EDITORIAL: Telecommunications companies in Nigeria worse than nonsense

The Nigerian telecommunications sector is a disgrace—an indication of corporate greed, regulatory incompetence, and systemic failure.

Despite generating billions in revenue and contributing 14% to Nigeria’s GDP, telecom operators continue to deliver abysmal services while exploiting subscribers with impunity.

The recent 40% tariff hike, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, pushes the cost of 1GB data to ₦1,400, making Nigeria one of the most expensive countries for mobile data in the world.

Yet, what do Nigerians get in return? Dropped calls, sluggish internet speeds, and brazen fraud.

The NCC’s recent directive for telecom operators to address unclaimed subscriber airtime within 90 days is a laughable attempt at masking its chronic inefficiency.

For years, telecom companies have engaged in fraudulent practices—unauthorized deductions, forced data renewals, and phantom charges—while the NCC watches like a toothless bulldog.

In 2024, telcos disconnected 64.3 million lines due to the NIN-SIM linkage policy, slashing the subscriber base by 30%.

Instead of improving service quality, operators responded by squeezing more money from the remaining customers.

The NCC’s ₦2 billion fine for fraudulent deductions was a slap on the wrist—a feeble gesture that changed nothing.

Meanwhile, telecom giants like MTN and Airtel reported combined losses of ₦1.29 trillion in 2024, yet they still found ways to hike tariffs while service quality deteriorated.

If these companies are struggling, why do their CEOs still earn billions? Why is infrastructure vandalism, averaging 43 fibre cuts daily on Airtel’s network alone, not met with decisive government action?

Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan aimed for 70% penetration by 2025, but as of March 2024, it stood at a pitiful 43.71%. The NCC and telecom operators have failed spectacularly.

While urban elites enjoy 5G in Lagos and Abuja, 120 million Nigerians remain digitally excluded.

Rural areas suffer from no network coverage, while even cities face constant service disruptions. The government’s solution? More taxes, more excuses. Telecom operators now face excessive levies, Right-of-Way fees, and diesel costs that consume ₦57.65 billion monthly.

Yet, rather than holding government agencies accountable for these bottlenecks, the NCC passes the burden to consumers.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria has warned of deliberate network shutdowns in some regions if tariffs are not increased.

This is nothing short of corporate blackmail. If telecom operators cannot provide services profitably under current conditions, why are they still in business?

Why has the NCC allowed a situation where millions could be forcibly disconnected simply because telcos refuse to operate efficiently?

The proposed region-based pricing will only deepen inequality, ensuring that Nigerians in high-cost states pay more for the same substandard services.

Meanwhile, Starlink, Nigeria’s satellite internet alternative, has doubled its subscription fee to ₦75,000 monthly, pricing out ordinary citizens.

The NCC must stop acting as a puppet of telecom cartels and start enforcing strict service-level agreements. If India can provide 1GB data for ₦150, why can’t Nigeria?

The answer lies in weak regulation, corruption, and a lack of political will.

We demand an immediate reversal of the 40% tariff hike—Nigerians should not pay more for poor service.

Heavy fines and sanctions must be imposed on telecom operators engaging in fraudulent practices.

A public audit of NCC’s regulatory failures is long overdue—why has broadband penetration fallen short? Government must intervene to protect telecom infrastructure—fibre vandalism must be treated as economic sabotage.

Transparency in billing and service quality metrics is non-negotiable—subscribers deserve to know what they’re paying for.

The telecom sector is not just an industry; it is the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.

If the NCC continues to fail, Nigerians must take collective action—boycotts, mass complaints, and legal challenges. Enough is enough.

We refuse to be milked like cash cows while receiving third-world services in a trillion-naira industry. The time for change is now.

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