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NCC Slams Mobile Majors with N22M Fine

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Eugene Juwah, EVC/CEO, NCC
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Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) this evening slammed a total of N22 million fine on four GSM operators for contravening the ban on promotions and lotteries on their respective networks.

Ms. Josephine Amuwa, NCC director, Legal and Regulatory Services said that the affected operators are; MTN Nigeria, Etisalat Nigeria, Airtel and Globacom.

MTN Nigeria is to pay N10 million; Etisalat Nigeria N6 million while Airtel and Globacom are to pay N4 million and N2 million respectively.

MTN was fine for five promotions at N2 million each while N2million was imposed on Etisalat for three promotions.

NCC said Airtel ran two  promotions while Globacom ran one.

Amuwa said that all the operators have seven days to pay their respective sanction amounts from date of receipt of the sanction notice on February 22,  and are liable to  payment of the sum of N1million for any day that the contravention persists.

According to NCC “sanctions  on MTN were as a result of five promotions viz:; Free Airtime for MTN to MTN calls (8AM – 5PM), MTN to MTN SMS and free MB for Data. Dial *559#; Free N100.00 airtime for MTN to MTN calls, Airtime Bonus valid for life. Dial *559#; MTN Super Saver, get 500%, bonus valid till midnight. Dial *507# and Recharge with N100.00 today and get N500 FREE credit instantly. Hurry and recharge before January 22nd.

“In the case of Etisalat, three promotions that attracted it sanctions include:buy a MIFI device and get 1GB free for six months; buy a Router device and get 50 MB free data spread over four months and Get 30% instant bonus on every plan subscription/renewal over 200MB.

“On the other hand, Airtel is being sanctioned for two promotions: Dongle and MIFI Offering and Reverse Auction Service and Globacom’s contravention is for one promotion: buy Samsung Galaxy SIII, or Galaxy Note II and get free 500 MB on activation, and free 100MB X 6 Months” NCC said.

Amuwa, said “in the event of further non-compliance with the ban, and or refusal to pay the sanction amount within the stipulated time, the Commission shall have no other option than to impose stiffer penalties in accordance with the powers of the Commission, including but not limited to payment of N1 million for each day that the contravention persists”.

The notice stated that the failure of the service providers to discontinue the promotions in accordance with the commission’s directives is a direct contravention of Guidelines on Adverts and Promotions, as well as the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Processes, etc) Regulations 2005.

The Commission had in a letter dated November 8, 2012, directed all the licensees to discontinue all promotions and lotteries running on their networks with immediate effect.

 The ban covered proposed and approved promotions and lotteries after the Commission was inundated with several complaints from consumers and stakeholders against various promotions in the various networks.


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NITDA Backs NiRA’s Ambitious 2026 Plan to Drive Massive .ng Domain Adoption

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As part of its commitment to fast-track Nigeria’s digital economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially approved the 2025 Annual Report and the 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

NITDA Backs NiRA’s Ambitious 2026 Plan to Drive Massive .ng Domain Adoption

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, receives the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Annual Report from its President, Adesola Akinsanya, after a briefing on the Association’s yearly activities, milestones, and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internet and digital landscape

The approval came during a meeting at NITDA headquarters where NiRA’s President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya led his board members to present the association’s 2026 vision to NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.

Following the approval, both organisations expressed the resolve to reinforce their collaborative efforts to ensure smooth, rapid execution of their shared goals of increasing the adoption of the .ng domain across

To actualise the business plan, the DG directed NiRA to work hand-in-hand with NITDA’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department for effective implementation, daily updates, and project tracking.

“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year,” Inuwa declared.

Highlighting some of NiRA’s impressive achievements achievements over the past year, Akinsanya said 98,285 new registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations were recorded in 2025, while there are 241,000 active domains.

Beyond the numbers, NiRA also implemented important security upgrades, including the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), for a more secure and resilient internet experience for local users, as well as improvements in registrar support and engagement.

Looking into the future, Akinsanya said NiRA is intensifying action to make .ng and .gov.ng domains the gold standard across the country. He expressed gratitude for NITDA’s ongoing support, calling for joint awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building to bring more state governments, local councils, and public institutions under the secure official domain.

