FG to penalise telecoms service providers over network failures
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has issued a strong warning to major telecom operators, stating that “appropriate regulatory action” will be taken against them if they fail to resolve persistent network challenges and significantly improve service quality.
The minister specifically named MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 as companies expected to deliver measurable improvements in call quality, data performance and network coverage.
Tijani anchored his warning on what he described as improved sector fundamentals, noting that operators now function in a more stable, transparent and market-driven environment and have returned to profitability.
According to him, recent reforms and fresh capital inflows have positioned the industry to tackle long-standing infrastructure gaps.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has secured funding led by the World Bank and established a special purpose vehicle under Project BRIDGE to drive nationwide open-access fibre infrastructure deployment.
“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,” the minister said.
He explained that the long-term goal is to ensure small business owners and households can access reliable, high-speed fibre connectivity directly, rather than depending solely on unstable mobile broadband connections.
“What this means in practical terms is simple. A small business owner should be able to access reliable, high-speed fibre internet directly at their home or shop,” he added.
Tijani emphasised that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully empowered to monitor operator performance and enforce service standards without interference.
He said the ministry would rely on periodic reports from the Commission, as well as consumer feedback and public complaints, to engage operators more actively in the coming months.
“Going forward, we expect to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data performance and coverage,” he said.
Nigeria’s telecom sector has faced sustained criticism over dropped calls, slow data speeds and network congestion, even as data consumption continues to surge.
In 2024, the NCC introduced new Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations establishing stricter Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including call drop rates, call setup success rates and congestion thresholds.
Telecom industry analysts say the minister’s stance signals a shift toward stricter accountability now that pricing and profitability concerns have eased.
According to telecom policy analyst Adebayo Ojo, the government’s position is justified.
“Operators have consistently cited pricing constraints and forex volatility as reasons for underinvestment. With tariff adjustments and fresh capital inflows, that argument carries less weight. The focus will now shift squarely to measurable service delivery,” he said. “The NCC’s credibility will depend on its willingness to enforce penalties transparently. Consumers are expecting visible improvements, not just policy statements,” she said.
