Telecom
IHS Nigeria’s Push for Infrastructure Protection in the Digital Economy
IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has stressed that robust infrastructure protection mechanisms will be critical in enthroning a more efficient digital economy in the country.
This is even as the firm reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government and stakeholders in building a resilient communication infrastructure landscape.
The Director of Administration Operations at IHS, Mr. Sadisu Jubrin, who stated this, called for a holistic and sustainable strategy to safeguard the country’s critical communications infrastructure.
Jubrin noted that legislation alone is not enough to address persistent cases of infrastructure theft and vandalism.
Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholder collaborative event organized by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) with the theme: ‘Critical National ICT Infrastructure and Industry Sustainability—Way Forward,’ Jubrin said IHS Nigeria advocates a multi-faceted approach, including public awareness, technological innovation, and strong partnerships with security agencies and local communities.
According to him, IHS Nigeria has strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a joint national advocacy campaign on radio and digital platforms.
“The campaign educates host communities on vandalism dangers and how damaged infrastructure affects businesses, including access to finance through Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.
“We must empower our communities to become the first line of defence against infrastructure sabotage,” he said.
Jubrin highlighted the importance of helping locals realise how stolen batteries or fibre directly impact their daily lives negatively.
To bolster physical security, IHS Nigeria recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The partnership aims to improve site surveillance, emergency response, and ensure prosecution of those involved in vandalism.
Jubrin explained that IHS uses remote monitoring and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time surveillance of its infrastructure assets. He said this technology helps detect unauthorised access, predict maintenance needs, and reduce physical site visits.
He also noted that IHS Nigeria has also launched community protection programmes in key areas to protect essential hub sites. “This initiative instils local ownership and provides employment opportunities for community members,” he said.
Jubrin emphasised that the success of these efforts depends on strong partnerships with key stakeholders.
He revealed that IHS Nigeria has teamed up with G4S to deploy 650 rapid response patrol vehicles nationwide. These vehicles are fitted with communication systems connected directly to the network operations centre for swift incident response.
The IHS representative urged operators, regulators, security agencies, and citizens to act on the recent NCC executive order without delay.
Speaking as a panellist, Associate Director, Government Relations, IHS Towers, Bond Abbe, stressed the importance of collaboration in cutting to the barest minimum, rising cases of vandalism.
According to Abbe, stakeholders, including government, security agencies, towercos (Tower companies) and telcos must come together to fight the menace, stressing that the crisis is becoming a major threat to an efficient telecom sector.
Saying that IHS has never for one day relented in providing security at its over 16, 000 towers and 15,000km of fibre across Nigeria, Abbe said promoting the development of critical national infrastructure remains a major task.
Lebara Nigeria has become a member of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) as it expands operations in the West African country.
The membership places Lebara Nigeria within a global network of more than 1,000 mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology companies and digital service providers.
Through the GSMA, the company will have access to industry research, technical standards, policy engagement and industry initiatives.
Lebara Nigeria said the move reflects its participation in the wider telecommunications ecosystem as it develops its operations in Nigeria’s mobile market.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector plays a central role in the country’s digital economy, with more than 170 million active mobile subscriptions supporting services such as digital payments, e-commerce, education and healthcare.
Industry analysts say participation in international bodies such as the GSMA supports knowledge sharing and the adoption of industry standards.
Lebara Nigeria said GSMA membership will support its engagement with industry developments and policy discussions in the telecommunications sector.
The company said it remains focused on operating in Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications market as demand for connectivity continues to grow.
GSM Association is the advocacy and lobbying organization for the mobile communications industry, representing more than 1,000 mobile operators as full members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem as associate members.
Management of Vitel Wireless, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has distanced the company from a fraudulent scheme operating under the name: “Vitel Shares Services.”
In an official statement, the management clarified that Vitel Wireless is not selling shares or running any investment schemes.
They warned that the operators of “Vitel Shares Services” are using unauthorised websites, mobile applications, social media promotions, and bank accounts falsely linked to Vitel Wireless to mislead the public.
The statement reads: “The attention of Vitel Wireless has been drawn to a fraudulent scheme operating under the name ‘Vitel Shares Services.’
“We wish to state clearly that Vitel Wireless has no affiliation with Vitel Shares Services, or any platform claiming to offer Vitel shares, investments, or financial products through unofficial channels.
