The Nigerian government has pledged to improve telecom service quality as it prepares for an upcoming tariff increase. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasized that any price adjustments will be guided by independent assessments, including a recent KPMG report. While telecom operators initially proposed doubling tariffs, the government is expected to cap the increase at 60 percent. Subscribers, who have long complained about poor network quality, insist that higher tariffs must translate into better service delivery.
Speaking on Arise TV, Tijani outlined key reforms focused on enhancing the overall consumer experience. The government aims to ensure that beyond basic network reliability, customer satisfaction and service transparency are significantly improved. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will prioritize assessing whether consumers receive the level of service they pay for, with stricter monitoring of telecom operators to enforce these standards.
To protect consumer interests, the NCC has also partnered with the Consumer Protection Commission to safeguard user rights as tariffs rise. Tijani stressed the critical role of internet services in daily life, likening their absence to “darkness.” Additionally, the government is intensifying efforts to protect telecom infrastructure, declared a critical national asset by President Bola Tinubu, to prevent vandalism and service disruptions.