By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has successfully overseen the compensation of over 75 million telecom subscribers affected by poor service quality, following a strict consumer-focused directive issued to Mobile Network Operators.
This disclosure formed part of the decisions reached during the regulatory body’s 109th Board Meeting held on May 25, 2026, where the leadership reviewed industry operations, infrastructure investments, and critical sector challenges.
While celebrating full compliance from network providers regarding user compensation, the Board noted that infrastructure sharing and co-location licensees, known commonly as TowerCos, have only partially complied with directives requiring them to deposit their full regulatory fines into escrow accounts intended for network infrastructure reinvestment.
To combat ongoing data congestion and improve user experiences, major network operators have committed to constructing more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites across the country.
Over 40 percent of this target has already been achieved with more than 5,000 sites completed, alongside the extension of fiber connectivity to over 700 transmission sites. This expansion is happening alongside a massive boom in the fixed broadband sector, where Fibre-to-the-Home subscribers surged from 84,141 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 by the following quarter.
The regulatory body expects this shift toward fixed fiber connections to drastically reduce pressure on congested mobile networks, lower retail data costs, and support the Federal Government’s long-term digital transformation strategy to foster a one-trillion-dollar economy.
Despite these infrastructure gains, the telecommunications sector continues to battle heavy growth constraints caused by vandalism and asset damage.
While acknowledging the protection efforts led by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps under the Critical National Information Infrastructure designation, the NCC Board emphasized the urgent need for deeper stakeholder collaboration.
To proactively secure these essential installations, the Commission announced that it is fast-tracking security initiatives, which includes exploring the feasibility of creating a specialized Communications Industry Security Trust Fund.
Additionally, the regulator is actively engaging industry players to develop a framework that will zero-rate educational platforms and content, aiming to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural student populations.
The high-level meeting also addressed internal governance gaps within the Commission’s training arm, the Digital Bridge Institute, following the expiration of tenures for its chairman and several board members.
In a bid to reposition the institute to support the broader digital economy, the NCC Board approved the appointment of Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, a Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC, as the Interim Chairman of the institute’s governing board.
She will be supported by newly appointed interim board members Engineer Abraham Oshadami and Ms. Rimini Makama, who serve as Executive Commissioners for Technical Services and Stakeholder Management respectively.
The governing board concluded by reaffirming its dedication to fostering an inclusive, fair, and disciplined telecom market that prioritizes transparency and consumer protection.
