By Mohammed Dahiru Lawal

TECHDIGEST – Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but the application of professional discretion, rational thinking, reasonable deductions and logical recommendations is what separates the quality and value of an expert perspective from what could be derived from motor-park gossip, especially in the pen profession.

I don’t even know where to place an article by one Okoh Aihe entitled “NITDA Bill deserves a place in the trash” with its arrogance and ignorance on the current position on the so-called proposed NITDA Bill?

Earlier this year, in March 2021, the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, proposed the realignment of the Agency’s Act with “tenets and ideals of the fourth Industrial Revolution” and Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy.

What followed the proposal on 30th August 2021 was an official announcement by NITDA’s Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relation, Hadiza Umar, calling on all stakeholders in the IT sector to participate in its 2007 Act re- enactment.

She said the re-enactment had become necessary because the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) replaced the Nigerian National IT Policy of 2000 that instituted the agency and its activities.

Sadly, what is a clear cut inclusive agenda put forth by an agency mandated by law to superintend over the Nations Digital and Technological evolution and advancement has been warped in a theatre of conspiracy theories championed by accomplished and well-respected communications experts who should know better.

One can therefore imagine what the piece by one Sir Okoh Aihe with his outright condemnation of a proposed bill that is yet to be deliberated upon by concerned stakeholders and put on the table of the National Assembly, is trying to achieve. More embarrassing is the fact that the entire piece of Aihe looks like a weaving of parables and fallacious concoctions meant to create a frame in the mind of unsuspecting readers. In other words, his argument was advanced on a template that is completely untrue by claiming that the bill was put forth by NITDA at the detriment of stakeholders most of whom have condemned it.

With due respect to a very senior colleague who may have even been a boss or mentor should our paths have crossed outside the virtual world, the entire submission – a hurriedly put up intro, a faulty premise and an irrational conclusion doesn’t pass off the reality, insight and vision of the proposed bill.

First off, the agency had in its official statement emphasised that the bill was undergoing the necessary review procedure such as engaging stakeholders before its anticipated adoption by the National Assembly and eventual assent by the President.

“This current reality has necessitated the reimagination for the establishment of NITDA. It is a known fact that digital technologies have created new forms of economic activities that have been beneficial to the global economy,” Hadiza had said.

From the foregoing it can be deduced that the bill is a work in progress and probably still at the draft stage since it is engaging necessary stakeholders, so, demanding that its entire workings be trashed without giving the stakeholder a chance to make their own contributions, is not only insensitive but portrays that there are some people in some quarters trying to achieve something sinister and the best bet in driving the media war by this same Okoh Aihe who surprisingly was Head of Public Relations at the National Communications Commission (NCC).

World over, it is a known fact that drafts are what they are, DRAFTS, a preliminary version of a piece of writing in order to expand upon, clarify, and modify initial plans and ideas and in the eyes of the law, it is the most important instrument in legal communication.

So, rushing to attack an initiative that is at the preliminary stage and has shown all evidence of going along with the due process, exposes the fact that some vested interests are jumping the gun, a move that smacks of a lack of good sense of judgement and patriotism.

The end product of the bill will eventually be passed to the National Assembly for consideration after inputs from IT sector stakeholders and the general public as it is not a NITDA monopolised bill as the writer portrays and wants Nigerians to think!

In the piece, Aihe tried to create a non-existent enmity between NIITDA and other agencies and their heads under the ministry of communications and digital economy ministry when in fact the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Dambatta and his colleagues are correlating very well. The whole world witnessed when both men along with their colleagues led by the minister of communications and digital economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami converged at the Abuja head office of PRNigeria to launch a book on digital technology.

In fact, Pantami had recognized Dambatta to speak on behalf of all heads of agencies present at the book presentation and the synergy amongst all men were devoid of friction, so why would Sir Aihe offer himself as an agent of bad blood creation between people who have a good understanding among themselves?.

