The Nigerian Communications Commission says its shift back to market-driven pricing has attracted over $1 billion in telecoms infrastructure investments in 2025.

Executive Vice-Chairman Aminu Maida disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday, noting that the policy change introduced in January and February enabled mobile network operators to increase tariffs by up to 50 percent after nearly 10 years of price stagnation.

“This act alone has allowed investments to flow in. We will reveal more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars worth of investment in 2025 alone,” Maida said.

Maida noted an imbalance in the telecoms value chain, noting that while tower companies were allowed to adjust prices annually for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, mobile network operators had no such flexibility.

The EVC noted that this imbalance had deterred capital inflows into the telecoms sector.

“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he said.

The NCC chief added that the commission was reverting to the principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which empower market forces to set fair prices while ensuring competition to protect consumers.

He further disclosed that operators began receiving new equipment in June, with network upgrades and expansion already in progress.

“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor new sites, upgrades, and step in when they face challenges with authorities,” he said.

Maida observed that the industry uses over 40 million litres of diesel each month to power base stations, with most of the fuel imported, and relies entirely on foreign exchange for network hardware and software.