Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has warned that telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2, could face regulatory sanctions if they fail to improve network quality and service delivery.
The minister disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, stressing that operators are now expected to resolve persistent network challenges and deliver better call and data services to Nigerians.
According to Tijani, recent investments and reforms in the telecom sector have created the conditions necessary for improved service delivery, leaving operators with both the resources and responsibility to address longstanding quality issues.
He said the Federal Government has secured funding, led by the World Bank, for Project BRIDGE, a nationwide open-access fibre infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening digital connectivity across the country.
The minister added that fibre deployment, new tower rollouts through NUCAP, and expanded satellite capabilities are expected to commence before the end of the year.
“A small business owner should be able to access reliable, high-speed fibre internet directly at their home or shop, rather than relying solely on dongles or unstable mobile connections,” Tijani said.
He noted that telecom operators have returned to profitability under what he described as a more stable and transparent market environment, adding that there is now little justification for continued poor service quality.
Tijani said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully empowered to monitor operator performance, enforce service standards, and ensure compliance without interference.
According to him, the ministry will rely on periodic NCC reports as well as public feedback and complaints from Nigerians to assess improvements in network performance.
“Going forward, we expect to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data performance, and coverage,” he said.
The minister added that operators delivering improved services would be recognised, while those failing to meet standards should expect regulatory action from the NCC.
The warning comes amid growing consumer complaints over dropped calls, poor connectivity, and slow internet speeds across Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Recently, the NCC directed mobile network operators to compensate subscribers in areas where service quality falls below prescribed standards as part of broader efforts to strengthen consumer protection.
The regulator also introduced new Quality of Service regulations in 2024, setting stricter performance benchmarks for telecom operators, including standards for call setup success rates, call drop rates, and network congestion.
