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Dead CDMA Telephone Lines Litter Nigeria

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Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
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Latest statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has suggested a crowded graveyard for the once active code division multiple access (CDMA) subsector of the telecoms industry.

According to the NCC, CDMA lines dropped from a whopping figure of 2,187,845 to 2,108,960 between the period of December 2014 and January 2015.

The GSM counterpart however recorded a total of 139 million active lines up from 137 million in December of last year.

In all, the current active lines (both GSM and CDMA) stood at a little above 141 million lines in January up from the 140 million recorded in December 2014.

CDMAs have continued to perform poorly due to a number of reasons including the local financiers’ refusal to lend to CDMA operators because of their repulsive financial record.

Further investigations revealed that some CDMA operators had over the years regularly and consciously ignored sustained and systematic red flags as their promoters and managers diverted funds meant for expansion into frivolous projects like manufacturing, oil and gas, politics and so on.

The deaths of CDMAs were also quickened by corporate mismanagement because of the fraudulent and self-serving practices of some members of board and management and the overbearing influence of chairmen or MD/CEOs of CDMAs.

Experts also point at non-compliance with laid down internal controls and operation procedures, biased recruitment exercises and general lack luster management practices as some of the reasons why the companies have failed to click.

The sorry state of affairs with the CDMA operators has also to do with growing subscribers’ preference for GSM services.

Only recently, the NCC listed one national carrier, one GSM operator, five CDMA operators and six fixed/fixed wireless operators as inactive.

The operators include NITEL, MTel, Starcomms, Reliance Telecoms (Zoom Mobile), Intercellular, MTS First Communications, WiTel, O’ Net (Odua Telecoms), Rainbownet, Monarch Communications, Xs Broadband, Webcom, and Disc Communications.

The operators became inactive, following the total loss of their customers to other operators that are currently pulling weight in the industry.

They had since gone into extinction and could no longer offer competitive services to their customers, who decided to port to other network operators.

NCC decided to declare the operators inactive to enable it study and circulate the accurate figures of telecoms operations in the country.


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Court Affirms FCCPC’s Authority in Regulating Telecoms Sector

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Federal High Court in Lagos has declared that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has secured a landmark legal victory after the Federal High Court in Lagos reaffirmed its authority to regulate competition and consumer protection across all sectors, including telecommunications.

Court Affirms FCCPC’s Authority in Regulating Telecoms Sector

This was disclosed in a press release by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s director of Corporate Affairs on Sunday.

Ijagwu, said  Justice F.N. Ogazi gave the verdict in a case that was filed by Emeka Nnubia, a shareholder of MTN Nigeria and a legal practitioner.

In the suit, Nnubia wanted the  court to stop the FCCPC from investigating MTN Nigeria on the ground that Nigerian Communications Commission was the sole regulator of the telecom sector.

But the judge maintained that the law gives the FCCPC the power to  regulate on competition and consumer protection across all sectors, including telecommunications.

The court said that the NCC does not have exclusive control over competition regulation in telecoms. H said both the FCCPC and the NCC are both regulators.

The court said,  “FCCPC acted within its statutory powers in issuing a Summons to MTN Nigeria as part of its ongoing inquiry,” emphasising that the commission’s “Summons and Request to Produce was found to be lawful and within the scope of FCCPC’s investigative powers.”

The court also held,  “FCCPC’s request for information from MTN did not violate any data protection laws, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the NCA 2003.”

It  said, “No personal data was requested, and MTN’s obligation to disclose information in the public interest is a legitimate basis for compliance with FCCPC’s inquiry.”

 


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DBI, US-Based Partner SBTS to Create 50,000 Jobs

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Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) has partnered with US-based SBTS Group to create 50,000 immediate job opportunities and upskill over five million Nigerian youths by 2030.

DBI, US-Based Partner SBTS to Create 50,000 Jobs

Mr. Daser David, president and CEO of DBI

A statement by Mr. Akin Ogunlade, head of Public Affairs at DBI, confirmed that both organisations will officially launch the strategic partnership in Abuja this February.

The initiative is designed to equip Nigerian youths with essential digital skills, enabling them to compete in the global job market.

Mr. Daser David, president and CEO of DBI, described the collaboration as a direct effort to bridge the gap in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy by providing advanced training in digital literacy, coding, and other high-demand skills in the labour and employment market.

