2023.

    Meanwhile, Russia has threatened to slash its oil production to retaliate against Western sanctions, standing to squeeze the market further, according to Hardy.

  • U.S announces extension of tourist visa validity to Nigerians

    U.S announces extension of tourist visa validity to Nigerians

    The United States (U.S.A) has announced a new visa regime for Nigerians.

    In a statement yesterday, the U.S said Nigerian tourists visa applicant are now eligible for five years (60 months) visa as against two years (24 months) under the previous visa regime.

    The new regime, according to the statement, takes effect from Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

    The American government’s action followed Nigeria’s recent policy of visa reciprocity with the U.S.

    The statement, which was issued by the U.S. Embassy, reads: “Effective March 1, 2023, the U.S. Mission will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and/or tourism. 

    “The visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa. 

    “The visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity.

    “Increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria. The U.S. Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.”

    The statement also listed those eligible for no-interview for visa renewals.

    Those in category are applicants for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa.

    Their eligibility depends on the following criteria: that applicant is physically present in Nigeria; that the previous visa was issued in Nigeria; that previous visa is in the same classification as your current application; that previous visa was a full-validity, multiple-entry visa; that the previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next three months from the date of application; that passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa; that the applicant has never been arrested or convicted for any crime or offence in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon and that the applicant has never worked without authorisation or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.

  • INEC suspends rescheduled presidential, National Assembly polls in Abia

    INEC suspends rescheduled presidential, National Assembly polls in Abia

    • Supplementary election to hold in Anambra East/West Federal Constituency
    • Kogi: Commission cancels 74 polling units results over thuggery, BVAS malfunction

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections in seven local government areas in Abia State.

    INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Abia State, Mrs. Rebecca Jim, who announced this in a statement, said a new date would be communicated in due time.

    She said: “The proposed election in polling units where election could not hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, in Abia State, scheduled for Monday, February 27, 2023, has been put on hold.

    “You shall be communicated in due course on a new date.

    “All inconveniences are highly regretted.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the INEC Administration Secretary in charge of Abia State, Mr. Clement Oha, had, on Sunday, addressed reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, about the proposed election.

    He said the election would be held at various polling units in Aba North, Aba South, Arochukwu, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ohafia and Umuahia North local government areas.

    Oha explained that the fresh poll was due to result of various degrees of discrepancies in the procedures that were violent to some extent.

    “The commission in their wisdom felt that the credibility of the election should not be compromised, and that there should be no winner by default.

    “So, election must take place in the affected polling units tomorrow (Monday),” he had said.

    Also, there shall be supplementary election in Anambra West and Anambra East Federal Constituency as INEC has detected over-voting in two polling units.

    The Returning Officer, Dr. Ugochukwu Okafor, spoke yesterday at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Okafor noted that while the total number of accredited voters in the two affected polling units was 1,113, the total votes cast were 28,579.

    He explained that at Polling Unit 004 at Umualum Square in Aguleri Ward 2, 555 voters were accredited, while at Polling Unit 007 at Umugalagu, also in Aguleri Ward 2, 558 voters were accredited.

    He added that at the end of vote-counting, Mr. Peter Anaekwe of the Labour Party (LP) led with 14,847 votes, while Chief Chinedu Obidigwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got 13,782 votes.

    Obidigwe is the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for the constituency.

    Dr. Okafor said in line with INEC regulations and the Electoral Act 2022, a new date shall be fixed to conduct fresh election in the two polling units.

    Also, the INEC yesterday cancelled results of 74 polling units in six local government areas of Kogi over thuggery and failed BVAS that characterised Saturday’s polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) listed the LGAs involved to include: Okehi, Umala, Ulama-Boro, Ofu, Yagba East and Ibaji out of several others that suffered similar fate.

    The most affected was Okehi Local Government Area, where the state government had dug some of its roads, few days to the election, to ward off criminal elements from gaining access to the area.

    Okehi Collation Officer, Dr. Emeka Oguju, who presented the results to the State Collation Officer, Prof. Wahab Egbewale, at the Kogi Collation Centre, said results of 31 polling units were cancelled due to thuggery.

    Ogujo said 12,037 votes were cancelled in the 31 polling units in four wards, which voting materials were carted away by political thugs.

    “In most affected polling units, there were violence caused by political thugs who invaded the units and disrupted the entire process,” he said.

