Telecom
Telecoms, Biggest Democracy Dividend, Protect it, says Danbatta
Nearly 17 years after the return of democratic governance to Nigeria, telecommunications remains the biggest dividend from this democracy, according to Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“Over 80 million people have access to the Internet, 152 million active telephone lines as at November, 2015, so much that telecommunications has become an indispensable device in the hands of most Nigerians”, Danbatta explained.
He spoke at the flag off of a roadshow campaign against telecom infrastructure vandalism in Lagos.
Represented by Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs, NCC, the EVC said besides being the “biggest dividend in our growing democracy”, telecommunications is also one of the biggest contributors to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with over 10 percent pushing up the economic growth and complementing government’s diversification into non-oil revenue in the face of dwindling oil price.
“Millions of Nigerians are directly and indirectly employed by the same industry, earning reasonable incomes”.
A worried Danbatta however lamented that the benefits and all the useful services enjoyed today from telecom industry are being threatened “by the spate of vandalism of telecom infrastructure across the country”.
Besides slowing down the pace of growth and contributing to poor Quality of Service (QoS), there are vices arising from this including cutting of cables, destruction of base stations, stealing of generators and general pilfering of telecoms equipment in some host communities.
“That is why we are here to campaign against vandalism and to tell our fellow citizens to be part of the war against vandalization of telecom infrastructure. We need to be more vigilant. We need to report any form of vandalization to security agencies. In the existing laws of this country, vandalization of telecom infrastructure carries heavy penalties including a jail term if found culpable. In addition, the Commission is currently consulting with our law makers to finalize on a Bill called Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill which seeks to treat all telecom infrastructure as public property, to be protected as such”.
“Today provides another unique opportunity to urge the National Legislature to give an urgent consideration in passing the bill into law in order to give more legal teeth in the prosecution of offenders and enable us protect telecom infrastructure for the benefit of our citizens.
On our part as the regulator of the telecom industry, it is our desire to make Nigeria better, using telecommunications services. It is our desire to improve on the varieties and quality of services that Nigerians are getting from the telecom industry. It is our continued desire that telecom services are available to Nigerians wherever they may live, be it in the city, or in sub-urban or rural areas”.
He said NCC is “working round the clock to ensure that broadband services are also available for the Nigerian populace. When broadband is fully available, it will advance the sophistication and speed with which we carry out our various activities within the telecom industry.”
Maverick musician, Charles Oputa (Charlie boy) led motorcycle riders round the city of Lagos in this flag off.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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