Telecom
NCS urges Government to Leverage ICT Infrastructure for Sustainable National Electoral Process

The President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has said that using ICT to elect credible leaders could motivate successful and satisfied politicians and encouraged emerging governments to adapt ICT innovations to mainstream development and governance.
Professor Adesola Aderounmu, President, Nigeria Computer Society and Co-Centre Leader, World Bank-Designated Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, said this during a keynote lecture delivered at the 5th Covenant University Conference on e-Governance in Nigeria, on Thursday 7th June, 2018.
Aderounmu, said that it is important to highlight the existence of a genuine need for ICT systems for development in sub-Sahara Africa.
He said, “In particular, we have to distinguish elections as the best opportunity to encourage political leaders to promote innovation in the polity.
“As the 2019 elections draw closer, there is no doubt that putting in place relevant ICT infrastructure now for the application of adaptable technology in our electoral processes will go a long way to ensure transparency and credibility of the elections.
“It is a welcome development that the leveraging of technology had started, even if rudimentary, with the last 2015 elections that ushered in the present administration in Nigeria.
“For instance, the application of technology for biometric registration of voters, the issuance of smart permanent voters card (PVCs) to voters and voter verification and authentication using the smart card reader, has helped the infiltration of ICT into the electoral process.
“So also was the idea to scan and upload all voting result sheets for all the elections on a database, which was made accessible to all stakeholders for some months after the 2015 elections.
“All these formative adaptations of technology with the 2015 elections are commendable, but there is still a long way to go with our future elections”.
He further explained that for us to use ICT to transform our future electoral processes and elections,there is need to employ sensitization,Civic Education and E-Inclusion.
He said that “when it comes to conducting elections, sensitization and civic education are very key in the electoral process and are necessary for democracy.
“It is all about voter consciousness and popular participation in elections.
“The citizens who are voters need to be effectively sensitized or enlightened about their civic duties and rights during elections.
“Voter education should come before and during an electoral event, showing how, where, and when to vote.
“Citizens need to know why they must turn out to vote and how to cast their votes to make them count.
“Sensitizing and educating voters in Nigeria have always been done via the traditional mass media and direct town-hall community engagements.
“Now, with the pervasive influence of technology in society today, educating and cultivating the Nigerian voters can be done better with the leverage of digital media like the mobile phone with bulk SMS, bulk voice call or inbound interactive voice response, and the use of web-portals from pre-election polls.
“Digital technology now enriches political communications and voter engagement like never before.
” And with the majority of people having access to computers and mobile technology devices these days, INEC and other concerned agencies can transform the sensitization, civic education and e-inclusion of Nigerian voters with the use of the Internet via popular social media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and special mobile applications to channel and disseminate voter education messages.
He noted that another way to leverage ICT for Nigeria’s electoral process is through constituency delimitation, using digital maps and charts for proper voter registration.
Professor Aderounmu, stated that voter Registration and Data Capture constitute a major foundational step in the electoral process.
“Without a proper voters register, there cannot be proper elections.
“In the words of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its website, “Voter Registration is a process through which those qualified to vote are identified and included in a list called the register of voters.
“They are then issued with voters’ cards, which entitles them to vote during elections.” INEC goes further to state that “A credible voters’ register is a prelude to free and fair elections.
“Voter registration helps to facilitate the credibility of the electoral process by preventing multiple voting as each person is only allowed to register once. With this, no one is allowed to register at multiple centres.
“It helps in preventing cases of underage voting because only adults of voting age (18 years and above) are registered.”
He admonish the controversies being experienced in Nigeria, over voter registration as some complains of ghost names appearing on the voters register, names of foreign nationals appearing and names of under-age voters appearing too on the register.
“Others complain of missing names on election days after they have registered.
“All these issues tend to mar the electoral process, but the use of ICT infrastructure can make a positive difference.
“Thus one would recommend the use of a Centralized Countrywide Database for voter registration, drawing on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) data inventory.
“Updates to the centralized database can be done through Web Portal E-mails with smart fields, mobile apps, and automatic fingerprint and photo identification systems.
“In a way, online voter registration via the Internet is simpler and more secure than paper registration and manual updates,” he added.
Aderounmu, said that, Nigeria would catch up with the rest of the world’s advanced democracies with adoption of ICT tools in securing electoral process integrity and deepening a truly democratic culture, the government must demonstrate enough Political will.
In his words, this implies that there must be implementation of bold policy moves on the part of the stakeholders involved to commit to actualizing an ICT-driven electoral system for the nation.
“It is not enough to make promises; there must be affirmative action”.
He added, that investing in capital and IT infrastructure for an ICT-enabled electoral process is very important.
He said, Sufficient investment (capital wise) and infrastructure will set the country on the right course.
“If a chunk of the trillions of Naira loot being recovered by the government is invested in IT infrastructure for our elections, it will go a long way to help.
“Robust ICT systems for a national electoral system do not come cheap, but they will pay dividends for our democracy in the long term.
The NCS President, also proffered solutions we can leverage on to solve the challenge of poor ICT application in our electoral process.
He stated that if could invest in the use of intuitive and easy to use machines, we will getting close to solving the challenges.
“The government, especially INEC, must invest in intuitive and easy to use database and software technologies that are as simple as using mobile phones.
“This will remove the factor of complexity in the deployment of ICT tools in our electoral system”.
Aderounmu, emphasized the fact that in spite of the many challenges of deploying technology in our electoral processes and elections in Nigeria, its benefits remain enormous.
He said that, we must catch up with the rest of the world in adopting ICT tools to streamline our electoral process, advance our democracy and institutionalize an enabling e-governance culture.
He noted that, the incorporation of ICT in our electoral system will greatly help improve election management in the country.
“We must go further to deepen the ICT usage by upgrading, especially, our applications of Electronic Voters Register, Automatic Fingerprints Identification System and Smart Card Reader in 2019 General Elections in order to minimize the unwholesome practices of multiple registration and multiple voting.
“This is how we can guarantee electoral integrity and strengthen our democracy.
He however recommended the following six step if we want to get our electoral system right and strengthen our democracy.
1. The Federal Government should urgently push for broadband access all over the country through PPP models
2. The Government must develop a robust sustainability model
3. Must roll out and implement effective local content policy
4. Must invest in high quality IT Manpower development
5. Must see to the Establishment of IT parks and Digital Centres in all the 774 LGAs through PPP models
6. And lastly, the Government should embrace a unified database for Nigeria
Telecom
NCC, REA Move to Power Telecoms with Renewable Energy