Also, the NiRA president added that the association is updating its internal systems, introducing automation, and revising its constitution to meet globally acceptable standards to ensure sustainable growth.

“NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government’’, Akinsanya said.


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TikTok Tax Scam Exposed: Two Arrested Over Alleged £153 Million Fraud Scheme

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TikTok users in UK are being warned to keep an eye out for tax scams after two men were arrested in east London over an alleged scheme involving £153 million in fraudulent claims.

TikTok Tax Scam Exposed: Two Arrested Over Alleged £153 Million Fraud Scheme

TikTok

The pair, aged 22 and 25, have been accused of luring Brits into giving away their personal tax details by offering financial rewards over the app.

Investigators believe they then used those details to lodge false claims worth tens of millions of pounds, claims which were ultimately blocked by HMRC.

The tax body is now urging social media users to be skeptical of posts that promise “risk-free” rewards in return for their tax information.

That information, HMRC warned, is then used to apply for fraudulent tax repayments. Because the criminals hide their identity, it is the person whose details were used who will owe money to HMRC as a result. Similar scams are also run on apps such as Instagram and Snapchat.

TikTokers arrested in London after ?running 153,000,000 tax scam? over app

Simon Grunwell, HMRC’s head of cybercrime investigations, told users to “protect your personal tax details in the same way you protect your bank details.”

He added: “Claims of quick, risk-free cash in return for sharing your personal information are a scam. They aim to defraud you and the taxpayer.”

The two Romanian men involved in the alleged TikTok scheme were arrested in Newham on April 23.

They were accused of offences under the Fraud Act, the Serious Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act, and the Proceeds of Crime Act. Both have since been released on bail, and the investigation is ongoing


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Glo to Improve Customers’ Digital Lifestyle with “More Data, More Value” Package

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Telecommunications and digital solutions provider, Globacom, has introduced a new promotional data package known as “More Data More Value only on Glo”, aimed at enhancing the digital lifestyle of its customers across the country.

In line with the growing demand for internet connectivity in Nigeria’s increasingly data-driven economy, Globacom said the new offer reinforces its position as a customer-focused network by providing subscribers with over 10 percent additional data value on selected bundles.

According to a statement issued by the company in Lagos, the initiative was introduced to ensure that Nigerians derive maximum benefit from every Naira spent on data services, while continuing the company’s tradition of delivering affordable and value-packed telecommunications solutions.

The “More Data More Value” package features several weekly and monthly plans structured to support both daytime and nighttime browsing needs.Under the weekly category, the ₦1,000 plan offers subscribers a total of 3.7GB data, comprising 1.7GB regular data and an additional 2GB night browsing allocation.

Customers who opt for the ₦2,000 weekly package receive 9GB in total, broken into 6.5GB main data and 2.5GB for night usage.

For monthly subscribers, the ₦1,500 package provides a combined 5.2GB data volume, consisting of 2.2GB regular data and 3GB night allocation. The ₦2,000 monthly option comes with 6.25GB in total, including 3.25GB main data and 3GB night data.

Subscribers choosing the ₦5,000 monthly plan receive 16.5GB altogether, made up of 14.5GB main data and 2GB night browsing bonus. Higher-end packages are also available, including the ₦10,000 option which delivers 42GB total data volume — 38GB main data plus 4GB night data — while the ₦15,000 package provides 64GB in total, comprising 62GB regular data and 2GB night allocation.

Globacom noted that the enhanced data bundles are designed to support the increasing digital needs of students, entrepreneurs, remote workers, gamers, and social media enthusiasts who require uninterrupted connectivity for streaming, online meetings, content creation, gaming, and social interaction on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The company added that the offer is equally beneficial to households and small businesses that depend heavily on mobile internet and hotspot connectivity for daily operations.

By increasing data value across its packages, Glo which aims to position itself as the preferred network for high-volume data users further disclosed that the offer aligns with its broader digital transformation strategy through the Glo Café app, which enables customers to subscribe to bundles conveniently and manage their bonus data seamlessly for a more rewarding user experience.

According to the company, the “More Data More Value” proposition reflects its commitment to delivering superior value and ensuring that Nigerians continue to enjoy reliable and affordable digital services without compromising their online lifestyle.

 


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