The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Save Radio Nigeria, Kaduna

    Save Radio Nigeria, Kaduna

    • By Ibrahim Mustapha

    Sir: Radio Nigeria Kaduna stands as a historically significant broadcast institution in Nigeria. Founded in 1962 by a regional government and later integrated into the federal broadcasting system, it played key roles in national communication and development, spreading educational and cultural programs across the Hausa-speaking world.

    Despite facing infrastructure and relevance challenges in recent decades, its legacy as one of Africa’s most influential radio stations remains widely acknowledged.

    Radio Nigeria Kaduna (also known as Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN Kaduna) transmits its programmes using different types of radio broadcast technologies so people can receive the signals on ordinary radio receivers.

    Historically, Radio Nigeria Kaduna used shortwave (SW) frequencies to cover very long distances — reaching listeners across northern Nigeria and even other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Its Kaduna station broadcasts on medium wave (often called AM), which uses lower frequencies and cover a wide area, especially at night just as the FM frequencies serve local and regional audiences in Kaduna and nearby areas.

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    However, the shortwave service which covers wide range of services has largely collapsed and have not been operational thereby robbing the wider audiences the benefits of enjoying the hitherto various Hausa services provided by the station across the length and breadth of the country. Instead of focusing on rehabilitating the short wave transmission, the management now places more emphasis on online streaming through which listeners can access the station’s programmes anywhere via internet. With high cost of data, many regular listeners who relied on short wave (SW) transmission to enjoy their daily broadcasting programmes have been shut out of the station.

    The zonal director should go beyond lamentations or creating an alternative channel for Hausa, Nupe, Kanuri, Fulfulde listeners to fix the short wave (SW) transmission which covers wide areas. Radio Nigeria Kaduna is a historical station and a household name not only within Kaduna but entire northern Nigeria. Despite its   importance, radio station has continued to lose listeners due to the collapse of the Short wave (SW) transmission.

    With the Tinubu government’s policies and programmes, the need for sensitisation and passing of information to Nigerians in the language they understand and through the medium that is accessible to everyone is of paramount importance. It has therefore become imperative to quickly fix the SW for wider coverage. I am hereby appealing to the minister of information and communication to come to the aid of this historical and educative radio station by prevailing on the zonal director to do the needful and save the station before it collapses.

    •Ibrahim Mustapha,

    Pambegua, Kaduna State

  • Before we crucify Victor Osimhen!

    Before we crucify Victor Osimhen!

    • By Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun

    Sir: Victor Osimhen is not just Nigeria’s striker. He is Nigeria’s first defender; Nigeria’s first presser. Nigeria’s emergency midfielder when the shape collapses. He tracks back when others jog. He presses centre-backs built like trucks. He harasses goalkeepers into mistakes. He runs channels that are never rewarded with passes. He fights for second balls no highlight reel will ever celebrate. For these few years, Osimhen has done the work of defenders, midfielders and strikers combined and still gets reduced to a villain because he dared to shout.

    Let us also talk about sacrifice. Real sacrifice, not online patriotism. Osimhen has played through pain more times than Nigerians care to remember. He wore a protective mask not as fashion, but because his face was literally broken in service of club and country. He rushed back from injuries. He showed up for qualifiers others quietly missed. He chose Nigeria again and again despite chaos, politics, and dysfunction. Yet the moment frustration leaked into his body language, Nigerians behaved as though he had committed treason.

    And let me be clear, I am a fan. And if we are being honest, being a fan does not mean loving only the goals, the highlights, and the celebrations. Being a fan means taking the mess too. It means standing with your player on the good days and the uncomfortable ones. So to those who call themselves Osimhen fans and were part of Monday’s shame, a simple question must be asked, where are you now? Where are the loud hype merchants who sing his praises when he scores but disappear the moment he shows fire? What kind of fandom evaporates at the first sign of imperfection?

    It is therefore unsurprising that reports have begun to circulate suggesting Osimhen is considering walking away from the national team. Whether true or exaggerated, pause and ask yourself this: after what Nigerians showed him on Monday, what kind of non-human would not at least consider it? At what point does emotional abuse stop being called “criticism”? At what point does loyalty become self-harm? We demand unconditional commitment from players, yet treat them as disposable the moment they fail our emotional comfort test.

