The Federal Government has warned major telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, to improve network service quality or face regulatory sanctions, insisting that recent reforms have removed excuses for poor performance across the sector.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday, saying the Federal Government had taken major steps to stabilise the telecommunications industry and address long-standing infrastructure challenges affecting connectivity nationwide.
According to Tijani, Nigeria’s poor network service was largely caused by years of underinvestment in telecom infrastructure and restrictions that weakened operators’ ability to deliver quality service to consumers.
He explained that the government had adopted both long-term and immediate reforms to tackle the crisis, including nationwide fibre expansion, new telecom tower rollouts, and increased satellite capacity aimed at improving internet access and network coverage across the country.
Tijani disclosed that funding had already been secured through a World Bank-backed initiative known as Project BRIDGE, which is expected to drive the deployment of open-access fibre infrastructure nationwide.
“When we assumed office, it was clear that Nigeria’s connectivity challenges were structural, driven by years of underinvestment in infrastructure and constraints that limited the ability of operators to deliver quality service,” he said.
He added that fibre deployment and new tower installations under the NUCAP initiative would begin before the end of the year, noting that the projects are expected to transform connectivity within the next two to five years.
The minister also highlighted immediate interventions introduced by the government to stabilise the sector, including tariff adjustments, tax harmonisation, macroeconomic reforms, and the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure.
According to him, the reforms have restored profitability for operators and created a more transparent environment that should enable telecom companies to invest in network upgrades and improved service delivery.
“It is now the responsibility of telecom operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians expect,” Tijani stated.
He stressed that the Nigerian Communications Commission has been fully empowered to monitor operators, enforce compliance, and sanction any company that fails to meet required standards.
Tijani assured Nigerians that improvements in call quality, internet speed, and network coverage should soon become noticeable, adding that the government would continue to rely on regulatory reports and consumer feedback to hold operators accountable and ensure users receive value for money.