The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has suggested the possibility of raising tariffs nationwide. During a stakeholders’ meeting with the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, on Thursday, November 16, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of ALTON, emphasized the need for a price review in response to the escalating operating costs. Adebayo pointed out the challenge of 52 taxes burdening operators across the country.
He stated, “Our current pricing regime is no longer sustainable. That is the fact, with the way things are going, I am not sure we can sustain this sector with the current pricing regime.”
Adebayo urged the EVC to intervene in the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debts owed by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), amounting to N200 billion. He emphasized that the entire debt must be settled, warning that the association might block debtor banks from accessing the service. Adebayo assured the NCC EVC of the stakeholders’ support in the sector and emphasized the importance of establishing a timeline for resolutions reached during the meeting.
