The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced that telecom tariffs in Nigeria will soon be increased, though not by the 100% proposed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Following a stakeholders’ meeting with MNOs in Abuja on Wednesday, Tijani confirmed that consultations are ongoing, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will soon approve and announce the new tariffs. “Over the past few weeks, there has been agitation from some companies requesting a 100% tariff increase. However, it will not be that much. The NCC will soon release a clear directive on how we will proceed. As a government, we aim to strike a balance—protecting our people while ensuring that these companies can continue to invest,” Tijani stated.
He emphasized the need for regulation in the telecommunications sector to foster its growth and sustainability. Tijani also noted that the Federal Government would no longer leave infrastructure investments solely to private companies, as they typically invest only where they see short- to medium-term returns.
“We don’t want this discussion to focus solely on tariff increases. What the world is discussing today is meaningful connectivity, where people want access to quality service. Part of what consumers may not be aware of is the investment required for the infrastructure that delivers these services,” he added.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated that the stakeholder meeting aimed at ensuring the industry’s sustainability. He confirmed that a 100% tariff increase was unlikely, and ongoing discussions would determine the final percentage, with an official announcement expected within a week or two. “I know Nigerians are eager to know the exact percentage, but we are still engaging with stakeholders. You will hear from us within the next week or two,” Maida explained.
Maida also mentioned that the NCC had implemented various tools and measures to ensure service quality standards and urged MNOs to adopt simpler pricing models to help consumers better understand their charges.
“We are moving away from the old system where you have a main rate and then bonuses at different rates. This often makes it complicated and difficult for Nigerians to understand their charges. There is also concern about MNOs allegedly stealing data,” he noted.
The CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Airtel’s media spokesperson Femi Adeniran, defended the proposed tariff adjustments, citing the rising operational and capital costs.
“The economic realities of increasing operational and capital costs necessitate the proposed tariff adjustments. This is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector while bringing significant benefits to Nigerian consumers,” Balsingh stated.
