Month: August 2021

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e-Naira: Things you need to know about CBN’s digital currency

On Tuesday, August 31, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced e-Naira after the ban on Cryptocurrency.

According to the apex bank, the e-Naira will be launched on October 1, 2021.

The CBN had announced the ban on the use of cryptocurrency; because it is not being issued by a Sovereign Authority, among other reasons.

Below are some things you should know about the e-Naira:

  • This digital currency will allow easy transaction but is it different from any other digital currency; because it will be issued by a sovereign authority, which is the CBN.
  • A digital currency issued by a government works differently from a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
  • According to the CBN, the e-Naira will aid financial inclusion and propel a cashless policy.
  • e-Naira, which was created to facilitate digital transactions, does not need to be backed with physical cash.
  • It will not grow in value like Bitcoin or other crypto currencies but it will function the same way the Naira does.
  • The e-Naira will be pegged to the Naira so their value remains the same like stable coins pegged to the dollar.
  • The e-Naira will be created independently of bank accounts; the wallet will be created by financial institutions that will create customer identification through an application product interface.
  • It is a legal tender for the entire country, it will have a non-interest bearing Central bank Digital Currency status, a transaction limit for customers and a value-based transaction limit.
  • As a National Critical infrastructure, the e-Naira system will be subjected to comprehensive security check, all data and personally identifiable information (PII) will be kept off the ledger and will not be stored on the ledger.

Meanwhile, the CBN has directed all commercial banks to publish on their websites; names and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) of customers; found to have engaged in fraudulent practices to get foreign exchange from banks.

The bank which gave the order in a circular issued on Tuesday identified such fraudulent practices to include the use of fake visas; as well as cancellation of air tickets after purchase of Personal Travel Allowance and Business Travel Allowance.

“All banks are hereby directed to publish on their websites; the names and BVN of defaulting customers who present fake travel documents; or cancel their tickets and fail to return the purchased PTA/BTA within two (weeks); as stipulated in the customer declaration form signed by them,” the circular reads.

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US eager to help Nigeria identify terrorism financiers

The United States is ready to assist Nigeria in identifying state actors and other individuals sponsoring terrorism in the country.

This was disclosed by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard on Monday, August 30, 2021.

Leonard made this disclosure during a meeting with journalists in Abuja. Her revelation came after a question was posed to her on the issue. Subsequently, the envoy had given a short response in which she expressed the willingness of the American government to assist the current administration in exposing terrorism financiers and other sponsors.

 “That is something we are very eager to partner Nigeria on.  I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject. I won’t like to go into details,’’ the envoy had said.

Equally important, 4wardwego blog reports that the envoy’s comments come against the backdrop of a recent revelation b y a former Commodore of the Nigerian Navy, Kunle Olawunmi. Specifically, Olawunmi had declared that sponsors of terrorist groups are currently holding positions in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Olawunmi said this last Wednesday when he featured on a Channels Television breakfast show Sunrise Daily.

His revelation came after the attack on the Nigeria Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna State.

The former military commodore said terrorists arrested in the past years had mentioned their names as their sponsors.

“Boys (terrorists) that we arrested mentioned names of people that are in the government now. Some of them are governors, some of them are in the Nigerian Senate…Some of them are ministers. The Department of State Service (DSS) know them.

“…I have interrogated a high-ranking member of this government on the issue of Boko Haram in 2007/2008 and he was found culpable,” he said.

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Jos North Stakeholders Vows to Expose Troublemakers

JOS NORTH STAKEHOLDERS VOW TO EXPOSE TROUBLEMAKERS AS THEY MEET GOVERNOR LALONG.

Hours after relaxing the 24-hour curfew imposed on Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has held a meeting with stakeholders from the area to consolidate on efforts to sustain peace.

Governor Lalong while addressing the stakeholders, said the recent attacks in the Local Government Area are very disturbing and have brought back sour memories that have been almost forgotten.

He thanked the stakeholders for their roles in calming the tension as well as assisting security agencies to bring the situation under control. However, he told them that there must be deliberate efforts to ensure that there is no more violence.

The Governor said his administration has done a lot to improve security in the State in the last six years through various avenues including the Peace Building Agency. He asked them to take control of their areas as Government will not allow the breakdown of law and order under any guise. 

Lalong regretted that the Government has been forced to use curfew as a last resort, but this can be avoided through dialogue and continuous engagement. He also assured them that he will continue to uphold justice and fairness which is the bedrock for peace.

During the meeting held at the Government House Rayfield Jos, the stakeholders expressed dismay over the recent attacks that led to loss of lives of lives and properties leading to the imposition of curfews.

They said most of the crises are pure criminality that are usually exploited using politics, religion and ethnicity to the point of escalation. According to them, the time has come for all well meaning citizens of Jos North to come together and fish out criminals among them to be punished.

The stakeholders assured the Governor that they will increase surveillance within their communities to fish out those instigating the crises as well as perpetrators in order to maintain peace.

They also warned those fuelling the situation in Jos North through provocative statements to desist as they will no longer watch and see people from outside the State instigating violence while they bear the brunt.

