General News
Investing for growth By Engr. Gbenga Adebayo
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has made the vital decision to allow Telecom companies to increase their tariffs for the first time in more than 12 years. It was a brave decision that should be recognised and commended.
All the customers of our member operators are understandably disappointed that they will have to pay more to stay connected. We recognise that. We know that Nigerians have been through a series of even more substantial price increases in other sectors like fuel and power.
That is why it is so important for us to set out why the tariffs need to go up, how the revenue from the price increases will be used and how long it is going to take us to deliver the improvements that our customers will be able to see and appreciate.
The telecom sector is capital-intensive. It requires constant investment to maintain the infrastructure that we use to deliver connectivity, ensuring that we can deliver the quality of service that our customers demand and continue to upgrade to the latest technologies like 5G.
In 2024, the telecoms sector faced a perfect storm. The need for our member operators to continue to invest in their infrastructure remained, but the cost of operating their networks increased significantly. In isolation, that might have been manageable, but it followed 12 years of progressively increasing costs during which they could not increase prices.
Despite that, the telecoms industry has continued to grow. We have been able to expand voice connectivity, introduce world class data services and diversify into value added services like payments and platforms. But at some point, something had to change if we want to have the digital economy we all know Nigeria deserves.
While we have continued to invest, we were not able to do so at the speed and scale that we would have liked to ensure we deliver service quality at the levels we want, or to roll-out the products we want our consumers to have access to. In 2024, the significant losses across the industry meant that investment slowed considerably to a level that would be simply unsustainable for Nigeria going forwards.
The process of securing the price increases was a long and deliberate one, under the strong leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NCC and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. It was a process that sought to find the right balance that unlocks investment, while minimising the impact on consumers. Our collective goal has been to enable the investment needed to give Nigerians the best service, while continuing to do so at a price that is as competitive as possible from a global perspective.
The 50% increase is a reflection of this, and it is important to assess how this compares to our regional contemporaries. Following the increase, the cost of 1GB of data in Nigeria will remain lower than it currently costs in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa and will be just 9.5% of the cost of 1Gb in the USA. Nigeria will continue to have low-cost connectivity that enables the broadest possible access.
Following the decision, all our member operators will now be able to activate investment plans that will drive improved quality of service, new technologies and expanded reach. But the impact of this will not be felt immediately. It is not something we can just switch on. We cannot address a protracted period of under-investment overnight. The supply chain for the telecom industry is global and competitive. The hardware required must be fabricated by the original equipment manufacturers, shipped to Nigeria, cleared and installed, and this needs to happen at a large scale.
Following the tariff increase, the acquisition, importation and installation of the equipment can now begin. All our member operators have planned for this moment. We know what to do.
The journey to improved service delivery, more advanced technical solutions and a better customer experience has started. The progress Nigeria has made in the growth and development of the digital economy can, and will continue, and the potential to drive social and economic transformation is incredible. We believe in that vision, and the government does too. They have recognised its strategic importance and demonstrated the leadership required to put us on the path to progress.
All hands are now on deck!
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo is the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
Nigeria Police Force has suspended nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy, hours before its scheduled rollout, in compliance with a Delta State High Court order.
Tinted glass permit
The policy, set for January 2, 2026, aimed to curb vehicle-related crimes but faced legal challenge from a private citizen against the Inspector-General of Police, the force, and Delta Police Commissioner.
An ex parte injunction issued in December 2025 restrained enforcement pending suit determination, prompting the hold announced by spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on January 1.
Police entered appearance, filed preliminary objections, and sought injunction vacation; hearing adjourned to January 20, 2026.
The Nigerian Bar Association condemned initial police plans as “executive recklessness,” accusing disregard for rule of law, while police insisted no permanent bar existed on statutory duties.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun reiterated adherence to law while prioritising public safety via intelligence-led strategies during proceedings.
Mr. Thompson Sunday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has reaffirmed the Corporation’s strict compliance with fiscal and financial regulations, including the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, noting that the NDIC has consistently remitted the required percentage of its earnings to the Federal Government.
Mr. Sunday made this known during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, as part of NDIC’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders following his formal assumption of office in July 2025.
According to him, NDIC takes financial accountability and transparency seriously, stressing that the Corporation complies fully with statutory remittance obligations, including the payment of 20 per cent of gross earnings or 80 per cent of net surplus to the Federal Government, as applicable. He added that NDIC also submits its financial statements ahead of statutory deadlines.
The NDIC MD/CE explained that this culture of compliance aligns with the Corporation’s role as a key institution within Nigeria’s financial safety-net, charged with protecting depositors and promoting confidence in the banking system. He emphasized that adherence to fiscal discipline remains central to NDIC’s credibility and effectiveness.
Mr. Sunday further disclosed that NDIC also complies with the Federal Government’s 50 per cent cost-to-income ratio policy, although he noted that the policy poses operational constraints. He explained that the deductions affect NDIC’s ability to build a strong Deposit Insurance Fund, which is needed to respond effectively to bank failures.
He stressed that international best practices under the Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance issued by the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) require deposit insurers to maintain adequate funds to reimburse depositors when banks fail without recourse to government, adding that the NDIC is seeking an exemption to strengthen its capacity in this regard.
Mr. Sunday described MOFI as a critical stakeholder, noting that the Federal Government, through MOFI, holds a 40 per cent equity stake in NDIC. He said sustained collaboration with MOFI is essential to ensuring that NDIC continues to meet its obligations to government while effectively safeguarding depositors’ funds.
In his remarks, Dr. Takang commended the NDIC for its exemplary collaborative spirit and acknowledged the Corporation’s compliance with fiscal regulations. He assured that MOFI would continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Finance on NDIC’s behalf, noting that a strong NDIC is vital to sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, transparency and accountability, with Mr. Sunday reiterating that NDIC remains focused on balancing regulatory compliance with its overriding mandate of depositor protection and financial system stability.
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