Tower companies may face sanctions for poor telecom infrastructure, as the Nigerian Communications Commission warned that operators failing to improve service quality and network support systems could be penalised. The regulator stressed it would not hesitate to enforce compliance where necessary.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the media in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the commission had expanded its regulatory actions beyond mobile network operators to include tower companies, noting their critical role in service delivery and insisting they would be held accountable where lapses persist.
“The commission still retains the discretion to apply financial sanctions or other types of penalties as we deem fit,” Maida said, adding that tower firms had been specifically directed to step up investment in infrastructure.
He explained that tower companies, which provide the physical infrastructure powering telecom services, including electricity and site security, are now part of the broader compliance framework aimed at improving network performance nationwide.
“It wasn’t only the mobile operators. It was also the tower hosts who are also an important player in the value chain because they are the ones who own the actual physical sites. So, they’re responsible for power and security. And if there’s no power, you cannot provide service,” he said.
Maida added that the commission had set clear investment expectations for tower firms, requiring them to go beyond existing expansion plans, with strict monitoring mechanisms already in place.
“We’ve taken a baseline, and we’ve asked them to invest over and above that baseline… and we will be engaging independent auditors to verify the work done by the end of the year,” he stated, warning that failure to comply could trigger sanctions.
The NCC boss also linked persistent service quality challenges to infrastructure gaps, noting that while network performance was improving, it remained below regulatory expectations, especially amid surging data consumption and rising demand for connectivity.
He noted that Nigeria had recorded a sharp increase in telecom usage, with data consumption rising significantly in recent years, placing additional pressure on network infrastructure and requiring sustained investment across the value chain.
During the session, the Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, said the commission had deliberately balanced enforcement with realism, acknowledging the time required for infrastructure deployment but insisting that operators, including tower firms, would now be held to higher standards.
“Now, we believe at this point that subscribers… are entitled to now be able to receive a particular quality of service… and if they are not getting it, then we believe that certain actions should be taken,” Ogoh said.
He explained that earlier regulatory leniency was due to supply chain constraints and the long lead time required to import telecom equipment, but noted that those conditions had eased, making stricter enforcement necessary.
“And that’s why we are now going ahead to implement this particular compensation… we believe that certain actions should be taken… and the commission is not shying away from taking it,” he added.
Ogoh further disclosed that infrastructure rollout had accelerated, with operators deploying thousands of new sites and upgrading capacity, but stressed that improvements must translate into better user experience or attract regulatory consequences.
In her remarks, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the NCC, Rimini Makama, emphasised the role of transparency and collaboration in driving reforms within the sector, noting that the media remains critical to ensuring accountability.
Makama added that feedback from stakeholders, including subscribers and the media, would continue to shape regulatory actions, particularly in addressing service quality concerns and infrastructure deficiencies.
Earlier, the Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, said the engagement reflected the commission’s commitment to openness and continuous dialogue with stakeholders in the industry.
She noted that the forum was designed to encourage open discussions on emerging issues in the telecommunications sector, including infrastructure sustainability, resilience, and service delivery challenges.
The development comes as the NCC intensifies efforts to improve network quality across the country, with increasing attention on the role of tower companies in addressing persistent infrastructure gaps affecting service delivery.
