Telecom
CSO Scrutinises Akwa Ibom Government for Alleged Internet Signals Jamming
Akwa Ibom State has come under scrutiny by Paradigm Initiative over alleged flagrant jamming of internet signals during football matches.
According to PI, “On October 7, 2017, thousands of Nigerians and football lovers of all hues thronged the Uyo stadium in Akwa-Ibom state to watch the anticipated World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Zambia.
“For the thousands of Nigerians who did make it to the Stadium, their euphoria was unlimited as they watched their beloved Super Eagles become the first team in Africa to reach the world cup finals in Russia.
“However, this sweet experience was blighted by a dangerous action of the state. Fans who wanted to share the historical moments with friends and loved ones on social media discovered to their surprise that they could not access Internet services within the stadium.
“Phone calls also became virtually impossible. For people who had only accessed these services just a few meters from the stadium, this sudden situation suggested the presence of a telecommunications jammer within the stadium premises.
“We have received credible reports that for the past five years, state governments in the region have been jamming internet signals inside any stadium where the Super Eagles play. This has been the case especially when the big-name politicians are in attendance.
“Lolade Adewuyi, a journalist who writes for The Guardian and goal.com, reported that internet service jamming has been going on for five years since the time Super Eagles began playing international games in Calabar.
“When the Uyo Stadium became the main home of the Super Eagles two years ago, the service denial during football game also moved to Uyo, according to Adewuyi and other football fans who spoke to us.
“Arriving at the stadium about 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to start, I made an attempt to upload the video of fans who had been injured in a stampede a few minutes earlier on my social media channels. However, I was unable to connect to the internet. It was to be another frustrating game after all. It turned out to be a similar story. Since my first World Cup qualifying game coverage in Calabar in 2012, there has always been an issue with the internet signals”- Lolade Adewuyi
“Adewuyi lamented that the internet outage affected his work as a journalist who works primarily online. His and his colleagues’ ability to update content online was rendered useless.
“Covering Nigeria senior men’s national team matches has become a terrible headache. You can work with your internet-enabled mobile phones until a few minutes to the beginning of the game when the governor of the host state (Akwa Ibom) arrives into the arena. Once he is in, the data network signals become jammed and one is unable to make any meaningful contributions to social media discussions during that period,” Adewuyi added.
“While journalists have reportedly petitioned Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on the jamming internet services and other telecommunications signals in Uyo stadium, the state government has apparently not bulged and continues to deny thousands of football fans internet services. This is undoubtedly a great abuse of the rights of the citizens who attend these events and who are forcefully disconnected from the world.
“What remains unclear is why the Akwa Ibom state government under Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is engaging in what is tantamount to flagrant abuse of citizens’ rights. We are aware that severing telecommunications services was a tactic used in the fight against Boko Haram in the northeast, in a bid to prevent the remote detonation of bombs.
“However, Uyo is a peaceful and calm city, and there can be no basis for this service disruption, which is a denial of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens. Relevant security agencies and the state government must come to terms with the fact that an important developmental service like the Internet cannot just be turned off at will. World Cup Qualifiers where Nigerians have simply come out to enjoy the beautiful game of football, should never be a venue for freedom of expression denials such as internet disruption.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) to enhance digital security and fight telecom fraud.
NCC
Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, represented by Executive Commissioner Rimini Makama at an Abuja stakeholders’ forum, stressed mobile numbers (MSISDNs) as vital for banking, authentication, and services—but vulnerable to misuse via recycled, churned, or barred SIMs.
“The TIRMS Platform is a secure, regulatory-backed, cross-sectoral solution… to provide a uniform approach for managing risks relating to the integrity and utilisation of registered MSISDNs,” Maida said.
Objectives include better MSISDN access for accountability, fraud checks on dormant/suspicious numbers before service access, and proactive verification across sectors.
Proposed rules mandate 14-day churn notices, seven-day data submission to TIRMS, and blocking of fraudulent lines. Success hinges on telecoms, banks, security agencies, and others.
Maida highlighted NCC’s collaborative rulemaking for a “One Government” approach.
Cybersecurity Director Olatokunbo Oyeleye called digital trust an “operating licence” for growth: “Every mobile number in Nigeria [must] be trusted… TIRMS will safeguard users, reduce fraud, and reinforce confidence in our digital economy.”
TIRMS bridges gaps with CBN, NIMC, CAC, SEC, and PENCOM, aiming to cut fraud and boost trust.
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