The Federal Government has declared that telecommunications operators in Nigeria can no longer blame poor infrastructure or policy constraints for persistent network failures, insisting that conditions for improved service delivery are already in place.
Minister's Statement on Telecom Performance
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, issued a statement yesterday amid growing complaints from Nigerians over dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and unstable data connections. He stated that the administration inherited a telecom sector weakened by years of underinvestment in infrastructure but noted that reforms introduced by the government are stabilizing the industry.
Key Initiatives and Funding
According to Tijani, the Federal Government has secured World Bank-backed funding under Project BRIDGE to expand nationwide fibre infrastructure. Additionally, deployment of new telecom towers under the Nigerian Universal Communication Access Project is set to begin before the end of the year. The government is also expanding satellite connectivity to improve digital access across the country.
Measures for Stability
Tijani explained that the government has introduced several measures to restore stability in the telecom sector. These include tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, and tax harmonisation efforts. He emphasized that with these reforms, operators must now deliver better services to consumers.
