Communications minister urges telecom operators to fix persistent network challenges

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has issued a clear directive to the nation's leading telecom operators, demanding immediate action to rectify the persistent network challenges plaguing service delivery. Speaking on Sunday, Tijani asserted that the government has fulfilled its part by establishing the necessary conditions for improved performance, shifting the onus squarely onto companies like MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2.

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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.

This call to action comes after the administration identified structural issues, stemming from years of underinvestment, as the root cause of Nigeria's connectivity problems. To address this, the government has embarked on both long-term and immediate interventions. The long-term strategy includes securing significant funding, led by the World Bank, to establish a special purpose vehicle, Project BRIDGE, aimed at deploying nationwide open-access fiber infrastructure. Complementary initiatives like new tower rollouts through NUCAP and expanded satellite capacity are also planned, with the goal of transforming Nigeria's digital infrastructure over the next two to five years.

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We have secured funding, led by the World Bank, and established the framework for a special purpose vehicle with Project BRIDGE, to deliver nationwide open access fibre infrastructure.

Tijani emphasized that these foundational investments are designed to ensure practical improvements, such as enabling small business owners to access reliable, high-speed internet directly at their premises. On the immediate front, the government has implemented sector reforms including tariff adjustments, designating telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonization, and broader macroeconomic measures like the floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidies. These reforms, according to the minister, have created a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment, returning operators to profitability and equipping them with the capacity to resolve network issues.

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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.

The minister's message is unequivocal: the era of excuses is over. With the government having laid the groundwork through substantial investment and policy reform, telecom operators are now expected to deliver the quality of service that Nigerians deserve. This stance reflects a commitment to leveraging digital infrastructure for economic growth and ensuring that the benefits of improved connectivity reach businesses and citizens alike, moving beyond reliance on unstable mobile connections.

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operating in a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment and have returned to profitability.