    What makes this hypocrisy even more insulting is how selective we are. In Europe, we worship players with “ego.” We call them monsters. Mentality kings. Serial winners. Diego Costa was chaotic. Zlatan was arrogant. Cristiano Ronaldo sulks, gestures, demands, fumes. Luis Suárez bites and still gets defended. These players are excused because their hunger is seen as greatness. But when Osimhen shows the same obsession, Nigerians suddenly discover moral standards they do not apply anywhere else.

    Monday also exposed something Nigerians refuse to confront; we are uncomfortable with players who demand more from us and from their teammates. Osimhen did not react because Nigeria was losing. He reacted because Nigeria could be better. That is not indiscipline; that is expectation. Serious teams are not built on silence. They are built on standards, friction, and accountability.

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    And context matters. This Super Eagles team is still evolving. Chemistry does not fall from the sky. Voices will be raised. Emotions will spill. That is football at the highest level. Pretending otherwise is dishonest. Yet Nigerians froze one moment and used it to construct an entire personality profile, complete with insults, boos, and character assassination.

    What happened on Monday was not “constructive criticism.” It was bullying. Booing your own player in the middle of a tournament is not love, not support, not standards, it is self-sabotage.

    Nigerians demand loyalty from players but offer none in return. Today you are king; tomorrow you are disposable. We have done this before. We will do it again. Then we will rewrite history and pretend we were always supportive.

    Victor Osimhen is not perfect. He never claimed to be. But perfection has never been the standard we apply to ourselves, so it is dishonest to demand it from him. Nigerians complain endlessly about players lacking elite mentality, yet panic the moment one behaves like an elite competitor. We want winners, but only the obedient, quiet, apologetic kind.

    Victor Osimhen did not fail Nigeria on Monday. Nigeria failed Victor Osimhen, again. And until Nigerian fans learn that loving greatness means enduring its rough edges, we will keep asking the same tired question in the future: “Why don’t our stars love us anymore?”

    Maybe the answer has never been far away. Maybe it has always been us.

    •Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun,

    <thedreamchaser65@gmail.com>

  • Bauchi: Prioritising titles over classrooms

    Bauchi: Prioritising titles over classrooms

    • By Yasir Shehu Adam

    Sir: The Bauchi State government has announced the appointment of 142 District Heads across the 20 emirates and chiefdoms in the state, describing the move as an effort to strengthen traditional governance and grassroots administration.

    The chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Abubakar Wabi, disclosed this during a media briefing at the Government House in Bauchi. According to him, the exercise followed the Bauchi State Chieftaincy (Appointment and Deposition) Law, 2025, which led to the creation of 20 emirate councils and chiefdoms and, consequently, the establishment of new districts.

    With this development, Bauchi State now has over 140 newly created districts, added to the already existing ones, bringing the total number of districts in the state to well over several hundreds.

    While government officials argue that the appointments will enhance coordination at the grassroots, many Bauchi residents are asking more urgent questions: Is this the most pressing problem of the state? Does the creation of new districts and appointment of district heads solve the crisis in education, health care, or youth unemployment?

    Across Bauchi State today, public schools lack basic learning materials, classrooms are overcrowded or dilapidated, and many children are still out of school. Health facilities remain under-equipped, understaffed, and inaccessible to rural dwellers. At the same time, thousands of young people roam the streets without jobs, skills, or hope for the future.

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    These are the real challenges confronting the people.

    Yet, instead of prioritizing education, health care, job creation, and social welfare, the government continues to expand political and traditional structures that place additional financial burden on the state. The key question remains unanswered: How does this appointment boost the economy of Bauchi State? How does it reduce poverty, unemployment, or insecurity?

    In a democratic system, government is often described as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” In this situation, many citizens are struggling to see how these appointments directly serve their daily needs or improve their standard of living.

    This is not an attack on traditional institutions, which have played vital roles in community leadership and conflict resolution. Rather, it is a call for clear priorities. A state with weak education cannot develop. A state with a poor health system cannot protect lives. A state with unemployed youths cannot sustain peace and stability.

