Nigerian telecom operators plan ₦1.86 trillion infrastructure investment in 2026
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Nigerian telecom operators plan to invest approximately ₦1.86 trillion in 2026 to enhance infrastructure, upgrade network capacity, and improve service quality across the country. This investment follows a capital expenditure of ₦2.13 trillion in 2025 by mobile network operators, tower companies, and other industry players. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria ALTON stated that the planned spending will focus on network expansion, technology upgrades, and operational improvements to strengthen service delivery for millions of subscribers. This comes amidst ongoing consumer complaints regarding service quality, despite a 50 percent tariff increase approved in 2025, which operators said was necessary for network upgrades and industry sustainability. ALTON noted that the investment cycle is increasingly driven by domestic funding sources, including reinvested operational earnings, rather than foreign capital inflows, which decreased to $7.24 million in Q1 2026 from $80.78 million in 2025. Operators are relying on internally generated revenue following the tariff adjustment to finance infrastructure rollout. The 2026 investment will prioritize network densification, fiber expansion, equipment modernization, and improvements in last-mile connectivity. ALTON also called for better coordination among regulatory and statistical agencies to track sector investment flows more comprehensively and proposed collaboration between the Nigerian Communications C
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Wigwe University, founded by the late Herbert Wigwe, is facing allegations of mass staff dismissals, intimidation, and administrative high-handedness. Former employees, including Dr. Nonyelum Okechukwu, a university librarian, and Amarachi Ogbennia, a college secretary, claim their appointments were terminated without due process or clear reasons. Other former staff members, including a lecturer from Zimbabwe and a former deputy registrar, describe an atmosphere of fear and arbitrary dismissals, with some attributing these issues to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi. Documents reportedly indicate that about 30 academic and non-academic employees have either been terminated or resigned. Civil society organizations and legal experts are calling for an independent investigation, emphasizing that even private institutions must adhere to Nigerian labor laws. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, denies personally terminating anyone's appointment, stating that the university follows established procedures for disciplinary matters and maintains high standards, with no place for "lazy people."
Must ReadAt least 1,429 Nigerians were repatriated from Niger Republic in May 2026, according to data from the Mixed Migration Centre. Niger Republic continues to serve as a major transit corridor for West African citizens attempting to reach Europe through Libya and Algeria. The repatriations highlight the ongoing presence of stranded migrants in Niger, many of whom face prolonged stays in IOM centers or urban areas with limited resources. In May 2026, the Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed the arrival of 1,100 Nigerians from Niger Republic, followed by an additional 329 returnees received by the National Emergency Management Agency from Agadez, Niger’s main desert transit hub. Agadez has been a key staging post for West Africans crossing the Sahara into Libya or Algeria for over a decade. Nigerians remain among the nationalities attempting the Central Mediterranean Route into Italy, with 163 arrivals recorded as of May 2026. The report also noted that 14,602 people were expelled from Algeria into Niger between January 18 and May 17, 2026, with some migrants, including Nigerians, subsequently pushed back across the border into Algeria by Nigerien police, creating a cycle of expulsion and re-expulsion. Niger’s role as a transit corridor accelerated after the collapse of the Muammar Gaddafi regime in Libya in 2011. A 2015 law criminalizing migrant smuggling in Niger, enacted under pressure from the European Union, was later repealed by Niger’s military government, a move that rights
Opposition parties in Nigeria have criticized the Presidency's celebration of a reported commendation letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu regarding efforts against insecurity. Some parties questioned the letter's authenticity, while others argued its relevance to Nigeria's broader security challenges. The Presidency announced Trump's letter praised Tinubu's "decisive leadership" and mentioned the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to train the Nigerian military. However, Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, dismissed the celebration, stating that Nigerians would judge the government based on actual conditions, not diplomatic letters. Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, expressed doubts about the letter's authenticity. Major Agbo, National Chairman of the New Nigeria People's Party, noted conflicting reports about the letter's existence and content. Ken Asogwa, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, suggested Trump's comments, if authentic, should be interpreted narrowly, focusing on terrorism and attacks on Christian communities, rather than the multifaceted nature of Nigeria's insecurity. The African Democratic Congress and the Allied People's Movement also viewed the letter as mere diplomatic communication, not an endorsement of the Tinubu administration's overall performance. Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progress