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Grand mother inspired my song ‘Thanks’ – Burna Boy

Grammy-winning singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly called Burna Boy, has stated that his grandmother is the motivation for his song titled ‘Thanks.’

‘Thanks’ is one of the tracks on the singer’s seventh studio album, “I Told Them.”

In a post via his official X on Sunday, December 17, the singer said he recorded the song because of his grandmother, who always wanted him to come home but was quick to ask him to leave anytime he visited.

Read Also: Burna Boy: Entertainer of the year

Speaking of his plans for this year’s Yuletide season, Burna Boy informed his followers that he would be spending December with his grandma.

He posted: “My grandma used to be crying for me to come back home; now she’s on edge, every time I come back home and is already asking when I’m leaving.

“This is why I made ‘Thanks’. I’m rolling with only her this December for peace to reign.”

December 18, 2023
Lalong resigns from FEC

• Former Labour and Employment minister opts to take Plateau South Senate seat

Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Lalong has left President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, it was learnt at the weekend.

Lalong, immediate past Plateau State governor, has opted to take the Plateau South Senatorial seat which he won.

He is due to be sworn in this week by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, sources said last night.

Lalong, the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation in the rundown to the February Presidential poll, was declared loser of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He challenged the result, and victory was given to him by the Court of Appeal

Lalong, a lawyer and two-term Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, tendered his resignation after Wednesday’s FEC meeting, in preparation for resumption at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

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A presidential aide Imran Muhammad in his X handle last night twitted: “President Tinubu has accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong’s resignation from the cabinet. His valedictory will hold at the next FEC meeting.”

Also the spokesman for APC in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang also confirmed Lalong’s resignation from FEC.

Lalong received his Certificate of Return last month.

The Court of Appeal ordered the electoral commission to issue him the certificate of return, following the nullification of the election of Air Vice Marshall Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who has now vacated the seat.

Lalong was accompanied to the INEC Headquarters by his wife, Regina, and children as well as former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Idris Wase; member representing QuanPan, Shendam, Mikang Federal Constituency John Dafaan; APC Deputy National Secretary Festus Fuanter; Minority leader of Plateau House of Assembly Joe Bukar and some members of the Plateau Assembly; former Majority Leader Naalong; some former Plateau Commissioners; former Head of Service Sunday Hyat, some serving local government chairmen and other supporters.

Also last month, the President and other party leaders held consultations with Lalong after he received the certificate of return.

The consultation, said a source, focused on Lalong’s replacement in FEC.

At the meeting, he was given an opportunity to recommend four names as possible replacement in FEC.

According to the source, party leaders were excited that the resolution of the litigation arising from the Plateau South senatorial poll in Lalong’s favour had swelled its ranks in the Senate.

A party source said Lalong, who is a loyal party member, agreed to resume at the Senate as a sacrifice.

Party leaders also believe that his experience as a two-term House of Assembly Speaker will come in handy as he will unofficially enjoy the status of a ranking senator.

Besides, the source said the thinking in the APC favoured the avoidance of an inevitable supplementary senatorial election which Lalong’s resignation from the Senate would cause.

December 18, 2023
Wike to Fubara: don’t pull down ladder you used in climbing

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has told his estranged political godson to resist the temptation of pulling down the ladder he used in getting to his position.

Wike said: “Don’t pull the ladder that you use in climbing. When you are coming down, the ladder may not be there. And leave the ladder too so that other people can also climb the ladder.”

The former governor reportedly spoke at his residence in Port Harcourt, the state capital while addressing the traditional ruler of Ogbaland, who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of his birthday.

The chiefs and other members of the traditional institution from Ogbaland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state were led by their traditional ruler, Nwachukwu Nnam.

Read Also: Kano: No deal with NNPP to compromise Supreme Court judgement, APC dispel rumour

Wike assured the monarch that he would listen, insisting that he was disposed to peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The minister debunked claims that the political impasse was an ethnic war, insisting that it had no tribal colouration.

He said: “We didn’t vote based on ethnicity…but for the unity of Rivers. We shall never be part of violence but will always support peace.

“There are rules within the political group you emerge. You cannot say that because an Oba has emerged and then an Oba will not follow the rules of the traditional institution.

“No; an Oba will always obey the rules. So also in politics, there are things you must not do and there are things you must do.”

December 18, 2023
The Nation wins highest honours at NMMA

The Nation showed class again last night at the 31st edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA).

It won the highest number of awards.

This newspaper won 15 individual honours at the grand presentation which held at the Shell Grand Functions Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The Punch trailed with nine honours. But its editor, Dayo Oketola, was named winner of the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.

The Nation had 33 nominations, the highest on the night, but was a runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year category, which was won by The Punch, which had 32 nominations.

Other nominees for the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year were The Guardian and Daily Trust.

At the 30th edition of the award last year, The Nation also won the most honours, coasting home with 15 awards.

Last week, The Nation was adjudged Newspaper of the Year by the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). Its editor, Adeniyi Adesina, named Editor of the Year.

This newspaper also won the highest number of individual honours – six – at DAME.

Last night, The Nation’s haul began with the first category: Bashorun MKO Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year won by Taiwo Alimi.

Akinbo Wonder of The Punch and Ajibade Samson of New Telegraph were the runners-up.

Alimi was also named winner of the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year, a category in which Assistant Editor Innocent Duru and Gboyega Alaka were nominees.

Deputy Editor Dr. Emmanuel Oladesu won the Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year. He beat Nnodin Okechukwu of The Punch and Atainyang Etim of Watchman Post to the honour.

Oladesu also won the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year. His deputy, Raymond Mordi, and Augustine Avwode of The Point, formerly of The Nation, were also nominees in the category.

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Our Niger State Correspondent Justina Asishana won the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Prize for Culture & Tradition Reporter of the Year. Alaka was a nominee in the category.

Duru won the Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter of the Year. Our Head of Crime/ Metro Desk, Precious Igbonwelundu, was a nominee in the category.

Duru was also named the winner of Etisalat Prize for Most Innovative Reporter of the Year, beating Oghenovo Michael and Godfrey George, both of The Punch.

The Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year also went to Duru, a serial award winner.

Southsouth Regional Manager Shola O’Neil won the NAFCON Prize for Environment Reporter of the Year, beating Ujorha Onoseme of Daily Trust and Janet Ogundepo of The Punch.

Assistant Business Editor Collins Nweze was named winner of the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year.

He also won the Access Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year, ahead of The Guardian, The Punch and Premium Times reporters.

Head of Business on the Weekend Desk, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, won the Coca-Cola Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year.

He beat Gbenga Salau of The Guardian and Janet Ogundipe of The Punch.

The gong for MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the Year went to Assistant Editor Lucas Ajanaku.

He bested Solomon Odeniyi of The Punch and Adepetun Olalekan of The Guardian to clinch the prize.

Our chief cartoonist Muyiwa Adetula won the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year, ahead of Emenike Chukwuemeka of New Telegraph and Adeeko Femi of the Nigerian Tribune.

The Nation’s Gabriel Ogunjobi won the Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the Year.

Olufemi Cornelius and Janet Ogundepo, both of The Punch, were the runners-up in the highly competitive category.

The Nation was a runner-up in the Prize for Editorial Writing of the Year category, won by Nigerian Tribune.

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) won the NBC Prize for Radio Station of the Year ahead of Wazobia FM and RayPower.

Channels Television was named winner of the NBC Prize for Television Station of the Year. Arise TV and Television Continental (TVC) were the other nominees.

December 18, 2023
Rivers Assembly 27: our defection constitutional

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have not violated the constitution, their leader, Martins Amaewhule, said yesterday.

He spoke at the APC stakeholders meeting in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, where the lawmakers received the party logo after their admittance into the chapter.

Amaewhule, who justified the defection, said he and his colleagues acted within the provisions of the constitution.

He said: “Some days ago, we defected inside the hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic if Nigeria.

