Tinubu eliminates 5% telecom excise duty to spur digital growth

President Bola Tinubu has officially scrapped the five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, a move hailed as a major relief for millions of subscribers and a significant boost for the Nigerian telecom sector. The announcement was confirmed by Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

The excise duty, which had been temporarily suspended under Tinubu’s administration, is now completely abolished under the new Nigeria Tax Act.

Dr Maida described the President’s decision as “magnanimous” and emphasized that it reflects a commitment to easing the cost burden on consumers while promoting industry growth.

“The excise duty, it was five per cent or so, that is no longer there. Before it was suspended, but now the President has been magnanimous to remove it entirely,” Dr Maida said.

“I was very pleased when the bills came out and we saw his words were followed through.”

The decision comes as part of broader tax reforms aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s taxation framework, enhancing transparency, and promoting economic inclusion.

The excise levy had faced widespread public opposition since its initial introduction in 2022, prompting its suspension in July 2023 to safeguard consumer interests and prevent negative impacts on the economy.



With Nigeria’s telecom sector serving as a cornerstone of digital access and economic activity, experts say the removal of the levy will ease subscription costs, foster digital inclusion, and encourage investment in network expansion.

Dr Maida added that the NCC is pursuing reforms rooted in transparency, accountability, and better consumer protection.

The regulator is introducing initiatives such as a public map of network performance, scheduled for release in September, which will show independent metrics like download speeds, latency, and overall service quality.

In addition, a quarterly network performance report based on user data will hold operators and infrastructure providers accountable for service delivery.


Dr Maida highlighted several ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s telecom sector, including the completion of the NIN-SIM audit, resolution of USSD debt disputes, transition to end-user billing, and the establishment of a Major Incident Reporting Portal.

These measures aim to modernize the sector while protecting consumers from data depletion and billing issues.

He explained that the early 2000s telecom policy, which focused on breaking monopolies and increasing competition, succeeded in its objectives but now requires revision to accommodate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensors, and augmented reality.

Despite recent price adjustments, call tariffs remain significantly lower than in the early 2000s, highlighting the benefits of competition.


Freda Bruce-Bennett, Director of Consumer Affairs at NCC, provided practical tips for subscribers to manage data efficiently, including using Wi-Fi when available, limiting background data, disabling social media autoplay, and using data-saving modes.

She noted that Nigeria currently has 172 million active telephone subscribers, with 141 million internet users and 105 million broadband subscribers, representing an 81.9% internet penetration rate.

Dr Maida concluded by emphasizing the importance of corporate governance, stating that “transparent, well-governed companies attract investment and perform better,” while also ensuring a thriving telecom ecosystem that benefits consumers, operators, and the government through a broader tax base.

The scrapping of the 5% excise duty underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to supporting digital innovation, reducing costs for Nigerians, and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a competitive player in the global telecommunications sector.