Major operators in the Nigerian telecom sector said they are burdened with several levies by 54 government agencies.
This claim was made by the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo
at hybrid telecom investment forum held on Tuesday in Lagos.
“Today, many people are complaining about the quality of service. One thing we need to realize is that quality of service is tied to government policies. There are 54 agencies of government that are always on our neck for one levy or the other.
“Unfortunately, telecom operators are now seen as a major source of government revenue. With this trend, the sustainability of the sector cannot be guaranteed. The issue of over ₦200 billion banks owing our members for services rendered has not been settled up till now,” Adebayo said.
In his own remark, Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, declared that the Nigerian telecom sector is in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), saying, “The telecom sector is facing a lot of challenges of which if urgent action is not taken, it will dry up.
“The truth is that investors are not going to come to invest in the sector if the fundamental issues are not addressed. The telecom sector is in the ICU stage.”