General News
Blame Boko Haram, Others for Poor QoS – Goodluck
Akinwale Goodluck, corporate services executive at MTN Nigeria has oversight for Regulatory/Government Relations, Commercial/Legal, Company Secretariat, Corporate Communications and the Corporate Social Responsibility function.
He is an acknowledged resource on issues pertaining to the legal and regulatory framework of the oil and gas, telecommunications and banking & financial services sectors.
Since joining MTN in December 2001 as commercial legal advisor, Goodluck has held positions of increasing responsibilities culminating in his latest appointment.
Goodluck had worked at Nigeria’s pioneer investment bank, NAL Merchant Bank where he acquired considerable expertise in legal advisory services, corporate finance and financial services.
Thereafter, he joined the services of The Law Union, a firm of barristers and solicitors, with primary responsibility for the Corporate and Commercial Law Group of the firm.
He spoke to Miebi Senge
Intractable Problem of Quality of Service
I think the issues around quality of service border around two things: one, there isn’t enough capacity; and secondly the availability of that capacity.
So two things, capacity and continued availability of that capacity. The issue of capacity essentially lies in the hands of the operators. It is for us as operators to get a good understanding of the demand and put in the capacity to meet that demand.
The good news is that operators have the resources to install the required capacity but the reality is that it is extremely difficult to put infrastructure in the ground in our environment.
The same sort of infrastructure challenges that have bedeviled the power industry also affect the telecommunications industry. Telecoms infrastructure cannot exist in vacuum and there has to be parallel growth in other sectors for the full realization of the benefit of increased rollout.
Beyond that, when we are even able to put the infrastructure in the ground, the challenge then becomes making it available to carry traffic.
The litmus test is then to ask if that additional capacity is available to relieve the congestion in the network.
We are finding ourselves in a situation where operators are building base stations, integrating them into our networks, but because of circumstances beyond our control, that infrastructure is not carrying traffic.
And if that infrastructure is not carrying traffic, it is not relieving congestion. Then we begin to see the challenges in terms of quality of service. Definitely, customers’ experience will be very sub-optimal.
Why are They not Carrying Traffic?
When you are building a network, you need to make that network available to carry traffic. It needs to be integrated; it needs to be carrying traffic, and subsequently relieving congestion.
We find ourselves in a situation where, because of a lot of extraneous circumstances, a lot of infrastructure are not carrying traffic for no fault of the operators’. If you look at the North-East, we have about 200 base stations that are not available to carry traffic today because of the problem of insurgency, and the attacks on our base stations.
We also have a lot of base stations that are sealed up by different agencies of government. Again, this is contributing to lack of capacity.
Then, you have the day-to-day problems like community lock outs, area boys’ agitations, etc. All those things are also negatively impacting networks.
I would say in a nutshell, those are the two major factors impacting quality of service, and we need all stakeholders to resolve those issues.
Major Challenges to Quality of Service
It’s a challenging environment, but I dare say that to whom much is given, much is expected. As the biggest operator in Nigeria today, in fact, the biggest operator in Africa today in terms of subscriber number, there are a lot of expectations from our subscribers, our regulator, legislators, our friends in the media and other stakeholders about the quality of service.
Nigerians are tired of excuses, and they want good quality. Aside from the things I spoke about earlier on, we’ve seen in this market in the last 18 months, a significant reduction in tariffs. This coupled with all sorts of promotions, has led to a greater demand for our services. So we have seen minutes of use go up as a result of tariffs coming down.
People are talking a lot more and it means that we require a lot more capacity to deal with that. I think that perhaps some of the competition has been a little exuberant and there is need for the industry to self-regulate and ensure that as the industry chases subscriber number, we do not mortgage quality. So we find that the way prices have come down in the last 18 months has also led to greater demand and as such we are having to play catch-up all the time.
There is work for everybody, including the regulator to ensure that the business environment or the competitive environment is a lot saner so that we can preserve the long term sustainability of our industry.
MTN and Local Content Initiative
The reality is that nobody can operate in an environment without using local resources. For us as a business, we have also gone beyond patronising people just for the sake of patronising them. We believe that there is significant value-add by using local contractors.
