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Economy

Nigeria’s Telecom subscriptions surge as Airtel, MTN drive sector growth

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Airtel, MTN

Nigeria’s Telecom subscriptions surge as Airtel, MTN drive sector growth

The telecoms regulator said that this robust recovery followed a period of decline, which saw subscriptions plummet to 154,904,827 in September 2024.

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has witnessed a robust recovery, with active subscriptions surging to 169.3 million in January 2025, up from 164.9 million in December 2024.

The Nigerian Communications Commission said this in industry statistics on its website.

The telecoms regulator said that this robust recovery followed a period of decline, which saw subscriptions plummet to 154,904,827 in September 2024.

It said the decline in subscriptions was largely due to the mass deactivation of over 42 million SIM cards in February 2024 and the sector’s rebasing in September 2024.

The NCC, however, noted that the sector had gradually regained momentum, with subscriptions increasing to 164,926,599 in December 2024 before reaching the current high of 169,318,076 in January 2025.

The growth was driven by two network operators, MTN and Airtel, that recorded an increase in their subscriber base in the month under review, marking a significant increase from the 76.08 per cent recorded in December 2024, said NCC.

On market share, the industry statistics showed that MTN Nigeria solidified its position by increasing its market share to 51.7 per cent with 87.5 million subscribers in January 2025, up from 84.6 million in December 2024.

It said Airtel also demonstrated resilience, expanding its subscriber base to 57.6 million with a market share of 34.1 per cent, up from 56.6 million in the preceding month.

Earlier and current NCC statistics showed that Globacom, which faced a decline in subscribers earlier in 2024 due to a regulatory audit, was gradually showing signs of recovery.

It showed that Globacom grew its subscriber base from 20.1 million in December 2024 to 20.5 million in January 2025.

On the other hand, the statistics showed that 9mobile’s market share continued to decline, a far cry from 9mobile’s erstwhile dominance, when it boasted 23.4 million subscribers and a 15.7 per cent market share in 2015.

“The company’s stagnant subscriber base, which has remained unchanged at 3.2 million for three consecutive months, further accentuates this decline,” NCC said.

On porting activities, industry statistics showed that Nigeria’s fourth mobile network operator, 9mobile, has continued to experience a decline in its subscriber base, with 6716 customers porting out of its network in January.

According to the NCC’s report on incoming and outgoing porting activities of mobile network operators, a total of 8708 subscribers moved from one network to another in January.

The report showed that other operators recorded insignificant outgoing porting numbers compared to 9mobile.

According to the NCC, MTN lost 1188 customers, Airtel recorded 399 outgoing porting, Globacom recorded 405, and 9mobile lost 6,716 in January.

Airtel, MTN

Airtel, MTN

In terms of incoming porting, MTN gained the most customers from other operators, with 5,551 subscribers joining its network, the regulatory body revealed.

The report showed that Airtel recorded 2414 incoming porting, while Globacom gained 736 customers.
Meanwhile, the NCC statistics noted that 9mobile recorded only seven incoming portings for the month of January.

Looking at the report, we can see that there were more incoming and outgoing porting activities in January 2025 than in December 2024.

It said that a total of 2998 activities were recorded in December 2024, while January 2025 had 8708 porting activities.

The report revealed an increase of 5710 in mobile number portability activities in January 2025 when compared to December 2024.

Economy

Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe

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Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe

Government approves N1.149bn for solar street lights, infrastructure in Gombe. He said the governor approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.

The Gombe government has approved N1.149 billion for the installation of solar street lights and other infrastructure in three local government areas of the state.

Mahmood Yusuf, director-general, Joint Project Development Agency, stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Gombe.

He said the Joint Project Council (JPC) meeting chaired by Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.

Mr Yusuf listed the projects to include the installation of solar street lights on newly constructed roads in Kumo at the total cost of N740 million; fencing of the NALDA market and installation of solar street lights at Kwadon area of Yamaltu/Deba, costing N362 million.

