NCC telecom pricing reforms spark renewed investor confidence, with over \$1bn in network upgrades expected in 2025
NCC telecom pricing reforms introduced in January have triggered a surge in investor confidence that could channel over \$1 billion into Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure in 2025 the largest sector investment in years.
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Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Executive Vice-Chairman Aminu Maida said the decision to let market forces, rather than rigid government controls, determine service prices has already spurred major network upgrades nationwide.
“We took a tough but necessary decision to return to the principles that built this industry.
By removing rigid price controls, operators can now compete fairly, reinvest profits, and attract the foreign capital we desperately need,” Maida explained.
He revealed that telecom equipment ordered earlier in the year began arriving in June, with some operators — including one that had not upgraded hardware in three years — now modernising their networks.
Maida noted that Nigeria still relies entirely on imported telecom hardware from China, Finland, and Sweden, making foreign investment crucial.
He also warned that persistent threats such as vandalism, diesel theft, and site access issues continue to undermine operations.
To address these, the NCC has updated security guidelines, partnered with communities for awareness campaigns, and engaged security agencies to treat telecom facilities as Critical National Infrastructure.
Plans are also underway for an inter-agency conflict resolution platform and a nationwide rapid response force to protect installations.
“With these reforms, improved security, and renewed capital inflows, we’re turning a corner,” Maida said.
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“By year’s end, we expect cumulative investment to exceed \$1 billion. This wasn’t happening before — something big has been triggered.”
