Nigeria’s telecoms regulator has dismantled more than 450 illegal signal boosters and imposed penalties totaling N45 million on defaulting operators, reinforcing efforts to improve network performance and the consumer experience nationwide.
The Nigerian Communications Commission confirmed the enforcement actions in an update to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, noting that the unauthorised devices were removed across the Federal Capital Territory in 2025. The boosters were found to disrupt surrounding networks, resulting in dropped calls, slow data speeds, and increased customer complaints.
The News Chronicle observed that performance reviews conducted after the removals showed immediate improvements, with dozens of network sites recording stronger service quality and fewer user complaints. The regulator said these results support its decision to intensify enforcement ahead of 2026.
Beyond sanctions, the NCC highlighted broader reforms to enhance transparency and accountability. Operators are now required to notify subscribers of major outages, while a real-time outages portal and a crowdsourced national coverage map have been launched to help users track network performance across locations.
The commission also disclosed that Nigeria’s telecoms sector attracted over one billion dollars in fresh investment in 2025, alongside the deployment of thousands of new and upgraded network sites. Routine audits, drive tests and daily performance reporting have been reinstated to independently verify service claims.
According to the NCC, fines imposed on operators including Airtel, Globacom and IHS form part of a broader strategy to align investment, compliance and service quality as data demand continues to rise across the country.
