The operators, under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said much of the money currently funding network expansion and infrastructure development comes from domestic financing, reinvested earnings and other funding channels that are not fully captured by the National Bureau of Statistics’ capital importation framework.

The reaction follows the release of the NBS Capital Importation Report for the first quarter of 2026, which showed that foreign capital inflows into telecommunications dropped from $80.78 million a year earlier to $7.24 million.

According to the report, telecoms accounted for just 0.07% of the $10.37 billion that entered the Nigerian economy during the quarter.

ALTON said the figure presents only part of the investment picture.

“…this metric appears to capture only a portion of the total capital actively deployed within the sector.

“Our industry’s substantial Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) figures suggest that current investment derives from domestic capital sources, reinvested operational earnings – financial mechanisms that may not be fully reflected in conventional foreign capital importation metrics,” the association said.

The group noted that mobile network operators, tower companies and other telecom firms invested about N2.13 trillion in capital projects in 2025. It added that planned capital expenditure for 2026 currently stands at N1.86 trillion.

According to ALTON, the funds are being directed towards network expansion, infrastructure upgrades, technology improvements and measures aimed at strengthening operational resilience.

The association argued that the wide gap between reported foreign inflows and actual spending within the industry points to shortcomings in the current method used to track investments.

To address this, it called for collaboration between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Bureau of Statistics and the Central Bank of Nigeria to develop a comprehensive framework for measuring investment in the telecom sector.

“To ensure Nigeria’s telecommunications sector investment profile is accurately represented, ALTON respectfully proposes a collaborative engagement among the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to develop a more inclusive and comprehensive investment-tracking framework,” the association stated.

Despite pressure from inflation, high costs of operations and foreign exchange challenges, ALTON said operators have always invested heavily to maintain service quality and expand connectivity across the country.

The association also credited the Federal Government’s approval of a 50% tariff increase in 2025 with improving operators’ ability to reinvest in their networks.

“The timely intervention enabled operators to transition from financial distress to a sustainable, growth-focused model characterised by significant capital reinvestment,” it said.

While telecom operators questioned the reported investment figure, the NBS data showed that foreign investors significantly increased their exposure to Nigeria during the quarter.

Total capital importation rose to $10.37 billion in Q1 2026, representing an 83.8% increase from $5.64 billion recorded in the same period last year. Compared with the previous quarter, inflows climbed by nearly 61%.

However, most of the money flowed into short-term financial assets rather than long-term productive investments.

Portfolio investments accounted for $9.86 billion, or about 95% of total inflows, while foreign direct investment stood at just $135 million. Other investments, including loans and trade credits, contributed $374.5 million.

The banking sector attracted the largest share of foreign capital, receiving $7.55 billion, followed by the financing sector with $2.43 billion. Manufacturing drew $152.3 million, while telecommunications received $7.24 million.

Documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission show that IHS shareholders will vote on the proposed deal at an extraordinary general meeting in London later this year. 

If approved, MTN will acquire all remaining shares in IHS for $8.50 per share in cash and remove the company from the New York Stock Exchange.

The offer values IHS at an implied equity value of about $2.9 billion, excluding its Latin American operations. The price also represents a 9.7% premium to the company’s 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of February 4, 2026.

MTN plans to fund the transaction with about $1.1 billion from IHS’s existing balance sheet and another $1.1 billion from its own liquidity and debt facilities.

The deal already has support from shareholders controlling more than 40% of voting rights. MTN’s subsidiary, Mobile Telephone Networks Holdings, agreed to vote its 85.2 million shares in favour of the transaction. Those shares account for roughly 21.1% of IHS voting power.

Another major investor, Oranje-Nassau Développement, linked to French investment group Wendel, also committed its support. The firm controls about 63 million shares, representing nearly 19.6% of voting rights.

MTN investor documents indicate that shareholders representing around 46% of voting power are already aligned behind the transaction ahead of the meeting.

IHS’s board has also endorsed the acquisition. “The board unanimously authorised and approved the execution, delivery and performance of the merger agreement,” the company said in the filing.

Once completed, the transaction will end IHS’s run as a publicly traded company, just five years after its New York listing in 2021. The company had positioned itself as an independent infrastructure provider serving several mobile operators across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Still, MTN has been one of its biggest customers and shareholders for years.

