The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered mobile network operators to compensate subscribers in areas where network service falls below the prescribed standards.
In a statement on Sunday, Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs at the Commission, said affected subscribers would receive airtime credits based on their average spending patterns and their location within local government areas experiencing service disruptions.
“Subscribers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery,” the commission stated.
According to the NCC, the compensation is part of its consumer-focused regulatory approach, designed to place subscribers at the centre of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
“Telecommunications services today underpin economic activity, social interaction, and access to digital opportunities. When service quality is poor, it affects productivity, commercial activities, and public confidence in our communications system,” the statement added.
The regulator also directed Tower Companies, which own critical telecom infrastructure such as masts, to reinvest fines levied against them into measurable infrastructure upgrades to strengthen network performance.
“The commission will continue to enforce operators’ obligations to invest consistently in network resilience, capacity expansion, and infrastructure improvements to meet the growing demand for telecommunications services,” the NCC said.
The regulator further stated that it would continue deploying regulatory tools to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability, ensuring subscribers receive the quality of service they deserve.
“Tower Companies are mandated to invest in infrastructure with measurable outcomes using fines imposed on them, in addition to other financial penalties the commission deems appropriate,” the statement concluded.
