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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe has claimed that the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai appears to be greater, smarter and bolder than all the federal ministers.
DAILY POST reports that El-rufai and some APC stalwarts recently fell out following the former’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a recent event in Abuja, the former governor declared that he no longer recognizes the ruling party, saying the APC no longer practices internal democracy.
He also accused the party of abandoning its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.
The comments didn’t go well with some allies of the president, who launched verbal attacks on the former governor.
A staunch supporter of the Tinubu’s administration, Reno Omokri accused El-rufai of orchestrating the killing of residents of Kaudna State while serving as governor.
Reno described El-rufai as a bloodthirsty tyrant, who takes pleasure in seeing “blood flowing on the streets of Kaduna”.
Amid the backlash, Igbokwe in a post on his official Facebook page, revealed why the party needs the former governor, stating that some bigwigs like El-rufai were responsible for Tinubu’s victory in 2023.
Igbokwe questioned why some cabals in the government frustrated El-rufai’s appointment after he was nominated as minister of power.
He wrote, “All things considered APC Nigeria needs the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He worked so hard for APC during the 2023 Presidential and Governorship Elections.
“I am a witness to how Gov El- Rufai, former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and one other governor went to stop the criminal Emefiele’s dubious money policy that was targeted at PBAT which nearly truncated PBAT victory. I also remember the excruciating efforts he put down to retain kaduna for APC.
“HE El-Rufai was nominated as a Minister and we allowed shenanigans and people without honour to come to hallowed chambers of the Senate to stop his nomination for reasons we do not know. If reality is to prevail he was supposed to take a bow, just walk away.
“APC allowed the interlopers to walk away with their sadistic tendencies. Now let me ask this question: Of what meat are they fed? Who among all the Ministers in the Federal Cabinet that is greater, smarter, bolder, more clever, proficient and deeper than Mallam El Rufai?
“Neglecting and ignoring our own scholar in the finest and best tradition is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable. May we never forget this stormy petrel with loads of capacity and capability. Malam El Rufai na man oooooo.
“For whatever reasons APC NIGERIA must not ignore this great man. We cannot afford to lose him to the rival party. He is one of the strong characters we cannot afford to lose at a time like this. Case rested”.
[DailyPost]
- AfBD, World Bank commit $40b to Mission 300
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined other leaders yesterday in decrying the paradox of Africa’s vast energy wealth coexisting with widespread insufficiency.
He described it as an unacceptable reality that demands urgent action.
The President joined other leaders in adopting the Dar es Salaam Declaration, which commits to providing access to electricity for 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
He was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he participated in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
The President returned to Abuja at about 7:40pm and was received by senior government officials.
The two-day Summit was hosted by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank Group.
A high point of the event was the presidential endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Declaration by African leaders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
Following the reading of the Declaration, leaders from Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia signed the document.
Through the Declaration, the leaders from the 12 countries expressed their commitment to ensuring electricity access for their citizens in the next five years.
The 12 nations plan to achieve the goal through National Energy Compacts, which identify specific policy measures to address constraints across their energy sector and set targets based on their unique context.
Speaking at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, through Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, President Tinubu stressed the need for collective efforts to bridge the continent’s energy gap.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said: “As we all know, Africa is rich in energy resources, yet millions of our citizens still lack access to reliable and affordable energy.
“This situation is unacceptable. It is our responsibility to take collective action to change this narrative.”
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its unelectrified population by 2030.
“This is an ambitious goal, but we can achieve it together.
“As Nigeria’s President, I am committed to making energy access a top priority,” he said.
He lauded the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank Group, and development partners for their collective pledge to bring electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
President Tinubu called on African leaders to prioritise energy access, emphasising collective action.
“Let us work together to create a brighter future for our citizens—where every African can access reliable and affordable energy; a future where our industries thrive, our economies grow, and our people prosper,” the President said.
Detailing the substantial progress Nigeria has achieved with the support of international development partners, President Tinubu acknowledged AfDB’s $1.1 billion, expected to provide electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026.
He noted that its $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.
“We also look forward to the AfDB’s planned $700 million investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and its planned $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide electricity for an additional two million people.
“We have equally begun making plans to ensure the effectiveness of the World Bank’s $750 million support for expanding Nigeria’s distributed energy access via mini-grids and standalone solar systems that will provide access to power to 16.2 million people,” he said.
[TheNation]
The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Describing Kanu as a political detainee, Afenifere said the continued detention is unjustifiable, calling on the President to take prompt action.
