The Senate on Wednesday kicked against the recent increase in the costs of data and other services by telecommunications operators, calling for an urgent review.
It noted that the over “200%” increase in costs had “placed significant financial strain on millions of Nigerians, especially young people who rely on the internet for their livelihood.”
In a resolution passed in Abuja, the Senate asked the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to engage with telecommunications providers to review the data costs and “ensure that pricing remains fair and affordable for all Nigerians.”
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It also asked the ministry to develop a policy framework for affordable internet services in Nigeria, in addition to the government establishing and supporting tech hubs across the country that would “provide free or subsidised internet access to young entrepreneurs, students, and innovators.”
The Senate took the decision following a motion moved by the Senate Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) and largely adopted by his colleagues.
The motion partly reads, “The Senate notes that young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for various income- generating activities, including Freelancing and remote work, digital marketing and social media management, e-commerce and online trading software development, web design, and mobile app creation, content creation on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, online education and professional skill development, cryptocurrency trading and financial technology innovations, and customer support services amongst others.
“Concerned that fiber-optic internet services remain unaffordable for the average young Nigerian, leaving them heavily dependent on mobile telecommunications companies for internet access,a nd that the sudden and substantial increase in data costs threatens their economic survival and limits access to critical digital services.
“Also concerned that the reasons provided by Telecom providers for the data price hike, including high
operational costs and unfavorable exchange rates are untenable and it appears that instead of addressing the root causes of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, the burden is being unfairly transferred to end users.
“Aware that the high cost of doing business in Nigeria is driven by multiple challenges, including poor
infrastructure, unreliable power supply and road networks, high import duties on ICT equipment and other essential business tools, multiple taxation and excessive regulatory charges on telecom operators, security concerns that increase operational risks and insurance costs, bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down business operations and innovation, and the high cost of diesel and alternative energy sources due to an unreliable national grid power supply.
“Believes that urgent government intervention is required to ensure that affordable internet access remains available to all Nigerians, particularly the youth ,who are the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.”
Senators unanimously endorsed the motion at the session, which was presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
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