He said that N47 million has been approved for the expansion of the grains market and construction of six public toilets in Billiri.
Mr Yusuf said that the N112 million grain market project was approved in 2024, but reviewed upward to N159 million, to provide six additional toilets.

The director said the council also approved the deployment of GOSTEC and Operation Hatara personnel, to scale surveillance in schools and cemeteries in the state.

He said the measure was sequel to complaints over spate of theft in public buildings by the ALGON Chairman, Sani Haruna.

“The council has resolved to implement stricter security measures by deploying GOSTEC and Operation Hattara to enhance surveillance. The scope of Operation Hattara would be expanded to cover all the 11 LGAs,” he said.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Also, Fatima-Binta Bello, chairperson, Shongom Local Government Council, expressed readiness to consolidate on Mr Yahaya’s achievements in education and health sectors.

She stressed the need to strengthen human resources through recruitment of qualified personnel to address manpower gaps and enhance quality service delivery, especially at primary healthcare and basic education level.

Similarly; Ahmad Wali, chairman, Kwami LGC, said the council had initiated resurvey and remapping of grazing reserves and cattle routes to check farmer/herder clashes.

He warned that anyone found encroaching cattle routes and grazing lands would be sanctioned.

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Akwa Ibom

Umo Eno Is Committed To Blue Economy, Maritime Development: Oil , Gas

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Umo Eno

Umo Eno Is Committed To Blue Economy, Maritime Development: Oil , Gas

Umo Eno is committed to blue economy, maritime development: Oil , Gas . Akwa Ibom Oil and Gas Professionals have been assured of the commitment of the state government to harnessing the potentials of the blue economy and the extensive maritime development.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reiterated the commitment of the state government to harnessing the potentials when he hosted members of the Akwa Ibom Oil and Gas Professionals to a courtesy call in his office on Thursday, March 13.

He said the recent commissioning of the Surge Protections project and development of Surge lines in Oron, was a demonstration of Governor Umo Eno’s dedication to maritime development, emphasising that the action would bring greater focus on maritime transport and recreation in the area.

Highlighting the significance of the Ibom Deep Seaport, which he described as a foundation for future development, Comrade Ememobong acknowledged the importance of a collaboration between the Ministry and the maritime oil and gas professionals and assured them of his readiness to work together with them, in order to drive growth and development in the maritime sector so as to achieve the long-term objectives of the state in the maritime sector.

The Commissioner stated that the industrial city envisioned by the Governor aims to build indigenous capacity and ensure local participation in its development, saying, “This is where the local content law comes into play, requiring that a certain percentage of the project’s workforce, services, and materials be sourced locally.”

“To activate this law, however, there needs to be available capacity among local individuals and businesses.

This is why His Excellency has prioritised capacity procurement, which ensures that the necessary skills and resources are in place before project execution begins. By doing so, the government can guarantee that local communities are well-prepared to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the industrial city’s development,” he emphasised.

Comrade Ememobong seized the occasion to commend the technical committee, led by Mrs. Mfon Usoro, in driving the Ibom Deep Seaport project forward, saying the committee is ready to collaborate with key stakeholders to turn the vision of the Ibom Deep Seaport into a reality.

Earlier, while addressing the Commissioner, the leader of the delegation and Secretary General Port State Control for the West and Central African Region, Captain Sunday Umoren, expressed his team’s enthusiasm in supporting the development of Akwa Ibom State’s maritime sector.

As indigenes of the state, with expertise in various sectors of the maritime cluster, they seek to give back by investing in human capacity building, in view of the upcoming Ibom Deep Seaport.

Umo Eno

Umo Eno

“We are here to render our services to you; we will respect your support in planning because the deep seaport is coming: the port is just a notch, but there are other aspects to port development, which if we don’t position ourselves very well, we may end up having a deep seaport in Akwa Ibom but not making the best out of it.” He said.

