The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered telecom operators to compensate customers who experience weak or poor network service.
Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, made this known in a statement.
The NCC said the directive is meant to protect consumers and make sure they don’t suffer when network providers fail to deliver reliable service.
Affected users will get compensation in the form of airtime, the Commission explained. This applies to areas where network quality falls below the required standards.
Telecom companies are required to pay customers when they fail to meet service targets. The amount of airtime will be based on how much a user normally spends and how long they were affected by poor service.
The Commission also instructed tower companies, which provide telecom infrastructure like masts, to use any fines paid to them to upgrade their facilities.
The NCC said this move is part of putting customers first in Nigeria’s telecom sector, noting that poor network service affects business, communication, and public trust.
It added that it will continue to ensure telecom operators improve network quality, expand capacity, and meet the growing demand for services.
Many Nigerians have complained in recent years about poor network quality, including dropped calls and slow internet.
To tackle this, the NCC introduced stricter service rules in 2024, including penalties for companies that don’t meet the standards.
