Telecom
NCC Approves New Palliatives for Telecom Operators
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC says new palliatives have been approved to accommodate all telecom operators.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Commission,disclosed this yesterday at the 84th edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP), held at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
The EVC said the new palliatives are meant to provide level playing field, especially for the smaller operators in the industry and to fast-track the ongoing efforts to close the existing 195 access gaps across the country.
He said the palliatives range from reduction from the amount they pay for spectrum and others which would be made available as soon as the process is completed.
‘‘These palliatives range from reduction from the amount they pay for spectrum and others that will be made available as soon as the memo requesting the approval is received.
‘‘I granted the approval yesterday and the details will be made available. I went through the memo and I know there are palliatives.
‘‘There are palliatives for spectrum and there is reduction, there is also a palliative for payment itself. We are introducing palliatives by way of installment payments, spreading the payment rather than compelling operators to make full payment for spectrum acquisition. Information on the new palliatives will be provided in due course,’’ he stated.
On Rural Telephony project, the NCC boss noted that the Commission is in partnership with relevant stakeholders in deployment of base transceiver stations in the needy areas in order to close the existing access gaps.
‘‘The NCC in partnership with stakeholders deployed base transceiver stations in those areas do not have access to bridge access gaps. We are doing this at the rate of about 10 per annum and going by the number of access gaps, it is going to take the NCC close to 20 years to close all access gaps.
‘‘The rural population does not have the time to wait, they are not going to be patient for 20 years without access to telecommunication services. Therefore, there is need to find ingenious ways to close these gaps within a shorter period of time and technology fortunately for us presents itself amenable to solving this problem in shorter time.
‘‘There is a Rural Technology Solution which we have deployed through a pilot scheme in about three locations in the country and we are very happy about the outcome of this pilot deployment.
‘‘We are in partnership with those in possession of this technology here in Nigeria to reciprocate the deployment beyond the pilot, so that we can close 20 of those access gaps and then see what happens. But by my estimation, we can through rural technology solution bridge the gaps in about 3-4 years.
‘‘When you want to bridge gaps, you have to have spectrum and of course, the spectrum belong to operators. We are leveraging this important resource to facilitating the partnership between the owners of the solution with the operators and NCC is right there ensuring that the partnership becomes operative.
‘‘I am happy to report that most of the operators are disposed of this as well as the owners of the technology solutions,’’ Danbatta said.
On the withdrawal of 36 million dormant line, the EVC explained that the intention was to ensure that all resources at NCC’s disposal, number resources, spectrum resources were put into good use and benefit of the country.
According to him, the Commission is not in the habit of allowing resources to waste , insisting that the affected line were not active as at the time of the withdrawal but were only those which operators had allowed to be dormant for over the stipulated period of time.
‘‘Those are lines that are redundant. We always give statistics about active lines. We have noticed that the teledensity is growing steadily, growing for 6-7 months and has exceeded 150million mark now.
‘‘It is expected of NCC that resources that are not being put into use are withdrawn so that this can in turn be a sign to all operators so that they can put them in good use and activate them.
‘‘These are redundant lines and when they are redundant, it means they are not in use. We do not have time to allow resources to waste. The intention is to ensure that all resources at our disposal, number resources, spectrum resources are put into god use and benefit of this country,’’ he further explained.
Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are considering shifting from the current national tariff structure to a regional tariff regime that accounts for state-specific operational challenges.
They say this is because the challenges and costs of running their businesses vary significantly from state to state.
Currently, phone companies in Nigeria have a single national tariff for their services, meaning everyone pays the same amount no matter where they live.
However, the telcos argue that this system doesn’t account for the fact that some states have higher operating costs due to issues like attacks on their equipment and multiple taxes.
This proposal was discussed at the 7th edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) in Lagos, where industry leaders highlighted the need for a pricing model that reflects the ease—or difficulty—of doing business in each state.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), specifically pointed out that the high cost of doing business in some states is a major concern and increases their expenses. He suggested that if negotiating with certain states to reduce these costs is impossible, then the added expense of operating there should be reflected in the service prices in those areas.
“We may have to reconsider the issue of our national tariffs and look at regional tariffs. If you are aware that the cost of doing business is high in a particular state and it’s impossible to negotiate with them, factor the cost of deployment in those areas into the cost of providing services,” he said.