The association made this call in a communiqué signed by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, after a meeting held at the Isanya Ogbo residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
“From all circumstances, particularly since his abduction in 2021 and rendition to Nigeria and since then subjected to controversial and conflicting legal proceedings in different courts by which his fair trial may no longer be guaranteed in the opinion of reasonable members of the public, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu is indubitably a political detainee.
“In the interest of justice and national reconciliation, Afenifere urges President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu forthwith. There is no justifiable reason to continue to keep him in detention without trial,” the communiqué read.
The group also announced the appointment of Barr Dele Farotimi, as its new National Organising Secretary.
The communiqué also saw the group lament that the state of insecurity remained as sire as it was under the previous administration.
Consequently, the group called on the President to take bold, positive and ideological steps to ensure genuine protection of lives and property.
Pointing to the recent alarm of bandits’ influx by Governor Seyi Makinde, the Afenifere reiterated its demand for restructuring.
“Nigeria, with its vast territory, population and as a federation, cannot be effectively and meaningfully secured with a single command unitary police structure, thus the need for the restructuring to ensure immediate constitutional institutionalization of state police,” the communiqué read.
In attendance at the meeting presided over by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan were delegates from the six South West, Kogi and Kwara states including the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele; Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni; Chief Akin Osuntokun; Professor Akin Onigbinde; Elder Tola Mobolurin; Dr Gbola Adetuji; Olorogun Pop Ayo-Banjo and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.
[Punch]
…3,690 among non-detained immigrants, 1,454 in detention for various offences
…FG’s inter-agency c’ttee already in place, if… — NiDCOM
No fewer than 5,144 Nigerians may be affected in the initial stage of the ongoing deportation exercises from the United States of America as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants continues.
The figure includes non-US citizens of Nigeria origin in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, and Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO, non-detained docket with final orders of removal from the US and those already in ICE detention.
Efforts made to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter, at press time last night, proved abortive.
But the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, told Vanguard that the Federal Government had already put in place an inter-agency committee to tackle the matter should there be mass deportation of Nigerians by Donald Trump’s government.
However, data shared by ICE showed that a total of 1,445,549 non-US citizens from different nationalities are on the non-detained docket with final orders of removal as at November 2024, with 3,690 being Nigerians.
Fresh data from ICE also indicated that an additional 1,454 are currently in detention and are billed for deportation to Nigeria.
According to the data, 772 of the 1,454 Nigerians in ICE custody were arrested and detained for criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while the rest were arrested for other immigration violations, such as visa overstay.
It further showed that 417 were arrested and removed as at November 2024, while 884 were removed between 2019 and 2024.
The disclosure by ICE comes at a time the newly-inaugurated administration of President Trump is implementing an immigration policy aimed at ridding the United States of illegal immigrants.
Nearly 3,000 “criminal aliens” have been arrested in the first few days of the operation in the wake of the mass deportation.
Though the initial arrest and deportation were focussed on illegal immigrants with known criminal records, there is a growing concern that attention would soon shift to include other illegal immigrants, especially those in the non-detained list with orders for their removal from the states.
A “non-detained docket” refers to a list maintained by ICE that includes individuals they believe are removable non-citizens currently residing in the United States but are not held in ICE detention.
Essentially, they are people that are not currently in ICE custody but are still considered targets for potential deportation action.
Usually, ICE, with the power of final order of removal from an immigration court, will go ahead to deport a person on the non-detained docket, even though a person may be deported without a court order under the process of expedited removal.
Final order of removal
A final order of removal is usually issued against an immigrant who has violated immigration laws, has a criminal conviction or possesses an expired immigration status.
ICE said in the document that it is unable to provide a list of case-specific reasons it is unable to remove certain non-citizens on the non-detained docket with final orders.
“There are several reasons ICE is unable to effectuate removals. Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, ICE may remove non-citizens from the United States who are subject to final orders of removal issued by an immigration judge or other lawful orders, including those processed under expedited removal who either have not claimed a fear of return or received a negative credible fear determination affirmed by an immigration judge.
“However, this does not guarantee every person seeking to remain in the United States will be able to do so.
“Non-citizens may pursue a form of relief or protection from removal, which may include asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. If a non-citizen is granted any form of relief from removal, ICE is unable to effectuate the removal.
“Additionally, ICE works to remove undocumented non-citizens from the United States once they are subject to final orders of removal in a timely manner.
“The U.S. government believes every country is obligated to accept the return of its citizens and nationals who are ineligible to remain in the United States. Lack of cooperation from the foreign government delays and, in many cases, inhibits the removal process,” ICE noted.
