The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has commended the Federal Government’s approval of a 50% tariff increase for 2025, stating that the intervention was instrumental in saving the industry from financial distress and ensuring its long-term operational viability.
In a statement signed by ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Publicity Secretary, and Sir Damian Udeh, the group, reacted to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Q1 2026 Capital Importation Report, highlighting that the timely tariff adjustment bridged critical revenue sustainability gaps and paved the way for massive, ongoing domestic reinvestments.
It noted that while the recent NBS report captured a sharp decline in foreign capital importation into the telecom sector, dropping from $80.78 million in 2025 to $7.24 million in the first quarter of 2026, ALTON clarified that these numbers only tell a fraction of the story.
According to the association, actual infrastructural investment on the ground remains highly robust, driven primarily by domestic capital sources and the reinvestment of operational earnings.
The scale of the industry’s continuous financial commitment is reflected in its internal Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) data. In 2025, Mobile Network Operators, Tower Companies, and other sector players actively deployed a total CAPEX of ₦2.13 trillion. Furthermore, a planned CAPEX of ₦1.86 trillion is already earmarked for 2026 to fund network infrastructure expansion, technology enhancements, and service quality maintenance.
“The timely investment enabled operators to transition from financial distress to a sustainable, growth-focused model characterised by significant capital reinvestment,” the umbrella body of telecom operators stated, emphasizing that the tariff policy restored the industry’s ability to fund its own survival and growth.
ALTON pointed out a clear data disparity between reported conventional foreign capital inflows and actual infrastructure deployment happening nationwide. To fix this metric gap, the association is proposing a collaborative partnership between key regulatory bodies.
The group has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to design a more inclusive and modern investment-tracking framework.
A transparent and accurate investment profile, ALTON argued, will better project Nigeria as a credible destination for global telecom investments, guide sound policymaking, and protect investor confidence.
Closing the address, the association assured the Nigerian public that operators remain fully committed to expanding network modernization, improving service resilience, and driving the digital economy forward to support economic growth and financial inclusion.