The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recommendation that Nigeria consider introducing excise duties on telecommunications services has reopened a long-running debate over whether the country’s telecom sector should face additional taxes at a time when operators and consumers are already grappling with rising costs.
The recommendation, contained in the IMF’s 2026 Article IV Consultation Report on Nigeria, comes barely one year after telecom operators implemented a 50 percent increase in tariffs for calls, SMS and data services.
While the IMF believes additional tax measures could help Nigeria raise much-needed revenue, stakeholders in the telecom sector warn that any new levy on telecommunications could eventually translate into higher costs for millions of subscribers and slow the country’s digital transformation efforts.
The proposal is not government policy and remains advisory. However, it has revived concerns over the balance between revenue generation and the need to keep digital services affordable and accessible.
Read also: IMF
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