By the way, I had expected and would have personally loved to see the writer exercise some discretions at writing a sensitive article of such nature, considering his position at the NCC.

Even if we rely on the leaked amended bill for reference, Mr. Okoh has failed to point out that section 1 was very categorical about the purpose of the draft which states that was to “create an effective, impartial, and independent regulatory framework for the development of the Nigerian information technology sector and digital economy, which shall include: (1) promote and implement policies and strategies on national information technology and digital economy, as created by the Government; (2) promote and support initiatives that provide access to digital services in an efficient, inclusive, secure, and affordable manner; (3) encourage local and foreign investments in information technology and digital economy through regulatory interventions; (4) promote the deployment and use of indigenously produced goods, services and platforms for the development of the digital economy;

The objective of the proposed bill continues thus: “(5) promote the use of innovative digital services, systems, practices and emerging technology in Nigeria; (6) promote indigenous research and development in information technology and digital economy; (7) protect the rights and interest of all consumers, investors in the Nigerian information technology and digital economy; (8) ensure digital inclusion for persons with special needs, minors and vulnerable persons; and (9) promote and safeguard national interests, safety and security of citizens and foreigners in the use of information technology and digital services.”

Of the about 33 sections in the draft amendment, he chooses to dwell only on Section five, probably for mischief which served as a convenient wrapper to advance his agenda of folly.

Obviously, taking control of one’s own responsibilities, the writer failed to differentiate between fines and fees. A fine serves as deterrence to violations while a fee has always been a revenue model of its own right. What should probably be the issue is the limit, which I am certain stakeholders will iron out amongst themselves.

Mr, Aihe had gone further to try to discredit the bill in order to achieve his agenda of killing it before arrival by name dropping some few IT sector stakeholders that have reportedly raised concern about the bill. We have seen a similar pattern manifest when Sahara Reporters published a piece claiming that the American Business Council – an American chamber representing the interest of US Companies and working in partnership with local businesses – had condemned the bill when in fact, on the 23rd of August 2021, they had written to deny the false media report and praised the bill.

In fact, the American Business Council published a public retraction of the claim on page 21 of the Guardian of Friday, September 3rd, 2021, sooner or later, other fallacies will surely be exposed.

Meanwhile, Nigerians must understand there is a need for unreserved support in achieving the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) especially in boosting the morale of concerned MDAs towards harmony and inter-agency collaboration. Dr. Pantami is no doubt performing wonders in this regard and professor Dambatta is a highly respected achiever who is also supporting his other brother and Colleague, Kashifu Inuwa, the NITDA boss. They should not allow people to come in between them.

It is an open secret that many stakeholders agree that the bill, which established NITDA as the agency to oversee Nigeria’s technological transformation, is quite outdated. This past decade, Nigeria has arguably become Africa’s most attractive destination for venture capital. It is also home to Flutterwave and Jumia and a billion-dollar fintech company Interswitch, so if NITDA is coming up with a bill to engage stakeholders for mutually acceptable copy, then what’s Okoh’s fuss?

Lawal a development Journalist, is coordinator Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR) and writes from Kano mdlawal001@gmail.com

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TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Senate has no competence on 5G, fifth generation mobile network, that technology with the kind of capacity that can overawe any other technology in terms of speed. That competence resides, first, with the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, because of enormous capacity built up in-house; and, secondly, with the industry, because of the depth of human capital and resources available to the operators.

Members of the Senate can also acquire this knowledge. But they will not. That is what their legislative assistants are supposed do, specialising in different endeavors of life. They can actually get consultants to help them on any issue under the sun. But that is not the way we treat knowledge. Instead our senators would prefer to upgrade the status of their political touts as political assistants, so that during the next elections they can be more equipped to break more bones.

In between, quite a number are hedonists. Except sheltered in now by COVID-19, they junket round the world in the guise of working for country and they return with little or no knowledge except tales of exploits in a land which others have developed.

