- telecom firms including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 have the responsibility to resolve ongoing connectivity
- The minister added that fibre optic deployment and additional telecom tower installations under the NUCAP initiative are expected to begin
- He also stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission has been empowered to independently monitor the sector
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has called on telecommunications companies to urgently address the persistent network problems affecting users across the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, Eko Hot Blog reports that the minister said the Federal Government had already introduced reforms and support measures aimed at improving the sector, stressing that operators must now ensure Nigerians experience better service quality.
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According to Tijani, telecom firms including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 have the responsibility to resolve ongoing connectivity and service issues.
He explained that the government inherited deep-rooted challenges in the telecommunications sector, largely caused by years of inadequate investment in infrastructure and operational limitations that weakened service delivery.
Tijani noted that the administration responded by implementing both immediate reforms and long-term infrastructure plans designed to improve nationwide connectivity.
As part of the long-term strategy, he disclosed that funding arrangements had been secured through support led by the World Bank for Project BRIDGE, an initiative aimed at expanding open-access fibre infrastructure across Nigeria.
The minister added that fibre optic deployment and additional telecom tower installations under the NUCAP initiative are expected to begin before the end of the year, while satellite infrastructure will also be strengthened.
He said the projects are intended to close long-standing digital infrastructure gaps and significantly improve internet access and connectivity over the next few years.
According to Tijani, the goal is to ensure that individuals and businesses can access stable, high-speed internet services without depending solely on unreliable mobile networks.
On short-term reforms, the minister pointed to measures already introduced by the government, including tariff reviews, the classification of telecom infrastructure as critical national assets, tax harmonisation efforts and wider economic reforms.
He argued that these interventions have created a more stable operating environment for telecom companies, allowing many operators to return to profitability.
Tijani maintained that with improved financial stability, operators now possess the resources needed to tackle network failures and improve customer experience.
He also stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission has been empowered to independently monitor the sector, enforce service standards and ensure compliance among operators.
The minister said the government would rely on reports from the NCC and feedback from consumers to intensify engagement with telecom companies in the coming months.
He assured Nigerians that improvements in call quality, internet speed and network coverage should soon become noticeable, warning that regulators are expected to take action against operators that fail to meet required standards.
Tijani added that consumers deserve better value for the money spent on telecommunications services and pledged that the government would continue pushing for improved performance across the sector.
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