Other members of the team were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project and Director of Project, Ibom Deep Seaport, Engr. Akaninyene Ekong; Former District Surveyor NIMASA, Marine Surveyor Engr. Eyo James; and Project Lead, Shell UK, Adjunct Professor John Moores University, UK, Prof Maurice Asuquo.

Also on the team were the Chief Engineer, Jad Construction limited, Warri, Engr. Iniobong Ebong; Marine Pilot, Nigerian Ports Authority, Bonny/Port Harcourt Pilotage District, Rivers Port Complex, Nkopuyo Abraham.

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Economy

Tinubu Reveals How Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria; He Quickly Saved The Country

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Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria

Tinubu Reveals How Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria; He Quickly Saved The Country

Tinubu reveals how Buhari almost bankrupted Nigeria; He quickly saved The country. The statement came hours after Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement Thursday afternoon reiterating his loyalty to the president and the ruling APC.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said he took over a Nigeria that was in the throes of bankruptcy after eight years of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari.

“Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse,” Mr Tinubu said during a meeting with a group of supporters at the State House in Abuja.
The Nigerian leader has faced criticism for mishandling the economy after inflation soared for consumer items nationwide, a development analyst blamed mainly on the president’s decision to eliminate subsidies on essential petroleum products.

Mr Buhari was the first politician to be elected president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, serving two terms of four years each from 2015 to 2023. He handed power to Mr Tinubu on the same platform, arguing during his last days in office that he had turned the nation’s socio-economic conditions around during his tenure.

Both leaders remained key political allies, and Mr Buhari issued a statement earlier on Thursday reiterating his loyalty to Mr Tinubu and the APC, following rumours that the former president was considering joining a budding alliance to defeat Mr Tinubu at the ballot in 2027.

It was unclear how Mr Tinubu’s statement would be received by Mr Buhari, who now lives in Kaduna following his exit from power.

A spokesman for the former president did not immediately return a request seeking comments about his successor’s statement Thursday night.

A State House press release said the president sought to assuage citizens that conditions would continue to improve after inflation showed signs of cooling in recent months.

Read the full press statement as issued by the president’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga below:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu articulated on Thursday the rationale behind his administration’s economic reforms, saying the primary motive was protecting the interests of future generations.
.
“For 50 years, Nigeria was spending money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future,” he said.

He made these remarks at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, during which he served as a Senator representing Lagos West.

The President highlighted the challenges faced at the beginning of his administration, especially economic and social issues, and expressed his gratitude for the delegation’s support in addressing these difficulties:

“We faced serious headwinds when I took over, very challenging times. Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse.

President Tinubu declared that the administration had been able to stem the tide and expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their collective support in turning things around.

“Today, we are sitting pretty on a good foundation. We have reversed the problem; the Exchange rate is stabilising. Food prices are coming down, especially during Ramadan. We will have light at the end of the tunnel.”

He said firm adherence to democratic tenets is the best route to economic, social, and political development.

“I am happy that you are holding to your belief in democracy. I thank you for keeping faith and remembering how we started. Some people missed the ball.

“Some leadership failed, but we kept the faith with our democratic beliefs and freedom and the right to aspire to the highest office in the land. I am benefitting from it.”

Senator Emmanuel Chiedoziem Nwaka, who spoke on behalf of the group, expressed his delight at some of the programmes that the Tinubu administration had implemented, especially the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and at what the two organisations were offering Nigerians.

“I appreciate you for what you are giving to students because the student population is the largest demographic in the country. I’ve spoken with many of them, and many have benefited from it.

Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria

Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria

“And the next one is the CREDICORP. That’s a major way of fighting corruption. You see a young man, you come out of school, you want to buy a car, you have to put down cash, you want to buy a house, and you are not married, but with the CREDICORP, you can get things done. I’m following their activities; we are delighted,” he said.

Other members of the delegation were Sen. Bako Aufara Musa, Hon. Terwase Orbunde, Hon. Wasiu Logun, Hon. Amina Aliyu, High Chief Obi Anoliefo and Hon. Eze Nwauwa.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
March 13, 2025

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