Telecom
CSO Scrutinises Akwa Ibom Government for Alleged Internet Signals Jamming
Akwa Ibom State has come under scrutiny by Paradigm Initiative over alleged flagrant jamming of internet signals during football matches.
According to PI, “On October 7, 2017, thousands of Nigerians and football lovers of all hues thronged the Uyo stadium in Akwa-Ibom state to watch the anticipated World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Zambia.
“For the thousands of Nigerians who did make it to the Stadium, their euphoria was unlimited as they watched their beloved Super Eagles become the first team in Africa to reach the world cup finals in Russia.
“However, this sweet experience was blighted by a dangerous action of the state. Fans who wanted to share the historical moments with friends and loved ones on social media discovered to their surprise that they could not access Internet services within the stadium.
“Phone calls also became virtually impossible. For people who had only accessed these services just a few meters from the stadium, this sudden situation suggested the presence of a telecommunications jammer within the stadium premises.
“We have received credible reports that for the past five years, state governments in the region have been jamming internet signals inside any stadium where the Super Eagles play. This has been the case especially when the big-name politicians are in attendance.
“Lolade Adewuyi, a journalist who writes for The Guardian and goal.com, reported that internet service jamming has been going on for five years since the time Super Eagles began playing international games in Calabar.
“When the Uyo Stadium became the main home of the Super Eagles two years ago, the service denial during football game also moved to Uyo, according to Adewuyi and other football fans who spoke to us.
“Arriving at the stadium about 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to start, I made an attempt to upload the video of fans who had been injured in a stampede a few minutes earlier on my social media channels. However, I was unable to connect to the internet. It was to be another frustrating game after all. It turned out to be a similar story. Since my first World Cup qualifying game coverage in Calabar in 2012, there has always been an issue with the internet signals”- Lolade Adewuyi
“Adewuyi lamented that the internet outage affected his work as a journalist who works primarily online. His and his colleagues’ ability to update content online was rendered useless.
“Covering Nigeria senior men’s national team matches has become a terrible headache. You can work with your internet-enabled mobile phones until a few minutes to the beginning of the game when the governor of the host state (Akwa Ibom) arrives into the arena. Once he is in, the data network signals become jammed and one is unable to make any meaningful contributions to social media discussions during that period,” Adewuyi added.
“While journalists have reportedly petitioned Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on the jamming internet services and other telecommunications signals in Uyo stadium, the state government has apparently not bulged and continues to deny thousands of football fans internet services. This is undoubtedly a great abuse of the rights of the citizens who attend these events and who are forcefully disconnected from the world.
“What remains unclear is why the Akwa Ibom state government under Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is engaging in what is tantamount to flagrant abuse of citizens’ rights. We are aware that severing telecommunications services was a tactic used in the fight against Boko Haram in the northeast, in a bid to prevent the remote detonation of bombs.
“However, Uyo is a peaceful and calm city, and there can be no basis for this service disruption, which is a denial of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens. Relevant security agencies and the state government must come to terms with the fact that an important developmental service like the Internet cannot just be turned off at will. World Cup Qualifiers where Nigerians have simply come out to enjoy the beautiful game of football, should never be a venue for freedom of expression denials such as internet disruption.
Meta has announced its intention to appeal the decision of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT), which upheld a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over its data practices.
The penalty follows a 38-month investigation conducted by the FCCPC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which ran from 2021 to December 2023.
The investigation found evidence of unauthorised data sharing, insufficient user consent mechanisms, and discriminatory practices that treated Nigerian consumers differently from those in other regions.
In July 2024, the FCCPC imposed the $220 million fine on Meta and WhatsApp, citing violations of Nigeria’s data protection and consumer rights laws. Additionally, the ruling mandated corrective actions to ensure that Meta’s business practices comply with Nigerian regulations.
In a decision delivered on Friday, April 25, the tribunal upheld the fine, reaffirming the FCCPC’s authority and investigative processes. The tribunal also ordered Meta to pay an additional $35,000 to cover the costs incurred during the investigation.
However, Meta expressed disagreement with the tribunal’s ruling, stating in a statement on Saturday, April 26, that it would urgently seek to appeal the decision and apply for a stay of execution.
“We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users,” WhatsApp said.
The company also contested the tribunal’s findings, claiming that the ruling misrepresented how WhatsApp operates and contained inaccuracies regarding its data practices.
Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for data privacy violations in Nigeria.
The Tribunal also awarded $35,000 in investigative costs to the country’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission .
In a statement issued by the FCCPC, the Tribunal delivered its judgment in the appeal filed by Meta Platforms Incorporated (Facebook) and WhatsApp LLC against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), affirming the Commission’s authority and ruling in favour of its actions on nearly all contested issues.
According to the statement by the FCCPC, “The Tribunal specifically determined that the Commission adhered to prevailing laws, fulfilled its mandate, and exercised its powers by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“It ruled that the multiple actions by WhatsApp and Meta, for which the Commission made findings of violations, were correctly identified, and that the Commission did not err in making those findings.”
