…BPP Integrates NASENI Product Catalogue into NOCOPO

….Urges MDAs to Prioritise Local Content

In a decisive move to translate policy into action, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enforce the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” Policy on procurement, projects, and local content promotion.

The MoU was signed on Monday at the BPP headquarters in Abuja and represents a milestone in the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote Nigerian-made goods and services, drive economic growth, support entrepreneurship, and reduce dependence on foreign imports.

Under the agreement, the BPP will integrate NASENI’s catalogue of over 50 market-ready products into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO). This integration is designed to ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) now actively consider and prioritise NASENI’s locally developed solutions—including surveillance drones, solar systems, tractors, and digital devices—in their procurement processes.

Speaking at the ceremony, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, noting that it will remove major barriers faced by the Agency in commercialising its innovations.

“With this MoU, 80% of the challenges in convincing investors and foreign partners are resolved. Nigeria will no longer be a dumping ground for foreign goods,” Halilu stated. “We are moving from prototypes to full commercialisation. NASENI has already attracted over $2 billion in investment partnerships, notably from China.”

He added that the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic goals of industrialisation, youth employment, and self-reliance. NASENI, he said, is not only producing but also transforming into a national production hub through initiatives such as the renewable energy park in Nasarawa and collaboration with the Abuja Technology Village.

On his part, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, described the MoU as a “structured bridge between production and procurement.” He commended NASENI’s commitment to quality, noting that its products are certified by regulatory bodies like SON and NAFDAC.

“This is not protectionism, but patriotism backed by performance,” Adedokun said. “We are institutionalising a framework that makes local products the default option for public procurement. NASENI’s innovations are now visible, verifiable, and measurable across all MDAs.”

Highlighting NOCOPO’s impact, Adedokun revealed that the portal saved Nigeria over ₦173 billion, $155 million, and €1.7 million in the first half of 2025 alone. He called on other MDAs to emulate NASENI’s commitment to the Nigeria First initiative.

He also noted that with the BPP’s revised procurement thresholds—now ₦5 billion for goods and ₦10 billion for works—MDAs have more autonomy to act quickly, while oversight will be maintained through strengthened post-review mechanisms.

“Our job at BPP is to ensure that Nigerian-made excellence is rewarded with access. The era of looking outside when the best is made inside is over,” he concluded.

The MoU is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s industrialization efforts, enhance local content development, and deliver tangible benefits across the public procurement ecosystem.

As Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, marks his 65th birthday, Anambra State and its people celebrate not just a personal milestone but a legacy of transformative leadership rooted in innovation and digital advancement.

A renowned economist and reformer, Governor Soludo has championed the mantra “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere,” steering Anambra toward a future defined by connectivity, e-governance, and digital inclusion. Under his stewardship, initiatives such as the expansion of free Solution WiFi, digitisation of government processes, and the elimination of Right of Way charges have laid the groundwork for a thriving digital economy.

Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency and convener of the Geeks & Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS), highlighted the governor’s impact:

“Governor Soludo’s vision keeps challenging us to push boundaries. His bold policies are positioning Anambra as a destination for talent, innovation, and investment, not just a departure lounge.”

The governor’s commitment to integrating smart solutions with solid infrastructure has redefined urban governance in the state, fostering livable cities and creating economic opportunities for Ndi Anambra.

On this celebratory day, the people of Anambra reaffirm their commitment to Soludo’s vision of a smarter, more connected, and prosperous homeland.

Happy 65th Birthday, Mr. Governor—Oluatuegwu! Here’s to continued impact, lasting solutions, and a future that keeps rising.

In a midterm assessment report on the Tinubu Administration’s first two years in office released today, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has decried what it described as an alarming escalation of attacks on media freedom and civic expression, particularly through the misuse of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act by law enforcement agencies to silence or punish journalists and critics of the government.

According to the report, titled “The Onslaught Intensifies: A Mid-term Assessment Report on Media Freedom under the Tinubu Administration,” between May 29, 2023, and May 29, 2025, MRA documented 141 incidents of attacks on journalists, media workers, and ordinary citizens for the peaceful expression of their views on a variety of issues, including governance, economic hardship, and the security situation in the country, among others.

MRA said of these incidents, 61 cases (43.26 percent) were perpetrated by operatives of the Nigeria Police, while the Department of State Services (DSS) was responsible for seven cases (4.96 percent), with the two agencies collectively accounting for nearly half of all documented violations of media rights and freedom of expression across the country over the last two years.

