Telecom
NCC Charges Telecom Consumers to be More Vigilant Online
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again charged telecom consumers to be more vigilant while surfing the Internet or carrying out online financial transactions to avoid falling victims of cybercriminal traps.
The Commission re-echoed the call during the 52nd edition of the Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) held in Kura Local Government Area, Kano State on Thursday in continuation of its monthly sensitisation of telecom consumers under the theme: ‘Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: the roles of the Telecom Consumers.’
The theme reflects the centrality of the consumer as one of the principal players in the telecom value chain and whose activities may be threatened by cyber criminals with intent to defraud uninformed and unsuspecting Internet users.
Addressing a large audience of telecom consumers at the grassroots sensitisation, Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, director, consumer affairs bureau, NCC, said continuous education and enlightenment of the consumers has become imperative in light of the growing threats and sophistication of cybercrime in its various forms globally.
Onwuegbuchulam, who was represented by Ismail Adedigba, head, information and reference, NCC, called on all consumers to pay great attention to the issues being discussed, describing cybercrime as “one of the leading threats of the 21st century which constitute great dangers to all sectors of our daily lives on the Internet.”
She listed and explained some of the most common Internet crimes to the excited consumers.
These include financial fraud, impersonation/identity theft, fake news, using Internet to promote violence, hate speech, online child molestation and child bullying, all of which are orchestrated by the popular ‘yahoo- yahoo’ swindlers within the Nigerian context.
According to Onwuegbuchulam, the Commission is not limited in its general mandate of providing good regulatory frameworks for the industry, ensuring that all operators are properly licensed, ensuring good and acceptable quality of service (QoS) but has another important mandate of ensuring that consumers get satisfaction from services provided and are adequately informed and educated on how they can be safe and protected online.
“So, as telecom industry keeps evolving and changing to accommodate more technology developments, it has also become imperative for the Commission and its stakeholders to meet from time to time to discuss consumer-centric industry challenges and proffer collective solutions.
“There are technological forces underway that will disrupt the industry. We are talking of technologies such as broadband and the Fifth Generation (5G) network which is set to take over the existing Fourth Generation (4G), a technology shift the Commission is already working to accommodate,” she said.
She further stated that preparation for 5G has become important, as technologies that are broadband-dependent such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities and Smart Communities (SC&SC) and Augmented Realities (AR) also will ride on effective deployment of 5G networks.
The Director added that the NCC, in its effort to reduce the effects of cybercrime and increase cyber security awareness, has developed the Internet Industry Code of Practice to deepen ethical provision and use of Internet in Nigeria.
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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