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Regulation, Big Operators Emasculate Smaller Firms — Banjo

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Bayo Banjo, is president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promotion and growth of Internet in Nigeria. A veteran within the business echelons across Nigeria; he is also the CEO of Discom Limited, a leading telco in the forefront of revolutionizing telecommunication industry in Nigeria. Banjo is a pioneer in the fields of satellite communications, digital and mobile telephony and has an outstanding track record spanning a highly acclaimed career in communications, publicity and promotions. His consult is a recognized and highly valued resource. He shared his thoughts with Chike Onwuegbuchi

Internet Connectivity to Rural Areas

This is one of the most difficult things to do particularly in our environment. Abroad they can easily do this because in most cases they have people of integrity running it. If you want to go to a rural area, you go there find somebody who lives in that rural area and that is interested in doing the business. You will find that every village right now has a business centre. Somebody is running some sort of business, whether he is using Vsat or some other device to get the internet. You encourage that kind of person, you bring out special licenses that will cost maybe N2, 000. Do not call it a licence, call it a registration and you show him all the cheap ways that he can set up a proper distribution system. You can even task operators, maybe give them some tax relief if they supply internet to rural area. It must be done with policy and innovative ideas and you must find these people who like such place and want to stay there you encourage them. That is what federal governments do. When governments want to do anything in an unusual environment they send a team to go and investigate. Who are the people who like the environment? These are people who do not want to leave that village. They love the village, they are local champions in the village, if such people go to Lagos they will be nobody, so they are happy in the village. You encourage those kinds of people and say you have this grant from the World Bank, Unesco or whatever, help him with the process to buy small equipment that will cover the village. You then say to the big operators- for every point you provide, we give you a tax relief. You find some policy that will encourage the companies to help assist these people.
Human beings only operate on two fronts and that is the carrot and stick. If you want someone to do something, you either flog him or give him a reward. You must have a team at the NCC that in many cases is talking to this person that is not well educated. His interest is in cybercafé, he has set up his equipment by calling on one small boy from the city. Set up a team to train them to make them aware of how easy it is to provide the service, but that is the problem.

Digitization
First of all I think it was a mistake in the beginning to have allowed the issue of foreign broadcasting. We Nigerians behave as if we do not know anything. In America, unless you are an American citizen, you cannot have an outfit and it does not matter here. Foreign companies come and register and if you make too much noise they will go and get a Nigerian chairman or shareholders. That does not work abroad. You trace the interest, who has control? It does not matter what is on paper. This has been going on for a long time since the 70s.Once you see it is foreign controlled, you stop it immediately. You encourage Nigerians to reach certain level. That should be done in the broadcast industry. You find realistic ways on major policies to ensure that it is a Nigerian broadcaster in control.
Broadcasting is more powerful than military evasion. You can destroy a country by filling it with propaganda and misinformation. The old Soviet Union was toppled without firing a shot, using the media, inciting them into Western and capitalists’ values and the whole empire that was stronger, if not stronger than the United States crumbled on that basis and same thing is happening here. Lots of our values, God so kind, Nollywood has sort of taken off and pushed lots of the foreign films aside. You see films where homosexuality is normal and all these foreign vices. Children being rude to their parents, all these things have depreciated.
As for digitization, it is a welcome development. What I think is going to happen eventually is that there will be emerge of what is called centre point transmission companies. That means we would have two companies in Lagos that would broadcast; because a frequency allocation of 8MGHz in the olden days carrying one channel can now carry 14 to 16 channels. I think what would happen is that they would probably have central points for broadcast and these companies would provide channels.
When you want to broadcast you go to the NBC, you show them how you want to broadcast, what type of programme and the content. They would direct you to the broadcast person who charges a fee per year to help you broadcast and these people would broadcast maybe 50, 100, 200 channels. I do not think if the government is doing their policy right that when they renew the licences of AIT and others, I do not think it should come with a frequency. It would be like what you see with this Chinese company broadcasting for NTA. They are already carrying AIT and all others so the government policy would just say open air, no coding. I mean no payment because all television would be digitized and those televisions that are not would buy a small box so the only thing there is that the government must make sure that the boxes and new television come in. If you want to have a coding system, it must be slot in type card so that it can be changed. If tomorrow this system becomes obsolete, you can take out the card and slot in another card. Those are the standards that should be arranged.
Then of course you must remember that there is going to be broadcasting on the internet. Once we get broadband then a lot of broadcasting would be done on the internet. I think it is a good trend but there and then the government must judge the advantages and disadvantages.

