ABUJA — The Annual Operating Levy, AOL, regulations were aimed at creating and providing an effective and efficient administration of an annual operating levy regime which would specify the mode and methods of assessment of AOL, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah has said.

The House of Representatives has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on the implementation of the Digital Awareness Programmes, DAP, and the Emergency Communications Centre, ECC, projects across the country, describing the projects as major citizen empowerment programmes whose impact will be felt across the nation and beyond.

Again, stakeholders in the Nigerian IT industry who gathered in Lagos at the weekend for the 2013 Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) President’s Dinner were worried, saying that unemployment will remain unabated except youth entrepreneurship through software development for job creation is encouraged.

The Nigerian Computer Society, (NCS) has called for more women participation in Information Technology so as to bridge digital divide.

One of the leading telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has become the first mobile operator in the country to announce the availability of latest BlackBerry Z10 Smartphones in its show rooms across the country.

Against the backdrop of the heat constantly generated by poor quality of telecoms services in the country, the telecoms operators and the government have been collaborating on ways to put an end to the unfortunate development.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said that the major reason behind setting up over 228 Rural Information Technology Centres, RITCs across the nation was to boost internet penetration, particularly in rural areas. NITDA also said that the effort would not only spur Internet usage but make Nigerians digital citizens.

….Commends partnership with Shell, Interswitch
The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson has commended Intel Corporation, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Interswitch for their support towards redirecting the objectives of educational development from knowledge based to empowerment.

While stakeholders in the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have expressed support for the passage of Cyber crime bill which seeks to provide for offense and penalties relating specifically to cyber crimes and general computer misuse, the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA), has backed the passage of the bill waiting presidential approval in the national assembly.

The Bayelsa State Government is building a digital and integrated security control and communications centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.