They are very competent and able Nigerians. We have worked with a few partners, and as our business has grown, their own businesses have grown tremendously. We see them in different areas of our business- in the areas of network build, information systems, marketing, sales and distribution. We are working with Nigerian partners
Recently, there has been a lot of clamour for more Nigerian participation and local content. I can share with you that while a lot of our competitors have handed over their entire network build to foreign OEMs, (we have also handed over a considerable part to the OEMs, which in this market are typically the Ericssons, Huaweis and ZTE).
What is the Status of WACS Now?
WACS is live and carrying traffic for MTN and a lot of other operators. A lot of people have both live and redundant capacity on WACS. WACS has delivered on expectations.
The Bandwidth pipe coming into Nigeria has increased.
Internet Experience
Your bottleneck is not at the WACS end. Your bottleneck is between where WACS terminates on the beach and where you are using Internet service.
If we had a situation where all my backhaul was done by fibre and all the base stations were connected by fibre, and then connected to the base station controllers (BSC) by fibre and then to the switch by fibre, the speed would be awesome.
Although we are able to land the speed at the beach, to distribute it inland as effectively as we would like remains a challenge.
What Would you be Saying to the NCC and other Stakeholders?
For us to achieve what we are all trying to in the area of broadband, we need a lot of fibre in the ground. We need a concerted effort; NCC to support the operator, to support the private sector to roll out this fibre. We need the involvement of the state and local government.
We need to take away the hand-cuffs and chains impeding roll out of fibre, such as prohibitive right-of-way costs, etc. We need the cost for right-of-way in Lagos or in Kano or any other city in Nigeria not to be more expensive than the cost for the right of way in New York. We need to have affordable fibre in the ground. That will translate to affordable bandwidth and a much better experience.
Nigerians Enjoying Latest Technology in the Mobile World
In our industry, yes. In fact, we are probably always at the cutting edge. Because of our volumes here, and the large appetite demonstrated by operators in Nigeria, we are typically being offered best-in-`class technology and we are always given top priority in terms of queuing for the latest equipment.
What we need to put on top of that is to ensure that we have an environment that can receive the infrastructure, so that we can see the benefit of the latest technology that the operators in Nigeria are deploying.
MTN’s Success in Nigeria’s Challenging Business Environment
I wish I could tell you everything we are doing, but I would be helping the competition. I think the bottom-line is that we took a decision to invest and reinvest, and we haven’t stopped investing. When a lot of people were scared and sceptical about Nigeria, we took the bull by the horns.
When some of our competitors were changing ownership regularly, we stayed the course. We are seeing the benefits of the investments that we have made.
Today, we have the biggest subscribers, serving in excess of 45 million Nigerians. With that amount of scale, your business will be big.
We are also a very frugal and prudent organisation. In the first five years of MTN Nigeria, we took a decision not to externalise any dividend. So no shareholder got any dividend for five years.
Instead, we put all the money back into the system and they are now beginning to reap the fruit of their labour.
Breathe Life Foundation partnered with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi, to deliver a respiratory health awareness session for over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos.
The session equipped students aged 15–19 years with practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha, while challenging the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education. By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the Foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
Breathe Life Foundation is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
Nigeria’s technology retail landscape reached another significant milestone on Monday, August 3, 2026, as global technology giant ASUS, in partnership with Konga, officially commissioned its first flagship experience store in West Africa.
Strategically located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in customer experience, product accessibility, and digital innovation.
The launch also reinforces Konga’s growing reputation as a preferred gateway for leading global technology brands into the Nigerian market.
The landmark event attracted Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who officially commissioned the store.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Operating Officer of Konga, Dave Omoregie; VP Omni-channel & Commercial Planning, Melvin Onochie; and Head of Marketing and Communications at Konga Group, Victor Oluwaleye.
The ASUS team was led by E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, alongside Business Development Manager, Sunnie Chen; Sales Manager, Mohammed Kazim; Gaming Product Manager, Joy Chen; Marketing Manager, Adeola Odeleye; and Sales Specialist, Williams Okenna.