Tony Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), agreed that the current national tariff is unfair because operational costs are not the same across the country.
He believes that states that make it easier for telecom companies to operate should be rewarded, while those that create difficulties should see higher service costs.
9mobile, telecommunications operator, has described as untrue the rumors suggesting that it has shut down its operations.
according to the telcos, these claims are entirely baseless and aimed at causing unnecessary panic among our valued subscribers, the mobile operator said in a statement.
“We understand that some customers have recently faced challenges, particularly with Mobile Number Portability (MNP), a service that enables seamless network switching.
“We want to clarify that 9mobile has never restricted customers from porting to other networks. We remain fully compliant with industry regulations and committed to delivering fair, transparent, and customer-focused services.
“While there have been temporary technical challenges affecting MNP, these issues have now been largely resolved. Some minor delays may still occur due to ongoing system optimizations, but we are actively working to ensure a smoother experience for all users.
“As a proudly Nigerian brand, we embody the resilient spirit of our people and remain steadfast in our commitment to overcoming challenges. We acknowledge the temporary service disruptions some customers may have experienced in different locations.
“However, we assure you that these disruptions are part of a broader transformation effort aimed at modernizing our infrastructure and improving overall service quality.
“Our ongoing investments in network upgrades and service expansion will soon yield significant improvements, ensuring reliable connectivity for individuals, businesses, and communities.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience and loyalty of our subscribers during this transition. While challenges exist, we are making significant progress and are confident that brighter days are ahead. We remain dedicated to providing exceptional service and keeping you connected to limitless opportunities”.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has initiated an investigation into the data processing practices of Tiktok and Truecaller, following growing concerns about potential privacy violations.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, made the announcement today during a press conference in Abuja, where he also revealed the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act – General Application and implementation directive (NDPC Act – GAID), 2025.
Dr Olatunji stated that the commission’s primary concern is how these platforms manage Nigerian users’ personal data, including potential breaches of consent, data sharing with third parties, and overall compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023. He confirmed that the NDPC is actively investigating Tiktok and Truecaller’s data processing activities to ensure they comply with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
“The goal is to safeguard the privacy rights of Nigerians and hold organizations accountable for how they collect, store, and use personal data,” he added.
This investigation comes amid increasing scrutiny of global tech companies regarding data privacy, especially concerning how personal information is processed, stored, and transmitted beyond national borders.
The NDPC act – GAID, 2025, issued today, provides a detailed framework for implementing Nigeria’s data protection law, outlining compliance guidelines, enforcement mechanisms, and obligations for both public and private organizations.
Dr Olatunji emphasized that the directive aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by fostering trust in data governance while ensuring individuals’ rights to privacy are respected in accordance with international best practices.
He reiterated that companies operating in Nigeria must comply with the country’s data protection regulations or face regulatory actions, including fines and potential restrictions.
The NDPC has urged the public to report any data privacy violations and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and due process in its investigations.
The commission noted that reporting data breaches has become more accessible through dedicated channels on its official website.
NGO Blasts MultiChoice for Tariff Hike in Nigeria, Slash in South Africa
Tony Elumelu Foundation Grants $15m to 3,000 African Entrepreneurs
SEC Declares War on Capital Market Fraudsters
Telcos Mull Introduction of Different Tariff Plans for Different States
NESREA Urges Nigerians to Dispose Batteries Properly to Avoid Hazards
General News2 days agoNigeria, Kenya among Nations Running out of HIV Drugs – WHO
News2 days agoNAFDAC Destroys over N1 Trillion Fake Drugs in Anambra
Telecom2 days ago9mobile Denies Shutdown Rumours, Promises Improved Services
Telecom2 days agoTikTok and Truecaller Face NDPC Investigation Amid Data Protection Concerns
E-Business2 days agoVisa to Establish Data Centre in Nigeria to ‘Boost Digital Economy’
E-Financial2 days agoNigeria Still Open Crypto Business despite $80Bn Lawsuit against Binance – FG
News2 days agoBolt Shares the Spirit of Ramadan with Kano Drivers-Partners
General News2 days agoNigeria to Launch $40 Million Fund for Tech Startups