President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Airtel Nigeria’s Open Network initiative, describing it as a step towards promoting transparency, strengthening consumer protection and improving the quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The initiative was officially launched in Lagos on Friday, 30 October 2026, at a ceremony attended by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida.
It provides subscribers with access to updates on USSD operations in their localities and a direct channel for reporting service disruptions and connectivity challenges.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the initiative aligned with his administration’s broader agenda of encouraging private-sector participation, accelerating digital infrastructure development and improving access to reliable and efficient telecommunications services nationwide.
He welcomed the growing emphasis on transparency in the sector, including the NCC’s public network coverage maps, performance information and consumer satisfaction surveys, which enable Nigerians to better understand available services and hold operators accountable.
The President also highlighted the Nigerian Government’s recent Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, implemented through the NCC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and telecommunications operators.
The programme is designed to provide eligible students with up to 100MB of free daily data to access approved educational websites and learning resources. It reflects his administration’s commitment to making digital opportunities more accessible, particularly to young Nigerians.
President Tinubu recalled his meeting with the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, at the State House, Abuja, in February 2025, during which he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a favourable environment for telecommunications investment, strengthening the regulatory framework and protecting critical digital infrastructure.
He also welcomed Airtel Nigeria’s continued investment in network expansion, noting that its infrastructure had grown from approximately 15,000 sites two years ago to more than 17,000 nationwide.
The expansion includes more than 1,050 network sites added during the company’s 2025/26 financial year, including 657 5G sites.
President Tinubu said sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure was essential to expanding broadband access, improving network capacity and supporting businesses, education and economic opportunities across Nigeria.
He commended the NCC, under Dr Maida’s leadership, for its continued efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote transparency and protect telecommunications consumers.
The President urged operators to sustain investment in network expansion, particularly in underserved communities, and ensure that customer complaints receive prompt attention.
He emphasised that the success of telecommunications investment and innovation must ultimately be measured by the experiences of Nigerians who depend on these services for their livelihoods, businesses and everyday communication.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a business environment that encourages responsible investment and innovation while ensuring that consumer interests remain central to telecommunications development.
He called on operators to translate their investments into improved network coverage, fewer service disruptions and more responsive customer service.
