As the trade dispute between the US and China rages on, Huawei has continued to take the center stage of the US offensive attacks from many angles. Reuters reported that the US Government is considering reviewing its regulatory rules to enable it shut supply of chips to Huawei from other companies such as Taiwan’s TSMC.

Huawei has been trying to stay in business on little options since it was ousted from the US in May 2019, owing to the risks that its tech activities pose to the US national security. The Chinese company has been accused of being a spy agent for the Chinese Government using its telecommunication technology to obtain secret information about other countries.

The US has been wary of Huawei’s activities even outside its shores. Last month, the Trump administration warned the UK Government that it would stop intelligence sharing partnership if London allows the Chinese tech giants to get involved in its 5G roll out.

The British government in a defiant move announced that Huawei will be allowed to account for 35% of the kit in a network’s periphery that includes radio masts. But the deal excludes any chance of Huawei supplying sensitive network materials (core). And the company will not be allowed to operate near military bases and nuclear sites.

UK’s partnership with Huawei has opened the door for other European countries to accept the Chinese company’s partnership in their 5G roll out.

The US appears to have a plan B in keeping the tech giants out of global influence. The new attempt to stop the Chip supply partnership between Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, and Huawei, the world’s no. 2 smartphone maker, is the latest attempt by the Trump’s administration to keep Huawei out of business.

Sources familiar with the matter said the new regulation will stop chips shipment to Huawei, which would be a big blow to both the Chinese company and TSMC, a big player in the chip making industry. TSMC has been a major supplier of chips to Huawei’s HiSilicon unit and mobile phone rivals Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc.

The new commerce sanction involving Huawei is said to be among several options on the consideration table at the high-level meetings to be held this week and the next in Washington. Sources said the chip proposal has been drafted though its approval is far from certain.

“What they’re trying to do is make sure that no chips go to Huawei that they can possible control,” a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

However, the process of blocking sales of chips to Huawei comes with a price: The already existing Foreign Direct Product Rule that places some foreign-made goods using US tech ideas under US regulation must be altered. The new draft proposal means the US Government would force companies using US chip making equipment, ideas or license to obtain license before they could supply to Huawei.

China has deeply relied on US chip making companies for years, like KLA, (KLAC.O) Lam Research (LRCX.O) and Applied Materials (AMAT.O) according to a report from China’s Everbright Securities.

“There is no production line in China that uses only equipment made in China, so it is very difficult to make any chipsets without US equipment,” said the report.

The latest trade deal signed by the US and China does not allow China to steal ideas from the US. So to keep the trade agreement, Chinese companies will be forced to play along the rules of the new draft if approved. But US allies around the world are likely going to be spiked by it.

Huawei has been struggling by expanding its reach. China is also trying to assert technological independence by investing billions of dollars into research for its software and chip development.

The future appears uncertain for both the US and China, in case China finds a solution to its software problem, the US tech industry will lose a huge economic interest from around the world. If China fails, the US will continue to enjoy its dominance in the global tech industry and to detect for others according to its own interests.

The US fall out with Huawei has forced some US and foreign companies to seek special licenses from the Commerce Department to do business. China has become the biggest loser, giving in to the US in many fronts due to many of its tech short falls.

That is the world’s finest fighter – Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua – getting his National Identity Number (NIN) from the Federal Government of Nigeria, via NIMC (National Identity Management Commission). I got mine four years ago and did it the old fashioned way, queued and waited for 90 minutes. Though I am yet to get the permanent ID card, the number itself does not expire. I practically have not used it for anything but I did as a sign to help government work. 

Joshua might have received some red carpet treatments for his enrolment, yet, that he did it is the very reason why everyone has to do it. His simplicity, Nigerian-ness and optimism about Nigeria should inspire us to help the government on basic things, as citizens. Joshua is a real king in his game, and there is nothing anyone could imagine why he needs NIN for. But living in the UK, he understands the purpose of having order for societies to function.

NIN is FREE and if you budget 2 hours, in most cities, you will get it. I am not saying that 2 hours is a small time but people need to comply. You do not do things just because they benefit you, but because your actions could improve the society. Our strongest rope is determined by the weakest knot; Nigerians have to help the government especially when things are FREE.

NIN if implemented will advance Nigeria, from education to healthcare. Get yours today!

The World Bank has approved $2.2 billion for the execution of six major projects in Nigeria. The projects are part of the 2020 efforts of the World Bank to help countries with serious infrastructural deficiencies and overwhelming poverty issues.

The World Bank said on Wednesday that the projects would support human capital and economic development in a bid alleviate millions of Nigerians from poverty. Nigeria is the home of the largest number of poor people in the world, and its government is doing little to quell the escalating pandemic. The Bretton Woods Institution has therefore added the country to its campaign against extreme poverty.

The campaign is being executed through many projects ranging from immunization to facilitation of business friendly environment and expansion of the digital economy. It also seeks to improve public and private sector capacity on governance.

“Nigeria is central to the World Bank Group’s mission of tackling extreme poverty. The World Bank is carefully targeting its support on high impact projects as the country works to tackle corruption and lift 100 million of its people out of poverty,” said David Malpass, World Bank Group President.

The campaign also covers some aspects of children welfare. World Bank’s country director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri said the project will provide social amenities that many in the country need.

“Ensuring that children are immunized and sleep under mosquito nets, building better roads especially in rural areas, and providing Nigeria’s poorest citizens with a unique identification that will make social safety nets and services more effective,” he said.

The funding will be provided by the International Development Association (IDA), the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria. The breakdown of the projects is as follows:

$650 million IDA credit is to be used to fund immunization and the fight against malaria in some selected states. The projects will be financed through concessions.

The upgrade of rural roads and access to farms and other agribusinesses across 13 states, currently being handled by the Nigerian Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, will get $280 million funding from an IDA credit, $230 million from the French Development Agency, and $65 million from the Nigerian Government.

IDA credit of $115 million, $100 million from the French Development Agency and $215 million from the European Investment Bank will be used to support the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project, and the National Identity Management Commission, in their quest to up the number of enrollees into the national identification system to about 150 million in the next three years.

Other projects to be financed by the $2.2 billion includes the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project that is designed to facilitate private investment in the state by providing infrastructural amenities for businesses and fostering good relationship between farmers, suppliers of farm products and other service providers. Part of its goal is also to provide training and apprenticeships for women and farmers. The project is to be funded through a $250 million IDA credit.

Apart from poverty alleviation, Nigeria’s identity crisis is another integral issue that is importantly going to be addressed through the World Bank fund. In December, the United States Government added Nigeria to the list of countries it has placed on visa ban. The excuse was that Nigeria has failed to live up to expectation in digital security, mainly data gathering, sharing of intelligence and reporting cases of lost passports, etc.

The Trump administration promised to lift the ban as soon as Nigeria stands up to the challenge. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has pointed at lack of funds as a reason for failures in implementing identity management that will place the majority of people in Nigeria in a database.

The $330 million mapped out for digital economy and identity management will help to speed up the process of enrollment and printing of IDs that have been in slow pace for long.

However, many are concerned about the judicious use of the fund. In a country notorious for corruption, words on the streets are that it may end up in private pockets if the projects are not thoroughly monitored.