Nigeria's telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is demanding over $1 billion in new infrastructure investments from mobile operators, stronger consumer compensation for poor service, and stricter enforcement of quality-of-service (QoS) standards. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the NCC, announced the measures at a journalist breakfast in Lagos, stating that one major operator has already committed more than $1 billion in fresh investment for 2025. The regulator is requiring telecom companies to compensate subscribers with airtime credits for failing to meet QoS benchmarks, with payouts tied to performance data recorded between November 2025 and January 2026. These credits are not refunds but regulatory compensation for service failures such as dropped calls and slow internet speeds.
The NCC has shifted to local government-level monitoring of network performance, replacing state-wide averages to better reflect user experience. Operators are expected to complete about 12,000 network upgrades in 2026, up from just over 300 the previous year, with 2,800 already finished. Upgrades include new base stations and migration from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G technologies. Independent auditors will verify that operators meet their investment commitments. The regulator is using enhanced systems to track data speed, latency, and network availability, with penalties activated when thresholds are missed. Maida acknowledged that rising data demand is offsetting gains, and while improvements are underway, results will take time.
Aminu Maida demands $1bn in new telecom investments while crediting one operator with already meeting that target—raising questions about why others have not kept pace despite years of complaints. If one company can commit such funds, the disparity suggests others prioritised profits over network upgrades. Millions of Nigerians endured poor service for years that could have been avoided with earlier action. The compensation in airtime, not cash, means users must spend it within a system that previously failed them.
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