The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has refuted reports circulating online claiming that it approved new tariffs for mobile network operators.
On Saturday, several blogs published alarming headlines, such as “Nigerians to Pay More for Calls as NCC Approves New Tariff Plans for Telcos,” “Nigerians to Pay More for Calls as NCC Approves New Tariff,” and “NCC Reportedly Okays Tariff Hikes for Telcos.” However, the commission, through its verified X handle, debunked these reports.
In its statement, the NCC clarified, “The NCC has neither approved any new Telecom Tariff Plans nor hike as reported online. The public is advised to please disregard. NCC issued a directive for all operators to simplify their current tariff plans in a transparent & fair manner for consumers.”
Telecommunications companies in Nigeria have been advocating for an upward review of tariffs for voice, SMS, and data services, citing the need to mitigate the challenging economic environment currently facing the sector. The last tariff review for the telecom sector occurred 11 years ago, in 2013.