    Illiteracy does not bring development. Poor health systems do not save lives. Idle and frustrated youths do not build peaceful societies.

    Year after year, I have consistently emphasized in my writings that education, health, and job creation are the foundations of human development and sustainable growth. Any government that truly seeks progress must place these sectors at the centre of its policies and spending.

    The people of Bauchi deserve honest answers from decision-makers: Why now? At what cost? And to what direct benefit to ordinary citizens? Leadership is not measured by the number of titles created, but by the number of lives improved.

    •Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman),

    Bauchi

  • Renewed strike 

    Renewed strike 

    It’s troubling that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is set to go on an indefinite strike from January 12. Following an expanded National Executive Council meeting, the group’s President, Dr Muhammad Suleiman, unveiled a renewed action plan, with the slogan “No Implementation, No Going Back.”

    The group is demanding the full implementation of nine minimum demands. These include the reinstatement of five doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears; and full implementation of the professional and specialist allowance tables, with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.

    Others include: resolution of house officers’ salary delays and arrears with issuance of a formal pay advisory; commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees; and resumption and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.

    It is noteworthy that NARD had earlier declared a strike that started on November 1, 2025, and lasted for nearly a month. At the time, it was reported to have 19 demands. Its Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, had said: “With about 11,000 members, the strike will affect 91 healthcare facilities nationwide.”

    NARD is mainly made up of doctors in the public sector – federal and state teaching and specialist hospitals. Resident doctors have already received their medical degree, and are completing additional training in their specialty of choice. It is a stage of graduate medical training that lasts from three to seven years, depending on the specialty. 

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    Suleiman, in a statement after the last strike began, said the association’s demands “are not selfish, neither are they politically motivated.” According to him, “They are genuine, germane, and patriotic, centred on the survival of the Nigerian health system and the well-being of every citizen who depends on it.” He added: “This is not a fight between resident doctors and the government; it is a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system.”

     It’s disturbing that NARD is about to start another strike less than two months after the last one.  The union had suspended the strike after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government, outlining seven outstanding issues the government must address. “If the outstanding commitments are not met within the specified period, we will resume the strike,” Ibrahim had said.

    Suleiman has provided a strong reason for the association’s decision to resume the strike: “Every issue is either at the point where the MoU was on the 27th of November, or we have even gone backwards.”

    The failure to resolve these issues – which prompted the latest strike announcement – has serious consequences for those relying on public healthcare. The situation demands an urgent resolution by the authorities.

  • WAEC CBT exams: Laudable initiative, but…

    WAEC CBT exams: Laudable initiative, but…

    Sir: The Senior Secondary School Certificate exam, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is held in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, and Nigeria. WAEC announced plans to shift from traditional paper-and-pencil tests to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for Nigeria’s 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), affecting about two million students across 23,554 schools.

    The rollout begins with this year’s edition, tentatively scheduled from April 24 to June 20, with the aim of improving integrity, reducing malpractice and ensure results are released 45 days after the exam, with digital certificates available within 90 days.

    WAEC’s Head in Nigeria, Amos Dangut, revealed that 1,973,253 students (979,228 males and 994,025 females) will participate, covering 74 subjects and 196 papers. According to him, the digital exams will feature unique question papers for each of the 1,973,253 as part of efforts to uphold academic integrity.

    To support students, the examination body says it has introduced digital learning tools like the WAEC E-Study Portal, E-Learning Portal, and WAEC Konnect. These platforms offer past questions, marking schemes, and performance analysis.

    While the shift toward digitalisation is a progressive move intended to curb examination malpractice and speed up the release of results, the infrastructure on the ground tells a different story. In many suburban and rural schools, the “digital revolution” feels like an ancient myth. It was only last year Nigeria crossed the 50% broadband penetration mark, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020–2025.

    We can also recall how, in May 2025, some students in Asaba, Delta State, took some of their exams with the aid of torchlights. The Minister of Education promised to “investigate” the situation, and Nigerians are still waiting for the outcome. But the substance of the matter is whether schools that lack the ability to purchase electric bulbs to lighten classrooms build rooms and stock them with computers before this year’s test commences.

