President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the launch of Airtel Nigeria’s Open Network initiative, describing it as a significant step towards promoting transparency, strengthening consumer protection and improving the quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Friday at an event attended by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, is designed to enable subscribers to access information about network developments in their areas and report service-related challenges directly to the telecommunications operator.
Tinubu’s position was conveyed in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled, ‘President Tinubu Welcomes Airtel’s Open Network Launch, Commends Investment in Telecoms Infrastructure’.
According to the statement, the President said the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to encouraging private-sector investment, expanding digital infrastructure and ensuring Nigerians have access to more reliable and affordable telecommunications services.
He also welcomed the growing emphasis on transparency in the telecommunications sector, particularly through the NCC’s public network coverage maps, performance data and consumer satisfaction surveys, which enable subscribers to assess available services and hold operators accountable.
The President further highlighted the Federal Government’s Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, implemented through the NCC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and telecommunications operators.
The initiative provides eligible students with up to 100 megabytes of free daily data to access approved educational websites and learning resources.
Tinubu recalled his meeting with the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal, at the State House, Abuja, in February 2025, during which he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a favourable investment environment for telecommunications operators, strengthening the regulatory framework and protecting critical digital infrastructure.
He noted that Airtel Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure had expanded from approximately 15,000 sites two years ago to more than 17,000 nationwide.
The expansion, he said, included more than 1,050 additional network sites deployed during the company’s 2025/2026 financial year, including 657 fifth-generation (5G) sites.
“Sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure is essential to expanding broadband access, improving network capacity, and supporting businesses, education, and economic opportunities across Nigeria,” the President said.
Tinubu also commended the NCC, under the leadership of Maida, for its efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote transparency and protect consumers.
He urged telecommunications operators to sustain investments in network expansion, particularly in underserved communities, while ensuring that subscribers’ complaints receive prompt attention.
The President stressed that the success of investments in the telecommunications sector should ultimately be measured by the quality of services experienced by Nigerians who depend on them for their businesses, livelihoods, education and everyday communication.
He therefore called on operators to translate their infrastructure investments into improved network coverage, fewer service disruptions and more responsive customer service.