Nigeria’s telecom sector has attracted more than $1 billion in new infrastructure commitments in 2025, just months after the NCC lifted long-standing restrictions on service tariffs.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, disclosed the figure during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos.
He credited the capital inflow to a January policy that allowed mobile network operators (MNOs) to raise tariffs by up to 50%, a move that ended almost a decade of price stagnation.
“This act alone, has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars’ worth of investment in 2025 alone,” Maida said.
Before the change, MNOs were locked into fixed pricing while other players in the telecom value chain, such as tower operators, could adjust their rates annually to account for inflation and currency depreciation. Maida said the imbalance eroded investor confidence and slowed network expansion, leaving service quality to deteriorate.
“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he warned.
The reform, which aligns with the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, is already translating into tangible results. According to Maida, equipment that had not been purchased in years is now being ordered, with shipments arriving since June. Operators are actively rolling out upgrades and building new sites nationwide.
While the investment trend is positive, the sector faces operational challenges. Telecom operators consume more than 40 million litres of diesel each month, costing over $350 million annually, to keep base stations running.
“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally,” Maida noted, highlighting the industry’s total reliance on foreign exchange for network equipment, software, and hardware.
The NCC is also collaborating with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deploy renewable energy solutions at telecom sites, reducing dependence on imported diesel and improving rural connectivity.
Infrastructure security is a priority. The NCC, working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is developing region-specific rapid response plans to address threats such as vandalism, fibre cuts, and generator theft.
Maida explained that strategies vary by location, coastal regions may need stronger community engagement, while high-risk zones require greater civil defence presence. The aim is to tackle both immediate security threats and structural issues that leave infrastructure exposed.
In addition, the regulator is tightening corporate governance standards for telecom operators. New requirements, set to take effect in the fourth quarter of 2025, include enhanced board oversight, stronger risk management frameworks, and regular compliance audits.
With Nigeria’s telecom sector currently valued at $9.52 billion and projected to more than double to $22.82 billion by 2029, the NCC believes these reforms will boost investments and keep the country competitive in the global digital economy.
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