Telecom
Terrorism Tag: Pressure Mounts on Buhari to Sack Pantami
Following concerns over the past sermons of Dr Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, relating to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda groups, some Nigerians and groups are piling pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the minister, given the sensitivity of the issue at stake.
Also yesterday in Kaduna, a certain Prof. Samuel Achi, claimed that Sunday Achi, his son and a 400-level student Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was strangled to death inside the mosque where Pantami held court.
Pantami has since renounced his past controversial comments, explaining that he was young when he made the radical comments, adding that he is now mature and now knows better.
But some Nigerians have started a #PantamiResign campaign on the social media, calling on the President to sack the minister,
The Nigerian Twitter community also said the minister could not be trusted with the data of Nigerians, especially with the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module integration exercise under his watch.
Elsewhere, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that his administration might be termed a sympathiser of the Al-Queada and Taliban should he refuse to sack the minister.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Zainab Yusuf; national coordinator, and national media affairs director, respectively of the group, in a statement, urged Buhari to dismiss Pantami for his affinity and endorsement of global jihadist movement.
The statement reads: “It is in the interest of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to clear suspicions that it is a sympathiser of international terrorism by sacking Pantami who has admitted espousing the teachings of Al- Queada and Taliban previously.”
According to HURIWA, Buhari would be sued to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he refuses to do the right thing.
It said patriotic groups could canvass claims that the mass killings of Christians in the North by armed herdsmen and Islamists were tolerated by the President because of his decision to keep a man who had confessed to have backed Al- Queada and Taliban.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has also asked Pantami to resign immediately.
Wike said Pantami ought to have resigned from his position immediately information about his extremist views became a matter of public discourse.
He described as worrisome the government’s decision to remain mute as worrisome.
Also reacting, Ndudi Elumelu, member, House of Representatives, said the minister’s statement was a breach of privilege and should not be allowed.
Elumelu, who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives, noted that minister occupies a very sensitive position and the comments should not be overlooked.
Also yesterday, Prof. Samuel Achi, claimed that Sunday Achi, his son and a 400-level student Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was strangled to death inside the mosque where Pantami held court
Sunday Achi’s crime was that he was said to have distributed a Christian tract which Sheik Pantami had said blasphemed Islam and Prophet Mohammed.
That was on December 9, 2004.
According to Niche online, the story was that Achi was dragged out from his room by Muslim fundamentalists at the prompting of Pantami, taken to a remote location within the school premises where he was stoned to death.
But according to the father of the late student, Prof. Samuel Achi, in Kaduna, his son was strangled to death inside the mosque where Pantami held court, not stoned.
“One thing I know that you people (media) got wrong was that my son was not stoned to death. He was strangled inside the mosque and they threw the corpse outside the university mosque,” he said.
He insisted that there was nothing blasphemous in the tract his son and his colleagues shared that should warrant a death sentence.
Achi narrated how a former governor of Kaduna state helped in retrieving his son’s corpse from Bauchi for burial in Kaduna by liaising with the then governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu.
Many Nigerians have called for the sacking or resignation of Pantami after some comments he made some years ago came into light.
“We are all happy whenever unbelievers are killed,” Pantami once said as an Islamic scholar and cleric.
He also hailed Osama Bin Laden, who orchestrated the terrorist attacks on United States soil on September 11, 2001, saying the terrorist “is a better Muslim than myself.”
Pantami once also condemned Muslims who took up government positions, saying he would never join politics or take up a role in government.
Jane Idehen, director-general of Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat), has said that the organisation is projecting an average annual revenue of three billion dollars as it expands its scope of operations.
disclosed this in Abuja at the July edition of DevsInGovernment MDA workshop series organised by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, with a focus on NigComSat.
The programme supported by Galaxy Backbone and World Bank was tagged: “Driving Operational Excellence through Technology at NigComSat.”
DevsInGovernment is a community that aims to create a group of technologists and tech enthusiasts within the civil service who are actively contributing to digital transformation across all government agencies.
The DG said that for NigComSat to grow, it had to explore new ideas and increase product life, which can lead to significant revenue increases.
“Currently we are projecting to average about three billion dollars in revenue year.
“If we can think about ideas, we can do more than that because if you can increase your product life, you can provide more solutions to problems,” she said.
She said that there were other revenue streams beyond broadcasting, which could double or triple the existing broadcasting revenues.
According to her, creating awareness about the programme’s services and solutions was crucial for its success.
Abiodun Attah, executive director of Technical Services at NigComSat, said the agency was charting a new course in its operations with a view to increasing its revenue earnings and serving the country better.
Attah said that one of the things the agency had done with the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) was to carry 2G, 3G, and 4G traffic in rural areas where there was no connectivity.
“In the past, NigComSat was shying away from going into enterprises; it was shying away from doing business outside the government sector.
“Now we have gone beyond that,” he added.
As the world commemorates World Hepatitis Day, Airtel Nigeria is taking bold steps to combat the global health challenge by equipping its employees with knowledge and access.
Reinforcing its ongoing commitment to employee wellness and public health advocacy, the leading telecommunications and digital services provider hosted a companywide Health Talk and announced a free hepatitis vaccination rollout across its offices across the country.
