NEWS
Telecom Services May Worsen As Vandalism Spikes, Say Operators
Telecommunication operators across Nigeria have sounded a grave warning that mobile and internet services may deteriorate further if urgent action is not taken to curb the growing menace of vandalism and theft of telecom infrastructure.
The operators, under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said despite recent network upgrades and significant investments following a marginal tariff adjustment by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), indiscriminate vandalism is undermining service delivery nationwide.
In a statement jointly signed by ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and Publicity Secretary, Damian Udeh, the group decried the increasing wave of sabotage, which they say is crippling the telecom sector.
READ ALSO: Tariff Hike Protest: Telecoms Union Backs NLC’s Suspension Of Protest
“Since the Federal Government’s decisive interventions earlier this year to support industry sustainability, our members have committed unprecedented levels of investment in network optimization and capacity upgrades,” the statement read.
“Unfortunately, between May and July 2025, multiple incidents of vandalism were recorded across cell sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, FCT Abuja, and many other states.”
They lamented that these acts have led to network blackouts, congestion, and a general decline in service quality, affecting millions of Nigerians and critical sectors such as banking, health, education, and national security.
Operators also expressed frustration that telecom materials, including power cables, batteries, solar panels, rectifiers, and diesel, are being openly sold in markets after being stolen from active sites.
“An attack on telecom infrastructure is an attack on our economy and our security,” the statement emphasized.
“Solar panels are stripped from telecom sites and resold to unsuspecting households, while diesel fuel is siphoned and sold in the grey market.”
In addition to vandalism, the industry is battling frequent disruptions caused by road construction and civil works which damage underground fiber optic cables — leading to service outages and financial losses.
A top official from a leading mobile network operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:
“At the wake of the marginal price adjustment that the NCC approved, we promised to optimize our networks to provide Nigerians with robust service. But what we see is massive sabotage. Vandals are carting away our infrastructure without resistance and selling them openly. If nothing is done urgently, service delivery will worsen.”
ALTON called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Inspector General of Police, DSS, and the NSCDC to immediately deploy resources to secure telecom facilities across the country.
They stressed that the situation is at a breaking point and warned that the industry cannot face the battle alone.
“This is a desperate and urgent hour. We need coordinated national action by security agencies, government at all levels, regulators, civil society, and the public. Our national security, economic stability, and digital future depend on it. The time to act is now.”
International News
Ferrari’s First Electric Car Makes History With Record $40m Auction Sale
Ferrari’s first fully electric car, the Luce, has made automotive history after a bespoke version of the vehicle sold for a record $40 million at a charity auction in California.
The tailor-made Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0” was sold during Monterey Car Week on Saturday, becoming the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, according to collector car auction company RM Sotheby’s.
The winning bid was 36 times the car’s original estimate of $1.1 million.
SEE MORE: Police Arrest Man For Driving Fake Ferrari In Italy
Ferrari USA celebrated the landmark sale in an Instagram post, saying, “The bids kept climbing. Then, history was made,” while describing the transaction as a new record for the highest-priced new car ever sold at auction.
The sale comes months after Ferrari unveiled the Luce in May. The electric model features a distinctive bubble-like design that differs significantly from the Italian automaker’s traditional angular styling and has received mixed reactions from some Ferrari enthusiasts.
Ferrari previously described the Luce as “a different sort of Ferrari for a different sort of Ferrari client.”
The Luce is powered by four electric motors, with one motor driving each of its four wheels.
The exclusive “Chassis 0” features a pearl-like semi-gloss finish with a personalised pigment that produces changing reflections ranging from green to violet when struck by light.
Its interior is equally distinctive, featuring Perla Le Mans metallic leather and black design elements against a predominantly white background.
Ferrari said proceeds from the record-breaking auction will go to The Ferrari Foundation to support educational initiatives.
Following the auction, the vehicle will return to Maranello, northern Italy, where it was built, before being delivered to the unnamed winning bidder in the first quarter of 2027.
Meanwhile, deliveries of the regular Ferrari Luce, priced at about €550,000 ($640,000), are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
NEWS
ICPC Moves Against Corruption, Trains 100 Lake Chad Research Institute Staff
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has sensitised 100 staff members of the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri, Borno State, on the need to uphold integrity, accountability and transparency in public service.
