The telecom operators in Nigeria, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile have threatened to withdraw network support for banks’ Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD), following what they described as gross misinformation of subscribers on the mode of deduction for transaction fees. USSD, commonly known as ‘bank transfers’, is done through short codes on mobile phones. Yesterday, the banks issued …

In order to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, the Federal Government has announced the deployment of 7,000 new telecommunications towers across underserved communities, targeting more than 20 million Nigerians who currently lack access to any form of telecommunication services. The announcement was made by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during a joint ministerial appearance on …

IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count, has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria. The two entities recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to …

MTN has said since 2001, it has committed over $10 billion into deepening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, enhancing widespread connectivity and financial inclusion. Despite economic headwinds, the Group said it remained committed to Nigeria’s long-term potential and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) vision. The telecom giant said as Africa stands at the point of a profound transformation, the …

In Nigeria, agreement is a rare commodity. From politics to football, fuel prices to fashion trends, consensus is hard to come by. But there’s one issue where Nigerians seem to have found uncommon unity: ‘telcos are ripping us off’. The cry is loud, familiar and constant ‘My data just disappeared!” Today, it’s no longer an isolated complaint but a national …

Some federal lawmakers, yesterday, exchanged heated arguments with telecom operators in the country over the roles they are supposed to play to stem the tide of incessant kidnapping and other phone-related crimes in the country. The lawmakers said the telcos were not doing enough to track kidnappers, despite the number of calls they make to victims’ families demanding ransom. The …

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a 12-month grace period for subscribers to reclaim unused airtime on deactivated lines. The proposal was disclosed during a virtual stakeholder engagement forum held in Abuja on Tuesday. The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the initiative …

MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecoms operator, plans to establish its new headquarters in Eko Atlantic, becoming the first telecom company to build in the rapidly expanding coastal city, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karl Toriola said. The move places the telco alongside major corporations such as First Bank, Shell, and TVC, which are among a growing list of companies relocating …

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has witnessed a robust recovery, with active subscriptions surging to 169.3 million in January 2025, up from 164.9 million in December 2024. According to the industry statistics on Tuesday on the website of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms regulator said that this robust recovery followed a period of decline, which witnessed subscriptions plummet to 154,904,827 …

Organised Labour through the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has forced the Federal Government to reduce telecommunications tariff hike from 50 per cent to 35 per cent. Vanguard reports that the reduction followed a meeting of the 10-man committee comprising government and NLC representatives at the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Friday, 21 February 2025. According to government …