Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, January 12, 2024.
FILE: Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, has decried the attacks in some communities in his state, saying bandits have taken over 64 communities.

The governor stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“These communities that have been recently attacked were part of the communities that were attacked in 2023 but they survived it and rebuilt themselves. The Ruwi community that was first attacked lost about 17 people in 2023 but they bounced back to show you the resilience of the people,” the governor said.

Over fifty persons were killed within a week in attacks over five communities that left over three hundred houses burnt by suspected herdsmen.

The Plateau State Government, through the Secretary to the Government Samuel Jatau, also visited some of the affected communities to ascertain the extent of damages and also donate relief materials to affected victims.

Adu expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding solutions to the incessant attacks and killings.

But the governor said the attacks that have ravaged the North-Central state is not new. He specifically said the state has been experiencing similar incidents for over 10 years but have not gathered national attention

“If these attacks have been going on for close to 10 years, it tells you that there is a deliberate, conscious attempt to clean out populations and to reopen.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau between Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Governments. They have been taken over, renamed and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy,” the governor said.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has praised Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, for an extraordinary escalation in the agricultural budget, rising from N1.4 billion to N74 billion.

During a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House in Kaduna on Tuesday, Adesina acknowledged Sani’s dedication to revitalizing the agricultural landscape.

He highlighted that Kaduna is pioneering the establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Nigeria, stating, “Kaduna’s leadership in this initiative represents not only a vision for food security but also a blueprint for economic growth and inclusive development.”

Adesina emphasized the state’s role as a forerunner, noting, “This marks the first instance of a state launching the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. Today is a significant milestone for all of us.”

He reaffirmed AfDB’s commitment to assist Kaduna State in enhancing school feeding programs and their integration with the new processing zones. Additionally, he promised further support for improvements in primary healthcare, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digital advancement

“We take pride in collaborating with a government that listens, leads with compassion, and is inclusive,” he remarked, referring to Governor Sani as “a model leader, a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.”

In response, Governor Sani described Adesina as “a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity,” commending him for his transformative contributions to agriculture throughout the continent.

He recalled the impact of Adesina’s e-Wallet initiative during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture, which has benefited over 15 million smallholder farmers nationwide, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Sani stated, “This initiative was designed not only to revolutionize agriculture but could also have mitigated the issue of financial exclusion we currently face, providing essential access to credit for our smallholder farmers. Furthermore, it could have addressed the security challenges in Northern Nigeria.”

He noted that agriculture constitutes approximately 42 percent of Kaduna’s GDP and provides around 60 percent of employment in the state. “We believe that insecurity has significantly impeded the progress we could have made through agriculture,” he explained.

“Recognizing agriculture as a crucial sector for investment, we made the decision to increase our agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget. This achievement positions us as the first sub-national government to meet the 10 percent target outlined in the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which advocates for a minimum of 10 percent of the budget to be allocated to agriculture.”

The governor highlighted the launch of the Agro-Industrial Processing Zone as a critical initiative for the development of Kaduna State.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new draft proposal mandating telecommunications operators to implement strategies that prevent customers from losing unused airtime associated with inactive SIM cards.

This initiative was unveiled during a high-level virtual stakeholder engagement forum held on Tuesday, titled ‘Draft Guidance on Unutilised and Unclaimed Recharges.’ The NCC aims to enhance consumer protection within Nigeria’s dynamic telecommunications landscape.

Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, who was represented by Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, underscored the necessity of addressing the issue of unused prepaid credit on dormant lines, which affects millions of subscribers across the country.

Maida pointed out the rapid expansion of mobile subscriptions and the prevalence of prepaid plans, stating, “Prepaid plans have offered millions of Nigerians essential flexibility and affordability in mobile services. However, as the sector progresses, it is crucial to tackle emerging challenges that could undermine consumer rights.”

He highlighted the importance of finding a balance between protecting consumer rights, ensuring effective regulatory oversight, and sustaining industry growth. The forum serves as a platform to explore actionable solutions for this matter.

The proposed Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024 stipulate that prepaid lines without revenue-generating activities for six months will be deactivated. Should inactivity continue for an additional six months, the line may be recycled. Subscribers will retain the right to reclaim their unused credit within one year, provided they can prove ownership.

“It is essential to ensure that consumer interests are not compromised through the forfeiture of unused credit,” Maida added.

The NCC is dedicated to promoting a telecommunications environment that is fair, transparent, and centered around consumer needs.

In her presentation of the draft, Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, outlined explicit procedures for managing inactive subscriber accounts. She emphasized that operators would be required to conduct thorough audits of churned numbers and ensure that unused airtime is returned to subscribers through alternative service offerings, avoiding any monetization of forfeited recharges.

“The challenge of unutilised and unclaimed recharges on churned subscriber lines presents both a consumer protection concern and a regulatory opportunity,” Whyte noted. Many subscribers leave behind unused credits when disconnected after prolonged inactivity as per the quality of service regulations.

This draft guidance aims to establish clear, equitable, and transparent protocols for handling these funds, ensuring that subscribers maintain access to their purchased credits while providing operators with necessary regulatory clarity.

The NCC’s draft guidance specifies that operators must inform subscribers about the plan to offer service options for churned accounts. All unclaimed and unutilized recharges cannot be monetized; instead, affected subscribers may be offered options such as voice services, data plans, and value-added services using their unused recharges after churn, which cannot be transferred between networks.

Operators are also required to implement consumer education initiatives to inform subscribers about the new management approach for unclaimed and unutilized recharges.

Regarding compliance, the NCC has set a deadline for operators to adhere to the guidelines within 90 days from the date of issuance. The commission will review all audit reports concerning unutilized recharges within ten working days and will conduct regular audits and inspections to ensure adherence to these guidelines. Non-compliance may lead to penalties, including fines and other regulatory actions as stipulated in the relevant Act.

The final version of the guidance is anticipated to be refined based on stakeholder feedback and formally adopted in the forthcoming months.