Thread by @FinPlanKaluAja1

Can't remember the year, MTN just went live.

At Thistle Bar in VI that Friday, everyone was gathered around a guy with a Sagem phone. He was showing how he could make and receive calls.

I recall a company that was charging N500 to "install"a SIM card.

We have come a long way

Back then you would go to a GSM office, pick a tally #, line-up to buy a phone and SIM. Long line

It was like the US embassy to get a Visa, complete with rude Nigerian guards. Phones and SIMS were scarce, you were billed per minute.

Service only in Ikoyi, VI and Ikeja

Lol. Mainland did not get GSM service.

Abuja had service, the SE did not.

I recall the year GSM got to the East. Christmas travelers were told to travel with their phones cause it would work across the Niger River.

Big deal

I wanted to buy a car, my agent at the port In Apapa was describing this Toyota to me, I was wondering how it would be easy if phones had cameras and video, so he could simply take a video and send over.

Now I attend Harvard on my phone from Enugu

We have come a long way

You cannot quantify how GSM raised the productivity in Nigeria created wealth & jobs.

Same will happen when railways are built in Nigeria. Someone will do a trend in 2070 of how his dad would drive from Lagos to Enugu.

People will ask, why didn't he just take the Bullet train?

"Are you serious? You bought SIMs for N20k"

,🤣🤣🤣