Kehinde Fajobi
Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has confirmed that telecom tariffs will soon increase, but not by the 100% proposed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Following a stakeholders’ meeting with MNOs in Abuja on Wednesday, Tijani stated that consultations were ongoing and that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would soon announce the new tariffs.
“You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs.
“They are requesting for 100 per cent tariff increase. But it will not be by 100 per cent; the NCC will soon come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it,” Tijani said.
The Minister added that the government was aiming to balance the needs of the public while ensuring that telecom companies can continue to make significant investments.
“We want to strike the balance as a government, to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly,” he stated.
Tijani also emphasised the need for the telecommunication sector to strengthen regulations to support its growth.
He noted that the government would take a more active role in infrastructure investments, which had previously been left to private companies.
“As a country, over time, we have left these investments in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term,” he explained.
The Minister also highlighted that the focus should be on improving connectivity and service quality, not just on tariff increases.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, assured that a 100% tariff increase was unlikely.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, like the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve 100 per cent tariff increase.
“We are still going through some stakeholder engagements, but you will hear from us within a week or two,” Maida said.
He also addressed complaints over complicated pricing, urging MNOs to simplify their tariffs.
“We are moving away from the regime where you will have a main rate, then you will now have a bonus which is at a different rate. It makes it often complicated and difficult for Nigerians to actually understand what they are being charged for,” he added.
Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, represented by Femi Adeniran, justified the proposed tariff hikes, citing rising operational and capital costs.
“The economic realities of rising operational and capital costs, necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments.
“This is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector, while unlocking significant benefits for Nigerian consumers,” he said.