“We made sure that we followed due process. We made sure that we did not do anything outside the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

“The constituency has given people room to defect; Section 109(1)(g) allows serving legislators who want to defect to do so, but with a proviso that there is a division in the party upon which they got to the House of Assembly; and indeed, there is clearly a division in the PDP.

Read Also: Kano: No deal with NNPP to compromise Supreme Court judgement, APC dispel rumour

“So, in line with that section, we defected to the APC.”

Amaewhule added: “This explanation is important to educate those who do not know the provisions of the constitution on the matter, but think that we did not meet the requirements of the constitution in doing this.

“Again, the constitution equally stated that it is the Speaker who should give effect of Section 109(1) to the movement, and by virtue of the provision, members have the right, and have exercised the right because of the division in the PDP.”

At the ceremony were the National chairman of the party, Dr. Umar Ganduje, represented by the National Legal Adviser, Abdulkarim Kana, and the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

Amaewhule, who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency 1, said none of the defectors went back to their vomit as being speculated in some quarters.

He said apart from one of them who is out of the country on health ground, 26 lawmakers attended the dedication service .

Amaewhule stressed: “Twenty-seven of us who defected to the APC recently are intact and are all present here on this podium, except one person who is not here on health ground.”

He chided the PDP for keeping mute when the House of Assembly complex was set on fire by unknown arsonists.

Amaewhule said: “The party never said anything when the House of Assembly was burnt down. They neither made any official statement in that regards nor condemned the act.

“A whole hallowed chamber of a state legislature was burnt down. The party never condemned it. No written statement, no official statement. That shows that they were not interested in what was going on in the House of Assembly.”

He lauded the policies of President Bola Tinubu, urging the people of the state to support his efforts at turning around the country.

Amaewhule said: “I am not saying that all is well in the country, but what we’re saying is that President Tinubu has started well, and the foundation is strong. So, he needs the support of Nigerians,.

“We have taken a decision to be in the APC. We will work with Mr. President and we will give him all the support he needs. We want to be among those who be on the side of history; supporting Mr. President so that he can turn the fortunes of this country around.”

Amaewhule praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for living to expectation as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He urged the people to support indigenes holding any federal appointments so that they can attract Democratic dividends to the state.

Receiving them into the fold, Ganduje described the APC as a party for the common man, hailing the defectors for their decision.

He said: “The APC is party for the people, it is party for common man. The President recognised that the people are with the members of the House of Assembly in this struggle and that is the reason we respect their decision, action and move to join the party of the people, to join in moving Nigeria forward, grow and unite the country and make APC a national party.”

The APC Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman, Tony Okocha, said APC will right the wrongs and halt the bad leadership in the state.

“Today’s meeting is not to remind you of your sordid past. It is rather for us to forge ahead for a great feature.

“We will not brood over anger of what has happened before. We’re here to plan for our feature.

“If that is the case, the I owe you a duty to apologise to APC members in Rivers state, please, accept our apologies.

“We have goofed over time. We have flopped our chances over them. Going forward, APC will no longer be a social club in Rivers State.”

During the church service, the presiding priest of the Niger Delta North Diocese of the Anglican Church in Rumuopara, Ven. Chimela Samuel, urged political office holders to seek and treasure wisdom so that they can succeed in their mandates.

Wike to Fubara: don’t pull down ladder you used in climbing

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has cautioned his estranged political godson against pulling down the ladder he used in getting to his position as governor of the oil-rich Southsouth state.

Wike was said to have given the warning at the weekend when he received some traditional rules who visited his Pot Harcourt home to felicitate with him on his birthday.

A source at the meeting quoted the minister, who is the immediate past governor of the state, as saying: ”It is unwise for anyone to pull the ladder that he used in climbing.

“When you are coming down, the ladder may not be there. Leave the ladder so that other people can also climb with it..”

Wike assured the monarchs who were led by Eze Nwachukwu Nnam, that he was personally disposed to a peaceful resolution of the faceoff between him and Fubara.

