Economy
The Roaming Deal That Made 9mobile MTN’s ‘Number One Customer’: EXPLAINER
The Roaming Deal That Made 9mobile MTN’s ‘Number One Customer’: EXPLAINER
The roaming deal that made 9mobile MTN’s ‘number one customer’. On July 2, MTN Nigeria announced a three-year national roaming agreement to allow 9mobile subscribers to access MTN’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The deal was signed with the Emerging Markets Telecommunications (EMT) Services Limited — operators of 9mobile — following the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
In a corporate filing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), MTN had said the agreement would enable 9mobile customers to roam seamlessly on its network, promoting industry collaboration and improving operational efficiency.
Both telcos believe the roaming arrangement will contribute to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerate efforts to expand connectivity across the country.
Officially confirming the partnership at a press briefing on July 4, Obafemi Banigbe, the chief executive officer (CEO) of 9mobile, said the service was being tested to ensure seamless connectivity for subscribers.
“We expect that all our tests will be completed over the weekend. So, we expect that within the month of July, we will be able to have a rollout across the country based on the outcome of the tests that we have done,” Banigbe said.
WHAT IS ROAMING?
A popular term, roaming is an aspect of infrastructure sharing in the telecoms industry. According to the NCC, the service enables a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other networks.
The service is facilitated through agreements between different network operators, allowing users of one network to use the services of another network – a crucial framework for maintaining seamless connectivity for mobile users who are on the move.
WHY WAS IT NECESSARY?
The recent outburst of 9mobile subscribers over the telco’s poor service is the result of the quiet struggles of the company, which has led to the dumping of the network. 9mobile’s customer base has shrunk from 3.63 million in December 2023 to 2.6 million as at May, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The company’s network reliability has steadily declined, marked by outages, poor coverage, and slow internet speed. According to reports, limited investment under new owners, LightHouse Capital, has worsened the situation. The roaming deal with MTN is seen as a critical lifeline for 9mobile — an operator struggling to serve its 1.55 percent market share.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ROAMING SERVICES IN TELECOMS SECTOR?
The two main types are national and international roaming services.
International roaming occurs when a user travels to a different country and connects to a local network operator in that country, allowing the user to maintain mobile services while abroad. The downside is that it is more expensive as it attracts higher costs.
National roaming, on the other hand, happens when a mobile user connects to a different network operator within the same country. This is adopted in areas where the user’s home network may have limited or no coverage, allowing access to services via another domestic network. The MTN-9mobile deal is a national roaming arrangement.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
According to Javna, a communications technology provider, roaming functions through a coordinated process between the home network (the original service provider of the user) and the visited network (the local network in the area where the user is travelling). The process includes identification and authentication, agreement check, service provision, and data transfer.
Javna said when a mobile user travels to a different area, their device sends a signal which is picked up by the local (or visited) network.
The visited network identifies the user’s home network through their SIM card information and requests authentication, which also involves checking if there is a roaming agreement with the user’s home network. If such an agreement exists, it allows the device to access its services: voice, SMS, and data services.
The usage details are recorded by the visited network and sent to the home network, which then calculates the charges based on predetermined roaming fees and includes them in the user’s bill.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF 9MOBILE’S NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER THE ROAMING DEAL?
At the aforementioned press conference, Banigbe informed journalists that the deal with MTN will only apply to areas where 9mobile currently lacks coverage, stressing that the company still has its own network infrastructure.
But industry stakeholders disagree with his position.
TheCable understands that 9mobile “has no network at the moment”, since the roaming deal is active. A source said the company’s base stations are shut down, indicating that their spectrum is not in use. More so, the roaming agreement reportedly grants MTN access to 9mobile’s 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands.
WHO PAYS FOR IT?
Typically, roaming attracts additional costs when a mobile user accesses services outside their home network’s coverage area, especially during international roaming.
The MTN-9mobile deal is a commercial arrangement based on a framework that is “profitable to MTN and affordable to 9mobile”.
Under the agreement, billing for subscribers and other services will remain unchanged, further suggesting that 9mobile – described as MTN’s number one customer – will bear all costs attached to the deal.
“If your number is active, meaning you have recharged within the last 90 days, you don’t need to re-register. If you haven’t recharged, you simply recharge, and you will be able to latch onto the 9mobile network just like before,” Banigbe had said.
IS THIS THE FIRST ROAMING AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH TELCOS?
The latest agreement is not the first. In 2020, the NCC granted approval for the telcos to conduct a three-month trial of the national roaming service. The trial approval covered a few local government areas in Ondo state.
Umar Garba Danbatta, the former executive vice-chairman (EVC) of NCC, said the primary objective of the national roaming service trial was to encourage network resource sharing among operators.

