News
Excellent quality of service non-negotiable in telecom industry – Maida
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has said that quality of service in the telecommunications sector is non-negotiable as he called for industry collaboration to make this a reality.
KANO FOCUS reports that Maida, who spoke in Lagos at an interactive session with chief executive officers in the industry on Thursday, assured of collaborations within the industry and commitment to transparency in the telecom ecosystem.
He told the industry chieftains to appreciate that they have a very important role to play in an industry to consolidate on the achievements already recorded in the sector, which is an enabler of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking as his confirmation as the substantive chief executive officer of the Commission was taking place at the Senate Chambers, Maida noted that the expectations of telecom consumers are very high.
“People actually expect telecom services to work. I don’t think they really appreciate what it takes to deliver these services. So, it has come to a stage they just see telecom service as utility like water and electricity. Like a social service, it needs to work. We need to really come together in the industry and deliver value to the customer,” he said.
He also spoke about compliance to industry regulations and standards. “When it comes to compliance, this is an area where we are going to be placing a lot more focus, and things are going to be a lot more urgent. I am not going to be asking for compliance after the fact. That is going to be a very key area of focus for me.
“So, we owe it to ourselves to benchmark ourselves against the best, not against other sectors. We have to just take ourselves as setting the benchmark for every person else. So, let people compare and say we have to be as good as telecom.”
On broadband, Maida said the Commission has a very short time to do so much. “A lot has been done with the Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) licensing. We just have to re-imagine, look at it again, and see whether that is the right approach and re-imagine how we approach it. We now need to start getting into the states, and perhaps we might need to sit down and see how we can do that differently. Again, on the broadband issue, we need to increase the investment,” he said.
The new NCC boss said that he considered operating entities as a very crucial segment of the national telecom development, hence his desire to hear directly from industry CEOs about the issues, challenges, and opportunities.
“We also have to be clear that this is not just a conversation about you representing your shareholders. This is a conversation about Nigeria. This is a conversation about moving Nigeria forward. So, your shareholders are one part of your stakeholders, but Nigerians are also another critical, in fact, your most important stakeholders. So, this conversation is going to be about you having your shareholders, but you also have Nigerians to whom you will have to deliver services,” he said.
The CEOs, who expressed delight at the consultative approach of the EVC, promised to work closely in support of Maida’s mandate.
President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, said the industry is reassured by the steps that Maida has taken in convening the interactive session. “We are really encouraged that your first action is to meet with us here at this interactive session. What you have done to invite us here to hear what we have to say is the right step,” he said.
Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, commended the interactive session for providing a platform for discussing the issues in the industry. He said the approach of the new boss of the NCC is very promising.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Professor Muhammad Ahmad Makarfi of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has identified inclusive microfinance as a critical tool for addressing food insecurity and poverty in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Makarfi, of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, made the recommendation while delivering the university’s 64th Professorial Inaugural Lecture on Thursday, October 14, 2026, at the CBN Centre of Excellence.
The lecture, titled *“Innovative Options for Nigeria’s Food Security and Poverty Alleviation: The Microfinance Pathway to Sustainable Development,”* examined how improved access to affordable financing could boost agricultural production and strengthen rural livelihoods.
The professor said that despite Nigeria’s vast agricultural resources, food production and rural livelihoods continued to face challenges, including limited access to affordable finance, insecurity, climate change, inadequate infrastructure and low agricultural productivity.
He argued that expanding access to agricultural finance, particularly for smallholder farmers, would encourage investment, improve productivity and strengthen the country’s food security.
Prof. Makarfi reviewed Nigeria’s agricultural financing policies and interventions, highlighting the need for innovative credit delivery systems that would make funding more accessible, affordable and sustainable for farmers.
He identified microfinance institutions and Islamic finance models as potential avenues for improving access to agricultural credit.
In his recommendations, the professor said sustainable food security and poverty reduction required policies that prioritised increased domestic agricultural production through better access to finance, modern technologies, quality farm inputs and markets.
He also called for stronger microfinance institutions, expanded farmer-friendly financing mechanisms and an enabling environment to attract investment across the agricultural value chain.
According to him, such measures would improve agricultural productivity, enhance livelihoods and accelerate Nigeria’s sustainable development.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Professor Haruna Musa, who chaired the lecture, was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni.
Prof. Musa commended the lecturer for choosing a topic that addressed critical issues surrounding food insecurity, livelihoods and agricultural development.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Aminu Sulaiman, who presented the lecturer’s citation, said Mr Makarfi had published more than 150 local and international publications, contributed 10 book chapters and authored eight books.
Professor Mahmoud Ibrahim Daneji, who represented the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, delivered the vote of thanks.
Dabo’s resignation triggers wave of defections from APC in Kano
Five Kano Pillars Amputee Players Invited to Special Eagles Camp Ahead of World Cup
BUK Professor advocates microfinance to tackle food insecurity, poverty
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Former NPA MD Aminu Dabo resigns as APC caucus chairman in Dambatta
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