Nigeria’s leading telecommunications operators have pushed back against concerns raised in the Senate over the country’s capacity to support real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that the infrastructure is firmly in place.
Major operators, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 Mobile, described claims of inadequate network coverage as misleading. They urged lawmakers to rely on verified industry data rather than what they termed “half-truths” about the state of Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure.
The operators challenged the Senate to obtain accurate coverage statistics from the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), warning that unverified statements risk distorting public understanding of the country’s telecom development.
Their position was echoed by the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body representing telecom companies.
Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman, questioned the basis of the Senate’s assertion that infrastructure gaps make real-time transmission unfeasible.
“On what survey or statistics is the Senate basing its claim of inadequate telecom infrastructure?” he asked. “Currently, over 70 per cent of Nigeria is covered by 3G and 4G networks, about 11 per cent by 5G, and the remainder by 2G.”
Adebayo stressed that even 2G networks are capable of transmitting election results electronically. He argued that imposing a blanket restriction on e-transmission based on what he described as incomplete information would ignore years of telecom investments and expansion.
He acknowledged that security challenges in a small number of states have made it difficult for operators to maintain facilities in certain areas. However, he maintained that such issues affect only a limited portion of the country and should not be used as justification to halt nationwide electronic transmission.
“In a few states affected by insurgency, our members face risks in maintaining infrastructure,” Adebayo said. “But that is a matter for stakeholders to address collaboratively. It does not mean Nigeria is unprepared for electronic transmission.”
ALTON’s stance aligns with the position previously taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In 2022, the electoral body dismissed fears about connectivity challenges, noting that where real-time upload is temporarily hindered, results stored electronically will transmit automatically once devices enter areas with network coverage.
With telecom operators urging lawmakers to ground their decisions in NCC-verified data, the debate over the electronic transmission of election results appears set to intensify as Nigeria looks ahead to future elections.
