NEW DIGITAL TAXES WILL MAKE INTERNET INACCESSIBLE (EXPERTS)

Stakeholders in the telecommunication industry have warned that the imposition of three new digital taxes on the operations and services of technology and telecommunications companies will hinder Nigerians' access to the internet. During a virtual discussions themed impact of communication service Tax on Affordable internet on Tuesday, they said the cost of these taxes in addition to 39 existing taxes that telecoms companies had been subjected to would be transfered to customers. this move would make data services less affordable for most NIgerians. The Nigerian Coordinator, Alliance for afordable Internet, OLusola Teniola,Identified the new taxes as nine Percent communications service Tax,0.005 percent cybersecurity levy and digital taxes for foreign companies with significant Economic presence in NIgeria. these New Financial obligations according to him will discourage more Nigerian from coming online, make connectivity more Expensive ans deter foreign investors. In his comments, the Head of Operations,association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, Gbolahan Awonuga, Stated the notion the telecom comapanies were generating a lot of revenue had turned the telcos a cash cow for the Government. unfortunately, he said the cost of new taxes would be transferred ot subscrbers, adding that it would affect the price of data and call tariffs. Idris Ajibade of Fitila Africa called on the government to reconsider the introduction of these taxes if it intended to reach more people with financial services and double the number of telecoms subscrbers. source punchng