Telecom
ALTON Highlights Telecom Operators’ Role in Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide @NITRA Conference
Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for stronger collaboration among government, regulators, operators and other stakeholders to accelerate efforts at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and strengthening the country’s digital economy.
NITRA Conference
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, made the call while presenting a keynote paper at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference 2026 in Lagos.
The conference had the theme: “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide with Scientific Innovation.”
Adebayo described Nigeria’s telecommunications industry as one of Africa’s greatest success stories in economic liberalisation and digital transformation, noting that the sector had evolved from fewer than 500,000 connected telephone lines before GSM liberalisation in 2001 to more than 200 million active subscriptions today.
According to him, telecommunications has become the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting banking, education, healthcare, agriculture, commerce, governance, security and entertainment.
He said sustained private sector investment over the last 25 years had expanded broadband infrastructure, improved service delivery and accelerated financial inclusion and digital innovation across the country.
“Telecommunications is no longer simply an industry; it is the foundation upon which Nigeria’s digital future is being built.
“Every investment in resilient telecommunications infrastructure is an investment in economic growth, innovation, national security and inclusive development,” he said.
Adebayo said operators had invested billions of dollars in mobile networks, fibre optic infrastructure, international connectivity, cloud platforms, data centres, renewable energy systems and emerging technologies such as Fifth Generation (5G), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH).
He noted that the industry had passed through several phases, beginning with nationwide GSM rollout that democratised voice communications, followed by mobile internet through GPRS, EDGE and 3G technologies, before progressing to 4G, fibre broadband and 5G deployment.
According to him, continuous investment in network expansion has significantly improved connectivity in rural and underserved communities, thereby expanding access to education, healthcare, digital financial services and economic opportunities.
The ALTON chairman, however, said significant challenges continued to threaten future investments in telecommunications infrastructure.
He identified multiple taxation, inconsistent Right-of-Way policies across states, infrastructure vandalism, rising energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, insecurity and affordability constraints as major obstacles confronting operators.
Adebayo said damage to fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications base stations had far-reaching consequences beyond communications, disrupting banking operations, healthcare delivery, education services, security systems and electronic commerce.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for recognising digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset and implementing policies aimed at strengthening investor confidence in the sector.
He also praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, for adopting what he described as a transparent, consultative and evidence-based regulatory approach.
According to him, recent regulatory interventions, including the review of retail tariff frameworks after years of rising operational costs and the resolution of the long-standing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt dispute between banks and telecom operators, had helped improve industry stability.
Adebayo equally welcomed the implementation of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) framework, saying the initiative recognised telecommunications infrastructure as strategic national assets deserving stronger protection.
“The success of the CNII framework will depend on effective collaboration among security agencies, governments at all levels, operators and host communities,” he said.
He stressed that improving Quality of Service (QoS) required more than regulatory sanctions, noting that network performance was influenced by external factors such as unreliable electricity supply, fibre cuts arising from road construction, vandalism, Right-of-Way delays, insecurity and multiple taxation.
He urged operators to ensure their facilities complied with minimum security standards prescribed by the NCC while calling on citizens to protect telecommunications infrastructure.
“If you see anyone tampering with telecommunications infrastructure, report it. If you see something, say something,” he said.
Adebayo also dismissed reports suggesting that the NCC’s ongoing Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) cost study was aimed at increasing retail telecommunications tariffs.
He explained that the exercise was intended to establish fair and cost-reflective wholesale interconnection charges between operators and had no connection with consumer retail tariffs.
“There is currently no industry proposal before the NCC seeking a review of retail tariffs arising from this exercise.
“Our focus remains on improving customer experience, expanding coverage, strengthening network resilience and delivering greater value to subscribers,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, said Nigeria’s digital divide extended beyond infrastructure to issues of affordability, digital literacy and equal access to digital opportunities.
He said bridging the divide would require affordable internet access, digital devices, digital literacy and equal opportunities for citizens to benefit from online education, healthcare, financial services, employment and government services.
According to him, studies by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group estimate that full digital inclusion could add about 88 billion dollars to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by 2030.
