Airtel Open Network: Tinubu Welcomes Initiative, Urges Better Telecom Services
President Tinubu welcomes Airtel Open Network, urging telecom operators to improve coverage, reduce service disruptions and strengthen consumer protection.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the launch of Airtel Nigeria’s Open Network initiative, describing it as a move towards greater transparency, consumer protection and improved telecommunications services.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Friday, October 30, 2026, allows subscribers to access information about network developments in their areas and report service challenges directly to the operator.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the Airtel Open Network initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to encouraging private-sector investment, expanding digital infrastructure and improving access to reliable telecommunications services.
Tinubu also welcomed the growing emphasis on transparency in the telecommunications sector, including the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) public network coverage maps, performance information and consumer satisfaction surveys.
He said such measures would help subscribers understand the services available to them and hold operators accountable.
The President also highlighted the Federal Government’s Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, implemented through the NCC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and telecommunications operators.
The programme is designed to provide eligible students with up to 100MB of free daily data to access approved educational websites and learning resources.
According to the statement, Tinubu said the initiative reflects his administration’s effort to widen access to digital opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians.
He recalled his February 2025 meeting with Bharti Airtel Founder and Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, at the State House, Abuja, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for telecommunications investment, strengthening regulation and protecting critical digital infrastructure.
The President welcomed Airtel Nigeria’s continued investment in network expansion, noting that its infrastructure had grown from approximately 15,000 sites two years ago to more than 17,000 nationwide.
The expansion, according to the statement, includes more than 1,050 network sites added during the company’s 2025/26 financial year, among them 657 5G sites.
Tinubu said sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure was important for expanding broadband access, increasing network capacity and supporting businesses, education and economic activities across the country.
He also commended the NCC, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, for its regulatory oversight, consumer protection and efforts to promote transparency in the sector.
The President urged telecommunications operators to sustain investment in network expansion, particularly in underserved communities, and respond promptly to customer complaints.
He said the value of telecommunications investment and innovation should ultimately be reflected in the experience of Nigerians who depend on the services for their businesses, livelihoods and everyday communication.
Tinubu further called on operators to translate infrastructure investments into wider network coverage, fewer service disruptions and more responsive customer service.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining a business environment that encourages responsible investment and innovation while keeping consumer interests central to telecommunications development.
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