Telecom consumers across Nigeria have expressed outrage after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 per cent hike in telephone tariffs, including calls, SMS, and data bundles, nationwide. The move, spurred by persistent demands from telecom operators citing high operating costs, has been widely criticized as insensitive amidst the current economic hardship.
Despite the sharp increase, many subscribers lament that the quality of service remains poor, casting doubt on the justification for the new rates. In states like Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu, protesters took to the streets, condemning the tariff increment and arguing that it does not reflect any tangible improvement in telecom services.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, defended the move, explaining that Nigeria still has some of the lowest voice and data tariffs globally despite operators grappling with inflation, currency depreciation, diesel costs, and harsh operating environments. He stressed that the price hike was necessary to sustain operations.
According to Adebayo, issues such as frequent fibre cuts, high energy costs from poor power supply, multiple taxation, and insecurity at telecom sites continue to hamper service delivery. He emphasized that while tariff increases are not a cure-all, they are critical for operators to invest in 5G rollout, network modernization, and infrastructure expansion.
Development economist, Professor Chiwuike Uba, cautioned that tariff hikes must come with clear improvements in service quality. He warned that without strict oversight, additional revenues might not translate into better customer experiences, risking a collapse in consumer trust.
Uba also encouraged telecom operators to diversify their income streams beyond traditional services like voice and data. He suggested expansion into areas such as mobile financial services, e-commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), and content delivery partnerships to ensure sustainability and relevance in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy.
Echoing similar sentiments, tech expert and Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions Ltd, Chris Uwaje, argued that Nigeria’s overdependence on consumerism rather than building and owning critical digital infrastructure leaves the nation vulnerable. He advocated for redefining ownership structures within the telecom sector to ensure broader national benefits.
Meanwhile, Founder of Jidaw Systems, Jide Awe, warned that the tariff hike alone would not fix the sector’s deep-rooted problems. He pointed to the unreliable power supply, economic hardship, and high cost of doing business as bigger threats. Awe insisted that digital access should be treated as a basic right in today’s economy, and called for a balanced approach that protects consumers while supporting service providers.
He also urged the government to tie any tariff increases to measurable improvements in service quality, noting that without effective monitoring and enforcement, Nigerians may continue to pay more for worsening services.
As Nigeria pushes to deepen digital inclusion and unlock the potential of its digital economy, experts agree that telecom operators must move beyond the traditional revenue models and embrace emerging technologies, innovation partnerships, and aggressive infrastructure upgrades.
