The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has confirmed that Nigeria’s telecommunications tariffs, including data and airtime prices, will soon see an upward adjustment. However, he assured citizens that the increase would not be the 100 percent hike currently being proposed by telecom operators.
Dr. Tijani disclosed this development during a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) held on Wednesday in Abuja. He stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would soon finalize the new tariffs and make the details public.
“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,” Tijani explained. “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.”
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to striking a balance between protecting consumers and ensuring that telecom operators remain viable for continued investment in the sector.
“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,” Tijani said. “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.”
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The proposed tariff increase has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some expressing concerns over the economic strain it might impose. Telecom operators have argued that the hike is necessary to sustain operations amid rising operational costs.
As Nigerians await the final decision from the NCC, the government’s assurance of a moderated increase aims to allay fears of excessive financial burden on consumers while supporting the continued growth and development of the telecom sector.
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