Telecommunication operators in Nigeria have said they are the only service providers that have not implemented price increments in the last 11 years despite soaring inflation.

The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, disclosed this in a recent joint statement.

The associations noted that current telecom sector pricing does not align with economic realities, threatens the industry’s sustainability, and can erode investors’ confidence.

The operators said the time has come for the Nigerian Communications Commission to approve price increments for the sector.

“ALTON and ATCON respectfully reiterate that telecommunications infrastructure development requires substantial investments in network expansion, maintenance, and technology upgrades.

“Despite the adverse economic headwinds, the telecommunications industry remains the only industry yet to review its general service pricing framework upward in the last (11) years, primarily due to regulatory constraints.

“For a fully liberalized and deregulated sector, the current price control mechanism, which is not aligned with economic realities, threatens the industry’s sustainability and can erode investors’ confidence.

“ATCON and ALTON call upon the government to facilitate a constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders to address pricing challenges and establish a framework that balances consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability”, the statement by ALTON Chairman Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and the President of ATCON, Engr Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, said.

The development comes amid Nigeria’s soaring inflation, which stood at 33.20 in March 2024. This is as energy costs keep rising in Nigeria.

A delegation from South Korea has met with the management of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC.

The meeting was meant to explore collaborative options for the establishment of an Information Access Centre, IAC, in Nigeria

The IAC will help to develop critical knowledge and tools, especially in the field of communications, to promote innovation and development in Nigeria’s digital sector.

During the discussions on the project, the two sides exchanged views on strategies and best practices for the effective implementation of the Information Access Centre, IAC.

The delegation from South Korea, which includes the Executive Principal, Department of Global ICT Cooperation/Global ICT Project Team, Mr Un Jong, JI, commended the NCC’s efforts in promoting transparency and access to the telecommunications industry and expressed its willingness to support the establishment of the IAC.

With the collaboration, the partners are targeting significant improvements in the dissemination and access of information, with the attendant positive contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has advised telecommunications subscribers to opt for strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access to their mobile devices.

The NCC gave this advice through its official Facebook page,

Cyber security remains one of the big problems confronting Nigeria’s digital space but NCC believes that with conscious efforts, the security threat could be managed.

Government and its relevant agencies are also making efforts to effectively check the menace.

NCC is the leading organization dedicated to fostering a conducive environment for industry stakeholders and ensuring that telecom subscribers stay protected from cyber threats.

The Commission regularly shares valuable insights with Nigerian telecom subscribers, offering tips on how to stay safe in digital space.

The NCC shared a recent update, focusing on how cyber-attacks could be prevented, emphasizing the importance of creating strong passwords to safeguard online accounts.

The Commission urged subscribers to ensure that they have a password to log in securely.

The NCC wrote on its official Facebook page, “Protect your online accounts (such as banks and digital media) by using strong and complex passwords.”

It believes that by opting for strong passwords, individuals could defend themselves against cyber attacks

Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has been hailed over his efforts in revamping the telecoms sector.

The Citizens Watch Africa, CWA, commended the EVC for introducing reforms to boost stakeholder confidence and attract more investments in critical telecoms infrastructure.

The group, at a media briefing on Tuesday, pointed out that promoting transparency and accountability in the operations of the NCC is crucial for the growth and development of the communication sector in Nigeria, adding that it was good to see that Maida is focused on these important aspects.

Convener of the group, Pastor Dave Ogbole, said that there has been a renewed drive to promote transparency and accountability by the NCC leadership led by Maida.

He said, “This has consequently led to an improvement in the organization’s governance processes. The takeaway from this new drive is the disposition by the leadership of the NCC to ensure a level playing ground for all players in the sector.

“Citizens Watch Africa convener further stated that the new drive at the NCC has indeed re-positioned the agency for improved productivity. This has been evident in the various stakeholder engagement initiatives where feedback is gathered and examined to improve the sector.

“We are using this medium to commend the leadership of the NCC. It is highly dedicated and committed to delivering on its key mandate. The new drive at the NCC has led to a steady increase in active voice and internet subscriptions, including a drop in teledensity.

“It is instructive to state that the nation’s teledensity dropped from 115.63% to 102.30% in September. Broadband penetration dropped from 45.47% to 40.85% in the same month. The active voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,715,961 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023. In addition, Internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal increase, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,125 in September 2023.

“These are indicators of the renewed commitment by the NCC leadership to revamp the sector. Citizens Watch Africa salutes the dexterity and passion of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida. He hit the ground running with laudable policies to re-position the telecoms industry for optimal productivity.”

The group equally encouraged Maida to “continue to provide excellent leadership required at this critical point of our existence towards our drive for sustainable growth and development”.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, has seized three shipping containers of 3,000 cartons of pirated books with a conservative market value of over N300 million.

The Director-General of the commission, Dr John Asein, disclosed this in a press statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja

He said the containers were intercepted at Onne Port, Rivers, in collaboration with NCC enforcement partners – the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Department of State Services, DSS.

He disclosed that the copyright of the pirated books belongs to frontline Nigerian publishers: Africana First, Bounty Press, Evans, Learn Africa, Macmillan, Metropolitan and University Press Plc.

“Our main headache used to be with locally printed books which are easy to identify due to their poor production quality.

“But, we have since seen a surge in the importation of pirated books, especially from Asia with quality, competing with their originals.

“Many of these pirates who are agents of foreign printers now have the audacity to come into Nigeria to scout for businesses.

“Sometimes they share lists of their pirated stock with prospective customers in Nigeria through rogue networks.

“In some cases, the imports are compromised, and the documentations doctored to deceive enforcement agencies,” he said

The DG said many pirates were taking undue advantage of the zero duty on books, while unscrupulous importers make false declarations either to evade duty or as cover for smuggling.

He said, without undermining the government’s policy on ease of doing business, the Commission is working with Customs to introduce the online pre-import certification scheme to check illicit imports of books and other copyright materials.

Asein alerted importers, clearing agents, booksellers and warehouse owners to carry out due diligence when transacting book business and to always ensure proper documentation.

He said the commission would hold anyone found with copies of pirated books accountable and presumed to be complicit in the crime of piracy either as primary or secondary suspects.

He said that with the support of partner agencies and the cooperation of right owners, NCC will, more than ever before, step up its enforcement drive to decimate copyright piracy.

“Fortunately, Nigeria now has a stronger Copyright statute with stiffer penalties for criminal infringements.

“There are provisions allowing the Commission to seal premises, go after the proceeds of crimes and deal with suspected materials summarily.

“I am also pleased to note that the new Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, now expressly gives the Service powers to detain, arrest and seize any materials that infringe the Copyright Act,” he said.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has told telecommunication companies in Nigeria to extend the deactivation of SIM cards not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) from April 15, 2024, to July 31, 2024.

According to reports, the decision communicated via a letter to telcos came after a careful consideration of various challenges and requests for extensions.

The source said, “So, this particular extension from 15th April to 31st July is for those who have four SIMs linked to just one phone line.”

The disconnection process, which began in February, was rolled out in three phases. The first occurred on February 28, 2024, followed by the second phase on Friday, March 29, 2024.

Originally scheduled for April 15, 2024, the third phase has now been rescheduled to commence on July 31, 2024.

During the initial deadline on February 28, 2024, the industry regulator said about 40 million lines not linked to NINs were barred.

The source said while the exact number of lines affected by Friday’s deadline remains unclear, telecom companies are expected to proceed with disconnecting lines not linked with NINs.

Telecom operators are expected to prioritize the verification of existing subscribers over new ones during this extended period.