The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has raised the alarm over persistent challenges threatening the telecom industry’s growth and sustainability.
The association highlighted multiple taxation, Right of Way (RoW) bottlenecks, and infrastructure vandalism as major impediments to the sector’s progress.
Mr. Tony Emoekpere, president of the association, speaking during ATCON’s 31st-anniversary celebration in Lagos at the weekend, called for urgent action to address these issues, emphasising their critical impact on Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts.
Mr. Emoekpere outlined the following obstacles: The telecom sector is burdened with excessive and overlapping taxes levied by federal, state, and local governments, creating a hostile business environment that discourages investment and innovation.
Lengthy and costly processes for obtaining RoW permissions delay infrastructure expansion, hindering broadband rollout and network upgrades.
Frequent attacks on critical assets like fibre cables and base stations cause financial losses, disrupt services and negatively impact operators and consumers.
Emoekpere advocated for collaborative efforts between government agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to overcome these challenges. He proposed:
Harmonised Taxation Policies: To reduce redundancies and attract more investments.
Streamlined Right-of-Way Approvals: To accelerate the deployment of infrastructure.
Enhanced Security Measures: To safeguard telecom infrastructure from vandalism.
“These challenges require immediate attention and collective action. Only through unified efforts can we create an enabling environment for telecommunications to thrive and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy,” Emoekpere stated.
He also emphasised the immense potential of emerging technologies like 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), which present unprecedented opportunities for the sector. However, he warned that foundational issues must be resolved to fully harness their benefits.
“The Nigerian telecom industry is at a critical crossroads. We must address these systemic challenges to unlock the full potential of telecommunications and transform Nigeria into a leading digital economy in Africa,” Emoekpere concluded.
He added that the continued development of the telecom sector is vital not only to the industry but also to the broader goal of positioning Nigeria as a digital leader on the continent.
