The House of Representatives has given MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other telecommunications operators seven days to explain persistent poor network services across the country.
The lawmakers issued the ultimatum on Wednesday during a public hearing in Abuja, directing the chief executives of the affected companies to appear before an ad hoc committee on October 28, 2026.
The decision followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by members of the House, Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene.
The committee also expressed displeasure over the failure of some operators, including MTN and Mafab Communications, to honour previous invitations.
The lawmakers directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure compliance and ordered the telecom companies to submit relevant documents ahead of the hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
They warned that chief executives who fail to appear could face arrest summonses.
The committee chairman, Olumide Osoba, who represents an Ogun State constituency under the All Progressives Congress, said reliable telecommunications services were essential to Nigeria’s economy.
He noted that telecommunications support businesses, financial transactions and everyday communication, making poor network performance a major concern for subscribers and the wider economy.
Osoba said the House established the ad hoc committee to investigate recurring complaints from subscribers and identify the causes of inadequate service delivery.
He also criticised operators for sending junior officials or giving excuses instead of allowing their chief executives to answer questions about network performance and operational challenges.
Similarly, Rep. Ibe Osonwa condemned the companies’ failure to honour previous invitations, despite the revenue they generate from their operations in Nigeria.
Osonwa insisted that telecom operators must account for the quality of services they provide and warned that the House would not tolerate attempts to frustrate the investigation.
The lawmakers’ action comes amid renewed complaints about network reliability and service disruptions across the country.
On October 20, the NCC reportedly disclosed that telecommunications 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.
Concerns intensified following a network disruption reported by MTN subscribers on October 8 in 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.
NCC figures cited in the report showed that the four major operators recorded 413,587 consumer complaints in the first half of 2026.
Airtel accounted for 228,992 complaints, while MTN recorded 124,405. Globacom had 56,810 complaints, and T2mobile recorded 3,885.
Although the operators reportedly resolved 406,938 complaints, subscribers have continued to raise concerns over call quality, internet speed, billing and failed transactions.
In April 2026, the NCC introduced an automatic airtime compensation framework for eligible subscribers affected by failures to meet prescribed quality-of-service standards.
Despite these measures, the House committee wants the operators to explain why service problems persist and present concrete plans to improve network quality.
Osoba directed the NCC to ensure that the companies comply with the October 28 deadline and submit all requested documents before the hearing.
