News
Insecurity: Telecom Operators Threaten Tariff Hike
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
Telecom operators have threatened an upward review of their tariffs over the rising cost of doing business and the safety of telecommunications infrastructure in the country.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria also said it is considering varying tariffs in some of the unfriendly telecommunications states in order to accommodate their demands.
The Chairman of ALTON, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, told newsmen on Thursday in Lagos that the high cost of energy and security of telecom workers was hampering operations.
“We are concerned that unless there is an intervention to save this sector, operators will have no choice but to begin a process of price review.
“Operators are very concerned about the rising cost of diesel and its implications on the general cost of business,” the ALTON chairman said.
READ ALSO: Train Attackers Give Update On victims, Ask Families To Get Prepared For Ransom
He said the government needed to do a lot more to keep the nation safe and keep telecom workers safe.
“We reaffirm our commitment to working with the security agencies in order to get the necessary support for national security.
“We now need protection from sub-national government and agencies to stop the interference of smooth operations of telecom services,” he said.
Speaking on Kogi State, the association said it was concerned about the shutting down of telecommunications facilities in the state over disputes arising from unusual taxes and levies demanded by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.
Adebayo said, “The action by KIRS was hinged on an ex-parte court order obtained by the KIRS over unsubstantiated allegations that our members are in default of tax payments to the state government, which is not the truth.”
He said operators had been denied access to critical telecom sites.
“This issue is likely to lead to a total communications blackout in the entire Kogi state, parts of Abuja and possibly impact on service availability in some parts of the following states: Nassarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Niger.These are states sharing borders with Kogi,” he said.
Adebayo said that as a result of these actions by the state government, its members were unable to refuel the power generators nor provide any support or maintenance services in the sites.
He said the situation had resulted in the outage of over 70 sites across parts of Kogi.
“The impact of these outages will gradually spread to the states mentioned above and if no action is taken within the next few days, a total outage of telecommunication sites in all these states will be catastrophically experienced.
READ ALSO: US Embassy Lists Conditions For ‘No-interview’ Visa Renewals
“To the best of our knowledge, our members have settled all statutory levies and taxes due to the Kogi government and have taken necessary steps to comply with local laws that govern business activities within the state,” Adebayo said
Speaking on the degrading quality of service in Abuja, he said, “The Federal Capital Development Authority, Directorate for Signage and Advertisement, has refused to grant telecommunication service providers permit to build infrastructure in the Federal capital city.”
Adebayo said that the refusal was affecting the quality of services around FCT and Abuja.
He urged the Federal Executive Council to prevail on the FCDA in granting approval/permit to its members to deploy infrastructure.
“ALTON and its members will no longer tolerate discriminatory charges against the sector.
” The industry is planning to begin a study on varying tariffs to some of the unfriendly telecommunications states in other to accommodate their demand,” he said.
“We want to be clear and state categorically that the action by Kogi and FCDA will jeopardize communication services provided by our members to Nigerian subscribers.”
He said it would also negatively impact the use of critical communication infrastructure by the national and state security agencies in the discharge of their duties to provide necessary security for the country.
(NAN/PUNCH)
You may like
Reps Demand Reversal Of Telecom Tariff Hike As New Fees Begin
Telecom Operators Urge FG To Cut Taxes To Boost Investments
Analyst Blasts FG Over Persistent Insecurity In Nigeria
Insecurity: Avoid 12 Nigerian States, UK Advises Citizens [SEE LIST]
Inflation: Governors To Meet Buhari Over Economic Woes, Insecurity
5% Tax: Telecoms Consumers Head For Court
News
Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X
Published
7 hours agoon
September 13, 2025By
Editor
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.
The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.
According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.
“Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.
READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X
Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.
In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.
“In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”
READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book
Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.
“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.
In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.
News
Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead
Published
7 hours agoon
September 13, 2025By
Editor
The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.
Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.
Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.
READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi
“A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.
“Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”
Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.
READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra
Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.
Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.
This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.
Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.
News
Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management
Published
9 hours agoon
September 13, 2025By
Editor
The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.
Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.
Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”
But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”
READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power
He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.
According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”
“The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.
“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”
READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down
Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.
“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”
He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”
He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”
- ADC Will Take Over Aso Rock, Lagos Govt House In 2027 — Aregbesola
- Nigerians Who Have Broken Guinness World Records
- What To Know About Albania’s AI Minister, Diella
- Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X
- Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead
- Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management
- Israel-Palestine Conflict: Nigeria, 141 Countries Endorse Two-State Solution
- Five Soft Skills Every Graduate Must Have In Today’s Job Market
- 2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge
- Start A Small Business In These 7 Steps
Trending
- Metro4 days ago
Police Vows To Arrest Killers of NSCDC Officers In Edo
- News4 days ago
FULL LIST: FG Releases Approved Subjects For Basic, Senior Secondary Education
- News5 days ago
OPINION: When The Dead Can’t Rest In Peace
- News4 days ago
Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power
- Metro4 days ago
Tragedy As Traders, Ocha Brigade Clash At Onitsha Market
- Politics4 days ago
Warri Delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo Boycott CVR, Demand S’Court Judgment Implementation
- Politics4 days ago
BREAKING: INEC Recognises David Mark-led ADC Leadership
- Headline5 days ago
US Arrests Convicted Nigerian In Illegal Migrants Crackdown
- Headline5 days ago
PDP Dead, Buried, Controlled By APC – Dino Melaye
- News4 days ago
Delta Govt Closes Six Unapproved Schools