In the latest move, the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has launched an emergency review of the UK’s contract with Huawei for 5G roll out. The NCSC is expected to find out if Huawei could still be allowed to continue with the planned deployment of its technologies in providing 5G services in the UK.

The review was announced on Sunday as part of Downing Street’s push to eliminate Huawei’s involvement in the activities of the 5G network in the UK.

The UK government has been under intense pressure from the US government to sever ties with the Chinese Company. The pressure was intensified earlier this year with the Trump administration threatening to stop intelligence sharing with London if it continues its relationship with Huawei.

London has been adamant to push Huawei away due the cost of 5G roll out. Huawei offers the cheapest services available in 5G deployment and has used it to keep a lot of customers in their grip. The UK believes it will cost the government more to switch to another company right now.

But the latest sanction announced by the US government against Huawei that requires that chip and semiconductor producers in the US stop supplying Huawei with telecommunication components, has necessitated the emergency review and created a fresh ground for the UK authorities to oust the Chinese company.

Now, the new turn is coming from Downing Street, pushing to see that Huawei is eliminated from all British telecommunication by 2023.

According to Guardian, it was suggested on Friday that Downing Street is preparing the ground for a dramatic climbdown. A government spokesman was quoted as saying: “Following the US announcement of additional sanctions against Huawei, the NCSC is looking carefully at any impact they could have to the UK’s networks.”

The new US sanction billed to take effect from September means Huawei has only China to source chips and semiconductors from. And that’s where the concern lies. London believes the situation increases the chances of security breaches and requires urgent attention.

Guardian reported Whitehall sources saying that the effect of the US sanctions will mean that Huawei will rely on unfamiliar and untested components that could be exploited. And that makes the security threat it will pose inevitable.

Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on the relationship between china and the United Kingdom. The British government has suspected that the Chinese government has a hand in the outbreak of the virus, and they are not being honest about it. The situation has dampened the UK’s determination to allow Huawei to lead its 5G roll out.

The sanction will mean that Huawei’s lead in global 5G deployment will suffer a severe setback, and Ericsson of Sweden and Nokia of Finland may see themselves dominating the 5G market.

Conservatives MPs, led by Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Bob Seely have been pushing for the reduction of Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G deployment to zero. Spurred by US pressure and lack of trust in China, the duo believe they now have the numbers to stop the British government from legislating for a 35% cap on Huawei in Britain.

The opposition to Huawei’s participation in the UK’s 5G deployment is increasing daily, and will likely rise to the numbers needed to oust Huawei in coming weeks. Seely reportedly tweeted, “now 59 MPs” on Sunday. Meaning that the Conservative Huawei Interest Group, has beaten the numbers (44) required to defeat Boris Johnson and the Tories to it, though they are the majority.

With intensifying pressure within and outside Britain, it may be game over for Huawei. Mathew Henderson, director of the Asia Studies Center the Henry Jackson Society said the push for a review is evidence that the government’s previous position was untenable.

“This review is recognition that the government’s previous position on Huawei was untenable, both due to the scale of opposition in parliament and from our allies,” he said.

Huawei has repeatedly pledged to be transparent in its business and operate independently from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Its vice chairman Victor Zhang said they will be glad to discuss the issue with NCSC.

“We are happy to discuss with NCSC any concerns they may have and hope to continue the close working relationship we have enjoyed for the last 10 years.”

I came across a post, where someone blamed the government for not finding a way to ensure that children continued with their formal education despite the pandemic. The person insinuated that the government’s laissez-faire attitude towards education during this pandemic shows how education is not valued in Nigeria. He further stated that other countries have found ways of keeping children’s academic activities running smoothly and so our government should follow suit.

Of course the only way to send children back to school at this time in history is through the internet. Alternatively, we can try the “radio schools” programme that is happening right now in Enugu State. But, unfortunately, Nigeria is not ready for online teaching. As for teaching through the radio, that is the joke of the century.

It should be noted that some private school owners have considered engaging their students through online tutorials but a lot of factors are hindering their plans. Many entrepreneurs that recently kicked-off something close to an online school are actually targeting secondary school students, especially those that are about to write their WAEC. Some of them may be succeeding, anyway, but their impacts are yet to be felt.

For the many that have considered engaging their students through online teaching and learning, the factors hindering the execution of their plans include cost of data, lack of access to computers, unstable power supply, poor economy, lack of technical know-how, lack of interest, and unsuitable methodology.

• Cost of Data

Mobile data is very expensive in Nigeria. To be able to participate in these classes, both the students and their teachers will need to subscribe to a data plan. If the classes require that video and audio files should be used, it then means that these people will spend a lot of money during a 30-minute or one hour class. When you check how much that will be spent on data alone in a week, you will be discouraged.

• Access to Computer

When many people talk about online classes I feel the urge to ask them how the children will gain access to computers for their learning. Some may tell you that the children should use their parents’ own, but they forgot that it’s not all the parents that own computers. The parents that have usually use theirs for business transactions, which they wouldn’t want their children to jeopardise. Even the option of mobile phones may not work here because most children don’t own phones until they’re through with secondary school.

