TECHDIGEST- The Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) operational readiness for e-commerce has been made public by the Federal Government, which will help the postal industry in Africa run more smoothly.

On Tuesday in Abuja, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) announced its operational readiness for the e-commerce (ORE-3)- Startup Project workshop for the Africa area. The announcement was made by Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications & Digital Economy.

Pantami, who was represented by Mr. Mainasara Abubakar of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), said the training was required because the conventional postal business is changing so quickly.

READALSO: NIMC: NIN Mandatory to Access all Government Services

“The advent of the digital economy and the navigation of consumers’ demand among multiple communication channels are key factors changing the way Postal business is conducted. These, therefore, make innovation a critically important option for business survival and prosperity,” he said.

According to him, digitization has given the postal service sector, a crucial component of infrastructure, a broader dimension. He contends that the post may make a considerable contribution to social and economic advancement, the creation of jobs, and the alleviation of poverty provided that postal reforms implemented by governments are founded on sound financial analysis.

The training was arranged, according to Rt Hon Adepoju Sunday, CEO of NIPOST and Postmaster General of the Federation, to ensure that the African postal administration can compete with other postal organisations around the world. Sunday also expressed appreciation for the help in hosting the training that NIPOST received from the UPU and Pan African Postal Union (PAPU).

According to him: “This workshop evaluates the operational readiness for e-commerce 3 and remuneration by African postal administrations. And to establish the need to take decisions and make policies that will accelerate positive reforms towards ital readiness for e-commerce.” He also said digitalization is changing supply chains and how customers buy online.

“These innovations are fostering considerable changes in posts’ strategic objectives by requiring them to reevaluate their predictability, transparency, security, and efficiency to meet new customer requirements,” he said.

The representative of the DG of UPU, Mr Amadou Amadou said the workshop was borne out of the successful implementation of past regional operational efficiency and e-commerce projects 1 and 2. He said the UPU will implement the operational efficiency and e-commerce project 3 during 2022 – 2025.

“The project aims to assist postal formations in modernizing their operational processes and using available IT standardized tools and last-mile delivery systems to implement functional solutions that meet regulatory and operational requirements.

“In this context, the UPU International Bureau has developed capacity building and technical assistance projects to coordinate and improve the digital capacity and capability of the post. The integrated approach of these projects aims to help postal administrations modernize digital tools and implement digital solutions, which meet e-commerce requirements,” he said.

According to him, successful implementation of the project will contribute to further growth of the e-commerce market by improving their last-mile delivery reliability and providing consumers with increased visibility. “This is achievable through message exchanges and more customer-oriented solutions. The focus of the project will be on improving efficiency and e-commerce development hence the title of the project “Operational Efficiency and E-commerce Development”,” he said.

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TECHDIGEST– Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said over 863,372 citizens have benefited from various digital skills programmes organized by the Federal Government, in the last one year.

The programmes were majorly those launched by their Communications and Digital Economy Ministry, Pantami added.

READALSO: With Digital Economy, Nigeria Now Saves N10bn Quarterly – Minister

He disclosed this at the #DigitalNigeriaDay 2022 event in Abuja, where he said that, “We also have agreements with leading global tech companies like Microsoft and Huawei, to train millions of Nigerians on various ICT skills”.

According to Prof. Pantami, boosting citizens’ digital literacy skills is paramount as citizens are the greatest assets for any kind of economy, including digital economy.

“We are championing a paradigm shift that lays emphasis on ICT skills, in preference to merely having a degree or any kind of academic certificate,” he said.

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TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has called for the need to entrench transparency, laws, and regulations in social media usage to ensure a safer digital space, devoid of illegalities and promoters of fake news.

Pantami said this when a delegation of video-focused social networking service, TikTok, visited him in Abuja.

Represented by the Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the minister raised several concerns bordering on security, tax payment, direct contact with TikTok, and general content hygiene.

“There is a need for you to be more transparent on what you do with the data, experience you take, and your algorithm design; because technology can be used as a weapon or a tool. So, we cannot continue to have people put out random contents without appropriate checks/verifications”.

Read Also: NITDA Takes Digital Economy Message To The Grassroot In Lagos

He, therefore, emphasised the fact that there should be consequences for anyone who uses social media to commit a crime, adding that “We are working on drafting “Code of Practice”, which we are going to share with you soon; get your feedback and see how we can make it better.”

The leader of the TikTok delegation and Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, TikTok- Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan, Farah Tukan, said the team intends to host a series of workshops in Abuja and Lagos with the aim of enlightening Nigerians on how the platform works, how contents are moderated, developed, and are enforced.

“We are committed to providing opportunities for Nigerians to earn a living through their creativity and expression, and as a global platform that thrives on creativity, it is essential that our users feel safe and comfortable online’’.

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TECHDIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval to some security agencies to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in the course of going about their duties.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed this in Saudi Arabia while speaking to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event.

However, Pantami did not list the names of the security agencies.

He said some of them are permitted to gain access based on the cybercrime law without the permission of the ministry because the database allows lawful interception.

According to the Minister, permitting the lawful intercept was aimed at supporting the security agencies.

“Mr. President has given approval for them to do it, without even our intervention. So, with that approval, the NCC has conveyed that through my office to all the relevant institutions that the President has granted approval.”

“So, with it, they can gain access into the database even without our permission, and they have never complained to me, even for once. The only person that wrote a letter to me is the Minister of Defence, asking that we should try to finish the NIN-SIM policy on time,” he added.

Pantami revealed that the NIMC has captured over 73 million residents so far.

