Rep Agbese Applauds Tinubu On Telecom Sector Reforms

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has said that the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are so fundamental that they alone could secure the president a second term in office.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Agbese argued that while Nigerians have endured economic pains triggered by necessary reforms in other sectors, the transformation of telecoms has remained a clear success story that directly touches the daily lives of millions of citizens.

According to him, if the current trajectory is sustained, the sector will become President Tinubu’s most compelling re-election asset.

“The transformation in telecoms is not cosmetic; it is foundational. When millions of Nigerians get safer, more reliable connectivity, and when our networks begin to deliver broadband that supports jobs, education and business, citizens will remember who made that possible. That is why reforms in this sector alone can merit another mandate for President Tinubu,” Agbese said.

He noted that one of the most significant steps has been the consolidation of the National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) linkage.

“What had lingered for years under previous administrations was achieved within one year of Tinubu’s presidency, cleaning up the database of active mobile lines and strengthening national security,” Agbese observed.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over 153 million SIMs have now been harmonised with the NIN, a development Agbese described as “one of the most far-reaching exercises in Nigeria’s digital history.”

The lawmaker also pointed to the strides in broadband expansion, citing figures released by the NCC indicating a steady rise in penetration since 2023.

He maintained that improved access to high-speed internet was beginning to change the landscape of education, business and civic engagement across the country.

“Connectivity is the new infrastructure. More people online means more economic activity, more taxation base and more resilience. This is the quiet revolution that the Tinubu administration is delivering,” he said.

Agbese further commended the regulator for ensuring that Nigerians were now enjoying improved service delivery, with value for money and services that match the growing demands of a youthful population.

He noted that the NCC was also increasingly looking at corporate social responsibility as a necessity for communities, ensuring that telecoms investment leaves a wider impact beyond profits.

The deputy spokesperson added that the push towards 5G technology and the careful management of spectrum licensing have further underlined the government’s determination to future-proof Nigeria’s digital economy.

He stressed that the policy environment has given operators the confidence to continue investing in infrastructure despite foreign exchange pressures and a challenging macroeconomic climate.

Beyond infrastructure, he praised the Tinubu administration for listening to industry concerns about over-taxation. He recalled that proposed levies on telecom services, which would have increased the cost of calls and data for consumers, were suspended on the orders of the President.

According to him, this fiscal reprieve has kept services affordable and has allowed the sector to maintain momentum at a time when households are grappling with high living costs.

“President Tinubu deserves credit for recognising the strategic importance of this sector and making the right calls. By removing unnecessary levies and encouraging reforms that promote investment, the government has ensured that Nigeria remains one of the fastest-growing digital markets in Africa,” the lawmaker added.

Agbese, however, acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in extending reliable services to rural communities and ensuring that tariff adjustments do not widen the digital divide. He urged private operators to deepen investment while calling on regulators to maintain policy stability that would attract new capital.

He noted that despite these challenges, the telecoms sector offers a powerful narrative of delivery that the administration can proudly take to the Nigerian people.

“Delivery on telecoms is tangible for ordinary Nigerians. It is visible in schools, markets and farms. It is the kind of delivery that people feel – and remember – when they go to vote,” Agbese added.