The statement revealed that WhatsApp and Meta’s legal team was led by Professor Gbolahan Elias (SAN), while the FCCPC was represented by Babatunde Irukera.
It added that both legal teams presented their final arguments on behalf of their respective clients on January 28, 2025.
“The FCCPC had on July on July 19, 2024, issued a Final Order imposing a $220 million administrative penalty after concluding that the companies engaged in discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian consumers, the investigation started in 2020.
“The case arose from a 38-month joint investigation initiated by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into the conduct, privacy practices, and consumer data policies of Meta Platforms and WhatsApp.
“Dissatisfied with the Order last year, Meta and WhatsApp appealed to the Tribunal, challenging both the legal basis and the findings of the Commission,” FCCPC said.
The Tribunal upheld the FCCPC’s authority and investigative procedures in Meta and WhatsApp’s appeal, resolving most of the contested issues in the Commission’s favour.
It confirmed that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and statutory mandate, particularly regarding fair hearing, data protection, and consumer rights.
While it dismissed the majority of the appellants’ objections, it set aside one specific order (Order 7) for lacking sufficient legal basis.
While expressing satisfaction with the judgment, Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman/CEO, commended the Commission’s legal team for their exceptional diligence and forensic expertise in assembling evidence and presenting their case.
He reaffirmed the FCCPC’s unwavering commitment not only to protecting the rights of Nigerian consumers but also to promoting fair business practices in line with the FCCPA (2018) and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Nigerian government.
Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), has made history with the listing of Legend Internet Service Plc as the first company in its Telecoms sector and the first company to be listed this year.
Legend’s N2 billion ordinary shares, with a par value of 50 kobo each, were listed at N5.64 per share.
Dr Umaru Kwairanga, chairman of NGX Group, who welcomed Legend’s board and management, commended the company for its successful listing on the Exchange
He highlighted that listing signifies an elevated commitment to corporate governance and provides opportunities to leverage the Exchange’s diverse asset classes for capital raising.
He stated, “As we celebrate this listing, with many more in the pipeline, I commend the management of Legend Internet Plc for this remarkable milestone.
“This bold step demonstrates confidence in your business model and growth vision.
It also marks the formal emergence of a broadband service as a distinct sub-sector on our Exchange.
Legend has evolved from a focused digital network provider to a diversified technology player, achieving significant advancements in broadband infrastructure development and data services.
We anticipate continued growth in the future.
“We are still bringing many companies on board the NGX, including Dangote, NNPC and others.
“As Africa’s leading exchange, NGX has consistently championed innovation, transparency and sustainable value creation through our investment in cutting-edge infrastructure and a comprehensive range of product offerings, spanning equities, bonds, ETFs and derivatives
Speaking at the Facts Behind the Listing Ceremony, Dr Ladi Bada, chairman, Legend emphasised that the company, as the first indigenous telecommunications company on NGX, has substantial value to offer the market.
Bada encouraged Nigerians to embrace the broadband industry, recognizing it as the fastest-growing sector globally.
He noted that the company had been instrumental in laying fiber optic cables connecting 250 homes in the Suleja and Abuja environs.
He expressed optimism that the Exchange would serve as a catalyst to replicate such commendable projects across other regions of Nigeria.
“We are here to create an enabling digital infrastructure to achieve the projected one-trillion dollar economy.
“On this special day, Legend Internet takes a bold step forward, not just for itself, but for the broader ecosystem of technology, infrastructure, and enterprise in Nigeria.
“As we begin this exciting new chapter as a publicly listed company, we do so with humility and boldness.
We remain committed to continuous innovation, expanding our reach, and delivering value to shareholders and society
“A listing on the Nigerian Exchange is more than a financial event. It is a signal and a declaration that a business is ready to be held to the highest standards of governance, performance, and public trust,” he said
Providing insights into the company’s development, Ms Aisha Abdulaziz, chief executive officer of Legend Internet Plc, stated that the company had evolved from an internet service provider to a comprehensive digital service provider.
Abdulaziz noted that with broadband penetration in Nigeria being less than one per cent, Legend Internet was strategically positioned to deepen access
She affirmed the company’s commitment to taking Nigeria’s digital economy to the next level
“When we started Legend, we weren’t just building an internet company; we were building a movement
A movement fueled by the belief that every Nigerian deserves access to premium, reliable, and high-speed internet, regardless of their location or occupation
“From late nights in our first office to laying fiber across Abuja, to launching products that made people’s lives easier and faster, our journey has always been about connections
“Connecting people to opportunities, connecting homes to entertainment, connecting Nigeria to the digital future it deserves. Our journey has always been about a better way to live.
“This listing is a symbol of our commitment to transparency, sustainable growth, and the kind of excellence that outlives hype.
“Legend’s primary focus now is on unlocking digital value at the household level,” she said.
Mr Jude Chiemeka, chief executive officer of NGX, congratulated the company for making the strategic decision to list.
Mr Chiemeka noted that Legend’s listing on NGX now brings the total number of listed securities to 322
Also, Mr Temi Popoola, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Exchange Group, encouraged the investing public to support the newly listed company.
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