Ict/Telecom
GSM Consumers Lament Poor Services
GSM consumers in Bauchi are now experiencing poor services following the series of attacks on GSM service providers’ installations in the nation’s North-East geo-political zone.
The Tide investigation revealed that most of the residents using the services of MTN, GLO, Airtel and Etisalat now bear the brunt of paying for not too good services.
Malam Balarabe Katagum told newsmen in Bauchi on Monday that his Glo line had not been giving good reception any longer since the blasting occurred.
‘’Take for example, this morning. I called somebody in Saudi Arabia with my Glo line, but it sounded as if it rang but when I just said ‘hello’ it again went off. On checking, my credit had been deducted.
‘’Again, when you call another network, it now takes longer time to connect. When you take this and the patience we have been enduring with these networks, it is serious. We can’t continue like this,’’ he said.
Katagun said that he was thinking of patronising another network to complement the Glo, adding that what he heard from other consumers of the other networks was also not encouraging.
The Tide reports that the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) had in September threatened to cut off services from the North if the attack on the infrastructure continued.
ALTON, which is the umbrella association for Glo, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat, had put the number of base stations attacked in the North at 26, including those in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.
Mr Moses Ishaya, another Bauchi resident, told The Tide that data connectivity had nose-dived to the lowest level, adding that some particular periods must be marked to access data from these networks.
‘’To get easy access to data services now, you have to either connect early in the morning up to 10 o’clock or you just have to forget it until its around five o’clock in the evening.
“As a banker, I also experienced these network outrage on the counter. This causes a lot of inconvenience to us and the customers. What ordinarily should take five minutes have to be done in an hour, ’’ he lamented.
Alhaji Mohammed Kawu, a Bauchi-based journalist, said that poor connectivity had led to getting of queries from his media organisation’s headquarters.
“The network had turned out to be so erratic that you cannot rely on any of them. Look, in order not to be queried, I had applied for three networks so that at least I can attach two on my laptop at once. If one fails, there is a back-up.
‘’The situation is terrible especially when you have an important story to send and you want to beat others to it, especially The Tide.’’
A banker, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the branch was thinking of joining the national grid of Galaxy or any other one to maintain the internet banking facilities in the state.
‘’We are currently using one of these service providers which had been disappointing for sometimes now.
“I have recommended an alternative, considering the state government’s recent policy of e-payment, we may not be able to cope with these networks,’’ the banker said.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter