Nigeria’s telecom industry is shaking off the dust from a tough few years. A new wave of investments and policy changes is breathing life back into a sector hit hard by foreign exchange challenges. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the rebound is already boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
During a media chat in Abuja, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, said the industry had faced significant losses. Although revenue kept climbing, mounting forex debts had wiped out gains and crippled service quality.
“About two years ago, we noticed a situation where some of our key operators were recording massive losses. Despite increasing revenues, they were struggling with heavy forex-related obligations that ate into their revenue,” Maida explained, through Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Acting Head of Public Affairs.
A Sector on the Rise Again
Maida pointed to a recent tariff adjustment as the game-changer. Operators, now back on a profitable path, have resumed reinvestment in their infrastructure. This move is expected to bring better quality of service to millions of mobile subscribers across the country.
He hinted that 2025 could be the biggest investment year yet for Nigeria’s telecom space—potentially outpacing the last two years combined. The renewed financial stability has enabled telecom companies to upgrade their networks and take bolder steps towards innovation.
“With the recent tariff adjustment exercise, these operators are now back on the path to profitability. As a result, they’re able to reinvest in their networks,” Maida stated.
Telecom Role in Economic Recovery
The NCC boss also highlighted the broader economic impact. Telecom growth directly supports digital infrastructure, job creation, and access to services like mobile banking and e-learning. These are key pillars in Nigeria’s push for economic diversification.
Maida’s outlook for the future is optimistic. He believes the telecom industry will not only recover but help lift other sectors of the economy along with it. Improved connectivity and increased coverage will likely follow these investments, shaping how Nigerians live, work, and communicate.
“We expect investments in the industry to increase significantly this year, more than what was seen in the last two years,” he said, projecting stronger service delivery and more reliable customer experiences.
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[…] After years of dwindling growth due to forex pressures and infrastructure setbacks, Nigeria’s telecom sector is bouncing back stronger than ever. With new tariff policies in place, operators have started reinvesting in their networks, signalling the start of a new era. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says these changes are already impacting GDP. […]