FG, ATCON pledge deeper telecoms connectivity

… as digital economy bill nears passage

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector may be on the brink of a major transformation as the Federal Government and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have reaffirmed commitments to deeper connectivity, wider broadband penetration, and improved value-added services for millions of users nationwide.

The assurances were given at the 2025 Minister-Regulator and Telecoms Executive Forum and Awards Night held over the weekend in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced that the long-awaited Digital Economy Bill, soon to be signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, would serve as a catalyst for sector-wide innovation, economic expansion, and more efficient public services.

According to the minister, the bill carries provisions that will overhaul Nigeria’s digital landscape, enhance public sector automation, and unlock new opportunities for businesses and consumers.

“That bill is going to transform the digital economy in the country completely. From the acceptance of digital signatures to establishing a strong framework for government technology adoption, there are so many things we need to see there. It will change the sector”, Tijani said.

The Minister, however, acknowledged that the sector still faces structural challenges, including persistent Right of Way (RoW) disputes, frequent fibre-optic cable cuts, and vandalism of critical national infrastructure.

He assured stakeholders that the government, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, is intensifying efforts to curb these threats.

ATCON President, Mr Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, highlighted the importance of collaboration across the telecoms value chain, noting that the industry’s ambitions can only be fully realised through strong, multi-level partnerships.

He said the 2025 forum, with the theme ‘Driving Nigeria’s Digital Economy: Policy, Regulation, and Industry Synergy’, was designed to foster strategic dialogue, resolve bottlenecks, and help the sector chart a path toward sustainable growth.

Despite longstanding infrastructural and regulatory constraints, Emoekpere praised industry stakeholders for sustaining service delivery and meeting consumer expectations.

He emphasised that infrastructure development remains the backbone of digital expansion.

“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 said.

The forum also featured the Telecoms Excellence Awards, where individuals and institutions were recognised for their contributions to the ICT ecosystem.

Honorees included the governors of Benue, Cross River, Ogun, and Nasarawa States, as well as the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Industry experts are of the opinion that the successful implementation of the Digital Economy Bill and continued collaboration between regulators and operators could position Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading digital hubs in the coming years.

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