Lagos households to get 36GB monthly data as FG launches TV audience measurement

Selected households in Lagos State are set to receive 36GB of mobile data every month for participating in the Federal Government’s new Television Audience Measurement System (AMS).

The initiative marks the beginning of the first phase of Nigeria’s new national audience measurement programme, designed to provide more accurate data on television viewing habits and strengthen the country’s broadcasting and advertising industries.

The programme is being implemented by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) under the FreeTV brand as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s broadcasting sector and advance its Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Olalekan Fadolapo, disclosed details of the initiative at a press briefing in Lagos.

Idris said a reliable TV audience measurement system would provide the data needed to improve decision-making across Nigeria’s media and creative industries.

According to the minister, credible audience data can strengthen investor confidence, support the production of quality Nigerian content and create opportunities across the media and creative economy.

He noted that the broadcasting industry extends beyond television stations, pointing to the large ecosystem of journalists, producers, filmmakers, actors, advertisers, technology providers and other professionals who depend on the sector.

The minister said the new system would help stakeholders understand who is watching, what they are watching and when they are watching, making the information valuable to broadcasters, advertisers, content producers, investors and regulators.

Unlike the traditional diary-based system, in which viewers record their own television viewing habits, the new Peoplemeter technology will automatically capture viewing information from participating households.

Selected households will have Peoplemeter devices and data-enabled routers installed in their homes.

The equipment will passively collect television viewing information and transmit the data securely to a central data centre, where it can be processed and analysed.

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The system is expected to provide more accurate information on viewing patterns, including the programmes audiences watch and the periods during which they watch them.

Patrick Gomes, Chief Operating Officer of First Media and Entertainment Integrated Limited (FMEIL), the technical partner implementing the system, said participating households would receive 36GB of data monthly as an incentive.

The monthly data incentive is currently valued at about N11,000, according to information provided on the programme.

Gomes explained that the data is intended to support the internet and browsing needs of households participating in the audience measurement panel.

He added that the programme would also provide a quarterly incentive based on participants’ level of compliance with the requirements of the system.

Households that consistently comply with the programme’s requirements would receive higher quarterly incentives, while households with lower levels of compliance would receive a corresponding proportion of the incentive.

The Federal Government has, however, clarified that the 36GB monthly data is not a general free-data scheme for Lagos residents.

Only households selected and enrolled as part of the official audience measurement panel will qualify for the incentive.

The selection of participating households is based on the findings of Nigeria’s first nationwide Establishment Survey, which was completed in the first half of 2023.

The survey covered about 60,000 households across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including approximately 7,000 households in Lagos.

The survey provided the statistical foundation for identifying households that could participate in the audience measurement panel and help generate representative television viewing data.

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The Lagos rollout followed technical testing and a proof-of-concept pilot conducted in selected homes.

Results from the pilot were presented to stakeholders in Abuja in the second quarter of 2024 before the programme moved towards the wider deployment phase.

Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, described the rollout as a major milestone for Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem.

He said the system would provide accurate and passive tracking of audience consumption patterns while addressing transparency challenges within the broadcasting and advertising markets.

The introduction of the Peoplemeter system could significantly change the way television audiences are measured in Nigeria.

For years, broadcasters and advertisers have relied on audience measurement methods that have faced concerns over accuracy, transparency and the ability to capture changing viewing habits.

The new technology is expected to provide more consistent data by capturing viewing behaviour directly rather than relying solely on participants to remember and report what they watched.

The data could have a major impact on the Nigerian advertising market, where audience figures are important in determining advertising placement, campaign reach and the value of television platforms.

Advertisers could use the information to identify programmes and channels that attract specific audiences, while broadcasters could use the data to demonstrate their reach and make better decisions about programming.

Content producers could also benefit from more reliable information about audience preferences.

By knowing which programmes and genres attract particular audiences, producers and investors could make more informed decisions about where to commit resources.

The system could consequently encourage greater investment in Nigerian content, entertainment, news, education and other forms of locally produced programming.

The Federal Government expects the programme to complement the ongoing Digital Switch Over initiative, which is aimed at transitioning Nigeria from analogue television broadcasting to digital terrestrial television.

