General News
Local Operators Need Protection-Banjo
Engr. Bayo Banjo, managing director and chief executive officer of Disc Communications Limited is one of Nigeria’s pioneer cable and satellite television stations in Nigeria.
He is passionate about the communications industry which also helped nurture from the cradle. Banjo spoke to hilary okeke on a wide range of issues.
Regulatory Environment, QoS and Competition
We cannot deny that the quality of service in the country is very low. If what we are experiencing in Lagos is considered bad, I can assure you that what is experienced outside Lagos is worse. I do not think the NCC understands their role as regards corrections and Quality of Service. If the regulator imposes adequate sanctions on service providers, you will see; Quality of Service will improve. Which is the way out? I think number portability is it. The kind of penalties attached to ensure that this is enforced must be draconian. The idea of number portability implies that one can move from one network to another with the same phone number. Most people do not like to change their phone numbers; they like people to know them with a particular number. Now, not only will that make the GSM companies gear up, it will also open the door for what we call localized GSM companies. For instance, if I felt Sokoto state was not covered properly, I can apply for license to do GSM operations there alone and provide excellent service to such a degree that people coming into the state can switch over to my network without changing their numbers. That is real competition. It means people can concentrate on a particular area and focus their efforts there. Why would it not work? It is because the big networks will sabotage other smaller ones. Quality of Service is bad, we all know that. I mean, we even have cases where operators tell you that they cannot give you details of your calls because you are a prepaid subscriber. Can you imagine that? Look at how criminal it is. You are taking my money and you cannot tell me how I spent it because I paid in advance? The person paying in advance should be the most valued customer because you are getting his money in advance. All these atrocities are going on and the regulators seem not to be doing anything. There are certain things you see wrong that should be addressed without anybody complaining. The profits that some of these cellular companies declare are so large that they can remedy all these issues. The only issues that are at par with quality of Service issue are probably sabotage and theft and those are reaching epidemic proportions. A lot of wire companies are closing down because of this menace; they cannot stem the tides of cable vandalism. And most of the time, this crime is perpetrated by this poor people who steal this copper cables and sell as scrap. The cities have better security records than the rural areas and to get better security, one needs to install his equipment within someone else’s premises.
Dominance of Satellite TV
It is not healthy in the sense that with such an organization that is actually controlled by another country and of course, they have the support that the local companies here do not have because in that country, the government recognizes the importance of the media; they recognize that the media can be used to topple government, control the views and feelings of the public. The local operators need more protection. The NBC has tried in this regards, I think they also need help at the legislative level. Let us look at the supposedly freest country in the world in terms of business, which is America. You cannot be in broadcasting business if you are not an American citizen. During the indigenization exercise way back in the 70s, people would establish a company in their houseboy’s name without his knowledge and still run the company as it is. If a foreigner wants to cause damage, he can do that and go back to his own country but if a Nigerian causes damage, he stays here, his family is here. Even the land that claims it is the land of the free has limits to that freedom. On the other hand, Multichoice has shown professionalism; you can see how they operate and many have even tried to copy their model, some with great success. The only thing I have an issue with, luckily Multichoice is trying to correct that, is the focus on foreign materials. As we can see, that company has made great strides to enhance its local content. From what I understand, even though they are our competitor, they are now engaging in covering our local league. I think they were airing the Glo league and they have brought equipment to cover more leagues. To me, it is a very good development.
Merger of NCC and NBC
I am confused at the concept of that merger, particularly in an African country where control of the media and broadcast is more important; it is second only to defense. The most important thing in most countries is defense; I mean, if you do not have defense, your country is nowhere. The next weapon in any country is the media, broadcast, I have always argued. The Soviet Union was toppled using the media propaganda. It was toppled without firing a shot. Now here, you want them to merge based on the fact that both platforms would be able to carry telecommunications and broadcasting? I think you must separate the people who monitor content because the focus of the NCC is on the money that they make; the 2.5% charges, etc. But in broadcasting, you have to focus on the content of programmes, how does it influence our youth. When you look at the council that set up the concept of the merger, I think the NBC had only one or two representatives. We got those priorities wrong. It is like somebody telling you that how you bring up a child is not important and you are busy chasing money up and down. So, that is one thing I do expect from Government, to realize that the NBC is in fact, a very important organization; far more important than the NCC in function and duty – you cannot even compare their functions; they do not even come close. The one is dealing with our sociology, our livelihood our culture and the other is just dealing with collecting money. I am confused with the merger – are we trying to copy some other countries? The only countries that merge the two are cultureless countries. Countries that are growing in leaps and bounds, such as China and the U.A.E are very careful about what they introduce into their societies. Even the average U.S citizen – is he aware of what is going on? Luckily, we Nigerians are used to looking at things our own way and it is difficult to fool us. Broadcasting is all about propaganda, it affects the mind, the way you think, your attitude; it should not be taken lightly. The most powerful Union in the world was toppled using the media. Communication does not come anywhere near broadcasting. I hope there will be a good response to the merger. If it is about the issue of frequency, we have a frequency management board, which is independent of both bodies. Why do you need to merge them? I would have thought that in a third world country, you should be able to monitor your broadcast with better sense of purpose. That should be the focus. But in a merger, people will move to where there is money, the telecoms.
Fringe Players in the Converging Arena
In broadcasting, yes they stand a chance. You see, the NBC as it is presently constituted, has always encouraged small operators. Two groups can merge, if the composition at the top and the ideology given to them is right, then you would have a good organization. Wherever you find government bodies, they are usually separated so that they can pressurize and focus on what they are set up to do. The tendency that the merged bodies would be able monitor and give the relevance and importance that is deserving of broadcasting is very low. That is the way I look at it because it is natural to focus on the one that brings in more money. Secondly, in broadcasting, there is the responsibility to do screening; you are applying philosophy, sociology and whatever to what is there; in communications, you just have your rules and regulations; you just follow them strictly, as much as you can. For example, you may have a 24-hour Christian programme broadcast in Imo state. There might be no objection, but that same programme broadcasting in Zamfara state would be seen as an attempt to undermine the people there. However, the telecoms are above board, it does not involve these feelings; it has to do with a specific service. It has nothing to do with the sentiments and beliefs of the people. In the South, you can make jokes but in the North, it may not be possible. So, what kinds of people make these judgments? It is really professionals who have been in that field, properly trained broadcast professionals. In telecoms, any good engineer who has managerial skills can take over the reins. But in broadcasting, you need to have flair or feel for it.
Local Content, Educative and Entertaining
Well as for entertaining, that has to do with your revenue. You have to do a programme that is entertaining or else nobody will buy your product. In the case of local content, the government has done very well. In the past 50 years, the NBC has increased its local content requirements and you can see the results immediately. In the telecoms, the Nitel monopoly was broken. In the past, we use to have about 400, 000 lines in the whole country but today, it is well over 30 million. In broadcasting, everybody was doing foreign programmes and they insisted on local content, look at what is happening with our Nollywood – there is an explosion now, broadcasters are now bringing out Nollywood channels. Government is meant to act like a father and not leave people to their own devices; they should realize what they are there to do and enhance it.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for stronger collaboration among government regulators to accelerate the establishment of Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, describing inter-agency cooperation as the cornerstone for building an innovation-friendly regulatory ecosystem.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Mrs. Victoria Fabunmi, delivering his remarks at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop held in Abuja.
Speaking through the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms. Victoria Fabunmi, at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop in Abuja, Inuwa said the success of the initiative depends on regulators working collectively to develop a framework that promotes technological innovation while preserving regulatory integrity and public trust.
He noted that the workshop marks a significant transition from the design phase of the project to its implementation stage, where regulators are expected to jointly refine and validate the proposed governance structure before its rollout.
According to him, ONDI has spent several months laying the foundation for the initiative through extensive stakeholder consultations, ecosystem mapping, regulatory assessments and the preparation of a draft governance and implementation framework.
“The work completed so far provides a solid foundation, but the National Regulatory Sandbox can only achieve its objectives through collective ownership by all relevant regulatory institutions,” he said.
The NITDA Director General explained that the Technical Working Group was deliberately established as a collaborative platform to harness the expertise, experience and statutory mandates of participating agencies in shaping a regulatory model tailored to Nigeria’s innovation landscape.
He said the workshop was designed to critically review the proposed governance framework, test its assumptions and incorporate practical recommendations from stakeholders to ensure that the final model is inclusive, effective and adaptable to the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Inuwa observed that while government institutions have different regulatory responsibilities, those differences should be viewed as strengths that can support the development of a coordinated and flexible implementation framework capable of responding to emerging technologies.
He further stated that the engagement would also establish clear implementation pathways, strengthen institutional partnerships and identify priority actions required to operationalise the National Regulatory Sandbox.
Expressing optimism about the outcome of the deliberations, the NITDA boss said the workshop would help build a shared national vision for the initiative while creating an enabling environment where innovators can safely develop, test and scale new technologies under appropriate regulatory supervision.
He commended participants for their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and encouraged them to make meaningful contributions that would shape a practical, innovation-driven regulatory framework capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
Speaking on the National Regulatory Sandbox journey and current worksream, Ms Ojonoka Yusufu, Implementing Partner Druve, said the initiative would provide a coordinated framework through which innovators and regulators can work together to test emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulations.
She explained that the workshop was convened to build a shared understanding among participating regulators and stakeholders, develop consensus on the Sandbox’s operating model, identify implementation gaps before rollout and agree on the next steps for its successful implementation.
“We do not have anything set in stone yet. The idea is to work together to build a common understanding and ensure that all participating regulators and stakeholders are aligned on the objectives and implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Yusufu noted that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector remains one of the country’s highest contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the nation’s startup ecosystem continues to attract significant global investment.
She observed that Nigerian startups are creating jobs, attracting foreign investment and positioning the country as a leading innovation destination in Africa. According to her, the rapid expansion of startups beyond traditional sectors such as financial technology into healthcare, mobility, agriculture and other industries has made closer regulatory coordination increasingly necessary.
Yusufu added that the National Regulatory Sandbox is backed by the Nigeria Startup Act, providing the legal foundation required to drive responsible innovation and improve the country’s regulatory environment.
She described the Sandbox as a collaborative, multi-agency innovation governance mechanism that complements, rather than replaces, existing regulatory institutions.
Techeconomy, a leading technology and digital economy publication, will celebrate its ninth anniversary with a one-day conference and awards ceremony aimed at promoting conversations on Nigeria’s digital economy and recognising excellence in innovation and technology leadership.
Techeconomy
The anniversary event, scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature GrowthX by Techeconomy, a conference expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors and innovators to examine the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The event will also host the Technology Innovation and Leadership Awards (TiLAwards), which will honour organisations and individuals for outstanding contributions to innovation, leadership and digital transformation across various sectors.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Peter Oluka, Editor of Techeconomy and organiser of the event, said, the anniversary celebration is intended to reflect on Nigeria’s technology journey over the past nine years while fostering dialogue on emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the country’s digital future.
Oluka said the event would provide a platform for stakeholders from the public and private sectors to exchange ideas on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital policy and economic growth.
He added that the conference would feature keynote presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions involving industry experts, government officials, business executives and technology entrepreneurs.
According to him, the TiLAwards will recognise outstanding organisations and individuals whose innovations and leadership have significantly contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s technology and business ecosystem.
As part of activities marking the anniversary, Techeconomy has invited media organisations to partner with the event through news coverage, publicity and participation.
The publication also expressed appreciation to members of the media and industry stakeholders for their support over the past nine years, describing their collaboration as instrumental to its growth and continued coverage of Nigeria’s technology, business and digital economy.
The organisers said details of the conference programme, speakers and partnership opportunities would be unveiled ahead of the event.
International Trade Union Confederation, (ITUC-Africa), representing trade unions from countries in Africa, has called on Nigeria and other African governments to ensure that industrialisation translates into improved living standards for workers and ordinary citizens.
According to ITUC-Africa, economic growth must lift Nigerians and other Africans out of poverty rather than deepen inequality, frowning at Nigeria’s government plans to remove subsidy on electricity.
Delivering his opening remarks at the New Energy for Africa 11 Convening: African Workers’ Contributions to Energy Sovereignty, Green Industrialization, and a Common African for COP31, Akhator Joel Odigie, general secretary of ITUC-Africa, said, industrialisation remains central to Nigeria and Africa’s liberation and development agenda but warned that it would be meaningless if it failed to improve the welfare of the continent’s people.
He faulted the plans by the Nigerian government to remove so-called subsidy on electricity in 2027, arguing that it is aimed at satisfying the Bretton Woods institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank.
According to him, such removal would worsen the poverty rate in Nigeria and regress any marginal progress towards industrialisation. Subsidy removal will make electricity inaccessible to workers and the majority of the citizens.
He said, “As we speak now, Nigeria is talking of subsidy removal on electricity. The plan is not to satisfy or help Nigerians, but IMF, World Bank and other donor countries. The talk that subsidy is bad economics is a lie. All developed economies depended on public sector-driven electricity and not private sector.
“For us as Africans, industrialisation is central to our liberation and development. It is part of our aspiration to define our own identity and achieve shared prosperity through an industrialised Africa. Unfortunately, that vision has yet to be realised.
“We have also come to understand that lamenting our circumstances is not enough. Identifying the barriers to Africa’s development or pointing fingers at those who may be responsible does not move us forward. The more important question is: What next? What solutions can we pursue together?
“It is from that perspective that we confront the reality that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while privatisation continues to deny many people affordable access to energy. This compels us to ask: What can we do differently?”
According to him, organised labour believes industrialisation can be achieved without worsening the climate crisis if governments, workers and development partners commit to energy justice.
Odigie noted that “When we speak about sustainable industrialisation, we are asking how Africa can industrialise without increasing environmental degradation or worsening the climate challenges our people already experience every day.
“We know this is possible. But it will require negotiation, compromise and genuine partnerships. It demands serious discussions on technology transfer, skills development and financing.”
He stressed that developing technical skills and mobilising investment for energy infrastructure are essential if Africa is to industrialise sustainably, saying “These are not impossible skills to acquire. With the right investment and commitment, Africa can build them. Equally important is access to finance and the resources needed to develop the infrastructure that will support sustainable industrialisation.
