Cost of digital mobs in Africa by Elvis Eromosele - Commentary@ITREALMS

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

Everyone talks of the power of social media. It is undeniable. Experts point out that while it holds incredible potential for good, it also has a dangerous capacity for harm.

Today, a social media post can transform an individual's life or spark outrage across borders within minutes. It is no surprise, therefore, that multinational corporations are increasingly finding themselves caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions, misinformation, and emotional nationalism, because of the power of social media. Digital mobs are on the rise.

Inside Nigeria’s Telecom Quality Struggle by Elvis Eromosele - Commentary@ITREALMS

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

Every day, across Nigeria, the frustrations of Nigeria’s digital age often arrive without warning. It happens in the small things. And the big ones. Take the case of a business owner who attempts to complete a critical bank transfer, only for the network to freeze. Consider a student who joins an online lecture and suddenly disappears from the session because the connection collapses. Or perhaps, a trader waits endlessly for a Point-of-Sale transaction approval while impatient customers walk away.

For many, it has become an exhausting routine.

The irony is difficult to ignore. Nigeria’s telecom sector is undergoing one of its biggest modernisation drives in history, yet consumer dissatisfaction remains widespread. While operators continue to expand 4G and 5G networks and spend heavily on upgrades, users still complain that service quality often falls painfully short of expectations.

We are the reason Lagos stinks by Elvis Eromosele - Commentary@ITREALMS

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

Lagos does not wake up smelling foul.

It is made to.

On a recent drive past a popular bus stop, I saw a commercial bus driver leaning casually against the back of his danfo, relieving himself in full public view. A few metres away, commuters stood waiting for their ride, some covering their noses, others pretending not to notice. The smell hung stubbornly in the air.

Yet, we ask: Why do bus parks stink?

How MVNOs can unlock opportunities in Nigeria's telecom amid challenges by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Phenomenal is one word that has been used to describe the growth of the Nigerian telecom sector. The rise from under half a million lines to 165 million in 24 years is truly phenomenal by any standard. It's not surprising therefore, that the question on the lips of many today is whether the Nigerian telecom sector has reached its limit.

Proponents of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) say there’s still room to grow. This was the central focus of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 6.0) in Lagos, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Potential: Status, Trends, Investment, and Future Prospects.”

CVA 2025: Consumer’s verdict becomes the brand badge of honour by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
    
The Nigerian marketplace is undergoing a quiet revolution. One powered not by corporate boardrooms or marketing agencies, but by the people who matter most: the consumers. The Consumers Value Awards (CVA), organised by BrandXchange, is the platform that gives Nigerians the power to shape the nation’s business landscape through their votes.

The Consumers Value Awards (CVA) seek to recognise brands and government agencies for superior consumer satisfaction and value, determined solely by public votes. The awards aim to empower consumers by giving them a platform to express their opinions, hold companies accountable, and influence market practices.

WAEC’s new subject combination is confusion masquerading as reform by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again stirred public outcry, this time over its newly released subject combinations for the 2026 examination. 

In what appears to be a hurried and poorly thought-out reform, WAEC has reordered subjects in a manner that defies logic, stifles student choice, and risks undermining years of learning.

How power outages threaten Nigeria’s digital economy dream by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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


Recently, I found myself inside a multi-storied shopping complex buzzing with activity. The building was home to laptop shops, phone sales and repair centres, and accessories vendors, an ecosystem of Nigeria’s thriving tech economy. Yet, beneath the hum of commerce was another, more unsettling sound: the deafening roar of generators.

The noise was overwhelming, like a thousand engines competing for dominance. One out of every five shops had turned to gas-powered generators, while the rest clung to the more familiar diesel units. In that moment, it struck me: Nigeria’s quest for a digital economy still rests on shaky ground. The greatest stumbling block remains what it has always been, power supply.

USSD Wahala Reloaded: Are Telcos Quietly Dipping into Your Airtime? by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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In Nigeria, one phrase captures the endless stream of troubles that trail daily life, "Wahala no dey finish." This timeless street slang now finds fresh relevance in the realm of mobile banking, especially with the storm brewing between telcos, banks, and the supposed "saviour" in between, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

After years of battles over who should bear the cost of USSD transactions, the NCC made a grand intervention: going forward, customers would pay USSD fees directly from their airtime, not their bank accounts.

