Telecom
Revocation of SSPA: Death Call for Nitel
Government claimed that that Transcorp had breached the condition precedent on which the investment deal in Nitel/M-Tel was consummated, the implication being that Transcorp had walked away from the deal on its own.
Christopher Anyanwu, director general, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and member National Council on Privatization (NCP) said that the NCP is of the opinion that Transcorp has opted out of the Nitel/M-Tel because it has failed to meet the condition precedent, and that it has been withdrawn. He noted that it is void because it never existed in the first place due to their failure to keep with the terms of the transaction agreement.
He said Transcorp is aware of this fact and that they have already given us the power of attorney (waves the paper) for their equity in the investment.
"Accordingly, the Federal Government has stopped the further sale of all assets of the two companies, whether core or non-core. In the same vein, all sold assets are to be reviewed and any found to have been arbitrarily and unjustifiably sold are to be recovered.
He added that the government was desirous of having the two companies and other privatized non-performing enterprises back on stream and would not leave any stone unturned in this direction.
The BPE boss explained that Transcorp might have sourced their investment funds from banks and other entities, government may open up discussions with the affected institutions to assist them claim their investments.
Before the recent action of government, Transcorp had left Nitel with a debt overhang of $500 million owed a consortium of banks.
By a Shares Sales and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) signed between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Transcorp on November 14, 2006, 51 per cent equity of Nitel was transferred to Transcorp while the government retained 49 per cent.
Under the Post-Acquisition Plan (PAP), Transcorp agreed to inject a minimum of N8 billion new funds into Nitel to prepare it for competition within 30 days and 100 days after the take-over. The PAP was to start the transition of Nitel and its mobile subsidiary, M-Tel, to a profitable and strategic telecommunications operator.
But 30 months after, Nitel’s fortunes have nose-dived with its workforce reduced from 13,000 at take-over to less than 1,000 and telephone exchanges and other immovable assets such as switches in comatose.
NCP under the chairmanship of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan approved the constitution of a technical board to manage the affairs of Nitel/M-Tel until a new core investor emerges.
Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, Minister of State for Information and Communications, who read the resolution of the NCP meeting, said the revocation was arrived at after discussing "the outstanding issues in Transcorp’s management of Nitel/M-Tel and other issues contained in the Shares Sales Purchase Agreement (SSPA)."
According to him, the decision was based on "serious breaches of the terms and conditions of the SSPA, particularly: exiting of British Telecommunications (BT) as the technical operator, which is condition precedent in the SSPA; failure of Transcorp to inject N8.9 billion cash into Nitel within 100 days of its take-over to address the immediate liquidity problem facing Nitel.
Others include, failure to pay interconnectivity debt totaling about N17 billion; inability to pay workers’ salaries in the past 11 months; and failure of Transcorp to maintain Nitel/M-Tel as a going concern, resulting in complete loss of market share from 15 per cent to 0.03 per cent.
Bilbis said it is clear that "Transcorp has deviated and voided the contract in its entirety."
This decision of government sounded good as an effort to revive the ailing used to be telecommunications giant in the country, but there still remain issues that demands explanation which put this effort in doubt. Why is it that whenever serious effort is made to get a technical partner or core investor to revive Nitel that government will come up with revocation of its agreement with Transcorp on Nitel sale? It would be recalled that in 2008 Transcorp had concluded arrangement to sign an agreement with a new investors who were already in the country for the signing ceremony when government suddenly revoked the sale to Transcorp on a Saturday, a non working day. Again in line with federal government and Transcorp the two owners of Nitel agreement to relinquish some percentage of their share holding to a would be core investor, BPE commenced process towards finding a core investor which has been schedule to be completed in September this year, another revocation of agreement was announced.
Transcorp also initiated effort that would have gone a long way in putting Nitel back on its feet with the signing of a project agreement Cisco which was truncated. Under the project deal, Cisco, a leading global information technology firm, agreed to raise $10million to rehabilitate and transform Nitel’s fibre optic cable that is lay waste to ensure that Nigerians get speedy and reliable connection to the super highway. The project would also expand Nitel’s capacity by six times and create huge volumes of bandwidth in commercial quantity for corporate organizations in telecoms, oil and gas and other multinational firms in the country.
The first phase of the project would have generated between $100milliom and $150million to Nitel every year once it is completed. Government as well directed Transcorp in a letter to stop the contract for no stated reason.
Industry watchers are of the view that, with all these revocation and interference by government it will be very difficult to get foreign core investor for Nitel aside skepticism shown by some foreign investors in investing in a country with poor infrastructure and other business challenges.
