Abuja, July 19, 2024 – The West African Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) says the digital economy in West Africa is contributing $30 billion annually to the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Aliyu Aboki, the Executive Secretary of WATRA, this at a virtual media session with the theme: “Driving Digital Transformation Prosperity Through Collaborative Regulations: The WATRA Agenda,” He said that the west African telecommunications sector was integral to the Africa market, adding that the market was valued at $63.17 billion in 2024 with over 400 million mobile subscribers. “Mobile internet …
Stakeholders at PIAFo identify obstacles to FG’s 90,000km fibre project
Abuja, July 12, 2024 – Stakeholders in the telecom industry have said the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cables across the country will face several obstacles, especially from state governments, that might truncate the project. According to them, without addressing the current issue of Right of Way charges, multiple taxation, and levies, which are under the control of state governments, the project which is to be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would be an exercise in futility. The stakeholders, who spoke during the …
FG to generate N18.3bn from digital economy by 2026 – minister
Abuja July 9, 2024 – The federal government projects to generate N18.3 billion from digital economy sector by 2026. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. The press conference, organised by the House of Representatives, was on the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill. The minister said the bill was long overdue to properly and fully harness the potential of the sector in the country. He said: “For those who follow the growth and trajectory of our …
Nigeria must join global movement towards technological advancement – Tijani
Abuja, July 8, 2024 – Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, says there is the need for Nigeria to join the global movement towards a future driven by technological advancements. The minister said this recently at a stakeholders’ workshop organised by his ministry to prepare Nigeria for the upcoming Summit of the Future at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024. The workshop was to review the zero draft document outlining Nigeria’s stance on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) ahead of the summit. …
Telecom sector recorded $191.5m FDI in Q1 2024 – NBS
Abuja, July 2, 2024 – Nigeria’s telecommunication sector generated $191.5 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2024. This was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the latest capital importation data released on Monday. This is out of the $3.38 billion total foreign investments inflow into the country during the period, up from $1.09 billion recorded in the last quarter of 2023. The FDI inflow into the telecom sector in the first quarter was against the $22.05 million recorded in the first …
Ecobank Nigeria launches super rewards ‘Millionaire Geng Promo’
….to Reward over 500 customers for loyalty Lagos, July 1, 2024 – Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group, has unveiled a deposit mobilisation campaign ‘Ecobank Super Rewards ‘Millionaire Geng Promo’ targeted at rewarding customers’ loyalty. The six-month campaign, which is set to run between July 1 and December 31, 2024, will see 540 customers of the Pan African bank winning various monetary rewards. Announcing the commencement of the campaign, the Bank’s Head of Consumer Banking, Adeola Ogunyemi, said it is part of the bank’s …
Ecobank’s “Adire Lagos” fair opens with over 100 exhibitors
Lagos, June 18, 2024 – The annual Ecobank “Adire Lagos” exhibition has taken off in grand style with over 100 exhibitors showcasing their wares. The four-day fair, which opened June 14 and ends 17th, is taking place at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) complex located in Victoria Island in Lagos. Originating from Abeokuta in Southwestern Nigeria, Adire textile is an indigenous indigo-dyed cloth made by using different wax-resistant methods to create dazzling designs. The four-day Adire exhibition, returning for the third year in a row, is to promote culture, tourism, …
Rewane calls for more new investments in telecom sector
Lagos, June 10, 2014 – Bismarck Rewane, the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), has called for more new investments in the Nigeria’s telecom sector. He said investments in the sector had dropped by 47 percent in the last two years which had crippled the market efficiency. Rewane made the call in a Lagos Business School publication where he attributed the situation to Nigeria’s economic challenges, inflation, exchange rate pressures, regulatory burden, right-of-way conundrums and multiple taxation. He said the way out is to boost investments in the …
NCC: A digital enabler of Renewed Hope Agenda
Abuja, May 30, 2024 -In Nigeria, a young tech-savvy and upwardly mobile population is teeming, and exploring derivable benefits of digital technologies. They are propelled by rapidly expanding internet access and steady broadband penetration, currently about 43 per cent. Our digital economy is poised for significant growth, positively impacting various sectors and benefiting the nation through enhanced connectivity and digital skills. Digital transformation is happening globally at a record pace. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, remote work and virtual collaboration tools took centre stage; platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft …
NGO commends Tinubu, Tijani, Maida for giant strides in telecom sector
Abuja, May 30, 2024 -The Good Governance Advocates (GGA), a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Thursday commended President Bola Tinubu for the giant strides in the telecommunication sector in the last one year. Mahmoud Abubakar, the Convener of GGA Convener, made the commendation in Abuja at a press conference on the first anniversary of Tinubu’s administration. He particularly commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani and the Chief Executive of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida for aligning with the President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ by developing a vibrant …