Federal Government directs Telcos to improve service quality, reaffirms NCC’s power to enforce standards

*Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, asserts the Nigerian Communications Commission has been empowered to enforce industry standards and hold network operators accountable for poor performance, stating it is now ‘the responsibility of telecoms operators’ to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver value to Nigerian consumers

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Amid increasing complaints by telecoms subscribers about poor network quality, dropped calls, slow Internet speeds, and service disruptions, the Nigerian Government has warned telecoms operators against regulatory sanctions, if they fail to improve Quality of Service (QoS) and consumers’ Quality of Experience (QoE) across the West African country’s digital ecosystem.

The government insisted the Nigerian consumers must begin to get value for money spent on telecoms services.

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Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), who handed down this directive in a statement Sunday, May 10, 2026, said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had been empowered to enforce industry standards, and hold Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) accountable for poor performance.

ConsumerConnect reports the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently directed the MNOs to compensate affected telecoms subscribers in areas where network quality actually fell below prescribed industry standards as regards their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Tijani stated: “Going forward, we expect to see clear and measurable improvements in call quality, data performance, and coverage.

“Where operators deliver, it will be recognised. Where they do not, the Commission is expected to take appropriate regulatory action.”

The Minister also noted the Federal Government has already created the conditions necessary for improved telecoms service delivery by implementing reforms aimed at stabilising the sector and improving MNOs’ financial sustainability in the ecosystem.

He equally opined that operators are now functioning in a more transparent and market-driven environment, and have returned to profitability, thereby giving them the capacity to address longstanding network challenges.

Tijani: Telcos must improve QoS, consumer experience

Dr. Tijani explained: “As a result, operators are now operating in a more stable, transparent, and market-driven environment and have returned to profitability.

“This is important as it means operators now have both the capacity and the resources to fix outstanding issues within their networks and improve the quality of service delivered to Nigerians.”

The responsibility, he insisted, now lies with telecom firms, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2, to improve service quality across the country.

The Minister further cautioned network operators: “Let me, therefore, be clear, the conditions required for improved service delivery have now been established.

“It is now the responsibility of telecoms operators, such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 to take all necessary steps to resolve network challenges and deliver the level of service Nigerians expect.”

According to him, the Nigerian Government has adopted a two-pronged strategy to tackle connectivity problems, beginning with long-term investments in digital infrastructure.

Update on Project BRIDGE and open access fibre infrastructure

Tijani as well disclosed the Federal Government had secured funding, led by the World Bank under Project BRIDGE to expand nationwide fibre infrastructure, while additional tower deployments under NUCAP and satellite expansion plans were also underway.

As regards government’s preparedness to support improved digital connectivity across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, he affirmed “we have secured funding, led by the World Bank, and established the framework for a special purpose vehicle with Project BRIDGE, to deliver nationwide open access fibre infrastructure.”

Tijani also explained: “Deployment of fibre will commence, alongside new tower rollouts through NUCAP, before the end of the year, even as we also expand our satellite capability.”

The Minister said the investments would help close infrastructure gaps within the next two to five years and improve internet access for businesses and households.

Highlighting some inherent benefits of the ambitious Project BRIDGE, the Minister stated that individual digital consumers, small business owners eventually and should have access to reliable high-speed fibre Internet directly in their homes, shops, offices and organisations without depending on unstable mobile connections.

Ongoing reforms in telecoms sector

Tijani also connected the ongoing reforms in the telecommunications industry to broader economic policies of the Federal Government, including the removal of the controversial fuel subsidies, floating of the Naira, as well as far-reaching fiscal policy and tax reforms in the Nigerian economy.

Among other measures to enhance sustainability in telecommunications, he noted, the designation of telecoms infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), and efforts at harmonising taxes affecting operators, including the Right of Way (RoW).

The Minister fur FMCIDE said: “We took a hard look at the sustainability of the telecommunications sector and made the necessary decisions to restore it.

“This included allowing tariff adjustments, alongside broader reforms, such as the designation of telecoms infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, efforts to harmonise taxes, and macroeconomic reforms including the floating of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidies.”

He assured Nigerians that the government would continue to rely on periodic reports from the NCC and feedback from telecoms consumers to monitor network operators’ compliance and track improvements in service quality.

Tijani averred: “Nigerians should begin to see improvements in Quality of Service, and get the value that they pay for now and in the future.”

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