NCC announces partnership with CBN to standardize airtime recharge
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have joined forces to establish a new framework aimed at standardising airtime recharge operations across the country.
This initiative comes in response to numerous subscriber complaints regarding failed recharges, uncredited payments, and rapid data depletion.
According to Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), the collaboration seeks to address these persistent issues, ensuring that consumers receive refunds for failed transactions and experience improved service quality. A joint task force has been formed, and a comprehensive framework is currently under review to streamline top-up and recharge processes.
“When you recharge, you get debited and don’t necessarily get the credit. The director of consumer affairs with our counterparts in the CBN set up a task force, and there’s now a framework that is undergoing review to standardise the operations around top-ups and recharge,” Maida said.
In addition to this, the NCC has revised its Quality of Service (QoS) guidelines, extending accountability beyond mobile network operators (MNOs) to include tower co-location service providers (TowerCos). This expanded oversight holds TowerCos responsible for power and security at telecom sites, a critical factor in overall service delivery.
“We have revised our quality of service guidelines, so no longer do we just hold the mobile network operators accountable. We have brought TowerCos into scope to hold them accountable for quality of service,” he said.
“We meet bi-weekly with operators, and improvement plans have been submitted. Investments unlocked by tariff adjustments and government policies have started flowing in.
“Equipment orders are arriving from overseas and installations are ongoing, but we must be patient because Nigeria has over 40,000 telecom sites, some in difficult terrain.
“So that framework is undergoing review by both regulators. We have to be very thorough, and once that is released and operationalised, I’m confident that that particular issue should come under control.”
The EVC also highlighted the importance of corporate governance and transparency in sustaining investor confidence and fostering growth within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. He emphasised that while new regulatory pushes might seem uncomfortable in the short term, they are essential for the industry’s long-term expansion and stability.
Furthermore, the Director of the Consumer Affairs Bureau at the NCC advised subscribers on smarter data management habits, such as regularly updating mobile applications, limiting automatic downloads, and monitoring background activities to reduce unnecessary data consumption.
The NCC reassures consumers of its commitment to improving service delivery, protecting user rights, and maintaining a robust investment climate despite ongoing challenges.