The Roaming Deal That Made 9mobile MTN’s ‘Number One Customer’
Apart from the previous and current MTN-9mobile agreements, TheCable understands that there have been roaming and infrastructure sharing discussions among several operators, but not all have progressed to full commercial implementation.
“Some have taken the form of passive infrastructure sharing, while others have explored active network sharing models,” said Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
However, the MTN-9mobile deal remains the most prominent public example of active roaming between two mobile network operators in Nigeria.
Elsewhere, MTN South Africa struck a national roaming deal with Cell C, a telecom firm in the region, in 2018.
WHAT ARE INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAYING ABOUT THE AGREEMENT?
Speaking in the organisation’s half-year financial statement, Karl Toriola, MTN’s CEO, said the agreement aligns with the telco’s 2025 strategy and underscores “our commitment to industry collaboration and sustainability, in support of the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria and deepening market inclusion”.
Emoekpere described the deal as a positive development for the industry that represents a practical step toward improving service quality, expanding coverage, and optimising existing infrastructure.
He said the development also demonstrates how collaboration — rather than isolated competition — can support universal service goals and address persistent gaps in underserved areas.
Emoekpere said ATCON commends both parties for taking the step, and fully supports infrastructure sharing and collaborative partnerships that enhance service delivery while ensuring fair market dynamics.
Economy
Governor Uba Sani Presents N985.9bn ‘People-Centred’ 2026 Budget To Kaduna Assembly
Governor Uba Sani Presents N985.9bn ‘People-Centred’ 2026 Budget To Kaduna Assembly
Governor Uba Sani presents N985.9bn ‘people-centred’ 2026 budget to Kaduna assembly. Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, has presented a N985.9 billion 2026 appropriation bill to the state house of assembly for consideration and passage.
Speaking at the Lugard Hall on Monday, the governor said the draft budget emerged from “one of the widest consultation processes” ever undertaken in the state, involving traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs), women’s groups, youth associations, business leaders and vulnerable groups across all local governments.
Sani described the budget proposal as a people-centred financial plan designed to consolidate ongoing reforms in security, infrastructure, education and rural development.
He added that the contributions of farmers, traders, teachers, artisans, persons with disabilities and widows formed “the backbone” of the proposal, strengthening participatory governance and accountability.
According to the governor, the appropriation bill comprises N734.2 billion in recurrent revenue and N251.6 billion in capital receipts, with capital expenditure accounting for 71 percent of the total figure.
He said education and infrastructure each received 25 percent of the draft budget, while health was allocated 15 percent.
Agriculture received 11 percent, security six percent, social development five percent, governance five percent, and climate action four percent of the proposed budget.
The governor also announced that every one of the state’s 255 wards would receive N100 million for community-identified projects under the ward development committee, which he said is “Nigeria’s largest grassroots budget model”.
He urged lawmakers to give the budget expeditious consideration, describing it as a vision of “renewal, resilience and far-reaching vision” for every ward and local government.
Reviewing the outgoing 2025 fiscal year, Sani said the period would be remembered for “remarkable achievements and resilient advancement”, despite economic headwinds, fluctuating federal allocations and persistent security threats.
On security, he said Kaduna faced threats ranging from banditry to kidnappings and communal conflicts, adding that improved collaboration with federal security agencies has restored confidence in many troubled communities.
According to him, previously divided communities are reconciling, farmlands are reopening, and schools once shut due to insecurity have returned to full activity through the Kaduna peace model.
The governor said his administration is executing 140 road projects covering 1,335 kilometres, adding that 64 roads have been completed.
The roads, he said, have opened new economic corridors and linked long-neglected communities.
He also said the Kaduna bus rapid transit (KBRT) system would be the first in northern Nigeria, featuring CNG-powered buses, digital ticketing and a 24-kilometre dedicated corridor.
Sani noted that the interstate bus terminal in Kakuri is 75 percent completed, while the subsidised transport scheme has saved residents more than N500 million through free and discounted rides.
He added that work on the Kaduna light rail is progressing, with phase 1 targeting the Rigachikun–Sabon Tasha corridor and phase 2 planned to link Millennium City to Rigasa.
‘300,000 CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL’
The governor said education remains the “cornerstone” of his development agenda, noting that 535 schools were reopened and more than 300,000 out-of-school children returned to classrooms in 2025.
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He recalled slashing tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by 40 percent and listed other interventions, including the construction of 736 classrooms, renovation of 1,220 schools, and provision of water and sanitation facilities, furniture, and training for over 33,000 teachers.
In the health sector, Sani said all 255 primary healthcare centres have been upgraded to Level 2 status.