The effort of Governor Lalong in restoring peace in Plateau State over the past six years was also commended because there has been more engagement, empowerment of security agencies, equity and fair representation, and efforts to boost economic growth.

Drug and substance abuse, fake news and hate speech were also raised as some of the most disturbing issues that are heightening tensions unnecessarily which the Government must rise up to address.

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iPhone 13 tipped to launch on September 17

Last year due to the pandemic, Apple delayed the launch of the iPhone 12 by about a month; opting to launch it in October instead of the usual September timeframe.

However, it is expected that things will be going back to “normal” with the iPhone 13 and according to a report from Chinese website IT Home; the iPhone 13 could launch on the 17th of September.

This is according to a listing on an e-commerce app which states that the iPhone 13 series will be launching on the 17th of September; although how this website landed on those dates is unclear.

After all, anyone could speculate when the iPhone 13 could launch; but it doesn’t make it true, so it’s probably best to take it with a grain of salt.

The listings also mention the third-gen AirPods which they claim will arrive on the 30th of September; but once again, it is unclear how they arrived at those dates so don’t put too much credence into them just yet.

Apple is rumored to possibly host multiple events in September, so it is possible that these dates could be true; but like we said, it’s probably not a good idea to take them too seriously for now.

If the September dates are true though; we expect that Apple will probably start sending out invites and reminders in the next couple of weeks.

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iPhone 13 could have satellite connectivity

Finally a fun iPhone 13 rumor! If Apple holds to its traditional schedule we’re mere weeks away from a new iPhone; and until now the rumors have been slight and, dare I say boring.

Yet noted Apple prognosticator and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is now claiming the iPhone 13 could have the ability to make satellite calls built right in, according to MacRumors.

In a note to investors, Kuo claims that; the iPhone 13 will be able to connect directly to low earth orbit (or LEO) satellites thanks to a customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip.

LEO satellites are probably best known as the backbone of Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service which relies on satellites in a lower orbit to beam internet down to customers and avoid some of the common pitfalls of satellite internet, including high latency, and common blackouts.

But Starlink isn’t the only company using LEO satellites for connectivity.

Hughesnet and OneWeb have combined forces to roll out a competitor to Starlink and Immarsat announced a new constellation intended to blend with terrestrial 5G networks for a more global solution.

More crucial for this iPhone rumor is Globalstar, which saw its stock skyrocket earlier this year; when Qualcomm announced its upcoming X65 chip would support Globalstar’s Band n53 tech.

3GPP had previously approved Band n53 as a 5G band.

If this rumor is true the X60 would likely be supporting another element of 5G, which is currently comprised of a whole mix of technologies; including the ultrafast but limited range millimeter-wave and the more widespread, but slower C-Band.

LEO 5G would provide support in places; that don’t yet have towers beaming down the other forms of 5G speed—particularly useful in many rural areas that often struggle to get 3G or 4G connectivity.

What that means for battery life remains to be seen. There’s also the tree factor.

Hopefully, the X60 chip in the iPhone 13 won’t be as susceptible to arboreal interference as a Starlink’s Dishy McFlatface.

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Governor Lalong Relaxed Curfew in Jos North, Bassa and Jos South

Governor Lalong Relaxed Curfew in Jos North, Bassa and Jos South following the recent development on the State

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong made this known during a broadcast on 30th August, 2021, when he was addressing People of Plateau State over the security situation.

Governor Lalong commiserate with the entire citizens of the State over these sad developments. He particularly extend his deep condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones, as well as those who sustained injuries and lost properties during the carnage. He has directed that Government pays the medical bills of those who are receiving treatment in various health facilities.

As a result of these occurrences, He convened a high level stakeholders meeting where traditional, political, community and religious leaders gathered to brainstorm on how to bring an end to this cycle of violence. Thereafter, he held separate meetings with leaders of Irigwe Land as well as Fulani Community to further engage them on lasting solutions to the protracted conflict within the area.

4wardwego reported that yesterday the Governor visited Yelwa Zangam village of Jos North Local Government to see things for himself and commiserate with the families of those affected, as well as reassure them that Government will stop at nothing to apprehend other fleeing suspects behind the attacks. We are determined to ensure diligent investigation and prosecution to give them justice.

Lalong commend people of conscience across different faiths, ethnic and political backgrounds that have remained objective, dispassionate and resolute towards condemning the criminal actions of the attackers and offering useful suggestions to Government on ways to improve public safety.

Governor Lalong also assure parents of students studying at the University of Jos that they are working with the University authorities to ensure the safety of their wards as soon as the school reconvenes. In the same vein, he has assured the management of the NYSC that the Government will partner with them to guarantee the safety of Corps members posted to the State.

The Governor in his statement, and I quote:

“After my visit to Yelwa Zangam village, I took a tour of the Jos metropolis to see things for myself. I also engaged the security agencies to review the general security situation in the three Local Government Areas where the curfew was imposed, as well as other parts of the State. At the end of the review, Government took the following decisions:

The curfew in Jos North is to be relaxed. Beginning from Monday 30th August 2021, the curfew shall be enforced from 6pm to 6am until further notice.

