By Seun Ibiyemi
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has warned that “appropriate regulatory action” will be taken against major telecom operators in Nigeria, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2, if they fail to urgently address persistent network challenges and improve service quality.
Dr. Tijani issued the warning in a statement released to journalists on Sunday, stressing that telecom operators must deliver better call quality, data services, and overall network reliability going forward.
The development comes weeks after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) clarified that it did not cancel or ban airtime borrowing and data advance services, instead attributing disruptions in the sector to service delivery issues by operators.
According to the minister, ongoing investments in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure are expected to close existing connectivity gaps within the next two to five years, leading to a more stable and efficient telecom environment.
He explained that the Federal Government, with support from the World Bank, has secured funding and established a framework for a special purpose vehicle under Project BRIDGE to deploy nationwide open-access fibre infrastructure.
Dr. Tijani added that fibre deployment will begin alongside new telecom tower rollouts through NUCAP before the end of the year, while satellite connectivity expansion is also underway to improve nationwide coverage.
He said these interventions are aimed at ensuring Nigerians, including small business owners, can access reliable high-speed internet directly from their homes or workplaces, rather than relying solely on unstable mobile connections.
The minister noted that telecom operators are now operating in a more stable and commercially viable environment, stating that this places them in a stronger position to resolve outstanding network issues.
“Let me therefore be clear: the conditions required for improved service delivery have now been established,” he said, adding that operators are expected to take full responsibility for addressing service gaps.
Dr. Tijani also confirmed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully empowered to enforce service standards, monitor performance, and ensure compliance without interference.
He stressed that the ministry will continue to rely on NCC performance reports and public feedback to track service delivery across the sector.
“Where operators deliver, it will be recognised. Where they do not, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action,” he warned.
The minister further assured Nigerians that improvements in call quality, data performance, and network coverage are expected, emphasizing that consumers should begin to see better value for money.
The warning follows ongoing concerns in the telecom sector over dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and poor network coverage, despite recent regulatory interventions by the NCC, including new Quality of Service regulations introduced in 2024 to enforce stricter performance standards on operators.