1. Unstable Power Supply

Of course going into this problem is unnecessary. Every Nigerian knows what NEPA (aka Disco) does to the system. So you can imagine paying for online classes for your children, providing laptops or desktops for them, connecting the computer to the internet, loading up data, and then running generators on top of everything. The thought of this alone is enough to shut down the plan.

• Poor Economy

Poverty and unstable power supply are two monsters that have found fertile soils in Nigeria. Actually, poverty seems to be more powerful and can bring about the birth of other minor monsters. Coming to online teaching and learning, children from poor and working class homes cannot afford to register and partake in these classes. It will also be hard for them to obtain the logistics needed for the classes. So if the government gives a go ahead order for online tutorials for primary and secondary schools, children from these social classes will lose out.

• Lack of Technical Know-How

Children in urban areas may be able to operate computers but I can’t say that for those in rural areas. Apart from the students, some teachers are also not computer literate. Even if these people know how to boot and shut down a computer, how many of them know how to navigate through the lesson platform to be able to access their class activities? It is true that practice makes perfect but this is something that may require some training before it kicks off. However, it is necessary that schools use this period to realise how important computer practice lessons are so that when schools reopen, they can teach these children practical computer operations.

• Lack of Interest

As the saying goes, you can take a horse to the stream but you can’t force it to drink. There are certain things about physical classrooms that virtual ones don’t have. For instance, companionship, friendship and team spirit these children have built over the years as classmates in physical classrooms cannot be found in virtual ones. Truth is that most at times, these students go to school because it provides them with the opportunity to meet and relate with their friends. This opportunity is lacking in virtual classrooms. The result here is that these students easily feel bored with lesson activities when they face their computers.

• Unsuitable Methodology

My children’s school online tutorial was designed so that parents and guardians attend online classes with the children. They expect parents and guardians to be there to monitor and explain the lesson contents to their children. It automatically made parents home lesson tutors except that this time, parents will obtain their materials from the school’s online classes. This method may be favourable for children that have private tutors (which is not advisable in this period) and/or less busy literate parents. But for those whose parents are illiterates and/or busy, this method won’t work.

Like I told one of my neighbours, we shouldn’t worry so much about our young children going back to school; they will definitely pick up from where they stopped before the COVID-19 lockdown. Maybe we need to bond with them more during this pandemic before they go back to their 7 to 5 academic routine. As for older children, especially those that will soon sit for their SSCE, parents should provide them with books and other educational materials that they will study and acquire knowledge. Those that can afford online tutorials should go ahead with that. But let it be known that Nigeria is not yet ripe for online schools.

On Sunday, the Nigerian social media space suddenly went sizzling with some noise of mortifying fight between two Nigerian federal agencies.

It started when Sahara Reporters made a report alleging that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantimi, ordered gunmen to chase the staff of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) out of office. The report was based on the complaint of the Director General of the Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who said that the NIDCOM does no longer have a space to work from.

She said: “In one year, we don’t have an office. The office we got was given to us by NCC but we were actually driven away by the honourable minister of communication and digital economy, Mr. Isa Pantami, within two days, they drove us out with guns and what happened? The place was given to us by NCC.

“You know we all help each other, NCC as an agency of government, said there is a place you can use to settle in, and just as we settled in, I was in Ethiopia when I got a call. I thought that it was a joke. I came back from Ethiopia on Thursday, this happened on Tuesday, by Friday when I went to the office, guns, armed men had taken over the place. I thought it was a joke, but here is the thing, I’m a government employee, so is he. It’s a government issue.”

An hour after the news went out, the Minister of Communication, Dr. Pantami responded, calling the story a lie. He fiercely refuted sending armed men the way of the NIDCOM staff.

In a quick reaction, Sahara Reporters shared a video where the DG of Diaspora Commission was recorded confirming the story. Again, Dr. Pantami came tenaciously refuting it. He called it “a fat lie,” adding that the Nigerian Communication Commission has “faulted her lies on social media.”

That ignited an inferno of argument. The response that came from the NIDCOM DG reveals underlying issues in the fracas. It was a combination of mockery and slamming that only added embers to the controversy. She said the Minister of Communication is a notorious misogynist whose “disrespect for women is legendary.”

To prove how truthful her side of the story is; she shared the video of the incident which shows members of the Diaspora Commission being asked to vacate the office of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC).

At this point, there had been enormous efforts by many who were attracted by the commotion to quell it.

“Oya, Abike, tell him sorry. Pantami, you too, tell her sorry. Oya you both should go outside and play. Don’t fight again. Twitter has settled your dispute,” Chinedu Okeke wrote on Twitter.

While a horde among those who the noise of the altercation attracted chose a side to support in the unfortunate tweet-fight, the Nigerian Communication Commission threw in the towel with a statement that explains how it all started and why the principal officers of the government decided to settle their grudge with a bout in the public.

In a statement titled: Diaspora Commission Not Sent Packing from Digital Economy Complex, signed by Dr. Henry Nkemadu, the NCC’s director of public affairs, the Commission said the decision stopping the staff of NiDCOM from using its complex was only a security measure.