Dwindling Fortune of Small Operators
It is a matter of regulation. Most of the small companies were run out of business by big operators who engage in a systematic approach of sabotage. They are still doing it even among themselves.  They do all sorts of sabotage but with the smaller operators they do things like cutting them off. The smaller operators then complain to the NCC. This is a process of letters you see. You complain to the NCC, the NCC then writes the operator saying we heard you cut the small operator off.
Under the procedure, you have to reply within three weeks. By the time you do three or four letters, two months have gone by and the small operator would have lost all his customers. There is no provision for damage. If we have a policy where the NCC says if you cut off this circuit, this is the amount of money the operator was making from you before he was cut off, you will now pay him that amount. Then you could rescue the small operators but right now most smaller operators do not have confidence in the NCC at all. The main thing we must understand is that you cannot progress with a big operator. A big operator by its very design is a saboteur of development. If I am a big operator, I install equipment nationwide and that equipment becomes obsolete, what would be my natural reaction to this? My reaction would be to make sure that none of the new equipment comes out and it is small operators that will bring out new equipment so I would sabotage them and keep the old technology and the old equipment running. This is a natural behavioural pattern. You cannot blame the operators for that but it is up to the NCC to realize that in this business in five years even sometimes three what just came out two years ago would be obsolete today and a big company would always try to get full value for its investments and the solution is to hold everybody back. If you want to get things running in Nigeria, you must have someone in charge at the NCC who has guts, strong, sound and is respected. Until we have such people we are still going to face this problem.

Reviving Smaller Operators
The major problem for small operators is that they do not trust the NCC that it would follow the laws and procedures to protect them from the big operators. It is like when investors are not confident in your country because there is war or whatever unrest in your country. What do you do to regain the confidence? To reassure the small operators, I would say first of all that the NCC should make the licensing procedures swift. Luckily an internet licence is N500,000 but obviously there must be something for the village, what they call registration. Those small companies find it difficult to raise funds because they usually work with their own funds and those from other interested parties so you must first try not to stress them too much.
You must make sure that the NCC branches have full representation, for example if I am in Sokoto, does the NCC have an office in Sokoto? Well, if they have, can the person go to that office and do everything he needs to do swiftly without having to spend money on airfare and hotel anytime he wants to do any little thing flying to Abuja. The NCC branches should be equipped so that when I walk in there, they do things quickly. If they have to do anything at the head office, let it go through the internet, send back the reply and give the authority.


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How JustMarkets Is Empowering African Traders with Global Market Access

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Africa’s trading community is rapidly growing, evolving, and showing increasing interest in financial markets. From Lagos to Nairobi, from Accra to Johannesburg, more and more people are exploring financial markets as a way to develop skills, earn income, and participate in the global economy. But the ability to trade isn’t enough; traders also need reliable technology, fair conditions, and tools that help them make informed decisions and trade effectively.

How JustMarkets Is Empowering African Traders with Global Market Access

JustMarkets

This is where trading platforms like JustMarkets make a significant contribution to the development and expansion of the trading community in the African region.

By combining global market access with a results-oriented trading environment, JustMarkets helps African traders compete head-to-head with those in the world’s largest financial centers, providing access to tight spreads, a wide range of analytical materials, and a variety of account types.