The acquisition will also give MTN direct ownership of a large part of the infrastructure supporting its mobile operations across Africa. IHS operates about 28,700 towers across its markets, including roughly 15,942 towers in Nigeria, where it holds an estimated 41 per cent market share.

MTN operates in all of IHS’s African markets, including Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia.

Telecom operators across Africa have moved to take greater control of critical infrastructure as inflation, currency pressure and network costs squeeze margins.

In 2024, Airtel launched Airtel Africa Fibre to manage its 70,000-kilometre fibre network directly. Safaricom followed in 2025 by taking control of power systems at its telecom sites and deploying its own solar infrastructure instead of relying fully on tower-management contractors.

The IHS deal is expected to reduce dependence on third-party tower companies for MTN, while improving network management and foreign exchange risk control across key markets.

The filing also showed that employee stock awards under IHS’s incentive plans will be converted into cash payments based on the $8.50 offer price if the transaction goes through.

The merger still requires approval from at least two-thirds of votes cast at the shareholder meeting before it can proceed.

This was disclosed in Lagos, during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for judges on legal issues in telecommunications, organised by the NCC.

In his welcome address, Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of NCC, said despite the progress recorded in the telecoms sector in the areas of investments and network expansion, including growth in broadband, which has led to increased broadband penetration from 47.70 per cent in 2025 to 54.30 per cent in 2026, the sector remained threatened with constant telecoms infrastructure attacks that could erode its many gains, if not addressed.

According to him, the workshop, themed: ‘Adjudicating in the Digital Era: The Judiciary’s Imperative in Connectivity, Infrastructure Protection and Online Safety,’ gives a picture of both the challenges and opportunities present in the telecoms sector, and indeed the impact on the wider digital economy.

“The theme of this workshop rightly highlights the Judiciary’s imperative in three critical areas: connectivity, infrastructure protection, and online safety. Telecommunications infrastructure has now been officially designated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which means that assets of the telecommunications sector are to be provided a whole-of-government and whole-of-society protection, given their crucial importance to our daily lives.

“Despite this, we continue to witness disturbing levels of vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of equipment, and sabotage that disrupt services for millions of citizens and compromise national security,” Maida said.

“As judges, you are increasingly being called upon to interpret laws, adjudicate disputes, and set precedents that will determine how these complex issues are resolved, Maida further said.

He added that

“Your decisions will influence regulatory certainty for investors and the overall trust in our digital ecosystem.“

Chief Idris Olorunimbe, chairman, NCC’s Board of Commissioners, in his opening remarks, said the workshop provided a timely platform for constructive engagement between the judiciary, regulators, law enforcement institutions, policymakers, and industry operators on the legal and governance challenges arising within the digital ecosystem.

He therefore called on the judiciary to move at the speed of 5G in order to legally address the speed of wanton destruction and attacks on telecoms infrastructure.

In his remarks, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the administrator, National Judicial Institute, said:

“The judiciary plays a pivotal role in harmonising the right to freedom of expression with the competing demands of privacy and security. Executing this delicate duty invariably requires a sophisticated grasp of the telecommunications environment, the precise interpretation of evolving statutes, and a continuous recognition of how intersecting rights influence Nigeria’s digital trajectory. The workshop thus serves as a vital forum for analysing these emerging complexities within the sector.”

In her keynote speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors, National Judicial Institute, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, represented by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Musa Saulawa, said:

“As technological innovation continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, legal systems across the world are increasingly required to confront new questions concerning regulation, accountability, rights protection, and institutional responsibility within the digital space.

“The Judiciary cannot remain detached from these developments. The law must respond to changing realities while preserving the principles that sustain justice and social order.”

According to her, experience from other jurisdictions demonstrates the increasingly central role of the judiciary in shaping the legal architecture of the digital age, adding that in Nigeria, the pace of technological expansion makes judicial preparedness particularly important.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television monitored by Techeconomy, Emoekpere said telecom assets including fibre optic cables, base stations, power generators, and transmission equipment remain critical national infrastructure that must be safeguarded against vandalism, theft, and accidental damage.

According to him, recurring fibre cuts, destruction of telecom facilities during road construction activities, and vandalism of installations continue to significantly disrupt network services experienced by millions of subscribers nationwide.

