HRH, Alh. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar Tours Galaxy Backbone Network Centre

The Emir of Gombe HRH, Alh. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar on Friday took a tour of Galaxy Backbone Network Monitoring and Operations Centre and the Government Approved Tier III Data Centre run by Galaxy Backbone

In his welcome address, the Managing Director/CEO Prof. Muhammad Bello Abubakar, he said that Galaxy Backbone is the information technology and shared services provider of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

"We were also charged with the responsibility of building a common services platform consisting of in-country and offshore VSAT hubs, a data center, a Federal Capital metro fiber backbone and multiple redundant internet gateways.

"A substantial amount of work has been done in this regard and recognizable impact noticed across the Federal Government agencies.

The Managing Director/CEO Prof. Muhammad Bello Abubakar and the the Emir of Gombe, HRH, Alh Abubakar Shehu Abubakar 

"We can state there has been a lot of improvement in the way government communicates with government especially through the deployment of Virtual Federal Executive Council meeting due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Prof. Abubakar reiterated.

Prof. Abubakar further said that Galaxy Backbone has built and operates the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone; a cross-country optical fibre backbone. In its first phase, which has been completed, commissioned and covers a distance of 1484 km, the backbone spans 13 states across the South East, South South, North Central and South West of Nigeria with base stations installed in 17 cities.

"The Services on the infrastructure include Internet Bandwidth, Clear Channel, Dark Fiber, Lastmile connectivity, Video Conferencing, Prof. Abubakar said.

The Emir of Gombe later took a tour of the facilities at the National Shared Services Center (NSSC), the only Uptime Institute Certified Tier III data center within the nation’s public sector.

Our Data Center & Cloud Services consist of Co-location of Servers, Cloud Back-up, Cloud Storage, Disaster Recovery among others.

Our Data center features include: Reliable & Efficient & Scalable, Available Back-Up/Disaster Recovery facility, 128 rack real estate, scale-able to 512 racks, Modular data center design, 600KW of Cooling available, scale-able to 2800KW, 825KW of power, scale-able to 2000KW, A team of certified and well trained Data center experts, 99.982% Uptime, Ability to support carrier class infrastructure, Optimized internet connectivity, Cutting edge, round the clock logical and physical security, with biometric access control, Diesel Generators that can run for 14 days non-stop if public powers fail totally and Robust fuel contracts in case of disruptions to supply

The operations and procedures of the Centre are in compliance with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 compliant.

The Emir of Gombe, HRH, Alh Abubakar Shehu Abubakar was full of joy after the tour of the facilities National Shared Services Center.

Coalition Asks EFCC To Re-arraign Orji Uzor Kalu & Others

The Global Centre for Conscious Living Against Corruption has called on the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC to immediately commence the re-arraignement Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and others as promised Nigerians.

Addressing the media on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director General of the Coalition, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, said it is exactly 3 months since the ruling of the Supreme Court nullifying the judgement of Justice Mohammed Idris and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court but unfortunately the ex-governor was given a red- carpet reception and even integrated to a political party campaign committee and seems to give a connotation that Nigerians are a people that celebrate theft and embezzlement of public funds even when Abia state is already hemorrhaging as a result of the alleged massive looting perpetrated by Mr. Orji Uzor.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court; as the Apex Court in Nigeria nullified the trial of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, his firm, SLOK Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu (an accomplice), a former Director of Finance and Accounts of Abia State Government.

Excerpt is the full text of the press statement from the coalition;

GLOBAL CENTRE FOR CONSCIOUS LIVING AGAINST CORRUPTION. EFCC; LIVING UPTO EXPECTATIONS.

Good morning, Gentlemen of the Press and welcome to this briefing.

On the 7th of April 2020, the Supreme Court as the Apex Court in Nigeria nullified the trial of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, his firm, SLOK Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu (an accomplice), a former Director of Finance and Accounts of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.

The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal.

Although the EFCC had responded to this judgment in a letter signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity on the 8th of May, 2020, stating that the anti graft agency considers the judgment of the apex court as ‘quite unfortunate’. He stated that it was a ‘technical ambush’ against the trial of the former Governor. He further stated “The commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming. The entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course”.

Ladies and gentlemen, today is Tuesday, the 7th of July, 2020 which is exactly 3 months since the ruling of the Supreme Court nullifying the judgement of Justice Mohammed Idris and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court. Again, the letter signed by Dele Oyedele who is the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC reaffirming the determination of the anti-graft agency to re-arraign Orji Uzor Kalu and others, since according to him the evidences against the suspect in the 7.65 billion naira theft is overwhelming. It is also worthy of note that the Apex court did not acquit the ex-Governor and others of the alleged crime.

Again, the manner the ex governor was given a red- carpet reception and even integrated to a political party campaign committee seems to give a connotation that we are a people celebrate theft and embezzlement of public funds even when Abia state is already hemorrhaging as a result of the alleged massive looting perpetrated by Mr. Orji Uzor.

Now, this is a criminal matter expected to be dispensed expeditiously but unfortunately has been on for the past 13 years with the attendant depletion of tax payers money. The question that readily comes to mind of most Nigerians are: (1). When would the re-arraignment of Orji Uzor Kalu and others be or has it been swept under the carpet?

(2). Why would a criminal matter of an individual take as much as 13 years with justice continually eluding the people of Abia State.