A few years back, some of them were returning from a trip to Malaysia. At a breakfast session in one of the exotic hotels in Dubai, all you could hear from them were tales of personal victories and fun, this collection of sybarites, with no remorse for the people’s money they have wasted. I listened to them that morning; they, totally oblivious of another person sitting not far away from them in their ignoble guffaw, and eventually stole away with anger welling up inside of me.

It was no surprise to me last week when the Senate countered the NCC to hold back on the roll out of 5G in Nigeria. Later that night, I saw some of their faces on television. All of a sudden, there seems to be a play back of that Dubai episode: their faces flashing by in cinematic flashback; former governors in retirement at the upper house, senators for life waiting for providence to draw a final curtain, and all kinds of people fraudulently thrown up as leaders of the people, so steeped in hibernation that they can’t set any development agenda for their people who need help most at this time.

So, the Senate put a lid on 5G on the grounds that they need to do more interrogations on the safety of the technology. The Joint Committee on Science and Technology, ICT, Cyber Crime and Primary Health responsible for this epochal investigation, is led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Technology has always harboured its demon of fears, leaving the window open for only the bold to take in the light of breakthrough and success. Mobile technology has had its share of these demons and, only last year, 5G was accused of being responsible for COVID-19! And in Britain (one is not talking of some little islands outside of the continent of Australia) some 5G base stations were burnt by troubled souls who were so convinced of the wickedness of the new technology.

Knowing the frailties of human emotions and how easy it is to manipulate them with severe untruth, this writer had last year admonished the Committee: “In this journey, there are low hanging opportunities, repository of industry knowledge that the Senate must take advantage of. They include but not limited to the Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulatory agency of the telecommunications industry, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, two operating bodies in the industry – ATCON and ALTON, GSMA, ITU, WHO ICNIRP and a whole lot of other organisations.”

One would never know if the Committee ever found this unsolicited advice useful. But such was the situation last year that as COVID-19 created an epidemic fear, the regulator had to release a comprehensive statement in which it assured of the safety of 5G. While the Commission acknowledged a trial run of 5G in Nigeria with all the relevant stakeholders involved, it confirmed that no 5G license had been issued any operator even as safety and human health are top priority in the design and deployment of the technology.

“5G technology will transform the world by connecting everything with everybody. It will create millions of jobs, it will add billions of dollars to the economy (GDP), and can solve some of our problems such as insecurity and improve governance and efficiency in the society,” the Commission listed the benefits in the statement.

Nigeria needs to move beyond emotions and unfounded paranoia to tap into the benefits of 5G. The reason being that the world is moving on and nobody is going to wait for any country which is not sure of what it wants out of tomorrow. While we were measuring the value of life apropos 5G last year, an operator in Dubai simply tracked the flow of traffic to confirm the migration and residence of subscribers and pinpointed their equipment to enable them have unbelievable tech experience and work from home at the height of the pandemic.

South Korea, a country with very little land in the Korea peninsula rolled out 5G technology in December 2018, and that country which used to cringe before the bestial North, is miles ahead of most advanced countries of the West, including the US and Germany, and even China that are the curators of 5G equipment. At no time does anybody, including visitors, run short of high speed open Wi-Fi on the streets of Incheon.

In Africa, South Africa (MTN and Vodacom) and Kenya (Safaricom) are maintaining a clear lead although over 10 other countries are carrying out a 5G trial. Nigeria has finished a trial and was on the cusp of significant advancement before the flight was aborted by the Senate.

Is 5G that important?

Let me give you the American view as presented by former President, Donald Trump. Taking a significant decision in April last year, Trump said: “We cannot allow any other country to out-compete the United States in this powerful industry of the future. We are leading by so much in so many different industries of that type, and we just can’t let that happen. The race to 5G is a race America must win, and it’s a race, frankly, that our great companies are now involved in. We’ve given them the incentive they need. It’s a race that we will win.”

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