ALTON Backs New NCC Board Chair, Says Telecom Sector Poised for Stronger Stability, Growth

ALTON Backs New NCC Board Chair, Says Telecom Sector Poised for Stronger Stability, Growth

Nigeria’s telecommunications operators have expressed renewed optimism about the future of the industry following the appointment of Dr. Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The endorsement came from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) during a high-level visit by its leadership to the new board chairman. The delegation, led by ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the industry was prepared to work collaboratively with the board to consolidate recent gains and address lingering structural challenges.

Adebayo described the appointment as strategic and well-timed, noting that the sector is emerging from years of financial pressure, regulatory complexities and macroeconomic headwinds.

According to him, Olorunnimbe’s professional background spanning legal practice, enterprise development and public sector governance provides a solid foundation for effective board oversight at the communications regulator.

Before his appointment, Olorunnimbe served on the board of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee. He also founded The Temple Management Company, a firm operating in the creative and sports industries.

The ALTON chairman said the industry viewed the new leadership as an opportunity to deepen regulatory stability, strengthen investor confidence and sustain reforms that have begun to yield results.

He also acknowledged the role played by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, in navigating the sector through a challenging period marked by the long-running USSD debt dispute between telecom operators and financial institutions.

The debt, which had accumulated over several years to nearly ₦300 billion, posed a serious risk to operators and the broader digital finance ecosystem. Adebayo said the crisis was eventually resolved through regulatory coordination and structured engagement, leading to the migration to an end-user billing framework.

On the issue of tariffs, ALTON noted that operators had operated under static pricing for over a decade despite inflation, exchange rate volatility, escalating energy costs and infrastructure maintenance burdens. The recent approval for cost-reflective adjustments, he said, provided critical relief that restored viability to many operators.

He explained that telecom firms generate revenue in naira but depend heavily on foreign currency to procure equipment, software licences, bandwidth and satellite capacity. Consequently, foreign exchange instability had significantly strained the industry.

However, Adebayo said recent forex reforms have improved access to foreign currency, reduced exposure to foreign-denominated obligations and rekindled investor interest in Nigeria’s telecom space.

On infrastructure security, ALTON welcomed the Federal Government’s classification of telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), describing the move as a significant policy milestone. He revealed that engagements were ongoing with security authorities to enhance protection mechanisms for telecom facilities nationwide.

Despite improvements, the association highlighted persistent operational bottlenecks, particularly fibre optic cable damage caused by road construction activities. Such incidents, he said, frequently disrupt banking services, education platforms and security communications.

To mitigate the problem, ALTON proposed the introduction of mandatory coordination systems and comprehensive fibre mapping before road projects commence.

The association also emphasised the need to preserve the independence of the NCC in both law and practice, stressing that regulatory certainty remains central to sustaining long-term investments in telecommunications infrastructure.

It further raised concerns about regulatory overlaps involving multiple government agencies, arguing that duplicative compliance demands and conflicting directives increase operational costs. ALTON called for clearer delineation of authority to reinforce the NCC’s primary role as telecom sector regulator.

On taxation, the operators warned that excessive levies imposed by some state and local authorities, as well as enforcement tactics such as base station shutdowns, undermine service delivery and broadband expansion goals. The group advocated a harmonised taxation framework to support digital inclusion and national connectivity targets.

Adebayo urged continuous engagement between the regulator and key institutions including the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly, the National Economic Council and fiscal authorities to ensure policy alignment and sector growth.

Reaffirming its support, ALTON assured the new board chairman of the industry’s cooperation and expressed confidence that under his leadership, the NCC would consolidate reforms and steer the sector toward greater stability, innovation and economic impact.