General News
NCC Commends TSSF, Reiterates Commitment to Creating Enabling Environment for ISPs
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has commended the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) initiative organised by Business Remarks for creating an opportunity for industry stakeholders and the advancement of telecommunications development in Nigeria.
NCC expressed its support for the initiative during its maiden edition event held in Lagos, with the Theme “Examining the Nigerian Internet Service Providers Viability in a Digitized Environment”.
The Nigerian telecommunications regulator noted that the forum has provided the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) stakeholders with an opportunity to brainstorm and share perspectives about their expectations, strategies and the way forward will regards to Internet Service Provision.
While commending Business Remarks for the initiative, Prof Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, said TSSF will afford stakeholders the opportunity to discuss policies, regulatory directions as well as challenges that would lead to predictable outcomes which will impact the Nigeria internet service provisions sub-sector in particular and the Nigerian telecommunications sector at large.
Danbatta who was represented by NCC Zonal Controller, Mr Yomi Arowosafe reiterated the commission’s commitment to creating enabling environment for ISPs in Nigeria.
According to the NCC Boss, the National Policy on Digitization and the National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 can only be facilitated through internet service provision and its implementation can make Nigeria compete favourably in the world economy.
“The digitisation of the economy can only come into being when the ISPs are fully encouraged and that is what the commission is focusing on to ensure the enabling environment is created through the development of regulatory instruments that will address the concerns of ISPs in particular and the telecommunication sector at large.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who informed that a total of 756 companies had been licensed as ISPs in Nigeria as of March 2022, but only 188 of them are currently active, said several issues including inadequate spectrum, the high price of bandwidth, high cost of Right of Way, and lack of good corporate governance practice in some of the companies have contributed in some of the licensed operators becoming inactive.
While noting that efforts are being put in place by the regulator to address the issues, Danbatta said: “As a result of these challenges, deliberate policies and regulations are being looked at in the Commission in ensuring that ISPs and other smaller players in the industry thrive.
“Some of the measures the Commission has embarked upon to continue to promote fair play and orderly development of the Nigerian communications ecosystem as well as boost competitiveness of the industry include providing the required regulatory frameworks and interventions in terms of policies, guidelines, and determinations, among others, that will encourage fair play in the telecommunications industry.”
In her opening speech, the convener of the Forum and Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Mrs Bukola Olanrewaju said: “The word has become a global village. This accurately sums up the important role internet plays in connecting businesses and people globally.
“Given the internet’s increasingly important role and adoption, the shift to digital economy offers abundant opportunities, in which connectivity plays a key role.
“However, over the years, studies have shown that the license renewal rate of ISPs in Nigeria continues to drop, even as others take up the license. In view of the critical need for internet connectivity for the digital economy and mass digitalisation of Nigeria, the role of ISPs is central also for uptake of internet of things (IoT).”
Some ISPs at the event sought the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to access foreign exchange (forex) to boost their operations and resuscitate the sub-sector.
They also want the Federal Government to grant them waivers and uniform payment for the right of way (RoW) with the tier one players in the industry.
African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a €6.5 million investment in the Saviu II venture capital fund to boost technology start-ups across Francophone West and Central Africa.
The Bank Group will contribute €4.5 million as equity investment and an additional €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission under the Boost Africa Programme.
The investment is expected to strengthen early-stage financing for innovative businesses with strong technological and digital components, particularly in French-speaking countries.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle managed by Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 seed-stage or early institutional fundraising start-ups. The fund will primarily target B2B technology-oriented companies with scalable models.
At least 60 per cent of the fund’s commitments will focus on French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund may also co-invest in promising East African technology firms seeking expansion into Francophone markets.
In addition, Saviu II will dedicate a special funding envelope for pre-seed investments, mainly through minority equity stakes, often in collaboration with incubators, venture studios and other ecosystem partners.
Industry observers say the AfDB’s backing is expected to de-risk early-stage investment and crowd in more private capital into Africa’s growing digital economy.
Saviu Partners previously launched Saviu I in 2018 with a capitalization of €10 million.
The first fund invested in 12 start-ups, mainly based in French-speaking West Africa, offering not just funding but hands-on support in business development, recruitment, international expansion and fundraising.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ruled in favor of electricity consumers, directing distribution companies (DisCos) to refund ₦20.33 billion in outstanding costs for meters bought under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.
NERC
Signed on February 27, 2026, by Musiliu Oseni, chairman,NERC and Dafe Akpeneye, commissioner Order No. NERC/2026/025 amends a 2023 directive.
It requires DisCos to disburse the funds via energy credits over 12 months starting March 1, 2026, addressing years of slow refunds.
As of December 31, 2025, DisCos owed this amount due to delays in reimbursing prepaid customers who funded their own meters.
DisCos must automate credits for the full MAP meter cost upon activation, disbursed monthly over 120 months based on the customer’s tariff—credits cannot offset legacy debts.
Prepaid customers will receive a monthly token by the 4th day equivalent to the reimbursement value; for arrears, they’ll get two tokens per month.
Postpaid customers will see a distinct credit line on bills subtracted from totals, with two line items monthly for arrears.
NERC mandates monthly reports on reimbursement values using an approved template, plus dedicated email channels for complaints with resolution status included.
The order aims to end delays, improve notifications, and boost sector trust. DisCos must accelerate arrears recovery over 12 months without further excuses.
This follows NERC’s February 2026 compliance review, amid ongoing power sector challenges highlighted by Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised alarm over ravage of Lassa fever cases across 18 states and 67 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.
Dr Jide Idris, director-general of NCDC, in statement yesterday, said that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounted for more than 80 per cent of confirmed cases recorded during the 2026 peak transmission season.
Idris, described as particularly worrisome the growing infections among healthcare workers, with 28 confirmed cases and three deaths reported so far this season.
NCDC attributed the sustained transmission and rising fatalities to operational gaps at the state level, urging urgent action to strengthen outbreak response and control measures.
According to Idris, field investigations showed most transmissions were occurring in known endemic areas, but weak implementation of established response frameworks had contributed to the continued spread and higher case fatality rate.
He said that gaps identified include infections in general outpatient and maternity settings, poor adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, and inadequate pre-positioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
He added that delayed patient presentation due to financial barriers, inconsistent activation of State Incident Management Systems, weak contact tracing, persistent stigma and poor isolation centre standards were also driving transmission.
Idris emphasised that outbreak response implementation and health service delivery fell primarily under state governments within Nigeria’s federal structure, urging them to strengthen accountability and resource allocation.
He called on affected and high-risk states to urgently activate and closely monitor their Incident Management Systems, ensuring timely coordination and efficient outbreak response at all levels of healthcare delivery.
He also urged the immediate release of response funds, strict enforcement of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) compliance in public and private health facilities, and continuous availability of PPE and other critical supplies.
The NCDC boss also advocated accelerated financial protection mechanisms to reduce late presentation and high fatality rates, alongside institutionalised rodent control and environmental sanitation measures under a One Health approach.
He advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere strictly to IPC guidelines.
He also urged the public to keep environments clean, prevent rodent entry into homes, store food safely and seek early medical care when symptoms appeared.
Idris noted that Lassa fever was treatable, with improved outcomes when detected early, adding that Nigeria was also responding to other epidemic-prone diseases including Cerebrospinal Meningitis, Diphtheria, Mpox and Cholera.
He reiterated NCDC’s toll-free emergency line, 6232, for reporting suspected cases and obtaining further information
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