Telecom
Telecom Subscribers Kick Against Levies By Telcos
Deolu Ogunbanjo, national president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMs) has displeasure at the numerous levies saddled on members by telecoms operators.
According to him, the association is kicking against the new levy because it will lead to mobile operators jacking up their prices and that will affect subscribers.
He added that it would also affect the growth of the industry and urged for its total removal.
Ogunbanjo said: “The recent directive by Central Bank of Nigeria imposing 0.00 per cent levy on all electronic transactions is a levy too many.
“There are 38 levies already and this is the 39th imposed on telecoms operators by the three tiers of government and their Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“This is so wrong because the burden of it all will be on subscribers.
“The network operators are complaining of these numerous levies and hindrances, adding that it has an adverse effect on network delivery and efficiency.”
Ogunbanjo said that the levy would not augur well for the telecoms industry in the country as it was coming when the world was encouraging people on data usage.
He said that what the government was doing was to encourage subscribers on one hand, and on the other hand make things expensive with the introduction of the levy.
He said: “This should not be entertained at all and we are joining other industry stakeholders in condemning it.
“Government is talking about all electronic transactions and we are going cashless, it is simply unacceptable, they should have a rethink.”
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
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
PremiumTrust Bank Reassures Customers of Continued Security after Cyberattack Foil
News3 days agoManager, Others Arraigned for Allegedly Hacking into Premium Trust Bank’s Server
Telecom3 days agoMTN Nigeria Drags 20 Banks to Court over N6Bn Debt by SleekChip
E-Business3 days agoCAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms
Telecom3 days agoAfrica Launches First Continental Space Agency
News3 days agoDBI Clocks 21, to Train 5m Workers
Broadcasting3 days agoHow Automated Payments Can Reshape Savings Beyond Local Cooperatives
General News3 days agoNITDA Takes IT Projects Clearance Campaign to Office of Accountant General, Others
Telecom3 days agoMinister Decries High Rate of Nigerian Women Access Gap to Smartphones