Bola Tinubu has called on telecom operators to expand reliable connectivity to schools and learning platforms across the country, stressing that digital access is a right for every citizen and should not be driven solely by profit.
The appeal was conveyed in Lagos by Idris Olorunnimbe, chairman of the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, during a meeting with telecom executives led by Gbenga Adebayo of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria.
Olorunnimbe said the president wants operators to provide zero-rated access to educational and creative platforms, describing connectivity expansion as a national responsibility.
“Please do not view such investments as revenue loss, but as deferred profit. When young Nigerians gain access to digital learning, their earning capacity increases. The economy benefits. Revenue returns in broader form,” he said.
He added: “Connectivity is not just corporate social responsibility. Every Nigerian has the right to access. Commercial considerations matter, but they should not always be the first filter.”
Telecom operators, during the visit, praised regulatory efforts that helped settle long-standing USSD debts and adjust tariffs, but also raised concerns about fibre cuts, inconsistent right-of-way charges, and regulatory challenges affecting operations.
Responding, Olorunnimbe emphasised cooperation between regulators and operators.
“Yes, we are regulator and the regulated, but more importantly, we are partners in building a resilient digital economy.”
He pledged open engagement and stronger enforcement to protect telecom infrastructure, warning of consequences for damage to networks.
“If networks go down, everything stops. Commerce pauses. Communication halts. Education suffers. Healthcare systems struggle. That is why accountability must be non-negotiable.”
He added that contractors who damage telecom facilities would be required to halt work until repairs are completed, while enforcement of critical infrastructure protections would be strengthened nationwide.
