Telecom
Group Urges Minister to Review Suspension of SIM Card Activation
An advocacy group, the Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers Network (DEMS Volunteers Network), a non-governmental group of media practitioners, has urged the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), to review the current ban on new registration or renewal of Subscriber Identification Module, (SIM), widely known as SIM card.
The digital economy advocacy group recalls that the Honourable Minister, in December 2020, directed the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) to embark on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database, wherein the Mobile Network Operators, (MNOs) were asked to suspend new Card registrations and replacement of lost SIM cards.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Prince Stan Okenwa, Ag. Director-General of DEMS Volunteers, said his organisation recognised the genuine interest of the Minister to verify and ensure compliance by MNOs, with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM card Registration, as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
He, however, noted that with the successes recorded with regards the National Identification Number, (NIN) and SIM card integration, the Minister should consider reviewing the suspension, to give room for those with NIN to register new lines, or re-activate their lost SIM cards.
Okenwa said that the continued suspension of SIM registration, and/or renewal, has led to untold hardship on the part of individuals, Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) whose means of livelihood are dependent on digital/online transactions.
“The other day, a man nearly committed suicide because; his business has almost gone down the drain. He lost his phone/SIM Card to a robbery incident and when he approached the telco, he was told ‘their hands are tied’. That is just one case out of many.
“What we are suggesting is that, the Minister issues a new directive for those with ‘credible means of identifications’, especially, NIN, to be able to register new SIM cards, or renew their old one and continue their businesses. We believe that building the digital economy is a collective effort, hence, we are making this appeal to the Minister”, Okenwa stressed.
“It is also important that the Federal Government recognizes the fact that the MNOs’ businesses are mainly Foreign Investment driven, therefore, shutting them off from selling SIM cards to potential markets, may impact negatively on their earnings and directly affect the taxes they pay to the Nigerian government.
“This will be a minus to the digital economy drive. We want the Minister to look into this”, he said.
The Group, in the statement signed by the Ag. Director of Communications, Peter Oluka, also congratulated the Minister, Dr. Pantami, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, over the report by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), which depicts Information and Communications Technology, (ICT) as the fastest growing sector in Nigeria’s economy.
The sector recorded the highest growth rate of all the sectors, in both the fourth quarter of 2020, (Q4 2020) and the entire year 2020.
This was based on the Q4 2020 Report on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) released on Thursday, the 18th of February 2021, by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS).
The London Internet Exchange (LINX) announced today that it will extend its partnership with Digital Realty to West Africa, welcoming the data centre provider to its new interconnection fabric, LINX Accra.
Digital Realty is nearing completion of its new facility in Accra, ACR2. A modern data centre strategically positioned near multiple submarine landing cable stations in Accra’s downtown area.
Ghana is one of Africa’s most internationally connected countries, thanks to the presence of these six undersea cable systems. As a result, the country’s digital landscape has grown dramatically in recent years.
LINX Accra was announced in late 2024 and is anticipated to launch in the coming weeks.
LINX stated that a new internet exchange point (IXP) for Ghana will provide future-proof and scalable solutions to propel the digital ecosystem forward.
The new IXP will be LINX’s third facility in Africa since the opening of LINX Nairobi in 2023, marking an important milestone in the company’s overall strategy in Africa.
Nurani Nimpuno, head of global engagement for LINX commented: “We are excited to be embarking on this new journey with Digital Realty in Ghana. We have strong relations with our partners across our LINX hubs in the UK, US and Kenya so I’m confident this extension of the relationship will be a success.”
Digital Realty has been a key access point for LINX’s interconnection solutions in London and also in North Virginia, US for several years.
More recently, LINX launched their first steps into Africa with LINX Nairobi in November 2023 and LINX Mombasa in February of this year, both working closely with iColo: A Digital Realty Company.
Joseph Koranteng, managing director of Digital Realty in Ghana, commented: “We’re pleased to be welcoming LINX to our new data centre in Ghana, a key milestone as we continue to strengthen interconnection across Africa.
“As demand for low-latency connectivity grows, this collaboration will play a critical role in helping to shape the region’s digital future by enabling greater access, resilience, and integration with the global internet fabric.”
Telecom
Moniepoint Clinches Two IBSi Awards for Leadership in Corporate Banking and Digital Wallet Services
Moniepoint Inc, Africa’s leading fintech platform, has been named a Category Winner in two prestigious categories — Corporate Banking and Digital Wallets — at the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Digital Banking Awards 2025.
The accolades recognize Moniepoint’s significant impact in advancing financial inclusion and operational efficiency through its innovative digital banking initiatives across the continent.
