NCC to verify telcos’ claims of compensating 75 million subscribers for poor network service

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it will review whether eligible telecom subscribers received the airtime compensation they were meant to receive.

The review signals an attempt to verify that mobile network operators (MNOs) such as  MTN, Airtel, Globacom and T2mobile (formerly 9mobile) complied with the regulator’s directive to compensate subscribers who experienced poor network between November 2025 and January 2026.

According to a communiqué obtained by Technext on Monday, which contains details from the NCC’s board meeting on May 25, 2026, substantial progress was made in implementing the compensation directive. 

The NCC noted that, based on the operators’ report, more than 75 million Nigerians received airtime compensation. However, the commission mentioned that this will also be put under scrutiny to ensure full compliance by telcos.

“The Board further acknowledged ongoing efforts to independently validate operators’ claims and ensure all eligible subscribers receive compensation due to them while encouraging consumers to continue their engagement with the Commission,” part of the report reads. 

Recall that in a move that marked a consumer victory, the NCC directed all MNOs to compensate customers in specific Local Government Areas who experienced poor network service during those three months. This comes after months of complaints by subscribers about the poor network offered by telcos. 

In their compensation scheme, operators rolled out airtime to affected customers, with the lowest around N19 and the highest close to N950. 

Checking whether each subscriber received the airtime compensation due to them and ascertaining whether all affected subscribers actually received airtime marks a decisive move by the NCC. It foregrounds checks and balances that put operators on their toes.

Also Read: Telecoms: Despite complaints about poor service, NCC says network quality is improving.

Poor network: 12,000 towers in 2026

Despite adjustments in the industry’s billing system, it has continued to battle poor network service marred by fibre cuts, manhole burning, vandalism and equipment thefts. 

These incidents have been on the rise despite the designation of telecoms equipment as critical national infrastructure. With the continual increase in issues causing major outages, there have been calls to stiffen the order which protects telecoms assets against human-driven vandalism. 

Separately, the NCC mentioned that operators have committed to deploying more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites to improve service quality. In light of this, about 5,000 have already been completed, representing a 40% completion rate.

Tower companies (TowerCos) such as IHS and ATS have also been directed to reinvest regulatory fines into upgrading towers nationwide, the deployment of which was meant to be in “measurable outcomes.” The NCC added that TowerCos have only partially complied and emphasised full deployment.