World Bank, MTN empower 1,000 rural Nigerian women

The private sector arm of the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and continental telecom giant, the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) have joined forces in to empower over 1,000 rural women in Nigeria.

Company sources informed that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) tagged Linkage Cooperation Agreement (LCA) and endorsed last Monday stipulated that IFC and MTN Foundation work jointly to create opportunities for over 1000 rural-based women in Nigeria.

The basic opportunities anticipated to be optimised in the project is for these women to earn income by reselling telephony services.

Nigeria represents the first of four countries where IFC intends to support rural telephony penetration, whereas the funding support would come from the United States (US) Trade and Development Agency, IFC will take the model developed in Nigeria to other markets.

Speaking on the partnership, the Executive Director, MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola said the women would provide mobile phone service for a fee in local communities, establishing service at affordable prices to communities that presently have limited or no telephone access.

She explained that under the agreement, IFC and MTN Nigeria Foundation will together design and scale up the rural telephony project.

She said, IFC is expected to offer advisory services, to support the capacity building of participating nongovernmental organizations led by Growing Businesses Foundation and microfinance institutions.

She expressed confident that the partnership would impact positively on Nigerian rural women and their communities.

“This partnership with IFC and rural based women will have sustainable development impact by leveraging the strengths of all stakeholders,” he said.

General Manager at IFC for Private Enterprise Partnership for Africa, Mr. Bernard Chidzero, noted that his organisation has a successful track record of assisting clients to succeed, especially when it comes to empowerment of rural communities.

“IFC has a successful track record of helping clients to empower local communities by linking them to their supply chains. This is part of the added value that we bring to our clients,” he said.

ITRealms Online recalls that MTN Nigeria has been IFC client since 2003. However, till date, IFC has made a total commitment of about $135 million in financing to support MTN Nigeria’s rollout in the country.

The MTN Nigeria Foundation was incorporated in 2004 by MTN Nigeria Communications Limited as the vehicle through which MTNN implements its corporate social responsibility programmes.

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Celtel reaffirms aggressive roll-out

Chief executive of Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Adebayo Ligali, has reaffirmed his firm’s commitment to aggressively rollout infrastructure nationwide.

Speaking after the conclusion of the financial facility worth $1.619 billion, about N206.997 billion, Mr. Ligali said that the facilities would enable the telco to achieve the dream of expanding its coverage, improve capacity and enhance quality of service.

“More than ever before, we are poised and committed to a more aggressive roll out infrastructure across the country so as to expand our coverage, improve our capacity and enhance our quality,” he said.

Mr. Ligali also said that the successful conclusion of the deal is another landmark transaction by Celtel, coming barely six months after the acquisition of Vee Networks by Celtel International.

“It is an acknowledgement of the confidence of the international finance community in our company and in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr. Ligali emphasised that this transaction is indicative of the success being recorded in the federal government’s quest to steer the economy in the path of growth, and in the same direction as the rest of the world.

He pointed out that the company has continued to be a key player in the realisation of the federal government’s vision of accelerated foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country.

ITRealms Online recalls that the deal concluded at the weekend, has the sum of $1.43 billion as syndicated facility while $189 million came as bilateral facility.

According to Head of Division, Public Relations, Events and Sponsorship at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, the facility consists of N125bn (US$984m) in local-currency arranged by Celtel Nigeria, and a US$450m foreign currency arranged and fully underwritten by Citibank, N.A. (Citigroup), which also serves sole bookrunner.

Additionally, Huawei Technologies and UBA New York provided US$148.6m and US$40m, respectively, in bilateral financing.

He said that the facility would be used to refinance the company’s existing debt and finance its network rollout programme.

As said by him, syndication of the facilities was highly successful which has 13 Nigerian financial institutions, leading other 12 banks bankrolled the local-currency facility, while 11 international banks were on the foreign-currency facility, resulting in over-subscription by 50 per cent on both facilities and an upsizing of both from their initial amounts of US$670m (NGN equivalent) and US$350m, respectively.

