MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, has clarified that the proposed 50% tariff increase for telecom operators in Nigeria has not yet been approved for implementation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Lagos, Toriola stated that while the NCC has acknowledged the need for a tariff adjustment, the implementation remains pending regulatory approval. He emphasized that telecom operators, including MTN, have submitted proposals for the tariff hike, but customers will not see any changes until the final regulatory decision is made.
This statement comes amid growing concerns from millions of telecom users over potential increases in call, SMS, and data charges. The NCC had earlier hinted at the necessity of a tariff review due to rising operational costs in the telecom sector, fueled by inflation, forex volatility, and infrastructure expenses.
With Nigeria’s digital economy heavily reliant on affordable telecom services, stakeholders continue to debate the balance between sustainability for operators and affordability for consumers.
