Telecom
NCC Probing Quick Depletion of Data — Danbatta
Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice-chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said that forensic audit was ongoing on data price deflation in the country.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, EVC/CEO, NCC
Danbatta made this known at an award presentation to him as “Man of the Year” by MoneyReport Magazine on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that reduction in data price was made in 2019.
Danbatta said the commission needed to get to the root why consumers were experiencing data deflation and the possibility of compensating them for wrong deductions, which might arise from SMS.
He said: “We have instituted and we have insisted in spite the fall in data price that forensic audit must go on and must be concluded.
“Also that communications will be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer so that we can see what actions we can take to right any wrongs that will be made known to Nigerians, including the possibility of compensating consumers in the way and manner we have compelled Mobile Network Operators to do another audit to compensate consumers for wrong deductions arising from SMS.
“Airtel is compensating consumers.
“This has been done as I am talking to you.
“Airtel has complied.
“We should await the outcome of the forensic audit.
“The intention is to get to the bottom of why data is being deflated if indeed this is true.”
Danbatta thanked MoneyReport Magazine members for the award recognition presented to him and described it as humbling to the commission.
He dedicated the award to members of staff of the commission, noting that the recognition served as further encouragement to the organisation to do more by doubling efforts in discharging its duties.
“We will continue to entertain objective criticisms,” Danbatta said.
Earlier, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, chairman, Editorial Advisory Board, MoneyReport Magazine, said the medium made an exhaustive examination, probe and investigation of NCC activities before presenting the award to Danbatta.
Okereke-Onyiuke hailed the executive vice chairman and said he had transformed the industry not only in contemporary times but putting Nigeria on the map.
She said: “You set out not only to digitalise the concept but to realise that there is no way a nation will be able to meet challenges if there is no investment in this regard.
“There are three things that define your success story, which are vision, character and capacity.
“The magazine looked at your character, vision, capacity, but more especially the vision that you set in 2015.”
The chairman added that the medium concluded that no other person was qualified to be made man of the year of the magazine.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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