NCC SAYS MARKET-DRIVEN PRICING ATTRACTS OVER $1BN TELECOMS INVESTMENT IN 2025
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says its return to market-driven pricing in the telecommunications sector has attracted over $1 billion in infrastructure investments in 2025.
Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday.
Maida explained that the policy shift, introduced in January and February 2025, allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50 per cent after nearly a decade of stagnant pricing.
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“This act alone has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars’ worth of investment in 2025 alone,” he said.
The NCC boss said the move restored investor confidence in the industry and reversed years of underinvestment that had slowed network expansion and service quality improvements.
He noted that previous regulations created an imbalance in the value chain, as tower companies could adjust prices annually to reflect inflation and exchange rates, while mobile operators could not — a situation that discouraged new investments.
“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” Maida warned.
According to him, the commission decided to revert to the guiding principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which allow market forces to determine fair prices while ensuring healthy competition to protect consumers.
Maida disclosed that telecom operators have begun receiving new equipment since June, with network expansion and upgrade projects already underway.
“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor how many sites are being built, upgrades done, and we step in when they encounter challenges with authorities,” he said.
The NCC chief added that the new investments would address capacity constraints, improve service quality, and ensure Nigeria remained competitive in the global telecoms landscape.
Highlighting operational challenges, Maida revealed that operators consume over 40 million litres of diesel monthly to power base stations, with most of the product imported. He also noted that all telecom hardware and software are imported, creating heavy dependence on foreign exchange.
“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally. Everything from the hardware to the software has to be imported and that requires FX,” he stated.
On infrastructure protection, Maida said the commission is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser to develop a framework for rapid-response forces tailored to regional security needs.
He explained that threats to telecom facilities vary, with coastal areas requiring community-based engagement, while high-risk zones may need stronger civil defence presence. The strategy, he added, would also address structural issues such as poor site security, generator theft, and community disputes.
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