By Martin Ekpeke
The leadership of ntel, the successor to the defunct NITEL, led by CEO Soji Maurice-Diya and CIO Anthony Adegbola, has met with the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to discuss the future of the company and its role in Nigeria’s burgeoning digital economy.
Though details of the outcome of the meeting are not disclosed, industry watchers and analysts believe the meeting earlier this month in Abuja could signal a major turning point for Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
It is believed that the meeting, which also included Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang (MD/CEO of MOFI) and Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju (MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone), hints at a coordinated effort to integrate private-sector innovation with national digital infrastructure.
While ntel has been relatively quiet in recent years, the timing of this visit is no coincidence. CEO Soji Maurice-Diya has previously outlined a bold infrastructure-light strategy for a Q1 2026 relaunch.
Unlike the traditional mass-market approach favored by larger competitors, ntel’s 2026 comeback is expected to focus on a strategic Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) play that leverages existing infrastructure to provide agile, niche services. The company is specifically targeting youth demographics by designing digital-first products tailored for Gen Z and tech-savvy urban professionals.
Furthermore, ntel is prioritizing quality over quantity, shifting its focus from acquiring 100 million subscribers to serving a smaller, high-value subset with exceptional service quality.
Industry analysts suggest with the presence of Galaxy Backbone, the discussion likely touched on how ntel can leverage public fiber assets, such as the 90,000km project, to improve service resilience through critical national infrastructure.
The involvement of MOFI (Ministry of Finance Incorporated) suggests a focus on investment alignment, potentially involving a financial restructuring to ensure ntel has the capital to sustain its 2026 rollout. Finally, the meeting likely addressed policy synergy, as ntel’s success as a light operator depends on the regulatory support and fair market policies currently being championed by Dr. Bosun Tijani.
The engagement reinforces a shared commitment to building a more resilient and future-ready Nigeria. By aligning ntel’s specialized digital strategy with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the visit serves as a formal green light for ntel’s re-entry into the market.
As ntel prepares for its official market return in the coming weeks, this partnership ensures that when the “One Record, One Patient” (or in this case, “One User, One Seamless Experience”) philosophy is applied to connectivity, the infrastructure is robust enough to support it.