The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has allayed fears of planned increase in telecoms services cost, saying it is difficult to just increase tariffs in the sector.
This is even as the commission has advised mobile network operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Towercos, and others to switch to alternative power sources in the meantime.
On the issue of tariff increase, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said “doing such will amount to doing things anecdotally. We normally do things scientifically at NCC. We engage the services of consultants that are experts in the area of cost based studies to study each and every segment of the sector and come up with recommendations as to whether there is a need for an increase in the cost of services in that particular segment.
“Even before we come out with any determination, we usually ensure stakeholders’ contributions. Before you can force new tariffs on citizens, you must subject the matter to a stakeholder meeting because consumers must have a say in the matter.”
On the prevailing energy crisis, he stated that the Federal Government is doing everything within its means to solve the energy crisis in the country, and said that renewable energy, including solar have been recommended to MNOs, ISPs, among others to deploy, pending the decline in the cost of diesel.
According to him, stakeholders recently met with the communications minister, Isa Pantami, “who assured that the ministry is meeting with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure FOREX is available to operators in the sector to ensure services remain afloat.”