Meanwhile, the ICE and ERO have also been mandated by President Trump to ramp-up arrest and removal actions to between 1,200and 1,500 daily.
Commenting on the removals, ICE Deputy Director and senior official performing the duties of the director, Patrick J. Lechleitner, said: “With the public release of this enforcement data, ICE is demonstrating its commitment to openness and transparency.
‘’We will continue to evaluate and enhance how the agency communicates measurable data to best inform how our officers and special agents perform their law enforcement missions in accordance with departmental and agency priorities.”
Following the directive given to Department of Justice, DOJ, law enforcement officials in the U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons authority to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Benjamine Huffman, said: “Today’s action empowers law enforcement officials at the DOJ to help identify and apprehend aliens who have illegally come into our country.
“Mobilizing these law enforcement officials will help fulfill President Trump’s promise to the American people to carry out mass deportations.
“For decades, efforts to find and apprehend illegal aliens have not been given proper resources. This is a major step in fixing that problem.”
FG’s inter-agency c’ttee already in place, if… Nidcom
Contacted yesterday for its reaction, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, however, said it was not aware of Nigerians in America being processed for deportation.
The Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the commission, Abdurahman Balogun, said though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of such development, being a consular matter, the Federal Government had already set up an inter-agency committee to handle the matter should Nigerians be deported from the US.
“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US,” Balogun said.
[Vanguard]
Johnson Olawumi, the former director-general (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has responded to Adams Oshiomhole’s allegation that retired generals are behind illegal mining.
On January 25, Oshiomhole, chairman of the senate committee on interior, alleged that retired military generals are behind the spate of illegal mining activities in the country.
The lawmaker spoke during the submission of the 2025 budget report by Sampson Ekong, chairman of the senate committee on solid minerals development, to the senate panel on appropriation.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Olawumi said Oshiomhole’s comments are “offensive and harsh” to retired generals, who had served the country honourably.
The ex-NYSC DG, who is a retired major general, called on Oshiomhole to back up his claim with concrete evidence or withdraw the allegation.
“As a former state governor and currently a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Oshiomhole sure has his facts and evidence,” Olawumi said.
“Therefore, the most responsible action expected of him is to petition such individuals or retired military generals involved in illegal mining activities to the Department of State Services (DSS) or any other relevant authorities.
“His claim that efforts in the past under President Muhammadu Buhari drew no attention is not enough. He is aware that such allegations cannot be swept under the carpet under the current dispensation.
“Senator Oshiomhole is an important personality whose statement carries heavy weight and trends across Nigeria and beyond.”
[TheCable]
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has declared that he has no plans of dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai made the clarification on Tuesday when he was asked directly about his plans by journalists at the venue of a just concluded National Conference in Abuja.
He added that he has been vocal about misgivings in the party because he wants to see a change.
“I am not leaving the APC. I don’t have such plans,” he said.
In response to further questions on why he has been hard on the party, El-Rufai said: “No, no, no, I want them to change.”
It would be recalled that El-Rufai, had while speaking on Monday, said the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has deviated from its founding mission.
Naija News reports that El-Rufai said he no longer recognizes his party. He stated that APC was created to solve a problem, but that would not be possible again.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, he said, “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
The former Minister of the Federal Captial Territory (FCT) urged Nigerians to resist incapable leaders and illiterates ascending to leadership positions.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today.
“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he clarified.
According to the ruling party, Atiku, at the national conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday, warned that judicial involvement in electoral matters somewhat imperils the nation‘s democracy.
APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, flayed the former president for alleging that President Bola Tinubu was paying confident opposition leaders a whooping N50 million each to discombobulate opposition parties in the country.
“In the Atiku era as Vice President, particularly in 2003 and 2007, the PDP conducted the worst elections in our political history. We cannot possibly forget how Atiku’s PDP heavy-handedly captured most South-West states and vowed to remain in power for 60 years.
“It was in those same years that Atiku’s former boss and then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, infamously described the election as a „do or die affair“ in a desperate attempt to annex Lagos.
“If democracy was neither derailed nor endangered in those perilous days, is it now that elections are freer, fairer and more credible that Nigeria risks losing democracy?
“The judicial branch of government is a constitutional creation like the executive and legislative branches with its constitutionally defined powers to adjudicate disputes among citizens and between citizens and the state.
„Atiku cannot wish away or seek to abolish enshrined power of the courts to intervene in civil disputes, including electoral disputes, in cases where a litigant validly invokes the authority of the court.
