By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has secured the support of the National Judicial Institute (NJI)

. It will be recalled that the NJI is responsible for the training of judicial officers in Nigeria from magistrate courts to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

During a courtesy visit of the Commission, to NJI, the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji lauded the management of NJI under the leadership of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, (Rtd) for the milestones the Institute has achieved in human capital development particularly in relation to judicial officers and fellows of the institute.

While commenting on the importance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act in the face of disruptive technologies, Dr. Olatunji reiterated the need to collaborate with NJI in keeping judicial officers abbrest of privacy Jurisprudence.

He noted that decisions on enjoyment of data privacy rights in relation to one citizen have fundamental implications on all citizens.

“It is the digital age, and the protection of the privacy of all citizens worldwide is paramount. It is now the right of all citizens to have their privacy protected. This is why countries across the globe are putting adequate measures in place to ensure enforceable data protection rights, as well as establishing data protection authorities to enforce data protection laws,” Dr Olatunji stated.

In his response, Hon Justice Abdullahi commended the NDPC, under Dr Olatunji’s leadership, for its significant achievements since its establishment. He pledged to collaborate with the NDPC to raise awareness on data protection and privacy within the judiciary and accepted the NDPC’s proposal anchored on capacity building for judges, NJI fellows, and employees.

According to the eminent jurist “The issue of data protection is very important. It is new, and judges need to be trained. The first step we should take is to review the Act (NDP Act) that established the Commission. Additionally, there is a need for us to train our fellows on data protection.”

NJI and NPC have put in place a technical working group that will draw up a work plan and coordinate the initiatives for capacity building. The working group is expected to report back within days in order to commence implementation.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has hit back at critics labelling him ‘washed’ following his third consecutive defeat against Nassourdine Imavov, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerian-New Zealander, who has lost four of his last five fights in the UFC, including three by stoppage, responded to detractors during a YouTube ‘Ask Me Anything’ session.

“They call me washed, but how are you going to call me washed when you haven’t even been in laundry? You haven’t even gotten dirty. What have you done?” the 35-year-old fired back at his critics.

‘The Last Stylebender’ looked in control during the first round of his recent bout against Imavov but lost momentum in the second round before suffering a TKO defeat.

When questioned about his future title aspirations, Adesanya maintained his characteristic confidence despite the recent setbacks.

Do I have a title shot in mind for the future? No! When I got to the UFC, I never chased the belt. I stand on that. I never chased the belt. I expected it,” Adesanya said.

“I expected to be champion… I expected to get to this point that I wanted to get to because of the work that I put in and my belief in myself, my mindset. I knew with everything that I was going to do, I was going to get there. I expected it.”

The former champion’s recent slump began with his submission loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024, followed by two more stoppage defeats, marking a stark contrast to his earlier dominance in the division.

Despite this downturn in form, Adesanya, who built his reputation through successful careers in boxing and kickboxing before transitioning to MMA, has vowed to return stronger, demonstrating the resilience that has characterised his combat sports journey.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has issued an urgent warning about a looming network shutdown in Lagos and Ogun States due to a worsening diesel supply

According to an online medium, the crisis stems from an indefinite strike by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a division of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which has severely disrupted fuel distribution.

ATCON President Tony Emoekpere expressed deep concern over the situation, emphasizing that many telecom base stations are at risk of shutting down as fuel supplies dwindle.

He explained that the strike is a result of persistent harassment of petroleum tanker drivers by security operatives in Lagos State, which has halted fuel loading and movement across major depots.

The impact of a telecom blackout could be devastating, affecting:

Mobile and internet connectivity
Business and financial transactions
Emergency communication services
Essential daily communications
ATCON has urged the Governors of Lagos and Ogun States to intervene immediately by ensuring the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent a full-scale network collapse.

“This is beyond a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could disrupt economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.

The association is also calling on security agencies and petroleum unions to swiftly resolve the dispute to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.