MTN: Why Nigerians Are Experiencing Poor Network Service - Okigbo

 

MTN Finally Speaks on Why Nigerians Are Suffering Terrible Network Problems

After months of frustration from millions of Nigerians over poor calls, disappearing data, failed transfers, and unstable internet, MTN Nigeria has finally explained why network services have become so bad across the country.

Speaking during an “Ask Me Anything” session in Lagos, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, admitted that the telecom giant is battling massive operational and infrastructure challenges in Nigeria.

According to him, many Nigerians do not realize how fragile telecom infrastructure can be.

“Sometimes ordinary rainfall can affect network quality,” he explained, noting that Nigerian telecom networks carry almost everything today including phone calls, internet access, banking transactions, streaming, and business communication.

As more people flood the network daily, congestion increases and service quality drops.

This explanation is coming at a sensitive time because Nigerians are still angry over the 50% tariff increase introduced by telecom operators in 2025. Many users expected that higher prices would automatically mean better service quality.

Instead, complaints have only increased.

MTN says the problem is not as simple as many people think.

The company revealed that network expansion is expensive and slow. Equipment must first be ordered from manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE, imported into Nigeria, cleared through customs, and then installed after securing suitable sites for base stations.

Shockingly, MTN disclosed that the company experiences between 27 and 45 fibre cable cuts DAILY across Nigeria due to vandalism, construction damage, and infrastructure destruction.

Even more surprising, a fibre cut in Kogi can reportedly affect network quality in Abuja, while a shutdown in Ogun State can impact users in Lagos.

The company also accused some landlords of exploiting telecom operators with outrageous rent demands after signing initial lease agreements. In some cases, landlords allegedly shut down telecom installations during disputes, worsening network outages for entire communities.

Perhaps the most controversial statement came when Okigbo said:

“No one hates poor network quality more than telecom operators.”

According to him, MTN loses money whenever customers cannot properly use the network because generators still have to run continuously to power thousands of base stations nationwide.

The company revealed that it spent over ₦800 billion in 2023 alone just to keep its network operational despite inflation, diesel costs, vandalism, and infrastructure maintenance challenges.

MTN also praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for officially recognizing telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, something operators had reportedly pushed for unsuccessfully for years.

Still, many Nigerians remain unconvinced.

Across social media, users continue to complain about:

• dropped calls

• disappearing data

• unstable 4G and 5G connections

• slow internet speeds

• poor customer experience despite rising tariffs

Some subscribers are even supporting calls for stronger NCC sanctions and customer compensation against telecom operators.

One thing is now clear:

Nigeria’s telecom sector is under serious pressure, and unless infrastructure challenges, vandalism, energy costs, and network investments improve significantly, Nigerians may continue experiencing frustrating network problems for a long time.