By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
For some weeks now, most residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs have been experiencing unstable telephone network connectivity as dropped calls and outright incomplete connections have become the order of the day, Prompt News reports.
Also, many telephone subscribers in FCT and surrounding towns like Karu and Suleja in nearby Nasarawa and Niger states, respectively, are having challenges to transact their businesses through the telephone as connections have been erratic in the recent time.
This is even as the majority of subscribers have been experiencing difficulties in loading their recharge cards, especially the subscribers to the four major network providers, namely MTN, Airtel, Globacom (Glo) and 9mobile, who are experiencing unstable telephone network connectivity
Investigations have revealed that the three major telephone network providers in Nigeria, based on market share and subscriber numbers, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as of December 2024, have failed to ensure stable telephone connectivity for quite a long time now.
Worse, still a fourth significant operator, 9mobile, is neither here nor there as subscribers, including this writer, have been unable to recharge 9mobile network for the past one year.
The largest network operator, MTN, which holds over 51% of the market share with 84.6 million subscribers in Nigeria and is known for its wide network coverage, has failed to leave up to the expectations of millions of subscribers as its connections have been unstable recently.
Ranked second, Airtel with over 34% of the market share with 56.6 million subscribers and is noted for its quality customer service before now has been unstable too just as Glo which holds the third position with over 12% of the market share with 20.1 million subscribers and recognized for its affordable data and tariff plans, has not delivered too.
Alhaji Sa’idu Abdulwahab, a businessman in the Jabi area of FCT, lamented the unstable network connections he has been experiencing lately, a situation he described as most unfortunate.
According to him, the inability to make transactions online due to poor network connectivity has robbed him of a good turnover in his business, which he said depends on a good network service to succeed.
Also, Mrs. Aina Yetunde Bakare, a civil servant in FCT, posited that unstable network connections have become an issue in the recent memory, pointing out that it is becoming very frustrating for one to complete his or her calls.
Said he: “It is very annoying to pick a call, and the network will be acting up, and you can not hear the caller. It is even worse when you can not use your social media platforms because the connection is not working.”
Others who spoke on the situation blamed it on federal government agencies in charge of regulating the activities of the network providers like the NCC and Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which has a concurrent mandate with the NCC to enforce competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the Nigerian economy, including telecommunications.
Both agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure synergy and prompt redress for consumer issues.
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