“Telecommunications infrastructure is not just for the operators; it is infrastructure that supports the entire economy, businesses, security systems, financial services, education, and digital communication,” he said.

Nigeria’s active internet subscriber base recorded a modest increase in March 2026, climbing to 153.15 million from 152.48 million in February, according to the latest figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, while broadband penetration stands above 54.30 per cent.

Industry stakeholders, however, say network quality challenges remain a major concern due to infrastructure damage and operational constraints.

Emoekpere noted that fibre optic cable cuts have become increasingly frequent across several parts of the country, often caused by road construction projects, excavation activities, and urban infrastructure works carried out without proper coordination with telecom operators.

Industry data indicates that operators record thousands of fibre cuts annually, leading to service outages, degraded internet quality, dropped calls, and financial losses running into billions of naira.

The ATCON president also highlighted the growing cases of theft of telecom equipment, including batteries, diesel, and power systems at base stations, warning that such incidents continue to affect network availability, especially in remote and underserved communities.

Techeconomy had reported telecom infrastructure theft is increasing in Nigeria, with new data showing that 656 generators and batteries were stolen from network sites in 2025.

Figures from the NCC show 152 generators and 504 batteries were taken within the year and the rate has not reduced since then.

In the first two months of 2026, operators reported 64 stolen batteries and 17 generators.

The ATCON President, therefore, urged residents, community leaders, contractors, and government agencies to support telecom operators by promptly reporting suspicious activities around telecom facilities and ensuring that infrastructure within their neighbourhoods is protected.

According to him, improving telecom service quality in Nigeria requires stronger collaboration between operators, government institutions, infrastructure agencies, and citizens.

“The protection of telecom assets is essential for sustaining reliable connectivity and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations,” Emoekpere stated.

The Federal Government had earlier designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure under the country’s cybersecurity framework, while industry stakeholders continue to advocate stricter enforcement measures and improved coordination among public agencies to reduce infrastructure damage.

Experts say reliable telecommunications infrastructure remains central to Nigeria’s digital transformation ambitions, including financial inclusion, e-commerce growth, e-government services, smart city initiatives, and the expansion of emerging technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence.

Against this backdrop, Arista Networks, a global cloud networking company, in partnership with MART Networks and Resourcery Plc, hosted “Efficiency Meets Performance – The Arista Advantage” on Tuesday at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel.

The event brought together telecom operators, financial institutions, and other technology experts, to discuss how to build faster, more reliable networks while keeping costs under control, with particular attention on reducing energy use in a power-constrained market.

Speaking at the event, Arista’s Territory Account Manager for West Africa, Jide Olagbenro, said demand for efficient infrastructure is increasing as organisations look to balance performance with the cost of operation.

“Power is a real issue here,” he said. “You don’t want devices that consume too much energy. That is one of the reasons customers are turning to Arista.”

He added that the company’s solutions are already in use across key sectors in Nigeria, including financial services and large-scale industrial operations, emphasising the growing acceptance in the region.

“We are seeing strong adoption in this market,” he said. “But we need to keep working closely with our partners to expand that reach.”

Arista’s Regional Sales Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Marius Keown, pointed to the company’s global footprint, noting that its technology underpins some of the world’s largest cloud and content platforms.

“Some of the biggest platforms in the world run on our network,” he said. “They would not invest at that level if the technology did not perform.”

He further noted that the company’s growth has been driven largely by engineering focus rather than aggressive marketing. “We focus on building solid technology and letting the results speak.”

Ify Chukwuma, head of Business Development, sub-Saharan Africa at Resourcery Plc Group, highlighted the importance of aligning technology with business needs, drawing on the company’s long-standing presence in Nigeria.

“We’ve been in business for 40 years. That tells you we understand this market,” she said. “What we do is align technology with business needs and deliver solutions that are cost-effective and intelligent.”

She added that partnerships are essential to delivering large-scale infrastructure projects. “We can’t do this alone. That is why we partner with global players like Arista, to bring value to customers and give them peace of mind.”

Esther Oyedokun, country manager at MART Networks, said distribution, training and local support are key to successful deployment across African markets.

