General News

Nigeria is Not an Internet Ready Country – Adeleke

Published

16 years ago

December 14, 2009

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Sam Adeleke is an electrical and communications engineering consultant and currently president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (Ispan).

He spoke to chike onwuegbuchi.

Ispan
Ispan is the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria. It was established as an agitation of NCC licensed ISPs. You have to be an NCC licensed ISP before you can come in and we have quite a lot of ISPs that were licensed by the NCC and it was a common forum to formulate policies to help the industry grow and to assist one another in having a voice in dealing with regulators, government, customers and to have an avenue where the industry can be self regulated.
By and large, it was an opportunity for us to put our resources together, share ideas and benefit one another as well as benefit our customers.

Addressing the Challenge of ISP Dedicated Services
First of all let me say we have had a number of cases which we have handled in the past but let me analyse clearly that it is easy to say the problem is that of ISPs, but in most cases that we have found out, the problem is that of Nigerians themselves.
I tell you what; we are always in a hurry. Ordinarily, there should be a signed contract. When you sign up with an ISP, it is usually a one year contract so people do not understand the terms of the one year contract. The details of what they want or what they also do, they are ignorant of. What they do is to look at the bottom line which is the cheapest. For instance, most people would say I want to have a service that will serve 10 systems. If you have 10 systems in a corporate office, the bandwidth requirement may not be as much as that of five systems in a cybercafé. When people advertised and said five to 10 systems which I expect should be okay. When an individual opens 10 sites at once and chats at the same time, that individual’s capacity is that of 10 systems. The resultant effect is that the users themselves overload what they actually asked for. In advertisements, they do not specify whether it is dedicated or shared service. In shared bandwidth, there is what is called the contention ratio. Contention ratio is for instance, on the K-U band I am, I have a contention ratio of one to eight and on the C band, it is one to four. Even when I say 64 by 256 on the C band and 64 by 256 KU, you will not get the same thing because the contention ratio is different. People do not bother to find out what their contention ratio is when they are sharing. The second type of bandwidth is the Burstible. Burstible means for your up-link, you have a dedicated bandwidth but for your down-link, you have a contention ratio of one to two. That means if you are on 64 by 256, your up-link is 64 dedicated all the time but your down-link is 128 guaranteed but you can burst up to 256. Whereas if it is dedicated, it means you have allocated to you all the time 64 by 256. You will agree with me that the price of one to eight, one to four, one to two and one to one cannot be the same. What most people now look at is for example, I want 64 by 256, this man offers it at $100, yours is $500, it is too expensive so people don’t buy from you. But the man who is offering it at $100 buys from the same place as the man who offers it at $500 so they cannot offer the same service. In this area, there is need for understanding and dedication.
The second aspect where many people fall into is that of the volume of traffic that you pay for. Many people thought with their understanding of GSM and CDMA for instance, you pay N500 for Zain and they give you one Gigabyte, you pay N1,000 and you get three Gigabyte, the same with MTN. These are some of the things many people do not realize. If I am using this in a home, I may not utilize my one Gigabyte in a month whereas if it was a cybercafé, an individual can download loads of pictures, music and within 10 days utilize all the Gigabyte. What it means is that once it is finished, they cut you off, then they start discussing ISPs. The bottom line for many that were reported to us which we looked into, we found that it is lack of knowledge rather than cheating. Of course, we know that in advertising marketers know how to present the good side and not tell the down side. It is for buyers to beware. They are playing on people’s intelligence and people run to whichever one is the cheapest.

