Senate has urged the federal government to take immediate measures to address the increasing costs of data services in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that during a plenary session on Wednesday, lawmakers deliberated on a motion brought forth by Asuquo Ekpeyong, the senator representing Cross River South.
He emphasised the financial burden that the recent hike in data tariffs has placed on citizens.
Ekpeyong cautioned that the rising costs of data services pose significant challenges for young Nigerians who rely on the internet for their livelihoods. Many young individuals engage in activities such as freelancing, e-commerce, content creation, and software development, which all depend on affordable internet access for their economic viability.
“Telecommunication providers in Nigeria have recently increased the cost of data services by as much as 200%. A move that has placed significant financial strain on millions of Nigerians, especially young people who rely on the internet for their livelihood,” he said.
“Young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for various income-generating activities including freelancing and remote work, direct marketing and social media management, e-commerce, content creation on various platforms, online training, software development, web design, mobile app creation, content creation of various platforms, online education, etc.
“The senate notes that young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for their livelihood, leaving them heavily dependent on mobile telecommunications companies for internet access, and that the sudden and substantial increase in data cost threatens their economic survival and limits access to critical digital services.
“The senate is further concerned that the reasons provided by telecom providers for the data price hike, including high operational costs of favourable exchanges, are untenable, and appears that instead of addressing the root causes of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, the burden is being unfairly transferred to end-users.
“Senate is aware that the high cost of doing business in Nigeria is driven by multiple challenges, such as increased operational risk and insurance costs.
“The senate believes that urgent government intervention is required to ensure that affordable internet access remains available to all Nigerians, particularly to the young Nigerians who are at the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“The senate accordingly resolves to urge the federal government to engage with telecommunication providers to review the recent increase in data costs and ensure the pricing remains fair and affordable for all Nigerians.”
The motion was seconded by Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north-west, and received the support of other lawmakers.
Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, criticised not just the rising cost of data but also increases in telecom charges and Pay TV tariffs, accusing regulatory bodies of failing to protect Nigerians.
“If you buy airtime or data, within minutes, you are out of it. Nigerians are suffering so much, and we cannot turn a blind eye,” he said.
Sadiq Umar, senator representing Kwara North, warned that the price hike disproportionately affects young people, who form a significant part of Nigeria’s workforce.
“These service providers must make life easier for young Nigerians, not harder. The government needs to step in before this situation worsens,” he said.
Lawmakers urged the federal government to engage telecom providers to review and reduce the recent increase in data costs.
They also called on the ministry of communications, innovation, and digital economy to develop a policy framework for affordable internet access.
Lawmakers further recommended the creation of tech hubs across the country to provide free or subsidised internet for entrepreneurs, students, and innovators.
They also directed the senate committee on communications to investigate the factors driving high data costs and propose solutions to make the telecom sector more business-friendly.
Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.
Akpabio commended Ekpeyong for raising the issue, saying the intervention would support young entrepreneurs and ensure fair pricing in the digital economy.
“This motion, when implemented, will assist our young entrepreneurs, not only to remain in business but also to ensure that they have affordable pricing that allows them to generate profits,” he said.
