Federal Government, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has noted that the country’s connectivity gaps were largely structural, owing to years of neglect.

This is even as the minister warned Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country to improve the quality of service provided to their consumers in view of government’s efforts geared towards improving the structure.

 

Dr Bosun charged network operators ‘to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians expect.’

 

The Minister warned telecommunications operators to improve service quality or face regulatory sanctions, stating that recent reforms have stabilized the sector and removed excuses for poor network performance.

 

Dr. Tijani, who issued the warning in a statement, Sunday, emphasised that the country’s connectivity gaps were largely structural, driven by years of underinvestment and constraints on operators.

 

According to the minister, the government has tackled these problems through long-term infrastructure planning and immediate sector-stabilization measures aimed at restoring sustainability and investor confidence.

 

“These long-term reforms focus on expanding infrastructure through new fibre deployment and tower rollout initiatives designed to close critical gaps in the digital backbone.

 

The minister further disclosed that funding to address these challenges were secured with support from the World Bank for Project BRIDGE, alongside additional investments in satellite capacity to boost nationwide coverage.

 

“These interventions are expected to transform connectivity over the next two to five years, enabling businesses and households to access reliable high-speed internet beyond unstable mobile connections.

 

“When we assumed office, it was clear that Nigeria’s connectivity challenges were structural, driven by years of underinvestment in infrastructure and constraints that limited the ability of operators to deliver quality service.

 

The minister informed that deployment of fibre will commence, alongside new tower rollouts through NUCAP, before the end of the year even as we also expand our satellite capability.

 

On immediate interventions, the Minister disclosed that government has stabilized the sector through tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonization efforts, and broader macroeconomic reforms.

 

“These changes have restored operator profitability and created a more transparent, market-driven environment, giving telcos the capacity to invest in network improvements.

 

“It is now the responsibility of telecom operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians expect.

 

“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been fully empowered to monitor performance, enforce standards, and ensure compliance, with sanctions expected for defaulting operators,” the Minister stressed.