The Honourable Minister described the facility as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that it is far more than the opening of a retail outlet.
He called it a strong vote of confidence by a global technology brand in Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology ecosystem and the immense potential of its market.
He noted that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.
The Minister paid tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, describing him as one of the foremost architects of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He announced that Ekeh had recently agreed to champion the Federal Government’s Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, a flagship programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and technology skills.
According to him, Ekeh’s decades of visionary entrepreneurship have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s technology ecosystem and attracting prominent technology companies into the Nigerian market.
Using the occasion to address the international business community, the Minister encouraged global investors and brands to look beyond establishing commercial operations in Nigeria and actively partner with the government in driving national development.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that safeguards investments and delivers sustainable returns.
Speaking at the event, ASUS E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, expressed appreciation to partners, government representatives, and customers for their support.
He explained that the flagship store was conceived to provide consumers with direct access to authentic ASUS products, and expressed confidence that the partnership with Konga will further accelerate the brand’s growth and strengthen customer engagement in the region.
The experience centre features dedicated sections showcasing ASUS’ complete portfolio of premium laptops, gaming devices, AI-powered PCs, and cutting-edge innovations. A standout attraction is an interactive digital display that allows visitors to explore ASUS’ latest technologies virtually before making purchase decisions, creating a more engaging and informed customer journey. Plus, every ASUS device purchased through the flagship store or online on Konga comes with a special one-year replacement warranty at no extra cost.
In his remark, Chief Operating Officer of Konga Group, Dave Omoregie, said the flagship store reflects Konga’s deliberate strategy to give Nigerian consumers a seamless blend of online and offline retail.
He noted that Konga’s logistics network, payment infrastructure, and nationwide retail footprint uniquely position the company to support global brands like ASUS at scale, while ensuring customers enjoy authentic products backed by reliable after-sales service.
According to him, the partnership demonstrates what becomes possible when world-class technology brands trust Nigerian platforms to deliver exceptional experiences, adding that Konga remains committed to setting the operational standard for authentic technology retail across the country.
The launch further reinforces the enduring partnership between ASUS and Konga, built on shared values of innovation, authenticity, and customer satisfaction.
It also highlights Konga’s continued evolution beyond traditional e-commerce into a comprehensive omnichannel technology ecosystem that combines online convenience with physical retail experiences.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the new ASUS Flagship Experience Store represents more than a retail outlet; it is a symbol of confidence in Nigeria’s technology market. It highlights Konga’s commitment to bridging the gap between global technology brands and Nigerian consumers. With its robust logistics infrastructure, digital payment solutions, and nationwide physical retail presence, Konga continues to set the standard for authentic, accessible, and reliable technology retail across Africa.
The flagship store opening featured guided product demonstrations, immersive technology experiences, exclusive launch-day offers and customer engagement activities celebrating this historic milestone.
Customers can begin shopping immediately at the ASUS Flagship Experience Store, located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. Visitors can explore authentic ASUS products, experience live product demonstrations, receive expert guidance, and access dedicated Starlink customer-support services.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice; Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inspector-general of Police, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the organisation urged the government to ensure that anyone implicated in the report is prosecuted and that all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition are recovered.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the Auditor-General’s findings as a serious breach of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations involving missing firearms, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, and poor storage of weapons.
“The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of funds meant for policing and the reported irregularities have weakened the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The organisation said the Auditor-General’s report documented several alleged financial irregularities, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
“The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”SERAP further cited allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, failures to properly account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its demands, warning that it would pursue legal action if no response is received.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also argued that the allegations, if left unaddressed, would violate constitutional provisions requiring the government to combat corruption and safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Among the specific findings cited from the Auditor-General’s report were allegations of payments for abandoned and unexecuted police projects worth hundreds of millions of naira, inflated contract values, unretired cash advances, irregular procurement processes, unsettled insurance claims exceeding ₦681 million, over ₦1 billion in uncleared insurance policy liabilities, missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised release of police exhibits, and contracts allegedly awarded without due diligence by the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
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