The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned telecommunications operators to improve service delivery or face regulatory sanctions, saying it has created the conditions necessary for the sector to operate profitably and provide better services to Nigerians.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, May 10, by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, amid growing complaints from subscribers over poor network quality and unreliable services across the country.

Tijani said recent reforms undertaken by the government had stabilized the telecommunications sector and strengthened operators’ capacity to address persistent network challenges.

According to him, the measures include tariff adjustments, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, tax harmonization efforts, and broader macroeconomic reforms such as the floating of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidies.

He noted that telecom operators are now functioning in a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment, with many returning to profitability.

“This is important as it means operators now have both the capacity and the resources to fix outstanding issues within their networks and improve the quality of service delivered to Nigerians,” the minister said.

He added that the responsibility now rests on operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2, to resolve network deficiencies and deliver improved service quality to subscribers.

Tijani also said the Nigerian Communications Commission had been fully empowered to enforce compliance with industry standards and monitor operators’ performance without interference.

“We will continue to rely on the Commission’s periodic reports to track network performance, as well as feedback from Nigerians, including complaints and experiences shared across public platforms, to engage both the NCC and operators even more actively in the days, weeks, and months ahead,” he said.

The minister said the government expects measurable improvements in call quality, data services, and network coverage in the coming months, warning that operators that fail to meet the required standards could face regulatory action.

“Where operators deliver, it will be recognized. Where they do not, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action,” he added.