“The Board and Management of the NCC took a decision to ensure that every activity in the building was in line with the Federal Government’s digital agenda.

“Incidentally, after the offer of the office spaces to the Diaspora Commission, the Director General (DG), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa had not visited the Complex to take possession of any of the offices and also the Commission had not started using any of these spaces as offices.

“As is usual in ensuring security and accountability before, during and after presidential visits, the building had to be cleared to allow for only known and identifiable persons to have access within the Complex.

“Therefore the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami could not have sent armed men to drive the staff of the Diaspora Commission out of the Communications and Digital Economy Complex,” the statement said partly.

The Diaspora Commission responded with its own statement that refutes the claims of the NCC. It said the Commission issued a 48 hours marching order to its staff.

“On the 9th of February, the staff were given one week by the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Pantami, to pack out but within 48 hours of the said quit notice, they were forcefully evicted by security operatives attached to the complex on the orders of the Minister on February 11,” the statement said.

While there is no clear winner yet, the reaction of Nigerians who watched interestingly as the quarrel escalated has been of disappointment, reprimand and support for the party of their choice.

“Abike is playing the gender card when she should hold her heads high like Oyo Ita who challenged Abba Kyari. This rudderless government that Abike is defending everyday has come to biter her. Pantami has never been an Honest person. His antecedents are here for all to see,” a Twitter user wrote.

Others think that the office of the Diaspora Commission is duplicated and therefore should not raise alarms over office space to the point of embarrassing public fights with the minister of communications.

“The commission (NIDCOM) is a duplication of the functions of the MFA and our diplomatic missions,” Mark Amaza said. “Nonetheless, it’s embarrassing to see this kind of public spat between top govt. officials.”

While it is clearly a show of shame, many believe that two federal agencies fighting on social media is also a result of poor leadership.

“That’s what happens when the president does not even know what is happening in his administration. She resorted to Twitter because the president is so far aloof. That was the same thing that happened between the former madam Oyo and Abba Kyari,” a Twitter user wrote.

It is believed that the federal government acted irresponsibly by creating an agency like the NIDCOM, (that has been proactive to the plights of Nigerians in Diaspora), without provision for office space.

The full statement of NCC.

Diaspora Commission Not Sent Packing from Digital Economy Complex, Says NCC.

The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to a video
making the rounds on social media alleging that the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
(NiDCOM) was ignominiously thrown out of the NCC building. It is, therefore, important that the general public is acquiesced with what really transpired with regard to the incident leading to the evacuation of the Diaspora Commission from the NCC building.

Following the completion of the NCC building at Mbora, Abuja designated as NCC Annex and the
acute shortage of accommodation space for the staff of the Commission in the NCC Head Office
at Maitama, Abuja, the Board of the Commission directed the decongestion of the Head Office
Building.

Some of the Departments of the NCC had started moving to the new Office Complex of Five (5) Floors when discussions were held between the NCC and the Diaspora Commission to enable the Diaspora Commission also to utilise any free offices within the Complex. The fifth floor allocated to them had to be used to accommodate other Departments from the NCC Headquarters to ease the congestion.

NCC’s offer to house NiDCOM was predicated on the long held position of the NCC that agencies of Government will achieve more through strategic collaboration, partnership, synergy and sharing to the extent allowed by relevant laws. During this period, the NCC secured approval for the Commissioning of the Office Complex by the President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari and the launching of four important projects of the NCC and the renamed Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMC&DE).

The projects include the launching and unveiling of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 –
2025; commissioning of the Communications and Digital Economy Complex; launching of the Emergency Communications Centre and Toll-Free number 112; and the flag-off of the Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training. These important projects were a culmination of extensive collaboration between NCC and the other Parastatals of the FMC&DE and fittingly the Complex was renamed the COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ECONOMY COMPLEX in tandem with the new drive of the Federal Government towards a digital economy.

The NCC has not withdrawn the offer but had hiccups arising from the preparation for the visit of
President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Communications and Digital Economy Complex
and launch other projects relating to the mandate of government. The Board and Management of the NCC took a decision to ensure that every activity in the building was in line with the Federal Government’s digital agenda.

Incidentally, after the offer of the office spaces to the Diaspora Commission, the Director General
(DG), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa had not visited the Complex to take possession of any of the
offices and also the Commission had not started using any of these spaces as offices. As is usual in ensuring security and accountability before, during and after presidential visits, the building had to be cleared to allow for only known and identifiable persons to have access within the Complex.

Therefore the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital
Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami could not have sent armed men to drive the staff of the
Diaspora Commission out of the Communications and Digital Economy Complex. At this time, only NCC Staff were accredited to have access within this premises as required by the security officials. All the properties belonging to the Diaspora Commission are safely warehoused in some of the Offices in the Complex.

This is contrary to the position of the DG of NDC that the removal of her Commission from the
building was punitive. This is not the correct position and we agree with her that there are always
challenges in every human activity but the unforeseen challenges that arose in this case are not
different but require understanding of all concerned.

SIGNED:
Dr. Henry Nkemadu
Director, Public Affairs
Nigerian Communications Commission