NCC applauds FG for classifying telecommunication infrastructure as critical national assets in Nigeria
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has applauded the Federal Government for classifying telecommunication infrastructure in Nigeria as critical national assets. This was made known by Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Director/Chief Executive of the NCC, while speaking at the 93rd Telecom Consumer Parliament in Abuja.
According to him, “vandalism of infrastructure and the increasing cost of operation were some of the challenges facing operators and promised that the NCC was addressing these challenges.
“We cannot ignore the impact of current macroeconomic challenges and the rising cost of business in the country which affects the ability of operators to make the necessary investments in the sector.
“The Commission is mindful of this and is actively working with other arms of government and stakeholders to address these issues and ensure the industry’s sustainability.”
He further, said that in spite of these challenge, the adoption of telecommunication services in the country had been growing in the last two decades.Globally, Data Reportal notes there are now over 5 billion internet users, with Nigeria alone accounting for 132 million connections.
“Nigerians spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes on social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives.
“In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39% increase from the previous year, a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead”.
He maintained that transition from basic voice services to 5G-enabled innovations such as smart cities and the Internet of Things had driven significant digital adoption.
He said that with the growing adoption of telecommunication services, the issue of data usage and billing transparency had emerged as major consumer concerns.
Maida said the NCC had introduced an audit to the billing systems of mobile network operators and internet service providers. The perception of rapid data depletion had persisted even when the audits had revealed no significant issues. NCC launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness to educating users on smarter data management.
He assured that the campaign had been disseminated through radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, providing practical tips for optimising data usage. (GBN)