Management of Vitel Wireless, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has distanced the company from a fraudulent scheme operating under the name: “Vitel Shares Services.”

In an official statement, the management clarified that Vitel Wireless is not selling shares or running any investment schemes.

They warned that the operators of “Vitel Shares Services” are using unauthorised websites, mobile applications, social media promotions, and bank accounts falsely linked to Vitel Wireless to mislead the public.

The statement reads: ​“The attention of Vitel Wireless has been drawn to a fraudulent scheme operating under the name ‘Vitel Shares Services.’

“We wish to state clearly that Vitel Wireless has no affiliation with Vitel Shares Services, or any platform claiming to offer Vitel shares, investments, or financial products through unofficial channels.

“We do not solicit investments through agents, social media, websites, apps, or third parties. Any platform claiming to offer Vitel Wireless shares or investments outside our official channels is fraudulent and should be treated as such.

“We urge the general public to remain vigilant and verify all information through official Vitel Wireless communication channels before making any payments or sharing personal data.”

Airtel Nigeria has concluded its second Customer Forum in Abuja, bringing together a large section of customers including high-volume data subscribers, 5G customers, and key stakeholders in another landmark engagement aimed at addressing concerns around data usage, transparency, and customer experience.

The forum themed “Understanding Your Data and Taking Control 2.0.” aimed to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape. The session also featured inputs from representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Delivering the Keynote remarks, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, who was represented by Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, emphasised that trust remains the most valuable currency in telecommunications, and Airtel remains committed to strengthening customer confidence through transparency and continuous engagement.

He explained that discussions around data consumption have become increasingly important as digital lifestyles evolve, with smartphones, cloud services, video streaming and emerging artificial intelligence applications significantly influencing data usage patterns.

According to him, Airtel recently introduced the Airtel Data Calculator, an innovative tool designed to help customers estimate their data needs based on online activities such as multimedia streaming, video calls, social media usage, and gaming.

“The purpose of the Airtel Data Calculator is to provide greater visibility, support informed decision-making and place more information directly in the hands of customers. Because transparency should never be viewed as a compliance exercise. Transparency is good business,” he stated.

He further reassured customers that Airtel has no incentive to shortchange subscribers through inaccurate billing, forced spending or unnecessary data depletion, stressing that the company’s growth depends on customer satisfaction, loyalty and trust.

Adeniran also highlighted Airtel’s continued investments in network infrastructure, fibre capacity, digital platforms, artificial intelligence capabilities, customer service systems and workforce development, noting that these investments are aimed at improving service quality and enhancing customer experiences.

Oladokun Oye, Director, Customer Experience, Airtel Nigeria, while welcoming participants to the event, said the forum was created to provide customers with an open platform for education, engagement and problem-solving, noting that the customer remains at the centre of Airtel’s business.

“Data has become central to everyday life, powering work, education, commerce, entertainment, healthcare and countless opportunities. As data usage grows, so too does the desire for greater visibility and understanding.

Today’s conversation is part of an ongoing journey. A journey toward greater transparency. A journey toward deeper understanding. And a journey toward a better customer experience for every Airtel subscriber,” he said.

The forum also featured practical demonstrations on data consumption management, device settings, and usage habits that impact data usage. It also included an interactive session by which Airtel teams provided clarifications and offered feedback to customers.

The Abuja event follows the successful maiden edition held earlier this year in Lagos and aligns with broader industry efforts led by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve consumer awareness, transparency, and confidence within the telecommunications sector.

WhatsApp has announced the commencement of global reservations for usernames, a new privacy-focused feature designed to allow users connect without sharing their phone numbers.

The Meta-owned messaging platform said the rollout of username reservations began on Monday, June 29, enabling users to reserve their preferred usernames ahead of the feature’s full in-app launch later this year.

According to the company, users will receive notifications within the app once the reservation option becomes available to them.

WhatsApp said the new feature is intended to strengthen user privacy by giving people an alternative way to communicate without revealing their phone numbers, particularly when interacting with new contacts or participating in group conversations.

It explained that unlike social media platforms, WhatsApp usernames are not designed for public discovery, noting that there will be no searchable directory or username suggestions.

The company said users would need to know a person’s exact username before they can initiate contact for the first time.

“Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits,” WhatsApp said, adding that the feature would be useful in situations such as joining community or school groups where users may not wish to immediately disclose their phone numbers.

To enhance security, the platform is also introducing an optional username key, which will require anyone contacting a user for the first time through their username to enter an additional unique key.

WhatsApp said the extra verification layer is designed to provide greater control over who can initiate conversations.

The company noted that with more than three billion users worldwide, it decided to open username reservations ahead of the full rollout to give users an opportunity to secure their preferred usernames before the feature becomes widely available.

To assist users who may have difficulty selecting unique usernames, WhatsApp said it has developed a username generator capable of suggesting available options.

The company also disclosed that creators, small businesses and organisations would have the option of claiming the same usernames they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a consistent online identity across Meta platforms.

According to WhatsApp, once the feature becomes fully available, users who choose to enable usernames will no longer have their phone numbers displayed when they initiate conversations with people or businesses for the first time.

The company said reserving a username will take only a few seconds through the latest version of the application by navigating to Settings, then Account, and Username.

WhatsApp said the feature would be rolled out gradually across countries over the coming months, with users receiving notifications when it becomes available in their respective regions.