“It is ironic that Atiku, Nigeria’s most prolific electoral litigator, would make such a ludicrous claim that judicial involvement in electoral matters threatens democracy. His criticism of the courts and the electoral process rings hollow, given his long history of using the courts to further his political agenda. It is time for him to step back and let the democratic process unfold without his interference.
“Atiku‘s allegation that the APC-led administration was paying out 50 Million Naira to some opposition figures is simply bogus and laughable. Atiku knows his political desperation is responsible for the PDP’s catastrophic disintegration. Peddling rumours and unsubstantiated allegations should be beneath anyone in the standing of an elder statesman, a former Vice President and a serial contestant for the exalted office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The bizarre suggestion by opposition figures like Atiku, Peter Obi, and recently, aggrieved leaders like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai that our great Party may be complicit in the internal corrosion of opposition parties is pitiful and only an incompetent alibi for their crass failure to manage their affairs.
They cannot govern their parties but tout their ability to rule Africa’s most populous country.
“As discerning citizens, Nigerians know better than to be distracted by the false alarm and hollow allegations of desperate politicians whose only goal is to shore up their political relevance in the 2027 general elections,“ he added.
Barely two weeks after the Tanker Explosion Killed 100 people at Dikko Junction, Niger state, another Tanker accident occurred in the Agaie local government area of the state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the lone tanker was entirely gutted by fire, but two injuries were recorded, and no life was lost due to the accident.
It was learnt that the accident occurred between Lapai and Agaie Road immediately after the bridge separating the two towns.
An eyewitness account revealed that the driver and the conductor sustained minor injuries as the Road users and Residents of the villages along the scene of the accident stayed off the area for their safety.
Confirming this, the State command‘s Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Wasiu Abiodun said, “There was a lone fuel tanker accident with fire explosion along Agaie/Lapai road. The fuel tanker, with Reg.
No. DKA 03 A was driven by one Shamsudeen Dayabu of Matazun LGA of Katsina State on transit from Lagos to Kaduna and loaded with about forty thousand litres of PMS.“
“On reaching the Kusogbogi area of Agaie, the tanker lost control due to a busted front tyre and fell by the road into the drainage. As a result, the tanker caught fire, which affected the driver on the leg, and the motor boy was also affected.“
He said they were taken to a nearby hospital, saying, „No life was lost during the incident as the road was temporarily closed, but normalcy was later restored for road users.“
No fewer than 3,690 Nigerians are currently at risk of deportation from the United States of America.
This is part of the implementation of a broader strategy to enforce immigration laws under the Trump administration.
A document compiled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), has the breakdown of the number of non-citizens facing deportation by country of origin.
The data, as of November 24, 2024, shows that there are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.
In the document titled Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship, Mexico and El Salvador are the top two countries, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively, facing deportation. Nigeria, with 3,690 individuals, is among the countries with significant numbers of people at risk.
ICE is tasked with protecting U.S. national security by addressing cross-border crime and illegal immigration.
Reports indicate that Nigerians, along with other African immigrants, could be among the next groups targeted for deportation as Trump’s administration intensifies its efforts to clear the country of undocumented immigrants. The threat of deportation has created widespread fear among Nigerian nationals illegally residing in the U.S.
In a recent disclosure that has sent shockwaves across the Christian community, the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeome, spoke glowingly about Pastor Korede Komaiya, the General Overseer of The Master’s Place, describing him as “one of the most blessed pastors to have served and come out of Winners.”
Pastor Ibiyeome highlighted Pastor Komaiya’s exceptional results and divine favour.
He went further to call Pastor Komaiya a “master of time,” attributing his rapid rise and impactful ministry to his unique ability to align with God’s timing and purpose. He emphasised that no one who has left Winners Chapel, the ministry founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, has achieved the level of success and influence that Pastor Komaiya has attained.
This statement has sparked conversations about the significance of divine timing, faithfulness in service, and the power of God’s blessings in ministry. Pastor Komaiya, known for his dynamic teachings and transformative leadership, continues to inspire many with his journey from serving in Winners Chapel to leading a globally impactful ministry.
As the Christian community reflects on the insights, one thing is clear: Pastor Korede Komaiya’s story is a testament to the power of divine alignment, hard work, and unwavering faith. His journey serves as a reminder that when God’s timing meets human dedication, extraordinary results follow.
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The Pa Ayo Adebanjo-led faction of Afenifere, a prominent Yoruba sociopolitical group, has appointed lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi as its National Organising Secretary.