Much ado about single-use plastic by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Nigeria, a nation experiencing the twin problems of population explosion and urbanisation, is at the crossroads in its battle against environmental degradation. One of the most widespread threats is plastic pollution, particularly that of single-use plastics (SUPs), which clog water bodies, contaminate soil, and pose a serious public health risk.

Throughout Nigeria, there is a growing awareness of environmental issues today. Many states are waking up to the grim realities of plastic pollution. A number of states are now banning single-use plastics. While it is a commendable first step, it’s largely contentious.

$200bn quest for reliable electricity by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

Nigeria is an energy starved nation. Imagine a country in the 21st century with over 200 million people and an unstable power supply. It's a recipe for backwardness. It is also a sad commentary on the failure of successive governments over a hundred years. No wonder the hum of progress is too often drowned out by the silence of power outages.

Today, homes flicker into darkness, businesses grind to a halt, and dreams of economic growth stall in the face of an unreliable electricity grid. The numbers paint a grim picture. Nigeria generates a mere 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity against an estimated demand of 40,000 MW needed for a stable, nationwide supply.

Is this end of USSD Banking in Nigeria? by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

For years, USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) banking in Nigeria has been a lifeline for millions of Nigerians. It was simple, fast, and accessible even on the most basic mobile phones. From transferring money to paying bills, and checking balances to buying airtime, USSD provided seamless access to banking without the need for internet access.

But now, a terse, polite message from banks may have sounded the death knell of the service. In what feels like a final move in a long-standing tussle between telecom service providers and banks, the new directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) mandates that going forward, USSD banking charges will be deducted directly from customers’ airtime, not their bank accounts.

Myth of reflective electricity pricing in Nigeria by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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In Nigeria, few issues stir as much raw emotion as the price and quality of electricity. Everywhere across the length and breadth of the country electricity supply is unstable. Over the years, successive governments have insisted that Nigerians are underpaying for electricity. The solution? Increase the tariff under the guise of reflective pricing. Yet, month after month, citizens grope in the dark, both literally and metaphorically.

Now, the current administration is singing the same old song. And while the government tells us it is about efficiency and subsidy removal, the reality is far more sinister. The rich opt-out out of solar panels. Aso Rock itself is installing solar, admitting silently that even at the highest Band A tariff, the power supply is unreliable and the cost unsustainable. What, then, is the fate of the average Nigerian?

Is CBN pushing Nigerians back to banking halls? Asks Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Public institutions in Nigeria have a knack for policy inconsistency. They can aggressively pursue a course of action one moment and, the very next, introduce measures that directly contradict their stated objectives. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is currently at the centre of one such paradox.

Everyone alive in the last couple of years witnessed the CBN champion financial inclusion, digital banking and cashless transactions. It actively encouraged banks to expand their digital footprint, increase adoption of digital payments and decongest the banking halls. Nigerians responded positively. People embraced digital banking, relying on ATMs, mobile transfers and POS terminals instead of entering the banking halls.

How MTN’s financial woes highlight challenges of doing business in Nigeria by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

Doing business in Nigeria is tough. While we say this all the time, nothing makes it more real than the release of annual financial reports. Take MTN Nigeria’s latest report, it shows the bruising realities faced by businesses in the country today.

Take a look at the numbers. MTN Nigeria generated a staggering ₦3. 36 trillion in revenue in the year ended December 31, 2024, up 36.03 per cent from N2.47 trillion in 2023. Yet, it is regarded as a bad year, because it reported a loss of N400.4 billion after tax for the financial year. This was due to a net foreign exchange loss of N925.36 billion from ₦740.43 billion in 2023.

Are ATMs Going Out of Fashion in Nigeria? by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

Nigeria is a cash-driven economy. Yet, today, when cash is needed, the default option isn’t the bank’s ATM but the nearest Point-of-Sale (POS) agent. ATMs, once the backbone of convenience banking, now sit idle, often empty, gathering dust, while POS agents offer the only real alternative for cash withdrawals. In a cash-driven economy, ATMs have become extremely unreliable for Nigerians needing cash.

