Economy
Nigeria Airtel Investing Over $120m To Build Data Centre, Says CEO Reveals
Nigeria Airtel Investing Over $120m To Build Data Centre, Says CEO Reveals
Nigeria Airtel investing over $120m to build data centre, says CEO reveals. Airtel Nigeria says it is investing more than $120 million in building a data centre with a capacity of 38 megawatts.
On May 8, Airtel Nigeria said it is doubling its capital investment to boost digital inclusion, expand rural connectivity, and deliver enhanced service quality to Nigerians.
Highlighting its investment strategy, the company said it has accelerated the rollout of 5G technology across its sites nationwide, installed high-capacity radios, and built extensive fibre infrastructure.
Airtel added that it is building a new, state-of-the-art data centre to support its growing customer base and enhance data management capabilities.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Dinesh Balsingh, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), said the facility will be designed to handle large-scale operations.
“We are investing over $120 million. That is the kind of investment that is going on in our data centre,” Balsingh said.
He said while cloud storage will be part of the offering, the main driver for such a high-capacity facility is AI.
“When you’re building massive capacity, you can always allocate something for cloud storage. But data centres are actually for artificial intelligence,” he said.
Balsingh did not give a specific completion date but said the facility will be launched next year.
The announcement comes weeks after MTN Nigeria unveiled its own data centre, said to be the largest prefabricated commercial facility in West Africa, with an estimated investment of $255 million.
‘5G PENETRATION LOW IN NIGERIA DUE TO DEVICE COSTS’
Balsingh also addressed Nigeria’s low 5G adoption, attributing it to the limited availability and high cost of devices.

Nigeria Airtel Investing Over $120m To Build Data Centre
He said Airtel expects 5G coverage to expand rapidly in the coming months, particularly in major cities, but stressed that consumer access to affordable devices remains critical.
“Over the next few months, you will see 5G network rolling out much more rapidly,” the Airtel boss said.
“Getting devices into the market and ensuring that consumers have 5G devices is one very important aspect. Because network is available and rolling out network is something that we can even do further.”
Balsingh said Airtel is in talks with device manufacturers to explore ways of reducing costs, including redesigning components and forming partnerships to make 5G devices more accessible.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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