The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has declared that telecom tariffs will soon be increased.
The minister made the declaration on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting with Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, held in Abuja.
He, however, said the increase would not be by 100 per cent as being advocated by telecoms operators.
The minister said consultations and engagements were ongoing on an acceptable rate.
He said the new rate would be announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, once agreement is reached.
His words: “You have seen over the past weeks that there has been agitation from some of these companies to increase tariff. They are requesting for 100 per cent tariff increase.
“But it will not be by 100 per cent. We are still looking at that study and NCC will come up with a clear directive on how we will go about it.
“We want to strike the balance as a government to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly.
“We need to ensure that as a sector, we get our acts together, ensure that from the regulation side, we put the right regulations in place that can ensure the growth of this sector.”
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The minister also spoke on investment on infrastructure in the sector.
Said he: “As a country, over time, we have left this investments in the hands of the private sector. They typically invest where they can see returns in the short to medium term.
“We will not want this conversation to just be about tariff increase. I think what the world is talking about today is meaningful connectivity.
“You want to have access to very good quality service.
“A part of it that the consumers may not be aware of is the investment that needs to go into the infrastructure that is used to deliver these services.”
The Executive Vice-Chairman, EVC, of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, spoke about the essence of the meeting the stakeholders.
According to him, the meeting was about ensuring sustainability of the industry.
“We have looked at all of these factors, and that is why, like the minister said, it is not likely that we are going to approve 100 per cent tariff increase.
“I know that Nigerians are agitated to hear the exact percentage approved. There is still some stakeholder engagements that we are going through, but you will hear from us within a week or two.”
