This follows a decade of systemic risks that nearly pushed major operators to the brink of insolvency.

During a congratulatory visit to Dr. Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, the recently appointed board chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on February 19, 2026, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, laid bare the high-stakes history of the sector’s recent recovery.

At the heart of this survival story are two critical milestones: the end of a 13-year tariff freeze and the final resolution of a toxic ₦300 billion USSD debt.

The 13-Year Pricing Freeze: From Stagnation to Cost-Reflective Reality

For over a decade, Nigeria’s telecom tariffs were frozen in time. While the cost of diesel, foreign exchange, and infrastructure maintenance skyrocketed, call and data rates remained pegged to 2013 economic realities.

The Background

Until early 2025, operators were largely operating on a cost study conducted over 10 years prior.

By 2024, with inflation crossing 30% and the Naira devalued by over 200%, the industry reached a service rationing warning stage.

Operators like MTN Nigeria reported record losses (over ₦514 billion) primarily due to forex exposure and static pricing.

In January 2025, the NCC, under Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman approved a 50% tariff adjustment.

While operators had clamored for a 100% increase, the 50% sustainability intervention raised voice call floors from roughly ₦6.40 to ₦9.60 per minute, providing the necessary liquidity to resume capital expenditure (CAPEX).

The USSD Debt Saga: Resolving the ₦300 Billion Systemic Risk

Perhaps the most contentious battle in the history of Nigerian fintech was the USSD debt dispute between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).

What began as a ₦42 billion disagreement in 2021 ballooned into a ₦300 billion crisis by early 2026.

The History of the Dispute:

Phase 1 marked by standoff: Banks refused to remit USSD service fees to telcos, arguing that the service should be billed to consumers differently.

Phase 2 marked by regulatory deadlock: Previous attempts at resolution saw the debt rise from ₦120 billion to ₦250 billion as both parties waited for a definitive regulatory hammer.

Phase 3 marked the final settlement): In late 2024 and throughout 2025, a joint directive from the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated a structured repayment plan.

Banks were ordered to clear 60-85% of outstanding invoices as a final settlement.

By February 2026, Engr. Adebayo confirmed that the banks had successfully cleared the nearly ₦300 billion debt, effectively de-risking the digital financial ecosystem.

The Shift to End-User Billing (EUB)

The resolution of the USSD debt paved the way for a permanent structural change: End-User Billing.

Under this new framework, the middleman friction has been eliminated. Instead of banks collecting fees and (potentially) failing to remit them to telcos, charges are now deducted directly from the user’s airtime at the point of the USSD session (currently ₦6.98 per 120 seconds).

Why EUB Matters:

Users see exactly what they are paying for in real-time, telcos receive their revenue instantly, preventing future debt accumulation, and it secures the platform that millions of unbanked Nigerians rely on for basic transfers and balance inquiries.

The Road Ahead: Protecting the Gains

While Engr. Adebayo celebrated these victories, he warned that the industry’s recovery remains fragile.

The focus has now shifted to Infrastructure Protection. Despite the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) status, operators still face daily fibre cuts by road contractors and multiple taxation by sub-national governments.

Industry analysts believe that the successful resolution of the USSD debt and the tariff review marks a reset for Nigeria’s digital economy.

For years, the telecom sector was the shock absorber for the economy’s inefficiencies. By allowing cost-reflective pricing and enforcing debt settlement, the NCC has signaled to global investors that Nigeria is ready to move away from subsidized consumption toward a more sustainable, investment-driven model.

The next battle for the NCC Board will be ensuring this new revenue is actually funneled back into network quality, as subscribers now expect Gold Standard service for their higher payments.

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Held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, on Wednesday, October 22, the event convened leading voices from government, telecommunications, power, and technology sectors to discuss solutions for expanding digital access to unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The Summit, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide: Accelerating Rural Connectivity Through Collaboration,” was organised by Business Metrics in partnership with stakeholders across the industry.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), noted that the real measure of connectivity lies in its economic impact rather than technical metrics.