Moniepoint earned dual recognition with the Corporate Banking award for its end-to-end digital platform empowering SMEs across emerging markets through simplified working capital access and streamlined payment processes, while also being honored in the Digital Wallets category for its scalable wallet infrastructure that enables millions to seamlessly transact, save, and manage finances—both innovations supporting broader financial inclusion and economic empowerment goals.
The IBSi Awards jury highlighted Moniepoint’s achievement in delivering measurable business impact, its ability to scale efficiently, and its pioneering approach to integrating local market needs with cutting-edge financial technology.
The IBSi Digital Banking Awards recognize technology implementations and innovation across digital banking units worldwide. This year, more than 110 submissions from over 30 countries were evaluated.
The IBSi Digital Banking Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful technology implementation projects in the global banking sector.
This year’s competition recognised outstanding achievements among digital-only banks, neo-challenger banks, and the technology partners driving digital transformation worldwide.
“We are thrilled to be recognised in two highly competitive categories,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO of Moniepoint. “These awards validate our mission to power the dreams of African businesses and individuals by building technology that works for everyday realities.
“Whether it’s helping SMEs grow or enabling simple, fast, and secure transactions for millions, we remain committed to delivering impactful solutions.”
“These recognitions from IBS Intelligence reflect the hard work of our teams and partners, and the deep trust our users place in Moniepoint,” Eniolorunda added.
“We look forward to continuing to innovate and scale inclusive digital financial services that shape the future of banking across Africa.”
Nikhil Gokhale, Director of Research and Digital Properties at IBS intelligence, said, “Over the years, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in the digital banking space — from the rise of nimble neobanks to the digital reinvention of traditional institutions.
“The IBSi Digital Banking Awards honour this evolution by recognising technology-led excellence across the global banking landscape.
“Now in its fifth edition, the awards continue to recognise banks that are redefining the digital banking landscape through bold strategy, customer-centric thinking, driving innovation, inclusion and meaningful impact.”
This award complements and validates Moniepoint market leadership having been listed for three years in a row in the CB Insights annual Fintech 100, a list of the 100 most promising private fintech companies in the world and described as high-momentum companies shaping the future of financial services as well as being ranked by the Financial Times as one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years.
Moniepoint Inc. powers over 10 million businesses and individuals with access to seamless payments, banking, credit, and business management tools since 2019. As Nigeria’s largest merchant acquirer, it powers most of the country’s Point of Sale (POS) transactions while operating profitably.
Processing over 1 billion transactions monthly, with total payments volume exceeding $22 billion, Moniepoint enables businesses to digitize their operations and thrive in Africa’s rapidly evolving economy.
UK-headquartered IBS Intelligence (IBSi) is the world’s only pure-play Financial Technology (traditional and new-age) research, advisory, and media firm, with a global coverage, and a 360° portfolio of intelligence offerings.
For over 30 years, IBSi’s expert teams have delivered independent, in-depth, actionable insights, with a laser focus on everything Financial Technology, to the global banking, consulting, technology, and institutional investor world.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has declared the presentation of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Report on eight key subsidiary legislations a turning point in the Commission’s regulatory framework.
Speaking at a high-level Stakeholder Engagement Forum in Abuja, Dr. Maida noted that the comprehensive RIA, conducted in 2024, embodies the NCC’s renewed commitment to transparent, participatory, and consumer-focused rulemaking.
“This innovation in our legislative process not only enhances accountability but also recalibrates our focus areas—consumers, licensees, and government policy alignment,” Dr. Maida stated.
The NCC boss emphasized that the RIA’s three-pronged focus aimed to assess regulatory performance across:
* Consumer impact, especially with regard to quality of experience (QoE)
* Market adaptability, with respect to competition, resource utilization, and market entry
* Policy alignment, ensuring legislations support overarching governmental objectives
He urged stakeholders to rigorously engage with the RIA findings to enhance regulatory outcomes and ensure market sustainability.
In her opening remarks, Head of Legal & Regulatory Services at the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, described the RIA as “an evolutionary step in our rulemaking journey,” adding that the extensive stakeholder contributions had strengthened the report’s validity.
“With emerging technologies and policy priorities, we needed to reassess our legal instruments. This RIA was both introspective and outward-looking,” Mrs. Whyte said.
Key areas assessed include licensing, SIM registration, subscriber management, enforcement procedures, spectrum trading, and infrastructure sharing.
Mrs. Whyte revealed that feedback from industry players was instrumental in identifying regulatory redundancies, clarifying legal obligations, and shaping future reforms.
The Legal Department, she noted, is already aligning next-phase reforms with the RIA’s recommendations to strengthen investor confidence and foster innovation across Nigeria’s telecom landscape.
The forum concluded with a call for continued stakeholder participation in shaping the Commission’s evolving legislative environment.
For the NCC, the RIA initiative signals a new era of smarter regulation—balancing flexibility, compliance, and consumer trust.
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