Nigeria’s booming telecom sector could leave some states behind if unfriendly policies aren’t changed, industry leaders say.
At an industry event over the weekend, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), raised the alarm about hostile state regulations that may block needed investments and slow broadband rollout.
Adebayo said many states still demand excessive levies, frustrate right-of-way approvals, or enforce regulations that scare away telecom companies.
The digital train is moving very fast. States that create hostile conditions for telecom operations risk being left behind. Where deployment is unwelcome, investments will move to more supportive neighbouring states, and citizens of unfriendly states will inevitably suffer limited connectivity – Adebayo
Currently, operators are aggressively expanding across Nigeria, building new sites, upgrading infrastructure, and rolling out more high-speed fibre links. These moves are driving some of the largest investments seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. But Adebayo said that states refusing to support telecom deployment will miss out, meaning their people could face slower internet speeds, fewer digital jobs, and less access to technology.
The situation is especially urgent as the industry recovers from years of sluggish investments. Recent government reforms, such as efforts to reduce the 56 separate taxes and levies telecom companies face, are giving new hope. Change is expected to continue in early 2026 with the federal tax reform plan.
Adebayo also applauded the new board at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), describing its appointment as a boost for stability and investor confidence. He praised the rebranding of 9Mobile to T2 and also workforce training on service quality, saying these moves are vital for the sector’s “march forward”.
However, he called on all stakeholders, especially state governments, and ordinary Nigerians to help protect telecom infrastructure. Attacks, vandalism, and the sale of stolen equipment damage progress.
The transformation we are witnessing in our sector has not been experienced in recent years… but for this to be sustainable, all stakeholders, especially state governments, must play their part. Telecoms is not just about calls and data, it is a driver of national economic stability and growth – Adebayo
His remarks restates recent NCC reports that Nigeria’s telecom industry has attracted over $1 billion in new infrastructure investments since mobile operators began adjusting prices earlier this year, after nearly a decade of price stagnation.
But if state-level bottlenecks aren’t addressed, some Nigerians may miss out on the digital benefits the rest of the country now expects.
