General News
ADVERTORIAL: GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS’ UNHEALTHY FIXATION WITH PRICE FIXING
The Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER), a civil society organisation, is becoming increasingly worried about attempts by institutions of state in Nigeria to fix prices of goods and services in a free enterprise system. These have come in the shape of government organs/agencies issuing directives to private businesses on what prices they should charge for their goods/services.
Ordinarily, these would have been dismissed, but for the fact that they are being championed by the Federal House of Representatives and very shockingly, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
On 1 September 2020, Daily Independent quoted acting NBC Director-General (D-G), Professor Armstrong Idachaba, as ordering the Management of MultiChoice Nigeria to revert to old prices and stating that the company cannot downsize despite the severity of the economic climate. Idachaba spoke to the newspaper after a meeting with the MultiChoice Management to discuss the recent price adjustments announced by the pay television company. MultiChoice had explained that it adjusted prices on some of its DStv and GOtv packages after considering the impact on the consumer, rate of inflation at 12.82%, the highest in 27 months, content costs and efficiencies within the company.
“They said they are committed to keeping their business in Nigeria but are affected by currency devaluation and inflation rate. They said their fears are that they may lay off Nigerians in their employment if they have to remain in business bearing in mind the present unfavorable circumstances of doing business. They gave examples of other companies that are closing shop because of economic challenges,” he told Daily Independent.
A similar directive was issued a few weeks earlier, when he directed the company to suspend the said tariff adjustment and asked to know why MultiChoice did not inform the NBC before announcing the price adjustments. He also promised to invite StarTimes, MultiChoice’s rivals, to give reasons for the 30% price adjustments made on its packages.
Interestingly, Idachaba admitted that the NBC lack the power to fix prices, saying: “With regards to broadcasting, there is nowhere in the Act of the commission, which gives us the power to fix prices.”
CSER applauds Idachaba’s honesty, but is concerned by NBC’s latent desire to legislate on prices and private businesses’ response to harsh economic/operational conditions.
“I am told, but I have not confirmed that the Telecommunications Act gives the NCC the power to determine prices… We have no provision to regulate the prices that those who offer broadcast services fix, but if, in the course of fixing prices, we find out that it is very exploitative and injurious to the consumers, we have the power to call them to order, which we have done severally,” Idachaba said.
On 18 August 2020, the House of Representatives directed StarTimes, to revert to its old tariffs. Hon. Uyime Idem, Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the non-adoption of Pay-As-You-Go billing system by Pay TV firms, said the increment is ill-timed in view of the harsh economic realities occasioned by COVID-19.
“We are in a limbo at the matrix used to arrive at the current price regime. The timing for the increment was wrong, unfortunate and insensitive considering the harsh economic realities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will like StarTimes to as a matter of urgency revert to the old subscription tariff in the interest of Nigerians,” Idem said.
Star Times, according to reports, attributed the adjustments to the new VAT regime, exchange rate volatility and high cost of providing alternative source of power.
We recall that the 8th session of the House and Senate illegally attempted to foist a billing model on MultiChoice Nigeria, an indication that this interference is not new.
CSER is disappointed that the House is playing to the gallery just to be seen as concerned about the people when facts decline to support such. We are equally worried that the NBC, a practice regulator, is trying to assume price-regulatory powers. Idachaba admitted that the Commission had previously directed pay TV operators to suspend price increase.
We wonder where the Commission derived the powers to order private businesses on how to respond to threatening economic situations. We know how life-disrupting job losses are, but they are unavoidable in the basket case Nigeria has become.
These institutions appear to ignore the fact that Nigeria operates a liberal economic system, which thrives on the balance of the interests of businesses and the consumers. It is not out of place for government to intercede-not interfere-but such intercession should not hurt private businesses and, importantly, the consumer it seeks to protect.
Issuing stop orders to private enterprises through the media could serve to incite consumers against businesses. It is self-serving and injurious to national economy.
NBC and the House of Representatives need to realise that they are in grave error on this score. First, NBC has no power over prices. Same for the House, which needs to understand that its resolution is no law. Nigeria operates a free enterprise system, not the discredited command economy.
The interference of the House and NBC in a matter between a private business organisation and its clients is needless. We can understand intercession when such involves abridgement of rights, but that is not the case in this instance.
The House cannot act Moses the Lawgiver in pricing, which is the result of interplay between supply and demand and not drunken populist posturing.
NBC and the House are not unaware that prices of goods and services have been affected by the increase in the rate of VAT, which is collected on behalf of government and remitted to same.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, from which the House and NBC are keen to reap emotional dividends, providers of other goods and services, including government agencies and departments, have raised prices to reflect the current economic situation.
The National Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved increase in energy tariffs, effective 1 September, 2020. Petrol pump price has been raised to N151.56.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hiked the pre-paid toll payable at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) toll gate users from N10,000 to N40,000. FAAN, within the same period, raised its Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from N1,000 to N2, 000. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has adjusted train fares on the Abuja-Kaduna route by 100%. The new fares are N6,000 for First Class, N5,000 for Business Class and N3,000 for Economy. VAT rate has risen from 5% to 7.5%.
A major contributor to the soaring costs is the volatility of the Naira, which trades officially at N387 to $1 and N480 to $1 on the parallel market.
With the highest rate of inflation in 27 months, prices of goods and services have risen steeply. Without commensurate price adjustments, providers of goods and services, including government agencies, will not offer the same quality or go out of business.
Price regulation, understandably, is hugely appealing. Its appeal has been strong from the earliest times because it promises protection to groups that are most hard-pressed to meet price increases. The Old Testament prohibited interest on loans to fellow Israelites, while medieval governments fixed the maximum price of bread.
But Nigeria, it has to be stated again, operates a free enterprise system that ensures that resources are allocated based on supply and demand. It promotes consumer liberty to choose, encourages market competitiveness, ensures consumer voices are heard and determines what products or services are in demand.
Supply and demand create competition, which helps ensure that the best goods or services are provided and makes the market attractive to investors. Nigeria needs investors, especially from abroad. But NBC and the House fail to realise that behaving like Soviet-era price control agency discourages investments.
Without investments, jobs are harder to find, tax revenue shrinks, consumer choices in goods/services are fewer and the society is worse.
The “sympathetic” House members should be capable of better conduct than cheap showboating. In other climes, the government is focused on initiatives designed to help citizens afford essential commodities, not luxury goods/services. NBC, we believe, urgently needs to focus on its regulatory duties, which do not include price regulation and impotent directives.
Nelson Ekujumi
Executive Director
General News
Teenager Hacks Celebrities Whatsapps, Sells Adult Content in Delta

