News
Stakeholders Disagree over Approach to Interconnect Quagmire
Stakeholders in the telecommunications space have disagreed over the best way to address the lingering interconnection problems arising from indebtedness in the sector.
This is coming against the backdrop of recent truck circuit limitation MTN Nigeria had placed on Glo subscribers terminating calls to its network.
This arises as a result of interconnect debt MTN claimed Glo is owing her which amounts to N7 billion.
Ike Nnamani, group managing director, Medallion communications which is operates interconnect clearing network said that Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has presented to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) a detailed report on implementation of an interconnect settlement scheme which will address the persistent issue of disconnection of operators trunk circuit as a result of interconnect debt.
“Although NCC said it is reviewing the proposal, in the face of issues like the one between MTN and Glo it is Glo subscribers that are losing and we run the risk of changing the balance in the telecommunications sector in a negative way, it can also fuel anti-competitive measure to frustrate smaller operators in the market.
“I know that its takes NCC time to grant approval for any operator to disconnect the other, but there is nothing on ground to prevent interconnection debts from pilling up,” he noted.
He cited example of Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) established by the Central Bank of Nigeria to reconcile inter- bank transactions which has been working.
However, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) disagreeing with establishment of interconnect settlement scheme said that implementing such will add another bottleneck to the issue of indebtedness.
He explained that why it is working in the banking sector is because the reconciliation does not involve movement of cash from one bank owing to the other, but exchange of legal tender instrument.
“The issues we have in telecom sector are commercial dispute arising from commercial transactions, I advise all parties to return to negotiation table and agree on a settlement plan. I understand some are disputing the invoice given to them, I urge such operator to pay the amount that are not in dispute and negotiate the different.
“What we have today is live network where traffic is exchange on daily basis on calls, disrupting this through disconnection or limiting trunk circuit will not do the industry any good.
“I will not advocate for disconnection or limiting trunk circuit but for all the parties to honour their obligation as at when due. It won’t be fair to say ‘why are you disconnecting me? When you know you owe the other party,” he added.
Nnamani also decried the situation where operators have refused to make use of interconnect clearing houses as mandated by NCC.
“When indebtedness among operators rose to an alarming level some years back, NCC licensed interconnect clearing houses to ensure transparency in the billing process and mandated every operator to rout at least 10 percent of their traffic through the clearing platform, but, today none of the operators are anywhere close to 10 percent.
“Some are doing five percent while some are less than that, this means that more than 90 percent of traffic in the industry is exchanged directly among them which gave rise to high indebtedness as we witness today,” he said.
He explained that exchanging traffic directly among operators does not guarantee transparent billing as well gives rise to anti competition practices as we see it today.
By Oluwole Alao
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has pledged the Agency’s full support for the Corporate Affairs Commission’s (CAC) artificial intelligence–driven transformation as the Commission marked its 35th anniversary in Abuja.
Delivering a goodwill message at the celebration, which was held at the Ladi Kwali hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, Inuwa commended CAC for its uncommon consistency and resilience, noting that while many organisations rise and fall after initial success, CAC has continued on a steady growth trajectory.
“We know organisations go up and come down, but some will keep thriving, thriving, and thriving, and today, this is what we are witnessing for CAC,” he said.
Reflecting on his early engagement with the Commission, the NITDA boss recalled that the Registrar General made organisational transformation a priority from the very start of his leadership, particularly in embracing digital innovation.
According to Inuwa, the current era demands more than basic digitisation, stressing that meaningful transformation can only be achieved through the integration of artificial intelligence into core operations.
“We are in the AI era, and the only way to transform today is to embrace and integrate AI into your operations. This is exactly what the Registrar General is doing,” he stated.
He assured CAC of NITDA’s commitment to working closely with the Commission to embed AI across its numerous processes, explaining that the technology would infuse intelligence into workflows, simplify company registration and business management, and strengthen cybersecurity.
“We will make sure you integrate AI into CAC processes. With AI, it will infuse intelligence in everything you do and make things easy for Nigerians to register companies and manage businesses,” Inuwa averred.
The NITDA DG added that deploying advanced AI tools would help CAC staff stay ahead of fraudsters and curb hacking and fraudulent alterations of company records, while also safeguarding the system through responsible deployment.
“At NITDA, we will make sure you deploy ethical and responsible AI in your operations, with the right guardrails in place,” he assured.
He further described CAC’s digital reforms as bold and impactful, noting that the Commission has reduced company registration timelines from several months to as little as 24 hours. He added that further integration of AI would enhance name search and reservation, automate filings, improve corporate governance, and significantly reduce fraud.
He also highlighted NITDA’s ongoing role in reviewing CAC’s digital and AI transformation roadmaps, providing guidelines, standards, training support, and safeguards to ensure sustainable, people-centred, and secure digital services.
The NITDA DG congratulated CAC management, staff, and members of the National Assembly for their support, expressing confidence that the partnership would further strengthen Nigeria’s digital business environment in the years ahead.
The United States has warned Nigerians that overstaying their visas could jeopardise travel opportunities for other citizens seeking to visit the US for education, business, or family purposes.
The warning came amid ongoing immigration crackdowns and tighter travel restrictions under the administration of President Donald Trump.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Feb. 9, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stressed that compliance with visa rules is essential to protecting access for Nigerians who travel responsibly.
“Visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens,” the Mission said. “Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travellers and families who travel responsibly.”
The Mission also urged Nigerians to report cases of visa fraud to [email protected] or [email protected]
Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has urged creation of a unified national beneficial ownership register to bolster anti-corruption efforts and corporate transparency.
CAC
CAC Registrar-General highlighted how fragmented sectoral registers breed duplication, inconsistencies, and regulatory gaps during the Commission’s 35th anniversary Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, via representative Demola Bakare, praised CAC’s role in fostering accountable business environments that drive sustainable growth.
Global evidence links transparent institutions to stronger economies, with clear rules, accessible data, and open operations as key pillars.
CAC’s oversight on company registration, disclosure, and compliance directly builds investor trust and national integrity, closing avenues for illicit financial flows.
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