The CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, has called for a 100% increase in telecom service tariffs to cope with rising operational costs.
Newsonspot reports that while speaking on Channels Television, he blamed inflation and the devaluation of the naira as the main reasons for the proposal. He noted that while the government is mindful of consumer struggles with inflation, a gradual tariff increase over the year could be a balanced solution.
Toriola explained that telecom rates in Nigeria have stayed the same for 11 years, even though other sectors like aviation and power have raised prices due to rising expenses. He also pointed out that Nigeria’s telecom tariffs are among the lowest in the world for data and voice services.
He emphasized that higher tariffs would allow telecom companies to invest in better infrastructure and improve service quality, making networks more reliable. While 2024 has been a difficult year for the industry, Toriola praised government efforts to support the sector and promised that MTN and other companies would continue providing services, even if the increase is delayed.
