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Social, Political Interference Harmful to Telecom Business
Gbenga Adebayo, president of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) is an authority in the telecom industry. A former general manager of VGC Communications and now managing director, CNSS, telecom outsourcing company bares his mind on the industry in this interview with chike onwuegbuchi and hilary okeke.
Local Content and Operators
On local content, you can view it from two different angles: angle one, talking in terms of hardware; the second one, being in terms of human capital.
When people talk about local content, what really comes to mind is the hardware component; how many of those products and services are made in Nigeria? How many of those brands are Nigerian? That’s what people really interpret as local content. In reality, when you look at ICT being as global industry, local content goes beyond hardware. There is no individual country in the world today that provides the component or content required for a full IT based infrastructure and therefore, countries are interdependent in terms of manufacture and production of various elements of IT based infrastructure. You might be an expert in the production of certain devices and tools; the software might be provided to you, the hardware might be from another manufacturer and country. So, it’s very difficult to find one country that has all that’s required for a full blown communication infrastructure. This means that countries will continue to be interdependent on one another.
And again, there’s no individual country that’s self-sufficient, even the super-powers still depend on certain input from certain countries. Our problem is that nothing is made here. When you look at what makes up a full blown mobile network, copper infrastructure is almost insignificant. What is relevant in our case which will prepare us for the future is the content in terms of human capital. How many of our people are holding authoritative positions in the ICT industry? If they are not prime movers today, if they are not playing critical role today, what is the plan to have Nigerians take over those positions after a period of time?
Poor Quality of Service and Growth Telecom
You see, quality of service can be addressed in many ways and I speak now as the chairman of the operators association that the problem encountered by every sector of the economy, is also facing telecom service provider and because it is all network in one network, there are so many dependencies. So, part of the factors responsible for quality of service is the failure of the Nigerian socio-economic-infrastructure; talking about security, energy, good road network, availability of statistical data, import regulation, import duty, clearing problems at the port, issues of multiple taxation, interference by agencies of government and so on. However, as a people we should not forget our history; we have a network that’s less than 10 years, starting point was half a million subscribers; within 10 years 40 million subscribers and those are networks driven by physical infrastructure.
Revival of Nitel
The case of Nitel is very unfortunate because today, there wouldn’t have been telecom in Nigeria without Nitel. Nitel provided the platform for every service provider in this country today. The question now is how come the one that played such a legacy role has become the one that plays behind the scene? That’s the question I keep asking. In spite of the infrastructure of Nitel, in spite of the greatness of the potentiality of Nitel, in spite of the mileage of Nitel as regards the coverage of this country. There’s no part of the country that you go to today that you don’t see the footprint of Nitel; be it in the form of an old analogue exchange, be it in the form of an old cellular exchange or the form of a receiver station. I was not at that press conference because I have not been around, I have not been following the reports on this issue but it co-relates with what I said earlier. It looks like many things were not done rightly; perhaps the sale was done in a hurry, perhaps there were issues with the bidding processes, perhaps there was an issue with the disclosure element; otherwise, to me as an analyst, it looks like Transcorp met more than they prepared for on one side. To me as an analyst with due respect to all players, it looks like government did not provide the right environment for the buyers of Nitel to succeed. The concern therefore is that if Transcorp paid what it paid for Nitel, which in some quarters have been said is too high and in some quarters too low, no matter what; if factors militating against their success are not dealt with, no matter who buys Nitel tomorrow, the same thing will happen. So, there are some fundamental issues that should be addressed on the part of Nitel. If government has decided to sell Nitel, they should do that with a plain mind. They should not sell it on one side and tie it down on the other side. It will kill the company. We all blame Transcorp for Nitel’s failure without stopping to look at the basic issues there. The case of Transcorp is something that must be addressed with plain mind. Government must be honest about it and of course, they owe the public some explanations on why certain things went the way they did with Nitel. It got to a point where Nitel couldn’t even pay its wages. There’s more to it and am saying again, if factors that led to inability of Transcorp to deliver NITEL are not dealt with precisely, rightly and honestly, same thing will happen again. And again I maintain ‘government still owes the public some explanations on what happened there. So, on that note I would say that we cannot isolate the government from what happened to Nitel. The records are there, allow Nitel to make public names of people who owe them. I believe that with the right support to the buyers of Nitel, the potentials of Nitel are going to manifest.
CNSS and Outsourcing
It is a common practice all over the world. You can not keep all needed skills or all operations in-house. There is no individual company that can provide all its requirements in all areas; it is becoming more popular because the networks are growing and they need to turn around service delivery since it is on high demand. What you will see in the future is the outsourcing of airtime; you will begin to see virtual operators who will not be licensed holders, who will not be service operators; who will sell the services of licensed operators. It’s already happening in other parts of the world. And so what we do in CNSS is to strategically position ourselves to be able to provide rightful engineering outsource support for network operators.
Non individual service providers can provide all the necessary resources to drive a network. It is a case of individual companies building the infrastructure and leasing to service providers. It is a common practice in industries of developed countries and I see it as a good feature. For example, today the challenges that are faced by a number of our members include access to site, security and maintenance of site. If the site is owned by a third party, it is the obligation of that owner to ensure uninterrupted availability of service. Certain burdens are taken off the back of service providers and so they can face expansion, organization of quality, provision of value added services and so on. Am glad that the industry is opening up to outsourcing and I believe it will help in its development and sustainability. Even the roads are outsourced-government gives them to people to maintain so that they are not abused and that’s evident in developed countries.
