News

Lagos-Calabar highway: Telcos fear shutdown as construction threatens cables

Published

4 months ago

May 6, 2024

• The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have raised concerns over potential disruptions to connectivity as construction progresses on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

• Multichoice, the owner of DStv and GOtv, recently alerted subscribers to a three-day technical downtime, attributing it to the ongoing construction on the Lagos-Calabar highway. This relocation is expected to affect their uplink facilities.

• The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway corridor serves as a vital landing point for several submarine cables connecting Nigeria to Europe, including the West Africa Cable System (WACS), MainOne, Glo1, ACE, and NCSCS. These cables are critical for international communications and data transmission.

• The Federal Executive Council approved Phase One of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, entrusting it to Hitech Construction Company Limited. The highway is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through several coastal states.

• Telcos have expressed concerns about potential disruptions to telecommunications services due to the construction, emphasizing the need for stakeholder consultations with the Ministry of Works to address risks and implement mitigation measures.

• Despite efforts to engage the Ministry of Works, telcos have not been included in environmental impact assessments or stakeholder consultations regarding the construction’s effects on undersea cables.

• Telcos stress the importance of exercising caution during construction to avoid damage to critical national infrastructure, as seen in previous incidents where subsea cable cuts caused service disruptions and incurred significant repair costs.

• The telecom sector is already facing economic challenges, leading to decreased investment and increased operating costs. Telcos urge the government to enact legislation designating telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure to protect assets and ensure uninterrupted services.

• Multichoice subscribers have demanded compensation for the three-day technical downtime, expressing dissatisfaction with the potential service interruption during the relocation of uplink facilities.

• Multichoice has assured subscribers of efforts to minimize disruptions and restore services promptly. The company recently announced a price increase for its DStv and GOtv packages, prompting further scrutiny from customers regarding service quality and compensation policies.

News

We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2024

ARS NEWS

Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.

Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.

This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.

News

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Round of 16 fixtures confirmed [Full list]

Published

6 days ago

September 9, 2024

ARS NEWS

The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.

In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.

As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.

The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:

Spain vs Canada
Brazil vs Cameroon
Colombia vs South Korea
Mexico vs USA
North Korea vs Austria
Germany vs Argentina
Netherlands vs France
Japan vs Nigeria

News

Nigerian Army debunks reported mass resignation of soldiers

Published

6 days ago

September 9, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.

In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.

A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.

Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.

He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).

Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.