The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has started training selected NYSC corps members to help enrol Nigerians for the National Identification Number (NIN) in every ward across the country. This move is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to register all Nigerians and legal residents quickly and efficiently. So far, NIMC has issued NINs to over 120 million people but wants to reach those in hard-to-access areas through this ward enrolment initiative. The corps members are undergoing intensive training to prepare for this task. NIMC’s Director General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, praised President Tinubu for his strong support and thanked the Minister of Youth Development and the NYSC Director General for their cooperation. The initiative also encourages children under 16 to enrol for their NINs in their local wards, making the process more convenient and accessible. This campaign is important because having a NIN is essential for accessing many government and private services in Nigeria. Bringing enrolment closer to the people will help increase registration rates and improve national identity management. NIMC plans to roll out the ward enrolment soon, so Nigerians should watch out for announcements in their communities and take advantage of this opportunity to get their NINs.
Lagos to start digital house numbering from July 1
Lagos State will begin using a new digital system to number houses starting July 1, 2025. The Lagos Identity Project aims to make property identification easier and improve services like emergency response, postal delivery, and urban planning. The system will use digital plates with QR codes and colour codes specific to local governments. Scanning these QR codes will give access to important property details, helping residents and officials alike. The project kicks off in Ikeja Local Government, where 23,000 properties will be numbered first before expanding to other areas. Dr. Babatunde Olajide, Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, said the system will also help curb tax evasion, rental fraud, and improve security and transportation services. He noted that this initiative builds on Lagos’ smart city efforts and could serve as a model for other states. The digital house numbering is expected to make Lagos a smarter city by improving government response and making everyday services more accessible to residents. The project is a partnership with tech firm Interspatial, which conducted two years of aerial mapping to support the system. With this launch, Lagos is set to enhance how residents and officials interact with property data, making the city more efficient and connected.
FCCPC to arraign MultiChoice CEO and Directors for obstructing price hike investigation
MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO John Ugbe and several company directors are set to be arraigned by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for allegedly blocking an ongoing investigation into their subscription price increases. In February 2025, Daily Tech Nigeria reported that the FCCPC ordered MultiChoice to maintain its current prices for DStv and GOtv while the commission reviewed the company’s proposed price hike. Despite this directive, MultiChoice went ahead with the increase on March 1, 2025, before appearing at the FCCPC’s investigative hearing scheduled for March 6. This action triggered legal proceedings against the company and its leadership. The FCCPC filed charges at the Federal High Court in Lagos on three counts under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. These include willfully obstructing the commission’s inquiry, ignoring instructions to suspend the price hike, and attempting to mislead the commission by proceeding without objection. The commission views these acts as deliberate attempts to undermine regulatory authority and harm consumer rights. The legal battle intensified when MultiChoice filed a suit to stop the FCCPC’s investigation, but the Abuja Federal High Court dismissed the case in May 2025, calling it an abuse of court process. This ruling cleared the way for the FCCPC to continue its probe and now to arraign the company’s CEO and directors for non-compliance. The charge sheet names John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other directors as defendants. They are accused of failing to produce documents required by a lawful summons issued on February 25, 2025, violating Section 3 of the FCCPC Act. The arraignment is scheduled for October 7, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. A statement from the FCCPC’s legal team said, “The defendants failed without sufficient cause to comply with lawful summons, obstructing the commission’s investigation.”
UK watchdog plans major changes to Google Search to boost local competition
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed new rules to curb Google’s dominance in online search and give users more choice. The CMA wants to give Google “strategic market status” under Britain’s new Digital Markets Competition Regime. This would allow the regulator to impose rules on how Google runs its search engine in the UK. Google currently handles over 90% of all online searches in the country and is used by more than 200,000 UK businesses for advertising. The proposed changes include making Google’s search rankings fairer and more transparent. The CMA also plans to require Google to offer “choice screens” that let users easily pick and switch between different search services, including AI assistants. This aims to open up the market to more competition and innovation. Publishers will get more control over how their content appears in search results, especially with AI-generated answers. Google may also have to make its data more portable to help new companies build innovative products. The CMA began investigating Google’s market power in January 2025. CEO Sarah Cardell said the changes would give UK users and businesses more control and unlock new opportunities for growth in the tech sector. Google warned that the proposed rules could hurt UK growth and innovation. Oliver Bethell, Google’s competition director, said the CMA’s plans are broad and could create challenges before all evidence is reviewed. Google promised to work constructively with the regulator but cautioned against “punitive regulations.” A final decision on the new rules is expected by October after public consultation. “Google has delivered tremendous benefits, but there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative,” says Sarah Cardell, CMA chief executive. On the other hand, Oliver Bethell, Google competition director says, “proportionate, evidence-based regulation will be essential to preventing the CMA’s roadmap from becoming a roadblock to growth in the UK.” If approved, these changes could reshape how millions of people in the UK search online.
