Telecom
Proposed Railways Offer Option for Broadband Penetration-Aladesanmi
The Nigeria Broadband Plan 2013, mid-term to its implementation, has achieved some significant milestones either by conscious course of implementation or by random chance, nevertheless, there is still a long way to go if the 2018 phase date is to be reasonably achieved, according to Dr. Temitope Aladesanmi, an Humphrey Fellow at Syracuse University, New York, United States of America.
Dr Aladesanmi, however, in an email to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that there lies the unique opportunity that the 2016 budget has provided the country with, especially the two budgeted railway projects: Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar railways.
The Humphrey Fellow who doubles as assistant chief system programmer & team lead, Training and Internet Services (ICT Unit), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said that the proposed railway offers a unique opportunity for alternative fiber route between the North, West and East of the country.
He pointed out that such routes could go along Kano to Lagos to Calabar with the possibility of extending it to Maiduguri in the nearest future and all joined to another hub in Abuja in some sort of ring cum and star arrangement.
He said that to achieve required results, first, the federal government can alongside the railway build a tunnel that will serve as a national fibre route but with possibility of accommodating other infrastructure channels in the future.
Railroads, Aladesanmi said, needs minimal maintenance hence the possibility of fiber cut owing to repairs will be reduced.
According to him, the cost of right of way (ROW) which has been a major constraint to broadband penetration would have been taken away, as the project cost can also be a collaborative initiative of ministry of transport, ICT and Works.
“Under the auspices of International Center for Science and High Technology (ICS-UNIDO), I had attended an ICS Training Course on Fibre Optics for Optical Fibre communications in Cape Coast, Ghana in 2005 alongside two other Nigerians and couple of several other professionals from other parts of Africa.
“As part of the programme, participants had visited the Takoradi power station. Of interest to the group was were the optical fiber cables that run on top of the electric pylons.
“Back then, there were was not so much optical fibre in Nigeria around the country except for NITEL that had some fibre rings of buried fibre across Nigeria.
“Today, things have changed, the NITEL monopoly of fiber is gone with many telecommunication companies with having their own fibre installations across the country. Few of these fibre installations have been done in less than standard manner with roads often cut without proper replacement after installation.
“On the other hand, repeated road constructions have also ruptured fibre installations, disrupting services to clients whose very business existence and survival sometimes depend on such fibre backbones.
“It is incontrovertible however that the installation of fibers across the country has both improved the quality of calls and enhanced the capacity for simultaneous calls.
“Gone were are the days when the number of simultaneous calls between two mobile base stations were limited to few hundred calls, N, while the N+1th call gets dropped.
“Though the quality and quantity of simultaneous calls have improved a bit, data services on most telecom networks are still poor and unreliable especially for locations outside Lagos.
“Most companies touting 4G LTE are typically constrained to Lagos where the economic returns on such investment is sort of guaranteed leaving those in hinterland struggling to cope with poor data services in face of ever sprouting bandwidth hungry applications.
He added that commuters can leverage on the fiber network for internet access, hence with internet access becoming a complimentary service along national and international routes in the developed nation (a recent flight between Dubai and Milan, a distance of 7 hours flying time had constant internet access all through the journey); Nigeria can not be left behind.
MENXTT TECH NG, a Lagos-based technology company, has launched an initiative to make quality Dell laptops more affordable for Nigerians through flexible payment plans and extended warranty support.
The company said the initiative was aimed at helping students, entrepreneurs, professionals and small businesses acquire reliable computing devices despite rising technology costs.
According to the company, customers can now purchase premium pre-owned Dell Latitude, Dell Precision and Dell Inspiron laptops at competitive prices, with selected models available under staggered payment arrangements.
The laptops, it said, are designed to meet the needs of users ranging from students and office workers to architects, engineers, software developers, graphic designers and video editors.
Speaking on the initiative, the Co-Founder of MENXTT TECH NG, Mr Anthony Emeka Nwosu, said access to quality technology should not be limited by financial constraints.
“A laptop is no longer a luxury; it is an essential tool for education, business and career development.
“Unfortunately, many people are forced to settle for unreliable devices because of the high cost of new laptops.
“At MENXTT TECH NG, we want to bridge that gap by providing durable Dell business laptops at affordable prices, backed by a full one-year warranty and flexible payment plans.
“We want every student, entrepreneur, freelancer and business owner to have access to technology that helps them succeed,” he said.
Nwosu explained that every laptop undergoes comprehensive testing before delivery and comes with a one-year warranty, an original charger, a complimentary laptop bag, Windows 11 operating system and Microsoft Office Suite pre-installed.
He added that the company, an authorised Bitdefender Antivirus reseller in Nigeria, also installs genuine Bitdefender security software on every system to protect customers against cyber threats.
According to him, customers requiring additional productivity tools can also have licensed Foxit PDF software installed on their devices.
