Effective today—Friday, January 10, 2025—consumers in Nigeria will experience increased costs for voice, SMS, data, and other telecom services. This adjustment comes after the country’s communications regulator permitted telecom companies to raise tariffs for the first time in 11 years.
With headline inflation climbing from 29.9% to 34.6% between January and November 2024, consumers will need to allocate more of their budgets to cover these heightened expenses.
Despite facing escalating operational costs such as soaring diesel expenses for powering cell towers, escalating staff overhead, and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, telecom companies have maintained their prices unchanged for over a decade. The recent devaluation of the naira in Nigeria led to substantial losses for major telecom operators.
These financial challenges have forced telecom companies to prioritize survival over service enhancement and infrastructure expansion. The sector, which employs over 15,500 individuals and contributes significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, risks significant setbacks without consistent investment.
While the tariff increase may be difficult for many to accept, it is deemed a necessary step given the circumstances.