By Nkechi Eze
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering a better quality of experience for consumers in 2026, stressing that a fair, competitive and sustainable communications market remains central to Nigeria’s social and economic development.
In a New Year outlook on the state of the sector, the NCC EVC noted that Nigeria’s communications industry continues to shape how citizens live, work, learn and do business, making service reliability, affordability and consumer trust more critical than ever. According to him, when services are dependable and competitively priced, confidence in the sector grows, while stable investment conditions enable network expansion, drive innovation and open up wider opportunities for Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
He said this vision aligns squarely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the national ambition to build a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030, adding that the communications sector remains a key enabler of that goal.
Reflecting on recent progress, the NCC Chairman described 2025 as a turning point for the industry, marked by a return of investment momentum, accelerated network rollout and measurable improvements in coverage, capacity and overall performance. He disclosed that broadband subscriptions grew to over 109 million, median download speeds improved significantly, while 4G and 5G coverage continued to expand across the country.
He further highlighted strategic initiatives such as Project BRIDGE, which he said is strengthening Nigeria’s digital backbone and laying the foundation for more resilient national connectivity. According to him, enhanced collaboration with critical institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, has also begun to yield concrete consumer benefits, notably the implementation of refund mechanisms for unsuccessful airtime and data transactions.
Despite these gains, the NCC Chairman acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly infrastructure constraints and uneven quality of service in some areas. He noted that these issues underscore the need to deepen and sustain reforms to ensure that progress is evenly distributed and that no community is left behind.
Looking ahead to 2026, he said the Commission’s focus is clear and deliberate: stronger consumer protection and value, a predictable and investment-friendly regulatory environment, and a resilient, secure communications ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s growing digital aspirations.
He called on consumers, operators and sector partners to engage constructively with the Commission and align with its priorities for the year, expressing confidence that sustained collaboration will further strengthen the sector and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards a more inclusive and robust digital economy.
