The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to telecommunications operators, directing them to urgently improve the quality of their services or face regulatory sanctions.
The Commission’s stance follows rising public complaints and increasing scrutiny from the National Assembly over persistent network failures, poor call quality, and inadequate coverage across parts of the country.
The warning comes at a time when discussions around the mandatory electronic transmission of election results are gaining momentum, placing renewed attention on the readiness and reliability of Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure.
However, major operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom have rejected claims that the country’s telecom network is largely inadequate. They described some of the criticisms as exaggerated and urged lawmakers to rely on verified regulatory statistics rather than unsubstantiated reports.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, insisted that assessments of network coverage should be based strictly on data provided by the NCC.
“Upon which survey or statistics is the Senate coming up with its position of inadequate telecom infrastructure?” Adebayo asked.
He stated that available NCC records indicate that over 70 per cent of Nigeria is currently covered by 3G and 4G services, while 5G coverage stands at about 11 per cent, with the remaining areas still served by 2G networks.
Adebayo further argued that even 2G networks can support the electronic transmission of election results, cautioning against a blanket conclusion that Nigeria is unprepared for digital election processes.
He acknowledged, however, that certain states affected by insurgency and insecurity pose operational challenges, especially in terms of access and the safety of technicians responsible for maintaining telecom installations.
According to him, such security-related disruptions are limited to specific areas and should not be used as a basis to discredit nationwide infrastructure capacity. He called for a coordinated stakeholders’ meeting to address connectivity gaps in hard-to-reach and conflict-prone locations.
The telecom operators’ position also aligns with earlier explanations from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which clarified in 2022 that results captured in areas with temporary connectivity issues would be uploaded automatically once election devices enter areas with stable network coverage.
The latest exchange highlights the growing link between telecommunications infrastructure and electoral transparency, as regulators, lawmakers and network operators continue to debate the technical and policy demands of a digitised election system in Nigeria.
