President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the launch of Airtel Nigeria’s Open Network initiative, describing it as a optimistic step in direction of larger transparency, client safety and improved telecommunications providers in Nigeria.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Friday, October 30, 2026, at an occasion attended by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, permits subscribers to entry details about community developments of their areas and report service difficulties on to the operator.
President Tinubu mentioned the initiative aligns along with his administration’s dedication to encouraging private-sector funding, increasing digital infrastructure, and guaranteeing Nigerians profit from extra dependable and accessible telecommunications providers.
He welcomed the rising emphasis on transparency within the sector, together with the NCC’s public community protection maps, efficiency info and client satisfaction surveys, which assist Nigerians higher perceive the providers obtainable to them and maintain operators accountable.
The President additionally highlighted the Federal Government’s latest Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, carried out by means of the NCC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and telecommunications operators.
The programme, designed to supply eligible college students with as much as 100MB of free every day information to entry accepted instructional web sites and studying sources, displays his administration’s willpower to make digital alternatives extra accessible, notably to younger Nigerians.
President Tinubu recalled his assembly with the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, on the State House, Abuja, in February 2025, throughout which he reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to making a beneficial surroundings for telecommunications funding, strengthening the regulatory framework and defending important digital infrastructure.
He welcomed Airtel Nigeria’s continued funding in community enlargement, which has seen its infrastructure develop from roughly 15,000 websites two years in the past to greater than 17,000 nationwide.
The enlargement consists of greater than 1,050 community websites added in the course of the firm’s 2025/26 monetary yr, together with 657 5G websites.
President Tinubu mentioned sustained funding in telecommunications infrastructure is important to increasing broadband entry, enhancing community capability, and supporting companies, schooling, and financial alternatives throughout Nigeria.
He counseled the NCC, beneath the management of Dr Maida, for its continued efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote transparency and defend telecommunications shoppers.
The President urged operators to maintain funding in community enlargement, notably in underserved communities, and make sure that buyer complaints obtain well timed consideration.
He emphasised that the success of telecommunications funding and innovation should in the end be measured by the expertise of Nigerians who depend upon these providers for his or her livelihoods, companies and on a regular basis communication.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to sustaining a enterprise surroundings that encourages accountable funding and innovation whereas guaranteeing that client pursuits stay central to telecommunications growth.
He known as on operators to translate their investments into higher community protection, fewer service disruptions and extra responsive customer support for Nigerians.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
October 30, 2026
