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Social Pressure Impact on Quality of Service Delivery

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George Uriesi, managing director of FAAN,
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Unstable power supply remains the major challenge on improving service delivery.  In spite of the fact that prize of diesel has stabilized since last year the burden is now on transporting it to base stations. Today, the road networks we have in the country is worst than it was few years ago, operators need to move diesel by road.

 

 This means that if an operator orders for diesel in Abuja, he will have to move it to farest part of the North by road. Same in West, for instance, if diesel is ordered in Lagos it has to moved to some parts of Ogun state or even Oyo by road.

 

For instance, Lagos to Ibadan is a journey of about one hour ten minutes when the road is good, but today one spends about three hours on the same road.  Operators are not operating outside the social framework of Nigeria.  The fact remains that those issues operators are faced with, two years ago has gone worst by the day, it is convenient to come out and say ‘we blame operators for every thing, ‘because operators have the least voice. 

 

More so, infrastructure that operators have built is now being attacked by contractors of government.  When Lekki/ Epe expressway were been constructed, many fibre cable were excavated at operators cost. This situation is still going on in many states as at today. Those are infrastructure that were built some three years ago not ten or fifteen years ago.  The rebuilding of these infrastructure is to be bowed by operators without recourse to the owners.  Dualisation, expansion and rehabilitation of roads is going on across on the country, operators have laid optic fibre  to improve network back bone across the country, those infrastructure are suffering major attack due to road works by contractors of government, without regard to valid ‘right of way’ for which operators paid several millions of naira to government.

 

The painful aspect of it is that there is no notice that there will be road works; all of a sudden network goes down, visit to site or location of failure, government contractors on site.  This result to starting the journey of recoil you don’t know many points of failure.  Because they are government contractors, operators can’t do anything, government has the power, and operators can only count their losses.  It is the consumer that suffers at the end of the day.

 

Telecom doesn’t work in the air, it works with physical infrastructure and you must lay the infrastructure for it to work.  If government refuses to allow operators lay infrastructure or make it difficult for them through high ‘right of way’ approval, one wonders how service quality won’t be poor.  It is ‘Ok’ for government to say service quality is very poor and can sanction operators from now till tomorrow; if those fundamentals are not addressed we cannot improve service quality.

 

In recent times, base station masts owned by telecommunication companies have come under public focus largely due to the activities of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Nesrea).

 

The agency has shut down many base stations in certain areas of the country based on alleged violation of environmental laws and regulations by the companies. The agency reportedly mandated telecom companies to submit Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports of where their masts are located and because there had been alleged default, some base stations were therefore shut down.

 

Thus, the onslaught on telecoms mast by the agency strikes somewhat of a populist chord with the citizenry. But not everything that is popular is necessarily right or even legal. Other considerations must be taken into account in the overall interest of the people. This allows for a holistic problem-solving approach for which government, as the final arbiter of our social existence, is imbued with.

 

While government must ensure compliance with environmental standards and regulations, the same government is also saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that telecom companies offer services in an efficient and qualitative manner to guarantee value for money spent by consumers.

 

There is no gainsaying the fact that base station masts are an integral infrastructure in the deployment of telecoms service. Thus, the quality of service offered by the companies is invariably linked to the existence/maintenance of the masts. In other words, the issue of getting value for money is seriously jeopardized when telecom masts are often shut down or vandalized.

 

More so, when people talk about congestion, they are in different ways. The engineering is not something one can explain to one who does not have the background. Today, no network operator is working without the right ‘headroom’- this is the tolerance you have to coup with when there is upsurge in subscriber demand or capacity demand. Operators work with suitable ‘headroom’ what happens is that the demand for services sometimes prove wrong of the entire world known theories on projections for ‘headroom’ and others.

 

Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton), explained that the industry is embracing co-sharing of infrastructure. “Alton has championed the issue of co-sharing and we are glad that our members have embraced it to a very large extent. Presently, we have a number of roads where fibre infrastructure is being co-shared. Our concern is not that one operator will not allow the other to co-share infrastructure, but when you co-share and there is damage to that common infrastructure the impact is more”.

 

“We agree with the idea of co-sharing, we are supporting it, and encouraging our members to embrace it. After the infrastructure is co-shared, how to collectively protect the co-shared infrastructure that those brought together will not have colossal damage is an important issue”.

