Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, says telecoms operators must now take responsibility for improving network quality and service delivery following a series of Federal Government interventions aimed at stabilising the sector and expanding digital infrastructure nationwide.

According to the Minister, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully empowered to enforce service standards, monitor operator performance, and ensure regulatory compliance across the telecommunications industry.

Tijani says the telecoms regulator, NCC, now has the authority to move from what he described as an observer role to a more active enforcement position without interference.

Tijani says the telecoms regulator, NCC, now has the authority to move from what he described as an observer role to a more active enforcement position without interference.

Minister: Telecoms regulator authorised to move from observer to active enforcer

The Minister says Nigerians should begin to experience improvements in quality of service and receive better value for telecoms services as regulators intensify oversight of the sector.

According to him, the Federal Government will continue to rely on NCC performance reports and public feedback from subscribers to assess operators and engage industry stakeholders where necessary.

The Minister says the NCC expects measurable improvements in call quality, data performance, and network coverage, warning that the Commission is prepared to take regulatory action where operators fail to meet required standards.

The current administration, Tijani adds, inherited structural connectivity challenges linked to years of underinvestment in telecommunications infrastructure and operational constraints affecting service delivery.

To address the gaps, the Federal Government has focused on a combination of long-term infrastructure development and short-term sector stabilisation measures.

On broadband infrastructure expansion, Tijani says the government has secured funding for Project BRIDGE, a nationwide fibre infrastructure initiative backed by development finance institutions including the World Bank.

“We have secured funding, led by the World Bank, and established the framework for a special purpose vehicle with Project BRIDGE, to deliver nationwide open access fibre infrastructure,” the Minister says.

According to him, fibre deployment and new tower rollout projects under the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Programme (NUCAP) are expected to commence before the end of the year alongside expanded satellite connectivity initiatives.

The investments, according to the Minister, “are designed to address foundational gaps in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure over the next two to five years.

“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, not rely solely on dongles or unstable mobile connections. That is the level of meaningful connectivity we are building towards,” Tijani says.

Project BRIDGE is expected to deploy at least 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure across Nigeria under a public-private partnership framework aimed at improving broadband penetration and nationwide connectivity.

The initiative has secured international funding support, including a $500 million commitment from the World Bank alongside additional backing from development finance institutions.

The Minister also links recent telecoms sector reforms to efforts aimed at restoring the financial sustainability of operators.

In early 2024, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) raised concerns that the telecoms industry had not experienced a general tariff review in more than a decade despite rising operational costs.

In January 2025, the NCC approved tariff adjustments for telecoms operators, allowing increases capped at 50% following industry concerns over inflation, foreign exchange pressures, and escalating operating expenses. Tijani says the reforms have contributed to restoring profitability across the telecom sector and created conditions necessary for network investment and service improvements.

In January 2025, the NCC approved tariff adjustments for telecoms operators, allowing increases capped at 50% following industry concerns over inflation, foreign exchange pressures, and escalating operating expenses.

Tijani says the reforms have contributed to restoring profitability across the telecom sector and created conditions necessary for network investment and service improvements.

According to him, the reforms include tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonisation efforts, and broader macroeconomic reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation.

“Operators are now operating in a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment and have returned to profitability,” the Minister says.

He adds that telecoms operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 (formerly 9mobile) are now expected to address network challenges and improve service quality for subscribers.

“Going forward,” the Minister adds, “we expect to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data performance and coverage. Where operators deliver, it will be recognised. Where they do not, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action. Nigerians should begin to see improvements in Quality of Service and get value that they paid for now, and in the future.”

The Ministry and the NCC say they will continue monitoring operator performance through regulatory reports and consumer feedback channels, including social media platforms, as part of efforts to track improvements in service delivery across the sector.