He pointed out that the heavy over-subscription of the foreign-currency facility meant that the syndicate was able to accommodate a substantial reduction in a reverse flex based on the margin and commitment fees from the initially agreed terms.

This, Mr. Oparah said, is an indication of the international and domestic banking communities’ strong support for Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) Group operating companies, and an endorsement of Celtel Nigeria’s ambitious growth strategy.

Celtel Nigeria’s legal advisers on the deal were Allen & Overy LLP (offshore) and Olaniwun Ajayi & Co (onshore), and the lenders were represented by Watson, Farley & Williams LLP (offshore) and The Law Union (onshore).

Citibank International Plc is the global coordinating agent, First Trustees Nigeria Limited is the security trustee, and First City Monument Bank Plc is the Nigerian administrative agent.

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ALTON v LSGV: ATCON lauds Nigeria judiciary

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has lauded the Nigerian judiciary over the last weekend court ruling concerning the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Lagos State Government (LSGV) on the right of the state to regulation telecommunications.

ITRealms recalls that last year, ALTON took Lagos State government to court over efforts to tax telecom operators on infrastructure such as mast and towers among others.

However, the case was decided penultimate Friday at the Federal High Court Ikoyi-Lagos, by Justice Ibrahim Auta, in favour of ALTON.

Reacting to the courting ruling, President of ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, highly-praised the nation’s judiciary for the judgement, even as he declared that it is a victory for the telecom consumers nationwide.

He stressed that no matter what happens, eventually, if the judgement was not favourable it is still the consumers that would bear it, as operators should have shift the cost to end users.

Dr. Ekuwem who also is the Chief Executive, Teledom Group International, also pointed out that one key merit about the ruling was the fact that no state in the federation would in the widest imagination dream of plans to regulate telecommunications in Nigeria.

According to him, if the Lagos State position was upheld, “other states would start to make their own laws to regulate telecommunications.”

He emphasised that if the law was on any other issue such as environmental, it be understandable, “But the sole objective of this one was purely for the revenue,” adding that for the request of the Lagos State to have seen the light of the day, after telco and specifically operators must have paid to the apex industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would have resulted in double standard and doubled taxation because, “Lagos State has shares from the federations account.”

Dr. said that the Justice Auta’s ruling has allayed the fears of the stakeholders of possible laws being made similarly at the local government levels.

He foresee accelerated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development in the country, because the postulation is that anytime there is a new tax it would have an effect on ICT roll out.He urged that such as Lagos State request should be buried for once and for all.

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ALTON v LSGV: ATCON lauds Nigeria judiciary

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has lauded the Nigerian judiciary over the last weekend court ruling concerning the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Lagos State Government (LSGV) on the right of the state to regulation telecommunications.

ITRealms recalls that last year, ALTON took Lagos State government to court over efforts to tax telecom operators on infrastructure such as mast and towers among others.

However, the case was decided penultimate Friday at the Federal High Court Ikoyi-Lagos, by Justice Ibrahim Auta, in favour of ALTON.

Reacting to the courting ruling, President of ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, highly-praised the nation’s judiciary for the judgement, even as he declared that it is a victory for the telecom consumers nationwide.

He stressed that no matter what happens, eventually, if the judgement was not favourable it is still the consumers that would bear it, as operators should have shift the cost to end users.

Dr. Ekuwem who also is the Chief Executive, Teledom Group International, also pointed out that one key merit about the ruling was the fact that no state in the federation would in the widest imagination dream of plans to regulate telecommunications in Nigeria.

According to him, if the Lagos State position was upheld, “other states would start to make their own laws to regulate telecommunications.”

He emphasised that if the law was on any other issue such as environmental, it be understandable, “But the sole objective of this one was purely for the revenue,” adding that for the request of the Lagos State to have seen the light of the day, after telco and specifically operators must have paid to the apex industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would have resulted in double standard and doubled taxation because, “Lagos State has shares from the federations account.”

