The Nigerian Communications Commission has acknowledged growing public complaints over poor telecommunications services in different parts of the country, assuring subscribers that stronger measures are being implemented to improve network quality and service delivery nationwide. The regulator stated that consumers should not continue to suffer the consequences of poor service where telecom operators fail to meet prescribed Quality of Service standards.
The Commission’s position follows recent remarks by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who said the Federal Government had already created the necessary conditions for improved telecom performance and expected operators to significantly enhance service quality or face regulatory sanctions.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission admitted that many Nigerians still experience dropped calls, unstable internet connections, slow data speeds, and network outages affecting businesses, education, healthcare access, financial services, and social communication.
According to the regulator, the telecom industry is currently undergoing one of its largest infrastructure expansion phases in recent years after prolonged periods of underinvestment. Mobile Network Operators reportedly invested more than N2.13 trillion in network upgrades and infrastructure deployment in 2025, while Tower Companies added another N373.8 billion to support expansion projects across the country. The investments enabled the deployment and upgrade of over 2,800 telecom sites, including expansion of 4G and 5G services, fibre optic infrastructure, and network equipment modernisation aimed at reducing congestion and improving coverage in underserved communities.
The NCC disclosed that operators have already committed to deploying or upgrading more than 12,000 telecom sites in 2026, with nearly 3,000 sites completed so far and over 730 additional 5G sites deployed across 27 states. The Commission said national median internet download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps in January 2024 to 20Mbps currently, while 4G penetration increased from 45 per cent to 54 per cent.
However, it noted that persistent challenges such as fibre cuts, vandalism, theft of telecom equipment, power issues, and access restrictions continue to affect network performance. The regulator revealed that over 27,000 fibre cut incidents were recorded in 2025 alone and said it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen protection for telecommunications infrastructure under the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure.