Telecom
NASENI Plans To Seek National Policy To Ban Export Of Strategic Minerals
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) plans to seek a national policy that will stop the export of strategic Solid Minerals overseas thereby domesticating the production of the end-products locally.
L-R: Dr. Bashir Gwandu, Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), receiving from Dr. Abdulrazak Garba, Director-General, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), a geological map containing locations of solid minerals in Nigeria during a working visit to the NASENI Headquarters, Abuja on Monday July 31, 2023.
NASENI is partnering the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to identify, analyze and profile different strategic minerals with a view to domesticate local production of end-products that can result from such minerals.
This was revealed by Dr. Bashir Gwandu, executive vice chairman/chief executive 0fficer of NASENI, when he received Dr. Abdulrazaq A. Garba, Director-General of Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), who was on a working visit to NASENI headquarters on Monday July 31, 2023 in Abuja.
The two agencies agreed to work on areas of possible collaborations on how to domesticate the end-product that can result from the abundant mineral resources in the country in order to create jobs, improve the economy and reduce capital flights by encouraging potential investors to set up processing plants in Nigeria for local production.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, executive vice chairman/chief executive 0fficer of NASENI, said Nigeria has so many strategic raw materials and must focus on processing of its Solid Minerals through a policy that would stop the exportation of certain raw materials and encourage investors, especially international manufacturers to come and establish their plants in Nigeria and produce locally.
Sighting examples of lithium, titanium, low grade cobalt, nickel, tungsten ore, copper, phosphate, and kaolin which are in large quantities across the country, Dr. Gwandu said undocumented or artisanal miners are exporting thousands of tonnes of lithium weekly without knowing the value of other associated minerals such as rubidium and cesium in the lithium.
He further explained that since electric vehicle (EV) battery can be made from it; he has invited some foreign companies from around the world that produce batteries including Chinese investors to discuss ways of ensuring that lithium batteries are manufactured locally in Nigeria.
“We have a lot of phosphate in many states such as Sokoto and Kebbi and lithium is in abundance in Nigeria especially Kebbi, Nasarawa and Kwara states.
“Lithium phosphate is cheaper than other combinations and we also have lithium ion and lithium manganese.
“We want to start from assembly plants in the first instance while we await the actual production facility of the raw materials for the production of lithium batteries. We can develop assembling capacity even before we can have the main factory”, he stated.
According to him, “We have the raw materials and we are going to produce something that would have direct impact on our economy.
“We cannot continue to be exporting raw materials and import finished goods only. We can use our resources in areas of technology to process the materials.
“It will be good if we put a policy that will limit export of raw materials so that companies will come and partner with us and produce locally.”
The NASENI boss pointed out that the Agency wants to partner with agencies that will work together to figure out the compositions of the raw materials in the country and make sure that the end products are locally produced that will add value to the economy, adding that NASENI is ready to work together with NGSA on strategic Solid Minerals and other products that can have direct positive impact on Nigeria’s GDP whilst limiting our forex spending.
In his response, Dr. Abdulrazaq A. Garba, director-general of Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), said NGSA was first established in 1919, adding that he was excited that NASENI established an Institute in Nasarawa state for solid minerals research, promising that he would work with NASENI on creation of more laboratories for scientific researches and mineral analysis.
He mentioned that there is need for Nigerian Agencies to synergized and work together in ensuring that the raw materials scattered all over the country are harnessed and processed as it will not only add value to the nation’s economy but create job opportunities as well as wealth creation.
“If we can have a synergy, we can take it beyond this, and we can begin to domesticate the use of raw materials. We have the composition and details of the location of so many of them.
“What we need is to work together to domesticate industrial minerals processing. So, we are here to seek collaboration on technological development and domestication of the use of our industrial minerals”, he stated.
The two Agencies agreed to work together on the issue of national policy to ban exportation of strategic minerals at the highest levels of government.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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