Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the State Governments should stand firm by taking strong measures to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure during road construction.
The Commission reminded them that any damage to fibre networks continues to affect service delivery across the country.
The Commission’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida , who made the appeal in Abuja at a media engagement, specifically expressed concern over the rising number of fibre cuts linked to civil works.
Maida, however, commended the Edo State Government for what he described as a practical and effective approach to addressing the problem.
He said contractors in the state now notify the commission and mobile network operators before commencing projects, allowing operators to take preventive measures.
“That simple action has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of incidents that occur due to construction activities,” he said, adding that the model was being promoted for adoption by other states.
According to him, improved coordination between authorities, contractors and telecom operators in Edo has reduced avoidable damage and positioned the state as a benchmark for infrastructure protection.
Maida stressed that replicating such practices nationwide would help reduce service disruptions and strengthen the reliability of telecommunications networks in Nigeria.
On service quality, he said independent data indicated gradual improvement in network experience, although rising data consumption continued to strain infrastructure.
“We are still not where we want to be, but we are beginning to see the right signals,” he said.
He added that operators upgraded about 2,800 telecom sites last year across MTN, Airtel and Globacom networks, including technology upgrades from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G, as well as fibre expansion.
According to him, operators have committed to about 12,000 additional site upgrades and new deployments this year to expand coverage and capacity.
On consumer protection, Maida said the commission had introduced a compensation framework for subscribers affected by poor service, aimed at ensuring customers directly benefit from regulatory sanctions imposed on operators.
He also said tower companies had been included in the directive and are expected to increase investments in power and security infrastructure to improve service reliability.
Also speaking, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the quarterly engagement with the media was designed to improve public understanding of developments in the telecoms sector.
“This quarterly interaction is being held precisely because we believe that a well-informed press produces a well-informed public.”
“A well-informed public is one of the strongest tools we have for driving real progress in the telecom sector,” Makama said.
The NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, also emphasised the importance of sustained engagement with journalists, saying the platform would support “open and frank conversations” on emerging industry trends.
The NCC added that the engagement with the media was part of efforts to deepen transparency and improve public understanding of developments in the telecommunications sector.