Business
FG Says “No to 100% Tariffs Hike by Telcos”
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There are still some stakeholder engagements that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two.
The Federal Government has approved the planned hikes in telecom tariffs by MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, but it will not be the 100 percent that telecom operators are pushing for at the moment.
This was the outcome of a stakeholders’ meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Minister disclosed during the consultations and engagements meeting that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would soon approve the new tariffs and make it public to Nigerians.
He said: “You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariff. They are requesting for 100 percent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 percent. We are still looking at that study and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“We want to strike the balance as a government to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly.
“We need to ensure that as a sector, we get our acts together, ensure that from the regulation side, we put the right regulations in place that can ensure the growth of this sector.”
The Minister also noted that the Federal Government would no longer leave investments in infrastructure in the sector to private companies alone.
As a country, over time, we have left these investments in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. I think what the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity.
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said that the meeting with stakeholders was about the sustainability of the industry.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, as the Minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve a 100 percent tariff increase.
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There are still some stakeholder engagements that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two.
” He said that the NCC had put some tools and instruments into place by revising its quality of service regulations for compliance service quality. He said that the MNOs must comply with simplified templates to show Nigerians charges per minute for voice calls, SMS, and a megabyte of data.
We are moving away from the regime where you will have a main rate, then you will now have a bonus which is at a different rate.
“It makes it often complicated for Nigerians to understand what they are being charged for.
“This is one of the things when we took a lot of time over the past year looking at data there is this agitation that the MNOs are stealing our data,” he said
The CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Femi Adeniran, Airtel media spokesperson, noted that for the telecoms commitment to delivering superior connectivity and fostering digital inclusion, there is need for tariff increments.
“The economic realities of rising operational and capital costs necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments.
This is aimed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector while unlocking significant benefits for Nigerian consumers,” he said.
Business
FedEx founder and former boss Fred Smith dies aged 80
Born in 1944, Mr Smith started FedEx with 389 staff and 14 small planes that carried 186 packages from Memphis to 25 cities within the US.
Image credit: Getty Images
Fred Smith, founder of the US parcel delivery giant Federal Express, has died at the age of 80, the company has announced.
Mr Smith founded the firm in 1973 having previously served in the US Marine Corps.
He ran the company as CEO until 2022.”Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company.
He was the heart and soul of FedEx,” current boss Raj Subramaniam wrote in a memo to staff.
Born in 1944, Mr Smith started FedEx with 389 staff and 14 small planes that carried 186 packages from Memphis to 25 cities within the US.
(BBC)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is expected to name a new spokesperson soon, following the resignation of the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO), Olufemi Soneye.
In a statement made available to the press in Abuja on Saturday, Soneye thanked his former employer and colleagues for their support during his tenure as CCCO.
He stated that his decision to step down was to enable him to devote more time to his family and attend to personal responsibilities that require his closer presence.
The statement read: “Dear Esteemed Colleagues, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months.
“Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.
“I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd. This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.
“It has been a profound honour to serve both the Company and our country and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd.
I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals—both within and outside the organization—with whom I have worked.
“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the Company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future.”
Soneye was appointed as NNPCL’s spokesman in October 2023, following a company-wide reorganisation that saw him replace Garba Muhammad.When contacted by Tribune Online, Soneye confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, my bro! E ku weekend.”
Heineken has lost operational control and withdrawn its staff from facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CNN on Saturday quoted that the Dutch brewer announced on Friday.
In March, the company had suspended operations in three eastern cities, citing safety concerns after breweries were damaged and depots raided during clashes between government forces and rebels.
On Friday, Heineken said the situation had worsened. Armed groups have taken control of its sites in Bukavu and Goma—eastern Congo’s largest cities—as well as surrounding areas.
“The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control,” it said in a statement.
Heineken’s local unit, Bralima, continues to operate in parts of the country not affected by the fighting. The company said it is monitoring developments closely.
Heineken owns four breweries in the DRC, producing its namesake beer along with local brands such as Primus. It previously said its Bukavu facilities employed about 1,000 people directly and indirectly.
“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees,” Friday’s statement read.
Reuters also reported, “We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and we have continued to support them financially.”
Nearly 14 per cent of Heineken’s total revenue comes from its Middle East and Africa operations, with Congo—home to over 100 million people—a significant market.
Before the suspension, operations in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira represented roughly one-third of Heineken’s business in the country.
Conflict in eastern Congo has intensified in 2025, with the M23 rebel group making major territorial gains, sparking fears of broader regional instability.
Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons—allegations Rwanda has consistently denied.
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