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He also announced the renovation of 15 general hospitals, the completion of five, and the commissioning of the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital.
He added that the state has implemented CONMESS and CONHESS, strengthened emergency services, built an oxygen plant, improved the medical warehouse and set aside ₦1 billion to insure vulnerable households.

Uba Sani Says
The governor said agricultural investment rose from N1.4 billion (2023) to N74.2 billion (2025), enabling the distribution of more than 900 trucks of free fertiliser and expanded support for irrigation, mechanisation, vaccines and seed improvement.
He added that the African Development Bank-supported $510 million special agro-industrial processing zone project is transforming the state into an agro-industrial hub.
On skills development, he highlighted the establishment of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, satellite campuses, partnerships with Microsoft and Google, and the ongoing remodelling of Panteka Market to support over 38,000 artisans.
ASSEMBLY PROMISES SPEEDY REVIEW
Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna state house of assembly, described the budget as “ambitious, comprehensive and aligned with the state’s development priorities”.
Liman said the proposal reflects a commitment to strengthening human capital, expanding rural infrastructure and ensuring balanced urban-rural development.
He commended the governor for granting lawmakers direct involvement in constituency projects and praised the executive-legislative synergy, which according to him, has accelerated development interventions.
The speaker promised a thorough review of the document and pledged that the assembly would work with the executive to ensure its speedy passage.
UBA SANI HAILS TAJUDEEN ABBAS
Meanwhile, Sani has hailed Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, as one of the most accomplished presiding officers in the history of the national assembly.
Speaking on Sunday in Zaria at the renewed hope empowerment programme sponsored by Abbas, the governor said the speaker’s ability to manage the complexities of the 360-member lower chamber sets him apart.
Sani, who was special guest of honour at the event, added that his assessment is shared by President Bola Tinubu.
“As a former senator, I know how difficult it is to preside over the house of representatives,” the governor said.
“No matter your competence, patience and hard work, one day you will be pushed to the wall. But as of today, in the history of Nigeria, no speaker has brought about development like Tajudeen Abbas,” he said.
“I’m not the one praising him; it was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who said it. I’m only repeating what he said.”
Sani said he is proud of Abbas for championing empowerment initiatives for youths and women, not only in his Zaria constituency but across Kaduna state and the country.
The governor also recalled that some political actors questioned his role in rallying support for Abbas during the contest for speaker.
“I told them my support was not based on politics. I will support anyone who will bring development to Kaduna state,” he said.
“Now, I have been vindicated by the projects he has executed and the empowerment programmes he is doing.
“I have told all legislators here that we can only be on good terms if they bring development to their people.
“Anyone who does not attract a school, hospital or any project to his constituency, we will part ways with him.”
Sani said the speaker has assisted all Kaduna federal lawmakers in securing projects for their constituencies, adding that Abbas is also personally executing projects across all 23 LGAs in the state.
He appealed for similar consideration for Sabon Gari LGA, saying residents want a stadium like the one being constructed in Zaria.
The event, held at Kofar Doka, featured the distribution of empowerment tools, including SUVs for traditional leaders; tractors, combine harvesters, fertiliser applicators and knapsack sprayers for farmers; as well as solar- and petrol-powered irrigation pumps.
Women beneficiaries also received deep freezers, grinding machines, industrial sewing machines and haulage tricycles.
Economy
APC Chieftain Asks Governor Otti To Review Levies Imposed On Aba Traders
APC Chieftain Asks Governor Otti To Review Levies Imposed On Aba Traders
APC chieftain asks governor Otti to review levies imposed on Aba traders. Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, has criticised Alex Otti, governor of Abia, over the “excessive” levies imposed on traders in Aba markets.
BACKGROUND
Some traders in Abia state recently appealed to Otti to intervene in what they described as the illegal demolition of their shops and the escalating cost of spaces in the market currently undergoing remodelling.

Alex Otti
They said the firm handling the project has not fulfilled its agreement to provide temporary accommodation and halt further demolition until existing work is completed.
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Economy
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles
FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje affected as FCTA begins enforcement on revoked property titles. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has published the names of entities and individuals linked to 1,095 property titles recently revoked over the non-payment of statutory land charges.
The affected properties are located in high-brow districts including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse.
In a public notice signed by the FCTA management, the agency said enforcement actions against the properties will commence following the expiration of the final grace period of 14 days on November 25, 2025.
The FCTA said 835 properties defaulted in payment of ground rents, while 260 properties defaulted in payment of violation fee and land use conversion fee.

Patience Jonathan
Among the individuals whose properties were listed in the notice are Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano; Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River; Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan; David Mark, former senate president; and Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor of Osun.
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