News
Building Connections – The Value of Our Transport Networks
By Tobechukwu Okigbo
Over the years, embarking on road trips across Nigeria has provided me with some of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences of my life.
Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services Officer of MTN Nigeria.
Our country is blessed with natural and beautiful landscapes, local cultures, languages and architecture that change as you move through the states or geo-political zones.
It’s only when you travel like this that you experience the richness of our diversity, providing a much-needed perspective and deeper understanding of our country.
When you can’t see a country for what it really is, then you are especially vulnerable to the manipulation of more radical elements.
Travelling through these places gives one a direct connection to them, and it is those connections that are so important to our cohesion.
Unfortunately, the option to travel by road is more limited today than it has been in the past, especially taking into consideration the prevailing security challenges.
Nigeria currently is quite low in the global ranking of road networks to people ratio, with many important roads in various state of disrepair.
This has an impact, not only on our individual ability to explore and understand our nation, building connections between us, but on our economy; limiting domestic trade, commerce and tourism, driving up costs and so reducing our competitiveness.
In turn, this impacts productivity, employment and puts a brake on improvements to living standards.
When a farmer struggles to get his produce to the market, the quality of the produce available to the consumer is lower and costs more.
When a petroleum marketer needs to move product from Lagos to Kano, the time it takes is a direct input into the price differentials we see across the country.
When it takes longer for a can of Coca-Cola to navigate the roads in the East, then it costs more for the consumer when it gets there.
When tourists fly into major cities but are unwilling to brave our roads and cannot explore our regions, we lose not just income, but the ability to share our culture and heritage with others.
At a very human level, poor roads contribute to unnecessary accidents and deaths.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) estimates that 3,700 people lost their lives in the first ten months of 2022, and road quality is one of the top-ten causes of those accidents.
These challenges are not new, and the impact is understood by the government.
The Senate has estimated that Nigeria loses over N1 trillion in annual revenue due to bad roads, revenue which is critical to us as a nation.
The Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA) estimates that the cost of loss in man-hours due to traffic caused by poor roads is N1.02 trillion every year.
This is before we consider the additional costs associated with price inflation that Nigerians and Nigerian businesses have to absorb.
Many will put the responsibility to fix roads solely on government. Besides, what are the governments at various levels doing if they cannot fix the roads.
Indeed, in fairness to the current administration, a lot of work has been done in both road repairs and the construction of new ones.
But the truth is, the expectations are very high. However, the reality is that the government alone cannot fix all the roads.
They only have to be strategic and take the lead on an integrated approach to providing motorable roads to the citizenry, which is why in recognition of the importance of improving our road infrastructure, the Nigerian government conceived and launched the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) in 2019, a tax incentive programme to crowd in private sector finance for road construction, maintenance and repair.
It is designed to accelerate the investments that can be made to improve the network of roads in the country.
The government recognises the severity of the funding gap that exists, and that partnerships are required to deliver better roads, faster.
Not only does the RITC programme mobilise additional funding, it ensures that public budgets can be allocated to other equally pressing development priorities.
When done well, with proper planning, design and monitoring, these programmes attract significant private sector support and deliver impressive results.
Recognising that the RITC programme encapsulates everything that we at MTN call shared value, we are proud to have marked the 20th anniversary of our operation in Nigeria in 2021, by successfully bidding to reconstruct the 110km dual carriage Enugu-Onitsha expressway.
There is no better way of demonstrating the strength of the partnership between MTN and Nigeria, than by directly contributing to a project that benefits the government, business and the people by improving people’s ability to connect.
It is a tangible manifestation of our belief that “We’re good together” and an extension of our purpose to enable the benefits of a modern connected life to everyone.
MTN will invest N202.8 billion in the rehabilitation of the road, receiving tax credits of the equivalent value that it can use to offset future tax liabilities.
Work has already commenced on the road with a delivery schedule that anticipates people will be able to use it within 18 months.
We fully understand the strategic importance of the Enugu-Onitsha road to the eastern economy and Nigeria at large.
For us, the completion of the rehabilitation of the expressway is more than fixing a road. It is more than a road; it is connecting people and opening an economy.
It is about creating memories for people to appreciate the beauty of our land.
I am incredibly excited at the potential of this partnership to embed a culture of collaboration between the public and private sector in Nigeria.
It is not just MTN that recognises this opportunity. The strong design of the RITC is evidenced in the range of other private sector partners that are joining the programme.
By working together, we can accelerate progress towards national development goals, make life easier for Nigerians and improve the prospects for all businesses, large and small.
Personally, I look forward to driving on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, to re-ignite my passion for road trips, and seeing the vibrant beauty that is Nigeria.
It is not just about fixing a road; it is about accelerating connectedness and building lasting partnerships.
We’re good together!
Okigbo is the Chief Corporate Services Officer of MTN Nigeria.
A former Executive Director at Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Abbas Muhammed Jega, has shed light on the financial dealings between Arik Air and Union Bank, revealing that the airline’s debt to AMCON was over N100 billion as of 2015 and remained unpaid.