Onwuegbuchi said the conference was organised to provide a platform for regulators, operators, technology companies, financial technology firms, cybersecurity experts and infrastructure providers to examine practical strategies for strengthening scientific innovation and expanding digital inclusion across Nigeria.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts linked to road construction, excavation and related civil works were recorded in the first six months of 2026.
The commission said that the damage is disrupting telecommunications services, increasing operators’ costs and exposing businesses and essential public services to avoidable interruptions.
Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, disclosed the figure at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure during road construction and rehabilitation.
He said the scale of the incidents showed the need to prevent damage rather than wait to repair networks after they had been cut
Maida said fibre networks support banking, healthcare, education, government services, commerce, security and emergency communications.
He recalled the widespread telecommunications disruption in February 2024, when fibre cuts affected millions of Nigerians and caused congestion on alternative networks as subscribers switched providers.
He said a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables had been established by the Federal Ministries of Works and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to improve coordination before, during and after road construction.
The committee was later expanded to include the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps because of the critical nature of telecommunications infrastructure.
Raphael Adelador, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, said road construction and telecommunications infrastructure often occupy the same physical space, making coordination essential.
Adelador called for better mapping of fibre routes and improved information sharing so contractors and consultants know where telecommunications infrastructure is located before excavation begins.
He said damage to fibre networks could lead to service disruptions, lost productivity, financial losses and inconvenience to citizens.
Representing Nadungu Gagare, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Stanley Musa, director of Telecoms and Postal Services, said the protection of telecommunications infrastructure was a shared national responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary said that the government was working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen compliance with technical standards and right-of-way requirements, improve information sharing and develop clearer procedures for infrastructure protection.
Air Vice Marshal Effiom Ewa, director of Critical National Standards and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, said fibre-optic infrastructure had been designated as critical national information infrastructure and warned that damage caused by negligence, interference or actions that expose the infrastructure to damage could attract legal consequences.
Air Vice Marshal Ewa called for strict compliance with established procedures during construction and maintenance activities.
The two-day workshop brought together representatives of government ministries and agencies, security organisations, telecommunications operators, contractors and other stakeholders to develop practical measures for reducing fibre damage during construction projects.
The stakeholders are expected to strengthen coordination, information sharing and accountability so that road development does not undermine the digital infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s economy.
Telecom
ipNX Joins Calls for Innovation-Friendly Ecosystem and Stronger Local Opportunities at Regenesys AI Summit
ipNX Nigeria has joined stakeholders at the Regenesys AI Summit to call for innovation-friendly regulations and stronger local opportunities. Chief Technology Architect, ipNX Nigeria, Oluwaseun Oluboyo, made the call for a collaborative approach to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, and emphasized the need to foster innovation while developing enabling frameworks that support responsible adoption and sustainable growth.
Speaking during a panel session at the summit themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” Oluboyo encouraged business leaders, policymakers and technology stakeholders to create an environment where innovation can flourish through experimentation, collaboration and continuous learning.
“If you don’t try new things, if you only stick to what is familiar, we are not going to go progress as a society or an ecosystem,” he said. “Innovation requires the confidence to explore new ideas, while ensuring that customers remain protected.”
Reflecting on the rapid evolution of AI technologies, Oluboyo noted that governance frameworks should remain adaptable to accommodate emerging innovations and evolving industry needs.
“As technology continues to evolve, it is important that we focus on the outcomes we want to achieve while creating room for innovation. Organisations naturally build on what works, but continuous improvement is essential to unlocking new possibilities.”
He observed that creating a supportive innovation ecosystem will enable organisations to deploy AI responsibly while accelerating digital transformation across industries.
Oluboyo also highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s technology ecosystem by creating more opportunities for local talent to innovate, build and thrive within the country.
“We should continue creating the environment that makes Nigeria an attractive destination for innovation and enables our brightest talents to contribute meaningfully to national development.”
He noted that sustained investment in digital infrastructure, skills development and innovation ecosystems will be instrumental in positioning Nigeria to maximise the economic and societal benefits of Artificial Intelligence.
Held recently in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Regenesys AI Summit convened technology leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry experts to examine how Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping business models and redefining leadership priorities.
