Senate Investigates Rising Data Costs and Pushes for Mandatory Citizen Registration
The Nigerian Senate has directed its Committee on Communications to investigate the recent surge in data costs by telecommunications providers. This decision follows a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of Cross River South, who raised concerns about the significant financial burden on Nigerians, particularly young people, due to the over 200% increase in internet prices. The motion emphasized that the surge in data costs has placed a heavy strain on the millions of Nigerians, especially those relying on the internet for income.
The Senate highlighted that young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, engaging in various activities such as freelancing, remote work, digital marketing, e-commerce, and content creation. As the cost of data continues to rise, these young people are facing significant challenges in sustaining their livelihoods. The Senate stressed that affordable internet access is crucial for the continued success of Nigeria’s digital economy, which largely depends on the younger population.
Lawmakers expressed skepticism over the telecom providers’ justification for the price hike, which they attribute to high operational costs and unfavorable exchange rates. The Senate argued that telecom operators are unfairly shifting the financial burden onto consumers instead of addressing systemic issues such as poor infrastructure, unreliable power supply, and high import duties. They called for urgent government intervention to ensure that affordable internet remains available to all Nigerians, especially the youth.
In addition to the investigation into data costs, the Senate also passed a bill aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s identity management system. The bill seeks to make citizen registration mandatory and replace the current National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act. The new legislation is designed to establish a unified and cost-effective identity system that will enhance data accuracy, promote inclusion, and address existing gaps in Nigeria’s identity management framework.
Source: business day