By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The House of Representatives has faulted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over persistently poor telecom services nationwide, accusing the regulator of weak oversight and failure to enforce service standards on operators.
The lawmakers took the position on Wednesday, 6 May, 2026 in Abuja while adopting a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ahmadu Jaha, who represents Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency of Borno State, citing worsening cases of dropped calls, slow data speeds and failed message delivery across networks.
Leading the debate, Jaha stressed that telecommunications remain central to Nigeria’s economy and daily life; however, he lamented that service delivery has continued to fall short of expectations.
“Telecommunication has become a vital part of everyday life in Nigeria.
It connects families, supports businesses, enhances education, and drives economic growth. However, despite its importance, the quality of service provided by many telecom companies remains unsatisfactory,” he said.
He further identified recurring network failures as evidence of systemic inefficiencies, noting that the situation continues to disrupt both personal and business activities.
“The House is concerned that poor network connectivity is a major issue. Subscribers frequently experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and difficulty sending messages. This affects both personal communication and business operations, leading to frustration and financial losses,” Jaha added.
The lawmaker raised concerns over the disparity between high tariffs and poor service quality, stressing that consumers are not getting value for money.
“The House notes that the high cost of data and call tariffs does not match the quality of service delivered. Nigerians often pay significant amounts for data bundles that are quickly exhausted due to unstable connections and network interruptions,” he said.
Beyond network performance, Jaha pointed to weak customer service systems, noting that unresolved complaints often linger and could pose serious risks during emergencies.
“Many subscribers find it difficult to get timely responses to complaints, and issues are often left unresolved for long periods, thereby affecting emergency communications in dire situations like fire outbreaks, medical situations, vehicular situations and the needed responses,” he stated.
He also linked the challenges to inadequate infrastructure, particularly in densely populated cities and underserved rural communities, adding that persistent congestion reflects slow network expansion.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi accused telecom operators of prioritising profit over service improvement; he equally faulted the NCC for regulatory complacency.
“It is like these companies have made enough profits in billions, and so, they don’t care about improving the network anymore. The NCC, the regulator, has become complacent,” Ozodinobi said.
The lawmakers noted that although the telecom sector has grown significantly since liberalisation in the early 2000s rising from fewer than one million lines to over 200 million active subscriptions supporting infrastructure has not kept pace.
They highlighted constraints such as insufficient base stations, unreliable power supply and high operating costs, noting that operators still depend heavily on diesel-powered generators. In addition, multiple taxation, vandalism of telecom facilities and right-of-way challenges continue to hinder expansion, especially in rural and conflict-prone areas.
Nevertheless, critics argued that the NCC has not been firm enough in enforcing its Quality of Service regulations, as sanctions imposed on operators are often insufficient to drive compliance.
Consumer groups have also raised concerns over billing transparency, complaint resolution and service reliability.
Consequently, the House urged telecom operators to invest in modern infrastructure, expand coverage to underserved communities, improve customer service systems and adopt fair pricing.
