The Federal Government says it has committed $2 billion to enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, aiming to boost the nation’s economy and safeguard the digital identities and rights of its citizens.

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming International Telecommunication Union, (ITU) Summit holding in Abuja from Wednesday to Thursday this week.

The ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit will feature over 250 participants from 194 ITU member countries, with key representatives from the private sector and academia expected to attend.

Tijani who addressed journalists alongside Tomas Lamanauskas, the Deputy Secretary General of ITU,said the present administration was not making two billion dollars investments in digital infrastructures for the fun of it.

He said the present administration is committed to digital connectivity for the people to make lives more meaningful and impactful, adding that the investments would ensure that Nigerians enjoy the best quality of digital services and protection in the nearest future.

The ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit aims to foster global collaboration, secure innovative solutions, and engage leaders from government, industry and international organisations to strengthen the global digital infrastructures.

“This investment is part of a larger vision to provide every Nigerian with access to high-quality digital services, while safeguarding their digital identities,” Tijani said.

The ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, co-hosted by Nigeria and Portugal, will explore innovative strategies to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cables—vital infrastructure for global digital connectivity.

The summit is bringing together government leaders, industry experts, and international organizations to discuss ways to safeguard submarine cable networks, which are increasingly vulnerable to disruptions.

Tijani emphasized that the discussions at the summit will focus on finalizing a global declaration on submarine cable resilience, calling for heightened action from both governments and private sectors to protect digital infrastructure worldwide.

In his words, “Nigeria is not just solving local issues; we are taking a global leadership role in securing submarine cables, which are essential for digital connectivity”.

The summit will address the growing concern of disruptions in submarine cable networks, with an average of 150 to 200 cables being damaged or cut annually, severely impacting global digital connectivity.

To tackle these challenges, the summit will include key international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), promoting coordination across industries such as telecom, shipping, and fishing, which impact submarine cable integrity.

Tijani also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the digital space, stating that while the country already boasts a robust submarine cable network, with around eight or nine cables landing in Nigeria, the key challenge now is expanding these networks inland and ensuring reliable, high-speed internet access for all Nigerians.

“We are committed to connecting every Nigerian, ensuring that digital infrastructure benefits all citizens,” he added. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of ITU, praised Nigeria’s forward-thinking investments in digital infrastructure.

He highlighted that Africa is experiencing rapid growth in digital traffic, and Nigeria’s investments will play a pivotal role in ensuring the continent remains competitive on the global digital stage.

According to him, “This region is the fastest-growing for international digital connectivity, and Nigeria’s leadership is critical to ensuring Africa’s success in the global digital economy.

The summit is expected to provide a platform for robust discussions on enhancing submarine cable security, a critical pillar for the global digital economy, with over 50 countries participating in this essential dialogue.

Network International, a leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has been appointed as a Payment Processor – Issuing partner for MTN Group Fintech, Africa’s leading mobile financial services provider.

This partnership marks a significant extension of Network’s portfolio of issuer processing collaborations throughout the African continent.

With a footprint spanning over 50 countries and serving over 250 financial institutions, Network International brings its expertise to this partnership which will enhance MTN Fintech’s cutting-edge mobile services and provide even greater value to stakeholders and customers across Africa.

The partnership will focus on rolling out card issuance products across key MTN Fintech markets, starting with Rwanda which is already operational. Soon Uganda, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria will also be covered under this collaboration.

Network International will provide a comprehensive range of services, including transaction processing, card management and online fraud prevention. MTN Fintech users will benefit from a seamless experience accessing both traditional mobile services and innovative digital payment solutions.

Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa and Co-Head Group Processing at Network International commented: “Our collaboration with MTN Group Fintech marks a major milestone for our outsourced payments services in Africa.

“It demonstrates our ability to successfully serve Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) via our fully-fledged processing solutions and our continued dedication and commitment to the African region.

“We are excited to support MTN Group Fintech’s growth strategy, and its business development plans across the continent.”

Cedric N’guessan, Executive for Payment and E-commerce at MTN Group Fintech added, “This collaboration with Network International is pivotal in enhancing financial inclusion across Africa and beyond.

“It enables our customers to actively engage in the global economy, aligning perfectly with our strategic goals alongside Mastercard to broaden access to digital financial services across the continent.”

MTN Group provides voice, data, fintech, enterprise wholesale and API services to more than 288 million customers in 14 African markets.

In January 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a significant telecom tariff increase of 50%, which was implemented on February 11, 2025.

This decision, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the industry, has garnered mixed reactions from the public.

The tariff hike is attributed to rising inflation and foreign exchange volatility, resulting in higher operational costs for telecom operators.

Key Points Nigerians Should Know:

1. Uniform Tariff Increase Across Operators: The 50% tariff increase applies to all Nigerian telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, and Glo. Consumers will see higher costs for SMS, voice calls, and data bundles. SMS charges have increased from NGN4 to NGN6, voice calls now cost NGN16.25 per minute (up from NGN11), and 1GB of data has risen to NGN525 from NGN350.
2. Historical Context: This is the first telecom tariff increase in 11 years, with the last adjustment occurring in 2013 when the inflation rate was 8.5%. The current inflation rate is 34.8%. The telecom industry has been the last essential service provider to raise tariffs following the devaluation of the Naira.
3. Comparative Data Prices: Despite the increase, Nigeria still offers some of the lowest data prices in Africa. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), 1GB of data costs $2.35 in Nigeria, compared to $2.66 in Ghana, $2.92 in Kenya, and $7.98 in South Africa.
4. Quality of Service Mandate: The NCC has mandated that telcos improve their network quality within three months, with intensified scrutiny and heavier penalties for non-compliance. This condition was part of the tariff increase approval process.
5. Industry Survival: The telecom industry has faced substantial losses due to foreign exchange volatility and high operational costs. For instance, Airtel reported a loss of NGN 514.9 billion in the first nine months of 2024, and MTN posted a loss of $89 million in the fiscal year 2023/2024. The tariff increase is seen as crucial for the industry’s survival and to prevent further destabilization.

This overview provides important insights into the recent telecom tariff increase and its implications for Nigerian consumers.