More than 75 million telecom subscribers in Nigeria have received compensation following regulatory action targeting poor quality of service by mobile network operators, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said on Tuesday.
The commission disclosed the figure after its 109th governing board meeting, where it reviewed compliance with directives issued earlier in the year to improve service delivery across the country’s telecommunications sector.
In March, the NCC ordered mobile network operators to compensate customers in areas where service quality fell below prescribed standards, amid widespread complaints over dropped calls, network congestion, poor voice quality and slow internet connectivity.
According to the regulator, implementation of the directive has now reached substantial compliance, resulting in redress for tens of millions of affected users.
“The board noted substantial progress in the implementation of the commission’s directive, particularly full compliance which has resulted in compensation being offered to over 75 million affected subscribers,” the NCC said in a statement.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has in recent years experienced rising frustration among telecom users over inconsistent network performance, despite significant investment by operators in infrastructure expansion and network upgrades.
The NCC said the compensation programme forms part of broader efforts to enforce service quality obligations and ensure that consumers receive value for money in a highly competitive telecoms market dominated by major operators.
The regulator also noted that infrastructure companies responsible for telecom towers and shared network facilities have only partially complied with requirements to fund escrow accounts used for reinvestment in network improvements.
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It said full compliance with these financial obligations remains critical to sustaining long-term infrastructure development and improving service reliability across the sector.
“While noting progress made to date, the board emphasised the importance of full compliance to ensure that the intended infrastructure improvements are realised sustainably,” the commission added.
Alongside regulatory enforcement, the NCC said telecom operators are increasing investments aimed at expanding network coverage and improving service quality nationwide.
According to the commission, operators have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional network sites to enhance capacity and coverage, with over 5,000 already completed.
This represents more than 40 percent progress in the rollout programme, which is expected to strengthen service delivery in underserved and high-demand areas.
The NCC also reported continued expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure, with connectivity extended to more than 700 sites to improve network backhaul capacity and resilience.
In addition, infrastructure providers have installed new equipment across more than 2,000 base transceiver stations to support network expansion and reduce service disruptions.
Despite these improvements, the regulator raised concerns about ongoing vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure, which it described as a major threat to sector stability and investment.
It said security agencies were working to protect telecom facilities classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure, but warned that sustained damage to equipment could undermine gains in network performance.
Analysts say Nigeria’s telecom sector remains one of the most dynamic in Africa, but continues to face structural challenges linked to energy costs, infrastructure gaps and rising demand for data services.
The NCC said it will continue to monitor compliance by operators while pushing for improved service delivery and stronger consumer protection in the sector.
