The Federal Government has warned telecommunications companies to improve the quality of their services or face sanctions, saying recent reforms have stabilised the sector and removed excuses for poor network performance.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, gave the warning in a statement on May 10, 2026. He said Nigeria’s poor connectivity has mainly been due to structural problems caused by years of low investment and limits faced by operators.
According to him, the government is tackling the problem in two ways: long-term and short-term solutions.
For the long term, Dr Tijani said the government is expanding digital infrastructure across the country. This includes laying more fibre optic cables and building new telecommunications towers to close existing network gaps.
He added that funding has already been secured with support from the World Bank under the Project “BRIDGE”. The plan also includes increased use of satellite technology to improve coverage nationwide. These projects are expected to significantly improve internet and network services within the next two to five years.
For short-term actions, the minister said the government has introduced measures to stabilise the telecommunications sector. These include tariff adjustments, classifying telecommunication infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, efforts to harmonise taxes, and wider economic reforms.
He said these steps have improved the financial condition of operators and created a transparent environment for investment in better services.
He stressed that it is now the responsibility of telecommunications operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 Mobile to fix network problems and provide better service to Nigerians.
Dr Tijani also stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission has been empowered to monitor operators, enforce standards, and ensure compliance. He warned that sanctions would be applied where necessary.
He added that Nigerians should begin to see improvements in call quality, internet speed, and network coverage, noting that the government will rely on regulatory reports and feedback from users to ensure accountability and better service delivery.
