Nigeria’s House of Representatives gives MTN, Airtel, and Globacom seven days to fix poor network services and arbitrary data charges.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has issued a strict 7 day ultimatum to major telecommunications operators MTN, Airtel, and Globacom to address worsening network service quality nationwide.
Parliament publicly announced the directive on October 21, 2026, after an emergency legislative hearing at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
Under this urgent parliamentary summons, executive directors and chief technical officers of the major telecom companies must fix frequent call dropouts, slow internet data speeds, and sudden data depletion within 7 days or face severe legislative sanctions.
Lawmakers across different political parties expressed deep frustration over endless public complaints from citizens who spend hard-earned money on expensive airtime bundles and monthly data packages only to experience failed phone calls and unstable internet connections.
During the investigative hearing, parliamentarians pointed out that despite previous promises by telecommunications providers to upgrade their mast infrastructure and expand fiber-optic cables, regular subscribers continue to suffer from poor network services that disrupt daily business activities, banking transactions, and personal communication.
The legislative committee warned that if network providers fail to show visible improvements and fair billing practices within the stipulated seven days, parliament will invoke its constitutional powers to push for strict regulatory penalties against erring networks.
Ensuring reliable and affordable mobile telecommunications services is very important for everyday shopkeepers, market traders, students, vehicle drivers, and working families across Nigeria.
In today’s digital economy, millions of ordinary people depend entirely on mobile phones to receive money, send messages to loved ones, apply for jobs, and run small neighborhood businesses.
When mobile phone networks suffer constant service failures and data bundles disappear too quickly without proper usage, hardworking citizens lose money and face terrible stress.
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Forcing telecommunications operators to upgrade their equipment protects everyday consumers and ensures that telecommunications companies provide the quality service that customers pay for.
Explaining why parliament stepped in to defend phone users against poor service and unjust charges by telecommunications networks, committee leaders shared strong words during the legislative session.
Highlighting the urgent need for telecom operators to respect Nigerian subscribers and upgrade their physical mast infrastructure, the Chairman of the House Committee on Telecommunications, Hon. Peter Akpabio, stated that “Nigerians are paying heavily for telecom services, and it is totally unacceptable for subscribers to keep experiencing dropped calls, failed internet connections, and unexplained data deductions every single day”.
Warning network chiefs that parliament will not sit back and watch citizens get exploited by poor service delivery without consequences, the committee chairman added further strong demands.
Emphasizing that telecommunications companies must take immediate action within the given timeframe, Hon. Peter Akpabio stated that “we are giving the management of MTN, Airtel, and Globacom a strict seven-day ultimatum to put their houses in order, upgrade their systems, and resolve these network failures, or face the full wrath of the law”.
Telecom executives promised to review their network equipment. As the 7 day parliamentary deadline counts down, millions of mobile phone users across the country are watching closely to see if network service quality will finally improve.
