NCC licences Six new ISPs to challenge telcos, satellite giants - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially granted operating licences to six new Internet Service Providers (ISPs), signalling a major push to deepen competition in Nigeria’s broadband market, reports ITREALMS. 

The new licences, which became effective on January 1, 2026, ITREALMS gathered, have increased the total number of authorised ISPs in the country to 231, up from 225 recorded in December 2025. 

ICPC boss condoles with Realnews publisher over ‘Despicable’ murder of sister by kidnappers - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Adamu Musa Aliyu, has expressed deep shock and condolences to Maureen Chigbo, Publisher of Realnews, following the brutal murder of her elder sister, Barrister Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, reports ITREALMS.

The late Barrister Nwamaka, a prominent Abuja-based lawyer, was killed by unidentified kidnappers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on January 5, 2026, despite frantic efforts by her family and security agencies to rescue her.

From Money Laundering to Illegal Arms: Malami in the eyes of the storm By Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

WeekendDigits@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

From chief law officer to security person of interest, Abubakar Malami’s fall from grace takes a dangerous turn with illegal arms allegations. REMMY NWEKE examines the legal storm surrounding the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in this WeekendDigits@ITREALMS.

The trajectory of Abubakar Malami, SAN, Nigeria’s former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has traced a dramatic arc from the pinnacle of legal authority to the depths of criminal suspicion.

Stakeholders task parents, leaders on sex education to combat unsafe abortion - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In a strategic move to safeguard the health of women and youths, community leaders and health experts have called for intensified sensitization on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) to eliminate the scourge of unsafe abortions in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

The call was the centerpiece of a one-day community engagement themed "Tapestry: Towards Eliminating Unsafe Abortion," held at the DA Executive Event Centre, Agege. The initiative was supported by Empath Alliance and The Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network (GIWYN).

Public inquiry on Nigeria’s spectrum roadmap 2025–2030, 60GHz multi-gigabit systems and 6GHz Wifi-6 guidelines begins - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a public inquiry to gather industry input on three key regulatory instruments expected to shape Nigeria’s broadband future, reports ITREALMS.

The inquiry, held at the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja and streamed virtually to accommodate wider participation, drew representatives from network operators, internet service providers, infrastructure providers, broadcast entities, regulators, consumer groups, and analysts from the wider digital ecosystem.

GOCOP mourns veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has condoled with the family, colleagues, and associates of the veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed, who passed away at the age of 75, reports ITREALMS.

GOCOP described his death as a monumental loss to the Nigerian media industry and the nation, noting that Mohammed stood out as one of the foremost practitioners of modern investigative journalism.

Awgbu Incident: Why Tradition and Public Safety Matter - Editorial@ITREALMS

Editorial@ITREALMS ... making leadership sense with digital news!

The death of a motorcyclist in Awgbu in the wake of an encounter with a masquerade procession is a stark reminder that tradition, while culturally significant, cannot operate outside the bounds of public safety and the law.

The recent incident in Awgbu, Orumba North of Anambra State, where a motorcyclist died following a clash with a masquerade procession, has highlighted an increasingly urgent tension: cultural celebrations are intersecting with modern mobility, urban traffic, and public safety realities that Nigeria has yet to formally regulate.

Are regulators signalling new era of accountability? Asks Elvis Eromosele - Commentary@ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

For years, Nigerian consumers have complained, sometimes loudly, sometimes helplessly, about poor services. Airlines, telecom operators and banks were always the biggest culprits. In fact, flight delays became routine, dropped calls almost normal, and unexplained bank charges a recurring irritation. What often followed were apologies, excuses and the almost obligatory regulatory silence.

It now appears that that era may finally be ending.

Recent moves by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alongside a growing pattern of firm enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), suggest that regulators are beginning to assert their authority more forcefully. The message is becoming clearer: protect consumers, or pay the price.

Dangote Refinery assures Nigerians on price stability, expansion and future listing - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Dangote Refinery has reiterated its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted domestic supply of premium petrol and improving energy security in Nigeria, maintaining that the era of fuel scarcity and unstable imports is increasingly behind the country following the removal of subsidy and gradual shift to local refining, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Mr. David Bird, said the facility is already delivering Euro V–compliant refined petrol into the Nigerian market, marking what he described as a “structural shift” from years of reliance on lower-quality imports.

Africa eyes standards alignment as ETSI opens registration for AI & Data conference 2026 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Registration has opened for the ETSI AI and Data Conference 2026, set for 09–11 February 2026 in Sophia Antipolis, France, in what analysts now describe as a significant moment for global standardisation around artificial intelligence and data governance, areas increasingly critical for African markets positioning themselves inside emerging technology value chains, reports ITREALMS.

