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.
EFCC Arraigns Former SKye Bank Chairman, Tunde Ayeni For N15.6b Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 4, 2026, arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja.
Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds to the tune N15,665,085,429 (Fifteen Billion, Six hundred and Sixty five Million, Eighty five thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira (N15,665,085,429).
Prosecution counsel E.E. Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and prosecution ready for trial.
“We have before the court 17-count charge dated April 28, 2026, we humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant”, he said.
Eereporter.com
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between 21st of October, 2014 and 19th November, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of Three billion, Two hundred and One million, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Forty two kobo(N3,201,535,429.42) by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account No: 1011295717 and 1011295718 domiciled with Zenith Bank in Violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other regulations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.
Count five of the charge reads: “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about 27th November, 2014, at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Billion, Seventy Eight million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira(N5, 078,550,000) by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s Account No: 0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank in violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other Regulations and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 312 of same Act.”
Fraud
Ayeni pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji Bashir, SAN, informed the court that the charge was given to the defendant on a public holiday adding that he considered it imperative to inform the court. He also prayed the court to release the defendant to him or return him to the custody of the EFCC.
Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while the defendant was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of bail application.
Economy
World Press Freedom Day: FG Calls For Collaboration To Address Disinformation, Misinformation
World Press Freedom Day: FG Calls For Collaboration To Address Disinformation, Misinformation
The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration among the media, government institutions, and other stakeholders to address the growing threat of disinformation and misinformation, stressing that collective action is essential to protect public trust and national stability. The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 World Press Freedom Day commemoration held at Radio House.
“This administration has prioritised collaboration with media stakeholders and international partners to promote responsible journalism, counter disinformation and misinformation,” said the Minister.
He described press freedom as a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, noting that the Federal Government remains fully committed to its protection. “The Federal Government fully recognises press freedom as a fundamental right and remains committed to fostering an environment where the media can operate freely, safely, and responsibly, in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law,” he stated.
Idris noted that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken deliberate steps to strengthen transparency and access to information through sustained media engagement, implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and investment in public communication platforms.
Eereporter.com
He further pointed to Nigeria’s partnership with UNESCO in establishing the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) in Abuja as a key step towards building a more informed and discerning public. “This pioneering initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening media and information literacy, empowering citizens to engage with information critically, and promoting responsible communication in the digital age.”
The Minister urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness, and ethical standards in their work, stressing that press freedom must go hand in hand with responsibility. “The true test of press freedom lies not in our declarations, but in our actions, how safely journalists can do their work, how truthfully information is shared, and how responsibly it is consumed,” he said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, described the event as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration across institutions.
“This gathering reflects our shared commitment to strengthening press freedom and fostering a more informed and inclusive society. It provides an opportunity for constructive engagement on how best to advance a media environment that is both free and responsible,” she said.
World Press Freedom Day
Ukaire emphasised the need for coordinated responses to the challenges posed by the evolving information ecosystem, particularly the spread of misinformation. “The expansion of digital platforms has introduced new complexities that require coordinated institutional responses, especially in addressing misinformation and strengthening public trust,” she noted.
She added that the Ministry remains committed to facilitating dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and promoting professionalism within the media space.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to working with the media, civil society, and international partners to build a resilient information system that supports democratic governance, national unity, and sustainable development.
The event was attended by the Inspector General of Police, represented by FPRO, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, mni, mnipr; the Director-General of the Department of State Services, represented by Director of Protocol M. O. Chukwuka, fsi; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dilli Ezughah; Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, represented by the Head of Communication and Information Sector, Ms Yachat Nuhu.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation
Monday, May 4, 2026
NNPC, Chinese Firms Sign MoU Towards Restart, Expansion Of Warri, Port Harcourt Refineries
The NNPC Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for collaboration through a potential Technical Equity Partnership in support of the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.
The MoU was signed by the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Chairman, Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong and Chairman of Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi, in Jiaxing City, China, on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Eereporter.com
The potential framework would cover completion of outstanding work at the two refineries, together with operating and maintaining both facilities to achieve best-in-class, sustainable performance. Planned expansion and upgrades would elevate both facilities to cleaner, more profitable product standards.
The potential collaboration also contemplates expanding the refineries’ petrochemical capacities and harnessing gas and downstream opportunities through the development of co-located, gas-based industrial hubs.
Speaking shortly after signing the dotted lines, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the MoU execution as a significant milestone, following more than six months of concerted engagement between the technical and management teams of NNPC and the two Chinese partners.
“All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success,” Ojulari noted.
NNPC
The GCEO further stated that the MoU is a significant step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner(s) to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries, and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemicals and gas-based industries.
The MoU reflects the parties’ shared intent to progress discussions in good faith, with any definitive arrangements to follow in due course and subject to customary approvals.
-
Crime12 months agoKogi Assembly Considers Law To Regulate Rent, Establish Control Board: Tenancy Law
-
News1 year agoAtiku Reveals Why He Failed To Pick Wike As Running Mate In 2023
-
Akwa Ibom1 year agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
Crime1 year agoFederal High Court Jails 2 For Vandalizing Transformer, Telecom Mast In Kogi
-
News1 year agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
Akwa Ibom1 year agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News1 year agoSenator Natasha Returns To Senate With Husband Amid Seat Dispute
-
Economy12 months agoKiyosaki: Is Tinubu’s Government Afraid Of Ibrahim Traore?