Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Friday, inaugurated an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre at Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area, describing it as a milestone in bridging the digital divide and preparing youths for opportunities in the 21st century.

Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for constructing the facility as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He noted that the state government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, had equipped the centre with modern ICT tools, furniture, and accessories to make it a fully functional hub for digital learning.

“Today’s event is remarkable, as it brings a modern communication and learning hub right to the heart of our community. With the establishment of this ICT and CBT centre in Onicha-Olona, our young people no longer need to look far for such facilities.

“More than just infrastructure, this state-of-the-art centre represents a bold step in our commitment to bridge the digital divide, empower our people, and prepare Deltans with the skills and opportunities to excel in the 21st century,” the Governor said.

He expressed gratitude to Mrs Diana Okonta, former NDIC Board Member, for her strong advocacy in ensuring the project’s take-off, and acknowledged former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for approving the first phase of the project.

Oborevwori assured that under his administration’s MORE Agenda, Delta youths would continue to have access to platforms that promote digital literacy, job creation, and self-reliance.

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He encouraged the people of Onicha-Olona and the wider Delta community to take full advantage of the opportunities the centre provides.

In his remarks, Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, described the centre as a gateway to effective education, innovation, and economic growth for Onicha-Olona and Delta State at large. He commended the state government the completion of the project.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Daniel Odigie, described the facility as a centre for learning and innovation in coding, app development, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and basic computer literacy.

He said the centre was designed to nurture talent, spark creativity, and unlock boundless potential.

Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Chinye Bazim, lauded Governor Oborevwori for situating the project in the area, noting that it would serve as a game-changer in empowering youths and promoting education.

He also highlighted other state government’s projects in the locality, including the nearly completed Issele-Uku–Otulu Road, Onicha-Ugbo township roads, and the College of Nursing Science at Onicha-Uku.

Also speaking, the President-General of the Onicha-Olona Development Union, Sir Patrick Ejido, said the centre, equipped with 300 workstations, solar power supply, and modern facilities, was a beacon of innovation and empowerment for the community.

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He thanked the NDIC, community leaders, and other stakeholders who played a role in making the project a reality, while assuring that the host community would protect and sustain the centre.

The event attracted government officials, traditional leaders, community representatives, and youths.

A new telecom company has arrived in Nigeria, aiming to challenge industry giants MTN, Airtel, and Glo.

Lebara Nigeria is inviting Nigerians to reserve their preferred phone numbers through its Number Reservation Portal ahead of its official launch. The company, a subsidiary of London-based Lebara Group, is expected to commence services in the third quarter of 2025.

The portal, featuring the 0724 number series, allows customers to choose combinations with personal significance, such as birthdays, lucky numbers, or simple patterns. It also suggests various numbers, including options similar to users’ current phone numbers on other networks.

Requirements to Reserve a Number
To qualify for a phone number reservation, users must be at least 13 years old and provide basic details to receive a one-time password via email. After verification, they must enter their National Identification Number (NIN), which the system uses to confirm personal information such as date of birth. Verified users can then choose from available numbers, with a confirmation email completing the reservation.

Speaking on the initiative, Mary O. Akin-Adesokan, Lebara Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, described the initiative as part of the company’s focus on personalization and customer empowerment. She stated, “Our objective is to synergise personalization with cutting-edge technology, thereby empowering customers to reserve numbers that align with their digital identity. Our readiness with the 0724 series and full interconnect setup underscores our unwavering commitment to seamless integration, customer freedom, and market inclusivity.”

Samuel Alabi, Head of Corporate Communications at Lebara Nigeria, explained: “You buy minutes, not airtime. If your call ends in 30 seconds, you still have 99 minutes and 30 seconds left. That’s the kind of clarity and control we are bringing to Nigerian telecoms.”

According to reports, Lebara Nigeria holds a Tier-5 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licence, which allows it to offer a full range of telecom services. This licence is also the highest category under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regulatory framework. As a Tier-5 MVNO, the company is authorised to lease infrastructure from existing networks and build its offerings on top.

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Lebara to Offer eSIM:
Lebara Nigeria aims to leverage its global experience as an MVNO to provide affordable, high-quality mobile services in Nigeria. The company will operate on existing network infrastructure, offering both SIM and eSIM options, full nationwide coverage, and real-time billing transparency.

The Federal Government has enacted the closure of approximately 13,597,057 social media accounts due to offensive content and violations of the Code of Practice across platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

This information was presented in the “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report,” submitted by the promoters of significant interactive computer service platforms, notably Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

The Code of Practice was collaboratively established by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The 2024 report, titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection,” disclosed that a cumulative total of 58,909,112 offensive posts were removed from various platforms throughout the year.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, confirmed these statistics, noting that 754,629 complaints were officially documented.

She commended Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for their ongoing compliance with Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries.

“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ endeavors to address user safety concerns in accordance with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines,” she stated.

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Hajiya Umar remarked, “The submission of these reports signifies a notable advancement towards fostering a safer and more responsible digital environment for users in Nigeria.

“It also exemplifies the platforms’ dedication to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online ecosystem for all stakeholders.