The event, which is free but requires mandatory registration due to limited seats, will gather industry leaders and standards bodies shaping how AI systems are built, governed and deployed. ETSI will spotlight areas ranging from semantic data models to agentic AI architectures, reflecting both regulatory urgency and commercial interest as adoption accelerates.

Remembrance Day: For all citizens, not only fallen heroes by Chuka Nnabuife - Commentary@ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

ACROSS Nigeria, citizens and governments mark Armed Forces and Remembrance Day on Thursday, January 15. Beyond being a day set aside to honour the men and women who paid the supreme price in the defence of the country, and to reflect on the true cost of peace, unity and sovereignty, the day is one of the most solemn and significant dates in the nation’s calendar but unfortunately, not many citizens know.

Remembrance Day is traditionally observed with prayers, wreath-laying and memorial ceremonies at cenotaphs and state arcades, where members of the armed forces, security agencies, public officials and ordinary citizens gather to pay tribute to fallen heroes of Nigeria’s wars and internal security struggles.

ANAMBRA SECURITY: Masquerade arrested after violent attacks in Awgbu says Police - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Anambra State Police Command says it has arrested the masquerade seen in viral videos attacking residents in Awgbu, Orumba North Local Government Area, reports ITREALMS.

According to eyewitness accounts, the masquerade allegedly kicked a moving motorcyclist during the disturbances, causing the rider to fall and hit his head on a parked vehicle. The victim was said to have sustained severe injuries and was later confirmed dead, heightening public concern in the community.

NCC, FCCPC, PwC engage industry on telecom competition study in Nigeria - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Key industry actors converged Tuesday in Lagos to assess the current state of competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications market, with a focus on the voice and data segments that continue to drive subscriber growth and revenue across the sector, reports ITREALMS.

The meeting, held as a stakeholders’ forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, brought together the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as technical partners in the study. 

Queens School Ibadan ’95 set donates whiteboards, renovates toilets @30th anniversary - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Queens School Ibadan (QSI) Class of 1990–1995 has donated new instructional and sanitary facilities to its alma mater as part of activities marking its 30th anniversary, reports ITREALMS.

The two-day event held November 28–29 featured the donation of 15 whiteboards, renovation of staff and student toilets, improved water supply, and distribution of sanitary pads to junior and senior students in support of menstrual hygiene.

FirstHoldCo Announces FirstBank Has Met ₦500 Billion Regulatory Capital Requirement - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

-Shareholders commit to future injection of more capital to the Groups’ other subsidiaries

First HoldCo Plc (“FirstHoldCo” or “the Group”) has announced that its commercial banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria (FirstBank), has successfully met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) minimum capital requirement of ₦500 billion. 

This milestone was achieved following the completion of a series of strategic capital initiatives, including a Rights Issue, a Private Placement, and the injection of proceeds from the divestment of the Group’s merchant banking subsidiary.

Defamation: News Express Publisher Demands N1bn, Apology from Haleems Founder Over Domain Suspension - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Publisher of News Express, Mr. Isaac Umunna, has formally issued a demand for a written apology and N1 billion in damages from Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, the Founder of Haleems Integrated Services Limited, following allegations of defamation and the "unjust disruption" of his media operations, reports ITREALMS.

In a legal petition dated December 30, 2025, and made available to ITREALMS, Umunna’s legal counsel, Adewale & Adewale LP, detailed how the news portal, [https://newsexpressngr.com], was abruptly suspended on September 1, 2025, after Dr. Tejuosho reportedly misled the domain registrant, HostAfrica. 

TD Africa Backs Homegrown Innovation at Enugu Tech Fest 2026 - ITREALMS

Spondored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

TD Africa has announced its role as Headline Sponsor of the Design Thinking Challenge (DTC) at Enugu Tech Fest 2026, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to strengthening Africa’s technology ecosystem through practical, inclusive, and impact-driven innovation.

As Africa’s leading technology distributor and ecosystem enabler, TD Africa’s participation reflects a deliberate investment in ideas that solve real problems and deliver measurable value. The company’s sponsorship of the Challenge, valued at over ₦35 million, is focused on supporting innovation across Energy, Healthcare, and Agriculture, three sectors critical to Nigeria’s economic stability, social wellbeing, and long-term growth.

