Telecom
Integrity is Key to Telecom Stakeholder Communication -Ndukwe
Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) has listed the integrity of any organization as crucial in stakeholder communications in the Nigerian telecom industry.
Ndukwe who said this at the recent Timex Communications Summit on Legislative Communications which ended at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, said the NCC has for depended on its integrity as an agency to engender credibility of its information for is various stakeholders.
He said effective stakeholder communication is critical in achieving stakeholder support and endorsement for any organization in carrying out its mandate.
“Since the globally acclaimed transparent frequency auction of 2001, the Commission has sustained transparency in its activities and we must say that this has rubbed off creditably on the Commission’s communication with its stakeholders and indeed on Nigeria’s reputation abroad in this sector”, he said.
He listed key stakeholders of the Commission that are considered very critical in its communications to include the Consumers, the government, the service providers, the media, the international community, among others.
He said the regulator’s job in an open liberalized market is typically very demanding and encompasses far-reaching and multi-disciplinary issues, and that advances in telecommunications regulation, and massive expansion of the network would continue to demand effective communication to keep all the stakeholders abreast of our regulatory processes and actions.
In the case of the Consumer, he said Commission has put in place special structures to ensure that the needs and desires of the consumer are taken care of and for the Commission, the consumer is the main object, the subject and the reason for our being; hence the place of the Consumer as the KING is sacrosanct which is explained in the quantum of communication that is directed at the Consumer.
He said communications with the consumer is very expressive in two major programmes, the Telecom Consumer Parliament and Consumer Outreach Programme where the Commission engages in an interactive session, where the consumers of telecom products and services are given the opportunity to freely express their views about the services they enjoy, in the presence of the service providers, the regulator and the media.
“A whole lot of enlightenment and usage education are formally provided to the consumers, through seminars, support for advocacy groups that promote consumer education and awareness, publications like frequently asked questions, and various issues about the telecom industry which are made public through the media”, he said.
Ndukwe said the impact of communications with consumers as stakeholders could be seen with the level of voice that consumers of telecom services have gained in the country, which is not comparable with consumers of any other service in the country.
“It is our considered opinion that our communication with the consumers are very effective to have resulted in this level of awareness among the consumers”, he said.
On the operators, he said apart from being part of the Telecom Consumer Parliament where they are called to account, the Commission also engages them in major interactive communication by way of regular consultative forum organized by the Commission with the media and the public in attendance. This open forum is designed to obtain the views of all the stakeholders before any regulation made.
He said the forum provides the operators the opportunity to give their perspectives to the regulations made by the Commission, and this approach the Commission has charted a predictable regulatory process which has given credibility to its communication with the operators.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
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.
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
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