Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are calling for an urgent revision of service tariffs, warning that without immediate action, the industry’s sustainability and the economy’s growth are at serious risk.
Speaking at an end-of-year event for industry stakeholders in Lagos, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), emphasized the dire situation facing the sector. He cautioned that skyrocketing operational costs, relentless inflation, volatile exchange rates, and surging energy prices have placed an unsustainable burden on network providers.
Adebayo highlighted that despite these challenges, service tariffs have remained unchanged, leaving operators financially crippled. He expressed concern that the inability to maintain, expand, or modernize telecommunications infrastructure poses a significant threat to the sector’s future.
The sector is under siege. If tariffs are not reviewed urgently, the hope for a better 2025 will be in ruins, Adebayo stated, urging immediate and decisive reforms to avoid a total collapse.
He underscored that this is not a time for further deliberation or delays. The survival of the telecom industry, which is pivotal to the nation’s digital economy, depends on bold and swift action. Without a tariff adjustment, Adebayo warned, quality service delivery and availability could no longer be guaranteed, jeopardizing both the sector and the broader economy.
The call for a tariff review comes as operators grapple with the increasing cost of running networks, compounded by stagnant pricing and dwindling resources. ALTON’s urgent plea to policymakers and stakeholders signals a critical need for intervention to stabilize and secure the future of telecommunications in Nigeria.