NCC promises to protect consumers from arbitrary telecom high charges
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured consumers that it would protect them from arbitrary charges by telecom operators in the country.
This promise was made by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who was represented by the acting Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha during an interactive session with journalist in Abuja on Thursday.
While clarifying the issue of telecom service rates, Maida explained that the NCC uses a comprehensive cost study to determine the fairness of rates, including charges for services such as USSD.
He said that the N6.98 USSD charge per airtime recharge was based on a detailed analysis of the costs involved in providing the service.
Following a foreign exchange crisis that impacted the industry about two years ago, Maida further said that the Nigerian telecom sector is rebounding strongly and making a significant contribution to the nation’s GDP.
Furthermore, the sector has recovered from significant forex-related losses suffered by major players and is now returning to profitability, with the help of the recent tariff change.
Telecom companies are now reinvesting in their networks, which is predicted to raise service quality, despite the difficulties caused by forex-related commitments and subpar service in the past, according to Maida.
“About two years ago, we noticed a situation where some of our key operators were recording massive losses. Despite increasing revenues, they were struggling with heavy forex-related obligations that ate into their revenue. This led to poor quality of service.
“However, with the recent tariff adjustment exercise, these operators are now back on the path to profitability. As a result, they’re able to reinvest in their networks, which will lead to better quality of service and experience.
“We expect investments in the industry to increase significantly this year, more than what was seen in the last two years. The Nigerian telecom industry has great promise, evident in its revenue growth and service delivery, despite the recent challenges,” he said.
Maida equally promised Nigerians that they would soon notice better quality in telecom services. He also highlighted that the industry is set for even more growth this year, with investments expected to exceed those of the past two years.
The head of the NCC pointed out several problems the sector has been facing, such as fibre cuts, damage to infrastructure, and Rights of Way issues. He specifically mentioned how disruptive fibre cuts have been for telecom providers, noting that there were 147 incidents reported in just one week in May 2025.
To tackle these problems, the NCC is collaborating with the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Works to resolve RoW issues. They will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding to prevent road construction from harming fibre networks.
Maida also stressed that the NCC plans to publicly identify and shame those responsible for fibre theft, working alongside the Attorney General’s office and the NSCDC to take legal action against individuals who vandalise telecom infrastructure.
Beyond addressing infrastructure challenges, Maida pointed out how crucial the telecom sector is for national security, social welfare, and economic development. He stressed that having strong telecommunications infrastructure is essential for meeting national security objectives and creating a digital society.
He assured Nigerians that the NCC would keep working with all involved parties to enhance the sector, making sure that decisions are made in favor of consumers.