Nigeria Set To Witness Rise In Call, Data Tariffs

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced that Nigeria’s telecommunications tariffs will soon increase. However, he assured Nigerians that the hike will not be the 100 percent proposed by telecom operators.

Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting of Nigeria’s Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Abuja, Dr. Tijani revealed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would finalize and announce the approved tariff adjustments in the coming weeks.

“You have seen over the past weeks that some companies have been agitating for tariff increases. They are asking for a 100 percent hike,” the minister said. “But it will not be by 100 percent. We are still studying the matter, and the NCC will issue a directive on how this will be handled.”

He emphasized the government’s role in balancing the interests of citizens with the need to ensure that telecom companies can continue to invest in infrastructure and services. “As a government, we want to protect our people, but we also need to ensure that these companies can make the necessary investments for the sector’s growth,” he added.

Dr. Tijani also pointed out that relying solely on private sector investments in telecom infrastructure is no longer sustainable. “Private companies typically invest where they can see short- or medium-term returns. As a country, we need to ensure that investments in infrastructure are well-supported to improve service quality,” he said.

He further explained that the conversation should not focus solely on tariff increases across Nigeria. “What the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity—ensuring access to high-quality services. Consumers may not always understand the significant investments required for infrastructure to deliver these services,” the minister said.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, also commented on the situation, stating that the discussions are aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the telecom industry.

“We have examined all factors, and as the minister said, it is unlikely that a 100 percent increase will be approved. Nigerians want to know the exact percentage, but further stakeholder consultations are ongoing, and the decision will be communicated in the next week or two,” Maida said.

Dr. Maida also highlighted the NCC’s efforts to improve transparency in billing. “We are revising quality of service regulations to ensure compliance. MNOs will now be required to use simplified templates to show charges for voice calls, SMS, and data per unit. This will help Nigerians clearly understand what they are paying for,” he explained.

He added, “We are moving away from a system where main rates differ significantly from bonus rates, which often confuses customers. This step is part of our efforts to address concerns that data usage is unclear or excessive.”

Telecom subscribers, meanwhile, have urged operators to explore alternatives to tariff hikes, expressing concerns about affordability. Recently, operators such as MTN and Airtel wrote to the NCC seeking approval for a tariff increase, citing rising costs.

Dr. Tijani assured Nigerians that any changes in tariff would prioritize fairness and service improvement, ensuring that both consumers and operators benefit from the revised system within Nigeria.

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