“The accurate measure of connectivity is not in megabits per second, but in economic value it creates or loses,” Maida said.

He noted that despite progress since 2001, millions of Nigerians are still digitally invisible, unable to access reliable broadband, mobile, or data services that now define inclusion in the modern economy.

In his address, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), drew attention to the underlying infrastructure gaps that hinder connectivity.

“80 million Nigerians do not have access to reliable electricity,” he stated, warning that without addressing energy poverty, telecom expansion will continue to face obstacles.

Adebayo further stressed that connectivity must be pursued as a people-centred mission.

“48 million Nigerians do not have access to toilets,” he said. “When we talk about inclusion, it’s not just digital; it’s about dignity.”

The President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, called for urgent transition from dialogue to execution.

“We need to move away from talk shops into actions,” he stated. “This Summit should not end with resolutions; it must produce measurable results.”

Speakers from across the ecosystem, including the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), highlighted ongoing collaborations with NCC to power rural telecom sites using renewable energy mini-grids. 

This partnership aims to reduce costs and improve sustainability by pairing electricity access with digital connectivity.

Dr Tola Yusuf, chief executive officer of Infratel Africa, linked infrastructure to development outcomes.

“The backbone of rural prosperity is digital connectivity, but the backbone of connectivity is the right incentive structure,” he said, calling for fiscal incentives, public-private partnerships, and community-led models.

Dr Olusola Teniola, former ATCON President and executive director at ipNX, reiterated the urgency of implementation.

“It does remain a talk shop, and I’m tired of talk shops nowadays. We need action,” he said.

The Summit’s panel sessions explored multiple dimensions of the challenge and produced several key insights:

The first panel, focused on Mainstreaming Edge Infrastructure for Accelerated Inclusion.

Moderated by Chidi Ajuzie, group COO, Western Telecoms & Engineering (WTES) Limited, panellists included Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, Open Access Data Centre (OADC); Wole Abu, MD, Equinix West Africa (MainOne); Dr. Krish Ranganath, regional executive (West Africa), Africa Data Centres and Goke Juba, associate director, Fibre Operations, IHS Nigeria.

Key insights included:

• Expansion of edge data infrastructure beyond Lagos and Abuja is essential to reduce latency and improve local content delivery.
• Power, security, and connectivity must be addressed together to ensure site viability.
• Collaboration between operators and data-centre providers will drive faster deployment in rural areas.

The second session,  focused on Infrastructure Sharing & Collaboration as Key Pillars of Bridging Digital Divide, was moderated by Louisa Olaniyi, the compere. 

The panellists included Tony Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Dr Tola Yusuf, co-founder, Infratel Africa; Segun Okuneye, Divisional CEO, ipNX Nigeria Limited; Onemeguke Azubuike Lucky, senior analyst, Natcom Development and Investment Limited (ntel); Olumide Idowu, group chief technology & information officer, Alphabeta LLC; John Nwachukwu, chief strategy & executive officer, Zoracom; and Dr Isa Usman, associate director, Network Operations, GICL.

Key insights included:

• Shared infrastructure remains the most cost-effective path to rural expansion.
• Spectrum access, harmonised right-of-way policies, and targeted subsidies are needed to attract investors.
• Result-based financing and community-owned networks can complement traditional operator models.

Omobayo Azeez, convener and lead of the Rural Connectivity Initiative, emphasised the need for continued movement.

“Let this gathering be remembered as the moment we all come together to move from talk to action, from plans to progress, and from intent to real impact,” he said.

The Rural Connectivity Summit will become an annual platform for dialogue, accountability, and innovation, bringing together regulators, operators, development agencies, and community leaders to drive universal connectivity and digital inclusion across Nigeria.

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Ojobo, who spoke in an article he released to the media over the weekend, among others things, tasked the new board to urgently “conduct a comprehensive staff audit to ensure that existing staff can effectively regulate the industry and ascertain if staff are adequately motivated to deliver on their assignments.”

He also spoke on the need for the board to work with NCC management to ensure effective recruitment process.

“Recruitment into the commission should recognise competence, capacity, and cognate experience. Inexperienced staff should be trained to be able to contribute to the progress of the organization. The bottom-up approach of the commission in its regulatory processes should be sustained,” Ojobo said.

While noting that the NCC has been acknowledged in the past to have a rich legacy of excellence, impartiality and professionalism, Ojobo stressed the need to ensure that the core values of the commission, the professional and excellent corporate culture that is composed of a world-class human capital is maintained.

Ojobo, a consummate public affairs professional,  who has carved a niche as a consultant in corporate communications, strategic management and leadership development, retired from the services of the Commission in October 2018, having served in various capacities while at the NCC.

While noting that there has been concerns among stakeholders over the prolonged delay in constituting the Board of NCC, Ojobo urged that, now that the board has been constituted led by Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman Board, there is a urgent need to begin to address critical issues affecting the industry, with greater attention paid to staff motivation, development and welfare, among others.

“It is on that note that stakeholders welcome the recent constitution of the board of NCC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. There have been concerns, and worries amongst stakeholders about the declining quality of services and other regulatory challenges in the country. Regulating an industry, which drives the digital economy without a board is a panacea for chaos and retrogression.

“Now that a board has been constituted, it is important that the screening, confirmation and inauguration of the board, should be carried out expeditiously. The Commission needs the intervention of the board to resolve a number of challenges currently plaguing the industry. The telecommunications regulator has remained without a board for too long, the longest thus far since full liberalisation, and it has contributed to the myriad of challenges witnessed in the sector.”

Ojobo said the current board would have a lot of work to do, and should hit the ground running after confirmation by the Senate and inauguration by the Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

He urged the board to urgently address issues such as; the amendment of Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which cannot effectively address emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and issues bordering on technology convergence.

He listed other matters of urgency include the declining quality of services, which should be holistically examined; ascertaining the immediate causes of the decline and address them; examining the outstanding issues and challenges the services providers currently contend with, and ensuring a quick resolution.

“The board with the Management should urgently conduct a stakeholders summit to directly take notes of issues plaguing the industry, and address them expeditiously,” Ojobo said.

Speaking further, the former director reminded that the board could draw from the expertise of erstwhile staff of the commission, with institutional memory, expertise and experience to provide guidance and advice.

“Fortuitously, Hajia Mariam Bayi, the former Director of Human Capital and Infrastructure, is on the new board. It is hoped that new the board can benefit from her experience. The newly constituted board should provide the needed guidance to the Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida to move the industry forward. Time is not on the side of this board. The industry is in an emergency state, and urgent intervention is critical,” he added.

Ojobo, however, warned that previous successes of the Commission could lead to complacency, and lack of innovative regulatory initiatives, thus hindering innovation and development, urging the Board and Management should work harmoniously together to avoid such complacency.

“The board and management should ensure that their belief systems do not shape the organizations regulatory actions in a retrogressive manner, but they should rather be progressive. The vision of the pioneer board and management, the mission and core values that has placed the country on global regulatory map should be sustained. I wish the new board success as they navigate through the challenging regulatory issues currently confronting the sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ojobo also reflected on how the Commission became a one of the world-class telecom regulator, at inception of liberalization, tracing this to effective and regular staff capacity-building, training and motivation, which positioned the staff of the Commission to be ahead of the industry and licensees to be able to carry out their regulatory oversights and not the other way round.

He said:

“In furtherance of the desire to build a world class regulator, the Commission embarked on series of board and management retreats, workshops, and training programs to craft the vision and mission of the organization, define core values, and build a corporate culture centred on diligence, hard work, selflessness, goal-driven and focused staff, with eyes on the ball.

“There were several international trainings and partnerships with similar bodies such as; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the US; United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), OFCOM in the UK, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) among others. The exposure of the Commissions’ staff to various specialised trainings, conferences, and the activities of the commissions’ staff in the various Working Groups at the ITU, led to the building of one of the most respected regulator in the world.”

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The collaboration resulted in a two-day workshop hosted in Abuja from June 3-4, 2025, to explore policy framework for enabling community networks towards bridging the digital divide and accelerating socio-economic development in Nigeria’s underserved and unserved communities.

The forum brought together regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign investors, among others, to examine policy and regulatory barriers, explore innovative funding mechanisms, ensure sustainable renewable solutions and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.

Addressing participants at the workshop, Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of NCC, said the workshop is important to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria and foster inclusive social economic development.

“This workshop is an opportunity for all of us to harness the expertise, insights, and experiences of diverse stakeholders present here which includes the regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign providers to address the critical challenges such as affordable devices, access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, sustainability and institutional monitoring,” said Maida, who was represented at the event by Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner, Technical Services, NCC.

Maida said the workshop demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and unserved areas.

“At NCC, we recognise the transformative potential of community center networks in achieving this important goal,” he said.

The EVC said NCC was committed to “this journey and views this workshop as a catalyst for meaningful change,” stating that the expertise, perspectives and commitments will shape the future where every Nigerian, regardless of his or her status, will have meaningful access to opportunities from digital connectivity.

In her remarks, Co-manager of the Association for Progressive Communications’ Local Network (LocNet) initiative, Kathleen Diga, noted that the collaboration was to tackle identified hindrances to digital inclusion.

“This is a space where we can be open and exchange ideas of possibilities, opportunities that will remain in realising values of a diversified ecosystem.”

Diga said,

“I believe this workshop presents a moment in time that we can explore the bottom-up approach in local communities, small social enterprises, corporative among others, which have the ability to fill some of the digital gaps that remain unfilled,” she said, adding emphasising the need to recognise that community centre connectivity exists and they are grow throughout the global south, which, she said, are a “strategic response to digital exclusion.”

According to a statement signed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, acting head, Public Affairs at NCC, the workshop featured presentations from the NCC, the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) all geared towards exploring a joint policy framework to address rural digital divide.

The Association for Progressive Communications is a 35-year-old international network member-based organisation encouraging digital inclusion in the unserved communities, particularly with communities in the global south and the workshop, through its LocNet initiative aimed at crafting an enabling inclusive regulatory framework for community networks in Nigeria.

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Speaking during the cybersecurity framework development meeting, Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman (EVC) of the NCC stated that the commission is currently working on developing a comprehensive cybersecurity framework for the industry to ensure the safety of the communication sector.

Emphasizing the crucial role of the communications sector as an enabler of national development and economic transformation, the EVC stressed the importance of strengthening the industry to prevent the country from being susceptible to cybercriminals and other malicious actors.

He noted that the growing reliance on national data access on digital infrastructure has made it mandatory to develop a sector-wide cybersecurity framework, which involves engaging all relevant stakeholders in the industry to build a secure and resilient communication ecosystem in Nigeria. Highlighting the need for a cybersecurity framework, he said:

“With the increasing complexity of our digital ecosystem comes heightened vulnerability. Cyber threats, phishing, and insider threats are all evolving rapidly.

The communications infrastructure, which forms the core of Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), remains a high-value target for cybercriminals and hostile actors.

It is against this background that the Nigerian Communications Commission has initiated the development of a comprehensive cybersecurity framework for the communications sector.”

According to him, the primary objectives of the framework include promoting a unified and resilient cybersecurity posture across the communications industry, enhancing the protection of telecom infrastructure from cyberattacks, safeguarding consumer data, and ensuring alignment with national cybersecurity strategies.

Babagana Digima, chairman of the cybersecurity framework development, highlighted that the cybersecurity framework is being developed to provide a unified framework that aligns with the country’s needs and brings together all the tools and activities in addressing cybersecurity, providing a formal point of reference.

The development of the cybersecurity framework is currently in its early stages, with plans for further interactive sessions to refine and enhance its provisions.

The sessions will provide a platform for constructive dialogue, ensuring the framework is practicable.

