*The Nigerian Communications Commission explains the ‘Directive on Reportage of Major Network Outages’ for Telcos is a regulatory initiative to ensure timely information for subscribers, resolution of outages, and enhancing consumers’ quality of experience

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Ahead of any planned service outages, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated telecoms licensees in the country to inform consumers of major service outages on their networks through media channels.

绿帽献妻 reports the Commission directed the Mobile Network聽 Operators (MNOs) to state cause(s) of the service interruption, the area(s) affected by the service interruption/outage, as well as the time that would be taken to restore service to area(s).

Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Acting Head of Public Affairs at NCC, who disclosed this development in a statement Sunday, May 25, 2025, noted the telecoms sector regulator also mandated the Telcos to inform consumers at least a week in advance, where the network operators have planned service outages in the Nigerian ecosystem.

The NCC further stated the 鈥淒irective on Reportage of Major Network Outages by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)”, is part of its efforts at ensuring timely resolution of outages, enhancing quality of telecoms consumers’ experience while keeping them informed.

The Directive as well noted the Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other operators that provide last-mile services would also provide proportional compensation.

These, the Commission stated, include extension of validity, as may be applicable and in line with the provisions of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, where any major network outage continues for over 24 hours.

3 Major types of outages, by NCC

The NCC, in the regulatory Directive, identified three types of major outages to include: Any network operational condition such as fibre cut due to construction/access issues/theft and vandalism and force majeure that impacts five percent or more of the affected operator’s subscriber base or five or more Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Another involves having an occasion of unplanned outage of, or complete isolation of network resources in 100 or more sites or five percent of the total number of sites (whichever is less) or 1 cluster that lasts for 30 minutes or more.

According to the Commission, the third is any form of outage that can degrade network quality in the 10 top states, based on traffic volume as specified by the聽 telecoms sector regulator from time to time.

Going forward, the Commission has directed that all Major Outages are to be reported by operators through the Commission鈥檚 Major Outage Reporting Portal.

The NCC said the portal is accessible to the public through the Commission鈥檚 Web site: www.ncc.gov.ng.

The portal additionally discloses the identity of the culprit responsible for the disruption, stated the Commission.

Engr. Edoyemi Ogor, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at NCC, in his remarks on the Directive and the Major Outage Reporting Portal, stated: 鈥淭he Commission has trailled the reporting process and portal with operators for some months now before issuing the directive.

鈥淏y providing consumers and stakeholders in the telecommunications industry with timely and transparent information on network outages, we are entrenching a culture of accountability and transparency.”

Ogor said: “This approach also ensures that culprits are held responsible for sabotage to telecommunications infrastructure.

鈥淭his also aligns with our broader commitment to the effective implementation of the Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).”

The NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity Aldo noted: “It reinforces the need to safeguard these assets, given their centrality to national security, economic stability, and the everyday lives of Nigerians.”

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