This shift begs several critical questions. Are ATMs going out of fashion in Nigeria? Is the massive infrastructure investment in ATMs now a waste? And most importantly, why do ATMs rarely have cash since the infamous CBN naira redesign policy?

Coping with Nigeria's high-inflation economy by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Economists say inflation is a persistent rise in prices. It happens when there's too much money chasing too few goods. Inflation in Nigeria today has become a huge challenge, affecting businesses, consumers, and the overall economy. As inflation rates soar above acceptable thresholds, companies are navigating uncharted waters to stay afloat.

Inflation is bad for everyone. It erodes the purchasing power of consumers, increases the cost of raw materials, and heightens operational expenses. For businesses, the ripple effect can be devastating including but not limited to reduced profit margins, lower consumer spending, and the constant pressure to balance affordability with profitability.

Is there hidden liquidity crisis in Nigerian banking system asks Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian banking system, once celebrated as the backbone of the nation's economy, is facing a glaring paradox. Customers walk into bank branches daily to access their funds, only to be told that cash is scarce. The situation, which began following the Naira redesign exercise under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has become a troubling norm. Bank tellers now ration cash withdrawals, often imposing arbitrary limits like N20,000 per person, without detailed explanations. This raises an unsettling question: is there a hidden liquidity crisis in the Nigerian banking system?

The central function of a bank is to provide customers with seamless access to their deposits, yet this appears to be failing. The scarcity of cash at bank branches stands in sharp contrast to the availability of cash through Point of Sale (POS) operators, who always seem to have more than enough to meet demand. This discrepancy is baffling and has fueled widespread speculation about the health of the banking system.

Oil tankers: Urgent need for improved safety standards by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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

In Nigeria, tankers carrying petroleum products are a common sight on the nation’s highways. These massive vehicles, often loaded with flammable and hazardous liquids, are an integral part of the country’s transportation system, facilitating the movement of crucial fuel supplies across the nation. However, the increasing number of tanker accidents, many resulting in devastating fires and environmental disasters, has raised serious concerns about road safety.

One of the primary factors contributing to the frequency of tanker accidents in Nigeria is the state of the country’s roads. While urban areas like Lagos and Abuja have relatively better road networks, the majority of Nigeria’s highways, especially those in rural and semi-urban areas, are poorly maintained. Potholes, lack of proper drainage, and uneven surfaces create hazardous conditions for all vehicles on the road, but for tankers carrying volatile materials, the risk is exponentially higher.

Transforming sanitation in Nigeria's public spaces by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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I had the opportunity to visit a number of Nigerian cities in recent weeks, from Lagos to Bayelsa, through Benin, and Warri. Although these cities provided rich cultural experiences and stunning scenery, one prevalent problem that caught my attention was the condition of public sanitation, especially in motor parks and markets. The unpleasant stench, overflowing trash, and unhygienic conditions of many of these areas confirmed the urgent need for significant improvements in sanitation in Nigeria's public parks and markets. We'll discuss the roads another day.

In commemoration of World Toilet Day 2024, a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about sanitation, it is time to reflect on the need for cleaner, healthier environments in our communities, especially in places where large numbers of people gather. World Toilet Day, commemorated annually on November 19, highlights the critical issue of global sanitation and aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to safe and clean toilets. This year’s theme, 'Toilets – A Place for Peace', underscored the connection between sanitation and the broader goal of peace and well-being.

The silent struggle of under-employment by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In Nigeria today, underemployment is emerging as a low-intensity war. Everyone knows it exists but no one will speak of it. The question is no longer whether people can find jobs, but whether those jobs utilize their skills, offer sufficient wages, or provide stability. Reports indicate that the streets are filled with university graduates riding motorbikes for hire, while skilled professionals languish in jobs far below their qualifications. This isn’t just a job crisis; it’s a crisis of underemployment.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), “Underemployment reflects underutilization of the productive capacity of the employed population, including those which arise from a deficient national or local economic system.” In other words, underemployment is a phenomenon where people work in roles that barely scratch the surface of their potential. The real struggle is not about joblessness; it's about being trapped in low-paying, unfulfilling jobs, a reality that haunts the modern Nigerian worker. Underemployment is the real silent struggle.