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NCC, telecom providers punishing us – mobile users, activists, others raise alarm
Posted by Gistsnaija.
on 15 May, 2025 |
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Nigerians, particularly in the northern region, are reeling in frustration and economic distress following the recent approval of a 50 percent hike in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The decision, implemented in January 2025, has sparked widespread backlash as citizens struggle with rising costs amid worsening economic conditions.
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The NCC approved the tariff increase following demands by telecom operators grappling with high inflation, surging diesel prices, and foreign exchange instability.
Although service providers had initially proposed a 100 percent increment, the regulatory commission settled on a 50 percent adjustment, citing the need to maintain service continuity.
However, the impact has been deeply felt across Nigeria, especially among vulnerable populations in the North who rely heavily on affordable data access for their livelihoods. Zainab Idris, a single mother and food vendor in Kano, said the hike has made it nearly impossible for her to maintain her small business.
“I use my phone to take orders and do mobile banking. Now I spend twice as much for half the access,” she lamented. “We’re being punished for being connected.”
Zainab’s story echoes the experiences of millions of Nigerians whose daily lives and incomes are closely tied to digital connectivity.
The cost of 1GB of data, which previously hovered around ₦300, now exceeds ₦500—an unaffordable increase in a country where over 60 percent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty.
Fatima Yusuf, a final-year student at Bayero University, said the hike is affecting her academic work. “I’m working on my final project and rely heavily on online research,” she said. “Since the price increased, I’ve had to cut down. Sometimes, I go days without internet.
How are we supposed to learn like this?” For Fatima, the tariff hike is more than an inconvenience—it is a direct obstacle to education and self-development.
Consumer rights groups and civil society organisations have condemned the NCC’s decision, accusing the commission of favouring telecom operators over ordinary Nigerians.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the NCC and the Federal Government, arguing that the tariff hike violates citizens’ fundamental rights to access information, education, and communication.
In March, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged protests in major cities, urging the government to reverse the tariff hike.
The NCC, in response, defended its decision as necessary for maintaining service delivery and hinted at potential relief packages for vulnerable groups, although no concrete measures have yet been introduced.
Digital rights advocates say the hike undermines Nigeria’s long-term development goals. Fadhila Nurudeen, an activist based in Kano, warned that the increase will widen the digital divide, particularly between urban and rural communities.
“The government should be promoting affordable access, not strangling it,” she said.
Even small-scale data vendors are affected by the new tariffs. Hajara Isah, who runs a roadside airtime kiosk, said customer demand has dropped significantly.
“People come to buy data and when they hear the new prices, they just walk away,” she noted, adding that the situation is cutting into her already modest earnings.
As the economic reality grows harsher, many Nigerians are being forced to ration their internet usage, revert to SMS, or make fewer calls.
For a country steadily shifting toward a digital economy, this could have long-term consequences.
With online platforms becoming essential for education, business, healthcare, and communication, experts warn that access to data may soon become a luxury—leaving millions behind in an increasingly unequal digital landscape.
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