Breaking Barriers to Global Markets

For years, traders in emerging markets have faced limitations: slow platforms, a limited range of instruments, low liquidity, wide spreads, and infrastructure that hinders professional trading and effective analysis. Today, JustMarkets addresses this significant gap by providing African traders with access to a wide range of global financial instruments through a single, optimized online platform.

Now traders have the opportunity to test short-term strategies, long-term portfolio diversification, and learn how markets work. Traders can now explore opportunities in forex, commodities, indices, and stock markets without geographic barriers or technical difficulties.

A Trading Platform Built for Performance

Technology plays a critical role in modern trading. Market conditions can change in seconds, and execution speed often makes the difference between opportunity and missed entry. The JustMarkets leading trading platform is designed to support fast, confident decisions in real time.

  • Ultra-fast execution. Engineered for low-latency order processing, the app helps ensure trades are executed quickly and efficiently when markets move.

  • Full risk management. Stop-loss, take-profit, and position sizing can be managed directly from the chart, helping traders stay disciplined and protect capital.

  • Advanced charting. Interactive charts, multiple timeframes, drawing tools, and built-in indicators provide the analytical depth needed for informed trading decisions.

  • Real-time alerts. Instant notifications about price movements, order events, and key market developments help traders stay connected even when they’re away from the screen.

  • Secure authentication. Biometric login, encrypted data transmission, and advanced internal security protocols ensure that accounts and personal data remain protected.

This combination of speed, usability, and security makes professional-grade trading accessible from anywhere, even on the go with JustMarkets mobile trading app.

Trade a Wide Range of Global Markets

Access to diverse instruments allows traders to adapt to different market conditions and explore multiple strategies. JustMarkets provides African traders with the ability to participate in major asset classes worldwide.

  • Forex. Trade major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with competitive pricing and deep liquidity.

  • Gold & Metals. Access precious metals such as XAUUSD and XAGUSD, popular instruments for active traders and those seeking exposure to global macro trends with competitive spreads.

  • Indices. Engage with leading global stock indices including the S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones, DAX, and FTSE – markets that reflect the performance of major economies.

  • Stocks. Trade shares of global companies and high-volume market leaders, opening opportunities to follow international corporate trends.

  • Energy. Speculate on key energy commodities such as WTI and Brent crude oil, instruments often influenced by geopolitical and macroeconomic developments.

This broad market selection helps traders diversify and respond flexibly to changing global conditions.

Supporting Trader Development

Expanding technical, educational, and analytical capabilities extends beyond technology. JustMarkets also places a special emphasis on helping traders build knowledge and confidence. Access to educational materials, market analysis, and structured risk management tools fosters a more disciplined and informed approach to trading, including setting trading goals.

For many African traders, this means moving from random speculation and emotional trades to a more professional mindset, and most importantly, understanding that long-term success depends on strategy, risk management, continuous learning, and a cool head.

Connecting Africa to the Global Financial Ecosystem

Financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, with traders from all regions now participating in the same global capital flow. Offering advanced tools such as flexible leverage, fast order execution, and broad access to markets and trading assets, the JustMarkets online trading platform helps African traders become active participants in this ecosystem with full access to analytical and educational materials, as well as cutting-edge technological solutions for managing trades, accounts, and open positions. JustMarkets’ commitment to empowering traders, increasing financial literacy, and enabling people to engage with global markets on a level playing field. As the African trading community grows, online trading platforms like JustMarkets, which combine performance, accessibility, and security, will play a key role in this process. But pay attention that risk management still is a key to success as CFD trading involves risks.


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Court Freezes MCSN Copyright Levies amid Record Label Legal Battle

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Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has issued an interim Mareva injunction freezing copyright levy funds due to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).

Court Freezes MCSN Copyright Levies amid Record Label Legal Battle

The order prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and at least 20 commercial banks from disbursing these funds until further court proceedings.