“If you look at the circumstances, NIMC is doing very well. Before my coming, what NIMC captured was just about 40 million, but now over 73 million have been done. We have achieved over 30 million within one year, while 40 million was achieved from 2007 to 2020.”

“Secondly, about NIN-SIM registration, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NIMC are not security institutions. We are a sector for economic development but we came up with the policy because the priority of the government is security and it is a constitutional obligation of any government.

“It is in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 14 Subsection 2, Article B, it is our responsibility,” the minister said.

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TECHDIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a new government agency, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB).

The establishment of the agency followed a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami.

In a statement issued on behalf of Pantami, Uwa Suleiman, his spokesperson, said the NDPB was established in line with global best practice and will focus on data protection and privacy for the country, among others.

He said the successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria has significantly increased the adoption of data platforms and accelerated the ‘datafication’ of the country.

“This has increased the importance of having an institution that focuses on data protection and privacy,” he said.

“Furthermore, the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in January 2019, as subsidiary legislation to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, has increased awareness about the need for data protection and privacy.

“The Bureau will be responsible for consolidating the gains of the NDPR and supporting the process for the development of a primary legislation for data protection and privacy.”

Buhari also approved the recommendation of Prof. Pantami, for Dr. Vincent Olatunji to serve as the pioneer National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau.

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TECHDIGEST- The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has inaugurated an incidence response facility aimed at addressing incidences of cybercrimes, protecting telecoms infrastructure, and encouraging increased participation in the nation’s digital economy.

As the Commission’s industry-specific intervention, the objectives of the NCC Center for Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) are aligned to the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) published by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The NCPS requires each sector to establish a computer security incident response team that provides provide requisite services to the stakeholders and players within each sector.

The overall mandate of the NCC-CSIRT is to ensure continuous improvement of processes and communication frameworks to guarantee the secure and collaborative exchange of timely information while responding to cyber threats within the sector.

While commissioning the project in Abuja, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, described the Center as a strategic step in boosting cybersecurity in Nigeria and commended the Board and Management of the Commission for ensuring successful implementation of the project.

Pantami noted that the commissioning of the facility marks an important milestone in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, and described it as a significant measure in the support of national efforts at protecting the information and communication technology infrastructure in the country.

“The creation of the Center is in line with the provisions of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) document published by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which was recently updated and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021.

“In keeping with the principles enshrined in the policy, each sector is expected to establish a sectoral Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) that provides requisite services to the constituents within that sector,” the Minister said.

Earlier, Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said considering the increasing growth in Internet usage, especially as a consequence of the outbreak of the pandemic, the Commission observed a rise in cyber incidents and criminal activities.

“Thus, the Commission recognises that with the borderless nature and pervasiveness of these incidences, relentless and concerted attention is required to protect Internet users as well as the Critical National Information Infrastructure and ensure they are resilient”, Danbatta said.

The EVC emphasised that the NCC-CSIRT has been structured to operate within the framework of the NCPS and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) to assist the Nigerian communications sector with the management and coordination of cyber security incidents and threats.

He noted that the CSIRT, established as a proactive step towards building trust, and safety needed for growing the digital economy, will initially focus on four main areas of monitoring, incident management, communication, and alert and warning.

Danbatta explained that the key mandates of the CSIRT, which will be achieved through a collaborative effort with relevant stakeholders, organisations, and agencies, include assisting the sector in the defence and response to major cyber threats and attacks targeted at the members within the sector.

The Centre is also to liaise with other sectoral CSIRTs as well as local and international security frameworks to protect the communications sector and the general wellbeing of the Nigerian people.

Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Retd), represented by Brig-Gen. Samad Akesode, acknowledged the establishment of NCC-CSIRT as a clear demonstration of the Commission’s resolve to join hands with the federal government in mitigating any risk that will emanate as Nigeria embraces advanced technology to facilitate digital transformation in the country.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and the Chairman, Committee on Telecommunications in the House of Representatives, Akeem Adeyemi, heads of other agencies in the Ministry, were among the dignitaries that attended the event.

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TECHDIGEST- The Federal Government has advised security agencies in the country to adopt the recently approved Fifth Generation (5G) network and exploit its potential to effectively tackle security challenges.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami made the call in a presentation at the security summit organized by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja with the theme, `Synergy: Panacea to the Effective Critical Assets and Infrastructure Protection’.

Prof. Pantami in his presentation titled; `Securing Critical National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure: Challenges, Opportunities and the Way Forward’, disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has implemented a number of strategies and policies through its Agencies and Parastatals to ensure the protection of Critical National Assets.

He said: “As part of our efforts to ensure the protection of Critical National Assets, we are working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to come up with an Executive Order to ensure that our Critical National Assets, particularly in the ICT sector are well protected.

“In order to promote Research and Development in this regard, we have established a National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the first of its kind in Africa, where young Nigerians are mentored, innovative and disruptive ideas are identified and supported towards the development of technologies which we will deploy as part of protecting our CNI.

Prof. Pantami said the Federal Government had set up a Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) in NITDA, an ngCERRT in the Office of the National Security Adviser while another one domiciled in the Nigerian Communications Commission which will be commissioned during the week.

He prescribed a multi-sectoral approach to ensure the protection of Critical National Infrastructure by deploying modern technological gadgets, as well as emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and others that will enhance security through remote surveillance.

The Minister also advocated for the sensitisation and re-orientation of citizens to understand their role in protecting national assets and also urged the Summit to explore   Research and Development as a viable tool for improving security in the country.

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