- Proposed tariff hike: The Nigerian government proposes a 30-60% increase in telecom tariffs.
- Sector sustainability: The hike aims to sustain the telecommunications sector while ensuring affordability for Nigerians.
- Rejected 100% hike: The government rejected demands by operators for a 100% tariff increase.
- Prioritizing consumer interests: The tariff review prioritizes consumer interests and sector sustainability.
- Improving connectivity: The government is deploying fiber-optic networks and building telecom towers to address connectivity challenges.
The Nigerian government has proposed a 30-60% increase in telecom tariffs to sustain the telecommunications sector while ensuring affordability for Nigerians. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced this, stating that recommendations from independent consultants like KPMG had been received .
The government rejected demands by operators for a 100% hike, opting for a more moderate increase to balance affordability and sector sustainability. Dr. Tijani emphasized that the tariff review prioritizes consumer interests and sector sustainability, with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) overseeing the process .
To address connectivity challenges, the government is deploying 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic networks and building telecom towers in remote regions. The government also aims to harmonize taxes and declare telecom infrastructure as critical national assets .
This development comes as telecom operators have been pushing for higher tariffs since 2022, citing rising inflation and naira devaluation. The proposed hike is expected to impact the cost of phone calls, SMS, and internet data plans .
