As part of his leadership consumer-centric approach to regulatory affairs in the telecoms ecosystem in the country, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), again, has addressed the growing concern over data consumption and billing transparency in the digital space.
Dr. Maida, who stated this in his keynote speech at the recent 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), held in Abuja, FCT, said with Nigeria boasting 132 million Internet connections, a significant portion of the global five billion user base, the West African country’s digital landscape is rapidly evolving.
The EVC/CEO noted: “Nigerians, on average, spend 4 hours and 20 minutes daily on social media, significantly exceeding the global average.”
Maida also explained that Nigeria’s daily data usage, in 2024, surged to 336 gigabytes per second, a 39 percent increase year-over-year.
Despite this surge in data consumption rate, Maida observed that several telecoms consumers have continued to express dissatisfaction with rapid data depletion in the digital ecosystem.
The NCC Chief Executive as well analysed consumer complaints in a bid to address these concerns and identified data depletion and billing issues as primary concerns.
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The Commission noted the audits of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) indicated no major systemic issues, and the industry regulator equally acknowledges the impact of two primary factors.
According to Maida, these factors are technological advancements, including high-resolution devices, the advent of 4G and 5G technologies, coupled with high-resolution devices, has culminated in increased data consumption in recent times.
He further said viewing a high-resolution photo on Instagram, for instance, could consume significantly more data than in the past.
Likewise, streaming platforms like YouTube have become increasingly popular, contributing to higher data usage.
Despite the somewhat complex nature of the Mobile Network Operators and Internet Service Providers’ tariffs and sometimes confusing and unfair billing practices, Dr. Maida stated the NCC is committed to working with industry stakeholders to address these extant issues and ensure a transparent and fair digital experience for Nigerian telecoms consumers.
