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National Assembly Hails Telecom Growth as NCC Proposes ₦472bn 2026 Budget+Photos

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The National Assembly of Nigeria on Thursday commended the steady growth of the country’s telecommunications sector as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) presented its proposed ₦472 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

Lawmakers gave the commendation during a joint budget defence session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Communications, where the telecom regulator also faced questions over service quality and utilisation of previously approved funds.

The session was chaired by Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, alongside the Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Presenting the Commission’s proposal, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the (NCC), Aminu Maida, said the regulator is seeking ₦472 billion in total expenditure for 2026 in line with the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

Maida who spoke through the Commission’s Head of Finance, Mr James Kalu, noted that the telecommunications sector recorded a growth rate of 5.17 per cent in 2025, maintaining its position as one of the most resilient contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

He attributed the sector’s performance to increased infrastructure expansion and rising demand for digital services across the country.

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According to him, regulatory actions and investments by telecom operators led to the deployment and upgrade of about 2,800 telecom sites nationwide in 2025, boosting network capacity and expanding broadband penetration by six per cent to about 50 per cent nationwide.

The NCC also reported improvements in internet performance indicators during the period, with average data speed rising by about 24 per cent from roughly 16 megabits per second to about 20 megabits per second.

Despite acknowledging the sector’s progress, lawmakers expressed concern over persistent service quality challenges in several parts of the country, including major cities such as Abuja.

They urged the Commission to strengthen regulatory oversight to ensure Nigerians enjoy reliable and affordable telecommunications services.

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Legislators also scrutinised the Commission’s financial performance, noting discrepancies between approved budgets and actual spending in the previous fiscal year.
According to the lawmakers, ₦95 billion approved for recurrent expenditure in 2025 saw about ₦73 billion utilised, while only about ₦7 billion of the ₦10 billion allocated for capital projects was spent.

However, the committee commended the NCC for its strong revenue contribution to the Federal Government.
The Commission had initially projected about ₦30 billion in remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2025 but eventually remitted ₦102 billion.
For the 2026 fiscal year, the NCC proposed ₦424 billion for recurrent expenditure and ₦15 billion for capital and special projects.

The Commission also projected that it would remit ₦207 billion to the Federal Government and transfer ₦20 billion to the Universal Service Provision Fund to support telecom infrastructure expansion in rural and underserved communities.

Beyond financial issues, lawmakers asked the Commission to provide clarification on its long-term digital strategy, including its 2036 roadmap, spectrum management plans, Right-of-Way framework and data retention policies.
In response, the NCC assured lawmakers of its commitment to strengthening regulatory compliance, enhancing consumer protection and expanding telecommunications infrastructure as part of Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.

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Billionaire wife Shade Okoya break silence following cheating allegations

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By Francesca Hangeior

Shade Okoya, the wife of billionaire businessman Alhaji Razaq Okoya, has broken her silence amid swirling rumours about her marriage with a cryptic but firm message.

The development comes after anonymous Instagram blogger alleged that the businesswoman was involved in an affair with a younger man.

In a post that sparked widespread reactions online, the faceless blogger shared photos of Shade Okoya alongside comedian Tee A, captioning them:

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Nice glasses, nice view… gosh and that blue light in the background makes the whole picture very demure.”

The blogger further suggested that the two were “very good family friends,” a claim that has continued to generate debate across social media.

In response to the allegations, Shade Okoya took to her Instagram page to share a video accompanied by a message expressing her unwavering faith in divine justice.

Rather than addressing the claims directly, she declared that she trusts God to vindicate her, emphasizing that his judgment is greater than human opinions or accusations.

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She said; “I leave every unseen battle in God’s hands. He alone knows the truth, He alone judges perfectly, and His justice never fails. No lie outlives the truth, and no injustice escapes His perfect judgment.

May every soul reap only what they have sown, Amen”, she wrote.

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Relief for Activist, Sowore as court grants him fresh N200m bail

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By Francesca Hangeior, Abuja
 
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday admitted activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to fresh bail in the sum of N200 million, weeks after revoking his earlier bail over his failure to appear for trial

Justice Muhammad Umar, in a ruling, directed Sowore to provide two sureties before the bail could take effect.

One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the determination of the case.

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After granting the application, Justice Umar handed Sowore over to his lawyers and adjourned further proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the defendant is expected to open his defence.

 
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services on allegations bordering on cybercrime, following social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”

 

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He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

 

The court revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to attend proceedings.

 

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269 More Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa as FG Steps Up Repatriation Effort

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FedefederaBy Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government has intensified the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, with a second Air Peace flight bringing home 269 returnees ahead of South Africa’s deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa,  on Tuesday, he said the evacuation flight departed Johannesburg and landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday at 10:48 a.m.

The latest group adds to the 66 Nigerians who returned on 24 June aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian benefactor, bringing the total number of evacuees so far to 335.

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The Ministry disclosed that the 269 returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and were formally received on arrival by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.

During the reception, Ambassador Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill message to the returnees and reassured them of the government’s continued support.

He said: “The heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, are conveyed to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensure the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country.”

The Ministry noted that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing as the South African government’s 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants takes effect.

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It assured that additional evacuation flights have been scheduled to return more Nigerians who have completed the screening process and voluntarily opted to come home.

“With the June 30 deadline on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, the Federal Government wishes to reiterate the fact that the evacuation process is still on course and more flights are expected in the country in the next few days to evacuate all Nigerians that have been screened and cleared to voluntarily return to the country”, it read.

The Ministry also reaffirmed Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the South African authorities, stressing that efforts would continue to safeguard the welfare and rights of Nigerians still residing in the country.

“Government will continue to engage South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals living in the country”, it added.

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The latest evacuation forms part of the Federal Government’s broader response to South Africa’s immigration enforcement measures, with authorities maintaining that all eligible Nigerians who have indicated their willingness to return home will be repatriated in the coming days.

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