PH TRENDS

Here are some of the topics that trended in PH on social media last week

#Riversrerun-

The Rivers legislative re-run election was one of the major trends in PH last week on social media. Social media definitely shaped the elections as different developments were discussed on different platforms mainly twitter. Among the numerous aspects of the election that trended was the picture of voters escorting their votes to the collation centre

#BlackSoot and ‘Kpofire’

This was definitely a big one last week Friday and all over the weekend. Reports of soot covering people’s cars and houses were trending on social media.

 I had noticed some in my house but had initially chucked it to the usual dust accompanying the harmattan. The Rivers State Ministry of Health addressed the issue via a Press Release stating it was investigating the incident.

Elderly Man hawking doughnuts

This also caught the attention of Rivers Residents thanks to On Air Personality with 92.3 Nigeria Info, MaryAnn Okon. The picture of a middle aged man dressing neatly and hawking doughnuts in Uyo got people retweeting the pic with word of commendation for the gentleman. It also got us re-inspired that people still believe there is joy in an honest day’s labour no matter how bad our society seems to have become.

WHY WE NEED DATA PROTECTION IN NIGERIA

Citizens data in Nigeria seem to be up for free trade and collection by various public and private agencies. Agencies like INEC, FRSC, NIMC and even Telcos routinely collect  citizen's data without any real commitment from protecting our rights to privacy of our data or the protection and security of the data. Recently there are claims that INEC transferred very critical voter's information to a group www.voters.ng without the consent of Nigerians or in accordance with international best practice. Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), a CSO and social enterprise, recently wrote a letter to INEC demanding details of this data transfer.

To some Nigerians, this may not be a big deal when there are more 'important' things to think about like the proposed sale of government assets or the fact that a bag of rice is about N 20,000. However, when you think of the fact that in this global economy and highly digitised world, people profit of other people's data whether used legally or illegally. Data or information is now the new currency. Just think about how Facebook makes its money, and how hackers operate and you will understand what i mean. Or those cold calls and unwanted messages and mails you get about products you did  not register for or are not interested in. Ever wonder how some of them get your data?

 In this vein, there should a data privacy and protection laws as found in other parts of the world like Europe and the US which understand the importance of protecting citizen's data. The Nigerian Digital Rights and Freedom Bill which is currently before the National Assembly should be speedily passed. Data collected by one organisation under the trust of the people needs to be protected in order to prevent hacking, espionage, global terrorism, discrimination or even unnecessary profiteering.

INEC advises SIECs to use technology in elections

Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has advised states’ Independent Electoral Commissions to emulate the commission in the deployment of technology for the conduct of elections.

Yakubu gave the advice when he received the Executive of the Forum of States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) led by its Chairman, Mrs Gloria Ukpong, in his office on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the time had come for SIECs to adopt the use of technology in conducting elections, saying that INEC had taken the bold step in introducing technology to the process.

“It is now time for the SIECs to follow suit. We cannot continue to operate manually if we must achieve credible and free elections in the country.

“I hope very soon the use of technology will become mandatory for the conduct of local governments elections in the country,” Yakubu said.

He said that the commission would not only continue to collaborate with SEICs but would strengthen its Memorandum of Understanding with them, including capacity-building within available resources.

Yakubu promised that INEC would give necessary support and collaboration to SEICs towards ensuring that their elections were credible “to deepen the country’s democracy’’