Across major urban centres such as Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan, and Kano, residents say power supply has become increasingly unstable, mobile networks unreliable, and domestic air travel prohibitively expensive. With just days to Christmas, these disruptions are compounding the financial and emotional strain typically associated with the festive season.
In the electricity and telecommunications sectors, consumers argue that service quality has declined even after substantial tariff increases earlier in the year. Mobile network subscribers experienced an average 50 per cent hike in tariffs in 2025, following adjustments approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in February. The new rates significantly raised the cost of calls, data, and SMS, with operators promising improved quality of service and compensation mechanisms.
Nearly a year after the adjustments, subscribers say those promises remain largely unfulfilled. Reports of dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and prolonged network outages persist, with many users describing 2025 as the poorest year for telecoms service delivery in recent memory.
A similar situation has unfolded in the power sector. Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) had assured Band A customers—who pay higher tariffs—of up to 20 to 22 hours of daily electricity supply. Instead, frequent outages and erratic supply have marked the weeks leading up to Christmas, raising concerns about the effectiveness of recent sector reforms and tariff-based service guarantees.
The aviation sector has also come under scrutiny as domestic airfares soar during the holiday rush. One-way tickets on popular routes to destinations such as Owerri, Enugu, Warri, and Asaba now cost between N400,000 and N480,000, depending on the airline. The sharp increase has placed air travel beyond the reach of many Nigerians hoping to travel for the festivities.
Although the National Assembly and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have pledged to curb exploitative pricing, their interventions have yet to produce tangible relief. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has also acknowledged the government’s limited capacity to directly regulate airfare pricing, citing market-driven dynamics.
Reacting to the situation, the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network described the power sector’s performance as a long-standing disappointment. Its representative, Kunle Olubiyo, said the electricity industry has failed to meet expectations more than a decade after privatization, noting that key stakeholders have not delivered the anticipated improvements.
On telecommunications, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) expressed deep concern over service quality. Its National President, Deolu Ogunbanjo, said subscribers have endured their worst experience in 2025, pointing to frequent fibre cuts, gas supply challenges, and inadequate protection of telecoms infrastructure.
While operators often attribute service disruptions to vandalism, right-of-way disputes, and infrastructure damage, Ogunbanjo argued that such explanations are insufficient, especially after a 50 per cent tariff increase. He emphasized that telecoms infrastructure has been designated a national security asset and urged federal and state authorities to enforce protections and resolve right-of-way issues to ensure consistent service delivery.
As the festive season peaks, consumers continue to question whether higher tariffs and regulatory assurances are translating into meaningful improvements, or merely deepening the burden on households already grappling with economic pressures.