Naija News reports that the decision was made at a general meeting held at Adebanjo’s residence in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, on Tuesday.
This development was disclosed in a communiqué jointly signed by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.
The statement read: “The General Meeting considered and approved the appointment of Barrister Dele Farotimi as the National Organising Secretary of the Afenifere.”
Farotimi’s new role comes shortly after Aare Afe Babalola, a renowned legal icon, agreed to withdraw a defamation lawsuit against him.
The suit stemmed from alleged defamatory remarks in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Farotimi had been arraigned in an Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti and granted bail in the sum of ₦30 million.
His legal troubles drew public attention, particularly as they coincided with high-profile interventions by figures like the Ooni of Ife, which ultimately led to Babalola’s decision to withdraw the case.
The presidency has highlighted some major points articulated by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday during his speech at the Energy Summit in Tanzania.
The highlights of the President’s speech were shared on the X platform by his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
Among other things, he noted that the Nigerian government fully supports the move to transform the energy capacity of Africa by bringing access to electricity to 300 million people by 2030.
The presidential media aide disclosed that Tinubu, in his speech, said Nigeria is heavily invested in renewable energy development as the federal government is in the final stages of developing an EV charging infrastructure across the country, with 100 electric buses already procured in the first phase.
Olusegun said the current administration attracted new investments totalling ₦6 billion in 2024 alone for energy-related projects.
He wrote: “Nigeria fully supports the objectives of the World Bank, African Development Bank, @RockefellerFdn, and @EnergyAlliance to transform the energy capacity of Africa by bringing access to electricity to 300 million people by 2030.
“The African Development Bank has a $1.1 billion investment in Nigeria’s electricity sector which is expected to provide electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026; while another $200 million Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.
“Nigeria is heavily invested in renewable energy development as the federal government is in the final stages of developing an EV charging infrastructure across the country with 100 electric buses already procured in the first phase.
“New investments totaling N6 billion were attracted in 2024 alone as the administration continues to provide incentives to those interested in investing in renewable energy, and oil and gas energy efficiency in the country.
“Nigeria is looking forward to actualizing the Desert to Power program for which the African Development Bank has promised a $700m facility.
“Other renewable energy projects in Nigeria include the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System which is expected to provide electricity for an additional 2 million people and the distributed energy access via mini-grids and standalone solar systems that are expected to provide access to power to 16.2 million people; a project to be supported by the World Bank.”
Mrs Blessing, daughter of the Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, has died.
LEADERSHIP gathered the deceased, who recently got married about seven months ago, died from complications arising from childbirth in a Port Harcourt, Rivers State hospital.
Condolences from government officials, politicians and friends have been pouring in for the bereaved family in their moment of grief.
Nigerians are mounting a resolute challenge to the contentious 50 per cent increase in call and data tariffs, with telecom subscribers and advocacy groups escalating the matter to the courts following unsuccessful attempts to engage the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers declared its intention to initiate legal proceedings against the telecom regulator on Wednesday, citing the NCC’s failure to address its demand for a reduction of the tariff hike to a more acceptable 10 per cent.
Announced last week Monday, the tariff hike—marking the first adjustment in over a decade—has ignited widespread concerns from critics like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
These groups, including NATCOMS, contend that the increase exacerbates already challenging economic conditions, disproportionately affecting low-income households and small businesses struggling to navigate rising inflation and a volatile economic climate.
Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, defended the tariff hike, describing it as a critical measure to ensure the survival and growth of the telecommunications sector while protecting consumer interests.
CEO Balsingh noted that the development underscores the regulator’s commitment to fostering sustainability and enhancing investment in the telecommunications industry for superior service delivery.
“The tariff adjustment reflects a balanced approach to ensuring the sustainability of the telecom sector while safeguarding the interests of consumers.
“The price increase, which was highly needed for the survival and continued growth of the industry, will enable us to continue investing in network infrastructure, expanding coverage, and delivering improved products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he said in a statement.
The operator said it remains committed to its mission of bridging the digital divide by offering reliable and affordable telecommunications services.
With Nigeria’s vibrant economy and dynamic population, the company believes the decision by NCC creates an environment conducive to innovation and growth, benefiting consumers and the industry alike.
“We are confident that this development will pave the way for even greater advancements in telecommunications services across the country,” added Balsingh. “Our focus remains on providing exceptional customer satisfaction while contributing to the long-term sustainability of the industry.”
The subscriber group, which represents 157 million Nigerians who rely on affordable telecom services, on Friday initiated talks via correspondence, requesting the NCC reconsider its stands within three working days. The regulator failed to do so.
