General News
Outsourcing Saves Cost, Improves Efficiency-Kruger
Roy Kruger is the Managing Director of BCX Nigeria, a 100% owned subsidiary of Business Connexion (BCX South Africa).
Kruger with more than 23 years experience in fixed and mobile telephony operations and management has gained a huge amount of knowledge relating to all aspects of telecommunications.
He spoke to hilary okeke on a wide range of issue in the industry.
About IPTV
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television whereby you use technology to take normal television, put it into IP packets and send them across to regional wide area or local area networks, as opposed to broadcasting in the traditional manner. Although IPTV can be broadcast across a satellite network; it is just a much cheaper and ubiquitous manner of sending television to users. To receive IPTV, you need a PC, and local people in the country do not have them. As you know, the most common way of receiving broadcast signals today is through TV sets. Once ICT infrastructure gets to more people, IPTV will become very common. Right now, IPTV is used mostly in office buildings or housing estates where people can run fibre optic rings around the place, and then bring it in via satellite and spread it around by a fibre optic link.
Current Global Recession and Business Sense in Outsourcing
Outsourcing in some instances can save a lot of money because what it basically entails is that you go to a company and present them with a proposal whereby you take over their manpower cost and the cost involved specifically with IT. If a company manufactures motor vehicles, its primary job is to manufacture vehicles and not to worry about the efficiency of the computers, or the pay increase for the personnel. As an outsourcing company, BCX will take away that burden on that company and take over their manpower and ICT management. There are lots of advantages to doing that because companies can save on manpower and more importantly, their IT remains up-to-date because we replace it as opposed to them buying and keeping it for many years. As an outsourcing company, we make sure that it remains up-to-date with no extra cost to the companies; all they need to do is pay a flat fee every month.
Role in IT Infrastructure Building
BCX does systems integrating. We do not use a specific product from a specific company. We use various products from various companies – the best in the world from different manufacturers. For example, we use products from Cisco, Huawei, Avaya, Nortel and a score of companies. We take these products and design them to suit the companies, and then install, commission and maintain the various companies’ networks.
Services for the Banking Sub-sector
Banks traditionally have perhaps a couple of thousand people working for them. So, the primary area we would like to work in is called Internet Protocol Telephony (IPT). Here, we rationalize the whole telephone system within the bank, we install a central call system which takes the place of the traditional Private Automatic Branch exchange (PABX), and we turn the whole network into a digital one. In other words, your phones become more than phones. On a single handset, you can browse the Internet, make voice calls, watch videos and communicate either within or outside of the building. On top of that, we put in place what is called unified communications which for instance, takes a voice message and turns it into a text message or vice versa. So on a single handset, you can make all your communications; hence the name ‘unified communications.’ You receive all communications whether text, e-mail, voice or video – you receive it onto one point of presence. For banks with head offices and hundreds of branches, we build wide area connectivity for those branches either by using satellite, radio or traditional terrestrial communications.
Disaster Recovery not Taken Seriously
That is an area where many people learn the hard way. What that means is they wait until an actual disaster takes place, and then it is a case of regrets. But a number of the bigger organizations have realized the importance of this. Companies can do disaster recovery themselves or outsource it, and that is becoming a very popular way of doing disaster recovery. Many companies, especially the telecom operators, are building data centres to which they then outsource IT infrastructure, and they provide services which include disaster recovery – that is now becoming very popular in Nigeria. The reluctance about disaster recovery may not necessarily be due to cost. The ongoing running of an infrastructure which you might or never need – that is where the cost comes in. It is not the hardware but the ongoing operations that do cost a lot of money.
Application of Business Intelligence in Organization’s Success
Business intelligence can be done in a number of ways. The most popular one is what we call the customer relationship management (CRM) system. CRM systems are traditionally very expensive to maintain. But with the call centre technology and the integration of CRM into call centres today, it is becoming a much easier task to do. It allows you to gain intelligence on your customers’ data – their hobbies, date of birth – so that you can better serve them. From the BCX point of view, we use business intelligence as a way of producing a business case for our customers. We put together the business case to show customers that by using this type of equipment and technology, they would gain a better access to their customers and thereby increase their market share.
IP without Fibre
If you look at the history of IP, it dates back to 1969 in the American Department of Defense. Within this department was a group called Advanced Research Project Agency (Arpa), and the Department asked Arpa to come up with a method of connecting every single computer to one another within the American defence force. So Arpa went out and found that some areas had IBM, some HP, some Dell – they were faced with the challenge of synchronizing the computers which could not communicate with one another. So the only way for them to do it was to come up with a common set of rules, which they used to connect all the computers to one another. And they thought: “We just might as well call this thing an Internet.” Thus the name, Internet Protocol (IP). That is, Internet set of rules. IP is just a set of rules. The question now is – how do we deliver Internet more efficiently? Internet can run on any type of infrastructure; it has no limits on the type of infrastructure on ground. It is only a set of principles that is implemented and then you can run voice, video and data on top of IP. It can run over fibre; it can run over copper; it can run over radio; it can run over satellite. There are no limitations. They all deliver the same in terms of quality; it is just that when you consider fibre optics, it can provide more bandwidth but if you are running over it or copper at the same speed, there is no difference in the delivery. They both deliver the same quality and at the same speed.
About BCX
BCX is arguably the largest ICT Company in Africa. We have more than 5, 000 people working for the company; we are Cisco Gold partners, Avaya Platinum partners; we have many accreditations with the largest companies in the world. Technology makes BCX tick but I think more than that, we look at the types of people we hire specifically in Nigeria. I have made it a routine to hire students that are just out of the university and they are all clever young guys. Within six months, they gain huge experience and exposure within BCX. Developing the young people within Nigeria is one of our goals.
General News
Teenager Hacks Celebrities Whatsapps, Sells Adult Content in Delta

Delta State Police Command has revealed how a 17-year-old boy allegedly hacked into celebrities’ WhatsApp accounts and sold explicit adult content to classmates.

This was disclosed in a viral video shared by comedian Otaghware Onodjayeke, popularly known as I Go Save, during a security awareness programme where he spoke with Temi Agbede-Zuokumor, divisional police officer (DPO) of Ugborikoko Division, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The DPO explained that the case came to light after a routine check of a student’s phone, which first raised suspicion.
Agbede-Zuokumor disclosed that the student’s mother had initially claimed the phone belonged to his sister, but further inspection revealed otherwise.
“The woman looked very modest, so I asked her if she was from Deeper Life. She said no. I then asked why her son took a phone to school, and she claimed it belonged to his sister,” she narrated.
The DPO expressed that the development triggered her suspicion, prompting officers to examine the phone’s contents.
“Something told me to check the phone. When we did, we discovered that everything on the device belonged to the boy,” she said.
She added that the phone contained over 80 foreign numbers, including Australian contacts, alongside numerous explicit materials.
“We saw several foreign numbers, over 80 Australian lines, and the phone was filled with pornographic content,” she said.
The police officer further disclosed that the suspect allegedly sold explicit materials to his classmates, who referred to him as “boss.”
“We also saw chats with his classmates asking if he had explicit content to sell. They were calling him ‘boss’ in school,” she added.
According to her, investigations also revealed that the teenager had hacked into WhatsApp accounts belonging to prominent individuals and used them to solicit money.
“We discovered he had access to WhatsApp accounts of some celebrities, which he used to demand money from unsuspecting victims,” she said.
Speaking during the session, comedian I Go Save recounted a similar experience, describing how he was once contacted by a suspected fraudster impersonating Elon Musk, Forbes world richest man.
“That was how someone impersonating Elon Musk messaged me, saying he was stranded and needed a recharge card,” he said.
“I was surprised and asked which network he used. The person later sent an Opay account,” he added.
The police warned parents and school authorities to be more vigilant, stressing the growing concern of cyber-related crimes among young people.
General News
SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged N2.9Bn Fraud In NIGCOMSAT, NNRA

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, as well as the management of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), to account for and explain the whereabouts of an alleged ₦2.9 billion in missing or diverted public funds.

