Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), yesterday ordered telecom operators to begin compensation of subscribers for poor network quality with airtime credits.

According to  Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC,  the measure is part of renewed efforts to improve service delivery, protect consumers, and hold operators accountable for persistent lapses in network performance across the country.

Maida, also outlined his commission’s latest compliance and enforcement strategies.

He said the compensation directive followed verified failures by operators to meet established minimum quality of service standards in several locations.

“It is not a refund from the regulator but a compliance obligation placed on service providers,” he said, stressing operators must bear full responsibility.

He explained that the framework relies on detailed monitoring at local government level, enabling the commission to pinpoint exact areas and periods of poor service.

This granular approach, he said, allows regulators to move beyond general complaints and focus on measurable, location-specific service deficiencies affecting subscribers.

According to him, the compensation specifically covers service failures recorded between November 2025 and January 2026 across multiple network providers.

“Eligible subscribers will receive airtime credits with notifications explaining the cause and value of the compensation,” he said.

He added that notifications would improve transparency and help users understand why compensation was applied to their accounts.

Maida noted the commission has significantly strengthened its monitoring systems to capture real-time, location-specific service performance data.

“These systems ensure enforcement reflects actual user experience rather than generalised industry averages,” he said, highlighting improved regulatory precision.

He added that operators are required to implement the compensation directly, while the NCC provides oversight to ensure compliance.

“Independent checks will confirm that affected subscribers are properly credited,” he said, noting sanctions for non-compliance may follow.

Maida said the initiative formed part of broader reforms aimed at improving accountability and service standards within the telecommunications sector.

“Operators failing to meet obligations will face stricter enforcement measures,” he warned, signalling tougher regulatory action ahead.

He stressed that improving service quality required both sustained infrastructure investment and stronger operational discipline by network providers.

“Service providers must maintain performance standards consistently across all regions, including underserved and rural areas,” he said.

Maida reiterated the NCC’s commitment to balancing consumer protection with industry sustainability and long-term sector growth.

“Operators must take responsibility for the quality of experience delivered to subscribers,” he said, urging greater corporate accountability.

He added that the commission remained committed to ensuring Nigerians received value for money spent on telecom services nationwide.

“Persistent poor service quality is no longer acceptable under current regulatory direction,” he said, emphasising zero tolerance for continued lapses.

Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission – NCC has urged the newly inaugurated Nigeria IPv6 Council to develop a credible pathway to raise Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption from approximately 5% today to a level that places us among Africa’s leading nations within the next three years.

He stated this at the inauguration of Nigeria IPv6 Council in Lagos yesterday. Quoting APNIC’s 2026 global measurements, “Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption stands at approximately 5% while leading economies have surpassed 40%. Global IPv4 reserves are exhausted, while the rapid expansion of 5G networks, the Internet of Things, cloud services, and AI-driven applications has pushed the limits of legacy internet addressing.

“At the same time, the cyber-threat landscape continues to intensify. In this context, IPv6 is a strategic necessity for national competitiveness, security, and economic sovereignty.”

Dr. Maida urged the Council to drive collaboration between stakeholders to ensure alignment with the National IPv6 Deployment Strategy.

“To our operators, government colleagues, and enterprise partners, the time for the adoption of, and prioritisation of IPv6 deployment across your networks and platforms is now. Invest in training your technical teams,and ensure that your infrastructure and procurement pipelines are IPv6-ready by default. The investments you make today will determine Nigeria’s digital competitiveness tomorrow.”

The commission mandated the Council to establish a monitoring and reporting framework; Including providing quarterly progress updates to the Commission and an annual State of IPv6 Deployment report to the nation.

More so, drive capacity building and certification by partnering with AFRINIC, academic institutions, and professional bodies to train a critical mass of IPv6-certified engineers across Nigeria.

Champion public sector leadership by working with MDAs to migrate government networks, websites, and e-services to dual-stack or IPv6-native configurations, so that the public sector leads by example.

Engage industry players and the private sector, working with operators, ISPs, data centres, content providers, and financial institutions to remove deployment barriers and unlock private investment in IPv6 infrastructure.

They were also urged to advise on policy and regulation, recommending to the Commission the incentives, standards, and procurement guidelines required to accelerate nationwide adoption.

Mr. Muhammed Rudman, chairman of the Nigeria IPv6 Council in his presentation said that With IPv4 addresses exhausted worldwide, continued reliance on legacy resource creates scalability bottlenecks.

“Our growing digital economy is projected to reach $18.3 billion in revenue by 2026—requires modern addressing capabilities. Without urgent IPv6 transition, Nigeria risks being left behind as emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, and cloud services demand the expanded address space only IPv6 can provide

“IPv6 is essential for Nigeria’s digital transformation, providing the foundation for unlimited connectivity, enhanced security, and next-generation technologies that will drive economic growth and innovation.

“IPv6 provides 340 undecillion IP addresses, ensuring every device in Nigeria can connect directly to the internet without costly workarounds or address sharing.

“Built-in IPsec encryption improves network security. Enables IoT, cloud computing, AI, and smart city initiatives critical to Nigeria’s digital economy, he added.

As a catalyst for National Development, he said IPv6 enables expansion of digital services, e-commerce platforms, and fintech solutions, driving economic diversification and job creation across Nigeria.

“Expanded internet access reaches underserved communities while seamless device integration connects millions of Nigerians to the digital economy.

IPv6 provides the foundation for IoT deployments, smart city initiatives, and AI-powered services that will transform Nigeria’s technological landscape,” he stated.

A high-level UK delegation has concluded a week-long skills and schools trade mission to Nigeria, marking a significant step forward in education and skills cooperation between the two countries.

Running from 19-23 April 2026 across Abuja and Lagos State, the mission brought together leading UK private schools, skills providers, and education institutions with Nigerian partners, schools, and the Honourable Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa.

The mission follows the high profile and well received state visit to the UK in March, which also included education engagements.  Supported by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the mission forms part of its new International Education Strategy, under which Nigeria has been identified as one of five priority education markets, spearheaded by Professor Sir Steve Smith, who is looking forward to visiting the country again this year.

The mission focused on in-country delivery of education, the establishment of world-renowned UK schools in Nigeria, and the development of skills and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems aligned with industry demand.

In Abuja, the delegation met with Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, securing strong political backing for UK–Nigeria education partnerships and set the groundwork for ongoing institutional collaboration across both schools and skills.

In Lagos, delegates engaged further with potential partners and investors. In both cities the delegation was thrilled to visit local British curriculum schools and colleges to further enable them to experience first-hand the teaching and learning environment.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, said: “The UK and Nigeria share a deep and longstanding relationship, and opportunities in education are one of its most exciting frontiers.

“This mission has demonstrated the strong appetite on both sides to deepen collaboration in education and skills.”

“By bringing together UK schools and skills providers with Nigerian partners and policymakers, we are laying the foundations for even more long-term partnerships that support Nigeria’s education priorities, strengthen skills aligned to industry needs, and create opportunities for sustainable, in-country delivery as well as positioning Nigeria as the regional hub for high quality education.”

DBT Head of International Education, Sarah Chidgey, said: “This mission is a perfect example of the International Education Strategy being put into action, building on multiple two-way visits and the UK and Nigeria’s warm relationship. It has been heartening to see all the progress in UK Nigeria education collaboration since my first visit to Nigeria, as part of a wider delegation, in 2022.”

DBT’s mission concluded with a strong pipeline of follow-up activity, including targeted one-to-one meetings, MoU discussions, and agreed next steps between UK and Nigerian counterparts.