The minister also debunked claims that the faceoff was an ethnic war.

He said: “We didn’t vote based on ethnicity…but for the unity of Rivers. We shall never be part of violence but will always support peace.”

“There are rules within the political group you emerge. You cannot say that because a king has emerged and then a king will not follow the rules of the traditional institution.

“No; a king will always obey the rules. So, also in politics, there are things you must not do and there are things you must do.”

December 18, 2023
Port Harcourt refinery ready this month, NNPCL insists

The end of December timeline for mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) remains sacrosanct, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

“We have said from time that by the end of December, the mechanical completion of the refinery will be completed. Yes, we are still maintaining that. Nothing has changed,” NNPC Chief Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye told The Nation yesterday.

Soneye had on November 6, 2023, assured that the NNPCL was optimistic about the completion of the rehabilitation this month.

He said that owing to the assurance the contractors gave the oil giant, nothing had so far altered the completion date.

He added: “What they (contractors) said is that all things working well, the refineries will be working in December and January.

Read Also: Clark to CJN: correct grave anomalies in judiciary

“That is what has been there and that is what the contractors have said. And we are working on that timeline.

“And as NNPC, we are going around on every milestone we are pushing out information. So, we are working on that December/January.

You know I am not the contractor, my own is to report.

“The assurance we have is that December/January, the refineries will be working.

“And nothing has happened as of now to change that or to move it forward so we are on course.

“If anything changes, I will defer to you that this is going to happen. But in terms of the timeline, the timeline is still on course.”

Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri while inspecting the rehabilitation, said that the NNPCL should be accountable if the December end timeline was not met.

The rehabilitation of the 110,000 barrels per day Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (KRPC) is expected to be completed between October and December 2024. The work was awarded last February to a South Korean firm, Daewoo E&C at $740.6 million.

December 18, 2023
Abdulaziz prays for Super Eagles AFCON glory in Cote d’Ivoire

A Nigerian top manager in the Finnish league, coach Moshood Bola Abdulaziz, believes the Super Eagles have the potentialities to win the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be hosted in Cote d’Ivoire, adding with good preparations, the elements can come together for the country’s long awaited fourth title.

Nigeria won the last of her three titles a decade ago at South Africa 2013 with a team led by late coach Stephen Keshi but Abdulaziz hinted it’s about time the Super Eagles add another title to their haul which included after two other wins on home soil in 1980 and Tunisia 1994.

“ Frankly, I think that Nigeria can win the next AFCON,” Abdulaziz, a UEFA Pro A holder, told NationSports in a wide ranging interview. “ We have the capacity and Nigeria will be counting on our players; we are counting on them and praying for them to deliver.”

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Drawn in what is regarded as a tricky group along with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau, Abdulaziz said the Super Eagles can brush aside their Group A rivals , adding the coach Jose Peseiro-led side should play each match like a cup final without underrating any of their contenders.

“ In Africa today, you cannot underrate any country and this is a huge challenge because no country is bigger than any other country as far as football is concerned, “ he continued.“ It’s been long that we won the AFCON and I believe time has come for that Nigeria to win the trophy again

“We have enough quality players and i just hope that they work harder, it’s very important for us to win the AFCON.”

He added: ”It was unfortunate that Super Eagles did not make it to World Cup and I saw the comments all over the world with people angry that Nigeria didn’t make it

“People are eager to see Nigeria succeed and I am praying that the Super Eagles succeed at this upcoming AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.”

Meanwhile, Abdulaziz has spoken more on his ground-breaking successes across clubs in Finland even as he charted ways on how Nigerian football can benefit from his expertise. Watch out.

December 18, 2023
FIFA confirms Inter, Chelsea, Man City for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

FIFA have confirmed Inter are among the clubs qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be staged in the United States and will be officially named Mundial de Clubes FIFA.

The FIFA Council made ‘key decisions in relation to the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup’ during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

“The Council unanimously confirmed the club ranking methodology to be used as part of the key principles of access, which were approved at the Council’s meeting in March 2023,” FIFA said in a statement.