Delta State Police Command has revealed how a 17-year-old boy allegedly hacked into celebrities’ WhatsApp accounts and sold explicit adult content to classmates.

This was disclosed in a viral video shared by comedian Otaghware Onodjayeke, popularly known as I Go Save, during a security awareness programme where he spoke with Temi Agbede-Zuokumor, divisional police officer (DPO) of Ugborikoko Division, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The DPO explained that the case came to light after a routine check of a student’s phone, which first raised suspicion.
Agbede-Zuokumor disclosed that the student’s mother had initially claimed the phone belonged to his sister, but further inspection revealed otherwise.
“The woman looked very modest, so I asked her if she was from Deeper Life. She said no. I then asked why her son took a phone to school, and she claimed it belonged to his sister,” she narrated.
The DPO expressed that the development triggered her suspicion, prompting officers to examine the phone’s contents.
“Something told me to check the phone. When we did, we discovered that everything on the device belonged to the boy,” she said.
She added that the phone contained over 80 foreign numbers, including Australian contacts, alongside numerous explicit materials.
“We saw several foreign numbers, over 80 Australian lines, and the phone was filled with pornographic content,” she said.
The police officer further disclosed that the suspect allegedly sold explicit materials to his classmates, who referred to him as “boss.”
“We also saw chats with his classmates asking if he had explicit content to sell. They were calling him ‘boss’ in school,” she added.
According to her, investigations also revealed that the teenager had hacked into WhatsApp accounts belonging to prominent individuals and used them to solicit money.
“We discovered he had access to WhatsApp accounts of some celebrities, which he used to demand money from unsuspecting victims,” she said.
Speaking during the session, comedian I Go Save recounted a similar experience, describing how he was once contacted by a suspected fraudster impersonating Elon Musk, Forbes world richest man.
“That was how someone impersonating Elon Musk messaged me, saying he was stranded and needed a recharge card,” he said.
“I was surprised and asked which network he used. The person later sent an Opay account,” he added.
The police warned parents and school authorities to be more vigilant, stressing the growing concern of cyber-related crimes among young people.
General News
SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged N2.9Bn Fraud In NIGCOMSAT, NNRA

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, as well as the management of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), to account for and explain the whereabouts of an alleged ₦2.9 billion in missing or diverted public funds.

