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Buhari Allegedly Waives N70b Spectrum Fee for Telcos

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Facts have emerged on how President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), allegedly waived over N70 billion in spectrum fees for Emerging Market Telecommunications Service (EMTS), trading as 9mobile in Nigeria.

Buhari Allegedly Waives N70b Spectrum Fee for Telcos

According to The Guardian, since the rebranding of Etisalat to 9mobile in July 2017, the firm has been linked to a particular billionaire in the north with close ties to the Presidency. This is believed to have granted the telecommunications firm some preferential treatment in the industry, as against other telcos.

The Guardian sighted a letter from the NCC, which conveyed approval of the waiver to the telecommunications firm.

Approval of such a waiver, according to industry sources, is a clear case of favouritism and unfairness to other competitors. They claimed the action has potential to distort the level playing field and undermine growth of the telecoms industry in Nigeria.

According to sources, the waiver formed part of last minute underhand dealings, which the ministry, through its closeness to the Presidency, was able to facilitate.

The letter by NCC, signed by its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, dated May 8, 2023, was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the telecommunications, EMTS, titled: ‘RE: Appeal for Concession on Payment of Spectrum Licence Fees’.

The commission, in the letter, referred to the above subject matter and also the presidential approval conveyed through a letter with reference number: HMCDE/026/GEN/Vol. VII, dated April 6, 2023, from the office of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy on the request by Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (EMTS).

In the letter, NCC said it conveyed the approval of Mr. President on the prayers of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy for necessary action.

According to the letter, the prayers were: a 50 per cent waiver on the total amount on the outstanding spectrum fees due to the Federal Government of Nigeria; installment payment of the balance of 50 per cent (unwaived) of the outstanding Spectrum fees spread over a period of 10 years; and that EMTS should make immediate payment of the first installment of the amount (50 per cent) to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In view of these prayers, EMTS was informed that the amount waived on 900/1800MHz band is N43, 608,048,767.50 and for the 2100MHz band, N29, 329, 977, 600.00.

In addition, the document revealed that installment payment of the balance, yearly, for 900/1800MHz band is N4,360,804,876.75 and for the 2100MHz band, N2, 932,997,760.00, over a period of 10 years.

EMTS was told that the amount immediately due for first installment of 900/1800MHz band is N4, 360,804,876.75 and for the 2100MHz band, N2, 932,997,760.00.

According to the letter, EMTS is to ensure immediate payment of the amount stated for payment as approved by Mr. President vide a letter, dated March 31, 2023.

The telecommunications firm is also to note that this concession does not only apply to new accruals on spectrum, and EMTS is to ensure strict compliance, as appropriate sanctions shall be applied in cases of non-compliance.

However, efforts to get more clarifications on this development from NCC proved abortive as of press time.

The Guardian,reached out to the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, on Tuesday, who promised to clarify and get back on Wednesday, but as of press time, yesterday, there was no information from him.

Several calls were put across to his mobile numbers, but his network operators claimed the numbers were switched-off. Text messages were equally sent to the numbers without any response, as of the time of filling this copy.

The Guardian,also reached out to the Head, Corporate Commission, NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Okoha, who directed our reporter to NCC, Director of Public Affairs.

Truly, spectrum has been described as the life wire of the telecommunications industry. Only recently, during a 5G auction, which presented MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications and Airtel as winners, between 2021 and 2022, the Federal Government, through the NCC, raked in some $820 million from fees paid for the licenses.

Source: The Guardian

 


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NITDA Backs NiRA’s Ambitious 2026 Plan to Drive Massive .ng Domain Adoption

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As part of its commitment to fast-track Nigeria’s digital economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially approved the 2025 Annual Report and the 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

NITDA Backs NiRA’s Ambitious 2026 Plan to Drive Massive .ng Domain Adoption

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, receives the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Annual Report from its President, Adesola Akinsanya, after a briefing on the Association’s yearly activities, milestones, and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internet and digital landscape

The approval came during a meeting at NITDA headquarters where NiRA’s President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya led his board members to present the association’s 2026 vision to NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.

Following the approval, both organisations expressed the resolve to reinforce their collaborative efforts to ensure smooth, rapid execution of their shared goals of increasing the adoption of the .ng domain across

To actualise the business plan, the DG directed NiRA to work hand-in-hand with NITDA’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department for effective implementation, daily updates, and project tracking.

“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year,” Inuwa declared.

Highlighting some of NiRA’s impressive achievements achievements over the past year, Akinsanya said 98,285 new registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations were recorded in 2025, while there are 241,000 active domains.

