Tech
Pantami decries non-utilisation of NIN database by security agencies to tackle terrorism
Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Adewolu Adeleke (left); Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta; Special Assistant, Innovation and Technology to the Lagos State Governor, Olatunbosun Alake; Minister, Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami; Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Prince Akeem Adeyemi and Chairman, NCC Board, Prof. Adeolu Akande, during the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo 2022 at Landmark Centre, VI, Lagos on Monday.
The Minister spoke in Lagos on Monday, on the sideline of the forum organised by the Nigeria Office for Developing the indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS), an agency domiciled in the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
While acknowledging the escalating insecurity challenges in the country, Pantami said “though there are issues of banditry and other security challenges, some questions should be forwarded to the security institutions because what we have done is to establish the database, which is still work in progress. So far, there are over 86 million citizens in the database. What I inherited in 2020 when the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was transferred to me was only 41 million.
“Note that NIMC was established in 2007. In 13 years, they recorded 41 million and from October 2020 to date, we increased it by 45 million. The database is available and security institutions have power that whenever crime is committed to access the database. There is the Provision of Law, the Cybercrime Act 2015, they have Power of Lawful Intercept, that have been provided by law. They don’t need to come to us.
He stressed that the National Identity Management Act 2007, Section 27, states clearly that obtaining NIN is mandatory for all citizens and legal residents and “it is not allowed for one to obtain a passport, driver’s license or enjoy any government services without NIN.”
Speaking on the benefit of getting identified with NIN, he said, “firstly, obtaining it is a provision of the law and the law has been in place before I was appointed as a minister and before NIMC was transferred to me in October 2020. We only enforced it.
“Secondly, NIN has many benefits. You can’t go to any developed country and work there without an identification number. In the USA, you need a Social Security Number; in the UK, you need a National Insurance Number. If you go to India, with all their population, you need a number to be identified with. So, this is not only for Nigeria. In all other countries, developed and developing countries, they all have their identification numbers.”
According to him, establishing a national database is key and prerequisite towards economic development, national planning and others. “No better planning without a national database. So, our target is to ensure that there is a national database in place, which will be one of the major legacies we are going to leave behind, a central database for Nigeria. We shouldn’t be just estimating our population; we should be factual about it.’’“The benefits of national ID far outweigh any population figure. When the census is over, the record is kept aside, but through NIN, you have a database, where you will have all the demographics and be able to plan very well. So, we should not limit it to security. Though, security remains a priority and it is because of this that we compromise economic gains sometimes for it. As long as both of them cannot be pursued simultaneously, the preference is security over the economy because without the former, there cannot be the latter. If a country is safe and stable, the economy will grow.”
The second edition of the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF 2.0) has ended on a historic note, drawing a record-breaking 53,000 physical participants and reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in the global digital space.
Held from February 24 to 27, 2026 at the Enugu International Conference Centre, the four-day gathering surpassed its 50,000 attendance target, with organisers confirming strong online participation from across the world.
The event ranked among the top five globally trending conversations on social media during its run.
Governor Peter Mbah addressing the Enugu Tech Festival 2026 participants
Convener of the festival and Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Prince Lawrence Ezeh, described the turnout as proof that Enugu’s digital vision is gaining real traction.
“We set out to inspire 50,000 innovators, thinkers, founders and investors. Seeing nearly 60,000 people actively engaged shows that African tech is moving beyond talk to real impact,” he said.
Organisers revealed that Day One recorded 20,000 participants, followed by 15,000 on Day Two, 13,000 on Day Three and 5,000 on the final day — each carefully structured around governance, investment, emerging technologies and ecosystem building.
With the theme, “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” the festival symbolically linked Enugu’s coal heritage to its emerging identity as a digital hub.
Governor Peter Mbah, who declared the festival open, delivered a keynote that set the tone for the event. He described the global tech revolution as an economic renaissance powered by ideas, code and data rather than physical assets.
Referencing global giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., Amazon and Meta Platforms, the governor said Enugu would not remain a spectator. “We will be participants. We will be producers,” he declared.
Day Two shifted attention to entrepreneurship and capital, featuring a curated “Deal Room” where startups met venture capitalists from Lagos, Nairobi, London and Dubai.
Though investment figures were not disclosed, several founders reportedly secured follow-up funding engagements.
Dr Ezeh described the initiative as a bridge between talent and capital, noting that Enugu is positioning itself as the investment gateway to Southeast Nigeria’s technology corridor.
The third day focused on artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web3 technologies, with a live hackathon producing solutions in fintech, healthcare diagnostics and climate-smart agriculture.
Panels also debated responsible AI governance and decentralised finance regulation.
Skills development remained central throughout the festival, as hundreds of young participants underwent hands-on training in software engineering, cloud computing and blockchain development.
The closing ceremony combined innovation showcases with awards and cultural performances, highlighting the fusion of technology and creative expression.
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, reaffirmed federal commitment to strengthening the nation’s innovation ecosystem, stressing that research commercialisation and youth entrepreneurship are key to economic diversification.
Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, described ETF 2.0 as a landmark achievement that has elevated Enugu’s global standing.
