The Nigerian Communications Commission has told the Federal Government that it has already executed wide-ranging transparency, enforcement, and quality-of-service measures requested by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, including the removal of over 450 illegal signal boosters blamed for degrading telecom services.
The position was contained in a detailed response by the NCC to a formal letter from the minister, outlining actions already taken to improve service delivery, strengthen public accountability, and tighten sanctions against defaulting operators.
A copy of the confidential document was obtained by The PUNCH on Thursday from a top source at the ministry, who pleaded anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly share the correspondence.
Confirming the enforcement drive, the document stated, “During 2025, the Commission’s enforcement teams removed over 450 illegal signal boosters across the Federal Capital Territory, devices that were found to significantly degrade network quality in surrounding areas.”
The commission said follow-up analysis showed that the action yielded immediate results, adding that “at least 70 network sites recorded measurable performance gains following booster removal, supported by crowdsourced data, operator metrics, and a decline in related consumer complaints.”
According to the response, the regulator’s overarching focus remains on resolving persistent Quality of Service challenges, a priority that has shaped its strategic agenda for 2026. It noted that its regulatory approach is now built around openness, faster responsiveness, and visible service outcomes for consumers.
The NCC said transparency had become a core feature of its oversight, with deliberate expansion of publicly available information to strengthen consumer confidence and compel operators to improve Quality of Experience.
It cited the approval of tariff adjustments in January 2025 as a calibrated intervention aimed at sustaining industry viability while ensuring continued network investment. The document disclosed that the telecoms sector attracted over $1bn in fresh capital during 2025, alongside the rollout of more than 2,850 new and upgraded network sites nationwide.
The commission said these investments were laying a stronger foundation for sustained improvements in service quality.
On consumer protection, the NCC said it had adopted a targeted complaint-management strategy, concentrating regulatory attention on the three most frequently reported issues: poor service quality, data depletion, and refunds from failed transactions.
To improve public accountability, the commission said it mandated operators to notify subscribers of major outages and maintenance activities, while also launching a Major Outages Reporting Portal on its website to provide real-time information on network disruptions, their scope, and remedial actions.
It further disclosed that a crowdsourced National Coverage Map was launched in October 2025, allowing Nigerians to compare operator performance across locations using anonymised, near real-time user data.
The commission added that it commenced quarterly industry performance reports in October 2025, providing state-by-state and regional breakdowns of connectivity, coverage and signal quality for all mobile network operators.
In addition, it said it now receives daily granular performance data from operators and colocation firms, complemented by the reintroduction of nationwide drive tests in 2025 after nearly a decade of suspension. The tests, conducted in urban and rural locations, serve as independent validation of operator-submitted and crowdsourced data.
Addressing rising data depletion complaints, the NCC said it issued tariff simplification guidance in November 2024, directing operators to reduce the number of tariff plans and adopt standardised disclosure tables to improve clarity for consumers.
The regulator also pointed to revised corporate governance guidelines released in August 2025, giving licensees a 24-month transition window to meet enhanced standards on transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct.
On enforcement, the Commission said it completed revised Quality of Service regulations in July 2024, extending performance obligations to colocation providers and introducing stiffer penalties for breaches.
It added that revised enforcement process regulations, which include new communications-related offences, are awaiting board approval and gazetting, expected in the second quarter of 2026.
The NCC revealed that audits and spot checks remain routine, noting that a fourth-quarter 2025 audit of 965 base stations in the Federal Capital Territory uncovered 5,557 infractions, with 81 per cent remedied by the end of the year.
It also outlined steps taken to operationalise the Critical National Information Infrastructure Executive Order, including mediation efforts that have already resolved disputes in Kogi, Bauchi, and Osun states.
On failed airtime and data recharges, the Commission said it is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria, operators, and financial firms, disclosing that refunds exceeding N10bn have already been facilitated, with a formal framework to be launched in March 2026.
The response further detailed sanctions imposed on operators, stating that Globacom, Airtel, and IHS were fined a combined N45m in October 2025, while additional infractions carrying potential liabilities of N12.4bn are undergoing regulatory processing.
Beyond enforcement, the NCC said it approved spectrum trades and reassignments, reallocating about 50 MHz of underutilised spectrum. It noted that the reassignment of an additional contiguous 10 MHz to Globacom helped raise its average 4G download speeds from 9.5 Mbps to about 15 Mbps by late 2025.
The Commission also disclosed that Nigeria’s first Spectrum Roadmap, covering 2025 to 2030, has been drafted and will be released by March 2026 after board approval, setting long-term direction for spectrum use and service quality improvements.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the NCC said its Q4 2025 industry performance data shows measurable improvements in network quality and service delivery across the country, as the regulator deepened efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the telecommunications sector.
At the virtual media engagement held to present the Q4 2025 Industry Performance Reports, the commission walked journalists through key insights, performance trends, and highlights from the report. The full document has also been published on the NCC’s website.
Speaking during the session, the Head of the Public Affairs Department, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, said the quarterly data reflects the commission’s commitment to evidence-based regulation and improved consumer experience.
“The commission has, over time, affirmed its commitment to accountability, transparency, and a data-driven approach in implementing its mandate,” Ukoha said. “Part of this commitment is our responsibility to generate accurate, transparent, and timely data and to ensure that this data is properly understood, well interpreted, and correctly communicated to the Nigerian public.”
