Telecom
FG Pledges Support for the Use of ICT in Export Industry

The ministry of communications has said that it will fully align with the calls for the use of ICT to provide valuable insight on current trends and practices in the export industry.
Mr. M F Istifanus, Permanent Secertary, Ministry of Communications stated this at the just concluded Nigerian Export Summit and Awards 2019, with the theme: “The Digital Era, Business on the Move: Export in the Fast Lane,’’ held at Victoria Island, Lagos and was organised by AFRITEX.
Mr Istifanus who was represented by Dr. Patrick Oghuma, Technical Assistant, Ministry of Communications said that ministry aligns with the aim of the summit which is using ICT to provide valuable insight on current trends and practices in the export industry.
He noted that the export sector can play a facilitator’s role in boosting the economy and creating new wealth and entrepreneurship in our communities, stressing also that they are determined to roll out essential ICT services to all citizens, especially those who live in underserviced areas of the country.
The permanent secretary stated that the role of ICT in our economy cannot be overemphasized; saying that it is currently contributing up to 10.11% of Nigeria’s GDP and had created over 10 million jobs in the past 10 years.
According to him, “ICT is currently contributing up to 10.11% of Nigeria’s GDP and had created over 10 million jobs in the past 10 years.
“Development in the ICT sector has provided well over $70 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the last 15 years.
“It is indeed one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy and is the second largest ICT market in Africa”.
He stated that government will offer every support to ensure that our local ICT firms (service providers and manufacturers) have a qualitative competitive advantage over others.
“We as a government will offer every support to ensure that our local ICT firms (service providers and manufacturers) have a qualitative competitive advantage over others.
“We need to work together to seize this window of opportunity to deliver the potential this sector promises by exploring ICT export.
“If we do so, Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology sector will attract international investors.
“As a Government, we are determined not just to restore growth, but growth that is diversified, inclusive; sustainable and robust in the long term, irrespective of whatever happens to the price of crude oil.
“This ICT and Telecom sector should be able to export products and services, he added
Amb. Ayoola Olukanni, Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) speaking at the event, urged exporters to utilise Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to boost exports in the country.
He said that Nigerians in diaspora had a huge export potential and if technology was well utilised in the sector, it would boost the nation’s chances of working with other countries.
“Nigerians in the sector also need to keep up with global best practices when exporting to other countries.
“It is also necessary to adhere to rules and regulations when exporting to other countries,’’ he said.
Olukanni said that electronic media and e-commerce had also helped many Nigerians to showcase their products to the world.
He also noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had taken measures that would increase and diversify exports in Nigeria..
Telecom
Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
Telecom
Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
Telecom
MTN Chairman, Industry Leaders Honour Late Dr. Pascal Dozie’s Legacy at NGX Tribute

Nigeria’s corporate elite gathered recently to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most influential business titans, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie.
The Nigerian Exchange Group’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, played host to an ‘Afternoon of Tributes’ that saw industry captains, financial moguls, and family members celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a man who helped reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.
MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, captured the mood of the gathering when he described the late Dozie as “a visionary leader, a true patriot, and a trailblazer” whose impact continues to reverberate across Nigeria’s business terrain.
“Thanks to his remarkable foresight and unwavering dedication, MTN Nigeria didn’t just find its footing—it soared,” Ndukwe told the distinguished audience.
“Today, it stands not only as the largest telecommunications company in the country but also as one of the most highly valued corporations on the NGX Premium Board.”
The symbolic bell-ringing ceremony—a highlight of the event—paid homage to Dozie’s pivotal role in transforming both Nigeria’s capital market and telecommunications sector.
Speaker after speaker painted the portrait of a man whose influence transcended conventional boundaries. Beyond founding Diamond Bank and steering MTN Nigeria to unprecedented heights, Dozie was celebrated for embodying the rare combination of business acumen and ethical leadership.
Throughout the afternoon, the late business icon was remembered not merely as a successful entrepreneur but as a nation-builder whose contributions spanned critical sectors from banking and telecoms to public policy and education.
More than his corporate achievements, however, it was Dozie’s personal qualities that dominated tributes—his uncompromising integrity, innovative thinking, disarming humility, and lifelong commitment to service.
As the event concluded, it became clear that the gathering was more than a memorial—it was a celebration of possibilities, a testament to what can be achieved when purpose meets passion and when leadership is firmly rooted in service to others.
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