@CES'26: LG showcases 'Innovation in tune with you' - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

…demonstrates AI-Powered Spaces Where Affectionate Intelligence Evolves into Affectionate Action

LG Electronics (LG) hosted the global audience to join the LG World Premiere press conference as the year began at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Under the banner of its CES 2026 theme, “Innovation in tune with you,” LG will share its vision for elevating daily life through Affectionate Intelligence – delivering harmonized and seamlessly connected customer experiences.

With global media in attendance, LG will unveil a portfolio of AI-powered solutions that combine world-class devices and solutions with advanced AI core technologies. LG is evolving its products into intelligent solutions designed to expand meaningful connectivity between devices, people and spaces. This evolution extends from the home to mobility and urban environments, enabling a more seamless and elevated life journey.

LG SIGNATURE evolves with AI, redefines premium home appliances @CES 2026 - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Company Unveils Expanded AI-Powered SIGNATURE Lineup With Advanced Performance and Refined Minimal Design

LG Electronics (LG) presents the next evolution of its premium LG SIGNATURE brand at CES® 2026 in Las Vegas as the year kicks off. Marking a decade of innovation, the latest LG SIGNATURE collections introduce an expanded range of products that blend powerful AI capabilities and elevated design – while preserving the brand’s timeless aesthetics of quiet luxury.

Powered by LG’s AI Core-Tech, the new LG SIGNATURE lineup brings enhanced intelligence and seamless convenience to everyday living. With a suite of AI-driven features and generative AI functions, the appliances provide personalized experiences designed to maximize user convenience.

NCC, CBN unveil new framework: 30-Second refunds mandated for failed airtime transactions - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In a decisive move to protect digital consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have jointly unveiled a regulatory framework mandating that subscribers receive refunds for failed airtime and data transactions within 30 seconds, reports ITREALMS.

This major policy shift aligns with the consumer-focused objectives of both regulators and aims to eliminate the frustration of "debit without value," where subscribers are charged for services they never receive due to network downtimes, system glitches, or human error.

The new framework, 

ITREALMS gathered, is the outcome of several months of high-level engagements involving the NCC, the CBN, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).

These stakeholders convened to address the rising incidence of failed airtime and data purchases, which have increasingly led to subscribers being debited without receiving value and facing prolonged delays in resolution.

Representing a unified position by both the telecommunications and financial sectors, the framework identifies and tackles the root causes of transaction failures.

It prescribes an enforceable Service Level Agreement (SLA) for operators and banks, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party in the transaction and resolution process.

Under the strict new guidelines, if a purchaser is debited but fails to receive value for airtime or data, whether the failure occurs at the bank level or with an NCC licensee, the purchaser is entitled to a refund within 30 seconds.

The only exception applies to circumstances where the transaction remains pending, in which case the refund process must be concluded within 24 hours.

Furthermore, the framework mandates operators to notify consumers via SMS regarding the success or failure of every transaction.

It also addresses erroneous recharges to ported lines, incorrect airtime or data purchases, and instances where transfers are made to the wrong phone number.

Speaking on the development, the Director of Consumer Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Freda Bruce-Bennett, disclosed that the framework establishes a Central Monitoring Dashboard to be jointly hosted by the NCC and the CBN.

She explained that the dashboard will enable both regulators to monitor failures, identify the responsible party, verify refunds, and track SLA breaches in real time.

Mrs. Bruce-Bennett noted that failed top-ups rank among the top three consumer complaints received by the Commission.

She emphasized that in line with their commitment to addressing priority issues, the regulators were determined to resolve the problem within the shortest possible time.

She expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, particularly the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria, for their tireless commitment to finalizing the framework and ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services receive full value for their purchases.

Highlighting the immediate impact of the initiative, Mrs. Bruce-Bennett revealed that even pending the final management approval of the framework, MNOs and banks have collectively made refunds of over N10 billion to customers for failed transactions.

According to the Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, full implementation of the framework is expected to commence on March 1, 2026.


This timeline allows for final regulatory approvals and the conclusion of technical integration by all MNOs, VAS providers, and DMBs.

IPMAN rejects fuel imports as dangote refinery denies supply disruption claims - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has voiced strong opposition to the continued importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country. 

The association also distanced itself from reports suggesting that the surge in petrol imports in November 2025 was linked to a breakdown in supply arrangements between Dangote Refinery and petroleum marketers, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.

Abuja groups unveil funeral programme for late Barrister Princess Nwamaka Chigbo - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Major professional and religious groups have rolled out a comprehensive programme of activities to honour the late Barrister Princess Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo in Abuja, prior to the conveyance of her remains to her home state, Anambra, for final interment, reports ITREALMS.

Barrister Chigbo, a renowned Abuja-based lawyer, was brutally murdered by kidnappers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on January 5, 2026.