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“In the case of European clubs, given that three full seasons and a full group stage of the fourth season of the UEFA Champions League have already been completed, and since UEFA has an existing club coefficient system, the current pre-existing methodology principles for the purpose of calculating the UEFA club coefficient in relation to matches in the UEFA Champions League only will be exceptionally applied to determine the ranking of European clubs for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”

Considering the approved principles of access, FIFA officially confirmed which clubs have already qualified for the Club World Cup that will be staged from 15 June to 13 July 2025 in the United States.

FIFA confirmed that the group stage will be composed of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format. The top two teams per group will progress to the Round of 16, played in a single-match knock-out game. Contrary to what usually happens in the World Cup, there will be no third-place play-off.

FIFA also confirmed that the FIFA Intercontinental Cup will be staged yearly from December 2024 and will feature ‘all confederation premier club competition champions and concluding with a final at a neutral venue between the UEFA Champions League winners and the winners of an intercontinental play-off between clubs from the other confederations.’

AFRICA – 4 teams

Via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) – 3 teams

1. 2020/21 and 2022-23: Al Ahly SC (EGY)

2. 2021/22: Wydad AC (MAR)

3. 2023/24: TBC (Via ranking pathway – 1 team)

4. TBC

ASIA – 4 teams

Via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) – 3 teams

1. 2021: Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

2. 2022: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

3. 2023/24: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 1 team

4. TBC

EUROPE – 12 teams

Via Champions Pathway (UEFA Champions League) – 4 teams

1. 2020/21: Chelsea FC (ENG)

2. 2021/22: Real Madrid CF (ESP)

3. 2022/23: Manchester City FC (ENG)

4. 2023/24: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 8 teams

5. FC Bayern München (GER)

6. Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)

7. FC Internazionale (ITA)

8. FC Porto (POR)

9. SL Benfica (POR)

10. TBC 11. TBC 12. TBC

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN – 4 teams

Via Champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup)

1. 2021: CF Monterrey (MEX)

2. 2022: Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

3. 2023: Club León (MEX)

4. 2024: TBC

OCEANIA – 1 team Via ranking pathway

1. Auckland City FC (NZL)

While the 2024 edition of the OFC Champions League remains to be played, of the teams that may potentially participate, there is no mathematical possibility for any to overtake Auckland City FC based on the points gained by that team over the qualification period to date.

SOUTH AMERICA – 6 teams Via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) – 4 teams

1. 2021: SE Palmeiras (BRA)

2. 2022: CR Flamengo (BRA)

3. 2023: Fluminense FC (BRA)

4. 2024: TBC

Via ranking pathway – 2 teams

5. TBC 6. TBC

December 18, 2023
Data protection legislation and future of digital economy

By Muhammad Mikail

On June 12, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Bill into law, setting the historic course for a new data-protected Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the bill was among the very first bills assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on assumption of office. This is no doubt a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding digital privacy and building trust with global partners and stakeholders; a bold statement and alignment with the cliché’ ‘hit the ground running.’

The newly assented Data Protection Act 2023 provides a legal framework for the protection of personal information, safeguarding people’s basic rights and freedoms, while supporting the establishment of ‘The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)’ for the regulation of processing of personal information and data. Hence, the law doesn’t only address privacy concerns but also sets the stage for responsible data usage; fostering, secure, trustworthy and a progressive digital economic environment.

This also signifies the federal government’s full-proof commitment to the “Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030)” as commissioned by the African Union (AU). The overarching objective of the “Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030)” is for every country within the African continent “to harness digital technologies and innovation to transform African societies and economies to promote Africa’s integration, generate inclusive economic growth, stimulate job creation, break the digital divide, and eradicate poverty for the continent’s socio-economic development and ensure Africa’s ownership of modern tools of digital management.” The Nigeria Data Protection Commission will be a major player in achieving this lofty goal.

At one point, there was a lot of scepticism by development partners, international financial institutions and critical stakeholders in the digital economy and even potential investors about Nigeria’s lack of data protection legislation.