“Our goal is simple, to empower businesses with the right technology,” she said. “We don’t just supply products, we provide training, pre-sales and post-sales support, and ensure our partners are fully equipped.”

She noted that access to local stock and technical expertise helps reduce delays and improve service delivery.

On the technical side, Faith Oladapo, product manager for Enterprise Networking at MART Networks, a distributor for Arista Networks, said energy efficiency is becoming a practical concern for operators managing Nigeria’s data centres.

“Our switches can reduce power consumption by up to 30%,” she said. “At first, that may not seem like much, but in a data centre environment, over time, it becomes significant.”

She added that a unified software system across Arista’s products simplifies deployment and reduces licensing complexity.

“We use a single operating system across our products. That makes deployment easier and reduces costs.”

Oladapo also pointed to adequate distribution management as a way to reduce the circulation of unsupported products in the market.

“One of the problems in the market is the spread of unsupported or counterfeit products,” she said. “We manage distribution carefully to ensure customers get genuine, fully supported solutions.”

The company’s near-term focus in Nigeria will be on building local capacity. “We are investing in training partners and engineers, because they are the ones driving adoption on the ground,” Oladapo said.

Efficiency has become an indispensable factor as demand for digital services grows, and organisations place greater emphasis on infrastructure that delivers performance without increasing operational stress.

Arista and its partners are therefore placing priority on delivering networks that combine speed, reliability and lower energy use, across data centres and other sectors, while supporting the scale required by Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.

Held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, on Wednesday, October 22, the event convened leading voices from government, telecommunications, power, and technology sectors to discuss solutions for expanding digital access to unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The Summit, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide: Accelerating Rural Connectivity Through Collaboration,” was organised by Business Metrics in partnership with stakeholders across the industry.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), noted that the real measure of connectivity lies in its economic impact rather than technical metrics.

“The accurate measure of connectivity is not in megabits per second, but in economic value it creates or loses,” Maida said.

He noted that despite progress since 2001, millions of Nigerians are still digitally invisible, unable to access reliable broadband, mobile, or data services that now define inclusion in the modern economy.

In his address, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), drew attention to the underlying infrastructure gaps that hinder connectivity.

“80 million Nigerians do not have access to reliable electricity,” he stated, warning that without addressing energy poverty, telecom expansion will continue to face obstacles.

Adebayo further stressed that connectivity must be pursued as a people-centred mission.

“48 million Nigerians do not have access to toilets,” he said. “When we talk about inclusion, it’s not just digital; it’s about dignity.”

The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, called for urgent transition from dialogue to execution.

“We need to move away from talk shops into actions,” he stated. “This Summit should not end with resolutions; it must produce measurable results.”

Speakers from across the ecosystem, including the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), highlighted ongoing collaborations with NCC to power rural telecom sites using renewable energy mini-grids. 

This partnership aims to reduce costs and improve sustainability by pairing electricity access with digital connectivity.

Dr Tola Yusuf, chief executive officer of Infratel Africa, linked infrastructure to development outcomes.

“The backbone of rural prosperity is digital connectivity, but the backbone of connectivity is the right incentive structure,” he said, calling for fiscal incentives, public-private partnerships, and community-led models.

Dr Olusola Teniola, former ATCON President and executive director at ipNX, reiterated the urgency of implementation.

“It does remain a talk shop, and I’m tired of talk shops nowadays. We need action,” he said.

The Summit’s panel sessions explored multiple dimensions of the challenge and produced several key insights:

The first panel, focused on Mainstreaming Edge Infrastructure for Accelerated Inclusion.

Moderated by Chidi Ajuzie, group COO, Western Telecoms & Engineering (WTES) Limited, panellists included Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, Open Access Data Centre (OADC); Wole Abu, MD, Equinix West Africa (MainOne); Dr. Krish Ranganath, regional executive (West Africa), Africa Data Centres and Goke Juba, associate director, Fibre Operations, IHS Nigeria.

Key insights included:

• Expansion of edge data infrastructure beyond Lagos and Abuja is essential to reduce latency and improve local content delivery.
• Power, security, and connectivity must be addressed together to ensure site viability.
• Collaboration between operators and data-centre providers will drive faster deployment in rural areas.

The second session,  focused on Infrastructure Sharing & Collaboration as Key Pillars of Bridging Digital Divide, was moderated by Louisa Olaniyi, the compere. 

