NCC Promises Stronger Networks, Fairer Telecom Services for Nigerians in 2026
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured telecom subscribers of improved service quality, stronger networks, and fairer customer practices in 2026, as part of renewed efforts to enhance consumer experience and ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.
The commitment was outlined in a New Year message by the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, who said the commission’s priority for the year is to deliver better everyday experiences for telecom users while maintaining a healthy operating environment for service providers.
Describing telecommunications as a critical national service, Dr. Maida noted that the sector plays a vital role in connecting families, supporting businesses, enabling education and healthcare, and driving Nigeria’s digital economy. He stressed that balancing consumer satisfaction with operator viability remains central to the commission’s regulatory approach.
Reviewing the sector’s performance in 2025, the NCC disclosed that more than 2,800 new and upgraded network sites were deployed nationwide, while broadband subscriptions increased from 96.3 million to 109.6 million. According to the commission, 4G coverage now reaches 85 per cent of the population, with 5G expanding to 13 per cent. Median mobile download speeds on 4G improved by 24 per cent, while average speeds rose by 18 per cent, aided by Project BRIDGE, a federal programme targeting 90,000 kilometres of fibre deployment across the country.
Despite these gains, Dr. Maida acknowledged ongoing challenges, including uneven service quality in some areas, network congestion in high-traffic locations, infrastructure outages, delayed complaint resolution, rising operational costs, energy supply constraints, right-of-way issues, and vandalism of telecom facilities.
To tackle these concerns, the NCC said it will intensify quality-of-service monitoring, strengthen incident reporting mechanisms, and implement targeted measures to improve network availability and performance. Subscribers are also expected to benefit from clearer tariff information, improved billing accuracy, higher customer care standards, and stronger protection against misleading practices.
The commission further plans to promote fair competition, curb anti-competitive behaviour, operationalise a revised Corporate Governance Code, expand cybersecurity frameworks, and strengthen the Internet Code of Practice within the sector.
Dr. Maida added that the NCC is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure refunds for failed airtime and data transactions, collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to safeguard telecom infrastructure, and engaging the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to address deployment challenges at state and local government levels.
He concluded by thanking consumers for their patience and feedback, while commending operators and industry workers for their commitment, noting that the commission expects measurable improvements in service delivery in 2026 through stronger networks, better customer care, clearer communication, and stricter regulatory compliance.
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