“An industrialised Africa has little meaning if it does not improve the lives of our people. Our vision is an Africa where prosperity is shared.
“We must reverse the growing phenomenon of the working poor. We must end the situation where women, children and older persons bear the greatest burden whenever governments attempt to balance national budgets.
“What does prosperity mean if ordinary people cannot enjoy a decent quality of life? A worker who returns home after a long day’s work should be able to switch on a fan during hot weather, watch television, listen to the news and spend meaningful time with family because electricity is available, reliable and affordable.
“If our people cannot enjoy these basic necessities, then what kind of prosperity are we really talking about?
“Energy justice means energy that is accessible, affordable and capable of improving people’s lives.”
Odigie also renewed ITUC-Africa’s campaign for stronger public participation in Africa’s energy sector, citing Finland as an example of how governments can ensure affordable electricity while working with private investors.
“Recently, we visited Finland, where we observed a successful model that combines public and private participation, with strong public leadership. Energy there is affordable. In fact, electricity costs less in Finland than it does here in Nairobi.
“Our hosts explained that this is possible because the state retains an important role in the energy sector, including the ability to influence pricing to ensure affordability for everyone.”
Ahead of the COP31 climate negotiations, he called for closer collaboration between organised labour and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), saying trade unions are partners in governance rather than adversaries.
“Trade unions are not antagonistic to governments, even though we are sometimes misunderstood.
“Our responsibility is to strengthen accountability and help governments perform better because, from time to time, leaders can become too comfortable.”
Using a metaphor that drew applause from participants, Odigie likened the role of trade unions to keeping leaders “close to the fire.”
“Our responsibility is to keep the feet of our leaders close to the fire so that their heads do not become too cold. We want them to continue thinking clearly, making sound decisions and remaining connected to the realities faced by ordinary people.
“That is why we are not in opposition. We are not enemies.”
He said organised labour’s partnership with the AGN is intended to ensure African governments enter international climate negotiations with the full backing of workers across the continent.
Speaking, Dr Nana Amoah, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, AGN, said Africa’s energy transition presents both an urgent challenge and a historic opportunity, lamenting that “More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, even though our continent possesses exceptional solar, wind, hydro and geothermal resources. Yet Africa continues to receive only a very small share of global clean-energy investment.”
Represented by Dr George Manful, AGN Senior Advisor, Amoah, said: “This imbalance must be corrected if the transition is to support Africa’s development rather than reproduce existing patterns of dependence, extraction and inequality.
“For the African Group of Negotiators, a just transition cannot be measured solely by installed megawatts, emissions reductions or new electricity connections. It must also be measured by the quality of jobs created, affordability of energy, protection of workers, participation of women and young people, development of local industries, and the capacity of African countries to retain value from their natural resources.
“Initiatives such as Mission 300 must therefore go beyond expanding access. They must strengthen public institutions, mobilise affordable and debt-sensitive finance, support local manufacturing and skills development, and guarantee that no worker, community or vulnerable group is left behind.
“Africa’s critical minerals must similarly become a foundation for green industrialisation—not another chapter of raw-material extraction. Our policies must promote local processing, technology transfer, decent work, environmental integrity and equitable participation in global value chains.”
Glovo Pioneers AI Quick-Commerce
Fleeing Southeast Asia Scam Syndicates Find New Homes in Nigeria, Kenya- Report
DSS Arraigns Eze for Allegedly Hacking, Stealing N800m from SunTrust Bank
SEC Unveils Probate/Unclaimed Monies Clinic to Help Families Recover Inherited Investments
We have Multiple Layers of Protection for 281m Accounts in Nigeria – NDIC
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
How EFCC Turned Recovered Loot Into School Supplies for Thousands of Nigerian Students
BVN Enrollments Hit 69.55m- NIBSS
E-Business3 days agoKaspersky Reveals a New Malicious Framework Targeting Cryptocurrency Users with the Use of OkoSpyware
E-Business3 days agoCMS T&M Launches TMO Rides to Enable a Faster & Cashless Transport Experience for CMS – Ajah Passengers
E-Business3 days agoNigeria Tightens Data Privacy Compliance as FG Issues Directive to MDAs
E-Business3 days agoFirm to recruit over 100 professionals to boost NRS e-Invoicing compliance
Telecom3 days agoFG Commences 90,000km Fibre Optic Rollout within Weeks
E-Financial2 days agoAccess Holdings Deepens Sustainable Finance Impact, Expanding Green Assets to ₦92.14 Billion
Telecom3 days agoDimension Data to Channel Funds to Support Nigerian Fibre Expansion
E-Financial3 days agoZenith Bank Confirms Cyberattack, Says Hackers Accessed Limited Customer Data