The FreeTV platform is central to the government’s digital broadcasting strategy and is intended to provide Nigerians with access to free-to-air digital television services.

The audience measurement system is being rolled out in phases.

Following the launch in Lagos, the second phase is expected to extend the programme to Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, while a third phase will cover other major media markets across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The eventual objective is to establish a national television audience measurement system capable of providing reliable data across different regions and demographic groups.

The nationwide deployment is expected to give regulators, broadcasters, advertisers and investors a clearer understanding of Nigeria’s television market.

It could also provide a more transparent basis for determining advertising rates and evaluating the performance of television programmes.

Officials believe the availability of credible audience data will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s broadcasting industry and contribute to the growth of the wider creative economy.

The initiative also reflects a broader shift towards technology-driven data collection within Nigeria’s media sector.

For participating households, the immediate benefit will be the monthly 36GB data incentive, alongside the possibility of additional quarterly incentives for consistent compliance.

For the wider industry, however, the more significant development is the transition from a traditional diary-based measurement model to an automated Peoplemeter system.

As the programme expands beyond Lagos to other major media markets, the Federal Government will be hoping that the system delivers the accurate and transparent audience data needed to improve investment, advertising, content production and regulation in Nigeria’s television industry.

The success of the programme will ultimately depend on the ability of the authorities and technical partners to maintain accurate data collection, protect participants’ privacy and ensure that the selected households remain representative of Nigeria’s diverse television audience.

If successfully implemented nationwide, the new TV audience measurement system could become an important foundation for the future of Nigeria’s broadcasting, advertising and creative industries.

Lagos households to get 36GB monthly data as FG launches TV audience measurement

Two Grandfathers Among Five Arrested Over Alleged Motorcycle Theft Syndicate in Calabar

Police smash interstate criminal network stealing motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom for resale in Cross River.

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested five suspects, including two grandfathers aged 75 and 60, in connection with an alleged interstate motorcycle and tricycle theft syndicate operating between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The suspects, identified as Okon Eyo Nsa, 75, and Essien Ukpong, 60, were allegedly part of a network that specialised in stealing motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom State and moving them to Cross River for sale. The younger members of the alleged gang were said to collect and drive the stolen vehicles to hidden locations, where prospective buyers were allegedly contacted, while the older suspects were responsible for linking up with buyers in Calabar and adjoining towns. The other suspects arrested include Archibong Archibong Nsa, 36; Nsa Essien Eyo, 24; and Effiong Archibong Sunday, 28. All five were apprehended by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Cross River State Police Command following an intelligence-led operation directed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the operation began with the arrest of 28-year-old Effiong Archibong Sunday on August 31, 2026, at about 2:00 pm. One motorcycle suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him during the arrest. During preliminary investigation, the suspect allegedly made statements implicating himself and mentioned one “Elewe” as being connected with the suspected network. The suspect further alleged that Elewe was responsible for stealing motorcycles and tricycles in Akwa Ibom and transferring them to a man identified as “Efefiong” in Cross River for onward sale. Police stressed that these allegations remain subject to further investigation and judicial determination. Acting on the information obtained, VCRU operatives conducted a follow-up operation at about 3:00 am on September 1, leading to the arrest of four additional suspects allegedly connected with the suspected receiving and distribution network. Searches conducted at locations linked to the suspects, in accordance with applicable legal procedures, resulted in the recovery of three tricycles and one motorcycle suspected to have been stolen. Together with the motorcycle recovered during the initial arrest, the operation has so far yielded a total of five vehicles: three tricycles and two motorcycles. The command said the ownership and status of the recovered vehicles are currently being verified.

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The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for what he described as their prompt and professional response. He reaffirmed his commitment to lawful, intelligence-led operations and strategic surveillance aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates across the state. CP Ordue warned persons involved in the theft, receiving, concealment or sale of stolen vehicles that the command would pursue all credible leads and take appropriate legal action against anyone found culpable. “I want to warn anybody or persons involved in the theft, receiving, concealment or sale of stolen vehicles that the Command would pursue all credible leads and take appropriate legal action against persons found culpable,” he stated. The Commissioner also urged motorcycle and tricycle owners and operators to promptly report thefts and provide credible information to assist the police in recovering stolen property and dismantling criminal networks. He cautioned members of the public against resorting to self-help, conducting unlawful searches or harassing persons suspected of criminal activity.

