Business
FG To Sanction Telecom Operators Over EIA Violation
L-R: General Manager, Sokoto Investment Company Limited, Malam Usman Ahmad, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Mr Kunle Oyinloye, acting Managing Director, Ebonyi Investment Limited, Mrs Esther Ajaero and Executive Director, Infrastructure Bank, Mr Taiwo Dauda, during the investiture of Mr Oyinloye as new chairman of Association of Nigeria Development Finance Institution in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN
The Federal Ministry of Environment has said it would soon commence imposition of sanctions on telecom operators that violated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations in the country.
This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja by Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry Mr Ben Goong.
The statement said that agreement to sanction telecom operators was reached after the Supervising Minister of the ministry, Mr Darius Ishaku, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson.
“Under the agreement, all telecom operators in violation of the EIA regulation will now pay the specified non-compliance and administrative fees to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
“After which all related pending cases in court should be withdrawn and affected sites re-opened within 48 hours of payment, while remedial actions are being taken to address identified violations.
“Similarly, all base stations that predate the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication and Broadcast facilities regulations No. 11 of 2011, which are violation of the Nigerian Communication Commission’s (NCC) Guidelines should be referred to the NCC for appropriate remediation,” it said.
The statement said all base stations sites that were in existence prior to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication and Broadcast Facilities Regulations No. 11 of 2011 that are in compliance with NCCs would be re-opened.
It said that base stations should be re-opened provided they were not in violation of the EIA Act.
“The agreement also provides for the setting up of an inter-ministerial standing committee comprising the two ministries, NESREA, NCC, and charged with the responsibility of handling issues arising from the location of Telecom base stations and related matters in the country.”
It said that NESREA was mandated to communicate to NCC the total number of sealed telecom base stations that violated the EIA Act, and copy same to the federal ministries of environment and communications technology.
The statement further said that the two ministers expressed optimism that the MoU would lead to rapid improvement in the development of telecommunication infrastructure in the country.
It said that the MoU would also proffer lasting solutions to the lingering regulation conflict between the two ministries and their agencies.
“The two ministers also believe that the agreement will lead to improved quality delivery to telecom consumers,” it added.
Edun made the call while speaking at the 2025 Fellowship Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms and expanding access to finance as key drivers of economic growth beyond four per cent.
“We all know that monetary policy under Cardoso has stabilised the financial system in a most commendable way. Of course, it is a team effort, and those eye-watering interest rates have to be paid by the fiscal side. But the fight against inflation is one we all have to participate in,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for banks to broaden credit access and finance innovation-driven enterprises that can create jobs for young Nigerians.
“The finance and banking industry has more work to do because we must finance their ideas, deepen the capital and credit markets down to SMEs. They should not have to go to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The minister who described the private sector as the engine of growth, said the government’s reform agenda aims to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, access funding, and contribute meaningfully to job creation.
The facility, known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), is a Development Policy Financing (DPF) operation scheduled for World Bank Board consideration on December 16, 2025.
According to the Bank’s concept note , the financing would comprise $500m in International Development Association (IDA) credit and $500m in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.
If approved, it would be the second-largest single loan Nigeria has received from the World Bank under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the $1.5 billion facility granted in June 2024 under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation (RESET) initiative.
The World Bank said the new programme aims to support Nigeria’s shift from short-term macroeconomic stabilisation to sustainable, private sector–led growth.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilization to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of US$1.0 billion (US$500 million IDA credit and US$500 million IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
The document further stated that Nigeria’s private sector credit-to-GDP ratio stood at only 21.3 per cent in 2024, significantly below that of emerging-market peers, while capital markets remain shallow, with sovereign securities dominating the bond market.
To address these weaknesses, the DPF will support the implementation of the Investment and Securities Act 2025, operationalisation of credit-enhancement facilities, and introduction of a comprehensive Central Bank of Nigeria rulebook to strengthen risk-based regulation and consumer protection.
The operation also includes measures to deepen digital inclusion through the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will establish a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records.
Beyond the financial and digital sectors, the programme targets reforms to lower production and living costs by tackling Nigeria’s restrictive trade regime. High tariffs and import bans have long driven up consumer prices and constrained competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and farmers.
Under the proposed reforms, Nigeria would adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, rationalise import restrictions, and simplify agricultural seed certification to increase the supply of high-quality varieties for maize, rice, and soybeans. The World Bank projects that these measures will help reduce food inflation, attract private investment, and enhance export potential.
The operation is part of a broader World Bank FY26 package that includes three complementary projects—Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs (FINCLUDE), Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), and Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW)—all focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening institutions, and mobilising private capital.