ISPs and Internet Exchange Point
Let me trace a little bit of history, we have been having association between us both in Lagos and Ibadan but the NCC said they wanted a good national internet exchange and they asked for proposals. Ispan presented a proposal just as many others presented. The model presented by Ispan was bought by NCC, a design was made, a consultant was engaged and fund was released for the implementation. All over the world, the internet exchange concept is the association of various communication or Internet providers so that they can exchange principally local contents and that is the only way the Internet can be cheap for local users. When it as done, the likes of the big wigs like MTN and the rest snobbed it, they were not part of it. When it was established, a board was set up and the likes of the big wigs were brought in. But since then ask me what happened, we were one step forward and we moved 10 steps backwards. For a whole year, in order to encourage everybody to come in, it was decided that nobody pays to join. Of course there were charges that were made there. Internet exchange is supposed to be a member exchange, in order words, it is not a profit making organization. Members are to determine charges and also decide the day to day running of the affairs of the exchange but it is now run like a profit oriented enterprise. The situation we have on ground is that there is lack of focus, we have lost the vision we had originally, rather than been a member organization, it has now become a regulatory organization. If it was member driven, nobody would be forced to join. There is a Corporate Affairs Commission paper on how the board should be chosen, how members are to join but these steps are not followed. It is not an organization that should seek subventions from the government like a ministry or parastatal. It is not a profit making organization, rather is it an arm of government. It is supposed to be an independent organization for participants in the exchange. Unless this is addressed, then we are going top have the Nigerian version of the Internet exchange which is different from what operates in the world.
Local Content
In the first instance, I want to say there are so many local contents already. An example is the case of the GSM and there are so many people who are doing various local contents and are making a lot of money from it and there are still a lot more that can be done. It is the atmosphere that determines the growth and otherwise of such contents. For instance, we were thinking of places like the Galleria. With the content they already have and they are linked to the Internet exchange which can be anywhere in Nigeria and their access is not necessarily going through the Internet but through the local Internet exchange, it would be a lot cheaper. You will not be heavily charged and Internet radio stations will spring up. We have the Nollywood movies which we can ride on, news can be gotten from the Internet bit the situation is if I have to download a film from the Galleria and I am going through the Internet, the cost of my bandwidth will increase because it is going to be so sluggish that I will not be able to bear the cost. But if it was through the local internet exchange, if it was working, the cost would be cheaper. Until that is working, the cost of using local content will be the same as getting it from abroad. Nigeria is a country where we have people with talents and innovative ideas, let someone come up with it and then you see others rushing to do it. It is not difficult to have increasing in local contents but the cost of delivery is the problem.

CDMA and GSM Internet Services at Cheaper Rates
I disagree that CDMA and GSM operators offer Internet services at cheaper rates. The technology of the CDMA and the GSM is to provide Internet as a secondary service not as a primary service, as a quick service not as a bulk service. For example, when Internet services were offered by radio for a 32 by 256 shared bandwidth, I was offering it for N20,000 a month with a cybercafé running 10 to 15 systems on it. You can imagine 10 to 15 people simultaneously working round the clock as it were because they do it day and night for a whole month. Then people had faster service relatively compared with a situation now where I pay N10,000 and I have a slow service that I cannot download on, which is just good enough for e-mails. The problem we are having is in two folds, we are not an Internet-ready country and we are not yet hungry for it. We are Internet users but not an Internet hungry society. If you take statistics of youths who use the Internet, you will find out that they use it only for e-mails, chatting and “yahoo yahoo”. If you take the statistics of the working class, they use it primarily for their businesses only. In the academics, you will be surprised that they do not use it even for research. We have over the years been preaching Internet penetration; I want to say that our attitude to the internet is akin to our attitude to reading. We need a change of orientation that has to start with the academic institutions be it primary, secondary or tertiary. We need to change our use of the Internet from just e-mails and chatting to proper research application in our day to day life. The CDMA or GSM as the case may be is used for just mobility.
The second problem is that of the big fish swallowing small fishes. The ISP business started as a small scale business and close to 500 ISPs were registered at a stage. The statistics which was done about one and a half years ago revealed that we have just about 100 surviving ISPs. Today, I doubt if we can boast of 20 to 30 ISPs because the big has swallowed up the small. This is an area where we have been talking to ourselves in the past. You will not like to sign up with an ISP where all access you have is at a location whereas if you sign up with a CDMA operator that has access in 100 cities across the country, you can move about with your laptop. This is what we could not offer as small companies but we came together that we might be able to offer this under the NCC’s sponsored Sabi programme which we also would have completed with MTN on one hand and the IXPN on the other hand because they were granted the same rights. That would have made us big players but the communication business in Nigeria is not a small man’s business.
Mergers
The issue of merger has been discussed over and over; it is something that is almost impossible. It would have been possible if there was a voice from the NCC just like there was from the CBN to the banks. But the NCC decided not to do it that way, they want to encourage Internet penetration even to where it may be unprofitable for the big players and that is only by allowing smaller organizations to play. That was why the NCC encouraged the establishment of cybercafés anywhere in Nigeria at a time without requiring them to be registered. The idea was to focus on Internet penetration. In Nigeria, businesses are not easy to merge especially when it is one man businesses. If there has been a voice to say this is the standard I expect of ISPs you either reach it or leave it and there is a set time for its implementation, then for us to remain in business, there would have been at least been legally binding marriages but this is what the NCC was not able to do.

