The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has recorded significant achievements in the past two years under the leadership of Dr. Aminu Maida. These milestones demonstrate the Commission's commitment to promoting a dynamic, competitive, and secure telecommunications environment in Nigeria.
Some of the Achievements and Key Milestones of Dr. Aminu Maida led NCC in the Past Two Years
The Consumers
Consumers of telecommunications services remain at the core of the Commission’s mandate.
Tariff Simplification
One of the major challenges faced by consumers of mobile telecommunication services is the lack of clarity on how their data is managed and billed. Following a thorough audit of billing systems and a study of consumer behaviour, the Commission observed that the proliferation of tariff structures—featuring multiple complex bundles and hidden charges—makes it difficult for subscribers to understand their data plans, compare prices, or manage their spending effectively.
To address this concern, the Commission issued a Tarif Simplification Guidance to telecom operators mandating them to simplify tariffs by limiting offerings to no more than seven voice plans and 100 bundle plans, as well as to publish clear disclosure tables that contain the plan names, price, validity, add-ons and terms and conditions in a uniform, user-friendly format, for consumers, and provide at least 30 days’ notice before implementing any tariff changes.
This measure promotes billing transparency, promotes fair competition, as well as empowers consumers to make informed decisions about their telecoms service usage.
Launch of the NCC Major Network Outage Incident Reporting Portal
To tackle the recurring challenge of vandalised or stolen infrastructure, the Commission has established the Major Network Outage Incident Reporting Portal to monitor and track significant service disruptions. Through this platform, operators are required to report details of major outages, including their causes, affected areas, restoration timelines, and, where necessary, compensation for consumers in cases where outages last beyond 24 hours. In addition, the Commission has issued a directive mandating mobile network operators and major internet service providers to notify consumers of any significant service disruptions as well as planned maintenance activities.
This initiative is aimed at keeping consumers better informed while strengthening transparency within the sector. It also reinforces the Commission’s commitment to an open and accountable regulatory framework.
Implementation of the Federal Government’s NIN-SIM Linkage Policy
The NCC has successfully implemented the National Identity Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) linkage policy which saw the successful linking of over 153 million SIMs to a verifiable NIN, after multiple deadlines. By the final deadline of September 14 2024 all non-linked SIMs became inactive. The Commission collaborated with key stakeholders such as the National Identity Managment Commission (NIMC), as well as with security agencies to ensure this success.
Telecommunications services are the backbone of modern life, enabling social connections, online transactions, and access to a wide range of digital services. However, the integrity of this system must be safeguarded from fraudsters and criminals. This is why the implementation of the Federal Government’s NIN-SIM linkage policy is critical. By ensuring strict compliance, the policy has strengthened security and reinforced trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Today, with every phone number linked to a verifiable identity, security agencies can effectively trace communications to identifiable individuals—providing greater assurance to citizens and closing avenues for criminal exploitation.
The Industry/ Operators
The Commission understands that for consumers to receive quality service delivery, telecommunications operators must be resilient and capable of delivering this. They must have the necessary regulatory tools to innovate, the much-needed resources to invest in latest telecom network equipment, the right governance structures, and critical protection of their assets to continue to deliver these services.
Revised Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Telecommunications Industry
In July 2025, the Commission launched its 2025 Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Telecommunications Industry—a framework that is designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and resilience in the industry. The Guidelines emphasizes balanced board structures for operators, enhanced internal controls, and rigorous risk management practices, while also addressing critical challenges such as cybersecurity threats, climate risks, and operational inefficiencies. With effective and stronger governance boards in the telecommunications industry, operators will be more resilient and able to offer improved services to licensees.
USSD Debt Settlement and Transition to USSD End User Billing (EUB)
The persisting dispute between the telecom operators and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) over who should bear the cost of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transaction created tension that nearly led to USSD service withdrawal by the telcos and created a dominant cloud of uncertainty for stakeholders, particularly consumers in the telecom ecosystem.
Under Dr. Maida’s leadership, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Commission brokered a debt settlement framework that cleared the backlog of over a hundred billion Naira owed to telecommunication operators. This restored confidence between the MNOs and the banks, ensuring sustainable financial inclusion, strengthening our digital payment environment, while boosting trust and investment into the sector.
The Commission, having resolved this, working with the CBN has introduced the End User Billing (EUB) Policy to improve consumer quality of experience and to ensure that consumers now know exactly what’s they spend on use of the USSD service. With the EUB Model, consumers now pay for their USSD services with their airtime, a service which they can opt-in or out of.
Operationalizing the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order
Through the sustained advocacy of the Commission, the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order came into being. Signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2024, the Order designates the ICT systems and infrastructure of 13 vital sectors—including telecommunications—as critical assets that must be protected.
The CNII Presidential Order guarantees proactive protection of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure thereby dealing with vandalism, theft and denial of service to these assets, while ensuring continued network service provision by operators. For the telecommunications sector, the Commission working under the leadership of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been tasked with ensuring the full operationalisation of this mandate. To achieve this, the Commission has set up a Telecommunications Industry Working Group to coordinate its operationalisation. We have commenced by first ensuring that telecom operators comply with industry standards on site maintenance and security.
We have also launched a broad public awareness drive, including TV and radio jingles, social media campaigns, and community engagement initiatives, to mobilise citizens in protecting telecom infrastructure. In addition, the Commission alongside ONSA is deepening collaboration with sub-nationals and their institutions, as well as the judiciary. Through mediation, enforcement, and prosecutions of vandals, the NCC and ONSA are giving practical effect to the Presidential Order in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital lifelines. Within the last two years, ONSA has successfully dismantled major cartels responsible for the theft of telecommunications equipment across the country.
General Authorisation Framework for the Telecommunications Industry
In line with the Commission’s mandate to foster a dynamic, competitive and investor-friendly telecommunications environment, the NCC is in the process of introducing the General Authorisation Framework which provides a licensing pathway for licensing proposals that the Commission is yet to issue license categories for. The General Authorisation Framework would allows for Proof-of-Concept projects, establishes a Regulatory Sandbox; a controlled space where new ideas can be tested in real-world conditions and an Interim Service Authorisation; a temporary regulatory authorisation to provide service until the development of a license category.
Through this approach, we are providing a platform for innovators of various sizes (startup or established companies) to demonstrate feasibility, assess risk, and measure outcomes before deployment. This model encourages experimentation and responsible innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest. It also positions the Commission as a responsive, enabling regulator supporting creativity while maintaining integrity in our communications ecosystem.
Combating Call Masking in Telecoms
The telecommunications industry was losing hundreds of thousands of dollars daily in revenue losses through Call Masking. The illicit practice of call masking hides a caller’s identity, to defraud or evade accountability, or facilitate other crimes. It happens mostly where calls are routed through SIM Box devices and other technologies that replace the original callers’ number, especially from abroad, with a local number.
The Commission investigated various entities, accosted the culprits and sanctioned them. The practice of Call Masking with international calls are fraudulently terminated as local calls has remarkably declined, with masked calls dropping by over 80% in the past six months.
Building Capacity for Nigeria’s Digital Future
As part of its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and enhancing resilience in the telecommunications sector, the Commission has partnered with Nokia Networks to establish a state-of-the-art 4G/5G test lab at the NCC Centre of Excellence, located within the NCC Digital Industrial Park (DIP), Abuja.
This collaboration provides a critical platform for improving service quality, advancing infrastructure development, and supporting human capital growth within the modern telecoms ecosystem. By offering hands-on training opportunities, the initiative will equip selected young Nigerian—drawn from each of the six geopolitical zones—with practical skills and exposure to next-generation technologies in telecommunications.
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