The curfew in Jos South and Bassa is to also be further relaxed. As from Monday 30th August 2021, the curfew shall be enforced between 10pm to 6am until further notice.

The Ban on Tricycles (Keke NAPEP) and hawkers remains in force within Jos/Bukuru metropolis”

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SERAP sues FG over details of N729bn payment to poor Nigerians

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Federal Government, asking for details of the ₦729bn payment to 24.3m poor Nigerians across the country.

SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, August 29, 2021.

Also, he noted that the suit with the number FHC/L/CS/853/2021 was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Specifically, the group is seeking “an order directing and compelling the Federal Government to clarify whether the proposed payment to poor Nigerians is part of the ₦5.6 trillion budget deficits.”

SERAP wants the court “to compel the Federal Government to disclose details of proposed payments of ₦729bn to 24.3 million poor Nigerians; including the mechanisms and logistics for the payments, list of beneficiaries, and how they have been selected; whether the payments will be made in cash or through Bank Verification Numbers or other means”.

The suit followed the group’s Freedom of Information (FoI) request to the Ministe of Humanitarian Affairs;   Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

It is asking the minister to disclose “the details of beneficiaries and selection criteria; as well as the payment plan [which] would promote transparency and accountability; remove the risks of mismanagement and diversion of public funds.

“Providing support and assistance to poor Nigerians is a human rights obligation. But the programme to spend five percent of the 2021 budget, which is mostly based on deficit and borrowing; requires anti-corruption safeguards to ensure the payments go directly to the intended beneficiaries; and that public funds are not mismanaged or diverted,” the statement added.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that these requirements and other anti-corruption controls are fully implemented and monitored and that the payments are justified in light of the huge budget deficit and borrowing, and whether there are better ways to spend N729bn to support poor Nigerians.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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Plateau Killings: Governor Lalong Visits Yelwa Zangam Village

The Executive Governor of Plateau State & chairman Northern Governor’s forum, Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, paid a visit to the families of those who lost their loves ones during the attack on Yelwa Zangam village of Plateau State.

Governor Lalong while condoling the community over the incident said he was highly grieved over the killings which are purely criminal and can never be left to go unpunished.

The Governor directed that a police station be established in the village and assured them that the newly trained vigilante will be deployed to the area. He also directed that relief materials be supplied immediately to alleviate the suffering of the victims. He also visited the residence of the village head which was destroyed as well as the bridge linking the community, directing that immediate repairs be carried out.

Lalong also told them that he has mandated the security agencies to fish out the killers no matter how long it takes because all the attacks in the State are purely acts of criminality, no matter the attempts by some persons to change the narrative.

The Governor urged the people to be consoled as no amount of conjecture will bring back the dead. However, he assured them that he will ensure that those killed get justice as those arrested will be head prosecuted diligently.

The Ujah of Anaguta, His Royal Highness Pozo Johnson Magaji Jauro, First Class Traditional Ruler in Jos North Local Government welcomed the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong and stated that:

Anaguta people and others who have suffered in recent attacks to ignore the attempt by some politicians to incite them and pitch them against the government under the guise that they care for them.

He said the Anaguta nation is grieved with the attack which was very barbaric and carefully planned, but cannot put the blame on Governor who has not only empowered the security agencies to protect the people, but has also established structures to promote peaceful coexistence.

He said what is needed now is for the Governor to be supported to pursue the cause of justice by ensuring that the perpetrators are fished out and punished according to the law.

“I want everyone to quote me. I am the Chief mourner of this tragedy and nobody can mourn more than me. Let me appreciate the swift response of the security agencies and Government when we were attacked. I am not blaming Governor Lalong for the attack. I have been hearing all sorts of nonsense on the social media. How can somebody emancipate you and then turn back to kill you. This narrative is very very unfortunate. Governor Lalong is a lover of Anaguta people, lover of Jos North, Lover of Plateau State and lover of peace” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Sunday Bunu, Chairman or Anaguta Development Association said the community has been exposed due to lack of a Police station and access road which made response difficult during the attack. He asked for compensation for the victims, rehabilitation of houses destroyed, payment of hospital bills, reconstruction of Kunga bridge, as well as the construction of an alternative road linking the village to the permanent site of the University.

A representative of the affected families Mr. Bitrus Pada who lost members of his family said a total of 33 people were killed during the attack while several others were injured and are receiving treatment in various hospitals. He said they need urgent supply of food items and temporary shelter as most of their possessions were burned and looted.

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Plateau Bloggers/Online Media Association Mourns Member – Vou Loisinta Pwol

The Plateau State Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA), is in mourning over the sudden passing away of its dedicated member and Treasurer – Miss Vou Loisinta Pwol, the punisher of The State of Plateau news blog on the evening of 27 Aug.

Loisinta’s unfortunate death has dealt a thoughtless blow on PLABOMA and the entire Plateau social media space. The sisterly and motherly role she played in the association, particularly as one of the thriving female reporters on the Plateau and beyond was legendary. 

The late Loisinta Pwol was very humble, dutiful, jovial and a friendly colleague, who distinguished herself professionally in online media practice. 

She will be forever remembered for these and more. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Signed

Friday Bako Alfred Makut
Chairman Secretary