INTERNET OF THINGS AND NIGERIA’S FUTURE

INTERNET OF THINGS AND NIGERIA’S FUTURE

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a recent technology that is gaining more and more recognition and acceptance in various fields due to its practical relevance in improving daily life.

The IoT has found its use in transportation, environmental monitoring and forecasting, home and office appliances, agriculture, health, safety, and energy conservation. This article examines the current state of the Internet of things and Nigeria’s future by discussing the challenges faced and the opportunities that abound.

With about seven mobile phone operators and a population of around 170 million, Nigeria had 85 million subscribers in June 2015 and is the largest mobile phone market in the Economic Community of African States. West (ECOWAS), representing more than half of users in the region.

One of the major challenges of deploying IoT in Nigeria is the low cost of electronic components and services. The price of the sensor has fallen to around $ 60 from $ 1.30 over the past 10 years, while the price of bandwidth has also fallen sharply, nearly 40 times over the past 10 years. age. Likewise, the cost of processing has dropped nearly 60 times over the past 10 years, allowing more devices to take on whatever new data they provide or receive.

With the introduction of the latest big data analysis, millions of data generated every day by different “objects” integrated into the IoT network can be managed faster and better. New energy conservation technologies, such as power plants and low-power devices, are making IoT a reality, as they ensure a reduction in energy demand in regions such as Nigeria, where electricity is unreliable and sometimes scarce.

According to the National Information Technology Development Authority (NITDA), Nigeria’s largest provider of computer technologies, computing, which is used in all sectors of the economy, currently accounts for around 11% of the country’s gross domestic product. Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 17-20% in the first quarter of 2016. This can be achieved through Nigeria’s commitment to the Internet of Things and the integration of machines into machines. This commitment is the result of Nigeria’s decision to be Africa’s largest partner at the 2014 Technology Summit (GITEX).

A recent survey reported that only 30% of Nigerian entrepreneurs have implemented M2M, an Internet of Things platform, in one form or another, with its own security. monitoring, fleet management, and topic – Sales engine that currently represents most M2M routes in Nigeria. Advanced M2M applications are not being used such as statistical analysis, insurance a la carte, and creation of personal data in Nigeria, and the complexities involved in the implementation and management of these technologies are known to be of concern. major obstacles.

One of the most popular features of M2M support in the country is vehicle and aircraft control tracking. Companies including MTN and Vodacom Business Nigeria provide services in these regions with features such as real-time map tracking, level of usage monitoring, landscape, internet access, and download. reports, etc. One of the applications of one of IoT’s economic security applications is to follow the lead of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

By following vehicle and aircraft handling procedures, the Company now has the ability to monitor ships from the loading dock to the docking station, knowing their speed, precise accuracy, where they will take their departure time. starting plan. isowa.

 

Another form of M2M support in Nigeria is seen in the fight against substandard and counterfeit drugs and drugs by the National Agency for the Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC).

The commission has implemented technologies such as TruScan, Black Eye, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Mini Lab, and Authentication Service in the fight against counterfeit drugs and medicines.

While TruScan is a mobile device for detecting counterfeit drugs, the Black Eye website is a computer program that uses infrared technology to detect counterfeit drugs. RFID, on the other hand, is used to verify control products and other sensitive documents.

Technicians are also referred to as the Scratch and Text Messaging System. It allows users to verify that the medicine they intend to purchase is genuine or vice versa, using a mobile phone. Mini-lab testing is a reliable, simple, and inexpensive way to detect counterfeit drugs.

Another form of an M2M connection in Nigeria is the launch of PoS, which is an electronic device used to verify and process transactions with a credit card, transmit data through a regular telephone line or an Internet connection.

Nigeria Interbank Settlement Services (NIBSS) noted in its recent report that PoS is the most widely used payment gateway, preferred among payment methods by 93.6% of merchants and 35.8% of users.

He described the use of cards and merchandise as a reality, with an average of three to four out of ten customers looking to pay for a card/transaction. However, the report revealed that only 3.1% of users mentioned the card / PoS as their preferred payment option, which speaks to the low use of PoS. Electricity payments through PoS stations increased by 191% to N241 billion in 2014.

In addition, as part of a major agricultural transformation strategy, the GES, which was launched in 2012, uses farmers’ phones as electronic wallets and distributes certificates in the form of subsidies. 50% of purchases of organic fertilizers. Ministry officials say the phones could be used for a variety of purposes, from weather forecasts and weather data to accessing market data.

The experience of some African countries suggests that such consumption could generate higher prices for farmers. Records show that 1.2 million farmers received subsidized fertilizers and mobile phone vouchers in 2013, resulting in additional production of 8.1 million metric tons. Nigerian national food. As a result, Nigeria reduced food imports by more than 40% in 2013, leaving the country on the path to agricultural prosperity.

One of the most important Internet applications in Nigeria is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the fight against terrorism. Nigerian military sources have identified the use of drones in the fight against Boko Haram as one of the key achievements of the force in recent days.

The drones are said to have increased the military’s surveillance capabilities by providing enough time for the battlefield and helping to identify terrorist camps.

When it comes to the implementation of IoT in Nigeria, most applications are in the initial and experimental stages and there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of technology and industry in many cases due to various problems.

One of the biggest challenges in implementing IoT and M2M technology in Nigeria is the lack of quality performance from the network providers.

Another limitation of the growth of IoT and M2M in Nigeria is the lack of electricity supply. The National Association of Economists of Nigeria (NAEE) notes that despite estimates that 45% of the Nigerian population is currently connected to the national power grid, production is still ongoing. daily. 25% of the population.

Generating electricity in Nigeria is relatively low compared to about $ 12,800 MW. This article has shown that Nigeria is facing challenges in many areas of the economy, where IoT can play a key role in reducing specific challenges.

https://aminemconnect.com/2020/09/14/the-basics-of-5g-network/