Telecommunications upgrade leading to improved service, increased data usage – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday said extensive upgrades of telecom infrastructure and tower sites across the country by operators are responsible for measurable improvements in quality of service and an increase in data consumption.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the Executive Vice President of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Wada Maida, said data consumption had increased by over 170%.

It revealed that just one operator has expressed commitment to investing around $1 billion in network upgrades, on top of industry-wide investments that topped $1 billion in the previous year.

According to him, over 3,000 tower sites and related infrastructure were improved last year, while the Commission has set a target of 12,000 site improvements in 2026. Of this figure, around 2,800 had been completed as of April.

However, it said it will employ independent auditors to check telecoms providers’ compliance with new guidelines on compensation for poor service.

According to him, the move was to ensure that operators comply with the Commission’s recent directive imposing compensation on consumers for unsatisfactory data and voice services.

“We will contact independent auditors to verify what has been done by suppliers so that they comply with the rules and guidelines,” he said.

It revealed that consumer complaints about quality of service have fallen dramatically since the tariff adjustment in 2025, from 351,000 to 75,000. He urged subscribers to use the NCC’s toll-free lines 300 or 622 to file complaints and to visit the Commission’s website for frequently asked questions on service-related issues.

“Our policy directive is about transparency, which we have distributed to suppliers,” he said.

Maida said the NCC’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is yielding results, with a reduction in incidents of fiber cuts at construction sites nationwide.

“At the moment, thanks to our collaboration with ONSA, we are starting to see a reduction in fiber cuts on construction sites,” he noted.

Addressing concerns about harmful content on social media, the EVC said the NCC is working with other agencies in the sector to address the issue appropriately.

Earlier, the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, said the forum was a continuation of stakeholder engagement to strengthen sustainability and resilience in the telecommunications sector, describing it as an opportunity to “network, exchange ideas and cultivate the media as very important stakeholders”.