Telecom
Lagos Withdraws New Charge on Telecom Masts
Lagos state government may have shelved its recently introduced service charge on telecommunications masts in a landmark gesture that will lessen the burden on operators in the state, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now revealed.
The state government had issued a directive through its Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU) to telecom operators to pay service charge on all their masts located in the state after the memorandum of understanding (MOU) it signed with telecom operators.
The directive, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed did not go down well with Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body of operators in the country, which cited breach to the MOU the state signed with it, as part of efforts to mitigate the challenges hindering the roll-out of telecommunications facilities across the state.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that as a result, the Association last month wrote to the state Governor Babatunde Fashola complaining of the perceived breaches and stating its position of not complying with the said directive from UFRU.
The association also noted that such move by UFRU is capable of undermining the MoU it signed with the state government which has put her as the most telecom friendly state in the country.
A source from ALTON said that the state governor is yet to respond to its letter on the subject matter, but, Joe Igbokwe, general manager, UFRU confirmed to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that his unit did send such directive and also has received the complaint from ALTON resisting to comply with the directive.
“ALTON said they won’t pay the service charge, we have left them. There is no problem,” he said.
It would be recalled that Lagos State government in January this year signed Lagos state government has signed a memorandum of Understanding with Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.
The MoU is expected to remove hiccups operators face on Right of Way (RoW) issues, while also checking cases of multiple regulation and taxation, as well as vandalism, among others
It also guides the deployment telecommunications infrastructure in the state.
Biyi Mabadeje, Ccommissioner for Science and Technology, Lagos State, said the MoU will enable telecommunications operators to deploy up-to-date network and rollout services to the benefit of consumers in the state.
“We are looking at development in the state which telecommunications infrastructure will drive. To this end, we have slash the approval fee for ‘right of way’ approvals by 85% to allow operators build quality network for effective service deliver for the benefit of Lagosians,” he said.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, said that major problem of quality of service is deployment of infrastructure and that by the agreement the Association signed with Lagos State, the state has shown that development of telecommunications infrastructure assist in economic development.
He reaffirmed the determination of operators to deploy infrastructure in the state more than any other state in the country.
“Lagos will experience the best quality of service in telecommunications service delivery in the country within the next 6 to 12 months. This will make Lagos will become a smart city.”
He said that the MoU allows Lagos state to be apart owners of telecommunications infrastructure deployed in the state and also ensure a more healthy relationship between operators and Lagos state government.
He noted that the agreement has given telecom infrastructure first layer of protection by the state government, eliminate multiple approval in the state as all the necessary approvals have been streamlined.
“We have also agreed to co-share infrastructure and to deploy the most modern equipment in our network upgrade required to make the city a smart city it is aspiring to become.”
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
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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