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Senate Tells FG To Crash Cost Of Data Services, Says Reason For Increase Untenable

Published

4 days ago

Mar 28, 2025.

Senate Tells FG To Crash Cost Of Data Services, Says Reason For Increase Untenable.
Lawmakers highlight the impact on businesses, students, and the digital economy.
Recommendations include policy reviews, telecom investigations, and government-backed innovation hubs.

The Nigerian Senate has called on the federal government to take immediate steps to curb the rising cost of data services, which has placed a significant financial burden on citizens.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, representing Cross River South, raised the motion during Wednesday’s plenary, lamenting that the recent increase in data tariffs by telecommunication companies—reportedly as high as 200%—has made internet access unaffordable for many Nigerians.

Ekpeyong emphasized that the internet is vital for millions of Nigerians, particularly young people who depend on it for business, education, and job opportunities. He noted that the rising data costs threaten their economic survival.

“The Senate notes that young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, engaging in freelancing, online trading, e-commerce, software development, content creation, and other internet-based businesses. However, with fiber-optic services remaining unaffordable, they rely heavily on mobile telecom companies for internet access,” he stated.

The lawmaker criticized telecom providers for shifting the burden of high operational costs onto consumers instead of addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s harsh business environment.

Senate’s Recommendations

To address the situation, the Senate outlined several urgent measures, including:

Engaging telecom providers to review recent data price increases and ensure fair pricing.
Mandating the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to develop a policy framework for affordable internet access.
Encouraging the government to establish technology and innovation hubs that provide free or subsidized internet for young entrepreneurs, students, and innovators.
Directing the Senate Committee on Communications to investigate the factors behind rising data costs and propose solutions for a sustainable and business-friendly telecom sector.
Calling for immediate action to reduce the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, particularly in the ICT and telecom industry, to prevent further price hikes.

Senate Crash Cost Of Data Services

Ekpeyong stressed that affordable, fast, and reliable internet is essential for Nigeria’s participation in the fourth industrial revolution and crucial for national economic growth.