The command said further investigation was ongoing to establish the ownership and provenance of the recovered vehicles, identify other persons connected with the alleged offences and determine the full extent of the suspected network. The police stressed that the suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Two Grandfathers Among Five Arrested Over Alleged Motorcycle Theft Syndicate in Calabar

Ogun Pastor Dies in Crash Hours After Allegedly Killing Wife in Domestic Dispute

CCC evangelist Abidemi Odukoya allegedly beat his wife to death before dying in a road accident while fleeing the scene in Ogun State.

The Ogun State community of Akinode/Ibogun has been thrown into mourning following the tragic deaths of a Celestial Church of Christ evangelist, Abidemi Odukoya, and his wife, Adenike, who died hours apart under circumstances linked to an alleged domestic violence incident.

The couple, who resided within the church premises of CCC Dews of Heaven Parish, also known as Iri Orun, were reportedly involved in a heated argument that escalated into a physical confrontation in the early hours of Monday, August 25, 2026. According to police sources, the incident was reported at approximately 2:00 am on August 31, 2026.

During the altercation, which occurred around 3:00 am, Adenike Odukoya allegedly sustained severe head injuries after her husband reportedly hit her against a wall, leaving her unconscious. Their son immediately raised the alarm, prompting neighbours and members of the local Community Development Association to rush to the scene in a desperate attempt to provide emergency assistance.

A former Chairman of the Community Development Association, Adejimi Olawumi, described the harrowing discovery in a video shared by Arole TV. He recounted being alerted by residents’ cries for help around 1:00 am. “On my way out, I saw Daniel. I asked him what happened, and he said it was his mum and dad,” Olawumi said. “Immediately, we got inside the house and saw the wife in a pool of blood. At that time, there were no vehicles to take her to the hospital. The son said he did not see what happened between his mum and dad because he was in the other room.”

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Despite the neighbours’ efforts to save her, Adenike Odukoya was pronounced dead at the scene. Her remains were evacuated and deposited at the Ifo General Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination. She was laid to rest at the family residence later that day, at approximately 2:00 pm.

After discovering that his wife was unresponsive, Evangelist Odukoya allegedly fled the residence. While residents were still grappling with the shocking discovery, another grim report emerged at approximately 6:00 am. The community received word that a man’s body had been found along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, in the Iyana Coker area of Ifo.

CDA officials who went to the location confirmed that the deceased was Evangelist Odukoya. He had reportedly been struck by an oncoming vehicle on the busy highway. Some eyewitness accounts alleged that the evangelist deliberately stepped into the path of an oncoming Dangote cement truck, but this claim has not been independently confirmed and remains under investigation. Detectives later visited the morgue where the unidentified body from the accident had been deposited. Photographs were taken and used for identification, after which investigators confirmed that the deceased was the man suspected of killing his wife.

The late evangelist’s younger sister, in a separate video circulating online, claimed that the couple had a history of repeated disagreements. She said the couple had visited her around April following an earlier altercation, which was eventually resolved at a police station. She recounted: “I have been hearing that they have been fighting for a while now. Around April, they came to my house. He explained everything about how he and his wife fought, and that it was at the police station they settled it. I only told them to be patient with each other because it is not right for a husband and wife to fight against each other. They had been fighting for a very long time, and people helped them settle it. And now we just heard that the husband and wife are dead.”

The wife was reportedly buried on the day of the incident, while Odukoya was buried on Wednesday, September 2. In separate footage seen by PUNCH Metro, some clerics were seen performing burial rites over the remains of the evangelist at an undisclosed location. The family of the deceased woman has reportedly approached the police, requesting the release of her remains for burial.

When contacted, the deputy spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Opeyemi Oluborode, confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding both deaths. “The police is investigating the incident,” he added. The double tragedy has plunged the couple’s family, church members, and the surrounding community into mourning as authorities work to unravel what happened in the early hours of that fateful morning.

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