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NIPOST Bows to Pressure, Slashes Operating Fees

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Ibrahim Mori Baba,PMG, NIPOST
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Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) at weekend shifted grounds with the downward review of the licensing and renewal fees which have torn NIPOST and courier operators apart since 2012, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.

Malam Mori Baba, postmaster general of the Federation in a formal letter NIP/CRD/LIC-REN/Vol.11 and dated March 10, sent to the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) and obtained exclusively by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, informed the operators that the renewal fee for domestic (national) operations  is now N350,000.

NIPOST had increased their license renewal fees from N250,000 for nationwide operations to N750,000 while international operations is put at N3 million from N250,000, starting from January 2013.

Also, a new player is required to pay N3 million for a nationwide license up from N1 million while international operations will attract N10 million from previous N1 million.

In 2012, courier operators protested and urged NIPOST which is both regulator and operator to clear the ambiguity surrounding its existence. –

The protest forced NIPOST to slash the renewal fees to N500, 000 and new licence fee to N2 million for the local operators while the international remained same.

But the operators still asked for further review of the fees, citing harsh operating environment, multiple taxation, among other as inimical to their operations.  

Dr. Simon Emeje, head of Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) in Nipost, while signing the document on behalf of the PMG, notified the operators that the status quo remains as regards obtaining of new licence.  

“This is to inform you that NIPOST Management has reviewed and approved a new renewal tariff, considering your appeal.

“The effective date for the revised tariff is January 1, 2014. The minimum tariff and the coverage definitions earlier sent last year 2013 remains valid,” the document reads.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo, ANCO’s president, described the gesture as a win-win for both the operators and the society at large.

He said that convincing Nipost management to see reasons with the operators was challenging but rewarding. “It was challenging in the sense that nothing in Nigeria that goes up does come down. Secondly, when the tariff was reduced from N750,000 to N500,000, we protected and it seemed nothing will come out of that.

“But the new executives of ANCO do not believe in impossibilities, we pushed forward for further downward review. We made statistical presentation to the PMG on the state of the industry, who I want to appreciate for realizing that the earlier fees would lead to dearth of several domestic operators.

“There is not indigenous company that is free from the harsh operating environment. The big ones are really having the best of the market shares. We made it clear that allowing the local operators to die off spells doom for the society.

“So we accept the act of magnanimity from NIPOST with joy, hoping that other quest by the industry will actually be looked into in no distant time”.

He extolled CRD’s assistance, which was a prelude to the downward review.    

“With this now and as big achievement we are even more resolute in the pursuit of an Independent Commission for the industry,” Oladapo added.

NIPOST had instead that the old tariff regime was aimed at checking capital flight and restoring sanity in the industry.


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NACCIMA, TETFund Forge Alliance to Boost Innovation, Skills, Economic Growth

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The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have agreed to a new strategic partnership aimed at driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.

Led by its National President and Chairman of the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), Engr. Jani Ibrahim, a high-level NACCIMA delegation visited the TETFund headquarters in Abuja today.

The team was received by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, during what both parties described as a milestone engagement.

Discussions during the meeting focused on collaborative initiatives including entrepreneurship development, support for the green economy, commercialization of academic research, industry–academia synergy, and skills development to better equip graduates for the evolving demands of the labour market.

A key outcome of the meeting was the mutual agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establish a NACCIMA–TETFund Joint Technical Committee that will oversee the implementation of agreed initiatives.

Both sides also expressed commitment to developing additional partnership frameworks that will bolster Nigeria’s competitiveness and economic resilience.

Also present at the engagement, Prof. Umar Bindir lauded the collaboration, highlighting the need for structured, long-term partnerships between academia and the private sector to generate practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

Arc. Echono, in his remarks, praised NACCIMA’s leadership in promoting enterprise and innovation, and reaffirmed TETFund’s readiness to work closely with the Organized Private Sector to foster research, innovation, and economic transformation.

This collaboration positions NACCIMA as a key driver of national development, helping to bridge the gap between education, enterprise, and policymaking, while empowering young Nigerians and strengthening the foundation of the country’s knowledge economy.

 


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Winners Emerged in the PalmPay, Glo Campaign

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Michael Emmanuel, Winner of an Infinix Hot 40i in the ongoing PalmPay and Glo Recharge and Win Bonanza 2
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PalmPay, a digital banking platform, in partnership with Nigeria’s telecom giant, Glo, is celebrating winners in the ongoing PalmPay & Glo Recharge. The exciting campaign, which kicked off on June 19, 2025, will run until August 23, 2025, rewarding loyal customers with fantastic prizes and exclusive bonuses.

Since the promo commenced, users have won prizes ranging from Oraimo Earbuds to Infinix Hot 40i.

