Connect with us

Business

NCC, MNOs, Others Plan Refund Of Unused Airtime To Subscribers

Published

on

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other stakeholders have commenced moves to refund telecom subscribers for unused recharges after a period of one year.

Subscribers whose lines are deactivated or inactive for a period of one year would have their recharges return to them provided they are able to prove the ownership of the deactivated or inactive lines.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, the move was necessary to protect consumer rights and ensure efficiency and transparent management of subscribers heard earned resources.

Speaking at the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja during a stakeholders engagement/consultative forum on regulatory instruments to address unutilized and unclaimed recharges (for airtime and data) by telecom consumers, Dr Maida insisted that challenges that compromised consumers rights must be addressed.

Represented at the event by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management of NCC, Rimini Makama, he said the draft instruments was necessary for consideration by all stakeholders to explore practical solutions to the issue of unclaimed recharges.

Evening Roundup: Stories making waves in The Nation – The Nation0:00 / 0:00

Dr Maida said: “The telecommunications industry has long been a pillar of economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.

“With the widespread reliance on mobile services, prepaid plans have provided millions of Nigerians with flexibility and affordability.

“However, as the sector evolves, and in line with our commitment to ensuring Quality of Experience for telecom consumers, we must address emerging challenges especially those that may compromise consumer rights. One of such is the fate of prepaid balances when accounts become inactive.

“Striking the right balance between safeguarding consumer rights, ensuring effective regulatory oversight, and maintaining industry sustainability requires a collective effort, and this forum presents an opportunity to explore practical solutions on this subject. At the heart of our discussions today is the issue of unclaimed recharges.

“The Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024 stipulates that a prepaid line without a Revenue Generating Event for six months must be deactivated, and if inactivity persists for another six months, the line may be recycled. Subscribers have the right to reclaim their unused credit within one year, provided they can demonstrate ownership.

“However, the broader debate remains—should operators be required to refund unused airtime, or should the principle of “use it or lose it” prevail? Our goal is to arrive at a framework that protects consumers while ensuring the continued efficiency and competitiveness of the industry. The Commission remains committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-centric telecommunications landscape.”

Also the Head of Legal and regulatory services of the NCC, Mrs Chizua Whyte said the issue of unutilized and unclaimed recharges on churned subscriber lines represents both a consumer protection challenge and a regulatory opportunity.

“When subscribers are disconnected after extended periods of inactivity as defined by our Quality of Service Regulations, many leave behind unused credits.

“This Draft Guidance seeks to establish clear, fair, and transparent procedures for managing these funds, ensuring that subscribers maintain rightful access to their purchased credits while providing operators with regulatory clarity,” Mrs Whyte said.

 

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Dangote Refinery Fixes Petrol Price in New Pricing Template 

Published

on

Dangote Refinery Slashes Ex-Depot Price By N40

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has fixed the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, at $0.779 per litre as it officially transitioned to a dollar-denominated pricing system for refined petroleum products.

The new pricing template, which took effect on Monday, July 13, 2026, also pegs Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) at $1.087 per litre and aviation fuel at $0.942 per litre, while coastal deliveries of petrol have been priced at $1,044.62 per metric tonne.

The move effectively ends naira payments for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel purchased from the refinery, marking a significant shift from the naira-based transactions introduced under the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude policy, which commenced on October 1, 2024.

In a notice to petroleum marketers and customers, the refinery said all previously issued naira-denominated Proforma Invoices (PFIs) and Deal Recaps for both gantry and coastal transactions had become invalid.

The notice, signed by the refinery’s Group Commercial Operations, stated: “Following our email of July 9, 2026, regarding the transition from naira to United States dollars (USD), please note that all issued naira coastal and gantry PFIs/Deal Recaps are now invalid, and no payments should be made against them.

“The applicable USD prices for each product, effective today, July 13, 2026, are provided below.”

Under the revised pricing template, petrol sold through the gantry will cost $0.779 per litre, diesel $1.087 per litre, aviation fuel $0.942 per litre, while coastal PMS supplies will sell for $1,044.62 per metric tonne.

The refinery, however, clarified that the transition does not affect Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) transactions.

“Also note that this transition to USD does not apply to LPG transactions,” the notice added.

Industry sources said the change was necessitated by an increasing mismatch between the currency used to purchase crude oil and the currency in which refined products were being sold.

According to one source familiar with the development, Dangote Refinery now receives a significant portion of its crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under dollar-denominated supply arrangements, while a large volume of refined products has continued to be sold domestically in naira.

