Reps summon MTN, Airtel, Glo CEOs over poor network quality

The House of Representatives has summoned the chief executives of MTN, Airtel, Globacom and other telecom operators to appear before it on October 28 over persistent poor network quality across Nigeria.

The ad hoc committee investigating telecom service failures issued the summons on Wednesday after lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the executives’ failure to honour earlier invitations.

The committee also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the operators’ chief executives comply, warning that arrest warrants could be issued against those who fail to appear.

The lawmakers want the companies to explain the persistent deterioration in network services, which has disrupted communication and commercial activities for millions of subscribers and businesses.

The summons covers the CEOs of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications Limited and other service providers.

Committee Chairman Olumide Osoba said telecommunications had become critical to Nigeria’s economy, extending beyond voice calls and internet access to essential transactions such as point-of-sale (POS) payments.

He said businesses, financial services and other economic activities depended heavily on reliable telecommunications infrastructure, making poor service delivery a national concern.

Osoba said the committee was established to investigate mounting complaints from subscribers and identify the causes of substandard services.

An Abia lawmaker, Ibe Osonwa, criticised the executives’ failure to honour the committee’s earlier invitations, describing it as disregard for the legislature.

Osonwa said companies operating in Nigeria and benefiting from its market should be prepared to account for the quality of services they provide, particularly when those services affect millions of consumers and businesses.

The summons comes as the NCC disclosed on Tuesday that 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation for poor telecom services in 2026.

The regulator said the compensation initiative, implemented under its consumer compensation framework, was expected to improve connectivity and service delivery for subscribers.