- Nigeria's federal Advance Fee Fraud Act of 1995, which prescribes tougher measures against telecommunications operators, is to be amended to avoid cyber-crime, the government said today. The proposed amendments to the National Assembly require all telephone and cyber café commercial operators in the country to register with the Nigerian Communication Commission.
This follows an approval by the Federal Executive Council after deliberation on a memo presented by the Ministry of Communications, according to a press release by the Ministry.
The Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo who briefed State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after the meeting, argued that the amendment was "aimed at fighting the increasing incidence of cyber-crimes."
By import of the new amendment, any customer or subscriber who fails foul of the Act "with the intent to deceive, supplies false information or conceals or disguises information required shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or a fine of naira 100,000."
Furthermore, operators that with intent refuse to register with the NCC, the law prescribes a prison term of not less than five years without an option of fine, and in case of contingency offence, a fine of naira 50,000 for each day the offence persists.
Similarly, staff of financial institutions and bureau de change who aid in the contravention of the law are liable to a prison term of five years and a ban for a period of five years from their respective operating point.
In other Nigerian telecom news, the federal government said today it had "approved the review of some aspects of the 'Management Contract Agreement' between Pentascope International and NITEL/M-tel." Minister Adebayo disclosed this in Abuja at the inauguration of the NITEL Board of Directors on Tuesday.
The Minister explained that the review of the Management Contract Agreement is "in the best interest of Nigeria and the industry." He reaffirmed that one of the best values that could be added to the organisation is "a well-trained manpower capable of deploying resources, needed to make NITEL maximally attractive to prospective buyers."
Chief Adebayo challenged the board members to give guidance to and monitor performance of NITEL as well as its investment in M-tel. He further charged the board to work towards efficient service delivery and the resolution of some of the billing system, prolonged faulty lines, network congestion, poor interconnectivity, general customer dissatisfaction and public image.
The Minister enjoined the Board to "closely monitor NITEL's revenue Performance in order to justify government's huge investment on the hiring of 'Contract Managers'."
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español