Too good to be true
NCC’s 50% tariff hike might not be such a bad thing
Good morning, Big Brains. I’ve had an interesting week. From achieving a goal with a 9% success rate to trying out new recipes, it’s been an interesting week. But I don’t think all of that combined beats how interesting today’s newsletter is.
- Margaret
Word count: ~ 1, 300
Reading time ~ 5 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
NCC’s 50% tariff hike might not be such a bad thing
Trump has released January’s IJGB batch
The Big Deal
NCC’s 50% tariff hike might not be such a bad thing
We know you’re probably tired of hearing about the 50% tariff hike that will increase the cost of your calls, data, and SMS. But for curiosity's sake, hear us out because the experts are swearing that this is the next best thing after Suya.
The GSMA, the global association for mobile network operators, is saying this tariff increase is a blessing in disguise because it could help Nigeria secure over $150 million in new investment, expand 4G network coverage to 94% of Nigerians, and connect 9 million more people to the internet.
Angela Wamola, the head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, even called this decision a game-changer. She says the move will reduce the way you drag your network providers on Twitter for terrible connectivity, boost Nigeria’s GDP, and create nearly 2 million jobs in the country. That’s a lot of promises for something that will also make Nigerians spend more money.
Why is this a big deal?
If you’re thinking, " This sounds too good to be true, " we’re with you because GSMA also admits that these promises are only going to see the light of the day if FG is serious about making the policy work.
There are problems in Nigeria’s digital economy that need to be fixed before the policy pays off, and one of those problems is the excessive taxes on telecom operators. In the first half of 2024, MTN Nigeria, the country’s biggest mobile network operator, paid ₦232 billion in taxes—a 586% increase from the same period in 2023. GSMA believes Nigerians will enjoy the benefits if the government is able to fix this not-so-little problem.
Speaking of benefits, what do regular Nigerians who are going to be paying the 50% hike stand to gain? First, better network quality means you might finally start enjoying video calls without awkwardly asking, "Can you hear me now?" every two seconds. More internet access means millions of people, especially in rural areas, will finally be able to connect to Tinubu’s internet. More investment means more jobs because someone has to build and maintain all that new infrastructure. Digital services like e-commerce, online education, and mobile banking could run faster and smoother, making life less frustrating. And if the government plays its cards right, Nigeria could level up with AI-driven agriculture, smart healthcare, and connected transportation.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to execution. Remember when all the finance bros tried to gaslight us into thinking that floating the naira was going to be the best thing to happen to Nigerians? Well, look how that turned out.
If the government follows through on the necessary reforms, this could be the push Nigeria’s digital economy needs. If not, well, we’ll all be forced to pay more for the same old network.
Trump has released January’s IJGB batch
Hate him or not, you know that Donald Trump, aka T-Pain Pro Max, doesn’t go back on his words. In 2024, Trump made it clear that one of the first things on his priority list as President was the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. True to his words, the mass deportation started almost immediately after he took office. Barely two weeks later and he’s finally ready to release the next batch of IJGBs IJGD’s to Nigeria.
A recently discovered document from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) has revealed that 3,690 Nigerians (recognised as illegal immigrants) are currently on the list for deportation, making Nigeria the second African country with the highest number of people facing removal from the US—right after Somalia with 4,090.
In case you’re wondering, these people have been on ICE’s non-detained docket since November 24, 2024. That means they’ve been ordered to leave but haven’t been physically detained by ICE. They’re part of a much larger group—over 7 million people—who are either awaiting deportation or locked up in federal, state, or local jails but not directly under ICE’s custody. Meanwhile, those actually held in ICE detention centres fall under the detained docket.
On a global scale, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador top the deportation list, with hundreds of thousands of citizens facing removal orders. Other countries making an appearance include China (37,908), Haiti (32,363), Venezuela (22,749), Iran (2,618), Pakistan (776), and Uzbekistan (975).
Now, why is all of this happening? Trump’s immigration crackdown is in full effect. As expected, not everyone is happy about it. Democrats and human rights groups in the US are calling foul, accusing the Trump administration of violating due process and treating people unfairly. Some foreign governments are also pushing back—Colombia even refused to accept some of its deported citizens at first after accusing the US of treating them like criminals by handcuffing them and flying them home on military planes. But after Trump threatened them with tariffs, they had a quick change of heart.
Meanwhile, ICE has made it clear that every country must accept its citizens back; if a foreign government drags its feet on deportations—whether by delaying travel documents or refusing to cooperate—ICE could label it 'uncooperative' or at risk of non-compliance.
If you’re bothered that yours truly (Nigeria) might spoil your future japa plans by forming coconut head like Colombia, don’t be, because FG is totally ready to receive deported Nigerians with open arms once they arrive.
We know this because The Director of Media and Corporate Affairs for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun told Vanguard in an interview on Tuesday, January 28, that the commission is ready to comply with the US.
“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US,” Balogun said.
With an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of what could be a long and controversial battle over immigration.
This Week’s Big Question
“What would be your first move if you could swap roles with Tinubu?”
Korede’s response - “Fix the poor supply chain in the agricultural sector. I came across a report which states that Nigerian farmers lose around 50% of fruits and vegetables post-harvest due to poor storage, inadequate infrastructure, and inefficiencies in the supply chain. According to ActionAid, Nigeria’s annual post-harvest losses are estimated at ₦3.5 trillion. Tackling this leakage would not only improve farmers' businesses by reducing waste and increasing revenue but also boost GDP growth and possibly reduce the cost of these items.”
You can also share your response here, and if it’s as interesting Korede’s, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
The Big Picks
“Nobody Will Believe You”: The Predatory Teachers Who Ruined Nigerian Girls’ Childhoods Faiza’s life took a tragic turn at 14 when a 29-year-old teacher groomed and abused her. This article tells the heartbreaking story of girls like Faiza who fall victim to predatory teachers and highlights the widespread issue of sexual abuse in Nigerian schools.
Sowore Still in Detention Over His Viral Video Criticising the Police: You likely know Omoyele Sowore as either of these: a former Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), the owner of the news platform Sahara Reporters, or as a rights activist who lives by the beloved Nigerian slogan “no gree for anybody.” He is currently in a tussle with the Nigerian Police because of the third one.