Nwosu said the flexible payment option was introduced in response to prevailing economic realities, enabling customers to spread payments over an agreed period.
He noted that the arrangement would make it easier for students, startups and growing businesses to acquire quality computers without placing excessive pressure on their finances.
Beyond laptop sales, the company provides information technology consultancy, computer repairs, software licensing, cybersecurity solutions and digital transformation services to organisations across Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy by making dependable computing devices and enterprise technology solutions more accessible to individuals and businesses.
According to him, the initiative reflects MENXTT TECH NG’s vision of combining affordability, quality products and professional after-sales support to help more Nigerians participate in the country’s expanding digital ecosystem. (NAN)
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia and technology professionals to accelerate digital innovation and drive inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director, Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, representing the Director General of NITDA, delivers a goodwill message at the 20th International Conference on Technology and Computing (RISE 2026) in Jos, reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to fostering digital innovation, strategic collaboration, and a technology-driven future for Nigeria.
The agency made the call at the 20th Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) International Conference 2026, held in Jos, Plateau State, where stakeholders examined strategies for leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa, the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said Nigeria’s digital transformation would depend on sustained investment in innovation, digital skills, research and strategic partnerships.
According to him, collaboration across the public and private sectors is essential to translate emerging technologies into practical solutions capable of improving governance, creating jobs and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
Onumo said NITDA remained committed to implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan through initiatives that promote digital literacy, research and development, innovation ecosystems, cyber sovereignty and emerging technologies.
He added that the agency was expanding opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and startups through platforms designed to encourage collaboration, investment and technology-driven enterprise.
“We are transforming Digital Nigeria into the nation’s foremost innovation platform where policymakers, investors, startups, researchers and technology companies can collaborate to accelerate economic growth and digital transformation,” he said.
He urged innovators, startup founders and technology professionals to participate actively in the forthcoming Builders Summit by showcasing indigenous solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
Declaring the conference open, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, described digital technology as a critical driver of governance and economic development.
Mutfwang said his administration had adopted digital solutions to improve public service delivery, modernise government operations and enhance internally generated revenue.
He also identified technology as a key enabler for agricultural transformation, increased productivity and improved food security, urging participants to ensure that deliberations at the conference translate into practical outcomes for national development.
Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Muhammad Sirajo, said the conference was organised to strengthen collaboration among policymakers, researchers, regulators, technology professionals and industry leaders.
Sirajo said the conference, with the theme “Harnessing Digital Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Economic Renaissance (RISE 2026),” focused on exploring how innovation could accelerate Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He identified artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity and robotics as among the technologies shaping the future of economies across the world.
According to him, Nigeria’s youthful population and expanding digital ecosystem provide a strong foundation for building a globally competitive economy through sustained investment in digital infrastructure, innovation and skills development.
The conference attracted government officials, regulators, academics, development partners, technology professionals and private-sector stakeholders to deliberate on policies and innovations aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and inclusive economic renaissance.
Telecom
Hon. Minister Dr. Kingsley T. Udeh and ASUS To Unveil First of a Kind Flagship Store in West Africa
In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s technology retail sector, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh SAN, will on Monday, August 3rd, commission a landmark ASUS Flagship Store in partnership with Nigeria’s leading e-commerce group Konga. The state-of-the-art facility is widely regarded as the first initiative of its kind in West Africa.
The commissioning will witness the visit of senior executives from the world-renowned technology brand to Nigeria, including EMEA General Manager, Mr. Aaron Tsai, alongside other. One of the purposes of their visit is to reinforce the strategic partnership with Konga and solidify the collaboration between both organisations, further demonstrating ASUS’ commitment to the Nigerian market.
The event is expected to also bring together key stakeholders from government, the technology industry, business community, and the media for what promises to be a defining moment in the evolution of technology retail in the region.
The development comes as Konga continues to accelerate its strategic partnerships with some of the world’s leading technology brands.
For years, Nigerian consumers have demanded more than just access to genuine technology products. They have increasingly sought immersive experiences, expert guidance, after-sales support, and greater confidence when making technology investments. The next chapter in this journey appears to address many of these expectations in a bold and innovative way.
The forthcoming announcement is expected to bring together global innovation in a manner that reflects the changing realities of today’s technology consumer. It also reinforces the growing confidence that leading international technology companies continue to place in Nigeria as one of Africa’s most strategic digital markets.
Industry analysts note that partnerships of this nature are becoming increasingly important as consumers place greater emphasis on authenticity, hands-on product experiences, technical support, and trusted purchase channels. Beyond selling devices, the future of technology retail lies in building complete customer experiences.
As anticipation builds for Monday, one thing is certain: the ASUS-Konga partnership promises to set new standards for tech retail in West Africa, elevating customer experience and reinforcing Nigeria’s digital transformation narrative.
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