The Director Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, has identified infrastructure investment, regulatory frameworks and operating environments as key factors determining the quality and accessibility of telecommunications services in Nigeria.
Ogoh spoke at the National Civil Society Dialogue on Telecommunications and Data Service Provision in Nigeria, where he analysed the country’s rapidly increasing demand for internet and telecommunications services.
According to him, three major components drive the performance of a telecommunications network: the environment in which it operates, the regulatory rules governing it and the investment made to improve its accessibility and versatility.
He presented Nigeria’s 2025 monthly internet traffic figures, highlighting the scale of data consumption and the growing demand placed on telecommunications infrastructure.
Ogoh disclosed that telecommunications regulation is increasingly moving towards local accountability, with measures being developed to address network challenges at the Local Government Area level.
He explained that quarterly reports and feedback would provide information on network maps, incidents and service-related reports, while simpler tariffs and targeted audits would help drive improvements and infrastructure remediation.
The NCC director further stated that qualifying service failures affecting consumers would attract automatic compensation, citing rollover plans as one of the measures available to customers affected by qualifying service disruptions.
He also highlighted mechanisms available to consumers for monitoring their data usage and lodging complaints.
Ogoh referenced *305# as a channel for consumers to obtain information about their data plans and usage, while *622# can be used to lodge complaints concerning telecommunications networks such as MTN, Airtel and 9mobile.
He noted that network accessibility varies across locations and that technological developments, including the increasing use of modern smartphones and 5G-enabled devices, have contributed to higher data consumption.
Ogoh also stressed the importance of investment in telecommunications infrastructure, noting that increased investment and the emergence of more networks could improve competition and potentially reduce the cost of data services.
He urged stakeholders to recognise the relationship between infrastructure investment, regulation and consumer access as Nigeria continues its transition towards a more digitally dependent economy.
