Tobi Olanrewaju, a telecommunications specialist and president of the National Consumers Advocacy Network (NCAN), says the Nigerian Communications Commission has pushed mobile network operators to make refunds to subscribers after customers reported weak or unreliable network performance. In remarks issued on Wednesday, Olanrewaju pointed to the regulator’s actions under its executive vice chairman, Aminu Maida, saying operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel and Glo were compelled to compensate affected customers.
Olanrewaju said the operators’ decision to provide compensation reflects a tougher, more consumer-focused style of oversight by the commission. He described the NCC’s move as a meaningful change in how enforcement is carried out, arguing that the regulator is now placing the interests of everyday Nigerians at the center of telecommunications governance rather than treating service quality issues as matters with limited consequences.
For years, Olanrewaju said, Nigerian telecom users have faced consistently below-par service without seeing effective accountability for providers. He argued that the situation taking shape under Maida demonstrates that regulatory supervision must be linked to outcomes that improve consumers’ lives. “What we are witnessing under Dr. Aminu Maida is a clear assertion that regulatory oversight must translate into tangible benefits for consumers. This is not merely about compensation; it is about restoring trust in the system,” he said.
He also urged other regulators in Nigeria to take lessons from the NCC’s approach, arguing that when economic pressures are mounting, agencies should focus on policies that directly affect daily living. “At a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic pressures, policies that directly impact their daily lives must be prioritized. Dr. Maida has demonstrated that regulation, when properly executed, can serve as a powerful tool for social and economic justice,” Olanrewaju added.
Separately, he noted that MTN Nigeria compensated subscribers last month with airtime after complaints about poor network service experiences.
