Telecom
FG OkaysN1.8Bn to Tackle Call Masking
federal government has approved the sum of N1.8 billion for the deployment of regulatory systems in the Nigerian telecommunications industry to tackle call masking traffic and other illegal activities.
Call Masking is described as a phenomenon whereby an international call is masked to appear as a local call on any GSM network in Nigeria.
Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, said this on Wednesday after the weekly federal executive council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
“The first memo that was approved by the Federal Executive Council is for the deployment of regulatory systems in the telecommunications industry, to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” Pantami said.
According to him, the regulatory systems to be deployed will have two components that will help tackle insecurity in the country and bolster revenue generation by the government.
The minister said the systems will fight criminal activities perpetrated through SIM box traffic and call masking traffic.
“The system has two components; number one is the deployment of a regulatory system to monitor, detect and block SIM box traffic. It is going to be implemented at the cost of N804, 122, 897.50 by NCC,” he said.
“This deployment is to fight what is called voice traffic termination fraud.
“The system will support our country in two major ways of addressing challenges of insecurity because sometimes you will receive a call with a local number that is set up as an international number; sometimes, a call can come in, but the number will not show; sometimes you will receive a call with a cloned number, so you need to investigate further to know who actually made the call.
“So using these systems, the NCC will be able to immediately address such criminal tendencies on behalf of the Nigerian government.
“The second one in the same memo is the deployment of a regulatory system to monitor, detect, block, and call masking traffic at the cost of N1,049,790,713.58.
“They are all forms of fraud committed by criminals. This will enhance revenue generation by our government because the use of any international number will attract higher tax but if it appears as a local number, the government would be short-changed.”
Pantami said the council also approved the deployment of the systems to enhance the security of Nigerian citizens, especially mobile phone users.
The minister further said that the council approved the distribution of 6,000 e-pad mobile devices to tertiary institutions by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“In this phase of President Buhari’s intervention an approval has been granted to the NCC at today’s cabinet meeting to distribute 6000 e-pad mobile devices to higher institutions all over the country,” the minister added.
“In the northern part of the country, 2400 of such devices would be distributed; the same number for the Southern part and a special allocation for Abuja and Lagos, where both of them are going to share the remaining 120.”
Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has launched an exciting new lottery service — Glo Play Up — designed to blend fun, anticipation, and the prospect of life-changing rewards for its subscribers.
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In an era where organisations are redefining leadership and equity, MTN Nigeria continues to set the pace with its growing cadre of women in senior leadership positions. The company’s consistent recognition of female excellence, both within and beyond its walls, reflects a deep, deliberate culture of inclusion and empowerment.
L-R: Katuka Halilu, Regional General Manager, MTN Nigeria; Ajibola Opeoluwa-Calebs, Senior Manager, Reward, MTN Nigeria; Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria, and ThankGod Otorkpa, General Manager, Regional Operations (Northwest), MTN Nigeria at the Award Ceremony and Gala Night of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
Most recently, Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at MTN Nigeria, was conferred with the Fellowship Award of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) at the CIPM Gala Night and Awards Ceremony held on Thursday, October 30th, 2025.“This recognition is truly fulfilling, it represents the culmination of years of passion and perseverance. To be honoured by the leading institute for HR professionals in Nigeria is a remarkable achievement. I look forward to applying my experience and insight to continue strengthening MTN’s people strategy and driving excellence in human resource management,” Akinnukawe said following the honour.
Her recognition adds to a growing list of milestones achieved by MTN Nigeria’s female leaders in recent years. In July 2025, Uto Ukpanah, the company’s Company Secretary, made history as the 30th President and Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), becoming only the second woman to hold the role in nearly six decades. According to the company’s 2024 Annual Report, women now represent 41.4% of the total workforce, 34.7% of management, and 21.4% of the board. These figures reflect a steady rise in gender representation across all levels, supported by a range of internal programmes focused on inclusion, mentorship, and leadership development.
In the first half of 2025, MTN Nigeria’s strong financial and operational performance further reinforced the strength of its diverse leadership. The company recorded a 54.6% increase in service revenue to ₦2.4 trillion and an impressive EBITDA growth of 119.5%, reflecting its resilience, innovation, and effective people strategy.
This performance culture, anchored on inclusion and excellence, is reflected across the company’s leadership team. Beyond Ukpanah and Akinnukawe, several women occupy influential positions shaping the company’s vision and social impact. They include Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Chairman of the MTN Foundation; Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation and recipient of the 2024 CSI Personality of the Year Award at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards; A’isha Mumuni, Chief Digital Officer; Oby Ugboma, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer; Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer; Ugonwa Nwoye, Chief Customer Relations and Experience Officer; and Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer.
Her journey, from teaching and consulting to leading human capital strategy for Africa’s leading TechCo brand, exemplifies MTN’s belief that empowered women empower organisations.
MTN’s ongoing success story, both in its financial results and in people development, demonstrates that diversity is not just a metric, it’s a growth strategy. As the company continues to invest in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and social impact programmes, its commitment to elevating women into positions of influence remains resolute.
Senate has confirmed the appointment of Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), following a successful screening by its Committee on Communications.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, the Senate adopted the Committee’s report and also confirmed the appointments of Maryam Bayi (North East), Senator Ramoni Olalekan Mustafa (South West), and Ikechukwu Ugwuegede (South East) as Commissioners on the NCC Board.
Other members confirmed include Princess Oforitsenere Emiko and Christopher Sandy Okorie, both representing the South South region.
The newly confirmed Chairman and Commissioners will join previously confirmed members of the Board, including Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida (North West); Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Engineer Abraham Oshadami (North Central); and Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini H. Makama (North Central).
The confirmation marks a significant step in strengthening the leadership of the NCC, Nigeria’s apex telecommunications regulatory body.
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