By Ahmed Ahmed
Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has identified weak regulatory frameworks and multiple taxation as key factors stalling growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Speaking at the Business Roundtable on Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja recently, Mr. Edun assured that the government was taking steps to address these challenges through stakeholder engagements.
Represented by the Director of Home Finance in the ministry, Dr. Ali Mohammed, the Honourable Minister urged private investors to increase participation in the telecom industry, noting that the government alone cannot drive the required expansion.
“This sector remains highly vulnerable. We are calling on both local and international investors to come forward. Problems such as weak frameworks and excessive taxation have been identified, but they are not insurmountable. Stakeholders must work together to find lasting solutions,” Mr. Edun said.
Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Director-General of the forum, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, reaffirmed the commitment of state governments to the country’s digital transformation drive.
“We fully support the national commitment to raise broadband penetration to 80 percent by 2027. Achieving this will require an additional 95,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the recently approved cost-reflective telecom tariffs had boosted investor confidence, leading to fresh commitments of over $1 billion in broadband infrastructure investments.
“Earlier this year, the commission approved tariff rates that are both cost-reflective and competitive. This regulatory intervention has strengthened investor confidence, and operators have collectively committed to investing over $1 billion to expand broadband coverage nationwide,” Maida said.
Also speaking, National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the Director of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection Office, AVM Enebong Effiom, urged state governments to align their policies with national broadband objectives.
“The NGF can play a pivotal role by fostering consensus among states, ensuring compliance through peer engagement, and aligning policies to drive broadband inclusion and infrastructure growth,” Effiom stated.
