National
Tariffs increase will not be by 100%, says minister
Rising from a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on Wednesday in Abuja, Tijani said that consultations and engagements were ongoing on the issue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MNOs are proposing a 100 pee cent increase in tariffs.
According to the minister, very soon the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will approve and make the new tariffs public to Nigerians.
“You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting for 100 per cent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 per cent; the NCC will soon come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“We want to strike the balance as a government, to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly,” he said.
He said that there was a need to ensure that the telecommunication sector get its acts together to ensure that the right regulations are put in place to ensure the growth of this sector.
The Minister also said that the Federal Government would no longer leave investments on infrastructure in the sector to private companies alone.
“As a country, over time, we have left this investments in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. What the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity, people want to have access to quality service.
“A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services,” he said.
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said that the meeting with stakeholders was about the sustainability of the industry.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, like the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve 100 per cent tariff increase.
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There is still some stakeholder engagements that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two,” he said.
He said that the NCC had put a number of tools and instruments in place to ensure compliance to service quality.
He urged the MNOs to adopt simplified templates to show Nigerians charges per minute for voice calls, SMS and a megabyte of data.
“We are moving away from the regime where you will have a main rate, then you will now have a bonus which is at a different rate.
“It makes it often complicated and difficult for Nigerians to actually understand what they are being charged for. There is this agitation that the MNOs are stealing our data,” he said.
The CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Femi Adeniran, Airtel media spokesperson, said that the economic realities of rising operational and capital costs necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments.
Balsingh said that for the telecommunications companies to deliver superior connectivity and foster digital inclusion, there is need for tariff increments.
“The economic realities of rising operational and capital costs, necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments
“This is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector, while unlocking significant benefits for Nigerian consumers,” he said. (NAN)
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s federal structure is not the problem, but rather the lack of collective fiscal responsibility.
He spoke on Tuesday at Leadership Newspaper’s annual conference and awards at the State House in Abuja.
Shettima said the problems attributed to the federal system often stem from poor management of resources, not from any inherent flaw in the constitutional architecture.
He noted that the country’s challenge ”lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility”.
The vice-president said the issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues, but how such resources are utilised.
He said the administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is confronting this challenge directly through reforms.
“We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary,” Shettima said.
“To those who argue that Nigeria’s federalism is fundamentally flawed because of its fiscal nature, I urge caution. Federalism, as practised around the world, is not a one-size-fits-all system. There is no universal template. Each country’s federal arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.”
He also mentioned the pursuit of local government autonomy, which he said is being realised through the sanctity of due legal process.
Shettima also cited examples of federalism in other countries, such as Canada, Germany, and Spain, to show that no federal system is perfect and that each country’s arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.
He urged caution against romanticising foreign systems or prescribing imported solutions that fail to account for Nigeria’s distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.
“What we seek, therefore, is not a photocopy of another country’s model, but a federal structure tailored to our aspirations. It must reflect our values, ensure accountability, and foster development at all levels,” he said.
“The only road to such a destination is through sincere dialogue, and this conference is a laudable example.
“The policy choices pursued by this administration-from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills-are aimed not only at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation but also at creating a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability.”
Shettima said the greatest threats to Nigeria’s progress have stemmed from the mismanagement of resources and corruption.
He stressed that what matters most to everyday Nigerians is not the abstract theory of federalism, but whether governance delivers basic necessities like water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals.