NCC Cracks Down on Poor Telecom Services with New Governance, Cybersecurity, and QoE Reforms
Nigeria’s telecom operators are facing heightened regulatory pressure as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) unveils sweeping reforms to improve service quality, strengthen governance, and enhance consumer protection. The move comes after a recent 50 percent hike in tariffs, which has left millions of subscribers demanding better value from mobile networks.
At a media briefing in Lagos, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the era of hiding behind “technical jargon” is over, stressing that operators will now be held accountable through transparency and public performance reporting. Beginning September 2025, the Commission will launch a Quality of Experience (QoE) portal—an online platform that allows Nigerians to track mobile network performance in real time across locations.
The reforms are anchored on three key pillars: service transparency, corporate governance, and cybersecurity. A new governance code will compel operators to adopt global best practices in accountability and disclosure, while those who fail to comply risk escalating sanctions—from fines and licence suspensions to outright revocation. The NCC also highlighted weak governance and poor oversight as root causes of recurring service disruptions in the industry.
On cybersecurity, the Commission will enforce baseline security standards to counter rising threats such as phishing scams, ransomware, and data breaches. Operators will be required to harden networks, upgrade base station security with CCTV and alarms, and classify telecom infrastructure as critical national assets under the Cybercrime Act. Maida stressed that “security is no longer optional; it is fundamental to consumer protection.”
Looking ahead, the NCC plans to expand Nigeria’s fibre optic backbone by an additional 90,000 kilometres, improve spectrum utilization for faster 4G adoption, and extend regulation to over-the-top (OTT) platforms like WhatsApp and Zoom. It also reiterated its push for infrastructure sharing among operators to lower costs and expand coverage. With these reforms, the regulator made it clear that non-compliant operators will face stiff penalties, while those who meet expectations will be publicly recognized as industry leaders.