The number of identified areas of clusters across Nigeria without access to telecommunications services has been reduced by 53.1 per cent as of the end of 2022. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this at a recent telecoms industry stakeholders forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. Danbatta, who was represented at the forum by the Head, Pre-Licensing at the Commission, Usman Mamman, said from 207 clusters of access gaps in 2013, the industry has witnessed a reduction to 97 as of the end of 2022 by bridging 110 clusters of access…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Godswill Akpabio, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minority leader in the eight Senate, has emerged as the President of the newly inaugurated 10th Senate. The Clerk of the National Assembly, who conducted the election, declared Sen. Akpabio, who garnered 63 votes the winner and new President of the Senate, while his rival Senator-elect and former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, got 46 votes. Sen. Akpabio was the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007 and served for two terms. Before becoming a governor. Akpabio served as a commissioner in three different key ministries under Governor Victor…
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a $257.4 million (Ksh35.86 billion) debt and equity injection in Safaricom Ethiopia to support the building of its communications network in the country. IFC made the disclosure recently, stating that $157.4 million (Ksh21.93 billion) has been injected as an equity investment while the remaining $100 million (Ksh13.93 billion) is a loan. “Through this investment, we hope to help the company create a competitive market for mobile connectivity, reflecting our strategy to increase competition in the digital sector globally and reduce costs for consumers,” said Mohamed Gouled, IFC vice-president of industries. The completion of…
To expand accessibility to small, medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country, DHL said it would continue to invest in the Nigerian market and help stimulate growth. Chief Executive Officer, DHL Express, Sub-Saharan Africa, Hennie Heymans, in a chat with journalists, said DHL would continue to be at the forefront of investment in the economy and help SMEs to maximise their growth through its various programmes. He said it was important that the firm presses forward with its investments in the country so that it could continue to expand its network, thereby expanding accessibility for SMEs. According to Heymans, “We play…
Ikeja Electric (IE) has introduced a Singleview 2.0 web application to boost customer experience. This version, the firm said, is an enhanced customer self-service package with consolidated account management features purposely designed and built for Ikeja Electric’s customers, including prepaid, post-paid, maximum demand, non-maximum demand and bilateral customers. IE’s Head, Business Innovation and Transformation, Paul Ehiagbonare, said it became imperative to upgrade the Singleview platform in line with the company’s “customer-first, technology-now” mantra as this upgrade enables adequate support of a wider range of customers while empowering them with features, functionalities and possibilities for excellent customer experience. “As a forward-thinking,…
Telecom operators have accused the perceived big deposit money banks (DMBs) who owe a huge percentage of the N120 billion debts arising from the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) of being unresponsive. Acting under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), the operators also said they were yet to feel the impact of the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele in resolving the impasse as it has not translated to the payment of the debt by the big banks. UUSD is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)…
Monday, June 12, 2023, has been declared a public holiday by the federal government to celebrate Democracy Day. In a statement on Thursday, the federal government congratulated Nigerians on the occasion and wished them a Happy Democracy Day celebration. “Nigeria’s democratic journey has, like in many other climes, encountered both stormy and smooth sails, but the ship of state, its institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance. “On this memorable occasion, therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered…
Car-hailing drivers in Nigeria under the umbrella of the Amalgamated Union Of App-Based Transport Workers Of Nigeria (AUATWON), have demanded Uber and Bolt reduce their commissions. The drivers are demanding that the commission received by Uber and Bolt should be reduced by 50 per cent after the car-hailing companies increased their ride fees. In a statement on Wednesday expressing their demand, AUATWON said the drop in commission will enable them to cope with maintenance costs, spare parts and various overhead costs and the current fuel increase. They have threatened to down tools in protest if the car hailers refuse to…
9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), a leading digital bank, has partnered with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to promote financial inclusion and job creation through comprehensive financial literacy and agent banking offering. The partnership between 9PSB and LSETF is expected to run for two years, during which the joint efforts will drive digital literacy, job creation at the grassroots level, and overall financial inclusion for all residents of Lagos State. Chief Executive Officer, 9PSB, Branka Mracajac, who disclosed this in a statement, said the collaboration with LSETF is a strategic partnership initiative aimed at providing top-notch financial literacy…
One lesson on the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle I’ll never forget was a meeting I had at a company boardroom with the CFO, he was telling us how he’s been married for 12 years but he just had his first child 6 years ago and that was because one of his doctors recommended to him that his many hours of sitting was probably one of the reasons for their inability to have a child, so his doctor told him to take ice packs cushions to the office and then put them on his seat and sit on them to…