Mobile networks are getting faster and more reliable as operators pour billions into infrastructure upgrades, driving a 170% surge in data use and a sharp drop in consumer complaints, the Nigerian Communications Commission said Friday.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Wada Maida told a media parley in Abuja that operators upgraded over 3,000 tower sites last year, with a target of 12,000 for 2026. About 2,800 of those have been completed as of April.
One operator alone spent roughly $1 billion on network upgrades, Maida said, while industry-wide investment topped $1 billion in 2025.
The upgrades are showing results. Consumer complaints fell from 351,000 in January 2025 to 76,000 in January 2026 — a 78% drop.
Maida said 52% of telecom users have now migrated from 2G and 3G to 4G, reflecting wider smartphone adoption. Data consumption nationwide has jumped more than 170%.
The Commission is pushing local assembly of smartphones to cut costs and boost digital inclusion, he added.
On numbering, Maida said phone lines inactive for one year may be withdrawn, in line with International Telecommunication Union rules. “Phone numbers are managed internationally by the ITU,” he stated.
On security, Maida said the Office of the National Security Adviser is coordinating efforts against cybercrime and criminal use of digital platforms.
The NCC has rolled out a revised internet code of practice for operators to take down harmful content.
“I can assure you that all stakeholders are working together,” Maida said, naming the NFVCB, NITDA, NDPC and NBC. “There are occasions where inappropriate contents have been taken down some platforms to protect the citizens and children.”
He urged parents to monitor children’s smartphone and internet access, warning that exposure to harmful content has “far reaching implications on the society.”
Maida asked Nigerians to be patient as sector reforms continue, saying current trends point to sustained service improvements.
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