The Association of Telephone Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), strongly dismissed rumors of an impending tariff hike by telecommunications companies.
The reports, circulating through various online media outlets and a national newspaper, have been labeled false and misleading by the organization.
Sina Bilesanmi, National President of ATCIS, addressed the issue during an urgent press conference on Monday in Lagos, condemning the spread of these rumors.
He stressed that no tariff increase has been approved or implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“This is pure speculation,” Bilesanmi said.
“The report has created unnecessary panic among millions of telecom subscribers across Nigeria,” he continued.
A senior NCC official corroborated ATCIS’s statement, confirming that the Commission had not authorized any tariff hikes.
The official also clarified that no statements regarding a price increase had been issued by the NCC.
“The reporter who published this false information seems to have been influenced by malicious parties attempting to disrupt the industry,” the official stated.
“I want to reiterate that no new tariff increases are in effect. Any future changes will involve thorough consultations with relevant stakeholders, including ATCIS,” the official continued.
ATCIS had previously sought clarification from the NCC in a letter dated December 24, 2024, about a reported tariff increase scheduled for January 2025.
The initial report claimed a 40% hike, with call charges rising from N11 to N15.40, SMS costs increasing to N5.60, and the price of 1GB of data jumping from N1000 to N1400.
ATCIS urged all telecom subscribers to stay calm and ignore these unverified rumors, assuring its members that the organization would be actively involved in any future discussions regarding tariff adjustments.