Number Portability
No, that is not correct. We have made public statements that number portability is accepted. Number portability is something we know, it is a common practice all over the world, it is a feature that can be supported by networks. But we have said that the approach to the introduction of number portability cannot be done on the pages of the newspaper; it must be all inclusive because at the end of the day, it is all networks in one network and we do expect that there’ll be stakeholders’ involvement-every participant, every stakeholder, every operator in the industry will have a role to play in this process. There’s the commercial, engineering and also the administrative part and all should be at work to make this a reality. This is not something that should be jumped into; we must plan and work together-operators, regulators and the consumers. Also, there’s an associated cost in providing number portability. It’s not something you just dump on service providers; everyone has a business plan. As an association, we’ve expressed interest, it’s a feature that’s come to stay; we’ve agreed to go with it and it needs to be given the right approach.
Breathe Life Foundation partnered with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi, to deliver a respiratory health awareness session for over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos.
The session equipped students aged 15–19 years with practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha, while challenging the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education. By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the Foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
Breathe Life Foundation is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
Nigeria’s technology retail landscape reached another significant milestone on Monday, August 3, 2026, as global technology giant ASUS, in partnership with Konga, officially commissioned its first flagship experience store in West Africa.
Strategically located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in customer experience, product accessibility, and digital innovation.
The launch also reinforces Konga’s growing reputation as a preferred gateway for leading global technology brands into the Nigerian market.
The landmark event attracted Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who officially commissioned the store.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Operating Officer of Konga, Dave Omoregie; VP Omni-channel & Commercial Planning, Melvin Onochie; and Head of Marketing and Communications at Konga Group, Victor Oluwaleye.
The ASUS team was led by E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, alongside Business Development Manager, Sunnie Chen; Sales Manager, Mohammed Kazim; Gaming Product Manager, Joy Chen; Marketing Manager, Adeola Odeleye; and Sales Specialist, Williams Okenna.
The Honourable Minister described the facility as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that it is far more than the opening of a retail outlet.
He called it a strong vote of confidence by a global technology brand in Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology ecosystem and the immense potential of its market.
He noted that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.
The Minister paid tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh, describing him as one of the foremost architects of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He announced that Ekeh had recently agreed to champion the Federal Government’s Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, a flagship programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and technology skills.
According to him, Ekeh’s decades of visionary entrepreneurship have played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s technology ecosystem and attracting prominent technology companies into the Nigerian market.
Using the occasion to address the international business community, the Minister encouraged global investors and brands to look beyond establishing commercial operations in Nigeria and actively partner with the government in driving national development.
He assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that safeguards investments and delivers sustainable returns.
Speaking at the event, ASUS E.EMEA General Manager, Aaron Tsai, expressed appreciation to partners, government representatives, and customers for their support.
He explained that the flagship store was conceived to provide consumers with direct access to authentic ASUS products, and expressed confidence that the partnership with Konga will further accelerate the brand’s growth and strengthen customer engagement in the region.
The experience centre features dedicated sections showcasing ASUS’ complete portfolio of premium laptops, gaming devices, AI-powered PCs, and cutting-edge innovations. A standout attraction is an interactive digital display that allows visitors to explore ASUS’ latest technologies virtually before making purchase decisions, creating a more engaging and informed customer journey. Plus, every ASUS device purchased through the flagship store or online on Konga comes with a special one-year replacement warranty at no extra cost.
In his remark, Chief Operating Officer of Konga Group, Dave Omoregie, said the flagship store reflects Konga’s deliberate strategy to give Nigerian consumers a seamless blend of online and offline retail.
He noted that Konga’s logistics network, payment infrastructure, and nationwide retail footprint uniquely position the company to support global brands like ASUS at scale, while ensuring customers enjoy authentic products backed by reliable after-sales service.
According to him, the partnership demonstrates what becomes possible when world-class technology brands trust Nigerian platforms to deliver exceptional experiences, adding that Konga remains committed to setting the operational standard for authentic technology retail across the country.
The launch further reinforces the enduring partnership between ASUS and Konga, built on shared values of innovation, authenticity, and customer satisfaction.
It also highlights Konga’s continued evolution beyond traditional e-commerce into a comprehensive omnichannel technology ecosystem that combines online convenience with physical retail experiences.
For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the new ASUS Flagship Experience Store represents more than a retail outlet; it is a symbol of confidence in Nigeria’s technology market. It highlights Konga’s commitment to bridging the gap between global technology brands and Nigerian consumers. With its robust logistics infrastructure, digital payment solutions, and nationwide physical retail presence, Konga continues to set the standard for authentic, accessible, and reliable technology retail across Africa.
The flagship store opening featured guided product demonstrations, immersive technology experiences, exclusive launch-day offers and customer engagement activities celebrating this historic milestone.
Customers can begin shopping immediately at the ASUS Flagship Experience Store, located at 16 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos. Visitors can explore authentic ASUS products, experience live product demonstrations, receive expert guidance, and access dedicated Starlink customer-support services.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice; Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inspector-general of Police, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, the organisation urged the government to ensure that anyone implicated in the report is prosecuted and that all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition are recovered.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the Auditor-General’s findings as a serious breach of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
The organisation also expressed concern over allegations involving missing firearms, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, and poor storage of weapons.
“The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of funds meant for policing and the reported irregularities have weakened the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The organisation said the Auditor-General’s report documented several alleged financial irregularities, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
“The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”SERAP further cited allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, failures to properly account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its demands, warning that it would pursue legal action if no response is received.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also argued that the allegations, if left unaddressed, would violate constitutional provisions requiring the government to combat corruption and safeguard the welfare and security of Nigerians.
Among the specific findings cited from the Auditor-General’s report were allegations of payments for abandoned and unexecuted police projects worth hundreds of millions of naira, inflated contract values, unretired cash advances, irregular procurement processes, unsettled insurance claims exceeding ₦681 million, over ₦1 billion in uncleared insurance policy liabilities, missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised release of police exhibits, and contracts allegedly awarded without due diligence by the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
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