E-Business
Cost of Bandwidth Crashes by 200 Per Cent
The cost of bandwidth has crashed by some 200 per cent as the avalanche of undersea cable systems, each with landing points on the shores of Nigeria battle for chunks of the country’s untapped and lucrative internet market.
Bandwidth a major ingredient for telecommunications service delivery has been elusive in the country in terms of cost but investigations at the weekend showed that the commodity which formerly cost between $300 and $400 per mega byte per second (Mbps) is today sold for $110 and $115 per Mbps amounting to $16,000 and $17,000 per STM-1. One STM-1 comprises of 155 Mbps.
It was gathered that this cost is for Tier 2 operators which are mostly internet service providers, banks, telecommunications operators among other that uses the ingredient to provider end user services.
This price is available only in Lagos and its environs where there is last mile access network to deliver to the operator buying the commodity.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek learnt that the reduction in cost was occasioned by commercial rollout of service by West Africa Cable System (WACS) which introduce cheaper cost compared to existing price when it entered the market.
However, the situation outside Lagos has not changed as the cost has remained at the roof top.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the commodity cost between $1,200 and $1,500 per Mbps in Abuja and $2,000 in Kano.
High cost of bandwidth in these cities is attributed to cost of transmission as well as role of third party activities.
Meanwhile, educational institutions in the country have formed a Bandwidth Consortium to address high cost of bandwidth in cities outside Lagos.
The Consortium which is the brain child of Nigerian ICT Forum is aimed at making bandwidth readily available and cheaper for research and higher institutions of learning in the country.
Dewole Ajao, operations manager of the Consortium, said that they realized that bandwidth cost is cheaper when buying in high volume and that the Consortium has decided to buy in high volume from undersea cable companies and resale to their members at lower cost.
Ajao explained that a single user who demands for 10Mbps buys at N80,000 per Mbps for a month while the Consortium buying 150Mbps pays N32,000 per Mbps.
He noted that presently the Consortium has a working relationship with MTN for WACS and Glo 1 basically because the two operators have a national access network to deliver the commodity to their members in different states of the federation.
Lack of access network has severally been blamed on high cost of bandwidth as well as poor broadband penetration in the country.
It would be recalled that Internet Service Providers in the country in their presentation at a recent stakeholders’ forum on 2.3GHz spectrum licensing said that higher bandwidth at access network will result in more capacity uptake and results in drop in prices.
“Without sufficient bandwidth at front end which is access network, even carrier networks are not doing well. Today Nigeria uses only 10-15 % of its installed international bandwidth capacity.
E-Business
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
E-Business
FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.
The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.
The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.
It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.
E-Business
NITDA, CISCO Empower Youth with Digital Skills

Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
- E-Financial3 days ago
Access Holdings Sets Benchmark in Fraud Prevention With ₦193.5Bn Tech Investment
- E-Financial3 days ago
MTN’s Digital Lending Arm Disburses $592m Loans in Q1
- E-Financial3 days ago
Access Bank, Deloitte Partner to Equip SMEs with Tools for Growth
- E-Financial3 days ago
FG Verifies 2m Households for Cash Transfer
- News3 days ago
SERAP Asks Ojulari, NNPC CEO to Account for Missing N500Bn or Face Legal Action
- E-Business3 days ago
FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform
- Telecom3 days ago
Equinix Expands Digital Footprint in Nigeria with Launch of LG2.3 Data Center
- General News3 days ago
NOTAP Urges South Eastern Entrepreneurs to Embrace Franchising as Business Model