 

He noted that part of responsibilities of government is to provide enabling environment and to protect operators in the environment. He cited instance of Central Lagos area, where as an operator lands a diesel truck, he will have to pay for landing, when he discharges he will be forced to pay for discharging the truck. “When you are taking away the truck from site you have to as well pay for taking away the truck from the site. It is called dispatch money; otherwise you don’t come next time.

 

This happens in many other local governments in the country. All these are on the neck of service providers and should be addressed for quality of service to improve.

 

 

 

 

 


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General News

How JustMarkets Is Empowering African Traders with Global Market Access

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Africa’s trading community is rapidly growing, evolving, and showing increasing interest in financial markets. From Lagos to Nairobi, from Accra to Johannesburg, more and more people are exploring financial markets as a way to develop skills, earn income, and participate in the global economy. But the ability to trade isn’t enough; traders also need reliable technology, fair conditions, and tools that help them make informed decisions and trade effectively.

How JustMarkets Is Empowering African Traders with Global Market Access

JustMarkets

This is where trading platforms like JustMarkets make a significant contribution to the development and expansion of the trading community in the African region.

By combining global market access with a results-oriented trading environment, JustMarkets helps African traders compete head-to-head with those in the world’s largest financial centers, providing access to tight spreads, a wide range of analytical materials, and a variety of account types.

Breaking Barriers to Global Markets

For years, traders in emerging markets have faced limitations: slow platforms, a limited range of instruments, low liquidity, wide spreads, and infrastructure that hinders professional trading and effective analysis. Today, JustMarkets addresses this significant gap by providing African traders with access to a wide range of global financial instruments through a single, optimized online platform.

Now traders have the opportunity to test short-term strategies, long-term portfolio diversification, and learn how markets work. Traders can now explore opportunities in forex, commodities, indices, and stock markets without geographic barriers or technical difficulties.

A Trading Platform Built for Performance

Technology plays a critical role in modern trading. Market conditions can change in seconds, and execution speed often makes the difference between opportunity and missed entry. The JustMarkets leading trading platform is designed to support fast, confident decisions in real time.

  • Ultra-fast execution. Engineered for low-latency order processing, the app helps ensure trades are executed quickly and efficiently when markets move.

  • Full risk management. Stop-loss, take-profit, and position sizing can be managed directly from the chart, helping traders stay disciplined and protect capital.

  • Advanced charting. Interactive charts, multiple timeframes, drawing tools, and built-in indicators provide the analytical depth needed for informed trading decisions.

  • Real-time alerts. Instant notifications about price movements, order events, and key market developments help traders stay connected even when they’re away from the screen.

  • Secure authentication. Biometric login, encrypted data transmission, and advanced internal security protocols ensure that accounts and personal data remain protected.

This combination of speed, usability, and security makes professional-grade trading accessible from anywhere, even on the go with JustMarkets mobile trading app.

Trade a Wide Range of Global Markets

Access to diverse instruments allows traders to adapt to different market conditions and explore multiple strategies. JustMarkets provides African traders with the ability to participate in major asset classes worldwide.

  • Forex. Trade major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with competitive pricing and deep liquidity.

  • Gold & Metals. Access precious metals such as XAUUSD and XAGUSD, popular instruments for active traders and those seeking exposure to global macro trends with competitive spreads.

  • Indices. Engage with leading global stock indices including the S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones, DAX, and FTSE – markets that reflect the performance of major economies.

  • Stocks. Trade shares of global companies and high-volume market leaders, opening opportunities to follow international corporate trends.

  • Energy. Speculate on key energy commodities such as WTI and Brent crude oil, instruments often influenced by geopolitical and macroeconomic developments.

This broad market selection helps traders diversify and respond flexibly to changing global conditions.

Supporting Trader Development

Expanding technical, educational, and analytical capabilities extends beyond technology. JustMarkets also places a special emphasis on helping traders build knowledge and confidence. Access to educational materials, market analysis, and structured risk management tools fosters a more disciplined and informed approach to trading, including setting trading goals.

For many African traders, this means moving from random speculation and emotional trades to a more professional mindset, and most importantly, understanding that long-term success depends on strategy, risk management, continuous learning, and a cool head.

Connecting Africa to the Global Financial Ecosystem

Financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, with traders from all regions now participating in the same global capital flow. Offering advanced tools such as flexible leverage, fast order execution, and broad access to markets and trading assets, the JustMarkets online trading platform helps African traders become active participants in this ecosystem with full access to analytical and educational materials, as well as cutting-edge technological solutions for managing trades, accounts, and open positions. JustMarkets’ commitment to empowering traders, increasing financial literacy, and enabling people to engage with global markets on a level playing field. As the African trading community grows, online trading platforms like JustMarkets, which combine performance, accessibility, and security, will play a key role in this process. But pay attention that risk management still is a key to success as CFD trading involves risks.


