The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to improving telecom service quality while strengthening collaboration with the media to drive accountability and sector growth.
Speaking at a media chat with journalists in Abuja, Maida commended the press for its role in shaping public understanding of the telecommunications industry and holding regulators accountable.
He noted that consistent and accurate reporting has helped both the Commission and stakeholders better understand developments in the sector.
He emphasised that the NCC’s quarterly engagement with journalists is aimed at fostering transparency and ensuring a well-informed public, which he described as critical to achieving sustainable progress in Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem.
“I want to start by thanking you for the stories you choose to tell, the questions you ask, and the accuracy of your reports, which shape public understanding of the NCC.
Over the past year, you have helped both the Commission and the industry understand what is going on, and you have also helped hold us accountable.
“You have consistently informed millions of Nigerians about developments affecting daily connectivity and have brought important conversations about our digital future into the public space.
“A well-informed public is one of the strongest tools we have for driving real progress in the telecom sector,” Maida said.
Highlighting recent regulatory efforts, Maida pointed to initiatives such as tariff simplification, the rollout of a major outage reporting portal, and ongoing corporate governance reforms with a 24-month compliance timeline.
He also referenced collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser to operationalise critical national infrastructure protections.
On infrastructure challenges, the NCC boss cited fibre cuts as a major concern but praised state-level interventions, particularly Edo State’s approach of notifying telecom operators before construction works, which has significantly reduced service disruptions.
Addressing service quality, Maida acknowledged that while the sector is not yet at optimal performance, there are clear signs of improvement.
He revealed that Nigeria has recorded about a 170 percent increase in data consumption over the past two years, driven by expanding network capacity and growing user demand.
He disclosed that telecom operators collectively invested over $1 billion in infrastructure last year, with one operator committing a similar amount independently in 2026.
According to him, nearly 3,000 sites were upgraded or deployed last year, while about 12,000 upgrades and new sites are planned for the current year, with approximately 2,800 already completed.
Maida also highlighted the Commission’s efforts to optimise spectrum usage by redistributing about 300 MHz of underutilised spectrum to major operators, leading to improved 4G download speeds.
On consumer protection, he reiterated the NCC’s directive mandating compensation for subscribers experiencing poor service, noting that the initiative is designed to ensure affected users receive value rather than relying solely on fines paid to government.
“This is around our recent directive for consumers to be compensated for unsatisfactory services. The NCC took this approach because we felt that instead of simply fining operators, we should ensure that those who actually suffer from poor service also receive some value. This will be an ongoing process.
“It is not only the mobile operators involved; tower companies are also key players in the value chain. They own the physical sites and are responsible for power and security. Without power, service cannot be provided.
“They have been directed to invest in infrastructure beyond their existing plans. We have taken a baseline and will engage independent auditors to verify compliance by the end of the year. If they fail, we retain the discretion to revert to financial sanctions,” Maida said.
He encouraged journalists to raise critical questions and provide feedback, reaffirming the NCC’s openness to dialogue and continuous improvement.
In her opening remarks, the Head of Public Affairs at NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustained engagement with media stakeholders.
Ukoha noted that the Media Interactive Forum marks the first session for 2026 and reflects the leadership’s resolve to maintain open communication channels with the press and other critical stakeholders.
She further underscored the role of journalists as key partners in shaping public discourse and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem through informed and responsible reporting.