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EFCC to Use Space Technology to Boost Asset Tracking, Investigations

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has partnered with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to deploy advanced space and geospatial technologies in investigations and asset management.

EFCC to Use Space Technology to Boost Asset Tracking, Investigations

Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman of the EFCC,

The move is expected to deepen transparency, strengthen asset recovery and curb economic sabotage according to a statement by Dele Oyewale, head, Media and Publicity, EFCC.

He said that the partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday in Abuja

The agreement is aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration, particularly in the areas of investigations, asset tracking and fraud risk assessment, marking a new phase of cooperation between the anti-graft agency and Nigeria’s space research and regulatory authority.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman of the EFCC, described the agreement as a practical demonstration of the power of collaboration among government agencies.

He noted that closer cooperation would make it easier for institutions to effectively deliver on their statutory mandates.

According to Olukoyede, the MoU clearly defines the responsibilities of both agencies and establishes a framework for sustained cooperation.

He disclosed that a special monitoring and implementation team would be constituted to ensure the effective operationalisation of the agreement and to periodically review its impact.

“We will put a team together that will monitor the operationalisation of this MoU and also review the effectiveness of the platform from time to time.

“When agencies work together in the spirit of collaboration, it not only enhances efficiency but also encourages other ministries, departments and agencies to explore similar partnerships in the overall interest of national development”, he said.

Explaining the specifics of the partnership, the EFCC chairman said NASRDA would provide advanced technological tools to boost the Commission’s investigative capacity and asset tracking, while the EFCC would deploy its expertise to support the agency in fraud risk assessment.

“We will support you in the area of fraud risk assessment, and you will support us in promoting our investigative capacity.

“Where our eyes cannot get to, with the aid of your technology, we will be able to get there”, Olukoyede said.

He noted that the collaboration would be particularly beneficial to investigations into illegal mining activities, which have been linked to economic sabotage and rising insecurity in parts of the country.

“With the technology you are going to support us with, we will be able to identify some of these areas,” he added.

Olukoyede further expressed optimism that the partnership would significantly enhance the EFCC’s asset management processes, stressing that asset recovery remains one of the core pillars of the Commission’s mandate.

He explained that recovered assets are scattered across the country and exist under different legal statuses, including interim and final forfeiture.

“In some of these places, we may not have enough personnel to physically secure the assets. But with your support, we will be able to deploy geospatial technology and asset tagging devices to monitor both movable and immovable assets in a transparent and accountable manner”, he said

In his remarks, Matthew Adepoju, director-general and chief executive officer of NASRDA, welcomed the partnership, describing the MoU as a major milestone in the pursuit of justice and regulatory compliance within Nigeria’s space ecosystem.

Adepoju stressed that space-related activities are strictly regulated in developed economies and should be treated with similar seriousness in Nigeria, particularly in view of the potential misuse of satellite assets.

“You cannot go anywhere in Europe, continental America or the Far East and be doing business in the space ecosystem without the country ensuring that you are doing the right thing.

“We know for a fact that some satellite assets are being used negatively in driving insecurity in the country”, he said.

He also raised concerns over the use of satellite-mapped data on Nigeria’s natural resources to aid illegal activities, especially illegal mining, which he identified as one of the drivers of insecurity.

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DalaHill, BoA Partner on $100,000 ACF Climate Finance Initiative

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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DalaHill Law Practice and the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) have signed a Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF), marking a milestone in the launch of a climate finance initiative funded by the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and valued at US$100,000.

According to a statement by the firm, the signing took place during a kickoff ceremony at the BoA headquarters in Abuja and formalised the roles, responsibilities and shared commitments of both institutions in delivering the project. The framework was signed by Ayo Sotinrin, BoA Managing Director, and Mohammed Hamza, Managing Associate at DalaHill.

The ACF-funded initiative is designed to support BoA’s institutional transition towards climate-aligned agricultural finance. Central to the programme is the establishment of a Clean Energy Delivery and Innovation Unit (CEDIU), a dedicated function that will integrate climate risk considerations, environmental data and sustainability principles into the bank’s strategy, operations and investment decision-making.

Under the initiative, BoA will also be supported to develop Clean Energy Access Systems and Climate Finance Development Frameworks, alongside a pipeline of bankable, climate-aligned agricultural projects.

These projects are expected to attract domestic and international capital into the sector, contributing to efforts to bridge Nigeria’s estimated $247.3 billion financing gap for its green energy transition.