    Students in urban centres may not be affected; both at home and in school, they’re exposed to computers and the internet. But introducing a computer-based exam to a student who has never held a mouse or sat before a steady power source creates an unfair playing field.

    The transition to digital examinations cannot be successful through pronouncements alone, but if the examination body insists, then there must be clear communication to students through their schools and other stakeholders on a step-by-step strategy for this rollout, because students have registered and the examinations are underway.

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    Issues like the model of delivery must be addressed. Will the exam be fully digital for all subjects, or will it follow a hybrid model where practical and essay-based subjects remain on paper for now? Is it going to be JAMB-style? If essays don’t remain, this noble intention may end up being a disaster for all parties involved.

    What is the plan to equip public schools at 2km intervals with functional computer laboratories and consistent power solutions, such as solar energy? This must be considered carefully because our reality tells us that there are students across Nigeria who study on bare floors and in other dilapidated conditions.

    There must be a nationwide programme for “Mock CBT” exams to familiarise students in underserved areas with the software interface before the actual harvest of grades begins. In this case, even teachers in such areas must be trained to ensure adequate supervision.

    In today’s world of artificial intelligence, big data, and other emerging technologies, digitalisation is inevitable, but it must be inclusive. If the goal is to improve the integrity of education, then no student should be penalised because of their geographical location or economic status.

    One may not be able to speak for The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, but here in Nigeria, WAEC and the federal government must speak clearly on how they want this to happen, because if the questions raised above cannot be answered with clarity, we should as well heed the advice of the lawmakers in the green chamber to halt the process.

    •Lawal Dahiru Mamman,Abuja

  • Still on Anthony Joshua’s car accident

    Still on Anthony Joshua’s car accident

    Sir: The unfortunate road traffic crash involving popular boxer Anthony Joshua, which claimed the lives of two of his friends, is deeply sad and tragic. It is yet another painful reminder of how suddenly lives can be cut short on our roads. Beyond the grief and public attention surrounding the incident, it is important to reflect soberly on what happened and what could have been done differently.

    This tragedy once again highlights the alarming number of lives lost daily on Nigerian roads, many of them avoidable. Road traffic crashes have become so frequent that they are often treated as routine news, yet each incident leaves behind devastated families and communities. These deaths are not inevitable; they are largely the result of human actions and systemic failures.

    Although the crash itself has come and gone, the lessons must not be ignored. If nothing is learnt, similar incidents will continue to occur. Every major accident presents an opportunity to reassess our driving culture, enforcement systems, and collective attitude toward road safety.

    The incident strongly reinforces the repeated calls by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for attitudinal change among drivers and other road users. Reckless driving, impatience, and disregard for traffic regulations remain major contributors to road carnage in Nigeria. Until these behaviours change, accidents will persist regardless of enforcement efforts.

    The driver was alleged to have violated the legal speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour on that road, as stipulated in the Nigerian Highway Code. In addition, the driver also allegedly engaged in wrongful overtaking while over-speeding, making it impossible to regain control of the vehicle. There is a lot to say of this dangerous combination as a major cause of the collision with the stationary articulated vehicle parked on the outer part of the road.

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    Equally concerning was the improper parking of the articulated vehicle on such a busy highway. This practice is regrettably common on Nigerian expressways, where broken-down or parked vehicles are left without adequate warning signs. The absence of caution signs to alert approaching drivers has contributed to countless fatal crashes and should be unequivocally condemned.

    Commendation, however, must be given to the FRSC officers who arrived at the scene within minutes. Their prompt response ensured that Anthony Joshua was rescued and taken to the hospital swiftly. Such professionalism demonstrates the critical role the corps plays in saving lives under challenging circumstances.

    That said, the responsibility of securing lives on our roads should not rest solely on the FRSC. The agency is clearly underfunded and lacks sufficient logistics, equipment, and patrol vehicles to effectively cover the vast road network. Drivers, on their part, must take personal responsibility by obeying traffic rules, particularly speed limits, which remain a leading cause of fatal accidents.

    The federal government should, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on traffic accidents in Nigeria. Adequate funding and equipping of the FRSC is essential if accidents are to be reduced to the barest minimum and fatalities prevented. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and only through collective commitment can we hope to end the needless loss of lives on our roads.

