By Juliet Umeh
Nigerians struggling with failed airtime recharges may soon have relief, as the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, are finalising a new framework to standardise recharge transactions and protect consumers from losses.
Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, disclosed that the move followed rising complaints from subscribers about being debited without receiving airtime, unexplained data depletion, and poor network quality.
“When you recharge, you get debited and don’t necessarily get the credit,” Maida explained. “We set up a joint task force with the CBN’s consumer affairs directorate, and a framework is now under review to standardise top-up and recharge operations.”
The regulator said the new system would be thorough and enforceable once operational, adding that it was part of broader reforms to strengthen accountability in the telecoms sector.
Beyond mobile network operators, MNOs, the NCC has now extended its quality of service guidelines to include Tower Companies, TowerCos, which handle power and site security. “We are holding them accountable too. Equipment is already being installed nationwide, but given Nigeria’s 40,000 telecom sites, improvements will take time,” Maida noted.
He also stressed that good corporate governance and transparency were essential for long-term industry growth. “It may feel uncomfortable in the short term, but transparency builds investor confidence. My vision is to see a wholly-owned Nigerian telecom company thriving on the stock exchange like Dangote,” he said.
On consumer behaviour, Freda Bruce-Bennett, NCC’s consumer affairs director, advised Nigerians to adopt smarter data management habits, such as turning off auto-play on videos, disabling background data for non-essential apps, and using provider tools to track consumption.
The NCC assured subscribers that it remains committed to improving service quality, safeguarding consumer rights, and sustaining a stable investment climate as digital demand grows.
