Nigeria must move away from the shackles of dependency in telecommunications technology-DG NOTAP 

By Joseph Sunday

The Director GeneralNational Office For Technology Acquisition and Promotio  (NOTAP) Federal ministry of Science and technology Dr. DanAzumi M. Ibrahim has raised fundamental issues on the need for Nigeria to wakeup from slumber and move away from the shackles of dependency in telecommunications technology.
Speaking at a one day investigative hearing on the present status of 5G network organised by the joint Senate committee on communication, Science and Technology, ICT and Cybercrime and Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases he said the country cannot afford to be trailing behind the western world.He worry is that the technology that power the Nigerian economy are largely imported adding that as an agency that regulate the use of foreign technology in the country  they see the quantum of technology that comes into the country and the quantum amount of money that leaves this country in capital flight.”As a nation we have to come out with a deliberate effort to see how we will gradually remove the shackles of dependency on foreign technology consumption. “Technologies are products of research and development. We have universities, they are products of knowledge, all the technologies that should hold our economy are supposed to  emanate from our national education system, and research establishments.
“We have to as a nation strengthen our research development platforms so that we will not continue to rely of foreign technology. “We were at 3G and now 4G and we are migrating to 5G, I am telling before we get ready 6G will come. “So Nigeria as a nation we cannot continue to trail behind others, if we continue to follow them we would not develop this nation, this shackles of dependency will remain with us but as a patriotic Nigeria and whoever cares for his own country, we must have to believe that nobody will come from any part of the world to develop our nation. “The development of our nation depends on us.
He observed that following the Presentation made by the minister of communication and digital economy, the fears put forward have been allayed.He said if all the regulatory agencies believe strongly that there is no implication whatsoever for the nation, in terms of the health implications he said NOTAP will like to align.”The technology that power the Nigerian economy are largely imported, we regulate the use of foreign technology in the country and we see the quantum of technology that comes into this country and then quantum amount of money that leaves this country in capital flight”

Bauchi/Benue Govs’ feud: Gov Diri to the rescue

By Princess Rose Yusuf

The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri has waded in to the war of words between the Governors of Bauchi and Benue State as the recent altercations between the Governors have become very disturbing.
He called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wade in and ensure that the matter is resolved.
He was speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Muhammed in Bauchi State Government’s House Thursday.
Diri said,
“The raging current issue between two brother Governors of the same party is not good, I seize this opportunity to advise and call on both of you who are members of our great party to please cease further actions and reactions on the burning national security issues.
“May I also use the opportunity to call on our party to immediately intervene and resolve whatever issues that are still yet unresolved amicably as a party and as brothers.”

In his response, Governor Muhammed promised to cooperate and reduce the tension and he gave the assurance that no words would be heard on the matter again. He also seized the opportunity to  apologise to all Governors, the national assembly, his constituents and all Nigerians.
He said, “There is no disharmony between me and my brother and my friend in Benue, we are just having the courage to discourse a burning National issue and I am happy that Nigerians have the opportunity, to discourse the issue and we are going to do everything on my own part to make sure we disedcalate the issue that it will not bring injury to our party and to national unity. I was not doing anything in anyway to insult, or to cause any injury to my brother whom I have worked together with at the cabinet and now as Governors.
“I want to use this opportunity to apologise to my various contituencies; especially the national assembly even though I said the truth but it has injured their sensibilities or it has touched on their privileged as we used to say in parliamentary parlance.
“I was doing it out of nationalism and patriotism. At the same time the Governors if what I said was also injurious to them, I apologise to them and say sorry to them and indeed all Nigerians.
“But certainly as I said, my brother, I have no apology for saying the truth, but certainly sometimes you say the truth and it would be injurious.

Amnesty for Bandits: coalition of Northern groups aligns with Gumi

The coalition of Northern groups says it aligns with the position of Islamic scholar sheikh Ahmed Gumi on the need to grant Bandits amnesty.

The group also said they support the decision of the amalgamated Union of foodstuff and cattle dealers of Nigeria to suspend the movement of goods to the south as way to press for compesation of losses suffered by its members.
The spokesperson of the group Abdulazeez Suleiman stated this during a news conference  in Abuja Thursday.
“We align directly with Sheikh Ahmad Guni’s position with regards to constructive engagement, opportunity for amnesty leading to reorientation, reintegration and reassimilation of those who embrace peace within a reasonable time frame after which resort can be made to force in crushing the recalcitrant ones.
“It is important to place on record that all those against the proposal for engagement for peaceful resolution of the conflict by singling out sheikh Ahmad Gunmi for attack are those who benefit directly from the conflict with proceeds from the supply if arms and drugs or remotely with the hope of riding to power on its back.