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have teamed up to develop an initiative that will reduce the $350 million annual spending on diesel by telecom operators in Nigeria.
According to a press statement by Nnenna Ukoha, acting had of Public Affairs, NCC, this collaboration will focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to support telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To that end, the two agencies have inaugurated what they called NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, aimed at deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure across the country.
According to the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025 by the Africa Finance Corporation, telecom operators in Nigeria consume more than 40 million litres of diesel every month, costing them over $350 million annually.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC.
Maida was joined by Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, along with senior executives and committee members from both organisations.
Speaking at the event, Maida described the collaboration as a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities.
He noted that bridging the connectivity and power gaps in rural areas remains critical for Nigeria’s growth and development.
He highlighted that the demand for digital services and connected communities creates an opportunity for renewable energy to play a crucial role.
Maida further emphasised that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it is aimed at driving inclusion, reducing inequalities, and fostering shared prosperity.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people.
“This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities and creating the conditions for shared prosperity,” he was quoted in the statement.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy and digital transformation.
Aliyu, representing REA, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the collaboration.
“This partnership will unlock sustainable development opportunities for millions of Nigerians, especially those in areas lacking traditional infrastructure,” he said.
He further emphasised that the collaboration would address both energy and connectivity gaps, benefiting those who are currently underserved.
The newly established NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy to power telecom sites.
The statement noted that the committee will also focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, aligning funding frameworks, and tracking the socio-economic impact of the project through clear performance indicators.
Telecom
NCC Approves MTN, 9Mobile Roaming Collaboration Deal

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced the execution of a national roaming agreement with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile), a move that signals a major milestone in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory authority, has approved the three-year deal, which allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, effective immediately, will significantly enhance connectivity and user experience for 9Mobile customers, particularly in areas where its network coverage is limited.
By leveraging MTN’s expansive infrastructure, 9Mobile can now offer improved service reach and reliability, without duplicating capital-intensive investments in network deployment.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, MTN Nigeria described the arrangement as a strategic collaboration that underscores its leadership in fostering innovation, industry cooperation, and operational efficiency.
The company emphasized that the initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader objective of promoting infrastructure sharing to improve telecommunications services nationwide.
“This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork.”The national roaming deal enables subscribers from 9Mobile to access voice and data services through MTN’s network in areas where the former lacks adequate coverage.
This marks the first such large-scale, cross-network roaming arrangement between two major operators in Nigeria, setting a precedent for future cooperative efforts in the telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria highlighted that the agreement contributes to more effective use of telecommunications resources, reduces infrastructure duplication, and accelerates the expansion of mobile broadband access across underserved regions.
It also supports both operators’ sustainability objectives by maximizing existing investments and reducing the environmental impact of deploying overlapping network facilities.
“This strategic collaboration is yet another first in the country by MTN Nigeria and marks a significant milestone for the sustainability of the telecommunications industry,” the company stated.
“By enabling national roaming, MTN Nigeria is contributing to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerating efforts to expand connectivity across the country.”
The agreement is expected to benefit not just subscribers and operators but also regulators and investors who have consistently advocated for policies that promote shared infrastructure and efficient capital utilization in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, MTN Nigeria, affirmed the company’s ongoing dedication to initiatives that create shared value.
“MTN remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders while promoting digital and financial inclusion nationwide,” she noted.
With the successful rollout of this agreement, the telecoms industry is expected to see improved service delivery and expanded access to quality mobile services, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The collaboration sets a benchmark for future inter-operator partnerships and reinforces the importance of regulatory support in advancing national connectivity goals.
Telecom
Don’t Visit Telecom Centers for Now — ALTON Warns of SIM Service Downtime

Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has announced a temporary disruption in SIM-related services across all mobile networks in the country.
The disruption, according to a statement on Wednesday, follows a directive from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), mandating mobile network operators (MNOs) to migrate to a new identity verification platform.
ALTON said the transition had triggered unforeseen technical challenges, affecting services such as SIM registration, replacement, and mobile number portability.
“While the new platform is intended to enhance the integrity and efficiency of identity management in Nigeria, unfortunately, the transition has temporarily impacted service delivery,” the association stated.
It added that MNOs would not be able to support SIM swaps, new activations, and related services until the issues are resolved.
ALTON noted that its members are working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other stakeholders to restore normalcy.
The association appealed for public understanding and urged subscribers to delay visits to service centers for SIM-related matters.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and will continue to provide timely updates,” the statement read.
ALTON reaffirmed its commitment to delivering secure and quality telecommunications services to Nigerians.
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