The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has confirmed that tariffs for calls and data services will increase soon. However, he assured citizens that the hike would not reach the 100 percent demanded by telecom operators.
Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Tijani stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is reviewing the proposed adjustments.
“You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting a 100 percent tariff increase. But it will not be by 100 percent,” he said.
The NCC is expected to finalize and announce the revised tariffs soon. According to the minister, the government aims to balance the interests of consumers and telecom providers.
He explained that while protecting Nigerians is a priority, companies need favorable conditions to maintain significant investments in the sector.
He said: “You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariffs. They are requesting a 100 percent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 percent. We are still looking at that study, and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“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.
“We need to ensure that as a sector, we get our acts together and ensure that from the regulation side, we put the right regulations in place that can ensure the growth of this sector.”
“As a country, over time, we have left this investment in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. I think what the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity.
“You want to have access to very good quality service.
“A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services,” he said.