The Commission disclosed this via its X account on Monday, following a one-day anti-corruption education workshop organised at the institute’s conference hall.
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The programme, themed “Promoting Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency in Public Service: The Role of Staff in Combating Corruption,” was aimed at equipping the institute’s workforce with knowledge of ethical standards and corruption prevention strategies.
Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, Professor Babagana Kabir, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.
Kabir urged staff to embrace professionalism and integrity, warning that corruption undermines institutional effectiveness, research development and public confidence in government institutions.
The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Mr Linus Gubbi, highlighted the strategic importance of the Lake Chad Research Institute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, particularly its contributions to agricultural research, crop improvement and land-use strategies that affect food security across the Lake Chad Basin.
Gubbi warned that vital public research could not thrive in an environment affected by corrupt practices.
He noted that when public resources, research grants or administrative processes are compromised through favouritism, procurement irregularities or financial opacity, citizens who depend on the institute’s innovations ultimately suffer the consequences.
The RACC stressed that the fight against corruption is not the sole responsibility of anti-corruption agencies but a collective duty that begins with individual public officers.
A lead paper titled “Anti-Corruption and Work Ethics in Organisations” was presented by ACS Abba Dzikwi.
The presentation examined the legal framework for combating corruption, various forms of corrupt practices in public institutions and the consequences of unethical conduct.
It also emphasised the importance of strong work ethics to organisational efficiency, effective service delivery and national development.
Participants subsequently engaged the ICPC team during an interactive question-and-answer session, seeking clarification on reporting mechanisms, whistleblowing procedures and the Commission’s mandate.
The ICPC team reiterated the importance of confidentiality in handling corruption reports.
Gubbi also encouraged the institute to strengthen its internal controls and transparency mechanisms, assuring the management of the Commission’s readiness to provide guidance and support for institutional integrity initiatives.
In his concluding remarks, he urged participants to go beyond merely receiving the sensitisation and instead put the lessons into practice by challenging unethical practices and promoting a culture of service that reflects the highest standards of the Nigerian Public Service.
NEWS
Kano Records 867 Completed Projects Under Gov Yusuf
The Kano State Government has announced the completion of 867 projects across the state under the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf.
The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Maaji, disclosed this during a media briefing in Kano on Sunday.
SEE MORE: Kano Bans Mobile Movie Downloads, Distribution as Statewide Enforcement Begins
Maaji said the completed projects represent 55.68 per cent of the 1,557 projects undertaken by the administration since its inception, while about 42 per cent of the projects are still ongoing.
According to him, the projects have a cumulative contract value of N996.29 billion, with N695.20 billion approved through Notices of No Objection and N444.75 billion in payment certificates vetted by the ministry.
He said the projects cut across several sectors, including urban infrastructure, rural development, mass housing, roads, bridges, healthcare, education, traffic management and other public infrastructure.
The commissioner disclosed that the eight metropolitan Local Government Areas accounted for 598 projects valued at N299.36 billion, while the 36 rural LGAs accounted for 653 projects valued at N287.90 billion.
He added that cross-cutting projects covering more than one LGA were valued at N159.50 billion, while statewide and other interventions amounted to N249.54 billion.
Maaji listed some of the major projects as the approximately N113.19 billion mass housing scheme at Rijiyar Gwangwan in Dawakin Kudu, N24.77 billion Katsina Road expansion in Fagge and Dala LGAs, and the N21.90 billion Modern Cities infrastructure programme.
Others include the N27.74 billion Madobi-Yako-Kafin Maiyaki-Kiru Road intervention and the N22 billion Rural Model City Project covering the 36 rural LGAs.
However, Maaji said the Dawakin Kudu Mass Housing Project and the Rural Model City Housing Project were among high-value projects still awaiting relevant due process procedures.
On financial oversight, he said N444.75 billion in payment certificates had been vetted, representing 44.64 per cent of the cumulative contract value and about 63.97 per cent of the N695.20 billion approved through Notices of No Objection.
The commissioner said the ministry would continue to monitor project implementation, address bottlenecks and strengthen certification processes to ensure value for money.






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