Addressing these concerns, the federal government under the former President Muhammadu Buhari, established the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) in 2022 as the regulatory institution responsible for ensuring that people’s personal information is kept private and safe when used for ‘digital things’ with Dr Vincent Olatunji as the national commissioner. However, the bureau lacked a law establishing it and giving it the robust legal framework required for a full-fledged agency of government to adequately address issues bordering on security and privacy of data in Nigeria.

Read Also: Clark to CJN: correct grave anomalies in judiciary

In January, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Nigeria Data Protection Bill presented by former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for transmission to the National Assembly for consideration.

The then Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, NDPB now NDPC led by the national commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, in collaboration with the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project, (NDID4D), worked with critical stakeholders, Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), captains of industries and policy makers in perfecting the bill.

A Focus Group Discussion, national policy dialogue and validation workshop was held to present the draft bill to stakeholders, the 9th National Assembly, and the Federal Ministry of Justice for their buy-in, comments, criticism, and suggestions to improve the bill. Prior to that, Nigeria had no policy instrument that focused on supporting data privacy and data protection.

Described as one of the most forward-thinking legislations across the African data-ecosphere, the Nigeria Data Protection Act recognizes innovations, block-chains, Artificial Intelligence and robotics. The Act also fosters an environment where companies prioritize robust cybersecurity measures and protecting sensitive personal information from unauthorized access.

Furthermore, the law empowers users by ensuring that their data is handled responsibly and ethically; since as a fact, the law emphasizes informed consent, which enables users to make conscious decisions regarding the use of their data. With this regulation, organizations are bound by law to promptly adapt their practices to comply with the new data protection standards. This brings balance between leveraging data for business growth and respecting individuals’ privacy rights.

In terms of job creation, the national commissioner launched the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, NDP-SRAP 2023-2027 on December 13 in Abuja. The action plan is expected to create about 500,000 jobs and generate more than N125 billion in revenues.

Vincent said in an interview that the NDP-SRAP 2023-2027 is in conformity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said “part of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to create about two million jobs in the digital economy sector. The data protection sector alone could create more than 500,000 jobs.”

According to the national commissioner, “The NDP-SRAP comprises interlinked initiatives and activities like job, wealth creation, human capital development, revenue generation, foundational initiatives for the digital economy and enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation. These activities are expected to create about 500,000 jobs, generate revenue of more than N125 billion and expand the sector within the lifespan of this roadmap”.

In the same vein, the former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Pantami, was quoted in an interview to have said that “in two years of the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR, a novel sub-sector of the economy was created, 7,680 Nigerians were employed. Nigeria was appointed as the vice chair of the Data Protection Laws Harmonization Working Group at the African Union (AU) and was the only country in Africa to publish a data protection report in two years.

According to the DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, “integrated identity is the backbone of e-governance initiatives as it provides an enabling environment for key government programmes of social safety net, financial inclusion, as well as for companies that want to provide innovative products and services to people. She said, “An integrated identity system will strengthen the government’s fiscal management, promote good governance and transparency through inclusivity and social equality, as it ensures that marginalized and vulnerable populations are not excluded from government services.”

The Nigeria Data Protection Act is an enabler of inclusive identity issuance and management and a precursor for the growth, integration, and stability of Nigeria’s digital identity system. It is part of efforts to issue legal digital identities to 99.9% of people in Africa as part of a civil registration process by 2030.

In this vein, the Act serves as the launch pad for the government’s efforts in building inclusive digital skills and human capacity across the digital sciences, judiciary, and education, both technical and vocational, to lead and power digital transformation including coding, programming, analysis, security, block chain, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology policy and regulation. This is evident in the recent launch of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme by the Minister for Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani. The programme is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone, powering her digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter with the first phase of the programme, executed in collaboration with NITDA is set to involve multiple stakeholders including fellows, training providers, partners, and placement organizations.

