Telecoms: NCC refutes data depletion claims, highlights 2024 regulatory affairs

*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, clarifies a recent review of the Commission’s regulatory activities in 2024 revealed only a ‘minor data depletion issue’ with the Mobile Network Operators, noting the Commission is addressing this in the telecoms ecosystem

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the recent billing audit conducted on the systems of major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed the telecoms sector regulatory Commission could not uncover “any major issues”.

The NCC has dismissed the widespread claims of significant data depletion among telecoms consumers in the West African country.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, who stated this while speaking during a review of the Commission’s activities in 2024, noted the telecoms regulator’s extensive audit of the MNOs revealed no major issues in the industry.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of NCC

Ke also clarified that the audit, concluded in Third Quarter (Q3) 2024, revealed only minor issues that he said the regulator is addressing.

He stated: “We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true there is a data depletion issue in the industry—it could be perception.

“We conducted a billing audit on the systems of major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), using reputable auditors.

“Surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues.”

Key achievements of NCC 2024, by Maida

The EVC/CEO of NCC, in reviewing the activities of the Commission in the past year, highlighted the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Card linkage policy as yet a significant achievement for the NCC 2024.

It is noted that the initiative, which began December 2020, reached its conclusion September 14 lat year after several extensions and a torturous period that saw millions of unlinked SIMs temporarily barred from mobile networks across the West African country.

The nationwide exercise was aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s security and strengthen the emerging digital economy by ensuring every SIM Card in the country’s telecoms ecosystem  is linked to a verified NIN.

Commenting in the strategic importance of the SIM-NIN linkage to Nigeria, Dr. Maida explained: “This linkage now gives the telecoms regulator a very strong foundation to work with law enforcement agencies and reliably identify ownership of SIM Cards.

“More importantly, it provides a foundation for the digital economy, ensuring integrity and confidence in the system.”

In regard to the overachieving benefits of the exercise, Commission affirmed the NIN-SIM integration exercise would significantly bolster digital transactions, e-commerce, and various service industries reliant on mobile numbers for customer engagement in Nigeria.

The telecoms sector regulator, therefore, restated its commitment to addressing the identified minor network issues during the recent audit.

According to Maida, the NCC will continue to ensure transparency and efficiency in the telecoms sector of the Nigerian economy.