NCC reports major gains in service quality with fewer complaints and higher data use

Mobile networks across Nigeria are becoming faster and more reliable as telecom operators continue to invest billions in infrastructure upgrades. This has led to a 170% increase in data usage and a significant decline in consumer complaints, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Wada Maida, disclosed this during a media parley held in Abuja. He revealed that more than 3,000 tower sites were upgraded in the past year, with a target of 12,000 upgrades set for 2026. As of April, about 2,800 of these upgrades have already been completed.
Maida noted that one telecom operator alone invested approximately $1 billion in network improvements, while total industry investment exceeded $1 billion in 2025.
These efforts have yielded noticeable improvements. Consumer complaints dropped sharply from 351,000 in January 2025 to 76,000 in January 2026, representing a 78% decrease.
He further explained that 52% of telecom users have transitioned from 2G and 3G networks to 4G, largely due to increased smartphone adoption. Nationwide data consumption has also risen by more than 170%.
To make smartphones more affordable and enhance digital inclusion, the Commission is encouraging local assembly of devices.
On numbering regulations, Maida stated that phone lines inactive for one year may be withdrawn in accordance with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guidelines, emphasizing that phone numbers are globally managed by the ITU.
Addressing security concerns, he said the Office of the National Security Adviser is leading efforts to combat cybercrime and the misuse of digital platforms.
The NCC has also introduced a revised internet code of practice, requiring service providers to remove harmful content. Maida assured that key stakeholders, including the NFVCB, NITDA, NDPC, and NBC, are collaborating to safeguard users.
“There are instances where inappropriate content has been taken down from platforms to protect citizens, especially children,” he said.
He advised parents to closely monitor their children’s use of smartphones and internet access, warning that exposure to harmful content could have far-reaching societal consequences.
Maida urged Nigerians to remain patient as reforms in the telecom sector continue, expressing confidence that current improvements will be sustained over time.