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
UAE announces exit from OPEC, OPEC+ amid Iran war tensions
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters the decision followed a strategic review of the country’s energy direction.
The United Arab Emirates has announced it is withdrawing from OPEC and the broader OPEC+, delivering a significant setback to the oil-producing bloc and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the ongoing Iran war has triggered a major global energy shock.
Reuters reported that the departure of the UAE, a longstanding member of OPEC, is expected to create uncertainty within the group, which has traditionally maintained a united front despite internal disagreements over geopolitics and production quotas.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters the decision followed a strategic review of the country’s energy direction.
This is a policy decision, it has been done after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production,” said the energy minister.
When asked whether the UAE consulted with Saudi Arabia, he said the country did not raise the issue with any other nation.
The decision comes amid mounting tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Gulf producers have struggled to move exports due to Iranian threats and attacks on vessels.
The strategic waterway typically handles about a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Business
Zenith Bank Opens Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary tomorrow
Group Managing Director, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, said the expansion reflects the vision of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, to build a global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets.
• Zenith Bank GMD, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji
An official opening ceremony of Zenith Bank Plc Côte d’Ivoire is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and is expected to draw senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and , as well as business leaders and members of the diplomatic community.
The subsidiary will be led by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cédric Tano, who said the bank’s entry into Côte d’Ivoire comes at a time of strong economic growth and increasing regional integration, adding that it aims to combine global best practices with local market insight to support businesses, facilitate cross-border trade and contribute to economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider WAEMU region.
In a statement, the bank said that the subsidiary was licensed in December 2025 by the Ministry of Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, will operate from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan.
The bank said that the new subsidiary is positioned to support cross-border trade and investment, with a focus on corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, and structured financial solutions for businesses operating across Africa and internationally.
Group Managing Director, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, said the expansion reflects the vision of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, to build a global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets.
Business
NACCIMA Set Up Export Express Support Center To Boost Non-oil Exports Trade
Chairman of the NACCIMA Export Group, Kola Awe, said that the initiative was driven by the need to improve export performance, noting that only a small fraction of registered exporters accounts for a significant share of the country’s export value.
NACCIMA has established an Export Express Support Centre as a practical intervention to simplify export processes and provide direct support to businesses.
At the event, Polaris Bank Plc donated equipment to support the take-off of the centre, a move stakeholders described as critical to building the infrastructure needed for export development.
Chairman of the NACCIMA Export Group, Kola Awe, said that the initiative was driven by the need to improve export performance, noting that only a small fraction of registered exporters accounts for a significant share of the country’s export value.
“The centre is built on knowledge, training, innovation and support. We are not charging anybody for knowledge. It is a platform for exporters to get the information and assistance they need,” said Awe.
Awe explained that the centre would go beyond advisory by offering hands-on support to resolve issues related to logistics, documentation, procurement and regulatory compliance.
NACCIMA National President, Dr Jani Ibrahim,added that the centre was designed as a one-stop hub to guide exporters and strengthen their capacity to compete in regional and global markets.
“It will serve as a one-stop hub providing guidance, tools and technical support to exporters, helping them navigate documentation, meet standards and access new markets with confidence.
“It will serve as a one-stop hub providing guidance, tools and technical support to exporters, helping them navigate documentation, meet standards and access new markets with confidence,” he said.
UAE announces exit from OPEC, OPEC+ amid Iran war tensions
Gateman flees after murder of a manager with Okeyson Transport
Zenith Bank Opens Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary tomorrow
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Politics2 days agoWhat Does Makinde’s ‘Operation Wetie’ Allusion Mean in Nigerian Politics?
-
News2 days agoKogi Govt Warns of Establishing Schools, Orphanages At Unsecured Locations
-
News2 days agoAll Schools in Nigeria to Use Only NERDC Approved Textbooks, says Alausa
-
Business1 day agoNACCIMA Set Up Export Express Support Center To Boost Non-oil Exports Trade
-
Politics2 days ago2027: Sanwo-Olu endorses deputy governor Hamzat for successor
-
Business1 day agoZenith Bank Opens Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary tomorrow
-
Crime1 day agoGateman flees after murder of a manager with Okeyson Transport
-
Business21 hours agoUAE announces exit from OPEC, OPEC+ amid Iran war tensions