Monday, May 11, 2026 - The Federal Government has warned telecommunications operators to improve service quality or face regulatory sanctions, stating that recent reforms have stabilized the sector and removed excuses for poor network performance.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,
Dr. Bosun Tijani, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that
Nigeria’s connectivity gaps were largely structural, driven by years of
underinvestment and constraints on operators.
The government has tackled these problems through long-term
infrastructure planning and immediate sector-stabilization measures aimed at
restoring sustainability and investor confidence.
These long-term reforms focus on expanding infrastructure
through new fibre deployment and tower rollout initiatives designed to close
critical gaps in the digital backbone.
Funding has been secured with support from the World Bank for
Project BRIDGE, alongside additional investments in satellite capacity to boost
nationwide coverage. These interventions are expected to transform connectivity
over the next two to five years, enabling businesses and households to access
reliable high-speed internet beyond unstable mobile connections.
“When we assumed office, it was clear that Nigeria’s
connectivity challenges were structural, driven by years of underinvestment in
infrastructure and constraints that limited the ability of operators to deliver
quality service,” the Minister noted.
“We have addressed this on two fronts. First, the long-term
structural solution. We have secured funding, led by the World Bank, and
established the framework for a special purpose vehicle with Project BRIDGE, to
deliver nationwide open access fibre infrastructure.
Deployment of fibre will commence, alongside new tower
rollouts through NUCAP, before the end of the year even as we also expand our
satellite capability.”
Regarding immediate interventions, the government has
stabilized the sector through tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom
infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonization efforts,
and broader macroeconomic reforms.
These changes have restored operator profitability and
created a more transparent, market-driven environment, giving telcos the
capacity to invest in network improvements.
“It is now the responsibility of telecom operators such as
MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile to take all necessary steps
to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians
expect,” the minister insisted.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully
empowered to monitor performance, enforce standards, and ensure compliance,
with sanctions expected for defaulting operators.
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