ABUJA, Nigeria — The House of Representatives has given MTN, Airtel, Globacom and other telecom operators seven days to account for persistent network failures, warning that chief executives who ignore its summons could face arrest.
The lawmakers directed the chief executives of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other operators to appear before an ad hoc committee on October 28, 2026, to explain the persistent poor quality of telecommunications services across the country, reports The Guardian.
The directive was issued during a public hearing in Abuja following the adoption of two motions sponsored by Reps. Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene.
The committee expressed displeasure over the failure of some operators, including MTN and Mafab Communications, to honour previous invitations, insisting that the companies must account for the quality of services delivered to Nigerian subscribers.
It also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure compliance and ordered the telecom operators to submit relevant documents ahead of the hearing scheduled for 2pm at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The lawmakers warned that any chief executive who failed to appear could be subjected to an arrest summons.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun), said reliable telecommunications services were critical to Nigeria’s economy, supporting business operations, financial transactions and everyday communication.
He explained that the House constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate recurring complaints from subscribers and identify the factors responsible for poor service delivery.
Osoba criticised telecom operators for sending lower-ranking representatives or offering excuses instead of allowing their chief executives to personally address questions concerning network performance and operational challenges.
Similarly, Rep. Ibe Osonwa condemned the companies’ failure to honour the committee’s invitations despite the revenue they generate from the Nigerian market.
He insisted that telecom operators must be held accountable for the quality of services they provide, warning that the House would not tolerate attempts to frustrate its investigation.
75 Million Subscribers Compensated
The legislative intervention comes amid renewed concerns over network reliability and mounting complaints from telecommunications subscribers.
On October 20, the NCC reported that telecom operators had compensated 75 million subscribers for poor service in 2026, while nearly three million others received refunds for failed airtime and data transactions.
The commission also reported more than 6,500 network interventions during the year, including equipment upgrades and capacity expansion intended to improve service delivery.
However, complaints have persisted despite these interventions.
On October 8, MTN subscribers experienced a network disruption affecting parts of Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Delta states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Reports indicated that the disruption lasted more than five hours, leaving some customers unable to communicate or complete transactions.
Data from the NCC showed that the four major operators recorded a combined 413,587 consumer complaints in the first half of 2026.
Airtel accounted for 228,992 complaints, followed by MTN with 124,405, Globacom with 56,810 and T2mobile with 3,885.
Although the operators reported resolving 406,938 complaints, subscribers have continued to raise concerns over poor call quality, slow internet speeds, billing disputes and failed transactions.
In April 2026, the NCC introduced an automatic airtime compensation framework for eligible subscribers affected by operators’ failure to meet prescribed quality-of-service standards.
Despite the compensation scheme and other regulatory interventions, the House committee is demanding explanations for the continued service problems and concrete plans to improve network quality.
Osoba consequently directed the NCC to ensure that the operators comply with the October 28 appearance deadline and submit all requested documents.
The hearing is expected to provide the lawmakers with an opportunity to question the companies over their service failures, their responses to consumer complaints and the effectiveness of measures introduced to protect subscribers.
