General News
Keeping Internet Traffic Local Can Improve Nigeria’s Cyber Security-Mohammed Rudman
By chukwuemeka fred agbata
All serious digitally-driven economies invest heavily in infrastructure and one critical aspect is what is known as an Internet Exchange Point, IXP, which is simply a physical infrastructure that allows the several internet provider, ISP’s and network operators to exchange traffic between their networks.
Nigeria also owns one, that is tasked with facilitating internet operations, localising traffic as well as reducing local internet routing costs.
I recently had a chat with Mohammed Rudman, CEO, Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria and he was able to break down some of the complex, behind the scene activities that make the internet tick.
Mohammed stated that what happens when you visit a website from your device is that you put a name into the browser of your computer and there is a resolver that actually talks to what is called a DNS server that does the translation. “It is a series of referrals that happens from your computer to the service provider’s computers, to the entire internet computers, to get you an answer”, he stressed.
Mohammed further explained that behind the website you are browsing, there is what is called an IP Address. “Each computer in the world and each website in the world, has what is called an IP Address. It is a number that is hidden”, he stated. “Nigerian networks are eyeball content heavy”, he opined.
He explained that there are two kinds of networks on the internet. The first one is what he calls the ‘eyeball network’. These are people trying to browse or networks that have people behind them, such as MTN, Airtel, etc. The second is content networks that have the content, such as Google, yahoo, Facebook, etc. “Nigerian networks are eyeball content heavy”, he opined.
On why it is important to keep the traffic search on the internet local, Mohammed gave 5 good reasons why this should be so. The first benefit is that Nigeria will reduce the capital flight incurred in hosting in other countries, which is in US Dollars. The second benefit is that, the reduction is capital flight will also lead to reduction in latency and cost reduction as well as higher quality of service.
The third advantage of hosting locally to keep the traffic local, is that it further strengthens the cyber security of the country, as passing of data through international borders is now sidetracked. The fourth advantage, according to Mohammed, is business continuity. He stated that we depend on submarine cables for hosting internationally. If a natural disaster occurs, such as a Tsunami, and damages these submarine cables, this will definitely mean a disruption in the local individual and business communication flow.
The fifth benefit of hosting the internet traffic search locally, is that we will gain and develop the technical skills to manage data centers to host ourselves instead of depending on other countries that host. This also, inadvertently, means the creation of more jobs for Nigerian.
Mohammed is of the view that we are ready to keep the traffic locally by hosting here in Nigeria, as the data centers currently have adequate infrastructure on ground to support the weight. “Most of them also have the potentials to expand their facilities”, he observed.
Mohammed also explained what an Internet Exchange Point is and does. “An Internet Exchange Point, is a physical infrastructure, where all internet providers, educational institutions and any other organisations that are IP-centric that they usually, physically get connected to, so that they can exchange their traffic locally”, he stressed. He also said that a country can have as many exchange points as possible, but it has to be in a community where not less than 3 service providers are available, because they must exchange traffic.
On the fact that Nigeria is not playing big in content and what we can do to rectify this, Mohammed is of the view that we need to improve on our advocacy.
He stated that we cannot be content consumers alone, but we must also be content creators too.
He stated that the content that Nigerians generate are hosted outside Nigeria and in his opinion, government and other stakeholders should evolve policies that will change the ‘center of gravity of content on the internet’ from South Africa to Nigeria.
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Galaxy Space, Chinese LEO satellite player, to deploy direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services nationwide by the end of this year.
According to media reports, Galaxy Space will integrate its LEO satellite constellation into Nigeria’s telecom grid, which will allow existing smartphones and laptops to link directly to the satellites.
The MoU also covers technology‑transfer programmes, joint R&D labs and the co‑production of a CubeSat by Nigerian engineers.
Apart from the benefit of enabling mobile coverage outside of terrestrial network range, Dr Matthew Adepoju, director- general, NASRDA, said the deal with GalaxySpace would enable Nigeria to build up its domestic space technology sector.
“It is no longer acceptable that we must import every single device we need,” he told the News Agency of Nigera. “The time has come for us to produce our own technologies here at home.”
GalaxySpace, which designs and manufactures its own LEO satellites, currently has a test constellation of seven LEO satellites in orbit, and has said its “Mini-Spider” constellation will eventually comprise up to 1,000 satellites.
GalaxySpace said it has also signed multi-tier partnerships in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Last year, it also signed a deal with Hong Kong carrier PCCW Global to integrate its LEOsat connectivity with PCCW’s worldwide network, giving it access to over 3,000 cities across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
General News
IHS Nigeria, United Nations Global Compact Host High-Level Dialogue on Sustainability and Greener Business Practices in Nigeria
IHS Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, hosted a high-level private sector dialogue themed “Collaborative Strategies for Greener Business Practices, Innovation and Sustainable Development”.
The event, held in Lagos, brought together key players from different sectors including finance, law, telecommunications, biodiversity, and corporate sustainability to explore actionable pathways to achieve meaningful environmental stewardship in Nigeria.
The panel session offered bold perspectives on integrating sustainability into business frameworks across different sectors, whilst dispelling myths, and highlighting opportunities for organizations, and calling for collective action from all players within the business value chain.
Delivering a keynote address, Titilope Oguntuga, Director, Sustainability at IHS Nigeria, emphasized the urgency of environmental consciousness: “Sustainability is not a destination — it’s a collective journey.
“It requires courage to transform, vision to lead, and collaboration to scale. Nigeria stands at a crossroads. We can either be overwhelmed by the risks or rise to become a beacon of green innovation and inclusive growth in Africa. The choice is ours — and the time is now.”
Sylvie Josel, Lead, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions at the United Nations Global Compact, joined virtually from New York and spotlighted nature as a strategic asset:
“Nature must no longer be treated as an afterthought. It underpins everything, from human rights to supply chains. Embedding biodiversity into a company’s core strategy isn’t just a risk mitigation measure; it’s a smart, future-forward business imperative”.
Lanre Babalola, Group Head, Climate Finance and Sustainability at the Bank of Industry (BOI), provided insights into how BOI is funding sustainable ventures and driving innovation: “We look beyond profitability; we look at environmental and social impact. Whether it’s plastic roads, biogas, or solar transitions, we support businesses that are not only bankable but capable of reshaping the future.”
From the legal perspective, Oyeronke Oyetunde, General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Group, drew attention to the regulatory challenges hindering sustainability adoption: “Our legal frameworks are trailing behind today’s sustainability realities. We need forward-thinking laws, reduced regulatory silos, and incentives that reward the right behavior. Sustainability can’t thrive where enforcement is weak, and taxation is excessive.”
Abimbola Agbejule, Head, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility at Wema bank, spoke passionately about inclusiveness in sustainable development: “You don’t need to start big to make impact. MSMEs make up a huge part of our economy. Sustainability should be embedded in their day-to-day activities, and we must democratize access to knowledge, tools, and partnerships.”
The session was moderated by Gloria Okorie, Head of Programs at the United Nations Global Impact Center.
The event closed with a resounding call to action for stronger legal frameworks, deeper collaborations, and inclusive capacity building across sectors. The event further reinforces IHS Nigeria’s position as a leader in corporate sustainability and innovation in Nigeria.
“At IHS Nigeria, we recognize that true progress happens when sustainability is not an obligation, but a culture, lived every day, across every unit,” Titilope Oguntuga added.
Through initiatives like this dialogue, IHS Nigeria and its partners continue to champion solutions that protect the planet, empower people, and ensure long-term business viability.
Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a leading digital rights and inclusion nonprofit, has revealed in its 2024 Annual Impact Report that over 707 young individuals across 11 African countries have been empowered through its flagship LIFE Legacy Programme.
The initiative delivers training in life skills, ICT, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship—transforming underserved communities across the continent.
In 2024, the LIFE Legacy Programme ran 25 training cohorts across Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Sudan, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Senegal, 60 laptops were distributed to local partners, while digital literacy programmes were launched in schools in Cameroon and Tanzania through the LIFE@School initiative.
PIN advanced its advocacy by supporting 29 legal cases in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. A notable success was the landmark judgment in Molehin v. UBA, where the bank was found guilty of violating data privacy laws.
PIN’s research and media efforts made powerful waves. The Londa digital rights report, covering 26 countries, was downloaded 8,457 times. Its fourth short film, Undersight, recorded nearly one million views on YouTube. PIN also developed an AI strategy report with TrustLaw and collaborated with the Centre for Democratic Technology to assess content moderation policies for Kiswahili across Kenya and Tanzania. A separate report highlighted the troubling deployment of surveillance technologies across Africa, which was referenced in direct advocacy engagements with a telecom operator.
The organisation’s advocacy also contributed to the adoption of the African Commission’s Resolution 580, which urges governments to avoid Internet shutdowns during elections—strengthening digital freedom across the continent.
Meanwhile, the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) convened in Accra attracted 1,004 delegates from 61 countries, strengthening regional collaboration and amplifying the voice of civil society. PIN’s strategic communications pushed its media reach to 1.43 billion and social media engagement to 8.8 million.
Alongside training and policy efforts, the organisation inspired young changemakers through youth-focused campaigns and hosted seven fellows under the Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL) fellowship.
Crowning a year of impact, PIN earned the maiden PrivCon Privacy Award in Nigeria and was recognised in the Social Innovation Category at the Nigeria Innovation Awards for its work connecting African youth to digital opportunity.
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