By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Government has strongly defended its decision to approve a 50 per cent tariff hike for telecommunications services.
Speaking after leading the management of Airtel Nigeria to the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, 
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, made the clarification on Thursday shortly after leading the management of Airtel Nigeria to the presidential Villa in Abuja.
Dr. Tijani who cited job protection for Nigerians and the need to prevent multinational firms from leaving the country, as reasons for the increment, explained that the decision aligns with the need to ensure the sustainability of foreign investment amidst rising operational costs and inflationary trends.
While noting that government carefully considered the decision, given the critical role the telecoms sector plays in the country’s economy, the minister highlighted that the sector, including its entire value chain, employs nearly half a million Nigerians.
He further disclosed that the request for a tariff increase had been pending before the current administration took office, but President Bola Tinubu insisted on a thorough evaluation before approving any adjustments.
Tijani emphasised that the government’s focus extends beyond affordability to ensuring meaningful access to telecommunications services.
The minister observed that while private sector investment in the telecoms industry remains crucial, the government is actively working to ensure universal access to high-quality connectivity across Nigeria.
