Tech

They only know how to drain data’ – Telecom consumers lament tariff hike, poor network

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2025

Some telecommunication services consumers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT have urged Mobile Network Operators to improve their services to match the recent hike in their tariffs.

They made the call in separate interviews with NAN on Monday in Abuja.

The subscribers said despite the increase in subscription rates mobile networks could remain epileptic for hours.

In a publication dated February 6, 2024, the Executive Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, said that the commission would hold service providers accountable for poor service delivery.

Mr Ogah Paul, one of the subscribers said he had enough data on his network but could not access the internet because of the epileptic network.

He urged service providers to fix the problems surrounding the poor services.

“The only thing they know is to drain data without any good service delivery. I feel like crying because of a problematic network. I have been receiving server errors since morning.

“To even download and watch a video sent to me since, takes me almost one whole day. “I wonder if members of staff of the service providers are enjoying the service they render to us.

“We cannot make calls, access the internet or even receive calls,’’ he said.

According to him, unfortunately, the network providers put up some of the best adverts about their products and services which they cannot meet.

Mr Victor James, another subscriber said he had enough data but was not able to use it to his satisfaction.

“Why does their data plan not reflect immediately when you buy data? Sometimes it takes as much as 24 hours to reflect.

“I am tired of this. The network is really bad. I have enough data but I cannot use it the way I want.

“I hope the issues get resolved as soon as possible so that I can access my data without further delay,” he said.

However, Ms Josephine Tanko, told NAN that she had no problems with her network providers.

“It is fast and reliable. I think it is the network that gives the best internet speed and quality.

“It will always be my best that is why I will always choose it over any other network,” she said.

She called on networks that did not meet their subscriber’s expectations to ensure that they improved their services.

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Tech

Real reasons for partial water disruption in FCT revealed – Wike

Published

2 days ago

June 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday said the present lack of water supply being experienced in the Abuja city centre and some satellite towns was due to a major rehabilitation of two of the four water treatment plants responsible for the production and supply of water to the residents.

Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said that water supply to the residents will be rationed for a period of two weeks, as only two water treatment plants will be in use, while the other two are undergoing rehabilitation.

A statement by Olayinka appealed to the residents to bear with the FCTA, assuring that rehabilitation of the two plants, which is to ensure better service delivery will be completed before two weeks.

The Minister also said that to mitigate the effects of the partial shutdown of water production and supply during the sallah celebration, the two plants being rehabilitated will be temporarily put on to supply water to residents during the sallah festive period.

He explained: “The FCT Water Board operates four water treatment plants of 30,000m3/hour, which are divided into Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4.

“As a result of the inefficiency of the plants, which are currently producing below their installed capacity, contract was awarded for their rehabilitation to Messrs SCC Nigeria Limited.

“The rehabilitation works have reached an advanced stage in Phases 1 and 2 where the electro-mechanical equipment, which is the prime mover of the treatment plants are to be replaced and reinstalled.

“This warranted a total shutdown of the two plants, which are interconnected.

“However, Phases 3 and 4 water treatment plants are operational but won’t sustain, meet or cater for the demand of the populace.

“Therefore, what is being experienced is a partial shutdown, not a total shutdown of the entire potable water supply to the residents of FCT as two of the water treatment plants are still in operation. But there is partial disruption to water production and supply to the residents.

“SCC is, however, working 24/7 to ensure that the works are concluded before the scheduled time.

“Consequently, in order to minimize the adverse effects on the FCT residents, the Water Board has made a time table on rationing by alternating between Lines 1 and 2 of the Distribution network.

“Residents are therefore urged to store enough water to cater for their needs during this period as supply will be rationed.”

Tech

Lagos beats Istanbul, Pune to emerge fastest-growing tech city in 2025 – Report

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A popular Netherlands-based research firm Dealroom.co, has named Nigeria’s Lagos as the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025, ahead of Turkey’s Istanbul and India’s Pune.

The firm disclosed this in its Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 report recently released.

The report explained that Lagos emerged top fastest-growing tech city because it plays home to 5 unicorns, including Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint.

The report said Lagos and other cities in the category are giving rise to a new generation of tech companies.

“This year, Lagos (#1) is topping the list, having created 5 unicorns and grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6x since 2017 despite a smaller economy,” the report stated.

Ekwutosblog reports Turkey’s Istanbul, followed by India’s Pune, came behind Lagos as the second and third fastest-growing tech cities in the world.

Tech

Indian YouTuber arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Indian police have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a popular YouTuber and travel influencer from Haryana, on allegations of spying for Pakistan and maintaining suspicious links with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

The arrest, confirmed by Haryana Police, comes amid heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this month.

Authorities say Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan several times—her most recent visit being in March 2025—and was allegedly in contact with Ahsan-ur-Rahim, a Pakistan High Commission official who was expelled from India on 13 May over espionage concerns.

Speaking to the press, Shashank Kumar Sawan, Superintendent of Police in Hisar, claimed Malhotra had been in continuous communication with Pakistani operatives, frequently traveled to Pakistan on sponsored trips, and was possibly part of a wider network.

She is also under investigation for potential links to the Pahalgam attack, which left several tourists dead in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this month.

Malhotra’s father has denied all accusations, insisting that his daughter traveled to Pakistan only after obtaining proper visas and permissions.

“She is not a spy. She is a travel vlogger who documented her experiences,” he said.

On her social media accounts, Malhotra describes herself as a “modern girl with old ideas.” She boasts 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 133,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares travel content from India and abroad, including visits to Bangladesh, China, Thailand, UAE, and Indonesia.

However, police have raised questions about how she financed these international trips, suggesting her lifestyle doesn’t align with her known sources of income.

Authorities say Malhotra first met Ahsan-ur-Rahim in 2023, when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa.

Her last video featuring Pakistan was uploaded in March, showing her attending a Ramadan dinner at the High Commission.

Other videos show her visiting Hindu and Sikh temples, shopping in local markets, and interacting with residents in Pakistan.

Her arrest follows a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan, during which both countries expelled each other’s embassy staff over accusations of espionage and improper conduct.

Arrests on spying charges are not uncommon between the two rival nations.

Earlier this month, on 7 May, India carried out airstrikes on what it described as “terror infrastructure” inside Pakistan, in response to the Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan denied any involvement, and after several days of border skirmishes, a ceasefire was brokered by the U.S. President Donald Trump on 10 May.