SERAP also called on Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged diversion of funds, including those documented in previous Auditor-General reports.
In a letter dated April 11, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director SERAP, said: “These allegations, involving critical public institutions, represent a grave violation of the public trust and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws and international obligations.”
The group further urged the Federal Government to direct NIGCOMSAT to disclose the shareholders and beneficial owners of a company that allegedly received ₦465 million in “unauthorised investment” from the agency.
SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing or diverted public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
The organisation gave the government seven days to comply, warning that it may initiate legal action if its demands are not met.
It also stated that accountability in both agencies is critical, given their strategic roles, saying: “Accountability in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA is critical given their strategic roles in Nigeria’s digital economy and national safety systems. Mismanagement in these agencies not only wastes scarce public resources but also threatens national development, technological progress, and public safety.”
SERAP added: “Ensuring accountability is therefore essential to protecting both Nigeria’s present and its future.”
It warned that failure to address the allegations would continue to erode public trust, stating: “These allegations, if left unaddressed, will continue to undermine public confidence in government institutions, weaken Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, and deprive citizens of resources needed for development.”
The allegations were drawn from the Auditor-General’s report published on September 9, 2025, which examined financial activities in NIGCOMSAT and NNRA and raised concerns over possible mismanagement of public funds.
According to the report, NIGCOMSAT failed to account for over ₦465 million used for an “unauthorised investment” in Gicell Wireless Ltd, made without approvals from the Minister of Science and Technology and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
It also noted that “there was also no evidence that a competent Investment Analyst performed investment appraisal,” while the investment agreement raised concerns over valuation and exchange rate assumptions.
The Auditor-General further stated that “NIGCOMSAT made ineligible, irregular and wrong payments of over ₦3 million to staff,” and that “the payment was made without due process and any documents on what the payments were meant for.”
It also flagged an irregular rent payment of over ₦4.3 million, noting that although a refund was requested, “there was no evidence that the consultant refunded the money.”
It added that NIGCOMSAT “failed to remit over ₦507 million of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” while also failing to account for over ₦6 million for undelivered store items.
The report further stated that “there was also no evidence of how the transferred funds were spent or utilised,” referring to an irregular ₦84.78 million transfer from a Remita account to a special project account.
On NNRA, the report alleged that ₦4.35 million was spent on training without evidence that it took place, while ₦16.7 million was paid for ICT equipment without approval.
It also stated that ₦33.4 million was spent on items that were never supplied, and that “there were no documents to support” several payments for operational activities.
The Auditor-General further noted that NNRA “failed to retire over ₦6.5 million of cash advances granted to staff,” and that ₦2.05 million paid for foreign training had no evidence of participation.
It also stated that ₦1.95 million collected through Remita was not recorded in the agency’s cashbook, leading to concerns of revenue understatement.
SERAP said the findings point to “a systemic pattern of financial mismanagement, opacity, and corruption within an agency entrusted with advancing Nigeria’s digital and communications infrastructure,” adding that NNRA’s lapses also raise serious concerns about compliance with safety and financial regulations.
General News
IHS Nigeria Renovates, Upgrade Facilities at the National Museum Lagos

IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has partnered with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to renovate and upgrade facilities at the National Museum, Lagos.

Commissioned by the Honorable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the project is a significant step towards restoring and improving critical facilities at the museum complex, while supporting the long-term preservation of Nigeria’s cultural assets and heritage.
The project has improved the overall aesthetic appeal of the museum site and featured extensive restoration of the museum’s main gallery. The restored gallery incorporates the installation of modern display and lighting systems, air‑conditioning units, a solar inverter system to enhance energy efficiency, and surveillance cameras to aid safety, security and operational performance across the facility. These renovations and upgrades follow on from IHS Nigeria’s sponsorship of the museum’s efforts to digitize Nigeria’s cultural heritage and launch Nigeria’s first digital museum of antiquities at www.museum.ng.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, “Having seen the rich historical and cultural heritage housed in this national museum complex, we believed it was important to go a step further after supporting the development of the digital museum, to also improve the aesthetics, security and structural integrity of the main physical complex. This aligns with our broader commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and the preservation of Nigeria’s history.
“I am proud of these renovations and that visitors, including tourists, researchers and art enthusiasts, can visit the museum to be immersed in Nigeria’s rich history in an environment that is safe, beautiful and welcoming.
“The artifacts can also now be better preserved, protected and presented in a way that celebrates the history they represent. I thank the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for this ongoing partnership which continues to exemplify the power of a collaborative effort in driving innovation, fostering national pride, and enhancing the creative economy.”
Olugbile Holloway, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commented, “On behalf of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to IHS Nigeria for their generous support of the restoration of the National Museum, Lagos. This landmark gesture goes far beyond bricks and mortar — it is a profound commitment to preserving the soul of our nation.
“The National Museum Lagos is home to some of Nigeria’s most treasured antiquities, from the ancient terracotta of the Nok civilization to the magnificent bronzes of the Benin Kingdom and the classical works of Ife.
“To restore this institution is to restore our collective memory. We thank IHS Nigeria for choosing to renew not just infrastructure, but the heritage, identity, and the hope of our people. Their support ensures that generations of Nigerians yet unborn will walk through these halls and encounter the full greatness of who we are and where we come from.”
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