Dr. said that the Justice Auta’s ruling has allayed the fears of the stakeholders of possible laws being made similarly at the local government levels.

He foresee accelerated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development in the country, because the postulation is that anytime there is a new tax it would have an effect on ICT roll out.

He urged that such as Lagos State request should be buried for once and for all.

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20 ISPs route for Nigeria Internet Exchange point

Estimated 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have expressed interest in hooking on to the Nigeria Internet Exchange point.

Chairman, Presidential Committee on Nigeria Internet Exchange Point, Mr. Ndukwe Kalu said that over 20 ISPs are waiting to be connected to the exchange.

He also said that this would be finalised as soon as the exchange is commissioned.

Noteworthy is that the federal government had early 2006 inaugurated a committee led by Mr. Kalu to establish seven various exchanges in phases within the Internet Exchange Nigeria (IXN) as it was finally registered.

Out of the total, three of the branches would be hosted in Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of the nation’s economy, namely at Ikeja, Victoria Island while the main branch is located at the NECOM House, Marina Lagos.

An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a facility operated by a single entity to facilitate the exchange of Internet traffic between three or more Internet Service Providers (ISPs) according to experts at internetpolicy.net.

NIXP is expected to build seven exchanges in phases beginning with main-branch at NECOM House Lagos, and additional two sites at Ikeja and Victoria Island, as contained in its reference during inauguration last April 14, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Our investigations also revealed that already seven ISPs have been linked to the exchange while the over 20 yearning for connection would be included as soon as the exchange is commissioned and new board inaugurated for interim management of IXN.

Some of those on the exchange presently include Disc Communications, Medallion, Tara Systems, Netcom Africa, Cyberspace, Linkserve and Amsco.

Mr. Kalu who is also the Vice President of the ISPs Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), said that he looks forward to the inauguration, just as he expect the incoming board members to fully take control of activities of IXN, especially by expanding on its mandate through ensuring that the remaining branches come to fruition at the earliest time.

He stressed his committee’s readiness to hand over to the Interim Board, saying he does not expect them to be just partisan but assertive of the authorities given to them by the people of Nigeria to serve.

NCC inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Internet Exchange Point on April 14, 2006.

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20 ISPs route for Nigeria Internet Exchange point

Estimated 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have expressed interest in hooking on to the Nigeria Internet Exchange point.

Chairman, Presidential Committee on Nigeria Internet Exchange Point, Mr. Ndukwe Kalu said that over 20 ISPs are waiting to be connected to the exchange.

He also said that this would be finalised as soon as the exchange is commissioned.

Noteworthy is that the federal government had early 2006 inaugurated a committee led by Mr. Kalu to establish seven various exchanges in phases within the Internet Exchange Nigeria (IXN) as it was finally registered.

Out of the total, three of the branches would be hosted in Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of the nation’s economy, namely at Ikeja, Victoria Island while the main branch is located at the NECOM House, Marina Lagos.

An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a facility operated by a single entity to facilitate the exchange of Internet traffic between three or more Internet Service Providers (ISPs) according to experts at internetpolicy.net.

NIXP is expected to build seven exchanges in phases beginning with main-branch at NECOM House Lagos, and additional two sites at Ikeja and Victoria Island, as contained in its reference during inauguration last April 14, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Our investigations also revealed that already seven ISPs have been linked to the exchange while the over 20 yearning for connection would be included as soon as the exchange is commissioned and new board inaugurated for interim management of IXN.

Some of those on the exchange presently include Disc Communications, Medallion, Tara Systems, Netcom Africa, Cyberspace, Linkserve and Amsco.

Mr. Kalu who is also the Vice President of the ISPs Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), said that he looks forward to the inauguration, just as he expect the incoming board members to fully take control of activities of IXN, especially by expanding on its mandate through ensuring that the remaining branches come to fruition at the earliest time.

He stressed his committee’s readiness to hand over to the Interim Board, saying he does not expect them to be just partisan but assertive of the authorities given to them by the people of Nigeria to serve.

NCC inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Internet Exchange Point on April 14, 2006.

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