The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, has issued a firm mandate to telecommunications operators to immediately improve service quality, asserting that the government has successfully cleared the structural and economic hurdles previously hindering the sector.
In a statement on the state of the industry, the Minister revealed that the Nigerian Government has transitioned from a phase of stabilisation to a phase of expected performance.
He noted that the environment was now “market-driven and transparent,” following difficult but necessary reforms.
According to him, fibre deployment and new tower rollouts under NUCAP will begin before the end of the year, alongside efforts to expand satellite connectivity.
READ ALSO: President Tinubu Arrives in Kenya for Africa-France Summit
The Minister explained that the projects are designed to provide reliable high-speed internet access to homes and businesses, reducing dependence on unstable mobile networks.
Immediate Measures
Tijani also highlighted immediate measures taken to stabilise the telecommunications sector, including tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonisation efforts, and broader economic reforms.
He said the reforms had improved the operating environment for telecom companies, enabling operators to return to profitability and invest in fixing network challenges.
“A small business owner should be able to access reliable, high-speed fiber internet directly at their home or shop, not rely solely on dongles or unstable mobile connections,” the Minister stated, defining the administration’s goal for “meaningful connectivity.”
With operators returning to profitability and the naira floating, Dr. Tijani emphasised that the “excuses” for poor service have been removed.
He specifically named major players—MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile (T2), noting that it is now their responsibility to resolve network challenges.
According to the Minister, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been granted full autonomy to monitor performance and enforce compliance.
He warned that the government would rely on NCC reports and public feedback to track progress.
“Where operators deliver, it will be recognized. Where they do not, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action,” Tijani warned, signaling an end to the era of sub-par call quality and data performance.