The injunction stems from Suit No. FHC/L/CS/207/2026, following an ex parte application filed on February 5, 2026, by the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative on behalf of 11 major record labels and music companies.

Plaintiffs include industry heavyweights such as Mavin Records, Davido Music Worldwide, Chocolate City Music, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Africa, and Warner Music South Africa.

The plaintiffs, through their attorney, sought to restrain the CBN from releasing any copyright levy funds related to sound recordings earmarked for MCSN.

They also asked the court to bar MCSN and its agents from accessing, transferring, or using the funds, whether received directly from the CBN or routed through commercial banks.


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NITDA, HORSA Empower Lawmakers’ Spouses with Digital Skill

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), organized a specialized two‑day digital literacy and capacity‑building workshop for the spouses of members of the House of Representatives.

The initiative, themed “Empowering Women for a Digital Future: Leadership, Wellbeing, and Opportunity,” is designed to equip spouses of lawmakers with the tools needed to navigate the modern digital economy and the unique demands of public life.

Moving beyond basic computer literacy, the workshop offers a comprehensive suite of skills, including financial and digital literacy—focused on using digital tools for business growth and personal finance management; cybersecurity and digital wellbeing—promoting online safety, data protection, and mental health resilience; and economic empowerment—unlocking opportunities in remote work, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and digital entrepreneurship.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said the workshop underscores the crucial role spouses play in supporting public office holders. He described spouses as trusted advisers whose understanding of legislative responsibilities helps lawmakers perform more effectively.

He noted that the demanding nature of legislative work often places strain on family life, adding that empowering spouses with digital and leadership skills would strengthen their capacity to provide informed support and constructive feedback to their partners in public service. He urged participants to take full advantage of the training, stressing that continuous learning is essential in an increasingly digital world.

Kalu further observed that many spouses already lead humanitarian and development initiatives in their communities, and that the skills gained from the programme would enhance communication, strategic planning, and resource mobilisation, thereby deepening their contribution to community development and national growth.

In his welcome address, the NITDA Director‑General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to build a sustainable digital economy by ensuring that no group is excluded from digital opportunities due to skills gaps. He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu places digitalisation and innovation at the heart of economic diversification and inclusive growth.

He added that NITDA is implementing a national digital literacy framework aimed at achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, driven through three key focus areas: integrating digital skills into formal education, upskilling public servants, and expanding community‑level digital inclusion.

Inuwa described women as critical drivers of Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that empowering spouses of lawmakers with digital skills would strengthen leadership at home and positively influence legislative processes at the National Assembly. He explained that NITDA is working with the Ministry of Education and global technology partners to train teachers nationwide, while over 54,000 public servants are currently enrolled in the Agency’s digital literacy programmes.

He also stated that through community champions deployed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, millions of Nigerians are being reached annually with basic digital skills training, stressing that national leaders must not be left behind in Nigeria’s digital transition. According to him, digitally literate spouses can play a vital role in encouraging technology‑driven governance, including ongoing efforts to digitise legislative processes.

In her goodwill message, the Leader of HORSA and wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, described the workshop as a historic milestone and the first comprehensive capacity‑building programme organised by the 10th Assembly for spouses of lawmakers. She noted that public life in a digital age now extends beyond physical spaces into online platforms, making digital and financial literacy, cyber protection, and digital wellbeing essential skills for spouses of national leaders.

Hajiya Abbas emphasised that the sessions on mental health, emotional resilience, entrepreneurship, and leadership were timely, as spouses of public office holders often shoulder invisible emotional responsibilities. According to her, empowering women economically strengthens families and communities, adding that the knowledge gained from the workshop would not only support lawmakers behind the scenes but also enable women to contribute more meaningfully to national development in the digital economy.

The event also featured goodwill messages and contributions from senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim; the Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, Prof. (Mrs.) Olufolake Abdulrazaq; the Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, Hon. Stanley Olajide; the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; and the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission, Usoro Offiong Akpabio.


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