Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has confirmed that telecommunications tariffs in the country will soon increase. However, he reassured Nigerians that the increase would not be the full 100 percent that telecom operators are currently requesting.
Tijani made the announcement after a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on Wednesday in Abuja. He stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would soon approve and publicly announce the new tariffs.
While some telecom companies have been pushing for a 100 percent increase, Tijani clarified that the government is still reviewing the situation and that the increase would not be as high as requested.
The government aims to strike a balance by protecting consumers while also ensuring that telecom companies can continue to invest. Tijani emphasized the need for effective regulation to foster sector growth.
He also mentioned that the government would no longer leave infrastructure investments solely to private companies, as they typically invest where they see short- to medium-term returns. The focus, he said, should not just be on tariff increases, but on ensuring quality service and meaningful connectivity.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, added that the meeting was focused on the sustainability of the industry. He echoed Tijani’s point that the tariff increase would not reach 100 percent and assured Nigerians that a final decision would be made within the next couple of weeks after further consultations.
Maida also discussed the NCC’s efforts to revise service quality regulations and simplify billing templates to make charges more transparent for consumers.
The meeting comes amid growing pressure for a telecom tariff hike, with some telecom companies, including MTN and Airtel, requesting approval for higher tariffs. Meanwhile, telecom subscribers have urged companies to explore alternatives to increasing rates.
