Telecom
Group Laments Senate’s delay on CNI Bill passage
The Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers (DEMS Volunteers), a non-governmental group of media practitioners that create awareness on digital economy, have bemoaned the non-passage of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Bill by the National Assembly.
CNI is one of the key demands of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunication network operators to ensure a halt to rampant vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.
The Group wondered why the Senate has not given CNI Bill accelerated passage into law as means to deter criminal elements from continued damages on telecommunication infrastructure.
Prince Stan Okenwa, director general of DEMS Volunteers, in a press statement issued by the group on Sunday, said that the country’s inability to enact laws to designate telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure is one of the challenges faced by investors in the market.
“Just recently, the issue of drop calls has been on the front burner, but have we asked ourselves why this may persist!
According to the statement signed by the Director Communications, Mr. Peter Oluka, the DG said, “Airtel Nigeria, just last week, reported that it recorded about 1022 fibre optic cable cuts in eight months.
“How do you expect them to meet up with the obligation of 100% uptime with regards service delivery?
“We understand there are lots of road construction works going on across the country and the telcos need to begin to work in partnership with the Ministry of works to show marks where these cables are laid.
“We also understand that some times, the telcos are confused as to which government agency is responsible for one fee or the other. This has to stop. Let the fees and rates be harmonised.
“If you also consider this report which notes that in 2015, the telecom industry recorded over 10,000 generating sets losses to miscreants who broke into Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to steal diesel, batteries and others, then, what are we saying!
“The country needs to move faster to avert impending doom because telecom has become an economic enabler contributing close to 12% to our GDP”, he said.
DEMS Volunteers believes that whereas the CNI bill has been with the National Assembly for over one decade, this industry has continued to squeeze water out of rock by attracting over $70billion in FDI and more investments are coming.
“MTN has just said they will invest N600billion in three years,” Okenwa continued. “The Senate should save the soul of this industry. The rate of vandalism, especially fibre cuts has increased by 80 per cent since 2016.
“Thus, the passage of this bill alongside the enforcement of Section 4 of the Cybercrime Act, which make reference to CNI, will protect the industry and ensure the growth of the sector”, he added.
DEMS Volunteers further advised the Federal Government to consider issuing Executive Order to this effect should the NASS continue to foot drag on the CNI Bill passage.
“To show example, South Africa has gone ahead to enact a new law protecting the critical infrastructure thereby replacing the outdated apartheid-era National Key-points Act of 1980. Time is now for Nigeria to move and lead by example”, the statement concludes.
Meta, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), has launched the Llama Impact Accelerator Program to foster AI-driven solutions across critical sectors in Nigeria.
The eight-month program will support early-stage startups developing AI innovations using Meta’s open-source Llama models. Target sectors include Agriculture, Security & Safety, Healthcare, and a wildcard category for other high-impact applications.
Speaking at the launch, Sade Dada, Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, emphasized the initiative’s role in advancing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. “We are thrilled to partner with FMCIDE in supporting local AI talent. Open-source AI should be accessible and relevant to national challenges,” she said.
The program will begin with a six-week incubation period, offering technical training and mentorship from industry experts, followed by six months of extended support, including access to technical resources.
Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, hailed the initiative as a “major step forward” in Nigeria’s AI development strategy. “AI will be a key driver of national growth, and this program equips innovators with the tools to tackle pressing issues,” Tijani stated.
The Llama Impact Accelerator aligns with Meta’s broader mission to democratize responsible AI access while fostering innovation in emerging markets.
In collaboration with academic and government stakeholders, the initiative is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s AI industry and drive impactful change.
Applications for the program remain open until June 27, 2025. More details can be found at llamaimpactssa.splashthat.com.
In an era where climate change, youth unemployment, and food insecurity loom large over the continent, a powerful new force is rising — young African innovators building a green future from the ground up.
