Weeks after his remarks that “unlimited mobile data doesn’t exist, except if you are paying a fortune” sparked widespread public debate among Nigerian telecom subscribers, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Karl Toriola, has defended the comments, saying they were taken out of context.Speaking during an interview with Nifemi Oguntoye on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, Toriola said his remarks at MTN’s Data on Trial public engagement were intended to explain the technical limitations of mobile networks rather than suggest that consumers could never access unlimited data.Responding to the reactions, Toriola said excerpts of his comments circulated online failed to capture the full context. “People took snippets of the conversation and the entirety of the conversation is available on YouTube. There’s nothing to be hidden there, and they took it slightly out of context.”He explained that mobile networks operate on finite spectrum resources, making unrestricted data usage technically impractical without affecting the experience of other users.”Mobile wireless technology to offer data is limited by one factor —spectrum— and spectrum is a finite resource. You cannot put an excessive load of data traffic onto a mobile network without having a degradation of the quality of service for other people.”Toriola noted that while many operators market plans as unlimited, such packages are typically governed by fair usage policies that reduce speeds after subscribers exceed certain thresholds. He added that MTN is working towards introducing similar products, but they would also be subject to fair usage limits to protect other consumers on the network.Beyond the unlimited data debate, the MTN Nigeria CEO acknowledged consumers’ frustrations concerning data depletion, insisting operators do not deliberately take customers’ data to shortchange them. Instead, he said background activities such as cloud backups on applications including WhatsApp, Google Cloud and iCloud account for a significant portion of data usage without users’ knowledge. “A significant amount of data that’s consumed on your handsets is done without your realisation.”He advised subscribers to review their device settings and configure backups to run only over Wi-Fi or at less frequent intervals. To buttress the point, Toriola cited the example of one of MTN Chief Officers who became concerned about her unusually high data usage. An audit of her phone revealed that WhatsApp was routinely backing up about 120 GB of data.On telecom pricing, Toriola said another tariff increase is not imminent, and future reviews would depend on economic realities and the cost of sustaining network operations.”The increment is not imminent. But over time, depending on economic conditions, there might be possible tariff increases.”He maintained that the 2025 tariff adjustment was necessary to ensure the industry’s survival after more than a decade without any price review despite rising operating costs.The MTN chief executive also highlighted the company’s continued investment in network expansion, revealing that it invested ₦390 billion in capital expenditure in the first quarter of the year, more than its ₦359 billion profit after tax for the same period.According to him, persistent challenges such as fibre cuts, vandalism, unreliable electricity supply and restricted access to telecom sites continue to affect service quality despite record investments. “We have more fibre cuts in a day than the whole Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has in a year.”Addressing recurring calls for sanctions against MTN following ongoing incidents in South Africa, Toriola stressed that MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company in both identity and operations, noting that it is listed on the Nigerian Exchange, has only four expatriates in its workforce and millions of Nigerian shareholders through direct investments and pension funds.”We unequivocally condemn any form of xenophobia, any form of violence, any form of attacks against any community in the world.”He added: “We’re a Nigerian company through and through… We have nowhere else to go but Nigeria. This is home for us.”

New Recipe Reinforces Brand Commitment to Delivering Better Taste Experiences for CustomersChicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has announced the introduction of its improved Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide, further reinforcing its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements.The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings. Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed. The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.Speaking on the launch, Olumide Aniyikaiye, Marketing Director Food Concept, said:”At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver. The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love.”The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.”Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better. We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Aniyokaiye added.

L-R; Sylvia Nwakwue, General Manager, Head of Transaction Services (Lagos & South-West Division), GTBank, LBS SMP 35 Alumnus; Chief Sir Raymond Ihyembe, KSS, OON, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Gresham Asset Management Limited, LBS CEP 2 Alumnus; Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group CEO, Interswitch Group and LBS Executive-in-Residence; and Jacinta Ifeoma Anakua, Head, Advancement, Lagos Business School (LBS), during a recent courtesy visit to Interswitch’s HQ to commemorate the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair in Strategic Management.

Lagos, Nigeria – June 30, 2026: Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has been inducted as a founding corporate supporter of the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair in Strategic Management, Lagos Business School’s (LBS) first endowed chair, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to advancing leadership, knowledge creation and institutional excellence across Africa. Established ahead of Professor Albert Alos’ 87th birthday in September 2026, the landmark initiative honours his enduring contributions to management education and is dedicated to advancing Africa-focused research, strengthening faculty leadership, fostering thought leadership, and developing the next generation of responsible business leaders who will drive Africa’s growth on the global stage. Having transformed Africa’s payments landscape through innovation and technology for more than two decades, Interswitch believes that sustainable economic progress depends just as much on investing in the institutions that cultivate ideas, develop leaders and inspire enterprise. Its support for the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair reflects this conviction and highlights the vital role that collaboration between academia and industry plays in building globally competitive African economies. The announcement further deepens a longstanding relationship between Interswitch and Lagos Business School, built on a shared commitment to leadership development, innovation and enterprise excellence. Founder and Group CEO, Mitchell Elegbe, serves on the Lagos Business School Advisory Board and as Executive-in-Residence, where he contributes strategic insight to the School’s pursuit of excellence in management education while engaging students, executives and business leaders on innovation, entrepreneurship and building enduring African enterprises. Reflecting on the significance of the partnership, Elegbe said:”Building Africa’s future requires more than technological innovation; it requires strong institutions that cultivate leaders capable of solving complex challenges and creating lasting value. Our support for the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair reflects our belief that academia and industry have a shared responsibility to generate the ideas, research and leadership that will shape the continent’s next chapter. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Lagos Business School in advancing excellence, innovation and responsible leadership across Africa.” According to a statement released by the Lagos Business School,”It is with great pride that we welcome Interswitch Group as a founding corporate supporter of the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair in Strategic Management, Lagos Business School’s first endowed chair. This landmark initiative is dedicated to advancing Africa-focused research, strengthening faculty leadership, fostering thought leadership, and developing the next generation of responsible business leaders who will drive Africa’s growth on the global stage. Interswitch’s support reflects a shared conviction: that innovation, rigorous research, and deep collaboration between academia and industry are indispensable to building globally competitive institutions and driving sustainable development across Africa.” The company’s support for the endowed chair builds on a broader legacy of investing in initiatives that expand opportunity through education, innovation, entrepreneurship and talent development. Beyond enabling digital payments and commerce across Africa, Interswitch has consistently championed programmes that promote financial inclusion, STEM education, youth empowerment and entrepreneurial development, reflecting its belief that empowering people remains central to the continent’s long-term prosperity. As Africa’s economies become increasingly interconnected and digitally enabled, the need for locally grounded research, world-class management education and values-driven leadership has never been greater. Through this partnership, Interswitch is helping to strengthen the intellectual infrastructure needed to produce globally competitive institutions, nurture visionary leaders and equip African businesses to thrive in an increasingly complex global economy. By supporting the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair, Interswitch is investing not only in an academic institution, but also in the ideas, leaders and partnerships that will define Africa’s next generation of growth. It reflects the company’s enduring belief that the continent’s greatest competitive advantage lies not only in the technologies it creates, but equally in the strength of its institutions, the quality of its leadership and its capacity to innovate.