The ongoing weekly campaign has recorded 20 winners, which include:

  • Michael Emmanuel from Lagos emerged as the winner of an Infinix Hot 40i
  • Perpetual Amos, winner of an Infinix Hot 40i
  • Semiu Adekunle Abegunde, winner of an Infinix Hot 40i
  • Josiah Oluwasegun Adewale, winner of an Oraimo Earbuds

Michael Emmanuel from Lagos recounted his experience as the lucky winner of the Infinix Hot 401 as he couldn’t hide his excitement. He noted, “I am so excited! I didn’t even expect it. I received a call while I was sleeping, informing me that I’d won, and I went live immediately to confirm it was real. I’ve been using PalmPay for about two years now, and winning this is such a great feeling. I’ll keep using PalmPay, and I encourage everyone to recharge their Glo line on the app; you could win too.”

The campaign, which is in its last week, has winners revealed every Friday during a live raffle draw streamed across PalmPay’s social media channels. The campaign gives customers the chance to get amazing prizes, including an iPhone 15 Pro, an Infinix Hot 40, and many other exciting rewards. Users also enjoy up to 6% cashback when purchasing Glo airtime or data via the PalmPay app.

New Glo data subscribers who have not signed up for a plan in the past 90 days will also receive a 100% bonus on their recharge during the promo period.

How to participate:

  1. Download the PalmPay app.
  2. Link your Glo number in the app.
  3. Purchase airtime or data via PalmPay; every transaction increases your chances of winning.
  4. Join the live draw

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Telcos See Biggest Growth Post-COVID – ALTON

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Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has said that the telecommunications sector in Nigeria is once again on a strong growth trajectory.

Telcos See Biggest Growth Post-COVID  – ALTON

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, ALTON

Engr. Adebayo stated this over the weekend on the side-lines of the unveiling of Nigeria’s first Digital Museum, an initiative that preserves and showcases the nation’s history and cultural heritage.

He commended IHS Towers for spearheading the project, describing it as another clear demonstration of the industry’s commitment to the Nigerian project. He noted that by investing in the preservation of Nigeria’s past while building the infrastructure of the future, IHS has set a remarkable example of corporate citizenship.

Speaking on the state of the telecoms sector, Engr. Adebayo said: “After addressing sustainability concerns earlier in the year, we are now witnessing significant new investments in the sector: the highest we have seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of ALTON are optimising networks, building new sites to meet rising capacity demands, upgrading existing infrastructure, and migrating more sites from old radio links to high-speed fibre connections.”

He further noted that Tower Companies (TowerCos) are enhancing security across telecom sites to mitigate against vandalism and theft. “Removable batteries and generators are now fitted with trackers to trace stolen items, and we strongly advise the public to desist from buying equipment suspected to have been stolen from telecom sites,” he cautioned.

Engr. Adebayo also highlighted ongoing capacity development within the sector: “We are training and retraining our workforce to adapt to emerging technologies. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set strict service level requirements, and we are committed to not only meeting but surpassing them. Though network optimisation may occasionally cause service disruptions, we appeal to the public for understanding as these efforts will ultimately deliver a much-improved user experience nationwide.”

On industry governance, the ALTON Chairman expressed delight at the inauguration of the new Board of the NCC, chaired by Mr. Idris Olorunimbe.

“We are very excited about the appointment of Mr. Idris. His reputation as a man of excellence precedes him. Working with the competent and visionary Executive Management Team led by the Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the other Executive Commissioners, we are confident the sector is set on the right path to sustainability and growth. The new Board will strengthen the remarkable progress already achieved.”

Engr. Adebayo further welcomed the rebranding of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS) from 9Mobile to T2, describing it as an important milestone for the industry.

“EMTS is a very important member of ALTON, and we are pleased to see their rebirth as T2. This rebranding enhances investor confidence and underscores the value of collaboration. It assures the public that there are good times ahead for our industry, and we are very excited about what the future holds,” he stated.

Turning to issues of Right of Way (RoW), Engr. Adebayo stressed that investments can only thrive in enabling environments:

“The digital train is moving very fast. States that create hostile conditions for telecom operations risk being left behind. We will not continue to solicit endlessly for cooperation. Where deployment is unwelcome, investments will move to more supportive neighbouring states, and citizens of unfriendly states will inevitably suffer limited connectivity. We urge all state actors to partner with us so that no one is left behind in this rapid transformation.”

On the issue of multiple taxation, Engr. Adebayo commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the Presidential Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform Committee, for its ongoing reforms. Engr. Adebayo described the reforms as a pivotal step toward streamlining Nigeria’s tax system and eliminating the burden of multiple taxation. He highlighted the positive impact on small and medium-sized businesses, noting that the changes will promote entrepreneurship, attract investment, and foster a more business-friendly environment.

“We eagerly await the commencement of the implementation in January 2026. We are confident that the over 56 taxes and levies currently borne by our members across various jurisdictions will soon become a thing of the past.”

Engr. Adebayo concluded by appreciating all industry stakeholders and reaffirming ALTON’s commitment to the Nigeria project:

“The transformation we are witnessing in our sector has not been experienced in recent years. We thank the leadership of the NCC for their commitment, we congratulate and welcome the new Board under the leadership of Mr. Idris Olorunimbe, and we look forward to even greater milestones ahead.

The industry is on the march again, and together, with the support of the public in protecting our critical infrastructure, there is no stopping Nigeria’s telecommunications sector as a driver of national economic stability and growth.”


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