At the just-concluded Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2024, organised by MTN and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), Nigerian entrepreneur, Olabisi Rafatu Emmanuel, emerged as one of the continent’s top eco-champions, spotlighting the potential of purpose-driven innovation to rewrite Nigeria’s climate and development story.
While Moses Afopezi of Cameroon took home the top prize with AgricFresh, a smart solution combating post-harvest loss, Olabisi’s reusable menstrual products solutions as a waste transformation model earned her national applause and a seat at Africa’s sustainability table, emerging as the second-place winner.
Speaking during the announcement, MTN’s leadership underscored that this challenge goes far beyond accolades. “Together, we have the power to shape a greener, more sustainable Africa — one bold idea at a time,” Nompilo Morafo, Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN, said.
The triumph comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the environmental menace of climate change in major urban hubs like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, even as the Nigerian government is clamouring for smart innovations to address climate change issues such as climate funding, carbon trading and just energy transition.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) recently reiterated calls for tech-based waste management solutions – making Olabisi’s innovation timely and impactful.
MTN says this is just the beginning. With plans to expand the PachiPanda Challenge to more countries and deepen support for eco-entrepreneurs, the telecoms giant is reaffirming its commitment to socio-economic development through green innovation.
As Nigeria sets its sights on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the PachiPanda story is a timely reminder that the answers may lie not in government halls – but in the dreams and drive of Nigeria’s young changemakers.
MTN Nigeria has convened alumni of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP) for an interactive training session on digital monetisation in Nigeria’s Value-Added Services (VAS) sector.
The hybrid event, themed “Understanding Digital Monetisation: Opportunities in the VAS Space in Nigeria,” was led by A’isha Umar Mumuni, Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria. Participants explored evolving digital revenue models, including mobile payments, subscription billing, and telco-backed content partnerships.
Mumuni emphasized the growing significance of digital innovation. “Innovation is the currency of the future,” she stated. She cited projections indicating Nigeria’s potential emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2075, with the digital economy at the forefront of this growth.
The session spotlighted MTN Nigeria’s role in enabling content creators through platforms such as Callertunes, MTN Play, and digital storefronts. Participants were grouped into breakout sessions where they pitched digital product ideas, fostering creativity and strategic thinking.
According to industry figures, Nigeria’s digital economy contributed 18.44 percent to GDP as of Q2 2022, with ICT revenue soaring from ₦51.3 billion to ₦594 billion over a decade. Global digital services revenue reached an estimated $2.58 trillion in 2024, driven by advertising, paid content, and internet access.
Now in its fourth year, MTN Nigeria’s MIP continues to equip media professionals with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a digital-first economy. The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting its alumni through curated development sessions that empower media practitioners in Nigeria.
For further details on the MIP programme and upcoming alumni engagements, visit www.mtnmip.smc.edu.ng.
FG May Forfeits $4m from World Bank Loan over Audit Flop
NDIC Begins Final Settlements to Creditors of Liquidated Premier Bank
CDCFIB Warns against Recruitment Racketeers
Afia TV and Radio Stamps Footprints in Lagos
Concerned Nigerians Ask EFCC to Release Abiodun, CBEX Promoter
General News2 days agoWema Bank Workers, Others Arraigned over Alleged N8.9Bn Cybercrime
E-Financial2 days agoCyber Crime: Hackers to Hold Secret Conference 3.0 July 25
Telecom2 days agoGaps on Phone Number Recycling Fuel Identity Theft, Data Breaches- ICIR
General News2 days agoMusic Stars, Comedians Light Up “Evening with Glo” in Ijebu Ode
E-Business2 days agoFG Enrolls 59,786 Inmates on NIN Platform
E-Financial2 days agoSEC Flags ‘Punisher Coin’ As High-Risk Scheme
Telecom1 day agoTelcos Hit by Major Outages across Lagos, Enugu, Others
News1 day agoBeware!, Fraudsters Using our Name to Defraud Investors- NNPCL