NATCOMS President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, who spoke to The PUNCH on Tuesday, revealed the NCC’s inaction to respond to its request, which has left consumers increasingly disillusioned by the rising cost of telecom services.
Ogunbanjo stated, “We gave them until the end of the day (Tuesday) to respond. Since we have not received any response, we are moving forward with the court process starting tomorrow (Wednesday).
The Director of Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, had not responded to questions put forward by our correspondent via text messages as of the time of filing this report.
Ogunbanjo said the letter sent to NCC highlighted the burden that the 50 per cent hike places on subscribers, especially those in lower-income brackets who rely on affordable communication services for their daily activities.
The NATCOMS President said, “Our National Secretary informed us that the NCC has until 11:59 pm today (Tuesday) to respond. They can still reply through their website, which is available 24/7, but with no word from them, we are left with no choice but to proceed with legal action.”
The association’s decision to move forward with court action is now imminent, with the plea letter scheduled to be released to the press tomorrow.
Adding to the mounting legal pressure on the NCC, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project also filed a lawsuit last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the government of President Bola Tinubu. The rights group described the tariff hike as “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.”
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, SERAP is asking the court to determine whether the NCC’s decision to authorise the tariff hike violates Nigerians’ freedom of expression and access to information.
“The unilateral decision by the NCC to authorise telcos to hike telecom tariffs by 50 per cent is arbitrary and inconsistent with constitutional guarantees,” SERAP said in its filing.
SERAP is also seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the NCC, its officers, agents, privies, assigns, or any other person or persons acting on its instructions from further implementing, enforcing and doing any act to give effect to the decision of the NCC authorizing telecom tariff hike by 50 percent.
While telecom operators justify the hike, which is supposed to take effect in February as a necessary step to sustain their businesses, many are also planning to expand their infrastructure to improve services.
Several major players have outlined plans to invest in network upgrades, better coverage, and more reliable connections, all aimed at making the higher tariffs more justifiable in the eyes of consumers.
These moves are part of broader efforts to adapt to the increasing demand for digital services as Nigeria’s telecom sector continues to grow.
However, analysts caution that the tariff hike alone may not solve the sector’s underlying issues. Despite the price increase, telecom companies continue to struggle with volatile exchange rates, which add pressure to their already strained financial models.
The fluctuating value of the naira against the dollar makes it difficult for telecom operators to plan long-term investments and cover operational costs, even with a tariff hike.
Stakeholders support hike
However, several Federal Government agencies and industry stakeholders, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have voiced their support for the tariff adjustment.
They argue that the hike is a necessary step toward addressing the operational challenges faced by telecom operators and have called for corresponding improvements in service quality to justify the increase.
On Monday, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement calling on telecom operators in the country to improve their service delivery and support the government in automating its services.
The Director-General of LCCI, Chinyere Almona, urged the regulators on operational cost efficiency for businesses to help drive down their production costs.
“Looking beyond the hike, the operators and regulators need to settle down into delivering quality services to drive operational cost efficiency for businesses and support the automation of government services.”
Defending the adjustment, Finance Minister Wale Edun emphasised the need to account for rising inflation and operational costs that have accumulated over the past 12 years.
He said this during an interview on Arise News at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week.
“There is a need to reflect the fact that over 12 years, there has been a rise in costs, there has been inflation, and that needs to be reflected,” Edun stated. He described the hike as a balancing act, aimed at enabling telecom operators to maintain sustainability while safeguarding consumer interests.
Edun further highlighted the government’s primary objective of ensuring that telecom operators deliver efficient services. “We don’t want dropped calls. We want good quality services from them. And at the same time, we want them growing, employing people, and adding to the country’s GDP,” he said.
Last week, Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayor, told The PUNCH that many systems within the telecom sector are outdated and equipment requires optimisation.
“We are actively working on improving the cost-mile experience significantly,” he said. Our goal is long-term sustainability—no telecom operator wants to provide poor service quality. Every minute of uptime contributes to revenue, and it’s crucial that we show tangible improvements in user experience and deliver something better to subscribers.”
MTN, the biggest operator, noted that the development is a significant milestone in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the telecom sector while empowering millions of people and businesses and contributing to the country’s overall economic development.
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, stated, “This tariff adjustment represents an important step towards addressing the impacts of the prevailing economic challenges on our business and industry.
“It will enable us to maintain the critical investments required to deliver reliable, high-quality services to Nigerians. We remain committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and driving inclusive growth for all stakeholders.”