    •Tochukwu Jimo Obi, Abuja

  • Still on the challenges of agricultural input distribution

    Still on the challenges of agricultural input distribution

    Sir: One of the critical setbacks in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is the late and often insufficient supply of essential inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. These delays not only disrupt planting schedules but also reduce crop yields and farmers’ income. According to recent studies, over 60% of Nigerian smallholder farmers report challenges in accessing inputs on time, directly affecting their productivity and market competitiveness.

    Timely availability of agricultural inputs is vital for optimizing crop cycles and ensuring bountiful harvests. Inputs delivered late or in inadequate quantities lead to poor crop establishment, increased pest attacks, and ultimately food insecurity. Countries that have excelled in this area—such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Vietnam—demonstrate significant improvements in agricultural productivity by prioritizing efficient input distribution systems.

    For example, Kenya’s government-backed input subsidy programs coupled with private sector partnerships have increased fertilizer usage by 25% in the last five years, leading to a 30% rise in maize production. Similarly, Vietnam’s investment in rural infrastructure and supply chain management has helped reduce input delivery times by 40%, boosting rice yields substantially.

    Enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector requires strong political commitment and clear policies aimed at developing value chains and modernizing farming practices. Political will must translate into investments in infrastructure, extension services, and market access to empower peasant farmers.

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    Post-harvest losses remain a major hurdle. It is estimated that Nigeria loses up to 30% of its agricultural produce annually due to poor storage and processing technologies. Addressing these challenges calls for government-led initiatives to promote affordable post-harvest technologies and farmer education programs.

    It is time for Nigeria to establish efficient logistics networks and public-private partnerships to ensure timely delivery of seeds, fertilizers, and agrochemicals. So is the need to invest in post-harvest technology. Supporting the adoption of modern storage, drying, and processing facilities to reduce losses has become an imperative.

    Again, now is the time to strengthen extension services to enhance farmer training and access to information on best agricultural practices.

    Finally, governments at all levels must prioritize agriculture in budget allocations and policy frameworks; emulate strategies from countries like Kenya and Vietnam, adapting them to Nigeria’s unique context.

    Nigeria’s agricultural potential is vast, but unlocking it demands coordinated efforts across political, technical, and social spheres. The years ahead present an opportunity to build resilient agricultural systems that support peasant farmers, enhance food security, and stimulate economic growth. Timely input distribution is just one piece of this puzzle—but it is a critical one that, if addressed, can transform the future of Nigerian agriculture.

    •Michael Adedotun Oke, Abuja

  • INEC, politicians and the 2027 General Elections

    INEC, politicians and the 2027 General Elections

    • By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

    Sir: As Nigerians continue to bask in the euphoria of a new year, the political class appears to have shifted attention rapidly towards the 2027 General Election. Across the country, politicians and political parties have begun early strategising, consultations, and alignments, signalling that the race for power is already underway, barely midway into the current political cycle.

    This familiar pattern raises serious concerns. As has been observed repeatedly over the years, early politicking often comes at the expense of governance. Many elected officials find their attention divided between service delivery and political survival, a situation that has consistently weakened public institutions and slowed national development. The consequences are visible: stalled projects, poor policy execution, worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and decaying infrastructure.

    This trend is unfortunate and must not continue. Nigeria is at a critical point where citizens are yearning not for political drama, but for tangible improvements in their lives. Good governance, improved security, economic growth, job creation, and infrastructural development should remain the primary focus of those entrusted with public office.

    Against this backdrop, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) carries a heavy responsibility. Beyond promises, INEC must begin now to confront the persistent loopholes that undermined previous elections. Issues such as logistical failures, voter suppression, result manipulation, violence, and weak enforcement of electoral laws must be decisively addressed. The commission must also work closely with the National Assembly to ensure the timely passage of necessary amendments to the Electoral Act, strengthening the legal framework ahead of 2027.