“We do not solicit investments through agents, social media, websites, apps, or third parties. Any platform claiming to offer Vitel Wireless shares or investments outside our official channels is fraudulent and should be treated as such.
“We urge the general public to remain vigilant and verify all information through official Vitel Wireless communication channels before making any payments or sharing personal data.”
Airtel Nigeria has concluded its second Customer Forum in Abuja, bringing together a large section of customers including high-volume data subscribers, 5G customers, and key stakeholders in another landmark engagement aimed at addressing concerns around data usage, transparency, and customer experience.
The forum themed “Understanding Your Data and Taking Control 2.0.” aimed to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape. The session also featured inputs from representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Delivering the Keynote remarks, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, who was represented by Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, emphasised that trust remains the most valuable currency in telecommunications, and Airtel remains committed to strengthening customer confidence through transparency and continuous engagement.
He explained that discussions around data consumption have become increasingly important as digital lifestyles evolve, with smartphones, cloud services, video streaming and emerging artificial intelligence applications significantly influencing data usage patterns.
According to him, Airtel recently introduced the Airtel Data Calculator, an innovative tool designed to help customers estimate their data needs based on online activities such as multimedia streaming, video calls, social media usage, and gaming.
“The purpose of the Airtel Data Calculator is to provide greater visibility, support informed decision-making and place more information directly in the hands of customers. Because transparency should never be viewed as a compliance exercise. Transparency is good business,” he stated.
He further reassured customers that Airtel has no incentive to shortchange subscribers through inaccurate billing, forced spending or unnecessary data depletion, stressing that the company’s growth depends on customer satisfaction, loyalty and trust.
Adeniran also highlighted Airtel’s continued investments in network infrastructure, fibre capacity, digital platforms, artificial intelligence capabilities, customer service systems and workforce development, noting that these investments are aimed at improving service quality and enhancing customer experiences.
Oladokun Oye, Director, Customer Experience, Airtel Nigeria, while welcoming participants to the event, said the forum was created to provide customers with an open platform for education, engagement and problem-solving, noting that the customer remains at the centre of Airtel’s business.
“Data has become central to everyday life, powering work, education, commerce, entertainment, healthcare and countless opportunities. As data usage grows, so too does the desire for greater visibility and understanding.
Today’s conversation is part of an ongoing journey. A journey toward greater transparency. A journey toward deeper understanding. And a journey toward a better customer experience for every Airtel subscriber,” he said.
The forum also featured practical demonstrations on data consumption management, device settings, and usage habits that impact data usage. It also included an interactive session by which Airtel teams provided clarifications and offered feedback to customers.
The Abuja event follows the successful maiden edition held earlier this year in Lagos and aligns with broader industry efforts led by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve consumer awareness, transparency, and confidence within the telecommunications sector.
Lebara Nigeria Becomes Member of GSMA Network
FG to Abolish JSS-SSS Separation Policy after 20m Pupils Drop Out
Vitel Wireless Warns Public, Says it Not Running any Investment Scheme
Army Says Terrorists Now Recruiting, Raising Funds Online
FG Mulls National Skills Database to Tackle Unemployment
Mobile Internet Gender Gap Widest in Africa – GSMA
London Strengthens Global Investment Ties with Africa @ First Ever London-Africa Business Summit
FG Targets Alleged N3tn Capital Flight, Opens Airtime Credit Market to Nigerian Fintechs
Japan, UNESCO Boost Digital Learning in 15 CoEs with Donation of ICT Equipment
Good News for DStv Users: Watch over 160 Channels Without Paying Extra
E-Business2 days agoLG Showcases AI-Powered Smart Living Innovations @ Africa Technology Expo 2026
Telecom2 days agoOADC Reaffirms Abundant Capacity in Data Centres in Nigeria to Host Financial Data
E-Financial2 days agoUBA mobilises employees across Africa for environmental clean-up, wellness campaign
General News2 days agoLASTMA Launches 3367 Toll-Free Hotline for Emergency Response, Traffic Management
E-Financial2 days agoPalmPay Calls for Trust, Infrastructure and Responsible AI to Drive Payment Ecosystem Innovation
Telecom2 days agoALTON Backs NCC’s Local Smartphone Manufacturing Drive to Widen Digital Access
E-Business2 days agoWant a Business Loan Without Interest? SMEDAN Launches N500m Fund
E-Financial2 days agongCERT Raises Alarm over Surge in Banks’ ATM Cyberattacks