(3). The present delay tactics or what we may call ‘SLOW MOTION’; is it punitive enough to deter intending perpetrators of such crime?

By this medium, we hereby call on the EFCC to live up to expectations and commence the re-arraignment and the trial of Ex- Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, his company SLOK Nig. Limited and Jones Udeogu (an accomplice), and a former Director of Finance and Accounts of Abia State Government.

It is pertinent to remind the EFCC that the world is watching. Nigerians and indeed the people of Abia state suffering from the direct impact of the alleged embezzlement are also watching, waiting for justice to be served. This is indeed a test of the degree of sincerity and unbiased position of the present administration’s commitment on the war against corruption, a true test whether it is lips service targeted at opposition or a true fight to recover the Nigerian nation from the shackles of political undertakers who have plunged the nation to her present economic quagmire.

Finally, our coalition hereby promise Nigerians a continuous update on this matter as events unfold.

Thank you.

Signed:

Dr. Nwambu Gabriel,

For the Coalition.

Pantami Is Too Focused To Be Distracted

By Kelvin Adegbenga

My attention was called to a publication by the controversial online media; Sahara Reporters on the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami titled “Buhari’s Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Pantami Living Large in Abuja, Purchases Three Houses in Wuse for his Three Wives”.

When I was searching for the news, I came across the excellent response from the Minister’s spokesperson Uwa Suleiman which received accolades from Nigerians who are used to the tissues of lies published by Sahara Reporters.

Browsing through Sahara Reporters this afternoon, I came across a poorly written opinion titled “ Minister Isa Pantami Abuja Houses And The Lies Used To Cover Mores Lies” written by one Mashood Musbau, who I strongly believe is a pseudo name of course.  

To answer his uninformed opinion, I will like to go into who Dr. Isa Ali Pantami is.

Dr. Pantami studied Computer Science at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, Nigeria, gaining a BTech in 2003 Session and an MSc in 2008, before obtaining a PhD from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland. He spent his life pursuing both formal and informal education, by switching from one form to another. He is also trained on Digital transformation in Harvard University, USA then Management Strategy in both, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Institute of Management Development in Loussaune, Switzerland. He was also in Cambridge University for Management Programme, among others. Pantami lectured at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Information Technology before joining the Islamic University of Madinah as Head of Technical Writing in 2014.

In 2016, he was appointed as the Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of 13 newly appointed chief executives for 13 government agencies. His directive for NITDA upon employment was to develop the ICT infrastructure in the North East in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Boko Haram insurgency. Shortly after the WannaCry ransomware attack, he organized the second annual conference on “Financial Fraud and Cyber Crime” in Abuja with the Federal Ministry of Justice and private sector partners. He also initiated the Nigerian national public key infrastructure (PKI) programme, and went into a security partnership with ESET, an IT security company that offers anti-virus and firewall products. Pantami received an award as the “ICT Promoter of the Year 2017” in London by The Nigerian in recognition of “positive contributions to the ICT revolution in Nigeria, youth empowerment & good governance”. Within two years of his stewardship, he has received over 50 awards and recognitions both within and outside Nigeria.

Dr Isa Ali Pantami is a fellow of both British Computer Society (FBCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS). He also has many fellowships to his credit. Pantami is a Jummu’ah Chief Imam who has been leading the Jummu’ah prayer for over 20 years in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He serves as a Member of Shari’ah Board of Jaiz Bank. He is also a Shurah member and Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah (SCS) in Nigeria. He was educated in Islam by scholars including Muhammad Umar Fallatah, Muhammad ibn Al-Uthaymeen and Abdulmuhsin ibn Abbad. He is also the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Al’Hudah Islamiyyah & Mosque Foundation, and a Member/Secretary of Bauchi State Elders Advisory Committee and Bauchi state National Qur’anic Competition Committee among other committees. Pantami authored more than a dozen books on ICT, STEM, technology, politics & community reconciliation, religion and peaceful coexistence, as well as over 20 publications in international journals, including International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering and Management (IJIREM), Macrotheme Review, and International Journal of Computer & Information Technology. Religious books authored by him include Islam and Politics, Synonimity or Dichotomy?, The Essentials of Marriage in Establishing An Ideal Family, Month of The Qur’an & Its Virtues, and 63 Steps of Performing an Acceptable Hajj and Its Spiritual and Moral Lesson. On 23th July of this year 2019 he the list of new ministerial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari. He is now the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.

In response to the fictitious Mashood Musbau poorly written opinion; full of spelling mistakes, I will like to clarify that the Minister's spokesperson remained professional as testified by seasoned journalists. It is her duty to clear the air around her Boss and she has done an excellent job.

I don’t know the moral right of the fictitious Mashood Musbau to question the Minister's Spokesperson on questions such as the movement of the Minister's two wives; who pay the house rent; his salary at the University in Saudi and the kind of business he was doing.

A man of Pantami's status deserves houses in Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape and any part of the World.

Pantami has occupied his present house since January 2017; more than two years before becoming a Minister.

The other house he rented since 17th December 2019 was as a result of his Status as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he is entitled to like other Ministers.

For the ignorant of the fictitious Mashood Musbau, Pantami as never used religion for worldly gains as most of his staffs are Christians.

I challenge the fictitious Mashood Musbau to show evidences of journalist paid "to quite down the truth".

Kelvin Adegbenga is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Lagos. kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com

@kelvinadegbenga