MTN, Airtel, Glo CEOs face Reps’ probe over poor network quality

The House of Representatives has summoned chief executive officers of telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria to appear before it on October 28 over persistent poor network quality, warning that executives who fail to honour the invitation risk arrest.

The directive was issued on Wednesday by the House Ad hoc Committee investigating the persistent decline in service quality and customer experience in the telecommunications sector.

The resolution followed the adoption of two motions moved by Rep. Sunday Umeha (APC-Enugu) and Rep. Afam Ogene (NDC-Anambra), after the chief executives of MTN, MAFAB Communications and other operators reportedly failed to honour previous invitations.

The committee directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the CEOs of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, MAFAB and other telecommunications providers appear before it at the National Assembly Complex on October 28.

The operators were also instructed to submit all relevant documents before the hearing, while the lawmakers warned that arrest summons could be issued against executives who fail to comply.

Committee Chairman, Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun), said the persistent deterioration in telecommunications services had prompted the House to launch an investigation into the sector.

He stressed that reliable telecommunications infrastructure was essential to several economic activities, including point-of-sale (POS) transactions, banking operations and other digital services.

Osoba alleged that some invited executives had repeatedly offered excuses or sent lower-ranking officials to represent them instead of appearing personally before the committee.

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Rep. Ibe Osonwa (LP-Arochukwu/Ohafia) also criticised telecommunications companies for generating substantial revenue from Nigeria while allegedly disregarding invitations from lawmakers seeking explanations about their operations.

He maintained that operators benefiting from the Nigerian market must be prepared to account for their performance and address subscribers’ concerns.

In his ruling, Osoba urged the NCC to ensure full compliance with the committee’s directive.

The investigation comes amid persistent complaints about dropped calls, slow internet speeds and unreliable connectivity, despite substantial investments in telecommunications infrastructure.

In October 2025, the NCC attributed poor services in Lagos, Abuja and other major cities partly to inadequate network capacity in densely populated areas. It called for targeted investments in 5G deployment and upgrades to existing 4G infrastructure to ease congestion.

In April 2026, the regulator began implementing a compensation framework requiring eligible operators to compensate subscribers in areas where network performance falls below prescribed standards. The framework covers voice, data and SMS services.

The NCC also reported that telecommunications operators and tower companies invested a combined N2.5 trillion in network infrastructure in 2025, supporting the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide.

Despite the investments and regulatory interventions, subscribers continue to report service challenges, prompting renewed scrutiny of operators’ performance and accountability.

The House committee’s forthcoming hearing is expected to provide an opportunity for telecommunications executives to explain the causes of persistent service deficiencies and outline measures to improve network quality across the country.