More Money, Worse Service? Nigerians Still Waiting For Telecom Relief After Major Investment
A Billion-Dollar Promise to Transform Connectivity
TWO years after a landmark partnership between the Federal Government and the World Bank pledged about $3 billion to transform Nigeria’s digital backbone, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The project—designed to deploy 120,000km of fibre optic cables and 7,000 telecom towers—was expected to significantly improve broadband access nationwide.
The initiative, known as Project BRIDGE, was projected to connect over 20 million Nigerians currently without reliable telecom access by 2027. However, progress appears to have stalled, raising concerns about execution and accountability.
Subscribers Bear the Burden of Weak Infrastructure
Despite early optimism, telecom subscribers continue to experience poor service quality across the country. From disrupted voice calls to unstable data connections, complaints have become widespread.
Between February 2024 and March 2026, Nigeria’s telecom subscriber base reportedly declined from about 219.9 million to 185.7 million—a drop of over 34 million users—highlighting growing dissatisfaction with network performance and reliability.
Tariff Increase Without Service Improvement
Industry expectations that a 50 percent tariff increase would translate into improved services have largely not materialised. Instead, many consumers say they are paying more for less, with service quality described as increasingly inconsistent in urban and rural areas alike.
The disconnect between pricing and service delivery has intensified public frustration and renewed debate over regulatory oversight in the telecom sector.
Government Expectations vs On-Ground Reality
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, had previously emphasised the importance of expanding fibre infrastructure, noting that Nigeria requires far more than its existing 3,035km of fibre optic coverage.
According to him, the country needs over 120,000km of fibre infrastructure to achieve meaningful nationwide connectivity. While he announced expected inflows of telecom equipment and fibre deployments worth $3 billion, tangible outcomes remain limited.
Big Infrastructure Goals, Slow Implementation
Project BRIDGE was designed to add 90,000km of backbone fibre infrastructure and deploy thousands of telecom masts nationwide. However, stakeholders say implementation has been slower than anticipated.
World Bank projections had positioned the project as a transformative step toward digital inclusion, yet Nigerians are still waiting for visible improvements in service delivery.
