The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has authorized a tariff hike of up to 50% for mobile phone services, falling short of the 100% increase requested by telecom operators over the past six years.
Mobile phone tariffs in Nigeria have remained stagnant for over a decade. Analysts attribute the need for the increase to rising operational costs driven by naira depreciation and inflation.
The NCC stated that the approved increment seeks to strike a balance between fostering industry growth and safeguarding consumer interests. The regulator emphasized that higher tariffs would enable telecom operators to invest in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately enhancing service quality for users.
Telecom providers have been instructed to communicate the price adjustments transparently to customers and demonstrate “measurable improvements in service delivery” as the new rates take effect.
The decision has drawn criticism from consumer advocacy groups, including the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, which has vowed to challenge the move amidst soaring living costs in the country.