Hundreds of laptops and tablets were distributed to outstanding participants, while selected startups received N10 million grants each to accelerate product development.
Additional teams secured smaller grants to support training, prototype development and community tech hubs.
“Inspiration without tools is incomplete,” Dr Ezeh said, emphasising that the festival was designed not just to motivate but to equip young innovators with tangible resources.
For nearly three decades, the smartphone has been at the heart of our daily lives.
From communication and navigation to entertainment and productivity, it has become an essential tool.
But according to Mark Zuckerberg, the smartphone era may soon be coming to an end.
The Meta CEO has announced his vision for the next major shift in technology—smart glasses—which he believes will replace smartphones as the primary way we interact with the digital world.
● Are Smartphones becoming obsolete?
It might be hard to imagine life without a smartphone, but Zuckerberg predicts that the transition is already underway.
In a recent interview with tech journalist Cleo Abram, he explained that the future of computing wouldl be more immersive, natural, and social, moving away from handheld screens toward wearable technology.
“The trend in computing is to become more omnipresent, more natural, and more social. You want to interact with people around you seamlessly, and I think that will probably be the next big platform after phones,” Zuckerberg stated.
His vision revolves around smart glasses, which he argues will allow users to access information, communicate, and engage with digital content in a more intuitive way—without the need to constantly check a screen.
In the near future, he predicts that people will start reaching for their phones less often, relying instead on the convenience of augmented reality (AR) glasses.
● Smart Glasses: The Future of Technology?
At first glance, the idea of replacing a smartphone with a pair of glasses might sound like something straight out of a science fiction movie.
But tech giants, including Apple and Meta, are already heavily investing in wearable computing.
Meta is developing the Orion smart glasses, while Apple has launched the Vision Pro, marking the beginning of what could be a major transformation in personal technology.
Zuckerberg believes that by the 2030s, smartphones will no longer be our primary device. Instead, AR-powered smart glasses will take centre stage, offering real-time information, hands-free interactions, and even AI-powered virtual assistants capable of answering questions on the go.
“There will come a time when your smartphone is more often in your pocket than out of it,” he predicted.
“Users will opt for the convenience of glasses to get things done.”
This new generation of smart glasses could replace many smartphone functions, including:
● Real-time navigation without the need to glance at a screen.
● Instant access to news, weather, and notifications through an AR interface.
● Seamless communication, allowing users to take calls, send messages, and browse the web without holding a device.
● AI-powered assistance, making it easier to search for information and interact with the digital world hands-free.
What’s Next?
While smart glasses are still in their early stages, the tech industry is rapidly moving toward wearable computing. With advancements in augmented reality, AI, and lightweight display technology, the pieces are falling into place for a future where our smartphones no longer dominate our digital interactions.
The real question is: Will users embrace this change?
Smartphones are deeply integrated into our routines, and switching to smart glasses will require not just technological progress, but also cultural acceptance.
Still, with major tech players racing to develop the next-generation AR devices, it seems inevitable that our digital habits will evolve.
Whether smart glasses will completely replace smartphones or simply become an alternative tool remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the way we interact with technology is about to change forever.
Additionally, the court imposed a N150 million fine on MultiChoice Nigeria for contesting the jurisdiction of an Abuja court that had previously restrained it from increasing its subscription prices.
The verdict, delivered on Friday, June 7, was handed down by a three-member panel led by Thomas Okosu. The court cited Section 39(2) of the FCCPC Act, which grants the tribunal jurisdiction throughout Nigeria over all profit-oriented commercial activities.
Okosu clarified that the tribunal’s jurisdiction covers all business activities within Nigeria, and he noted that there is no requirement for an aggrieved consumer seeking to enforce their rights to file a complaint with the President of Nigeria or the Price Control Board. He observed that the claimant had written to the FCCPC before filing the case.
“I conclude that this tribunal has the jurisdiction to preside over consumer rights in this case and resolve this issue against MultiChoice,” Okosu stated.
The tribunal also determined that the claimant’s lawsuit was not challenging the price hike itself but the illegality of MultiChoice’s eight-day notice to customers. It noted that MultiChoice had already disobeyed its interim orders and condemned the company’s action of raising DStv and GOtv prices.
The tribunal dismissed MultiChoice’s preliminary objection for disobeying interim orders and imposed an administrative penalty for failing to comply with the tribunal’s directives.
“The first defendant is hereby mandated to pay a N150 million penalty. MultiChoice is hereby ordered to give Nigerians one month of free subscription,” Okosu added.
Previously, the tribunal had restrained MultiChoice from increasing its subscription rates pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Barrister Festus Onifade. Onifade had sued MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), accusing the PayTV company of unjustly increasing subscription fees without giving customers a one-month notice and seeking interim orders against the organization.
However, in its reaction, MultiChoice said it will appeal against Friday’s ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT, which slammed a N150 milliuon fine against it for challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Multichoice Nigeria said it disagrees with the ruling and will file an appeal against it.
The organisation said in a statement: “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter. We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling.
“As the matter is currently sub judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”
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