SERAP also called on Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged diversion of funds, including those documented in previous Auditor-General reports.
In a letter dated April 11, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director SERAP, said: “These allegations, involving critical public institutions, represent a grave violation of the public trust and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws and international obligations.”
The group further urged the Federal Government to direct NIGCOMSAT to disclose the shareholders and beneficial owners of a company that allegedly received ₦465 million in “unauthorised investment” from the agency.
SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
The organisation gave the government seven days to comply, warning that it may initiate legal action if its demands are not met.
It also stated that accountability in both agencies is critical, given their strategic roles, saying: “Accountability in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA is critical given their strategic roles in Nigeria’s digital economy and national safety systems. Mismanagement in these agencies not only wastes scarce public resources but also threatens national development, technological progress, and public safety.”
SERAP added: “Ensuring accountability is therefore essential to protecting both Nigeria’s present and its future.”
It warned that failure to address the allegations would continue to erode public trust, stating: “These allegations, if left unaddressed, will continue to undermine public confidence in government institutions, weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, and deprive citizens of resources needed for development.”
The allegations were drawn from the Auditor-General’s report published on September 9, 2025, which examined financial activities in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA and raised concerns over possible mismanagement of public funds.
According to the report, NIGCOMSAT failed to account for over ₦465 million used for an “unauthorised investment” in Gicell Wireless Ltd, made without approvals from the Minister of Science and Technology and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
It also noted that “there was also no evidence that a competent Investment Analyst performed investment appraisal,” while the investment agreement raised concerns over valuation and exchange rate assumptions.
The Auditor-General further stated that “NIGCOMSAT made ineligible, irregular and wrong payments of over ₦3 million to staff,” and that “the payment was made without due process and any documents on what the payments were meant for.”
It also flagged an irregular rent payment of over ₦4.3 million, noting that although a refund was requested, “there was no evidence that the consultant refunded the money.”
It added that NIGCOMSAT “failed to remit over ₦507 million of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” while also failing to account for over ₦6 million for undelivered store items.
The report further stated that “there was also no evidence of how the transferred funds were spent or utilised,” referring to an irregular ₦84.78 million transfer from a Remita account to a special project account.
On NNRA, the report alleged that ₦4.35 million was spent on training without evidence that it took place, while ₦16.7 million was paid for ICT equipment without approval.
It also stated that ₦33.4 million was spent on items that were never supplied, and that “there were no documents to support” several payments for operational activities.
The Auditor-General further noted that NNRA “failed to retire over ₦6.5 million of cash advances granted to staff,” and that ₦2.05 million paid for foreign training had no evidence of participation.
It also stated that ₦1.95 million collected through Remita was not recorded in the agency’s cashbook, leading to concerns of revenue understatement.
SERAP said the findings point to “a systemic pattern of financial mismanagement, opacity, and corruption within an agency entrusted with advancing Nigeria’s digital and communications infrastructure,” adding that NNRA’s lapses also raise serious concerns about compliance with safety and financial regulations.
General News
IHS Nigeria Renovates, Upgrade Facilities at the National Museum Lagos

IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has partnered with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to renovate and upgrade facilities at the National Museum, Lagos.

Commissioned by the Honorable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the project is a significant step towards restoring and improving critical facilities at the museum complex, while supporting the long-term preservation of Nigeria’s cultural assets and heritage.
The project has improved the overall aesthetic appeal of the museum site and featured extensive restoration of the museum’s main gallery. The restored gallery incorporates the installation of modern display and lighting systems, air‑conditioning units, a solar inverter system to enhance energy efficiency, and surveillance cameras to aid safety, security and operational performance across the facility. These renovations and upgrades follow on from IHS Nigeria’s sponsorship of the museum’s efforts to digitize Nigeria’s cultural heritage and launch Nigeria’s first digital museum of antiquities at www.museum.ng.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, “Having seen the rich historical and cultural heritage housed in this national museum complex, we believed it was important to go a step further after supporting the development of the digital museum, to also improve the aesthetics, security and structural integrity of the main physical complex. This aligns with our broader commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and the preservation of Nigeria’s history.
“I am proud of these renovations and that visitors, including tourists, researchers and art enthusiasts, can visit the museum to be immersed in Nigeria’s rich history in an environment that is safe, beautiful and welcoming.
“The artifacts can also now be better preserved, protected and presented in a way that celebrates the history they represent. I thank the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for this ongoing partnership which continues to exemplify the power of a collaborative effort in driving innovation, fostering national pride, and enhancing the creative economy.”
Olugbile Holloway, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commented, “On behalf of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to IHS Nigeria for their generous support of the restoration of the National Museum, Lagos. This landmark gesture goes far beyond bricks and mortar — it is a profound commitment to preserving the soul of our nation.
“The National Museum Lagos is home to some of Nigeria’s most treasured antiquities, from the ancient terracotta of the Nok civilization to the magnificent bronzes of the Benin Kingdom and the classical works of Ife.
“To restore this institution is to restore our collective memory. We thank IHS Nigeria for choosing to renew not just infrastructure, but the heritage, identity, and the hope of our people. Their support ensures that generations of Nigerians yet unborn will walk through these halls and encounter the full greatness of who we are and where we come from.”
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