Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has announced that telecommunications tariffs in Nigeria will be increasing soon. However, he reassured Nigerians that the increase will not be the full 100 percent that telecom operators are currently seeking. Tijani made this statement following a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Abuja on Wednesday. He indicated that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would soon approve the new tariffs and inform the public. “As observed in recent weeks, some companies have been pushing for a tariff increase.” They are asking for a full 100 percent tariff hike. “However, it won’t actually be by that much.” We are currently reviewing that study, and NCC will provide a clear guideline on how we will proceed. “As a government, we aim to find a balance between protecting our citizens and allowing these companies to continue making substantial investments.” “It’s important for us as a sector to get organized and implement appropriate regulations that will support the growth of this industry.” The minister also mentioned that the federal government will not rely solely on private companies for investing in infrastructure in the sector anymore. “As a nation, we have gradually handed this investment over to the private sector.” They usually invest in areas where they can expect short to medium-term returns. “We don’t want this discussion to focus solely on raising tariffs.” Today, the focus around the world is on meaningful connectivity. “You want access to high-quality service. However, consumers might not realize the investment required for the infrastructure that provides these services,” he stated. Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, mentioned that the meeting with stakeholders was centered on the industry’s sustainability. “We have considered all these factors, which is why, as the minister indicated, it’s unlikely we’ll approve a 100 percent increase in tariffs. I understand that Nigerians are eager to know the exact percentage that has been approved.” We are still engaging with some stakeholders, but you will hear from us in about a week or two. He stated that the NCC had implemented several tools and measures by updating its quality of service regulations to ensure compliance. He mentioned that mobile network operators (MNOs) are required to use simplified templates to inform Nigerians about the costs per minute for voice calls, SMS, and data usage. “We are moving away from the system where there is a main rate and then a bonus that has a different rate. This often complicates things and makes it hard for Nigerians to understand their charges,” he explained. “Over the past year, we reviewed data and found there were concerns about MNOs misusing customer data,” he added. Earlier, DAILY POST reported that Tijani was meeting with telecom stakeholders amid rising pressure for a telecom tariff increase. At the same time, subscribers urged telecom companies to explore options other than raising tariffs, especially since companies like MTN and Airtel had recently requested approval from the NCC for new tariff hikes. DAILY POST also noted that telecom firms had threatened to shut down the sector if their tariff adjustment requests were not approved. Subscribers continue to call for alternatives to tariff increases.
