Nigerian Reps Demand Telecom CEOs Explain Service Failures

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Ogun State, has issued a seven-day ultimatum for the chief executive officers of major telecom operators to appear and explain the ongoing issues with network services in Nigeria. The committee is responding to persistent complaints from subscribers regarding poor service delivery.

Osoba criticized telecom companies for sending junior officials to meetings instead of their CEOs, emphasizing the importance of reliable telecommunications for Nigeria's economy. Another committee member, Ibe Osonwa, condemned the operators for not honoring invitations despite their significant revenue generation.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported that 75 million subscribers were compensated for poor service in 2026, with nearly three million receiving refunds for failed transactions. The committee's demand for explanations follows a disruption affecting MTN subscribers on October 8, which lasted over five hours.

The NCC has conducted over 6,500 network improvements this year, yet subscribers continue to report issues.