The panellists included Tony Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Dr Tola Yusuf, co-founder, Infratel Africa; Segun Okuneye, Divisional CEO, ipNX Nigeria Limited; Onemeguke Azubuike Lucky, senior analyst, Natcom Development and Investment Limited (ntel); Olumide Idowu, group chief technology & information officer, Alphabeta LLC; John Nwachukwu, chief strategy & executive officer, Zoracom; and Dr Isa Usman, associate director, Network Operations, GICL.

Key insights included:

• Shared infrastructure remains the most cost-effective path to rural expansion.
• Spectrum access, harmonised right-of-way policies, and targeted subsidies are needed to attract investors.
• Result-based financing and community-owned networks can complement traditional operator models.

Omobayo Azeez, convener and lead of the Rural Connectivity Initiative, emphasised the need for continued movement.

“Let this gathering be remembered as the moment we all come together to move from talk to action, from plans to progress, and from intent to real impact,” he said.

The Rural Connectivity Summit will become an annual platform for dialogue, accountability, and innovation, bringing together regulators, operators, development agencies, and community leaders to drive universal connectivity and digital inclusion across Nigeria.

The launch took place at the HUAWEI CONNECT 2025 summit in Shanghai, where experts gathered to discuss how networks can remain resilient in the face of massive data growth and tough performance needs.

The RAMS framework, standing for Return on Investment, Availability, Maintenance, and Security, forms the backbone of the white paper. Huawei says it is designed to help internet service providers (ISPs) and managed service providers (MSPs) move beyond simply delivering connectivity and instead ensure networks that are dependable, secure, and capable of supporting AI-driven applications at scale.

York Yue, vice president of Huawei and CEO of ISP & OTT BU, spoke about the challenges ahead. “AI is advancing rapidly. To navigate changes, data centers and ISPs must focus on three aspects. The first is to increase bandwidth to handle explosive traffic growth and changes in traffic direction. Second, they must optimize data center deployment to meet AI’s strict latency requirements. 

“Finally, they must enhance the five-nines (99.999%) reliability standard to ensure the stable operation of AI applications. Huawei is committed to collaborating with customers and partners, leveraging our cutting-edge AI technology and extensive industry know-how, to drive infrastructure upgrades and build a solid foundation for the intelligent world.”

The white paper goes beyond theory by examining real-world scenarios where ISPs and MSPs can improve service delivery. It explains how operators can maximise investment returns, introduce new service models, automate operations, and build networks capable of handling unpredictable traffic surges without compromising performance.

Huang Dachuan, CTO of Huawei’s ICT Marketing and Solution Sales Department, stressed that meeting these demands requires stronger network design. “Driven by the vision of intelligence and resilience, Huawei has proposed the intelligent RAMS framework, which integrates flexible access networks, evolvable transport networks, and intelligent cloud platforms. 

“RAMS allows for on-demand service expansion, automated O&M, and intelligent fault rectification. This boosts network reliability, security, and user experience.”

Huawei currently works with more than 5,000 ISPs and MSPs across over 120 countries. The company said it will continue to increase investment in research and development, with a focus on integrating AI with networking technology, and expand cooperation with global operators to accelerate large-scale commercial deployment.

The demands of AI and always-on services leave no room for outdated infrastructure. Huawei’s focus is that RAMS will become the framework they turn to in order to stay competitive and meet rising customer expectations.

ALTON says that multiple levies, bottlenecks in right-of-way approvals, and other unfriendly state policies are slowing expansion and could widen connectivity gaps between regions.

Speaking over the weekend, ALTON Chairman, Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, said the telecom industry is finally seeing strong investment flows after years of stagnation, but not every state may benefit.

“States that create hostile conditions for telecom operations risk being left behind. Where deployment is unwelcome, investments will move to more supportive neighbouring states, and citizens of unfriendly states will inevitably suffer limited connectivity,” Adebayo said.

He stressed that operators are already under enormous pressure, paying as many as 56 different taxes and charges. According to him, relief is expected from January 2026 when the Federal Government’s tax reform bills come into effect, cutting overlapping levies across federal, state, and local tiers. “We will not continue to solicit endlessly for cooperation,” Adebayo warned.