Lagos’ computer village launches biometric registration to curb crime and restore investor confidence
In a decisive move to tackle rising crime and improve market security, the leadership of Computer Village Market in Ikeja, Lagos, has officially launched a biometric registration and enumeration exercise for all traders and operators within the market. The initiative aims to sanitize the bustling electronics hub, curb criminal activities such as phone snatching and fraud, and restore investor confidence following recent security concerns that nearly prompted a market shutdown. The biometric registration program, announced on Thursday, requires all traders to register their biometric data and obtain official identification cards. Only those with valid IDs will be permitted to operate within the market, while street trading will be strictly regulated to approved setups featuring plastic chairs, show glasses, and umbrellas. Wooden structures and open flames will be banned to reduce fire hazards. Additionally, the market plans to enhance security infrastructure by installing CCTV cameras and emergency alert systems, alongside closer collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Mrs. Abisola Azeez, the Iyaloja (market leader) of Computer Village, emphasized the importance of the exercise in transforming the market’s image. “This biometric registration is a critical step towards sanitizing Computer Village and ensuring that only legitimate traders operate here. It will help us eliminate fraudulent activities and create a safer environment for both traders and customers,” she stated (The Nation Online, 2025). Other prominent market leaders, including Baba Oja Adeniyi Olasoji, Prince Tony Nwakeze, and Mr. Ikani Tony, have endorsed the initiative, highlighting its potential to reposition Computer Village as a structured and globally competitive digital marketplace. The biometric registration is expected to be completed within two months. Following this period, enforcement will intensify to ensure compliance, with unregistered traders facing penalties or eviction. This initiative aligns with broader national efforts in Nigeria to leverage biometric technology for security and identity management, reflecting recent upgrades to Nigeria’s biometric crime databases and national identity systems (Political Economist Nigeria, 2025). By adopting biometric registration, Computer Village aims not only to reduce crime but also to attract more investors and customers by improving the market’s reputation for safety and reliability. The success of this program could serve as a model for other commercial hubs across Nigeria seeking to integrate technology-driven security solutions. As the registration process unfolds, stakeholders remain committed to sustaining the market’s growth through enhanced security and regulatory compliance.
EU launches bold initiative to keep startups in europe, curb exodus to US
The European Union has revealed a sweeping new strategy aimed at preventing the continent’s most promising startups from relocating to the United States, a trend that has long concerned policymakers and innovation leaders across Europe. The plan, announced at a high-profile press conference in Brussels, introduces a mix of funding incentives, regulatory reforms, and cross-border support measures designed to make Europe a more attractive and competitive environment for tech entrepreneurs. A strategic response to startup flight The EU’s new initiative comes in response to mounting evidence that many of Europe’s fastest-growing startups are moving operations to the US, lured by larger investment pools, more flexible regulations, and easier access to global markets. According to recent data from the European Startup Network, nearly 30% of successful European startups have relocated their headquarters or primary operations to Silicon Valley or other US tech hubs in the past five years. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, said at the launch event, “Europe has the talent and the ideas, but we need to do more to ensure our startups have the resources and support they need to thrive here at home. This new plan is about creating the right conditions for innovation, growth, and global leadership – without our brightest minds feeling they need to leave.” Key features of the EU plan The initiative includes several headline measures: – A €10 billion pan-European venture fund to provide late-stage financing and keep high-growth companies anchored in Europe. – Streamlined visa and talent mobility programs to attract and retain top tech talent from both within and outside the EU. – Regulatory sandboxes that allow startups to test new products and services with fewer bureaucratic hurdles. – Cross-border tax incentives and harmonized intellectual property protections to reduce friction for companies operating in multiple EU countries. – Enhanced support for university spin-offs and deep tech ventures, with a focus on artificial intelligence, green tech, and health innovation. Industry reaction and broader implications The announcement has been met with cautious optimism by European founders and investors. Sophie Dubois, CEO of Paris-based fintech startup Ledgerly, commented, “This is the kind of bold action we’ve been hoping for. If the EU can deliver on these promises, it will make a real difference for those of us who want to build global companies from Europe.” However, some analysts warn that cultural and structural challenges remain. “Money and regulation are only part of the puzzle. Europe needs to foster a greater risk-taking culture and celebrate entrepreneurial success,” said Dr. Hans Keller, a technology policy expert at the University of Munich. The EU’s move comes as other regions, including the UK and the Middle East, are also ramping up efforts to attract and retain tech startups. The global competition for innovation leadership is intensifying, and Europe’s ability to keep its homegrown talent could have far-reaching implications for the continent’s economic future. Looking ahead The European Commission plans to begin rolling out the new measures in the second half of 2025, with pilot programs launching in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Progress will be reviewed annually, with adjustments made based on feedback from the startup community and ecosystem stakeholders.