It argued that the Tinubu Administration bears legal responsibility for all of these incidents, in accordance with Principle 20(5) of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which holds that States are “liable for the conduct of law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other personnel which threatens, undermines or violates the safety of journalists and other media practitioners.”

In a Preface to the report, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said: “we are seeing threats to media freedom in Nigeria through the continued implementation of repressive laws, such as the Cybercrime Act, which is frequently used to target, silence or punish journalists; the enforcement of politically motivated regulatory sanctions; arrests and detention or other forms of attacks on journalists; surveillance or intimidation of media practitioners; and censorship of government-controlled broadcasters, among other threats and attacks.”

Describing the report as a “timely intervention in a political climate where democratic gains continue to face increasing threats from censorship, regulatory overreach, violence against journalists, and the misuse of digital surveillance technologies,” Mr. Ojo explained that its objective “is not merely to criticise but to document, analyse, and illuminate the extent to which the current administration has either advanced or undermined the freedom of expression landscape in Nigeria.”

MRA said among the most disturbing findings in the report was the continued abuse of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) of 2015, as amended, particularly its controversial Section 24, which law enforcement agencies have exploited to arrest, detain, and prosecute journalists and social media users over critical or dissenting expressions online.

The organisation recorded many cases of such misuse, including the arrests of Mr. Emmanuel Uti, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ); Mr. Destiny Ekhorutomuen, a blogger in Edo State; four editors and reporters from Informant247 in Kwara State; Mr. Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and human rights advocate; and several others who faced excessive bail conditions or prolonged detention.

According to MRA, the frequent misuse of the Cybercrime Act had become so outrageous that it resulted in an unprecedented move by the Heads of the Missions of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Finland in Nigeria, who issued a stern reprimand in a joint statement issued in June 2025 criticising the Nigerian government’s abuse of the Act and calling for urgent reform in the law and its implementation.

The report noted that the Tinubu Administration has treated internationally and constitutionally protected rights such as peaceful protests and dissent as crimes, going so far as to charge peaceful protesters, including minors, with treason, an offence that carries the death penalty, in complete disregard of the fact that dissent and criticisms of government are not just permissible features of democracy but are, in fact, regarded as essential for its survival, vitality, and legitimacy.

It stated that many journalists covering such peaceful protests have been beaten or brutalised, arrested and detained for varying durations, and have had their equipment seized or damaged, with no single perpetrator of any of these attacks being held accountable.

In its statement announcing the launch of the report, MRA’s Communications Officer, Mr. Idowu Adewale, said, “It is deeply ironic and troubling that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, himself a former pro-democracy activist and owner of multiple media outlets across print, radio and television, now presides over an administration increasingly defined by the repression of the very freedoms he once championed.”

MRA called on all stakeholders, including the media community, civil society, the Judiciary, the National Assembly, and the international community, to put relentless pressure on the Government to undertake meaningful reforms that uphold media freedom and the broader right to freedom of expression and democratic values in Nigeria.

…Says It Will Not Be Held Liable for Personal Data Misuse

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians against sharing or selling their personal information, especially their National Identification Number (NIN), amid growing concerns about data misuse and identity fraud.

The warning follows a recent disclosure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which revealed a troubling trend involving young Nigerians reportedly purchasing personal data from individuals for as low as N1,500 to N2,000 and reselling the same to some Fintech companies for about N5,000.

Describing the development as a major national security concern, NIMC emphasised the grave consequences such actions could have for individuals whose NIN and personal details are compromised. The Commission made it clear that it will not be held responsible for any breach or misuse of personal data willingly disclosed by individuals for financial gain.

“Nigerians have been repeatedly warned not to disclose their NIN or any other personal information to unauthourised individuals or entities,” the Commission said in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke. “Any NIN presented to access services must be duly verified before such services are granted.”

The Commission further urged the public and service providers to exercise due diligence when handling personal data and to ensure proper verification processes are in place.

As part of its efforts to strengthen data protection, NIMC encouraged Nigerians to download the NINAuth App on Apple iOS or Google Play Store. The app offers users enhanced control over their data, provides added layers of security, and allows individuals to monitor and manage how their NIN is accessed or used.

The NIMC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the national identity system and called on all stakeholders to play their part in preventing identity theft and data abuse.