Consequently, the nation hopes to witness robust digital economic growth especially with the growth of digital platforms. These platforms are essential elements of digital infrastructure and can serve people, businesses, and government agencies in all aspects of life, including healthcare, education, commerce, transportation, and public benefits. Digital platforms serve or enable other products or services. For the people who use these platforms to receive their monthly pensions, securely login to a government e-services portal, pay their utility bills, submit a complaint, access public information, or find a person to rent their car, these platforms can provide a seamless service delivery experience that increases user convenience, savings, and agency. For governments, digital platforms can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of core functions and services; reduce unnecessary duplication of systems; combat fraud.

Finally, as data subjects and responsible citizens, we must stay informed about data protection laws; demand transparency from organizations that collect our data and support NPDCs initiatives to sustain and promote international cooperation on data protection, its continuous improvement, and efforts to secure our digital economic future.

• Mikail writes from Abuja and can be reached via muhammadnmikail.mm@gmail.com

December 18, 2023
Africa will be poorer with the ‘drop-fossil-fuel’ pact

By Ikenna Emewu

Reasonable occupants of our planet can’t argue the need to start now and do as much as can be done to check the slide of our home planet into climatic crises. The earth and the ecosystem never change save the changes we, the human factors cause.

The effort of the UN and other agencies to make the world act fast is quite encouraging and welcome as renewable energy alternatives are favoured to protect the earth with their almost zero pollutants and emissions. The efforts have engendered more research and the production of electric cars, buses, trains, industrial machines, and more.

But these bodies seem to be in a hurry to manacle the entire world into this straightjacket of dropping what we have, the fossil fuel, just overnight.

In the past 150 years, fossil fuel has been the dominant energy force. Even today with the rising crusades against it, it still constitutes 80 percent of global energy consumption, directly and indirectly. No country is left out of its usage, and it raises the question of whether there is any possible research into eliminating or drastically reducing the harms of fossil fuels while it remains in use.

On ranken-energy.com, 144 to 6,000, bi-products of crude oil are listed. These are raw material bases for hundreds of sectors of the economy and are classified into four broad products – solvents, diesel fuel, motor oil, and bearing grease. Each has 35 products all deployed in further production of thousands of industrial goods. When fossil fuel goes, they all go with it.

In the efforts so far, including of course the immediate past summit, COP28 in Dubai, the fall guy to re-green our earth has been fossil fuel which most countries and systems need to fuel their survival until the day they will phase it out. If they hurry into re-greening without fossil fuel, they will wither too fast from the vagaries of other deficiencies than the ecology, while the partially green earth still limps on.

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On December 13, the issue blew open that the world agreed to drop fossil fuel in the next 27 years. The statement read that “Countries finally agreed, for the first time, to transition away from fossil fuels in Dubai on Wednesday to avert the worst effects of climate change after clashing over whether to include the wording “phase-out of fossil fuels” in previous drafts. The global stocktake text has been adopted, with no objections.”

The deal as finally sealed will leave the poorer countries, including Nigeria which runs a mono oil-based economy to choke to death as most of them never in the past made any safeguard efforts on survival in case oil fails.

Disruptions will surely happen to the poor countries as they don’t produce machines of any type – industrial, automobile, etc. that rely on fossil fuel. Those that produce them have started winding down and phasing out most things that use fossil fuel.

The statement that: “While the US, the EU, and small island nations were among those demanding a commitment to phase out coal, oil, and gas, this was rejected by oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia and Russia,” is no assurance. It is just a matter of time before nobody remembers this to implement. Don’t forget the oil boom era when OPEC countries held the large economies by the jugular in the very early 1970s and how the US bullied them to submission with all manner of unilateral, unbridled merciless, and coercive diplomacy. That history may soon repeat in the next 10 years or earlier.

I truly sympathise with African countries that produce almost nothing and bring only 4% of traded goods to the global market. The continent is going to face severe hardship in multiple dimensions.

Even the cheaper solar electricity option is not exploited by Nigeria and other African countries as they should. I am not aware of solar power farms built by governments to augment the lack of hydroelectricity which relies on fossil fuel to power the turbines. What we have are just droplets by a few individuals in their homes and on a few streets to light them at night.