The source said the imbalance had heightened the refinery’s exposure to foreign exchange risks.

Another industry official explained that the refinery had received fewer crude cargoes under the naira-for-crude arrangement in recent months, making it commercially necessary to align product sales with the currency used for crude procurement.

“Dangote Refinery is receiving fewer naira-denominated crude cargoes from NNPCL than dollar-denominated cargoes, while a larger volume of its petroleum products has been sold in naira.

“The resulting currency mismatch, combined with volatility in international crude oil prices and continued exchange-rate uncertainty, made it necessary to migrate product sales to dollars,” the source said.

The development is expected to have far-reaching implications for petroleum marketers, many of whom source products directly from the refinery for nationwide distribution.

It also raises fresh questions about the future of the Federal Government’s naira-for-crude initiative, which was introduced to strengthen domestic refining, reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand and help stabilise fuel prices.

Although the refinery has fixed a dollar benchmark for product sales, the retail pump price of petrol across the country will continue to depend on several factors, including the prevailing naira-dollar exchange rate, international crude oil prices, transportation and logistics costs, regulatory charges and marketers’ margins.

With Dangote Refinery now accounting for a substantial share of Nigeria’s refined petroleum supply, industry stakeholders are expected to closely monitor how the new pricing regime influences fuel prices and competition in the deregulated downstream petroleum market.

 

Source: Tribune

Continue Reading

Business

Nigeria Strengthens Maritime Leadership as Fadahunsi Emerges Vice Chairman of Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission

Published

on

The Hydrographer of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hydrographic Agency (NHA), Rear Admiral OO Fadahunsi, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) for the 2026–2028 term, further reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in regional and global maritime governance.

Rear Admiral Fadahunsi’s election was confirmed on Friday, 3 July 2026, during the ongoing EAtHC Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where member states endorsed his emergence to one of the commission’s most strategic leadership positions.

Established on 26 November 1984 under the auspices of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission was founded by France, Nigeria, Portugal and Spain. Over the past four decades, the commission has expanded significantly, comprising 11 member states, 10 associate members and six observers committed to promoting hydrographic excellence across the Eastern Atlantic region.

The commission plays a pivotal role in advancing hydrography, nautical cartography and maritime safety through capacity-building initiatives, the development and implementation of International (INT) Charts and Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) schemes, improved hydrographic surveys, enhanced charting standards, effective dissemination of nautical information and sustained advocacy on the importance of hydrography to regional maritime development.

Since its inaugural conference in Paris, France, in April 1986, the EAtHC has convened biennially to strengthen collaboration among member states and chart the future of hydrographic development.

In another significant endorsement of Nigeria’s expanding maritime profile, the country has been selected to host the next EAtHC Conference in June 2028. Nigeria will also host the 25th Meeting of the Capacity Building Sub-Committee (CBSC25) and the 19th Meeting of the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC19) in June 2027, positioning the country at the centre of major international hydrographic engagements.

Rear Admiral Fadahunsi’s election is widely regarded as a testament to Nigeria’s sustained investment in hydrographic development, maritime safety and regional cooperation. It also reflects growing international confidence in the National Hydrographic Agency’s contributions to safer navigation, marine resource management and the blue economy.

As Nigeria prepares to welcome leading hydrographers, maritime regulators and technical experts from across the world over the next two years, the country is poised to consolidate its reputation as a key driver of hydrographic innovation and maritime security in the Eastern Atlantic region.

Continue Reading

Business

Canada Publishes 2 Official Websites to Find Jobs, Says Over 2,000 Vacancies Are Posted Daily 

Published

on

Canada has made it easier for unemployed individuals and foreigners who wish to live and work in the country to find jobs that can help them live comfortably and meet their basic responsibilities.

On the official Canadian government website, two links are provided to websites where job seekers can find available jobs in Canada

According to the Canadian government website, applicants who apply for jobs through these platforms can get hired by different companies, as more than 2,000 jobs are posted every day.

Aside from these two websites, the Canadian government explains that individuals can also use employment agencies to help them find jobs that match their skills.

A job seeker can also ask friends or family members if there are job openings or vacancies, as not all positions are advertised on these websites.

1. Job Bank

The Canadian government explains that thousands of jobs are advertised on this platform every day by organisations and companies. The link to access the website can be found in the detailed post published on the Canadian government website.

2. Jobs GC

Another website where foreigners who wish to work in Canada or Canadian citizens can find government jobs is the Jobs GC website. Federal public service jobs are advertised on the website, alongside several other opportunities that may match an applicant’s skills.

Continue Reading

Trending