Telecom
NDEPS: Pantami Directs Proper Monitoring Policies, As ICT Sector Records 1.37B USD
The Unprecedented achievement recorded in the Implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) launched barely two years ago has placed Nigeria’s Economy amongst the fastest growing in the world.
This was announced by Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, at the closing ceremony of the 9th Regular Meeting of the National Council On Communications And Digital Economy (NCCDE) held in Abuja.
Prof Pantami described this year’s theme, ‘Utilizing Digital Technology To Accelerate Economic Recovery In A COVID 19 Era And Beyond’, as apt as it consolidates the present administration’s effort in driving the Nation’s Economy Digitally.
Quoting from the NBS report, Pantami said in the last Q2 of 2020, ICT was the fastest growing sector, adding that the growth rate of ICT sector in 2020 was more than four times the performance of the second most performing sector of the nation’s economy.
“The 14.7 percent growth rate of the ICT sector was greater than the combined 14.21 percent growth of the 2nd to 7th fastest growing sectors in Nigeria in 2020. The Telecommunications sector also recorded a growth rate of 15.90 percent, and this was it’s highest growth rate in the last 10 years.
“National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the Q1 2021 report and the ICT sector retained its position as the fastest growing sector of the economy, thereby contributing 14.91 percent, also in the Q2 of 2021 ICT contributed an Unprecedented 17.90 percent to the nation’s GDP”, he said.
Professor Pantami noted that in view of the remarkable achievements, President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2021 commended the ICT sector by admitting that ICT sector played a very vital role in ensuring that the country exited recession.
Another milestone recorded by the sector according to Pantami in 2021, was how Startups in Nigeria raised 1.37 billion US Dollars, followed by South Africa and Egypt with 800 billion and 500 billion respectively, which he said is a clear indication that the Digital Economy sector is doing well in the country.
The Minister therefore task Council members to ensure effective implementation of the policies in their respective states as contained in the policy document, with a view to further growing the nation’s Digital Economy sector.
Oyo state emerged the overall winner in the implementation of the development pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
Heads of various Parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy such as Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa; Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Professor Muhammad Bello; Managing Director, NigComSat, Ms Abimbola Alale, and representative of the Executive Vice President, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), presented winners with medals for their outstanding performance.
Commissioners of Science and Technology from the 36 states of the federation and those from the FCT graced the occasion.
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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