Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has warned telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria to improve the quality of their services or face regulatory sanctions from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Tijani gave the warning in a statement on Sunday, noting that telecom operators now operate in a more stable environment following reforms introduced by the Federal Government to support the sector.
According to him, operators have returned to profitability and now possess the resources needed to address network issues affecting Nigerians.
He said, “The conditions required for improved service delivery have now been established. It is now the responsibility of telecom operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 to resolve network challenges and provide the level of service Nigerians expect.”
The minister explained that the NCC had been empowered to monitor service delivery, enforce standards and ensure compliance across the telecommunications industry.
He added that the government would rely on periodic reports from the commission, alongside feedback from Nigerians, to assess improvements in network quality.
Tijani said the government expects measurable improvements in call quality, internet performance and network coverage, stressing that operators who fail to meet expectations could face regulatory action.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government had secured funding through the World Bank-backed Project BRIDGE initiative to expand nationwide fibre infrastructure.
According to him, fibre deployment and new telecom tower rollouts under the NUCAP programme are expected to commence before the end of the year.
The minister said the investments are aimed at addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits and improving digital connectivity across the country within the next few years.
Tijani further stated that the government had introduced several reforms to stabilise the telecom industry, including tariff adjustments, recognition of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonisation efforts and broader economic reforms.
