By Jessica Dogo
The Federal Government says it has laid the foundation for improved telecommunications services across Nigeria through major reforms and infrastructure investments aimed at addressing longstanding connectivity challenges.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja in a statement on telecommunications service quality in Nigeria.
Tijani said the connectivity challenges confronting the country were largely structural, resulting from years of underinvestment in infrastructure and limitations affecting operators’ capacity to deliver quality services.
According to him, government interventions are focused on both long-term infrastructure development and immediate stabilisation of the telecommunications sector.
He said the federal government had secured funding led by the World Bank and established the framework for a Special Purpose Vehicle under Project BRIDGE to deliver nationwide open-access fibre infrastructure.
The minister added that fibre deployment, alongside new tower rollouts through NUCAP, a global innovation company headquartered in Toronto, Canada, would commence before the end of the year.
He added that efforts to expand satellite capability were also underway.
Tijani explained that the initiative would enable small business owners and households to access reliable high-speed fibre internet directly, reducing dependence on unstable mobile connections and dongles.
On immediate sector reforms, the minister said government reviewed the sustainability of the telecommunications industry and introduced measures to restore stability.
“A small business owner should be able to access reliable, high-speed fibre internet directly at their home or shop, not rely solely on dongles or unstable mobile connections.
“That is the level of meaningful connectivity we are building.
“We took a hard look at the sustainability of the telecommunications sector and made the necessary decisions to restore it,” he said.
He explained that the investments would address foundational gaps in digital infrastructure within the next two to five years and significantly transform connectivity nationwide.
The minister listed the measures to include tariff adjustments, designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, harmonisation of taxes and broader macroeconomic reforms, such as the floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy.
According to him, the reforms have created a more stable, transparent and market-driven environment, enabling operators to return to profitability.
“This is important as it means operators now have both the capacity and resources to fix outstanding issues within their networks and improve the quality of service delivered to Nigerians,” he said.
Tijani said the conditions required for improved service delivery had now been established, adding that telecommunications operators must take necessary steps to resolve network challenges.
He specifically tasked network providers such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 to improve service delivery.
The minister also said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had been fully empowered to monitor performance, enforce service standards and ensure compliance across the industry without interference.
He said government would continue to rely on periodic reports from the commission, as well as feedback and complaints from Nigerians, to engage operators and regulators more actively.
Tijani expressed optimism that Nigerians would begin to experience measurable improvements in call quality, data performance and network coverage.
“Where operators deliver, it will be recognised.
“Where they do not, the commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action,” he said.
The minister assured Nigerians that government would ensure the sector delivered improved quality of service and value for money. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu and Funmilayo Adeyemi