This year’s health and wellness theme at Airtel, “Stay Aware, Get Tested, Vaccinated & Seek Treatment,” aligns with global efforts to eliminate hepatitis and underscores the company’s belief that well-informed, healthy employees are the foundation of a thriving organisation.
In collaboration with its healthcare partner, Leadway Health, Airtel Nigeria brought together staff from across the country for an educational session titled: “Healthy Habits, Healthy Liver: Ending Hepatitis Starts with You!” Led by esteemed medical consultant Dr. Obioma Anomneze-Chima, the session offered critical insights into the causes, symptoms, and prevention of hepatitis, along with practical lifestyle habits to safeguard liver health.
In his remarks at the programme, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, highlighted the company’s holistic wellbeing philosophy.
He said, “Our people are the heart of our organisation, and when they are healthy, they bring their best selves to work. We’re not just investing in employee performance; we’re investing in their complete wellbeing. From mental wellness to preventive healthcare, our programmes are designed to offer real, meaningful support.”
Speaking during the session, Dr. Anomneze-Chima emphasised the importance of proactive prevention and early testing, “Hepatitis doesn’t always announce itself; it creeps in quietly and can cause lifelong complications. Conversations like this help us catch it before it catches us. I applaud Airtel for giving its employees not just facts, but tools and access to protect their health.”
Director, Human Resources and Administration, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, noted that events such as the Hepatitis education and vaccination activity are a firm part of the company’s corporate mission. “This hepatitis campaign is a reminder that corporate responsibility goes beyond business metrics; it’s about actively participating in global health conversations and making a difference where it counts: among our people,” she added.
To sustain the impact of the educational talk, Airtel Nigeria is launching a free hepatitis vaccination programme across its premises, allowing employees nationwide to get vaccinated on-site with ease. This initiative reflects the company’s human-first approach to workforce wellness—prioritising both immediate care and long-term health security.
With this initiative, Airtel Nigeria once again demonstrates its leadership in advancing workplace wellness and health advocacy in the corporate sector. From supporting mental health through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to promoting physical wellbeing with preventive screenings and vaccinations, Airtel is setting the standard for what it means to truly care for its workforce.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has reported robust financial and operational results for the first half of 2025, signaling a promising turnaround for the telecom giant amid improving economic conditions and strategic initiatives.
Karl Toriola, ceo MTN Nigeria, said the company’s performance reflected the successful execution of earlier strategies and a more stable business environment. “We are excited by the progress made in the first half of 2025,” he said, highlighting a 54.6 percent growth in service revenue and a remarkable recovery in profits.
MTN’s subscriber base grew to 84.7 million, adding nearly 4 million users despite regulatory changes limiting SIM registrations by third-party agents. Active data users reached 51 million, fueling a surge in data revenue, which rose by an impressive 69.2 percent.
The operator has been investing heavily to meet rising demand and improve service quality. Among its major projects is the $240 million Dabengwa Tier 3 Data Centre—West Africa’s largest—which was launched in July and promises to drive digital transformation for businesses across the region.
On the fintech front, MTN made solid strides by adding over half a million new digital wallets in Q2 alone. Customer deposits grew fivefold since December 2024, pointing to renewed confidence and expanding usage of MTN’s mobile money services.
Economically, Nigeria showed signs of recovery during the period, with the naira exchange rate remaining stable and inflation easing to 22.2 percent. These factors helped strengthen MTN’s financial position and allowed the company to renegotiate tower leases, resulting in significant cost savings.
As a result, MTN swung from a loss after tax of N519 billion in the first half of 2024 to a profit after tax of N415 billion this year. Free cash flow also improved, hitting N409.8 billion, which the company plans to leverage for further network investments.
Looking ahead, MTN Nigeria has raised its full-year guidance, targeting service revenue growth at least in the low 50 percent range and an EBITDA margin above 50 percent. The firm anticipates positive retained earnings and shareholders’ equity returning by the end of Q3.
The company also remains committed to nurturing tech talent and innovation in Nigeria, pledging over N3 billion to support skills development. An accelerator programme offering funding and mentorship aims to empower African startups and drive future digital growth.
Despite some regulatory and macroeconomic uncertainties, MTN Nigeria’s leadership expressed confidence in the company’s ability to adapt and deliver sustained value to shareholders and customers alike.
NCC Suspends MovieBox.ng over Alleged Piracy
Banks Stops Instant Alerts for Cheques Pending Clearance
NigComSat Eyes $3Bn Annual Revenue – DG
Bank Staff Arraigned for Allegedly Defrauding Customer of N423m
Tony Elumelu Lists 3 Things Africa must do to Bridge Infrastructure Gap
Telecom2 days agoMTN Mulls AI Tech to Protect Infrastructure as Cable Cuts Hit 13,000 in 18 Months
E-Financial2 days agoBanks Reopen Naira Card Payments for International Tuition Fees
News2 days agoYahoo Mail Halts Free Storage Service, Caps at 20GB
E-Financial2 days agoSafaricom, PayPal Collaborate to Link Mobile Money with Online Payments
E-Business2 days agoAttackers Target Employees with Fake HR Updates
Broadcasting2 days agoHow AI Agents Will Revolutionise Industries, Boost Productivity, and Cut Costs
News2 days agoCAC to Delist 100,000 Dormant Firms After 90-Day Compliance Window
E-Financial1 day agoEcobank Sends Important Notice for Customers