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50% telecom tariff hike: NATCOMS backs decision as NLC bows to FG’s pressure

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The Nigeria Labour Congress has bowed to pressure to halt its planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike.

Also, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers backed the decision by the organized Labour.

The NLC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday night.

In the MoU signed by the SGF, Senator George Akume, NLC president Joe Ajaero, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and the National Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, both parties agreed to set up a technical committee to resolve gray areas in the 50 percent telecom tariff approval.

However, NLC reiterated its rejection of the tariff hike.

“Arising from the meeting convened by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the proposed 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs in the country, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed strong opposition to, citing its potential negative impact on the Nigerian workers and the economy with a threat to proceed on a one-day nationwide mass protest, the following resolutions were reached:

That there is a need for the parties to sit together in a technical group to resolve most of the thorny areas raised during the discussion; consequently, a 10-man joint committee was set up of five (5) representatives each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); and the committee shall conclude and submit its deliberations within two (2) weeks from this 3rd day of February, 2025.

“The parties call on the Nigerian people to remain calm while this committee concludes its assignment,” the communique after the meeting stated.

Earlier, a civic society organisation known as the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, NCSCN, had announced the suspension of its planned protest against the 50 percent tariff hike.

Recall that last week, NLC announced Tuesday, 4th February, 2025, as a date for a one-day mass protest against the telecom tariff hike.

In a notice last Thursday by NLC National Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union had already asked the state congress and affiliate union to mobilise for Tuesday’s mass protest.

This comes after the Nigerian Communications Commission on January 2025 approved a 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike for operators.

The approval has sparked tariff hike controversy in Nigeria’s telecom sector.

NLC and other telecom subscribers had opposed the tariff implementation, citing the persistent economic hardship Nigerians already face.

Subscribers back nationwide protest suspension

On Monday, the National President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo recommended suspension of the nationwide protest against the 50 percent tariff hike.

According to Ogunbanjo, the protest would hinder investors’ confidence and negatively impact investment in the sector.

NATCOMS had suggested that the government should review the 50 percent telecom tariff to 10 percent.

“NLC shouldn’t conduct mass protests that will affect investors’ confidence.“

The telecom sector has been a leading example in the country.“

NLC should not protest; that would send in wrong signals to investors. They should allow civility to reign in the telecom sector.

“That is why we are supporting only a 10 percent tariff hike for operators. If that is not enough, they should look elsewhere for capitalisation.

Mobilie Network Opertors such as MTN, Airtel. GLO had earlier said that it would soon implement the new tariff hike.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, ‘Bosun Tijani, had cited rising global inflation as justification for the 50 percent telecom tariff hike approval.

The hike would see the cost of recharging calls and data and other telecom services increase by 50 percent.

Recall that the last time NCC hiked telecom tariffs was in 2013.

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Geregu power plant : Otedola sells majority shares to MA’AM Energy Limited for $750 million

Geregu Power is currently valued at N2.85 trillion, trading at N1,140 per share and remains one of the most capitalised and profitable firms on the Nigerian Exchange.

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• Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola has sold out his majority shares in Geregu Power Plc to an indigenous firm, MA’AM Energy Limited, an Abuja-based integrated energy company engaged in electricity generation and supply, energy trading and marketing.

The deal is valued at $750 million deal.

The power plant uploaded the filing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) website.

According to the details cited, the transaction was consummated through the sale of Otedola’s 95 percent stake in Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited to MA’AM Energy Limited.

According to the NGX filing, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, the majority shareholder of Geregu Power, has undergone a significant restructuring of its ownership.

The document confirms that “MA’AM Energy Ltd has acquired a 95 per cent equity interest” in Amperion Power, effectively making it the new controlling shareholder of Geregu Power Plc.Consequently, the indirect controlling interest previously held by Calvados Global Services Limited and Otedola “has been transferred to MA’AM Energy.”

The transaction, which closed yesterday, was financed by a consortium of Nigerian banks led by Zenith Bank, with Blackbirch Capital acting as financial advisers.

While the sale involved Otedola’s stake in Amperion, Geregu Power clarified that this “does not involve the direct sale or transfer of shares of Geregu Power Plc,” meaning the company’s public shareholding structure on the NGX remains unchanged.

Geregu Power is currently valued at N2.85 trillion, trading at N1,140 per share and remains one of the most capitalised and profitable firms on the Nigerian Exchange.

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2026: CPPE foresees stronger growth for Nigerian economy, people and businesses

Dr Muda Yusuf, the CEO of CPPE, stressed that the periodic marginal appreciation of the Naira, strengthened business confidence, eased imported inflation and restored predictability to pricing, contracting and investment planning.

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• Dr Muda Yusuf, the CEO of CPPE

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), has described 2025 as “a year of macroeconomic stabilisation,” for Nigeria; projecting that the economy will in 2026, transition more decisively from stabilisation to growth.

CPPE, in its review of the outgoing year, noted : ” The year 2025 marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s macroeconomic trajectory following the turbulence associated with the early phase of the government reforms.

“Exchange-rate stability emerged as the most visible achievement, with the naira largely trading within the ₦1,440–₦1,500/US$ band.”

Dr Muda Yusuf, the CEO of CPPE, stressed that the periodic marginal appreciation of the Naira, strengthened business confidence, eased imported inflation and restored predictability to pricing, contracting and investment planning.

“Inflation decelerated sharply from 24.48 percent in January to about 14.45 percent by November 2025.

The slowdown was supported by currency stability, easing logistics pressures and improving supply conditions.

Several food items and imported consumer goods recorded outright price declines, contributing to improved consumer sentiment and reduced price volatility.”

Given the above, Dr Yusuf said that overall, 2025 laid a solid foundation of macroeconomic stability.

He said : ” The outlook for 2026 is reassuring, with expectations of stronger growth, easing inflation, improving investor confidence and a gradual shift toward more inclusive expansion.

He emphasised that if reform momentum is sustained and security challenges are effectively addressed, 2026 could mark the beginning of a more robust growth phase with tangible improvements in living standards.

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Nigerians consume 1.236 million terabytes mobile data Nov’25– NCC

The NCC said that seasonal factors, including holiday promotions and increased online activity, likely boosted November’s marginal rise over October.

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says that Nigerians consumed 1.236 million terabytes (1.24 petabytes) of mobile data in November 2025, a slight increase from October’s estimated 1.235 million TB.

NCC, in the November data reports, said ” Data usage climbed progressively from lower levels earlier in the year, around 983,000 TB in April amid post-tariff adjustments, to crossing the 1 million TB threshold by mid-year. June saw 1.044 million TB, July surged to 1.131 million TB (then hailed as a record), and August reached 1.152 million TB,” said the NCC.

According to the records, month-on-month gains averaged 1.8 percent in the second half, driven by recovering subscriptions, expanded 4G coverage, and insatiable appetite for video streaming, social media, and fintech services. This all-time high reflects Nigeria’s deepening digital integration.

MTN and Airtel, controlling over 85 percent of the market, benefited most, with users averaging higher per-subscriber consumption – MTN at around 13 GB monthly and Airtel nearing 10 GB.

The NCC said that seasonal factors, including holiday promotions and increased online activity, likely boosted November’s marginal rise over October.

Broader metrics reinforce the boom: Internet subscriptions hit 144.8 million in November, while broadband penetration reached 50.58 percent (109.7 million high-speed connections), up sharply from 45.61 percent in January. Active telephony lines rebounded to 177.4 million, adding 2.1 million month-on-month, pushing teledensity to 81.8 percent.

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