The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on August 7, 2025, took its consumer sensitisation campaign to corps members at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps in Keffi, Nasarawa State, and Paiko, Niger State.
The programme was designed to educate young Nigerians on critical telecom issues, particularly data depletion, while also promoting responsible data management practices.
At both camps, NCC officials engaged the corps members in interactive quiz competitions where winners walked away with items such as power banks, airtime, and data subscriptions. To further support the camps, the Commission donated three 50kg bags of rice and three 25-litre kegs of vegetable oil each to the NYSC in Nasarawa and Niger States.
The donations were formally received by the NYSC State Coordinator in Nasarawa, Hajiya Salamatu Mohammed, and her Niger State counterpart, Mrs. Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim.
Delivering a keynote speech on behalf of the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, Mrs. Freda Ruth Bruce-Bennett, officials of the Commission highlighted the importance of empowering young Nigerians with knowledge about their rights as telecom consumers.
Bruce-Bennett noted that the NCC’s partnership with the NYSC aligns with the shared goal of building a united, informed, and progressive Nigeria.
She said the theme of the sensitisation, “Consumer Sensitization on Data Depletion: The Role of National Youth Service Corps Members,” was particularly important, given the rising number of complaints about unexplained data usage.
According to her, internet subscriptions in Nigeria have grown from 105 million in 2018 to 142 million as of January 2025, driven largely by the increasing popularity of social media, video streaming, and the wider availability of data networks.
“Consumer perception of rapid data depletion remains a major pain point and continues to affect quality of experience and overall satisfaction in the telecoms industry,” Bruce-Bennett said.
She added that the NCC is working to address these concerns through consumer education, promotion of transparent billing, enforcement of fair usage policies, and ongoing engagement with service providers.
The Director also shared practical tips on smart data management, including turning off automatic updates, monitoring data usage, restricting background data consumption, using Wi-Fi where possible, downloading content for offline use, and activating data-saving modes on smartphones.
In her message to the corps members, Bruce-Bennett urged them to serve as “Consumer Champions” in their communities by spreading awareness of telecom rights, reporting service challenges, and sharing feedback with the NCC. “Your voices matter. Your experiences shape policy. Your participation drives progress,” she said.
The sensitisation exercise, which combined learning with fun, was well received by the corps members who expressed enthusiasm for the Commission’s outreach.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to creating a telecom environment that is fair, competitive, inclusive, and consumer-friendly, stressing that protecting consumer rights remains central to its mandate.
