Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has issued a firm warning to telecommunications operators in Nigeria, demanding immediate and measurable improvements in network service quality or risk regulatory sanctions. Minister Bosun Tijani made the declaration in a statement released on Sunday, May 10, 2026, declaring that the era of excuses by operators is over.
Tijani told telecom companies, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2, that they must now deliver the level of service Nigerians expect. He said that the government had created the enabling environment for improved performance and that subscribers must now begin to experience better connectivity and value for money. The minister warned, “It is now the responsibility of telecom operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians expect”.
The minister traced the root of the problem to structural deficiencies caused by years of underinvestment in infrastructure, noting that the administration inherited a sector with deep challenges. To tackle the problem, the government adopted both long‑term and immediate interventions. He said that on the long‑term plan, the government has secured funding, led by the World Bank, and established a framework for a special purpose vehicle under Project BRIDGE to deliver nationwide open‑access fibre infrastructure. He added that fibre deployment would commence alongside new tower rollouts through NUCAP before the end of the year, while satellite capacity would also be expanded. According to him, these investments are expected to address the foundational gaps in digital infrastructure over the next two to five years and permanently transform connectivity across Nigeria.
On immediate sector reforms, Tijani said that the government had stabilised the sector through a combination of measures, including tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonisation efforts, and broader macroeconomic reforms such as the floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidies. He argued that these measures, informed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and in consultation with operators, have restored profitability and created a more stable and transparent operating environment for telecom companies. The minister insisted that operators now have both the financial capacity and the operational environment needed to fix outstanding network issues and improve service delivery. “The conditions required for improved service delivery have now been established,” he declared.
Tijani also emphasised that the government will not rely on promises alone. He stated that the NCC has been fully empowered to independently monitor operator performance, enforce service standards, and ensure compliance across the industry. He indicated that where operators deliver improvements, their efforts will be recognised, but where they fail, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action. The minister stressed that the government would rely on the Commission’s periodic performance reports, as well as public complaints and feedback, to more aggressively engage both operators and regulators in the coming months.
The minister concluded by insisting that Nigerians must begin to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data services, and network coverage. He said, “Nigerians should begin to see improvements in Quality of Service and get value that they paid for now, and in the future. And we will ensure that the sector delivers”.
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