By Abubakar Ojima-Ojo Yunusa
In Nigeria’s bustling cities and quiet rural hamlets, the hum of mobile phones is a constant. From traders in Lagos markets to farmers in remote northern villages, connectivity powers dreams of progress. Yet, a shared frustration binds this nation of over 200 million: the maddening unreliability of mobile networks.
Dropped calls, sluggish internet, and hours-long outages are daily realities for millions. For a country racing toward a digital future—where mobile banking, e-commerce, and social activism thrive—poor telecom services feel like a betrayal. As grievances flood social media and protests erupt, Nigeria’s digital ambitions are tethered to faltering signals.
In early 2024, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 percent tariff hike for telecom services, raising the cost of calls, SMS, and data bundles.
Telecom operators, long vocal about high operational costs, welcomed the decision. But subscribers, already grappling with economic hardship, called it “insensitive.”
Protests flared in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu, where citizens decried the mismatch between higher costs and persistent poor service.
“We pay more, but the network is still rubbish,” said Chidi Okoye, a protester in Enugu. “It’s like they’re mocking us.”
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), subscribers echo this discontent. Samson Elijah, a journalist with LEADERSHIP newspaper, relies on connectivity to file his stories. Yet, he often finds himself stranded.
“I have enough data, but the network is epileptic,” he told Citizenship Daily.
“It’s alarming how MTN drains data without delivering service.”
Elijah’s frustration is visceral. “Downloading a video can take a whole day. I feel like crying because of this problematic network,” he said.
He questions whether telecom staff experience the same poor service they provide.
“Their adverts are world-class, but the reality? Disgraceful.”
Seun Adeuyi, an Airtel subscriber, shares similar woes. “I buy data, but it takes 24 hours to reflect,” he said.
“I have enough data, but I can’t use it the way I want. It’s exhausting.”
Not every subscriber is disillusioned. Josephine Tanko, an FCT resident, praises her network provider. “It’s fast and reliable—the best internet speed and quality,” she told Citizenship Daily.
She urged struggling operators to raise their standards, hinting at the potential for excellence within Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Yet, Tanko’s experience is an outlier. For most, the promise of connectivity remains unfulfilled, even as tariffs climb.
The NCC’s Pledge:
The NCC, tasked with regulating Nigeria’s telecom industry, is under pressure to act. On February 6, 2024, Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida vowed to hold operators accountable for poor service delivery.
“We will ensure providers meet the standards Nigerians deserve,” he said in a statement.
But subscribers remain sceptical. The tariff hike, many argue, should have been tied to enforceable service improvements. Instead, telecom giants are “smiling to the bank” while consumers bear the cost of unfulfilled promises.
Nigeria’s digital economy is booming, with mobile penetration nearing 90 percent. From fintech startups to social media influencers, connectivity is the backbone of innovation.
Yet, unreliable networks threaten to stifle growth. Small businesses lose sales during outages, students miss online classes, and activists struggle to mobilise.
Collaboration within the telecom ecosystem—between operators, regulators, and government—is critical, experts say. Without it, Nigeria risks falling short of its digital potential.
AsNigeria grapples with its telecom woes, the chorus of discontent grows louder. Subscribers like Elijah and Adeuyi demand more than glossy adverts—they want networks that work. Nigerians signal a public unwilling to accept subpar service quietly.
The NCC’s promises offer a glimmer of hope, but only action will bridge the gap between Nigeria’s connected aspirations and its disconnected reality. For now, millions wait, phones in hand, for a signal strong enough to carry their dreams.
