The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced that telecommunications tariffs in Nigeria will soon be reviewed upward, although not by the 100% increase proposed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

Speaking after a stakeholder meeting with MNOs on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr. Tijani confirmed that consultations and engagements on the matter were ongoing. He assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would soon issue a directive detailing 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 a 100% tariff increase. But it will not be by 100%. The NCC will soon come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it,” the minister stated.

Dr. Tijani emphasized the government’s commitment to balancing the interests of consumers and operators. “We want to strike the balance as a government to protect our people, but also to ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly in the sector,” he explained.

Infrastructure Investment

The minister also highlighted the need for robust regulations to support the growth of the telecommunications sector. He noted that the Federal Government would no longer leave infrastructure investments solely to private companies.

“There is a need to ensure that the telecommunications sector gets its acts together and that the right regulations are put in place to drive its growth,” Tijani said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MNOs have been advocating for tariff adjustments, citing rising operational costs and the need to sustain service delivery.

The new tariff structure, once approved, is expected to address the financial needs of telecom operators while safeguarding consumers from excessive charges. The NCC will soon make the details public.