FG, telcos pledge better service as new bill awaits presidential assent

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The federal government and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have assured Nigerians that better connectivity, wider broadband access and improved service quality are underway as the Digital Economy Bill moves closer to receiving presidential assent.

This commitment was reiterated during the Minister–Regulator and Telecoms Executive Forum and Awards Night 2025 at the weekend in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the Digital Economy Bill, expected to be signed into law soon by President Bola Tinubu, was crafted to transform Nigeria’s digital landscape and strengthen public service delivery.

Tijani explained that the bill introduces frameworks that will enable secure digital signatures, expand the use of technology in governance and unlock new opportunities for digital participation across the country.

“That bill is going to transform the digital economy in the country completely. For things like digital signatures to be accepted, providing a strong framework for how the government will start to use technology to deliver public services. There are so many things that we need to see there. It will change the sector,” he said.

The minister acknowledged existing challenges in the telecom sector, including Right of Way (RoW) bottlenecks, frequent cable cuts and vandalism of critical national infrastructure.

He, however, noted that efforts coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser were being intensified to address them and ensure more resilient infrastructure.

Also speaking, ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, said the industry’s ambitions hinge on strong partnerships across the value chain.

He added that the 2025 forum, themed “Driving Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Policy, Regulation, and Industry Synergy,” was designed to bring stakeholders together to tackle persistent industry challenges.

Despite the hurdles, Emoekpere said operators remain committed to delivering services that meet consumer expectations.

“Our digital ambition depends on infrastructure and infrastructure depends on partnership. With tariff adjustments now in play, we must uphold affordability and service quality especially as we address RoW challenges, streamline fibre deployment and enable last-mile connectivity,” he stated.

The awards night also celebrated personalities and organisations whose contributions have driven growth in the sector. Honourees included the executive governors of Benue, Cross River, Ogun and Nasarawa States, as well as the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who received the Telecoms Excellence Awards.