Reps threaten arrest of telecom CEOs over poor network

The House of Representatives on Wednesday threatened to issue warrants of arrest against chief executives of telecommunications companies who fail to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating persistent poor network services.

The committee has given the operators until November 4, 2026, to appear in person and explain recurring service failures affecting subscribers nationwide.

The warning followed the committee’s rejection of an attempt by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to represent the companies through its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo.

The committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), insisted that the chief executives and other senior management officials must personally account for their companies’ service delivery rather than delegate the responsibility to an industry association.

The operators invited include MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed telecommunications companies.

The committee had summoned them to explain complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connections, failed airtime and data transactions, and poor network coverage in several communities.

However, the companies reportedly sought to be represented by Adebayo, a move that angered lawmakers, who maintained that each operator must answer for its own performance and regulatory obligations.

Moving a motion on the matter, Sunday Umeha said the operators held individual licences issued by the Federal Government and could not rely on their membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the committee.

He also criticised a letter reportedly written by ALTON questioning the committee’s authority to compel the operators to attend the hearing.

“I was shocked with what I saw in the letter. I saw a situation where ALTON is saying that they are not bound to appear before this committee. They see their appearance as a privilege to this committee and not as a statutory obligation. We have the powers to compel their appearance before us in accordance with the Constitution,” he said.

Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Umeha argued that the National Assembly had the power to investigate matters within its legislative competence, including the implementation of government policies.

He maintained that the committee was not bound by the association’s internal arrangements and that the operators should appear individually unless the committee expressly approved representation.

A representative of the Nigerian Communications Commission told the committee that the commission had communicated the invitations directly to the chief executives.

Umeha recalled that the committee had considered summoning the executives for arrest at its previous sitting but decided to give them another opportunity to appear.

He said the operators had again failed to honour the invitation despite further communication facilitated through the NCC.

Seconding the motion, House spokesman Akin Rotimi also faulted ALTON’s attempt to speak on behalf of the operators, arguing that subscribers dealt directly with individual service providers and were entitled to demand accountability from each company.

Rotimi raised concerns about poor network coverage in parts of his constituency in Ekiti State, warning that the absence of mobile signals in some communities and along major roads posed serious security risks.

He alleged that two traditional rulers in his constituency had been killed in an ambush along a stretch of road where mobile network signals were unavailable for about 20 minutes.

The lawmaker said such connectivity gaps could leave residents and travellers unable to alert security agencies or seek emergency assistance when confronted with danger.

He also accused telecommunications operators of concentrating infrastructure in commercially attractive locations while leaving some rural communities and underserved areas with inadequate coverage.

The committee further questioned Adebayo over a reported ₦8.46bn fine imposed on Globacom, raising concerns about whether the ALTON chairman could adequately address regulatory and operational issues involving an individual operator while representing the industry association.

Following deliberations, Osoba put Umeha’s motion to a voice vote, and it was adopted. The committee subsequently adjourned its sitting until November 4, when the operators are expected to appear.

The investigation comes amid persistent complaints about telecommunications services despite regulatory interventions and compensation measures introduced to address service failures.

The NCC disclosed on October 20 that telecommunications operators had compensated 75m subscribers for poor service in 2026 under its consumer compensation framework. Nearly three million other subscribers had reportedly received refunds for failed airtime and data purchases.

The commission also reported more than 6,500 network interventions during the year, including equipment upgrades and additional capacity in areas experiencing increased demand.

Despite these measures, subscribers have continued to complain about unreliable connections, billing disputes, rapid data depletion and failed transactions.

Figures attributed to the NCC for the first half of 2026 showed that the four major operators recorded 413,587 consumer complaints, of which 406,938 were reportedly resolved.

The breakdown attributed 228,992 complaints to Airtel Nigeria, 124,405 to MTN Nigeria, 56,810 to Globacom and 3,885 to T2mobile. However, the individual figures add up to 414,092, exceeding the reported total by 505 complaints.

The figures underscore the scale of consumer concerns, although the discrepancy requires clarification.

Poor telecommunications services affect more than the ability to make calls or browse the internet. Unreliable connectivity can disrupt businesses, electronic payments and access to information, while network gaps in remote communities can make it difficult for residents to contact emergency services or security agencies.

The committee is seeking direct explanations from the operators’ leadership on the causes of persistent service failures, compliance with regulatory requirements and investments to improve network quality.

The November 4 hearing is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to question the companies on infrastructure development, service improvement plans and efforts to extend reliable coverage to underserved communities.

The operators now face the prospect of arrest warrants if their chief executives fail to honour the committee’s invitation.