Telcos seek inclusive policies to tackle industry challenges

Nigeria’s telecommunications operators are advocating inclusive policies to address industry challenges and reverse declining investments.

The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Emoekpere, emphasised the need for stakeholder engagement and collaborative policy development to ensure the sector’s growth.

In an interview with The Punch, Emoekpere outlined a multi-step approach that involves working with relevant agencies to draft policies that tackle key concerns.

“We are engaging with relevant agencies and your members to draft policies that address specific areas of concern,” he said. “These policies are then shared with agencies to ensure everyone is on the same page.”

The telcos continue to grapple with high operating costs, infrastructure deficits, and a volatile foreign exchange environment.

These factors have raised concerns about network quality, service sustainability, and the need for supportive policies to foster investment and innovation.

As a result, the sector has struggled in recent times to attract investments due to macroeconomic factors.

Foreign investments fell to $14.4m in Q3 2024—an 87 per cent drop from $113.42m recorded in Q2, according to the country’s statistics agency.

The decline reflects a $99.02m quarter-on-quarter reduction and a 77 per cent year-on-year decrease from $64.05m in Q3 2023.

Emoekpere noted that inclusive stakeholder engagement is crucial in addressing these challenges.

“Our approach emphasises the importance of targeting and considering the opinions of individuals and groups at risk of being excluded or underserved,” he said.

“By doing so, you can increase public acceptance of projects and ensure they maximise social benefits.”

He added that research into challenges faced by other countries helps telcos develop localised solutions that can be presented to government agencies for support.

Meanwhile, the federal government has unveiled plans to co-invest in expanding telecom infrastructure to reduce connectivity gaps nationwide.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced this during an interview with Arise TV on Friday.

He warned that without adequate infrastructure, national security and economic progress in these key sectors would be at risk.

Tijani emphasised that relying solely on private sector funding would not suffice to bridge the digital divide, as telecom companies typically focus investments in areas where short-term returns are more guaranteed.

“The challenge with private funding is that businesses tend to focus on areas with immediate returns, which often leaves less profitable regions underserved,” Tijani explained.