Nigerians across the country, particularly in the northern region, have decried the recent hike in telecom tariffs, accusing the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and service providers of worsening their economic struggles.
The NCC had earlier in January approved a 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from mobile users, civil society organisations, and business owners whose operations rely heavily on mobile connectivity.
Zainab Idris, a food vendor and single mother in Kano, expressed deep frustration over the impact of the new rates.
“I use my phone to take orders and do mobile banking. Now I spend twice as much for half the access,” she said.
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Zainab added that the cost of staying connected was becoming unbearable.
“We’re being punished for being connected,” she lamented.
The tariff adjustment came after telecommunications providers cited inflation, foreign exchange challenges, and surging diesel costs as reasons for seeking price increases.
While operators initially demanded a 100 percent rise, the NCC approved half that request.
Fatima Yusuf, a final-year student at Bayero University, Kano, said her academic work had been severely affected.
“I rely heavily on online research for my project. Since the hike, I’ve had to cut back, and sometimes I go days without data.”
“Communication is not a luxury—it’s how we live, learn, and earn,” Fatima added, describing the situation as deeply discouraging for students nationwide.
Civil society groups have also raised their voices.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, filed a lawsuit against the NCC and the Federal Government, arguing that the hike violated Nigerians’ rights to information, education, and communication.
Digital rights activist Fadhila Nurudeen described the decision as damaging to Nigeria’s digital inclusion goals.
“The government should be promoting affordable access, not strangling it,” she said.
