Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged telecommunications operators across the country to significantly enhance network performance and establish rapid recovery protocols during unplanned outages.
Speaking at the debut of Airtel’s Open Network portal—a platform designed to let customers examine network reach, pinpoint cell tower sites, and report transmission faults directly—the regulatory head emphasized the importance of accountability and customer-focused service.
Maida pointed out that as digital usage surges and subscriber counts climb, service providers must proactively scale their infrastructure to keep pace with demand. He underscored that operators must maintain clear communication during service interruptions, offering responsive customer assistance so that users understand disruptions and can track remediation efforts.
According to the NCC boss, modern society heavily relies on robust digital links for trade, schooling, and daily interaction, noting that the true value of reliable connectivity is often only noticed when it falters. He insisted that telecom providers maintain updated, transparent network records so subscribers know exactly what standard of service to expect.
The regulator’s demand comes amid growing consumer frustration nationwide. Between April and September 2026, major operators—including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and T2mobile—logged more than 214,000 service complaints, mostly centering on frequent dropped voice calls and sluggish data speeds. The recurring connectivity woes have also prompted Nigeria’s House of Representatives to summon leadership from these telecom firms to testify on November 4 regarding chronic network degradations and failed transactions.
Addressing the financial requirements of the sector, Maida acknowledged that telecommunications demands continuous capital injection. He encouraged operators to align their spending with the rapid expansion of high-speed broadband, noting that the commission is dedicated to sustaining a favorable investment climate. In the first half of 2026 alone, MTN allocated ₦620.5 billion to capital projects, while Airtel deployed ₦287.6 billion ($211 million) toward bolstering its 4G and 5G infrastructure.
Even so, Maida cautioned that capital expenditure must lead to noticeable service upgrades for everyday consumers, noting that simply having a transmission tower nearby does not guarantee quality reception. To strengthen its regulatory oversight, the NCC is integrating independent, crowdsourced network performance tracking alongside conventional monitoring to give the public clear insight into service standards.
