Telecom
N/East Indigenes Block Repairs of Bombed Telecom Facilities
Repairs of base transceiver stations (BTS), cell sites and other telecom infrastructure damaged by Boko Haram, the radical Islamic insurgents have been halted by local indigenous communities in the North-Eastern part of the country which have refused to allow workers access to the facilities.
As a result, telecom services are yet to be restored to towns liberated by the military.
This means that telecommunications consumers in the affected region would have to live with little or no telecommunications services for some time.
Sources close to Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that some operators have made efforts to repair some of the destroyed BTS but met resistance from indigenes of the affected towns.
The communities argued that it was the BTS that attracted Boko Haram fighters to their towns who came to destroy them as part of their campaign that everything western is bad.
They added that Boko Haram fighters claimed that the military track them through BTS of telecommunications operators and that if the BTS are repaired to deliver communications service, it will become target for the insurgents which will invariably affect the host communities.
Our source who asked not to be named added that security of telecommunications infrastructure in the liberated towns cannot be guaranteed for now.
He noted that, “As at today (Wednesday) tower operators have lost some 2,000 BTS in the Northeast to insurgency”.
A base transceiver station (BTS) or cell site is the central nervous system of telecommunications allowing subscribers to make and receive calls and other services.
But the facilities have become targets of insurgents especially in the northern parts seeking to impose Islamic rule in the region.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON had in a separate occasion, said that vandalism of telecom facilities are affecting the quality of service provisioning.
Apart from attacks on BTS, other telecom equipment have suffered deliberate destruction by some persons across the country.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek had reported that telecommunications companies in Nigeria spend some $90 million annually in repairs of fibre network cut by activities of government contractors building roads and vandals.
Fiber optic cables are major building blocks in the telecommunication infrastructure because of their high bandwidth capabilities.
But the damage being done to the telecommunications infrastructure is hampering efforts to provide robust ICT services.
Operators also warn that if urgent measures are not taken by government and other regulatory authorities, about $25 billion investments recorded in the sector so far will be seriously affected.
As it is today, Nigeria still lacks major infrastructure and cannot afford preventable damages of its facilities as a result of government neglect and security lapses.
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
Toll Collection on Lagos-Calabar Highway Begins December
CBN Introduces AML to Fight Financial Terrorism, Gives Banks Deadline
Peter Obi Denies Secret Meeting with Tinubu over Fidelity Bank
Luft Pay TV Launches in Lagos, Promises to Revolutionize Entertainment
INEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System
Telecom2 days agoTelcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage
E-Financial2 days agoCBN, SEC Fine Access Holdings N1.21Bn for Infractions
Telecom2 days agoNigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services
News2 days agoKaspersky Uncovers Dero Crypto Miner Spreading via Exposed Container Environments
E-Financial2 days agoFirst Asset Management Launches N100 Billion Infrastructure Fund to Provide Sustainable Capital for Infrastructural Development Across Sectors
Telecom2 days ago13 New Things Google Launched at I/O 2025
Broadcasting2 days agoCanal+ Buyout Of South Africa’s MultiChoice one Step Closer
General News2 days agoNigerians, Others Lost $70m to Denied Visas Applications to Europe in 2024