Minister of Finance, Wale Edun
Finance Minister Wale Edun has identified weak regulatory frameworks and the burden of multiple taxes as key obstacles hindering the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Speaking at a business roundtable on broadband investment and critical infrastructure protection in Abuja, Edun emphasized the urgent need for reforms to attract private capital into the industry.
The two-day event, hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), focused on the theme: “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure: The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”
Edun, who was represented by Dr. Ali Mohammed, Director of Home Finance in the ministry, said government cannot transform the sector alone.
> “This sector is virtually vulnerable; it is compact. Therefore, we are calling on our local and international investors to come forward so that we can invest in this particular sector,” he said.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration with private players to bridge connectivity gaps and modernize Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
> “Government alone cannot do it. We need the cooperation and collaboration of the private sector. The problems have been identified in terms of connectivity and broadband infrastructure development in Nigeria,” Edun added.
While acknowledging other existing challenges, he expressed confidence that they could be overcome through sustained stakeholder engagement.
> “There is need for stakeholders to come together and deal with these particular problems,” he said.
Also speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, noted that broadband access is fundamental to Nigeria’s economic and social development.
Represented by NGF Director-General, Abdulateef Shittu, Abdulrazaq reiterated the governors’ support for the country’s digital transformation agenda.
> “We fully support the national commitment to raise broadband penetration to 80 per cent by 2027. Achieving this will require an additional 95,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across Nigeria,” he said.
“This is an ambitious task, and one that calls for genuine collaboration among stakeholders gathered here today.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, revealed that the commission’s recent tariff adjustment has already begun yielding dividends.
> “In line with our economic regulatory mandate, earlier this year, the commission approved the application of tariff rates that are both cost-reflective and competitive within the telecommunications industry,” he said.
According to Maida, this decision has restored investor confidence in the sector.
> “Operators have made a collective commitment to invest over $1 billion in additional rollout investments to expand broadband coverage and capacity nationwide,” he stated.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, AVM Enebong Effiom emphasized the need for policy alignment between federal and state governments.
Effiom, Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection at the NSA’s office, urged the NGF to drive policy consistency and compliance on security matters across the states.
> “The forum can also facilitate dialogue to resolve all regulated broadband concerns that hinder digital inclusion and infrastructure growth,” he said.
NAN