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This small increase, however, brings a larger problem. Nigeria is falling far behind its National Broadband Plan (NBP 2020–2025), which aims to achieve 70% penetration by the end of this year.

As of April, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recorded 104.3 million broadband subscriptions. The figure, while looking large, loses its significance when weighed against the country’s actual population and connectivity aim. 

Five years into the Broadband Plan, Nigeria has only gained about 8.3% points in penetration, growing from 39.85% in March 2020 to 48.15% now. 

For a plan that was supposed to boost digital access across the country, the numbers are not so good.

There’s no single cause to blame, but several structural problems are obvious. Top of the list is the cost and politics of Right of Way (RoW). 

States charge exorbitant fees for network operators to lay fibre-optic cables, making expansion financially draining. Only seven states have waived these charges. Others continue to act as roadblocks to progress.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, spoke at a recent telecom forum: “Major obstacles to telecom infrastructure development have been issues within the purview of sub-national governments, including right-of-way issues, multiple taxation, and infrastructure resilience. Reducing right-of-way charges and eliminating multiple taxation will facilitate network expansion and improve connectivity across the country.”

Maida also pointed out that unless states reduce these barriers, they won’t be able to benefit from the economic potential broadband brings. That includes everything from job creation to digital entrepreneurship.

“To fully realise the benefits of digitisation and meet the NBP targets, state governments must ease regulatory burdens and drive policies that are investor-friendly for the telecommunications and ICT sectors,” he added.

The country’s data consumption patterns show an equally complicated state. In January, Nigeria recorded over 1 million terabytes of data use. By February, it dropped to 893,054.80 terabytes. It recovered in March but dipped again in April to 983,283.43 terabytes. That kind of fluctuation shows that many Nigerians are cutting down on data usage.

This reduction in demand is closely linked to price. In January, the Federal Government approved a 50% increase in telecom tariffs. Voice calls jumped from ₦6.40 to ₦9.60 per minute. SMS rose from ₦4 to ₦6. And 1GB of data now costs ₦431.25, up from ₦287.50. This has already derailed the Plan’s goal of achieving an average data price of ₦360 per GB by the end of 2025.

Operators say the hike is good for their revenue, but the many Nigerians, especially those using narrowband connections, appear to have dropped off entirely, leaving high-speed broadband usage mostly to those who can afford Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) services.

A key component of the NBP was the localisation of smartphone production. The goal was to establish a smartphone assembly plant by 2023 to bring down the cost of basic smartphones to ₦18,000. That plant never came. 

Today, an entry-level smartphone costs over ₦100,000, an amount far out of reach for many Nigerians. With affordability off the table, access remains limited.

Another metric from the Plan was to have 70% of all mobile users on 4G by 2023. As of April 2025, only 49.27% of the 172 million active mobile lines in Nigeria are on 4G.

Put simply, we’re behind on every target.

From where I stand, this is about millions of Nigerians cutting themselves off from the digital economy, not because they don’t want access, but because the system around them hasn’t made it possible. 

Broadband is no longer a luxury. It’s infrastructure, like water, electricity, and roads. But instead of speeding toward universal access, we’re stuck in neutral.

If Nigeria is serious about digital resilience, then both federal and state actors must act like it. Until then, broadband will remain what it is now—limited, expensive, and unevenly distributed.

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A new proposal is on the table, telecom users whose lines go inactive will have a full year to retrieve their unspent airtime—so long as they can prove the line belongs to them.

At a recent forum of telecom stakeholders, the Commission dropped what could become a game-changer for millions of prepaid subscribers. This is about drawing a line between what’s fair and what’s convenient—for both customers and mobile operators.

Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of NCC, represented by Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, laid it out, stating that the days of networks quietly reclaiming your unused balance may be coming to an end.

“As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, we must address emerging issues, including the fate of prepaid balances on inactive lines,” Maida said.