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    Technology remains one of INEC’s most effective tools. Greater and smarter use of technology can significantly reduce human interference and electoral malpractice. From voter accreditation to result transmission, systems must be improved, secured, and made more transparent to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

    Most importantly, INEC should seriously consider conducting all elections in one day. There is no compelling justification for staggering elections over several days. A single-day election would save the country enormous financial resources, reduce political tension, limit manipulation, and simplify logistics and security arrangements.

    Beyond INEC, the responsibility for credible elections and effective governance is collective. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors must caution their appointees against abandoning governance for politics.

    Political parties, too, must play their part. Internal democracy should not be treated as a slogan. Parties must avoid imposing candidates on the electorate and instead allow transparent, credible processes that reflect the will of their members and the people.

    The 2027 General Election should not merely be another contest for power; it should be an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. Achieving this requires discipline from politicians, integrity from institutions, and vigilance from citizens. The work must begin now.

    •Tochukwu Jimo Obi,

    Obosi, Anambra State.

  • Nigerian youth: Tomorrow’s leaders?

    Nigerian youth: Tomorrow’s leaders?

    • By Ibrahim Mohammed

    Sir: For decades, political leaders in Nigeria have always been mouthing the platitudes that the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow. For the youths, the question on their lips is when will tomorrow ever come for them to take their rightful place? They could be right in their frustration as the so-called leaders of today are perpetually holding on tight to their position not willing to relinquish it for the leaders of tomorrow.

    Some of the present leaders who were educated through government scholarships were already occupying positions of authority when they were still in their 20’s. As they retire from choice jobs in the civil service or the private sector in their 50’s, they moved over to the political arena where they preside over the sharing of largesse either as elected or appointed office holders or party apparatchik while still enjoying their pension benefits.

    The Nigerian elites, whether in the military, the academia, the civil service, the clergy or the corporate world, believe in sit-tightism never willing to call it quits even when their age disagrees with them. Their lust for lucre knows no bounds as they keep accumulating ill-gotten wealth which they and their next generations could not finish in a lifetime. They keep recycling themselves either as their excellences, distinguished, honourables, chairmen, executive directors or members of juicy government ministries, departments and agencies as well as serving on the boards of blue-chip companies where they continue to draw huge salaries and allowances in addition to their pension benefits.

    Some of these members of the spoilt class have occupied several positions in their life time which closed doors to upcoming generations who wait for eternity for their turn to join the fray. They don’t even allow their wards to join service preferring to give them pocket money probably up to ten times what they could have been earning as salaries on a paid job. This is in addition to sponsored holidays in any country of their choice.

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    It is a well-known fact that some retired public office holders like federal permanent secretaries and Generals normally retire with their full salaries and allowances as pension. When they get elected or appointed into any public or political office, they begin to collect fresh salaries and allowances even while they continue to enjoy same as pension benefits. Those who are elected as governors would additionally prepare another salacious package for life even when some of them automatically move to the Senate at the completion of two terms where they become distinguished senators for life. Life is really good for this special breed of citizens as they gallivant from one lucrative position to another on a roller coaster from director/permanent secretary or general to a ministerial position, then governor and senator for life.     

    While remaining perpetually in power, thus mortgaging the future of our youth including their wards, the political leaders who gleefully superintend the sharing of the national cake knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the birth of misbegotten citizens in form of societal malcontents- kidnappers, cattle rustlers, armed robbers, vandals, Cultists, yahoo boys, militants, insurgents and a host of other undesirable elements.

    What Nigerians need at this critical time is a change of mind-set with comprehensive, serious, and meaningful reorientation of those in leadership positions and the citizens. To this end, there is need for a complete shift from the prevailing mind-set of transactional leadership to transformational leadership. The nation needs leaders who see leadership as a sacrificial endeavour, an opportunity to mentor the next generation of leaders, leave an enduring legacy and quit the stage when the ovation is loudest.

    •Ibrahim Mohammed,

    Garki-Abuja.

  • Seven issues that will define Nigeria’s Telecom in 2026

    Seven issues that will define Nigeria’s Telecom in 2026

    • By Elvis Eromosele

    Sir: Nigeria’s telecommunications sector can no longer hide behind growth statistics and subscriber numbers. The sector has matured. Expectations are higher. Patience is thinner. And the questions Nigerians are asking are no longer about access alone, but about value, quality and fairness.