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Court Freezes MCSN Copyright Levies amid Record Label Legal Battle

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Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has issued an interim Mareva injunction freezing copyright levy funds due to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).

Court Freezes MCSN Copyright Levies amid Record Label Legal Battle

The order prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and at least 20 commercial banks from disbursing these funds until further court proceedings.

The injunction stems from Suit No. FHC/L/CS/207/2026, following an ex parte application filed on February 5, 2026, by the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative on behalf of 11 major record labels and music companies.

Plaintiffs include industry heavyweights such as Mavin Records, Davido Music Worldwide, Chocolate City Music, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Africa, and Warner Music South Africa.

The plaintiffs, through their attorney, sought to restrain the CBN from releasing any copyright levy funds related to sound recordings earmarked for MCSN.

They also asked the court to bar MCSN and its agents from accessing, transferring, or using the funds, whether received directly from the CBN or routed through commercial banks.


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NITDA, HORSA Empower Lawmakers’ Spouses with Digital Skill

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the House of Representatives Spouses Association (HORSA), organized a specialized two‑day digital literacy and capacity‑building workshop for the spouses of members of the House of Representatives.

The initiative, themed “Empowering Women for a Digital Future: Leadership, Wellbeing, and Opportunity,” is designed to equip spouses of lawmakers with the tools needed to navigate the modern digital economy and the unique demands of public life.

Moving beyond basic computer literacy, the workshop offers a comprehensive suite of skills, including financial and digital literacy—focused on using digital tools for business growth and personal finance management; cybersecurity and digital wellbeing—promoting online safety, data protection, and mental health resilience; and economic empowerment—unlocking opportunities in remote work, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and digital entrepreneurship.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said the workshop underscores the crucial role spouses play in supporting public office holders. He described spouses as trusted advisers whose understanding of legislative responsibilities helps lawmakers perform more effectively.

He noted that the demanding nature of legislative work often places strain on family life, adding that empowering spouses with digital and leadership skills would strengthen their capacity to provide informed support and constructive feedback to their partners in public service. He urged participants to take full advantage of the training, stressing that continuous learning is essential in an increasingly digital world.

Kalu further observed that many spouses already lead humanitarian and development initiatives in their communities, and that the skills gained from the programme would enhance communication, strategic planning, and resource mobilisation, thereby deepening their contribution to community development and national growth.

In his welcome address, the NITDA Director‑General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to build a sustainable digital economy by ensuring that no group is excluded from digital opportunities due to skills gaps. He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu places digitalisation and innovation at the heart of economic diversification and inclusive growth.

He added that NITDA is implementing a national digital literacy framework aimed at achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, driven through three key focus areas: integrating digital skills into formal education, upskilling public servants, and expanding community‑level digital inclusion.

Inuwa described women as critical drivers of Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that empowering spouses of lawmakers with digital skills would strengthen leadership at home and positively influence legislative processes at the National Assembly. He explained that NITDA is working with the Ministry of Education and global technology partners to train teachers nationwide, while over 54,000 public servants are currently enrolled in the Agency’s digital literacy programmes.

He also stated that through community champions deployed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, millions of Nigerians are being reached annually with basic digital skills training, stressing that national leaders must not be left behind in Nigeria’s digital transition. According to him, digitally literate spouses can play a vital role in encouraging technology‑driven governance, including ongoing efforts to digitise legislative processes.

In her goodwill message, the Leader of HORSA and wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, described the workshop as a historic milestone and the first comprehensive capacity‑building programme organised by the 10th Assembly for spouses of lawmakers. She noted that public life in a digital age now extends beyond physical spaces into online platforms, making digital and financial literacy, cyber protection, and digital wellbeing essential skills for spouses of national leaders.

Hajiya Abbas emphasised that the sessions on mental health, emotional resilience, entrepreneurship, and leadership were timely, as spouses of public office holders often shoulder invisible emotional responsibilities. According to her, empowering women economically strengthens families and communities, adding that the knowledge gained from the workshop would not only support lawmakers behind the scenes but also enable women to contribute more meaningfully to national development in the digital economy.

The event also featured goodwill messages and contributions from senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim; the Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, Prof. (Mrs.) Olufolake Abdulrazaq; the Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, Hon. Stanley Olajide; the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; and the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission, Usoro Offiong Akpabio.


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