    The Collation Officer for Umala Local Government Area, Dr. L. Adang, told the State Collation Officer at the Situation Room at INEC State Office that 16 wards were affected by thuggery during the exercise.

    According to him, 9,558 votes were cancelled in the affected polling units of the area.

    Also presenting his results, Dr. Adamu Wakili, Collation Officer for Olama-Boro Local Government Area, added that 3,582 votes in five polling units were cancelled due to thuggery and non-functional BVAS during the general elections of Saturday.

    “Aside the activities of political thugs that affected the election in our area, we had an issue with two BVAS which couldn’t function because of the remoteness of the community it was taken to and ineptness of the Presiding Officer.

    “We tried to see whether it could work, but we couldn’t and only five units in that community were affected. We have reported that to the REC,” he said.

    Also, Ibaji LGA’s Collation Officer, Prof. Dauda Tanko, said that results of 11 polling units were cancelled in the area as a result of thuggery.

    Tanko, who did not specify the number of votes affected by the cancellation, said four Registration Areas were affected by the activities of political thugs.

    NAN had reported the cancellation of results of 11 polling units in Ofu and Yagba East local government areas of Kogi State also due to the activities of political thugs and failed BVAS.

  • My re-election victory for Yobe North’s people, says Lawan

    My re-election victory for Yobe North’s people, says Lawan

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said his re-election into the Upper Chamber for a fifth term is victory for the people of Yobe North Senatorial District.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Ola Awoniyi, said Lawan won Saturday’s senatorial election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by polling 91,318 votes, representing 74.7 per cent of the total valid votes (122,193), to defeat his closest rival, Bello Ilu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 22,849 votes.

    The statement said Lawan had a comfortable win in each of the six local government areas under Yobe North Senatorial District, namely: Machina, Nguru, Yusufari, Bade, Jakusko, and Karasuwa.

    It also said the Senate President told reporters before his departure to Abuja from his home town in Gashua that his people in Yobe North prayed, fasted and did everything possible to ensure his election back to the Senate.

    Quoting Lawan, the statement said: “The victory is not mine; the victory belongs to the people of Yobe North Senatorial District.

    “You know how well they did to ensure that we got the nomination to run for this seat. They fasted, they prayed and they did so many things. They sacrificed, just because they wanted me to run.

    “Therefore, they actualised their dream of voting me back to the Senate on Saturday when they voted en masse. To their credit, this is the highest number of votes against all the previous elections that I participated in.

    “Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty Allah for His blessings and thank the people of Yobe North Senatorial District for sticking with me, for believing in me, for trusting me to renew my mandate once again, for me to go back to the Senate and the 10th National Assembly to represent them. I thank them.

    “I want to also thank the APC, both at the national and state levels, for making sure that as a party, they stayed behind me all through the period that we had some challenges.

    “And, of course, I want to also thank the Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, for believing that this party and our people are really so significant in politics in this state.

    “The governor stayed all through the travails to ensure that the Yobe North Senatorial District poll is contested by someone that the people of Yobe North believe and trust.”

  • Presidential, National Assembly polls held under siege, Osun APC alleges

    Presidential, National Assembly polls held under siege, Osun APC alleges

    The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned alleged tensed atmosphere under which last Saturday’a presidential and National Assembly elections were conducted in the state.

    The party decried the pocket of lawlessness, violence and extra-judicial killings that trailed the electoral process in what it called severe heinous attacks on its members across the state before, during and after the polls.

    Addressing reporters at Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, APC’s acting State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal said 15 persons were killed and several others injured in the process.

    The party rejected the results of the elections in some parts of the state, arguing that they did not reflect the people’s wish.

    It praised the voters in the state for their unflinching support, resilience, forthrightness and strong resistance in the face of “naked intimidation and physical life-threatening events” from those it called the daredevil elements of the ruling party before, during and after the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The APC urged its members to remain calm, assuring them that it would challenge the results of the elections and seek redress through legal means.

    Lawal said: “The entire structure of the APC and its members in the state were denied a level-play ground to canvass for votes before the elections as it is on record that so many of the party’s members were either killed, maimed, attacked or run out of their abodes by the PDP hoodlums.

    “The presidential and National Assembly elections of last Saturday were held under a siege with the PDP hoodlums having a field day across the state to the extent that it would be impossible for any political party which is playing by the rules to win the elections against the political vampire called the PDP whose thugs were ready to shed the blood of any strong-headed APC member or supporter.”