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By Osasome C.O, Nana Theresa Timothy and Elisha Chebwawaza Gideon
FG Explores New Telecom Financing Window for Local Operators
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has revealed that the Federal Government is exploring a telecom financing window designed to support local and indigenous operators who struggle to meet licensing and rollout obligations due to limited access to capital.
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Speaking at the Minister–Regulator and Telecom Executives’ Forum and Awards Ceremony 2025, organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Abuja, the minister said the government is already in discussions with the World Bank and other international financial institutions to establish a sustainable financing mechanism for industry players.
The minister’s remarks followed calls by telecom operators for a support framework similar to the local content development model used in Nigeria’s oil & gas industry.
Operators Renew Call for Dedicated Telecom Infrastructure Bank
Industry stakeholders once again reiterated the need for a Telecommunications Infrastructure Bank, a long-proposed institution expected to offer long-term, specialized financing for the sector.
They argue that such a bank is crucial to addressing Nigeria’s deep infrastructure deficit, particularly the shortage of fiber optic networks, base stations, and data centre infrastructure in underserved regions.
Experts at the event, including Chidi Ibisi, Executive Director, Business Development at Broadbased Communications Limited, noted that existing financing models—including Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)—are insufficient to meet the scale of investment needed to achieve national targets such as 70% broadband penetration by 2025.
Despite the telecom sector’s massive contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, inconsistent policies, poor project governance, and lack of reliable data continue to hinder progress.
Digital Security Requires Regional Connectivity, Says Tijani
Minister Tijani also stressed Nigeria’s strategic need to digitally connect neighbouring countries to strengthen national security and regional digital cohesion.
“If we must secure our country digitally, we must connect our neighbours,” he said.
“We need to ensure seamless connectivity across our borders—with Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon—so that no one questions whether Nigeria is truly the heart of connectivity in Africa.”
He emphasized that ubiquitous connectivity is essential for boosting productivity in key sectors, including agriculture, security, financial inclusion, and public services.
NCC Calls for Faster, Cheaper Broadband Deployment
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Sunday Abraham Oshadami, reiterated that broadband rollout must become faster, more cost-effective, and more efficient if Nigeria is to reach marginalized communities.
Maida highlighted NCC’s ongoing push for open access models and infrastructure sharing, noting that these frameworks help operators—large and small—leverage existing infrastructure to extend coverage across urban and rural areas.
Data Protection Commission: Secure Networks Are the Backbone of Digital Economy
Delivering a keynote address titled “Ensuring Security, Resilience, and Consumer Protection,” the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, emphasized that a secure digital economy is impossible without secure data.
“Telecom networks are no longer just infrastructure; they are the backbone of commerce, identity, finance, mobility, and national development. Security, resilience, and consumer trust must guide every decision we make,” Olatunji said through his representative, Dr. Tolu Pius-Fadipe.
ATCON: Telecom Industry at a Critical Turning Point
In a dialogue session with the minister, ATCON President, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, noted that fewer than five operators currently control more than 80% of Nigeria’s subscriber market—a trend that underscores both the strength and vulnerability of the sector.
He acknowledged the “remarkable investment achievements” of major operators in expanding fibre, strengthening 4G/5G networks, and driving financial inclusion, but warned that market concentration poses systemic risks if not addressed strategically.
During the evening awards ceremony, Emoekpere commended the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to expanding broadband access, stressing that reliable internet remains fundamental to Nigeria’s development agenda.
Celebrating Excellence in Nigeria’s Telecom Industry
The Minister–Regulator and Telecom Executives’ Forum & Awards Night provided a platform for high-level dialogue and celebration of industry excellence.
According to Emoekpere, the event is intended to:
- Enable robust industry conversations
- Highlight pressing sector challenges
- Honour institutions, innovators, and visionaries shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
