Telecom
NITDA Collaborates With Nigeria Police on NPDR Enforcement

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), expressed willingness to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that public and private organizations comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), to protect citizens’ personal information, tackle the menace of cybercrimes, and encourage safer use of Internet amongst individuals, public, and private organisations in the country.

L-R: Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, NITDA and Usman Alkali Baba, Inspector General of Police, IGP during a courtesy visit at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, NITDA, hinted this when he led his management team to a courtesy visit on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Abdullahi said cybersecurity has become very essential in today’s world where society is more reliant on digital technology than ever before, and the sophistication and relentless attacks of cybercriminals are incomparable.
According to him, there is apparently no sign that this trend will slow down anytime soon. Therefore, there is a need for the collaboration between NITDA and the Force to tackle the menace by ensuring that organizations protect the personal information of all citizens at their disposal.
The DG lamented that in recent times, private individuals, private organisations, government establishments, and even military and paramilitary have all been targets of these acts, mostly because there is a high rate of data leakage on the internet.
“Reports from our cybersecurity monitoring platforms have indicated that activities of cybercriminals have increased exponentially; data leakage that can lead to identity theft is now being posted on social media and even auctioned for sale on the dark web.
“It is important to note that this is a global phenomenon, nations around the world are reporting increasing numbers of cyber espionage, BEC Scams, Identity theft, amongst numerous other cybercrimes,” he noted.
Abdullahi added that the borderless nature of cyberspace has necessitated NITDA to be a step ahead of these cybercriminals, especially as the country begins to adopt a digital economy, hence it is important that Nigeria build resilience against these threats to ensure trust in the system.
While commenting on laws that empower the Agency, particularly NITDA Act 2007, Abdullahi stated that NITDA is increasingly paying attention to cybercrime and cybersecurity, and this led establishment of NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) to provide support for MDAs in tackling cybersecurity incidents through prompt awareness, cybersecurity tips, monitoring intrusion, leveraging trusted resources, and implementing a response plan for MDAs.
He further stated that the Agency publishes Information Assurance Guidelines for MDAs towards ensuring that MDAs implement the minimum controls required to safeguard their information assets; and the enactment of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) that ensures that personal data of data subjects are protected. Also, that mechanisms are set in place to ensure that violations to NDPR provisions are appropriately investigated and appropriate sanctions applied.
He appreciated the support offered by the Force by attaching Officers to the NITDA Regulations Compliance Monitoring Team.
Explaining NITDA’s mandate on IT Project Clearance, the DG stated that the Federal Government Circular issued on 18th April 2006 specifically directed all MDAs planning to embark on IT projects to obtain clearance from NITDA. This was subsequently reinforced by another Circular issued on the 31st August 2018.
To reiterate the importance of NITDA’s role in IT Procurements in Government, during his speech at the e-Nigeria International Conference, Exhibition and Awards 2018, Muhammadu Buhari directed all Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) to ensure that their IT projects are duly cleared by NITDA, and directed that defaulters should be reported to the government for sanctioning.
Abdullahi also sought for the Force’s support towards ensuring that young Nigerians with genuine IT businesses are allowed to operate and, where necessary, adequately support in carrying out their lawful businesses.
“The critical role of Startups in our journey towards a Digital Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. However, some Tech startups have reported being harassed by some Law Enforcement Agencies, with some having their IT systems confiscated.
“This has negatively impacted their business operations as well as the economy. NITDA maintains a database of genuine Startups with verifiable business ventures and duly registered with the Agency. Access to such a database can be granted to the Force when the need arises,” he explained.
The IGP Usman Alkali Baba, appreciated NITDA’s visit to the corporate Headquarters of NPF and assured DG of the Force’s support towards realising the Agency’s mandate.
He also reiterated the need for synergy and collaboration with NITDA, stating that no organisation can effectively operate without leveraging digital technologies and NITDA being the IT regulator in the country, is central to the activities of the Force.
Telecom
Airtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches

Airtel Nigeria has restated its commitment to transparency, customer safety, and regulatory collaboration following recent regulatory enforcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC had served Airtel Nigeria a notice of sanction over some alleged SIM infractions in Kano State and consequently slammed a fine of N104 million on the telecommunications firm.
NCC had in a letter, addressed to Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, dated May 26, 2025, signed by Chizua Whyte, head, Legal and Regulatory Services, and Mohammed Dari, acting head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, on behalf of Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, titled: ‘Notice of Sanction: Non-Compliance with SIM Registration Directive in Kano,’ where the infractions were spelt out.
According to NCC, Airtel infractions include unauthorised SIM registrations using 198 unapproved devices, resulting in 8,275 registrations outside the 281 verified Airtel shops; premature activation of 63 MSISDNs prior to proper SIM registration, contrary to the provisions of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022; failure to conduct effective eyeballing, leading to 407 fraudulent SIM registrations with multiple NINs, contrary to the provision of the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022 and failure to provide satisfactory explanation for SIM registrations conducted between 12.00 a.m and 6.00 a.m.
On the matter, the letter revealed that there were some letter exchanges and subsequent meetings on the infractions between the telecom regulator and Airtel, starting from January 12, 2025, March 19, 2025, March 24, 2025, and March 27, 2025, respectively.
Apparently, after investigations and responses from Airtel, the NCC was not satisfied and this led to the fine of N104 million, which was to be paid within seven days from the date the letter was issued.
Specifically, NCC fined Airtel N5 million, N12 million, N81.4 million and N5 million for the infractions respectively.
Reacting, Airtel, expressed appreciation to the NCC for uncovering the infractions, describing the development as a critical opportunity to strengthen internal processes and further align with national security and regulatory expectations
“We thank the NCC for its vigilance and continued support in protecting the integrity of the telecoms ecosystem. Airtel takes these findings seriously and is already implementing corrective measures,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Only recently, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO recently announced that the company is doubling its investment in the country, focusing on network expansion, fiber-to-the-street rollout, 4G/5G deployment, customer care upgrades, and digital infrastructure security.
These investments reinforce Airtel’s long-term vision of building a resilient and forward-looking telecom network that meets the evolving needs of Nigerians.
“Our systems are constantly evolving to stay ahead of scammers and malicious actors,” the spokesperson added. “This is not just about compliance; it’s about our responsibility to the millions of Nigerians who rely on Airtel daily.”
Airtel Nigeria says it will continue to work closely with the NCC and other arms of government to ensure high standards of service and safety for all telecom users nationwide.
Telecom
Kenya Beats Nigeria As the Most Progressive ICT Regulation in Africa

Kenya is celebrating its regulatory ecosystem being ranked as the most progressive in Africa. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the East African country first in its most recent ICT Regulatory Tracker.
ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-gathering tool for decision-makers and regulators. It demonstrates the effectiveness of regulatory systems in the age of technology.
The ITU evaluates the design of the national regulatory authority, the scope of the regulatory mandate, the obtaining regulatory environment, and the robustness of the competition framework in member countries.
Kenya received 93 points, up from 92 in 2023, and now leads the continent in best practices for ICT regulations.
Nigeria and South Africa finished second and third, with 92 and 88 points respectively. Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal complete the top 10 list.
Globally, Kenya was ranked 20th out of 194 countries covered.Italy led the rankings, with 100 points.
The regulator, Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya, said the achievement underscored Kenya’s commitment to creating a robust, technology-neutral regulatory environment that supports innovation, affordability and access.
Steve Isaboke, permanent secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications, visited CA Centre in Nairobi following the announcement on Thursday.
“The ranking is a clear testament of the excellent work that CA has done in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and driving digital access for all,” he said.
“After 25 years, CA’s regulatory regime has attained maturity, and gained global recognition. This ranking shows that the CA staff and leadership are executing their work diligently.”
Telecom
MTN’s Female Leadership Surges to 41.4%, Doubles Industry Average

MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced a significant increase in female representation within its leadership, with women now making up 41.4% of its workforce, a notable rise from 38.7% in 2023.
This figure reportedly doubles the industry average, positioning MTN Nigeria as a frontrunner in gender diversity within Nigeria’s ICT sector.
The company’s recently released 2024 Annual Report highlights its sustained commitment to workplace inclusion and gender equality, aligning with its “Ambition 2025” strategy. Female representation within the executive management team has reached approximately 46.7%.
MTN Nigeria attributes this progress to dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering women professionally. These include the “Women in Tech” programme, which provides targeted upskilling in high-demand fields such as Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, AI/ML, Data Science, and Cyber Security.
The “MTN Y’ello Mums Internship Programme” also supports young mothers in their transition back into the corporate world after career breaks.
Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the MTN Foundation, was recognised as the CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards (NTITA), further underscoring the company’s impactful social initiatives.
Additionally, Uto Ukpanah, the company secretary, received the inaugural Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award from the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA).
Speaking at a recent conference, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the importance of balancing profitability and sustainability equation, saying, “Businesses today need to be purpose-driven. While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders.”
Uto Ukpanah, added, “Showcasing our corporate values and ethos to the world opens the door for greater collaboration with other organisations, as we believe there’s a lot to learn when we all come together. Governance continues to evolve. The challenges today are not the same as they were 10 years ago. Greater accountability is expected, and companies can only continue to do better.”
The company’s broader efforts in diversity and inclusion have been acknowledged with multiple accolades, including the Corporate Responsibility Award. MTN Nigeria also received the “Employer of the Year” award at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Employers’ Excellence Awards.
Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, in the report, reiterated the company’s commitment to building a purpose-driven organisation, emphasising that its success is intrinsically linked to its people and their dedication to a shared vision.
“Since we initiated our culture transformation journey in 2021, our culture transformation has significantly enhanced employee engagement and organisational cohesion. It’s directly strengthened our ability to deliver outstanding business performance and drive sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
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