About 75 million telecommunications subscribers have benefited from airtime compensation in 2026 under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Consumer Compensation Framework, as the regulator pledges stricter enforcement against operators over poor service quality.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this at the 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to enforcing service standards and holding operators accountable for failures affecting subscribers.
Maida said operators had undertaken more than 6,500 network improvement interventions in 2026, including capacity expansions, equipment upgrades and the deployment of newer technologies to improve voice and data services.
He said the Commission would continue to enforce compliance and sanction breaches, stressing that telecommunications regulation must deliver tangible improvements in consumers’ daily experiences.
According to him, unreliable connectivity can disrupt business transactions, cause students to miss assignment deadlines and affect other essential activities that depend on telecommunications services.
He said subscribers deserved reliable networks, transparent billing and accessible channels for resolving complaints whenever services fell below expectations.
Maida also encouraged consumers to use the NCC’s public coverage maps and performance-monitoring tools to compare network performance in their locations and make informed choices about service providers.
The tools use crowdsourced performance data to help consumers assess network coverage and service quality in areas where they live, work or operate businesses.
However, the NCC chief expressed concern over the continued vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, including fibre cuts, equipment theft and damage to network facilities, which he said disrupt services and affect consumers and businesses.
The 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament was held under the theme, “Enhancing Consumer Experience: Strengthening Service Quality and Consumer Protection in Nigeria’s Digital Economy.”
Earlier, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholders Management, Rimini Makama, said the forum was designed to strengthen discussions on network reliability, billing transparency and effective complaint resolution.
Makama urged regulators, operators, consumer groups and other stakeholders to work together to improve service delivery and build public confidence in the telecommunications sector.
She said customers should be able to depend on services they pay for, understand their data usage and charges, and receive timely assistance when they lodge complaints, including consumers who face additional barriers in accessing services.