General News
Affordable Smartphones, Tablets Answer to Broadband Penetration
Two recent polls by independent international ICT agencies have confirmed long held views that Nigerians are very resilient and are moving towards meeting global competitiveness inspite of government’s indifference towards upgrading the nation’s poor IT infrastructure. A survey by Zoomsphere shows that South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt top Africa’s LinkedIn subscription put at about 5.7 million. Statistics from the agency shows that there are lots of opportunities for growth for LinkedIn in the continent. LinkedIn statistics put figures from the countries on the professional social networking site as South Africa 1, 700, 672, Nigeria 656, 528 and Egypt 543, 699. Perhaps viewed against the backdrop of factors like literacy level and infrastructure adequacy, one would surmise that Nigeria was making giant strides in citizen education. At the 2011 Microsoft’s global Imagine Cup competition, Nigeria didn’t fare as much as Egypt and that despite the latter’s social upheaval that led to deposition of long term president Hosni Mubarak. In an earlier survey by Alexa.com, Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria also topped the continent’s facebook user account. Egypt registered 9 million users on the social networking site which continues to be a favourite in Africa. South Africa ranks second with 4.8 million users and Nigeria 4.3 million. But it is evident that with the mobile broadband explosion in the country, it is just a matter of time before Nigeria overtakes both nations using its huge population advantage as evidence in the mobile phone revolution. According to Alexa.com 3.2 million Users in these three countries were added to their combined 18.1 million in the last six months alone. Nigeria faces huge infrastructure challenge including public power supply, broadband penetration amongst others. Despite the huge mobile phone customers base put at over 110 million and the landing of two submarine fibre optic cables to the country in 2010, Nigeria still lacks in critical telecom infrastructure development in much of the country. For example, the two privately owned undersea cables, MainOne and Glo1 systems are only effective in Lagos commercially. “There has to be a government assistance to take the fibre up country from Lagos. We have landed the fibre in the shores of Lagos, but it will cost huge financial investment to take this infrastructure to the hinterlands,” said Ms. Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne. Sunil Mittal, chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel noted that for countries in sub-Saharan Africa like Nigeria, the answer lies with cheap tablets to spur adoption of the fast evolving technological trends. Mittal who spoke at last weeks’ mobile world congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain advocated that OEMs should focus on bringing down cost of tablets and smartphones to enable access in emerging markets like Africa and India. The Airtel chief recommended retain tablet price range of about $50 to give these markets access. He was speaking from a position of customer point of view from a poor market economy, not necessarily as an operator who aims for the profit alone. Both the India sub-continent and sub-Saharan Africa have a common bond of poverty and Mittal understands. While stating that smartphone market penetration in India accounts for about five per cent, he lamented that the need for affordable access to mobile broadband was even more pressing in Africa than on the sub continent. He believes cheap and affordable devices would increase mobile penetration and capacity building in both markets. “We are seeing tremendous uplift in the data usage in the developing world. The problem is on the devices side. We need to be able to build very affordable smartphones.” “The cost of operations in Africa is very high. We can’t bring the tariffs down yet. In India the first dollar goes on phone and then the next goes on telephony. In Africa, any savings on telephony will go into food.” The high point of Mittal’s speech was his recognition of the fact that Africa lacks the critical transformational middle class. India, he stated has a subsidized middle class which takes the heat off the wealthy. This contrasts with Africa where you are either very poor or wealthy! The advantage of mobile broadband was quite evidenced in the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions that witnessed age hold political dynasties dethroned in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Nigeria had a taste of this new media ascendency last January when masses of people converged on major streets across the nation in carnival moods and shutting down the economy over a period of seven days following government’s announcement of increase in fuel pomp prices. The government was forced to backpedal midway when it became apparent the people would precede to totally shutdown the entire petroleum production process if it did not soft pedal. The outcome was hailed as victory for people’s power and triumph of democracy. But more than democracy and people’ power, what took place in Nigeria last January was a triumph of the emerging mobile broadband evolution in Nigeria. Due to the dearth of critical telecom infrastructure in the country, much of the acclaimed 40 million internet subscriptions are mobile driven. And here the call for cheaper tablets and smartphones becomes even more critical. The Nigerian PC OEMs have been challenged by no other than the Qualcomm managing director for West Africa, Alex Dadson to begin the process of producing tablets locally. He believes local production of tablets would drive down cost, generate employment and fast track the learning process in the education sector. Again, nobody talks about what government could do because the government isn’t just responsive to the people it claims to govern.
General News
World Bank Blocks Social Media Comments from Nigerians over Loan Backlash

World Bank has restricted comments on its Instagram page after thousands of Nigerians flooded the platform begging them to stop lending money to Nigeria.

