The Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government has announced an upcoming hike in telecom tariffs, though not to the extent that operators had requested.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, revealed that the tariff increase will aim to balance consumer protection and the financial viability of telecom companies.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is currently reviewing the proposal, with an announcement expected soon. While the exact percentage increase has not been confirmed, sources suggest it could be around 40%.
If approved, this could mean a rise in call rates from ₦11 to ₦15.40 per minute, SMS charges from ₦4 to ₦5.60, and a 1GB data cost of at least ₦1,400.
Telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel, have been facing significant losses in recent years, and the tariff increase is aimed at helping the sector stay sustainable and encourage investment in infrastructure.
The Minister assured that consultations are ongoing to finalize the new rates and that the NCC would make the official announcement soon.
“NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it,” the Minister stated.
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