     After the tariff hikes, USSD controversies and service quality debates of 2025, this year represents a moment of truth. There are seven defining issues that will determine whether telecommunications sector deepen its role as an economic enabler or become a source of widening frustration.

    Tariffs must finally justify themselves: The argument for higher tariffs has been made and accepted, reluctantly. Regulators must insist that pricing approvals are tied to visible network improvements. Anything less risks undermining the social license of the industry.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will undoubtedly face growing pressure to link pricing approvals strictly to measurable quality-of-service (QoS) improvements. Failure to close the gap between cost and experience could fuel further public backlash. Fortunately, the NCC has begun to bare its fangs. In December, it urged operators to shape up or be prepared for sanctions.

    Data availability and affordability is strategic: Data is life. Data has become infrastructure. Everything, from fintech and education to governance and commerce, Nigeria’s digital economy runs on connectivity. Yet affordability remains fragile.

    In 2026, the sector must confront a critical dilemma: how to sustain operator revenues without pricing millions of Nigerians out of the digital space. Pricing people out of data access weakens productivity, innovation and inclusion. There would be growing pressure for creative pricing models that balance sustainability with scale.

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    There should also be targeted interventions, such as special student data plans, zero-rated educational platforms, or public-private broadband initiatives, aimed at preserving inclusion while maintaining commercial viability.

    USSD is a test of inclusion, not just billing: USSD services will remain under intense scrutiny in 2026. The USSD billing reform may have solved one problem, transparency, but it exposed another: affordability at the bottom of the pyramid. In a country where millions still rely on basic phones, USSD remains the backbone of financial inclusion. If cumulative session charges become punitive, Nigeria risks excluding the very people digital finance was meant to empower.

    The year ahead may thus see renewed negotiations between telcos, banks and regulators to strike a better balance, possibly through capped charges, bundled services, or partial subsidies, to ensure financial inclusion is not undermined. Reports indicate that the CBN and NCC are already in talks to introduce an improved version of the service.

    Infrastructure protection will separate talk from action: Nigeria cannot build a digital economy on fragile, vulnerable infrastructure. Every fibre cut, vandalised base station or power disruption weakens the system. These challenges not only degrade user experience but also inflate operating costs and slow network expansion.

    2026 must be the year telecom assets are treated unequivocally as critical national infrastructure, actively protected, prioritised and defended. Without this shift, service quality debates will remain cyclical and unresolved.

    Improved collaboration between operators, security agencies and state governments could significantly enhance network reliability and investor confidence.

    Regulatory costs are the silent inflation driver: Much of what subscribers pay is driven not just by operator inefficiency, but by systemic regulatory fragmentation, right-of-way charges, multiple levies and inconsistent state policies.

    If Nigeria is serious about affordable broadband, 2026 must bring meaningful progress in harmonising these costs. Any meaningful progress in this area could lower deployment costs, accelerate fibre rollout and eventually reflect in consumer pricing.

    Otherwise, operators will keep passing inefficiencies down the value chain to consumers.

    5G must prove its economic value: The novelty phase of 5G is over. 2026 will test whether it moves beyond urban showcases into broader economic relevance. The question now is: what problem does 5G solve for Nigeria?

    Beyond faster downloads, 5G must support industry, healthcare, logistics, agriculture and smart infrastructure. If it remains an urban, premium-user product, its impact will be marginal. Purpose, not speed, will define success.

    Trust will become the ultimate currency. Perhaps the most important issue of all in 2026 is trust.

    Unexplained data depletion, opaque billing, poor customer service and regulatory silence have strained the relationship between telcos and subscribers. Growth without trust is fragile.

    Rebuilding confidence will require transparency, accountability and genuine consumer engagement. Regulators must be seen to act decisively, and operators must communicate honestly. Without trust, even the best technology will struggle for acceptance.

    If the industry gets these right, telecoms will remain the backbone of Nigeria’s digital future. If it gets it wrong, resistance, regulatory, political and public, will only grow louder.

    2026 will tell us which path Nigeria’s telecom sector chooses.

    •Elvis Eromosele,

    elviseroms@gmail.com