The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has taken its consumer education campaign to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps in Nasarawa and Niger States, sensitising corps members on smart data management and their rights as telecom consumers.
On August 7, 2025, NCC officials visited the Magaji Dan-Yamusa Permanent Orientation Camp in Keffi, Nasarawa State, and the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State. The visits formed part of the Commission’s strategic outreach to empower young Nigerians with knowledge to navigate the increasingly digital world.
Addressing the corps members, Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, highlighted the theme of the exercise: “Consumer Sensitization on Data Depletion: The Role of National Youth Service Corps Members.”
He explained that complaints about data depletion have been on the rise, with consumers citing unexplained reductions in their data balance. According to him, the number of internet subscriptions in Nigeria rose from 105 million in August 2018 to 142 million in January 2025, driven largely by social media use, online content consumption, and expanded network access.
He noted that while the NCC continues to engage service providers to improve quality of experience, the Commission is also intensifying consumer education on factors responsible for rapid data use, including video streaming, social media, automatic app updates, hotspot use, and location services.
The corps members were given practical tips for controlling data usage, such as monitoring data consumption, using Wi-Fi where possible, disabling automatic updates, restricting background data for apps, and enabling data-saving modes on devices.
“You are key agents of change,” Dr Maida told the corps members. “We urge you to become Consumer Champions, spread awareness, educate others about our initiatives, and engage with us to improve telecom services in Nigeria.”
The sensitisation sessions also featured quiz competitions, with winners receiving prizes such as power banks, airtime, and data subscriptions. In addition, the NCC donated three 50kg bags of rice and three 25-litre kegs of vegetable oil to each of the NYSC camps.
The NYSC State Coordinators in Nasarawa and Niger States, Hajiya Salamatu Mohammed and Mrs. Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim respectively, received the items and commended the NCC for its support to corps members and its efforts to safeguard telecom consumers.
The NCC urged corps members to remain engaged through its complaint channels and social media platforms, stressing its commitment to a telecom sector built on fairness, transparency, and trust. The EVC was represented by Mrs. Freda Ruth Bruce-Bennett, Director of the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Bureau.