The fact that Transcorp has not shown enough seriousness in bringing Nitel to life once again in terms of technical and financial ability is not in doubt. The Federal government of Nigeria’s attitude to the whole arrangement also left much to be desired. Although it claimed to have 49 percent of Nitel, investigations show that since the coming on board of Transcorp, it has not invested a dime in its operations. This is definitely contrary to the dictates of the industry which demands constant investment to be able to catch up with the competition. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations show that the politics and interest of some people in government had contributed immensely to frustrate all effort to revive the company by Transcorp. Government said that Transcorp did not inject N8 billion into Nitel within 100 days of its take over, but it was gathered that Transcorp took firm control of Nitel in 2008 two year after it acquired 51 percent share of the company.
It is important to note that the Federal Government which owes 49 percent equity has not made any investment since 2006. The last time an investment was committed to Nitel by government was in 2005 when it disbursed about N60billion into Nitel’s operation, the fund which was said to have disappeared into private pockets immediately Nitel’s account was credited.
According to Tom Iseghohi, group managing director, Transcorp, Transcorp invested over N5 billion in Nitel within the first year of its take over. This means that going by the share structure, government supposed to have brought in a commensurate investment of over N4 billion.
Mr. Bayo Banjo, vice president, Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (Atcon), said Transcorp has found itself in this sorry state because it is ignorant of the fact that any dealing with government is very difficult because of inherent political interests.
An industry analyst said the entire scenario is a reflection of the fact that government has no business in business. He questioned how government is going to reconcile invest made by Transcorp in the payment of staff salaries when the company is not generating near what is use in running it.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) agreed that enough has not been by both parties in Nitel deal which is responsible for Nitel that controls about 25 percent of market share five years now controls 0.003 percent.
He urged for a complete re-engineering of Nitel before any other effort at reviving the company, especially maintenance of its network facilities that have not been maintained for the past five years.
He noted that, there is not going to be a smooth sale of Nitel going by the events that have happened, and that position of government in respite of the percentage of share to be sold will determine the direction and willingness of any core investor to invest in Nitel.
Adebayo suggested a 100 percent sale of Nitel as government does not have what it take to run business, adding that the current state of affairs in Nitel be made public.
Industry watchers have argued that the position of government to guide the revival process in Nitel is a mere effort to cover up huge debt owe Nitel by people in government as well as their interest.
Airtel Nigeria has secured a fresh 10-year renewal of its spectrum licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reinforcing the telecom operator’s long-term commitment to expanding broadband connectivity and improving digital access across the country.
The renewed licence covers Airtel’s spectrum holdings, which are critical to the delivery of voice and high-speed data services, providing regulatory certainty for continued investments in network expansion, capacity upgrades and improved customer experience.
According to the company, the renewal underscores confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and will support its ongoing efforts to bridge the country’s digital divide by extending quality connectivity to more underserved communities.
Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer, Airtel Africa, said the renewal provides the company with the confidence to continue investing in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
He said, “The spectrum renewal reaffirms our long-term commitment to Nigeria, our largest market. It gives us the certainty required to continue investing in network expansion, improve service quality and accelerate digital inclusion for millions of Nigerians.”
Taldar added that Airtel remains focused on expanding broadband access and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy agenda through sustained investments in telecommunications infrastructure.
He further said, “We appreciate the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Government for their continued support in creating an enabling environment for investment. We remain committed to delivering reliable and affordable connectivity while contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.”
Meanwhile, Industry observers said the licence renewal removes regulatory uncertainty and allows Airtel to pursue long-term capital investments, including the expansion of 4G and 5G networks, as demand for mobile data and digital services continues to grow across Nigeria.
The renewal comes as telecom operators continue to invest heavily in broadband infrastructure to meet rising data consumption and support government efforts to achieve Universal digital access.
Furthermore, It also aligns with the NCC’s objective of ensuring efficient spectrum management while encouraging sustained private sector investment in the country’s telecommunications industry.
Telecom
GSMA Supports Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, Joins Partners to Launch ATLAS Umoja
The GSMA supports the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa by Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-2026), describing it as an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s digital future through evidence-based policy, investment and regional collaboration.
The Declaration commits African governments to advancing policies that promote meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient digital infrastructure and locally relevant digital services. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration between governments, industry and development partners to close the continent’s connectivity and usage gaps.
Throughout the conference, the GSMA has worked alongside governments, regulators and industry leaders to support these shared ambitions through practical policy engagement, evidence-based research and new collaborative initiatives designed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
Speaking during the ATU-GSMA African ICT Regulatory Leaders’ Forum, policymakers and regulators explored how stronger evidence-based regulation, greater regulatory harmonisation and future-ready policy frameworks can create an enabling environment for investment, innovation and sustainable digital growth across Africa. Drawing insights from the GSMA’s Digital Africa Index, participants also examined future-ready approaches to satellite regulation, highlighting how technology-neutral licensing frameworks can support innovation while extending connectivity to underserved communities.
Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director, Public Policy, Africa, GSMA, said: “The Abuja Ministerial Declaration sends an important signal that African governments share a common vision for delivering meaningful connectivity through modern, evidence-based and investment-friendly policy. Its emphasis on digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient infrastructure and stronger regional collaboration reflects the practical policy foundations needed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.”
Launching ATLAS Umoja AI
Supporting the ambitions set out in the Abuja Declaration, the GSMA, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation, Kenya’s Ministry of information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Benin’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Awarri, Zindi, Pawa AI and Mozisha today announced ATLAS Umoja AI –a new pan-African initiative to strengthen collaboration on African language AI.
Designed to complement national AI programmes, ATLAS Umoja will bring together governments, industry and researchers to share expertise, datasets and best practice, helping develop trusted, scalable AI that better reflects Africa’s languages, cultures and development priorities. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation, attract investment and scale African language AI across the continent.
The launch builds on the momentum of the newly established AI for Good Global Commission. Ministers from Nigeria, Namibia and Togo, who serve on the Commission, have committed to support Africa Umoja, demonstrating how African leaders are turning global ambitions for trusted and inclusive AI into practical regional collaboration.
Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA, said: “Africa’s AI future must reflect Africa’s own languages, communities and development priorities. ATLAS Umoja brings together governments, industry, researchers and innovators to build African language AI at scale. By making AI and digital services available in the languages people speak every day, the initiative will help tackle two of the biggest barriers to internet adoption – digital literacy and locally relevant content – supporting efforts to close Africa’s usage gap and expand meaningful connectivity across the continent.”
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria said:“Artificial Intelligence will be a defining technology for Africa’s future, but its benefits must be built on our own languages, cultures and knowledge systems. Nigeria is proud to have taken the first step through N-ATLAS and is equally proud to see that vision evolve into the continental ATLAS Umoja AI.
“By working together with governments, researchers and ecosystem partners across Africa, we can build AI that is more inclusive, locally relevant and accessible to millions of people, while strengthening Africa’s digital sovereignty and creating new opportunities for innovation, education and economic growth.”
Silas Adekunle, Founder & CEO, Awarri added: “Awarri is proud to support The ATLAS Umoja AI and contribute lessons from N-ATLAS, which has demonstrated what is possible when African language data, local technical talent and practical AI applications are brought together. This is an important opportunity to help build AI systems that work for African languages and communities.”
Celina Lee, CEO & Co-Founder, Zindi concluded: “Africa’s AI future will be built by the people who best understand its languages, cultures and communities. Through ATLAS Umoja AI, we have an opportunity to empower local researchers, data scientists and developers to solve meaningful challenges, strengthen national AI capabilities and ensure African language AI is developed by Africans, for Africans.”
Alongside the launch of ATLAS Umoja AI, the GSMA continued discussions with policymakers at the ATU Conference on future-ready regulatory frameworks, including satellite connectivity, spectrum policy and technology-neutral licensing.
Drawing on the GSMA Satellite Regulatory Playbook, discussions explored how modern regulation can encourage investment, expand meaningful connectivity and support the ambitions of the Abuja Declaration.
Together, the Abuja Declaration, ATLAS Umoja and continued collaboration between governments, regulators and industry represent an important step towards expanding meaningful connectivity, accelerating digital inclusion and supporting Africa’s digital transformation.
Samsung has unveiled its most advanced foldable smartphone lineup yet, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8. The tech conglomerate now sets a new benchmark for premium mobile innovation.
Konga
Nigerian customers can now pre-order the new devices on Konga, Samsung’s trusted e-commerce partner, and stand a chance to receive Samsung gift items worth up to ₦1 million, making this one of the most rewarding smartphone launches of the year.
Designed for productivity, creativity, and everyday convenience, the new Galaxy Z series introduces Samsung’s most refined foldable experience to date.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra combines an expansive display with AI-powered productivity, a powerful 200MP camera, an ultra-thin design, and enhanced durability for users who demand the very best.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 delivers immersive entertainment and seamless multitasking in a lighter, wider form factor, while the Galaxy Z Flip8 elevates self-expression with its sleek design, smarter FlexWindow, and intelligent Galaxy AI features for effortless interaction on the go. Powered by Samsung’s latest AI experiences, the new devices redefine how users create, communicate, and stay productive.
The availability of the new Galaxy Z Fold8 series on Konga further reinforces the long-standing partnership between Samsung and Konga, built on trust, authenticity, and a shared commitment to delivering genuine technology to Nigerian consumers. Through Samsung’s official store on Konga, customers are assured of authentic products, reliable after-sales support, and a seamless shopping experience.
The pre-order offer is available for a limited period. To be one of those who get to experience the new device, tech enthusiasts are encouraged to visit Konga’s Samsung Official Store to reserve their preferred Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Flip8 device and qualify for exclusive Samsung gifts worth up to ₦1 million, while stocks last.
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