Testifying as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ahmed Kuru, former AMCON MD/CEO, and four others, Jega disclosed that AMCON acquired Arik’s loans from Union Bank and Keystone Bank, but not Zenith Bank, which was purchased after his exit.
According to Jega, AMCON discovered in a London meeting that Union Bank had sold them a guarantee rather than a loan, which was meant to cover foreign lenders in case Arik defaulted.
“We invited Arik to resolve the issue with Union Bank, but the arrangement disclosed by me never existed,” Jega said.
Jega attributed Arik’s inability to repay to over-trading, which led to their inability to service existing debts. He revealed that AMCON attempted to restructure Arik’s debt and even offered additional loan facilities to help the airline with working capital problems.
However, Arik failed to meet repayment obligations, prompting AMCON to propose two solutions: a debt equity swap and management control. Both options were rejected or delayed by Arik.
Under cross-examination, Jega confirmed that Kamilu Omokide and Captain Roy Ilegbodu played no role in the loan purchase or London meeting.
The matter has been adjourned to June 30, July 1, and July 2, 2025, for further cross-examination.
The case involves alleged financial misappropriation amounting to N76 billion and $31.5 million, with Ahmed Kuru, Kamilu Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Ltd, and Super Bravo Ltd as defendants, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.
Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation is to chair the public presentation of the book Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspective on Online Publishing, a publication of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The event is scheduled for 110am on Tuesday June 17, 2025 at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.
President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, who confirmed this development said the book presentation will be graced by eminent personalities from all walks of life, including government officials, captains of industry, media practitioners and other professionals, representatives of international organisations, directors of non-governmental organisations.
Alhaji Idris was sworn in as Minister of Information and National Orientation on August 21, 2023, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With over three decades of experience in broadcasting, newspapering, public relations, and advertising, Idris has brought a wealth of expertise to the role.
His academic background includes degrees in English Studies from Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and Bayero University, Kano. As an entrepreneur, he established notable media outlets such as Blueprint, WE FM radio station, and Rapid Television in Abuja.
He is a prominent figure in professional associations such as National Institute of Public Relations, African Public Relations Association, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
As the founder of Bifocal Communications, a leading public relations and communications consultancy, Idris has served both local and transnational corporations.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Idris is committed to social responsibility through the Mohammed Idris Malagi (MIM) Foundation, which has positively impacted many lives. As a reward for his contributions to the development of his immediate environment and beyond, The Etsu Nupe conferred “Kaakaki Nupe” on him.
A press statement by the GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, quoted the GOCOP president as saying that the proceeds of the book will be used to fund the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre comprising a secretariat, a 21st Century library and event halls, among others.
Nweke further noted that the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) was established to promote professionalism in online publishing, ensuring its members uphold the fundamental principles of journalism.
Comprising seasoned editors and senior journalists with distinguished career in print and electronic media, GOCOP’s membership has traversed the online publishing, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the future of journalism globally. With 120 corporate publishers as members, GOCOP continues to uphold the highest standards of online journalism.
Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has issued a stern warning to marketers, content creators, and social media influencers amid an alarming rise in fraudulent, AI-generated advertisements circulating across digital platforms.
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, director-general, ARCON, during a press briefing at its Lagos headquarters, decried the “porous” state of Nigeria’s online ad ecosystem and pledged to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
Dr. Fadolapo opened the media parley by highlighting how easily unscrupulous operators deploy artificial intelligence tools to produce convincing—but entirely fabricated—advertisements.
“Our social media space has become so porous that people now freely post fake adverts, some of which claim outrageous and bogus benefits,” he remarked.
According to the Director-General, these deceptive campaigns often promise “miraculous cures” or “guaranteed returns” without any credible data or verifiable sources to back them.
Among the most alarming examples cited was an herbal remedy advertisement alleging to cure over 200 ailments—ranging from HIV to cancer—through a single “miracle” concoction.
“Imagine an advert claiming that a single herbal drug could cure HIV, cancer, and more than 200 other diseases,” Dr. Fadolapo said.
ARCON’s DG emphasized that such misleading advertisements not only jeopardize public health—by luring vulnerable individuals into purchasing untested or harmful products—but also undermine consumer confidence in legitimate businesses operating within advertising guidelines.
Dr. Fadolapo pointed to the regulatory vacuum that allows bad actors to exploit the anonymity of social media.
Unlike traditional broadcast or print media—where advertisements must pass through editorial or legal vetting—online platforms can be manipulated with minimal oversight.
Creating an ad using AI-powered design and voice generators, he warned, takes only minutes, making it difficult for regulators to identify the original perpetrators.
“The CBEX case is a painful reminder of what can happen when digital platforms are left unchecked,” Dr. Fadolapo said, explaining that the scheme purportedly defrauded unsuspecting Nigerians of nearly $2 trillion through slick, unregulated social media promotions.
He described how the CBEX promoters used AI-generated video testimonials, falsified financial statements, and cloned websites to entice victims with promises of triple-digit returns on cryptocurrency trades.
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