The protest erupted after reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a fresh $1.25 billion dollar loan for approval on June 26.
Some Nigerians asked the World Bank to provide more details about the purpose of the loan and how the funds would be managed.
Others said the country should reduce dependence on foreign loans and focus on improving local revenue.
The federal government has continued to defend its borrowing plans.
Officials say the funds will support economic reforms, development projects and efforts to strengthen the economy.
Nigeria remains one of the major borrowers from the World Bank in Africa, with different administrations securing loans over the years for infrastructure, social programmes and economic support.
General News
Lagos Plans New Cybersecurity Centre

The Lagos State Government plans to establish a Cybersecurity Operations Centre to strengthen protection of government systems, digital services and citizen data amid rising cyber threats linked to the city’s expanding digital economy.

Tunbosun Alake, Lagos commissioner for innovation, science and technology, said the centre would help secure the infrastructure supporting online payments, e-government services, cloud platforms and technology-driven business operations across the state.
According to Alake, the facility will monitor, detect and respond to cyber threats targeting government networks, digital transactions and sensitive public data.
The move comes as Lagos accelerates its smart city agenda through investments in broadband infrastructure, digital identity systems and automated public services.
Alake said Lagos had already deployed 109 Data Protection Officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, which he described as the highest number among Nigerian states, to strengthen compliance with data protection regulations.
Alongside the proposed cybersecurity centre, the state also launched the Lagos Campus Network Upgrade project aimed at improving digital infrastructure within the public sector.
The upgrade is expected to improve network performance, automate internal government processes and enhance digital engagement with residents. The cybersecurity initiative follows the release of Lagos State’s cybersecurity guidelines in April.
The framework recommends measures including multi-factor authentication, vulnerability testing, encrypted backups and tighter endpoint security controls.
The guidelines align with Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act 2024, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021.
General News
LG Electronics Strengthens Household Energy Efficiency in Nigeria with Advanced Inverter Refrigerator Solutions

LG Electronics (LG) is reinforcing its commitment to smarter and more energy‑efficient living by spotlighting its range of inverter‑powered refrigerators designed to meet the evolving needs of Nigerian households.

As electricity costs continue to rise and inflationary pressures shape consumer spending, LG’s refrigerator portfolio is positioned as a practical solution that combines dependable performance with responsible energy consumption.
Refrigerators are among the most frequently used appliances in Nigerian homes, operating 24 hours a day and accounting for a significant share of household electricity usage. LG addresses this challenge through its proprietary Inverter Compressor technology, which intelligently adjusts cooling power based on actual usage conditions.
By reducing unnecessary energy draw, the system delivers stable temperature control while helping households lower energy consumption and manage monthly utility costs more effectively.
Beyond energy savings, LG refrigerators are designed to support food security and reduce waste, an increasingly important consideration for families navigating rising food prices. The inverter system enables faster cooling recovery after power interruptions and helps maintain consistent internal temperatures, preserving food freshness for longer periods. With fewer friction points in the compressor design, LG refrigerators also offer enhanced durability and long‑term reliability, minimizing maintenance costs over time.
LG’s energy‑saving refrigerator lineup includes Top Mount, Side‑by‑Side, and Door‑in‑Door models, each tailored to different household sizes, storage needs, and lifestyle preferences. The Top Mount refrigerators offer practical, space‑efficient designs ideal for everyday family use, delivering reliable cooling with optimized energy efficiency.
The LG GN-F452PFAQ model keeps food perfectly fresh with FRESH Converter+ that optimizes temperature as per food items and never runs out of ice with the Auto Ice Maker.
For households that require larger storage capacity and improved organization, Side‑by‑Side models provide generous interior space, improved visibility, and consistent cooling across compartments.
For more design‑conscious consumers, LG’s Door‑in‑Door refrigerators reduce cold air loss by allowing quick access to frequently used items, supporting both energy efficiency and long‑lasting freshness.
At the premium end, LG continues to innovate with advanced models such as the MoodUP™ refrigerator, which combines customizable aesthetics with functional energy‑saving features like the InstaView panel, allowing users to view contents without opening the door and reducing unnecessary cold air loss. This refrigerator comes with a washing machine as a bundle promotion.
According to LG, this range‑based approach reflects a deep understanding of how Nigerian households differ in size, consumption habits, and lifestyle needs.
“Nigerian consumers are becoming more intentional about how they use energy and manage household costs,” said Mr. Oktai Kim, General Manager, Home Appliance Solutions, LG Electronics Nigeria. “By offering a diverse range of inverter‑powered refrigerators, we are giving families the flexibility to choose solutions that suit their homes while delivering long‑term value through energy efficiency and dependable performance.”
Rather than focusing on technology alone, LG’s energy‑saving refrigerator portfolio emphasizes everyday benefits, efficient operation, reliable cooling, and designs that adapt to real living conditions. Available nationwide, LG refrigerators continue to support smarter living and economic resilience, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering durable, consumer‑focused home solutions for Nigerian households.
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