If a line is inactive for 12 months, operators must deactivate it. But instead of swallowing the remaining airtime, they’ll be required to notify the user and offer a way to reclaim it. No refund in cash, but redemption through voice bundles, data, or value-added services. The key condition? Prove it’s your line.

The new draft framework doesn’t leave much wiggle room for the operators. NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs Chizua Whyte, put it in clear terms: “It also prohibits monetisation of unclaimed airtime, instead mandates service-based redemptions such as data or voice bundles.”

She went further, spelling out expectations. Operators will be required to audit churned accounts, report unclaimed balances, and launch public awareness campaigns. They have 90 days to fall in line once the guidelines are formalised. For the Commission, audits won’t drag—10 days max.

Whyte added, “This draft seeks to ensure that subscribers maintain rightful access to their purchased credits while operators gain clarity in their responsibilities.”

From the tone of the forum, the NCC is serious about this. The time of ghost airtime balances vanishing into your revenue books may be over. The Commission wants user rights to be taken seriously and service, not profit, comes first.

Countries like the United States, India, and members of the European Union have already outlawed the silent vanishing act of prepaid balances. Now Nigeria is catching up—and pushing even further by demanding transparency, accountability, and user education.

This is a reset because for too long, the question of what happens to airtime on long-dead SIMs has always been unanswered. Now, at least, we’re closer to one. 

Hopefully, this new framework will see the light of day without objections from operators; but for once, the regulator seems ready to take the side of the ordinary Nigerian.

And about time, too.

The post NCC Moves to Stop Operators from Pocketing Unused Airtime – Subscribers to Get 12-Month Grace appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The Commission led by Dr. Aminu Maida, EVC/CEO of NCC, said the approval was in pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators

NCC said it “will be granting approval for tariff adjustment requests by Network Operators in response to prevailing market conditions.”

The adjustment, according to a statement by Reuben Muoka, the director, Public Affairs at NCC, said the tariff increase capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.

“These adjustments will remain within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost Study, and requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as is the Commission’s standard practice for tariff reviews. It will be implemented in strict adherence to the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024. 

“Tariff rates have remained static since 2013, despite the increasing costs of operation faced by telecom operators. The approved adjustment is aimed at addressing the significant gap between operational costs and current tariffs while ensuring that the delivery of services to consumers is not compromised.

“These adjustments will support the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage. 

“Recognising the concerns of the public, this decision was made after extensive consultations with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. 

“The NCC has prioritised striking a balance between protecting telecom consumers and ensuring the sustainability of the industry, including the thousands of indigenous vendors and suppliers who form a critical part of the telecommunications ecosystem.

“The NCC recognises the financial pressures faced by Nigerian households and businesses and remains deeply empathetic to the impact of tariff adjustments. To this end, the Commission has mandated that operators implement these adjustments transparently and in a manner that is fair to consumers. Operators are also required to educate and inform the public about the new rates while demonstrating measurable improvements in service delivery.

“Additionally, the NCC reaffirms its dedication to fostering a resilient, innovative, and inclusive telecommunications sector. Beyond protecting consumers, the Commission’s actions are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry, support indigenous vendors and suppliers, and promote the overall growth of Nigeria’s digital economy. 

“As a regulator, the NCC will continue to engage with stakeholders to create a telecommunications environment that works for everyone—one that protects consumers, supports operators, and sustains the ecosystem that drives connectivity across the nation”.

The post BREAKING: NCC Approves 50% Telecom Tariffs Increase appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This statement was made by Dr Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, during the inauguration of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Protection and Resilience Workshop, an initiative aimed at fortifying the country’s communications infrastructure.

Dr. Maida’s address comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s recent Executive Order designating telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). 

This designation aims to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications against threats that damage service quality and operational efficiency. The workshop also targets the implementation of the Executive Order effectively.

Dr Maida stated that the financial stress on operators, who are forced to spend billions on repairs and also preventative measures against ongoing attacks is a lot. “In addition, the limited access to telecom facilities imposed by both private landowners and government bodies limits expansion efforts, further worsening the connectivity problems,” he added.

