… to launch public mapping tool in September
… to sign infrastructure protection agreements
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to introduce a raft of stringent regulatory measures aimed at improving service delivery and enforcing compliance among telecom operators, according to Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the commission.
Speaking at a high-level media parley in Abuja on Monday, Maida outlined a new regulatory strategy that prioritises transparency, data disclosure, and strategic partnerships to compel performance improvements in the country’s telecom sector.
As part of its new regulatory push, the NCC will launch a public mapping tool by the end of September to allow Nigerians to check the quality of service of mobile operators in their specific locations. “You will type in your location, and it will tell you which is the best network in that area,” Maida said. “This is going to be based on crowdsourced data, and will be available in a summarised, easy-to-use format to all Nigerians.”
In addition, the commission is finalising agreements with the federal and state ministries of Works to better protect telecom infrastructure from recurring issues like fibre cuts during road construction projects. “We are at the tail end of signing those agreements,” Maida noted. “When collaboration fails, we may have to use force, but I hope and pray that would be the last resort.”
He warned that telecom infrastructure remains highly vulnerable to disruptions, which pose serious national risks.
The NCC’s evolving regulatory approach leans heavily on transparency and the power of information disclosure. Maida revealed that recent data releases — including rebased telecom subscriber numbers and infrastructure incident reports — were part of a deliberate strategy to drive change.
“We saw that just by putting out the truth, it triggered over a billion dollars in new investments this year,” he said. “That’s more than the previous two years combined.”
Maida stressed that more capital injection is critical to the sector’s future. “What we actually need to take us to the next level is a fresh injection of capital into this industry,” he said, adding that good governance and trust are key to unlocking such investments.
He added that new indices — including compliance rankings, quality of service reports, and consumer satisfaction scores — will soon be published quarterly. These reports will name operators with the most infractions and provide consumers and investors with objective data to make informed choices.
“Investors will put money where the metrics are strong — whether it’s quality of service, compliance, or consumer satisfaction,” he said.
On the consumer front, Maida said the NCC is prioritising resolution of the top three complaints: poor quality of service, data depletion, and failed recharge transactions.
On data depletion, he said a forensic audit by top-tier auditors like KPMG and PwC revealed that operators were not stealing data. “It was more of a perception issue,” he said. “Customers were not aware that high-definition videos, hotspot sharing, or newer phones like iPhone 16 consume more data.”
To address confusion in pricing, the NCC has mandated operators to simplify their tariff structures and publish a standard disclosure table. According to Maida, “No more ‘buy this, get extra that’. Every operator must disclose call, SMS and data rates in a uniform table so consumers can compare apples to apples,” Maida explained.
In partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NCC is also finalising a new framework to tackle failed electronic recharges. “We set up a joint task force with the CBN. They have produced a framework, now under review, which will define errors and escalation procedures clearly. This will institutionalise consumer protection in the recharge process,” Maida said.
The NCC is also driving reforms in corporate governance, having recently launched a revised guideline that mandates disclosure of audited reports twice yearly, appointment of qualified regulatory officers, and eventually, certification programmes for compliance officers.
According to the EVC, “Good governance links directly to better service, financial performance, and regulatory compliance. It’s not targeted at anyone. It’s just best practice — and a foundation for attracting new investment.”
Reiterating that transparency, competition, and consumer trust remain central to the NCC’s approach, Maida stated that the NCC is building the foundations for the future.