Fresh data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows over $1 billion in telecom infrastructure investments poured into the country this year alone. 

That confidence was restored after the regulator allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50%, reversing almost a decade of frozen pricing.

This policy change has triggered aggressive expansion as operators are rolling out new base stations, extending fibre networks, upgrading existing sites, and introducing enhanced site security to counter vandalism. 

Adebayo described the current pace of deployment as the most ambitious since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reforms go beyond tariffs and taxation. The inauguration of the new NCC Board, chaired by Idris Olorunimbe, has been described as a stabilising factor for the industry. 

The rebranding of 9Mobile to T2 is also seen by stakeholders as a signal of renewed investor interest and strategic repositioning.

Industry players argue that these developments place Nigeria in a better position to close broadband gaps and expand access to digital services. But without cooperation at state level, experts warn, the benefits will remain unevenly distributed.

Behind the numbers, operators continue to burn through more than 40 million litres of diesel monthly, most of it imported, to keep networks running. This reality adds to operational costs and stresses why hostile state policies only worsen the financial strain.

The NCC is already working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to create region-specific rapid response systems to protect telecom infrastructure, but Adebayo urged the public to take responsibility as well. Cases of vandalism and stolen equipment, he warned, further undermine investments and slow deployment.

For ordinary Nigerians, unfriendly state policies could mean slower broadband rollout, fewer digital jobs, and reduced access to critical online services. On the other hand, states that actively support operators stand to benefit from expanded infrastructure, stronger investor confidence, and broader digital inclusion.

“The transformation we are witnessing in our sector has not been experienced in recent years… but for this to be sustainable, all stakeholders, especially state governments, must play their part. Telecoms is not just about calls and data, it is a driver of national economic stability and growth,” Adebayo concluded.

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.

The disruption stems from an escalating conflict between two oil workers’ unions and a major telecom infrastructure provider.

Members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) have blocked access to key diesel loading depots. 

This is preventing fuel distribution to telecom sites operated by IHS Towers, one of the largest providers of telecommunications infrastructure in the country.

At the heart of the dispute is an allegation of diesel misappropriation levelled by IHS against two companies affiliated with NOGASA. The issue is under investigation, yet in response, union members have halted diesel supply operations in the affected states, effectively putting a critical portion of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure at risk.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), did not downplay the seriousness of the situation. 

In his words: “This action, reportedly stemming from allegations by IHS of diesel misappropriation against 2 member companies of NOGASA and which is being investigated by the requisite authorities, has resulted in a critical threat to the operation of some of the 16,000 telecommunications sites nationwide, servicing Mobile Network Operators.”

The telecom base stations under threat are responsible for powering mobile phone and internet services, bank transaction networks, hospital communication systems, emergency response lines, and vital national security platforms.

A failure at this scale would compromise not only public access to connectivity but also the digital backbone of Nigeria’s economy and security architecture.

It’s important to note that Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure relies heavily on diesel-powered generators, as grid electricity remains unreliable and insufficient. Some affected sites are reportedly now operating on backup reserves with little time left before complete outages begin.

ALTON stressed that while it does not mediate disputes between private companies and third-party service providers, it has a duty to protect national infrastructure.

“These sites not only power mobile and internet services for millions of Nigerians, but also support essential services such as banking transactions, hospital communications, emergency response systems, and national security operations,” Adebayo stated.

More than just a commercial conflict, the issue now carries national security and legal implications. ALTON reminded the unions and all involved parties that telecommunications assets have been designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure under Nigerian law, a classification that makes any deliberate disruption a potential offence with serious consequences.

Calling for speedy intervention, ALTON urged the leadership of NUPENG and NOGASA to reverse the blockade and allow fuel distribution to resume. The association also appealed to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and other authorities to step in immediately.

“We urge all parties involved to embrace constructive dialogue to resolve the matter, without further disruption to essential services. Disputes must be resolved within the framework of lawful contracts and applicable legal processes,” Adebayo added.

As we face the real possibility of a digital blackout, experts warn that any delay in restoring fuel supply could result in cascading failures across multiple sectors. 

ALTON has reiterated its focus on keeping Nigerians connected but warned that continued interference with diesel access will derail network stability and increase the economic challenges already felt across the country.