Amazon Wins Nigeria Satellite Internet License, Challenging Starlink’s Dominance

Nigeria has opened its satellite broadband market to a new global player. Amazon secured a seven-year landing permit from the Nigerian Communications Commission, allowing Project Kuiper to launch internet services in the country from February 2026. The decision supports Nigeria’s strategy to diversify connectivity infrastructure and attract next-generation technology investment.

“The approval aligns with global best practices and reflects Nigeria’s commitment to opening its satellite communications market to next-generation broadband service providers,” the NCC said, highlighting the strategic importance of the authorization amid rising demand for connectivity.

The license allows Amazon Kuiper to operate its space segment in Nigeria as part of a global low-Earth-orbit constellation of up to 3,236 satellites. The authorization covers fixed satellite services, mobile satellite services, and earth stations in motion. These services target households, businesses, mobility use cases, logistics, aviation, maritime transport, and critical infrastructure.

Amazon’s entry ends Starlink’s quasi-exclusive dominance of Nigeria’s LEO satellite internet market. Starlink benefited from a first-mover advantage and built an estimated base of more than 66,000 subscribers. Kuiper’s arrival introduces direct competition between two global players with large financial, technological, and industrial resources. That rivalry could reshape pricing, service quality, and coverage.

From a technical standpoint, the authorization covers operations in the Ka frequency band, which supports high data transmission capacity. Amazon plans to use 100-MHz channels and deliver speeds of up to 400 Mbps while keeping terminal costs compatible with mass adoption. These features strengthen satellite broadband as a credible alternative to terrestrial networks, including in urban and semi-urban areas.

Nigeria represents a strategic market for Amazon. The country still faces major connectivity gaps despite its large population. According to the NCC, more than 23 million Nigerians live in unserved or underserved areas, while mobile broadband penetration reached 50.58% in November 2025. In that context, LEO satellites, which offer low latency, support advanced digital uses ranging from cloud computing to digital financial services.

Beyond households, Kuiper’s services could meet demand from businesses in oil and gas, mining, ports, and logistics corridors, where fiber deployment remains costly or technically complex. Amazon, which renamed Project Kuiper as Amazon LEO in November 2025, plans to leverage integration with Amazon Web Services to bundle connectivity with cloud services.

With this authorization, Nigeria strengthens its position as one of Africa’s most dynamic satellite broadband markets. Increased competition among LEO operators should gradually improve internet speed, affordability, and resilience, benefiting consumers, businesses, and Nigeria’s digital economy.

By Samira Njoya, wearetech.africa

Related story: Starlink hits capacity in Nigeria’s largest cities, raising questions about Musk’s Africa ambitions

U.S. suspends visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

The United States of America has announced an indefinite suspension of visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries with effect from Jan. 21, 2026.A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing law, while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed.

According to the memo, the pause begins on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the Department of State completes its reassessment of visa processing.

The State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said that “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The United States and Nigeria operate visa reciprocity policies, which means that countries set visa rules based on how their citizens are treated abroad.

If U.S. citizens face limits or high fees, Nigeria may impose similar restrictions through reciprocity schedules.

The key aspects include fees, validity periods and permitted numbers of entries.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil and Burma.

Others listed are Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The other countries include Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan and Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco and Nepal.

The list also includes Nicaragua, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

APA News

Morocco beats Nigeria on penalties to reach AFCON final against Senegal

Yassine Bounou delivered another heroic performance, saving two penalties, before Youssef En-Nesyri calmly converted the decisive spot kick to lift hosts Morocco to a 4–2 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria after a tense 0–0 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Rabat on Wednesday. Chasing their first continental crown in 50 years, Morocco will face Senegal, the 2021 champions, in Sunday’s final in Rabat. Nigeria, meanwhile, will meet Egypt in the third-place playoff a day earlier.

beIN SPORTS

Nigeria boosts school security amid rising kidnapping threats

As students return for a new term, Nigeria is enhancing security at schools nationwide due to increasing threats of armed attacks and kidnappings for ransom, particularly in the north, where abductions and government-led rescues have become more frequent.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria pitches $600m lithium and gold projects to Saudi investors

Nigeria is positioning itself as Africa’s next major minerals hub after rolling out a $600 million lithium processing plant and multiple gold refineries, part of a strategy to make the country a key global supplier of materials needed for the green-energy transition.

The PUNCH reports that Nigeria's minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed the developments during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

The projects, he said, represent the most concrete outcome yet of Nigeria’s policy to end the export of raw minerals and build domestic processing capacity.

“Nigeria’s value-addition policy is already yielding tangible results, with a gold refining plant of very high purity now operational in Lagos, three additional gold refineries at various stages of development, and a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State ready for commissioning,” Alake said

Why Nigeria’s mining pivot matters for Africa

This new phase follows years of government efforts to dismantle illicit mining networks, particularly in gold-rich states such as Zamfara and Niger, where terrorist groups and criminal syndicates had turned illegal mining into a major funding source.

Nigeria is estimated to hold about 757,000 ounces of gold, potentially worth up to $1.4 billion, with at least 17 states hosting notable deposits.

The government has deployed security forces, tightened licensing, and strengthened oversight of mineral exports, gradually bringing more of the sector under formal control to attract international investment.

Nigeria’s mining push mirrors a broader African trend as countries race to tap demand for gold, lithium and other critical minerals driven by the global energy transition.

While illegal mining persists in parts of Nigeria’s northwest and central regions, Abuja’s strategy which involves combining security enforcement, value addition and foreign partnerships, offers a potential model for resource-rich African economies seeking to move beyond raw exports.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Nigeria attracts $1.3bn Chinese lithium investment amid push for clean energy value chains