“This accomplishment reflects the mandates of the Code of Practice, which requires that major service platforms are registered in Nigeria and adhere to relevant legal provisions, including fulfilling their tax obligations while reinforcing the commitment to online safety for Nigerian citizens.

“While NITDA recognizes these commendable initiatives, we emphasize that the enhancement of a safer digital environment necessitates sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.

“We remain committed to collaborating with industry participants, civil society, and regulatory partners to further enhance user safety measures, promote digital literacy, and foster trust and transparency within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”

Aminu Maida, the executive vice-chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says President Bola Tinubu has removed the 5 percent excise duty on telecommunications services, as reported by TheCable.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Maida said the levy, which had been temporarily suspended, has now been scrapped under the new tax law.

“The excise duty, it was the 5 percent or so, that is no longer there,” he said.

“Before it was suspended, but now the president has been magnanimous to remove it entirely. I was in a room when it was raised, and he said, no, we cannot put this on Nigerians. I was very pleased when the bills came out and we saw his words were followed through.”

On July 6, 2023, Tinubu signed four executive orders, including the suspension of the 5 percent excise tax on telecommunication services to ameliorate the negative impact of tax adjustments on businesses and households.

However, the national assembly, on October 20, 2024, proposed the reintroduction of the excise duty on telecommunications services, gaming, betting, and lottery activities.

The proposal was rejected by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), which said it would be unfair for the government to impose an excise duty when it is striving to sustain operations.

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says its decision to return to market-driven pricing in the telecoms sector has spurred over one billion dollars in infrastructure investment in 2025.

Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, said this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday.

He explained that the policy shift, introduced in January and February 2025, allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50 per cent after nearly a decade of stagnant pricing.

“This act alone, has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars worth of investment in 2025 alone,” he said.

Maida said that the move restored investor confidence in the sector and reversed a trend of under investment that had slowed network growth and service quality improvements.

According to him, the imbalance in the value chain, where tower companies can adjust prices annually for inflation and exchange rates but mobile network operators cannot had discouraged new investment.

“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he said.

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The NCC boss said the commission decided to return to the guiding principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which allowed market forces to determine fair prices while maintaining healthy competition to protect consumers.

He disclosed that some of the new equipment ordered by operators had started arriving in the country since June, with network expansion and upgrade works already underway.

“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor how many sites are being built, upgrades done and we step in when they encounter challenges with authorities,” Maida said.

He added that the investments would help address capacity challenges, improve service quality, and ensure Nigeria remained competitive in the global telecom landscape.

The NCC boss also highlighted operational cost pressures facing the industry, noting that operators consumed over 40 million litres of diesel monthly to power their base stations, with most of the product imported.

He said the industry’s dependence on foreign exchange (FX) for importing all network hardware and software added to the challenge, as no major telecom equipment was manufactured locally.

“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally. Everything from the hardware to the software has to be imported and that requires FX,” Maida said.

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On protecting telecoms infrastructure, he said the commission was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to develop a framework for rapid response forces tailored to the unique challenges in each region.

He noted that threats vary by location, with some coastal areas requiring community-based engagement, while high-insecurity zones may need stronger civil defence presence.

According to him, the protection strategy goes beyond force and focuses on addressing structural issues that make telecom sites vulnerable, such as poor security measures, generator theft and community disputes.

WhatsApp issued a statement via Instagram Stories, reiterating its commitment to secure communication.

“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, we will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere,” the company said.

The Russian government has imposed restrictions on voice calls made via WhatsApp and Telegram, citing concerns over national security, fraud, and alleged support for sabotage operations amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.

The clampdown, announced Wednesday by state media regulator Roskomnadzor, is expected to affect tens of millions of users — with WhatsApp having an estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia and Telegram over 89 million, according to data from media analytics firm Mediascope.

Roskomnadzor justified the restrictions by alleging that the messaging platforms were increasingly being used to facilitate criminal activity, including fraud and acts of sabotage against the Russian state.

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“According to law enforcement agencies and numerous appeals from citizens, foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities,” the agency said in a statement.

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It added that repeated attempts to get the platforms’ owners to address the issues had been ignored. “Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation,” the statement said.

While Roskomnadzor maintained that only voice calls were restricted, several users reported difficulties with video calls as well.

The restrictions come amid Russia’s broader crackdown on digital platforms and online content, particularly since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have accused Ukraine of using platforms like Telegram to recruit operatives and coordinate attacks inside Russian territory.

Just last month, Moscow passed new laws penalizing online searches for banned content and began pushing for the use of a government-backed messaging app called Max, which critics warn could serve as a surveillance tool.

In response to the ban, WhatsApp issued a statement via Instagram Stories, reiterating its commitment to secure communication. “WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people,” the company said. “We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia.”

Telegram, founded by Russian-born tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, also responded. In a statement to AFP, it claimed to be actively combating misuse of its platform, saying it removes “millions of pieces of harmful content every day,” including calls for violence and fraudulent activity.

The latest move underscores growing tensions between the Kremlin and global tech giants, as Moscow accelerates its drive to assert tighter control over Russia’s digital space.

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