Over the years, industry stakeholders have cried out for the recognition of telecom infrastructure as a national asset, urging the government to tackle the incidents of vandalism. 

Earlier this year, Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, stated these issues following the internet outage caused by damaged fibre optic cables.

In 2023, MTN Nigeria reported over 6,000 fibre cuts, which prompted the operator to relocate approximately 2,500 kilometres of its vulnerable fibre lines at a cost exceeding N11 billion. This expenditure could have financed the installation of around 870 kilometres of new fibre lines in unserved areas.

Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Carl Cruz, further revealed that the company encounters an alarming average of 1,000 fibre-cut incidents monthly, pointing to the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for telecom infrastructure.

While the recent classification of telecom infrastructure as a critical national asset has raised hopes for improved security, experts warn that the true effectiveness of this policy hinges on the government’s focus on enforcing it rigorously. 

Past attempts, such as the measures announced in June 2020 by former Communications Minister Dr. Isa Pantami, have yielded little success, with infrastructure vandalism remaining a pervasive issue.

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This decline, recorded by the end of September 2024, shows the impact of the September 14 deadline set by the NCC to verify all SIMs against their respective National Identification Numbers (NIN).

This regulatory mandate has brought Nigeria’s total active mobile subscriber base down to 153.3 million from 219 million in March, representing a 30% reduction. 

Operators Globacom and 9mobile were particularly affected, each experiencing huge reductions in their subscription databases. Globacom saw the most impact, with its active subscriptions plummeting from 62.1 million to just 19.1 million, a drop of 43 million subscriptions. 

Similarly, 9mobile’s active customer base dropped from 11.6 million to 3.6 million, amounting to a loss of around eight million subscriptions.

While MTN and Airtel, the top two operators, also recorded losses, the impact was less severe. MTN, Nigeria’s largest mobile network provider, saw a reduction of 3.7 million subscriptions, bringing its total to 78 million as of September. 

Airtel, the second-largest operator, ended the period with 53.7 million subscriptions after a decline of 9.6 million. Although these companies were less affected in terms of numbers, both are expected to see financial implications in their Q3 2024 revenue reports due to the reduced subscriber base.

Airtel Africa, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria, previously reported a potential $4 million monthly revenue loss tied to the verification exercise, which had hindered the validation of around 4.9 million customers’ NINs by June 2024. Similarly, MTN disclosed it had disconnected over four million unlinked lines earlier in the year, albeit attributing this impact to low-value subscribers.

The September verification deadline capped a multi-year policy rollout that began in December 2020, aiming to link each mobile line to a verified NIN. Following several extensions and warnings, the NCC enforced a final deadline in mid-September, after which unlinked SIMs were deactivated. 

In March alone, over 40 million lines were barred, causing disruptions that led to consumer unrest and a temporary suspension of the policy until September to allow further compliance.

Speaking on this development, Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, noted the importance of the verification exercise for national security. “Every active phone number in Nigeria is now tied to a verified NIN, creating a transparent system that enhances security and accountability,” he stated during the 2024 Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos. 

Dr. Maida emphasised that, with this linkage, law enforcement agencies could better track and identify users involved in criminal activities.

Telecom expert Adewale Adeoye also commended the outcome, noting that the exercise has effectively sanitised the subscriber database. “This is a positive move for the telecom sector and the country. The exercise ensures a transparent system, which could enhance public safety if effectively used by security agencies,” Adeoye stated.

The NCC’s focus on regulatory integrity is stressed by its recent discovery of misreported subscription data, which inflated one operator’s database by millions of inactive lines. This incident led to the correction of 40 million erroneously reported subscriptions, further emphasising the regulator’s commitment to maintaining an accurate industry database.

Although some affected lines have been reactivated after compliance, the NCC continues to advise barred subscribers to visit their respective operators to link their SIMs and restore service.

The regulator is expected to release updated telecommunications data shortly, reflecting the current subscriber indices across networks post-verification.

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