“As Nigeria’s digital economy rapidly expands, industries such as financial services, healthcare, entertainment, transportation, and ICT are witnessing unprecedented job creation

“However, a significant skills gap remains, with millions of digital and ICT-related jobs going unfilled due to a shortage of qualified professionals.

“This collaboration is, therefore, a direct effort to bridge this gap by providing advanced training in digital literacy, coding, and other high-demand skills in the labour and employment market.

“The effort aligns with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy under Minister Dr Bosun Tijani,” Mr David said.

Emphasising the transformative impact of the initiative, Mr. David highlighted that Nigerian youths are the catalyst for transforming the nation’s economic future.

“To pivot from an agriculture-dependent economy to a thriving digital landscape, they require targeted IT upskilling.

“This initiative bridges opportunity gaps by providing after-school programmes in digital literacy and vocational training for underserved youths, empowering them to compete in a tech-driven job market and fuelling inclusive economic growth.”

He added that the collaboration would contribute to the government’s broader mission of fostering decent, productive, and freely chosen employment opportunities for young people while supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national development agenda.

“The partnership between DBI and SBTS is a direct response to Nigeria’s digital skills deficit, focusing on job creation and economic empowerment.

“Each DBI campus will host a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centre, designed to create thousands of job opportunities for young Nigerians, enabling them to secure both local and remote employment in the global digital economy,” he said.

He further noted that the training would integrate digital skills into vocational education, establish comprehensive on-the-job training systems, and engage public and private sector employers in digital job creation.

The president added that the initiative has already commenced with facility upgrades and training programmes at DBI’s campuses in Enugu (South-East) and Kano (North-West), with other locations scheduled for subsequent rollouts.

Similarly, Evelyn Lewis, CEO of SBTS Group, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youths.

“Despite the negativity and sense of hopelessness often portrayed, there are abundant opportunities for youths in Nigeria.

“We are excited to collaborate with DBI in advancing the Federal Government’s agenda to train and equip unemployed youths with digital skills and comprehensive ICT knowledge, empowering them for a brighter future.”

Under the agreement, the SBTS Group will provide technical and financial support to ensure that young Nigerians receive industry-relevant training that meets global standards.

The initiative also emphasises youth-led digital entrepreneurship, equipping participants with the tools to launch and scale their businesses in the digital space.

By integrating over 400 new digital courses into the training curricula and promoting hands-on learning, the DBI-SBTS partnership is set to drive Nigeria’s economic diversification through ICT. The initiative’s strong focus on digital entrepreneurship will further accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a tech-driven economy, ensuring sustainable job creation and long-term growth.

With facility upgrades, BPO centre rollouts, and nationwide training programmes underway, this collaboration represents a landmark effort in positioning Nigeria’s youths for success in the global digital economy.

DBI is a training institute under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), established by the Federal Government in 2004 for ICT and digital training.

 


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ATICEN Commends NLC for Suspending Strike over Telecoms Tariff Hike

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Joe Ajaero, president, NLC,
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Comrade Adede John Williams, president of the Association of Telecommunications, Information Technology, Cable Satellite Network Operators and Allied Services Employers’of Nigeria (ATICEN), has commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for suspending the planned strike over tariff hike by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the Nigeria telecommunications operators.

ATICEN Commends NLC for Suspending Strike over Telecoms Tariff Hike

Joe Ajaero, president, NLC,

He called on members and the general assembly of the Nigeria Labour Congress, telecoms subscribers, stakeholders, and all interested parties to see the need to accept the reality of things as they unfold.

He emphasised that rising inflation, energy costs, operational costs, and currency devaluation challenges faced in the country were the key reasons for the recent tariff hike, adding that the costs of importing telecommunications equipment, the maintenance support system, and unreliable electricity supply had affected the profits supposedly accrued to telecoms operators.

He, therefore, urged the telecommunications subscribers and Nigerians to always have the interests of the services of telecommunications operators at heart for the industry’s sustainability, as the industry regulator is always championing the consumer’s protection rights.

“So, it is important to know that the recent increase in telecoms tariff was approved according to its regulatory power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges for telecommunications operators operating in Nigeria,” he said.

Williams equally acknowledged Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister, Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Dr. Aminu Maina, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for taking a proactive step in managing the NLC’s planned strike.

 


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