Telecoms reforms will secure Tinubu re-election, says Rep Agbese

Deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has said that the reforms in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are strong enough to guarantee his re-election in 2027.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, Agbese noted that while citizens have endured hardship in other areas of the economy, the telecoms sector has remained a shining example of visible transformation.

He described the reforms as a “quiet revolution” that directly impacts millions of Nigerians through improved connectivity, broadband expansion and strengthened national security.

According to him, one of the landmark achievements of the administration is the successful harmonisation of the National Identification Number (NIN) with Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration.

“What lingered for years under past governments was achieved within the first year of President Tinubu’s tenure, cleaning up our mobile database and boosting national security,” he said.

Figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that over 153 million SIMs have been harmonised with the NIN.

Agbese also highlighted progress in broadband penetration, stressing that access to high-speed internet is transforming education, commerce and civic participation.

“Connectivity is the new infrastructure. More people online means more economic activity, more tax revenue and more resilience. This is the story that will count when Nigerians go to the polls,” he said.

The lawmaker commended the NCC for improved service delivery and praised the administration for suspending proposed levies that would have raised the cost of calls and data.

He further pointed to the roll-out of 5G technology, spectrum management and investor confidence as evidence of government’s commitment to building a future-proof digital economy.

Agbese, however, admitted that challenges remain, especially in extending coverage to rural areas and curbing tariff hikes that could worsen the digital divide.

He urged operators to deepen investment and regulators to sustain policy consistency, noting that despite the hurdles, the sector presents “a powerful story of delivery” that Nigerians can feel in their daily lives.

“Delivery on telecoms is tangible. It is seen in schools, markets and farms. It is the kind of delivery that voters will remember when it matters most,” he added.