Other speakers on the panel were Ugo Umeseaka, COO, Redtech Limited; Oladele Adedoyin, Partnership Development Manager, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and Dr Oluwatomi Kogo, Managing Director, Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals.
The summit, themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” provided a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing and practical insights into the opportunities AI presents for economic growth, business innovation and national development.
As AI adoption continues to accelerate across Nigeria, conversations such as these remain essential in fostering collaboration among industry, academia and policymakers to ensure Artificial Intelligence is deployed responsibly, inclusively and for the benefit of society.
Google News Initiative (GNI) has selected six Nigerian independent news creators to participate in its Emerging News Voices Growth Lab for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The selected Nigerian creators are Onlinebanker, Adetunji Films, More Branches TV, Wearegst, Iswellthecapitalist and The Republic.
They are part of a cohort of about 20 emerging news creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa participating in the multi-month virtual programme, which runs through September 2026.
The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of creator-led and digital-native newsrooms through practical training in artificial intelligence, video production, audience development, direct reader engagement and sustainable revenue strategies.
The GNI said the programme was developed in response to the changing way Nigerians, particularly younger audiences, discover and consume news through social-first channels and digital platforms.
According to the initiative, while creator-led journalism is expanding rapidly, many independent newsrooms operate with limited resources and do not have the same access to technology, training and revenue expertise available to established media organisations.
Participants in the Growth Lab will work with Google trainers and product experts across four key areas.
The first is AI in the newsroom, where participants will receive hands-on guidance on integrating tools such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Google Trends and SynthID into newsroom workflows for research, transcription, translation and verification.
The programme will also focus on video and audience growth, providing practical strategies for building YouTube channels and using both Shorts and long-form video to reach new audiences.
Another area is direct reader relationships, with participants expected to strengthen their open-web presence and newsletters in order to develop first-party audiences that newsrooms can directly engage.
The fourth area is sustainable revenue, with sessions covering monetisation strategies, product differentiation and audience growth models.
Marianne Erasmus, News Partnerships Lead, Middle East and Africa at Google, said independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms were increasingly shaping how Africans, particularly Nigerians, find and understand news.
“Independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms are shaping how Africans, and Nigerians in particular, find and understand the news,” Erasmus said.
She said the Growth Lab would equip emerging newsrooms with practical AI skills, video and audience strategies, direct relationships with readers and approaches to sustainable revenue.
Erasmus added that strengthening the capabilities and financial independence of emerging news voices would contribute to a more resilient, diverse and sustainable news ecosystem.
Wale Lawal, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Republic, said the programme was providing practical ways for the publication to combine audience insights, product thinking and responsible AI use.
“Google’s Emerging News Voices Growth Lab is giving us practical ways to combine audience insight, product thinking and the responsible use of AI as we build a more sustainable future for The Republic’s journalism,” Lawal said.
Similarly, Nasir Achile Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of MoreBranches, said the programme had provided practical resources, new tools and opportunities to connect with experts and fellow journalists.
Ahmed said the initiative had also provided information that validated some of the newsroom’s previous observations while equipping its team with knowledge on how to use new tools effectively.
He said the engagement with experts and fellow journalists had created a supportive environment for strengthening storytelling.
The Growth Lab emerged from the Global News Gap Project, a continent-wide mapping initiative conducted with Project Oasis and Code for Africa to identify independent African news creators and areas where emerging newsrooms require additional support.
The programme is part of Google’s broader support for the Nigerian media industry.
Since 2018, Google has supported newsroom transformation projects through the Google News Initiative and provided publishers with opportunities to strengthen their advertising revenue capabilities through the Ad Manager Academy.
Google said that since 2024, it had trained more than 1,500 Nigerian journalists and editors in areas including online safety, advanced Search, digital verification and audience analytics.
It also supports media skills development through its collaboration with the MTN Media Innovation Programme, where fellows receive practical training on AI as a productivity partner and newsroom technologies, including News Consumer Insights and Gemini.
The latest initiative reflects the growing importance of digital-native journalism as news consumption continues to shift towards social media, video platforms and other online channels.
Through the Growth Lab, GNI is seeking to help emerging news creators build stronger digital operations, expand their audiences and develop sustainable business models while responsibly adopting emerging technologies.
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