A sharp and abrupt alteration will tilt the global economic scale and create another problem that would be larger than what we intend to solve which would be better realised when we gradually take on the journey.

The smaller economies that rely on fossil fuel should tread with utmost caution in order not to step into a waiting landmine. Indeed, the haste with which this agenda is pursued makes me suspect that there is more to it than we know.

In the late 1970s, the tide of the global economy turned towards a pro-market system that later got forcefully rammed down the throats of all countries, even those that were the least ready.

Champions of the new system canvassed that it was a one-size-fits-all thing. Even though they had embarked on the journey for close to 40 years after they created the Bretton Woods institutions that rebuilt Europe from the ruins of World War II through public welfarism, it didn’t matter to them whether others were ready or walked at an equal pace.

With nothing as the foundation, all countries were cajoled to jump on the train of the pro-market system and told lies of the benefits to jettison every plan and policy of the government to continue with welfarism and cover the inherent gaps elicited by misrule-induced poverty. Most of those poor victims since the late 1970s still live at the mercy of the overbearing strategists who care not about their survival but rather force on them grants, loans, and expertise from the UN and its organs.

Perpetually, these countries have been emasculated debtors with no respite as the overlords brag about their kindness, not wanting to mention that they give loans with the right hand and subtly take back the money with the left.

Even as a pro-environment person, I worry if the net zero campaign targeting just the next seven years in the short term and 20 more years in the long term is another of such gambit.

The net-zero decrees: “To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.”

Renewable energy usage at the global scale jumped to 29% in 2020 from 27% in 2019, while biofuel use at the industrial level increased by just 3%. That sounds positive, but the gap is still wide and will need a long-term overhaul, policy direction, and concerted implementation for the concerned countries to wriggle out of the climate trap. As African countries mobilise thousands of delegates to COP conferences, they contribute nothing other than signing implementation death warrants for their country’s economies.

Renewable energy use increase as demand for all other fuels declined. The primary driver was an almost 7% growth in electricity generation from renewable sources. Long-term contracts, access to the grid, and continuous installation of new plants underpin this growth.

Renewable electricity generation in 2021 was projected to expand by more than 8% to reach 8,300 TWh, the fastest year-on-year growth since the 1970s with solar PV and wind contributing two-thirds of growth. China achieved almost half of the global increase in renewable electricity in 2021, followed by the United States, the European Union, and India.

The heaviest users of renewable energy are mainly in Europe and include:

Iceland – 86.87%

Norway – 71.56%

Sweden – 50.92%

Brazil – 46.22%

New Zealand – 40.22%

Denmark – 39.25%

Austria – 37.48%

Switzerland – 36.72%

Finland – 34.61%

Colombia – 33.02%

On the installed capacity to generate, the superpower economies swing the balance with China leading the whole world with a capacity of around 1,161 gigawatts. The rest of the top three are the USA with 352 gigawatts, and Brazil that is Number 4 world’s highest user.

It is in situations like this I see China as a shining example of how to approach these dicey diplomatic issues. Already, China leads the rest in installed capacity and generation, even though that is still like a drop in the ocean to their energy consumption. Rather than China dropping coal energy as the world cajoles for the gain of the champions of this idea, China holds to coal but steadily works on advancing clean coal technology (CCT) to reduce the hazards from emissions and pollutants to almost the barest minimum. That is why China has hundreds of coal power plants running, including that of Nindong power base in the Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region north of the country.

But to those countries, especially in Africa, that wait for others to think on their behalf, there is danger ahead. They will obey and drop fossil fuel without any ready alternatives to please their masters like they did in the market economy gamble.

One of the ready options is such countries renegotiating and securing a longer time to implement the net zero agenda. But even if they do, would the manufacturer or capital-exporting economies turn back the hands of time for Africa and other poor and dependent worlds?

• Emewu is journalist and publisher.

December 18, 2023