Speaking on behalf of DalaHill, Mohammed Hamza described the initiative as a pivotal intervention in Nigeria’s agricultural and climate finance landscape. He said the firm is acting as a trusted adviser, working with institutions to deliver catalytic and transformative solutions.

According to him, DalaHill is deploying a multidisciplinary technical team to support BoA’s transition into a climate-aligned institution capable of attracting finance for scalable, investment-ready agricultural projects.

He highlighted the strategic importance of the project, noting that while ACF has traditionally focused on renewable energy, climate alignment within the agricultural sector is critical to driving Nigeria’s broader energy transition. He added that the initiative represents ACF’s first climate finance grant promoting agriculture in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Sotinrin expressed appreciation to the project partners and acknowledged longstanding gaps within Nigeria’s agricultural finance ecosystem. He reaffirmed BoA’s commitment to driving systemic change by attracting climate-aligned expertise, strategic funding and increased national and international attention to the sector.

Sotinrin also noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s climate and sustainability agenda, referencing Nigeria’s participation at an ongoing global climate sustainability conference in Abu Dhabi.

He further highlighted strong government backing for BoA’s transformation, including presidential approval in October 2024 of a US$1 billion recapitalisation plan aimed at strengthening the bank’s capacity to support national development.

DalaHill Law Practice is a full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Abuja, with a strong track record in advising on economically catalytic projects across sectors including energy, infrastructure, finance, trade and emerging markets.

The firm is known for structuring complex transactions, managing regulatory risk and supporting projects that promote sustainable growth and long-term economic impact in Nigeria and beyond.

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How to Stay Safe Online During Sales Periods

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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Kaspersky’s new global research reveals that 65% of online shoppers believe they can detect fraud on their own, while only 42% actually use security software to protect their payments and block malicious links.

Experts consider this a major risk for online buyers. Over the past year Kaspersky identified nearly 6.7 million phishing attacks globally impersonating online stores, payment systems, and banks, with 55.6% targeting online shoppers.

As the post-holiday and summer sales season kicks off, Kaspersky conducted a survey to examine consumer cybersecurity practices employed during online shopping. The findings show that 97% of respondents demonstrate a substantial level of awareness of online security risks and implement at least some measures to safeguard their digital transactions.

However, the survey found that fewer than half the participants use dedicated security software to block phishing attempts and protect payment transactions. This concerning trend is particularly pronounced among the 55+ year old generation, with only 32% of respondents in this age group actually using security software when making online purchases.

The most commonly adopted security protocols include being vigilant about potential warning signs, such as suspicious hyperlinks or unusual website design (65%) and verifying seller authenticity (62%).

Kaspersky experts emphasise that while these practices are essential protective measures for online shopping, they constitute only foundational protection strategies rather than the comprehensive fraud prevention provided by a security solution.

Other steps that could protect online shoppers, like using a separate credit card for digital purchases or using a separate email address to register with unfamiliar online shops, were chosen by 33% and 26% of survey participants, respectively.

Meanwhile, 30% claimed to consult with friends and relatives before making a purchase. Interestingly, this option is highly popular among the younger generation, with 37% opting for it, while it is less common among older people (21%).

“Throughout the year, we’ve observed that online shoppers have consistently been one of the most desirable targets for scammers. During sales periods, their scams can become even more pervasive. Staying vigilant is crucial, but protecting yourself requires more than just awareness.

It is particularly concerning how scammers are now using AI to craft more sophisticated, targeted phishing attempts that are increasingly difficult for regular users to recognise,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.

Sales seasons are peak times for scammers. To protect yourself against emerging threats, implement the following security practices:

– Don’t save your full credit card details on websites unless absolutely necessary.

– Consider using a separate debit card specifically for online purchases and set up transaction alerts on your bank and credit card accounts.

– Be extra cautious of “flash sales” that seem too good to be true. Watch out for websites that pressure you into making quick decisions, and be wary of sellers who refuse returns or exchanges.

– Use different passwords for each online account and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.

– Apply a security solution with a strong anti-phishing component. For instance, Kaspersky Premium received the annual ‘Approved’ certification from the leading testing lab AV-Comparatives in 2025 for detecting 93% of phishing URLs, demonstrating outstanding anti-phishing capabilities, powered by AI technology.

– Scammers constantly evolve their methods, so staying informed about new phishing techniques can help you recognise and avoid them. The Kaspersky Security blog will help you keep your finger on the pulse of emerging cyberthreats.

The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research center in November 2025. A total of 3000 respondents from 15 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates) took part in the survey.

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