The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a 10% tariff increase for telecom providers.
According to the group, this will assist to reduce the sector’s escalating operational costs, which has been a long-standing issue. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, national president of NATCOMS, reiterated the critical necessity for this tariff adjustment.
For the past few months, Nigerian telecom companies have been advocating for an increase in telecom tariffs and canvassing for policies that they feel will benefit them and boost their capacity to invest in networks. In August 2024, Nigerian telcos threatened to stop services and implemented load-shedding schedule due to budgetary constraints. While the NCC acknowledged the difficult environment, the regulator allegedly believes this is only a ploy to justify a pricing increase.
Nonetheless, Ogunbanjo voiced concern about the worsening quality of telecom services supplied by these companies, claiming that the current economic climate makes it increasingly difficult for them to maintain standards: “telecom services have significantly declined in quality, and operators are facing mounting pressures.”
He noted that, despite increased operational expenditures over the last 11 years, there has been no matching increase in service tariffs. This lack of adjustment has left telecom businesses in a risky financial situation, necessitating collaboration among stakeholders to find a sustainable solution.
