It is said that Nigerians may face a telecom tariff hike of up to 60%, far below the 100% increase sought by operators.
Days after the Federal Government approved the new tariff, Minister Bosun Tijani is assuring Nigerians that the government is watching to make sure Nigerians are not billed excessively.
He says while the rise is necessary for industry sustainability, doubling prices would harm citizens.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has announced that telecom service charges will increase by 30 to 60 per cent.
According to him, this is significantly lower than the 100 per cent hike requested by telecom operators.
Speaking during an interview with reporters, Tijani explained that such a steep rise would be detrimental to citizens who rely heavily on these essential services.
Public Affordability
Implementing the upper limit of 60 per cent will raise call rates from ₦11 to ₦18.33 per minute, increase SMS charges from ₦4 to ₦6.67, and push the price of 1GB of data from ₦1,000 to ₦1,667.
The minister emphasised that while the telecom sector is vital for economic growth, price adjustments must strike a balance between sustainability and affordability.
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Also, telecommunication companies have long called for tariff hikes, citing a 300 per cent increase in operating costs over the past decade, exacerbated by the naira’s significant devaluation since 2023.
Many operators have reported substantial losses, prompting their demands for sharper increases.
Chief Executive Officer of the MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, acknowledged the need for higher tariffs.
However, he noted that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was likely to approve more modest increases, given the nation’s economic challenges.
He expressed optimism that a fair decision would ensure the sector’s sustainability.
The proposed adjustments aim to support the telecom industry while minimising the financial impact on Nigerians.
Indeed, this reflects a delicate balance between industry demands and public affordability.