Beyond the numbers, NiRA also implemented important security upgrades, including the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), for a more secure and resilient internet experience for local users, as well as improvements in registrar support and engagement.

Looking into the future, Akinsanya said NiRA is intensifying action to make .ng and .gov.ng domains the gold standard across the country. He expressed gratitude for NITDA’s ongoing support, calling for joint awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building to bring more state governments, local councils, and public institutions under the secure official domain.

Also, the NiRA president added that the association is updating its internal systems, introducing automation, and revising its constitution to meet globally acceptable standards to ensure sustainable growth.

“NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government’’, Akinsanya said.


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TikTok Tax Scam Exposed: Two Arrested Over Alleged £153 Million Fraud Scheme

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TikTok users in UK are being warned to keep an eye out for tax scams after two men were arrested in east London over an alleged scheme involving £153 million in fraudulent claims.

TikTok Tax Scam Exposed: Two Arrested Over Alleged £153 Million Fraud Scheme

TikTok

The pair, aged 22 and 25, have been accused of luring Brits into giving away their personal tax details by offering financial rewards over the app.

Investigators believe they then used those details to lodge false claims worth tens of millions of pounds, claims which were ultimately blocked by HMRC.

The tax body is now urging social media users to be skeptical of posts that promise “risk-free” rewards in return for their tax information.

That information, HMRC warned, is then used to apply for fraudulent tax repayments. Because the criminals hide their identity, it is the person whose details were used who will owe money to HMRC as a result. Similar scams are also run on apps such as Instagram and Snapchat.

TikTokers arrested in London after ?running 153,000,000 tax scam? over app

Simon Grunwell, HMRC’s head of cybercrime investigations, told users to “protect your personal tax details in the same way you protect your bank details.”

He added: “Claims of quick, risk-free cash in return for sharing your personal information are a scam. They aim to defraud you and the taxpayer.”

The two Romanian men involved in the alleged TikTok scheme were arrested in Newham on April 23.

They were accused of offences under the Fraud Act, the Serious Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act, and the Proceeds of Crime Act. Both have since been released on bail, and the investigation is ongoing


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Glo to Improve Customers’ Digital Lifestyle with “More Data, More Value” Package

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Telecommunications and digital solutions provider, Globacom, has introduced a new promotional data package known as “More Data More Value only on Glo”, aimed at enhancing the digital lifestyle of its customers across the country.

In line with the growing demand for internet connectivity in Nigeria’s increasingly data-driven economy, Globacom said the new offer reinforces its position as a customer-focused network by providing subscribers with over 10 percent additional data value on selected bundles.

According to a statement issued by the company in Lagos, the initiative was introduced to ensure that Nigerians derive maximum benefit from every Naira spent on data services, while continuing the company’s tradition of delivering affordable and value-packed telecommunications solutions.

The “More Data More Value” package features several weekly and monthly plans structured to support both daytime and nighttime browsing needs.Under the weekly category, the ₦1,000 plan offers subscribers a total of 3.7GB data, comprising 1.7GB regular data and an additional 2GB night browsing allocation.

Customers who opt for the ₦2,000 weekly package receive 9GB in total, broken into 6.5GB main data and 2.5GB for night usage.

For monthly subscribers, the ₦1,500 package provides a combined 5.2GB data volume, consisting of 2.2GB regular data and 3GB night allocation. The ₦2,000 monthly option comes with 6.25GB in total, including 3.25GB main data and 3GB night data.

Subscribers choosing the ₦5,000 monthly plan receive 16.5GB altogether, made up of 14.5GB main data and 2GB night browsing bonus. Higher-end packages are also available, including the ₦10,000 option which delivers 42GB total data volume — 38GB main data plus 4GB night data — while the ₦15,000 package provides 64GB in total, comprising 62GB regular data and 2GB night allocation.

Globacom noted that the enhanced data bundles are designed to support the increasing digital needs of students, entrepreneurs, remote workers, gamers, and social media enthusiasts who require uninterrupted connectivity for streaming, online meetings, content creation, gaming, and social interaction on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The company added that the offer is equally beneficial to households and small businesses that depend heavily on mobile internet and hotspot connectivity for daily operations.

By increasing data value across its packages, Glo which aims to position itself as the preferred network for high-volume data users further disclosed that the offer aligns with its broader digital transformation strategy through the Glo Café app, which enables customers to subscribe to bundles conveniently and manage their bonus data seamlessly for a more rewarding user experience.

According to the company, the “More Data More Value” proposition reflects its commitment to delivering superior value and ensuring that Nigerians continue to enjoy reliable and affordable digital services without compromising their online lifestyle.

 


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