The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is transforming the country’s telecommunications landscape with focus on sustainability and inclusivity, under the leadership of its new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida.
Maida is being credited with leading a transformative era in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, aimed at aligning Nigeria’s telecom sector with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
Industry experts say this approach underscores a fresh commitment to ensuring that the telecom sector is not just profitable but also socially responsible and environmentally conscious.
At the heart of this transformation is a strong emphasis on corporate governance. Maida, who previously served as Executive Director of Technology & Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), has stressed the importance of corporate governance in achieving sustainability goals.
“Corporate governance is not just a regulatory requirement; it serves as the foundation for the success and sustainability of our industry,” he declared at the 2024 Annual Corporate Governance Conference themed: “Corporate Survival and Sustainability: The New Face of Governance.”
Investigations by Daily Independent reveal that a key pillar of this sustainability agenda is the Corporate Governance Code, which mandates telecom licensees to submit annual compliance reports, with sanctions for defaulters.
NCC sources disclosed that Maida is determined to hold operators accountable through strict compliance monitoring, insisting that sustainability reporting will provide stakeholders with insights into how telecom operators manage risks and opportunities related to sustainability.
The Commission’s posture aligns with Nigeria’s broader commitment to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for environmental and climate-related disclosures, with full compliance targeted for 2027.
To boost digital inclusivity, the NCC has also launched the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN), targeting 70 percent broadband penetration by the end of 2025.
The NBAN aims to expand broadband access to underserved areas, including schools, hospitals, and markets, through collaborations with state governments, telecom operators, and infrastructure companies.
The initiative supports the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), which targets minimum data speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas.
Further findings reveal that the NCC is driving digital literacy to bridge the digital divide. Through its Digital Bridge Institute, the Commission has partnered with institutions such as Nile University to provide advanced digital literacy training.
A source familiar with the program said initiatives like the Advanced Digital Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) aim to equip faculty and staff with essential digital skills, including data analysis and productivity tools.
Additionally, the Commission’s Digital Job Creation for Youths (DJCY) program has trained over 2,000 young Nigerians, equipping them with laptops and networking devices to foster digital entrepreneurship.
NCC’s focus on sustainability also extends to data security and fraud prevention.
The Commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to develop a robust framework to combat fraud in mobile financial services. Maida, according to Commission insiders, is particularly keen on strengthening data protection measures to safeguard both consumers and the industry from potential breaches.
In a novel approach to inclusivity, the NCC has also ventured into healthcare. In May 2025, the Commission commissioned an e-Health Project at the State Specialist Hospital in Akure, Ondo State, aimed at improving healthcare access for over 60 percent of Nigeria’s rural population.
Maida described the project as “a testament to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s commitment to driving innovation, research, and growth in our nation’s digital economy.”
He expressed optimism that the project would accelerate the adoption of ICT in the country’s health sector.
On the consumer protection front, the NCC recently directed telecom companies to compensate subscribers for prolonged service outages.
According to Edoyemi Ogor, NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, the Commission’s Major Outage Reporting Portal will provide consumers with timely and transparent information on network outages.
“By providing timely and transparent information on outages, we are entrenching a culture of accountability and transparency,” Ogor said.
The measure is expected to ensure that telecom operators, especially the big three—MTN, Airtel, and Glo—become more responsible while fostering better relations with their subscribers.
This development comes as the NCC implements new billing regulations. After 12 years of unchanged tariffs, the Commission approved a 50 percent increase in tariffs in January 2025, amid challenging macroeconomic conditions.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, explained that the increase—which was reduced from the 100 percent initially proposed by telecom operators—was necessary due to global inflation and rising operational costs.
The new tariff came into effect on February 17, 2025.
With these initiatives, industry observers say the NCC is laying the groundwork for a more resilient, inclusive, and globally aligned telecommunications sector under Maida’s leadership.
