Reps Threaten Arrest Warrants as Telecom Chiefs Miss Hearing on Poor Network Services
The House of Representatives has warned that chief executives of four telecommunications companies could face arrest warrants if they fail to appear before lawmakers investigating persistent network problems across Nigeria.
The executives of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Mafab Communications were summoned to appear before an ad hoc committee on October 28 but failed to attend the hearing. The committee has now directed them to appear in person on November 4.
Committee chairman Olumide Osoba said the lawmakers would consider stronger measures if the executives ignored the fresh summons. The committee rejected an attempt by Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, to represent the companies at the hearing.
Lawmakers maintained that the chief executives were required to answer questions directly and could not delegate their attendance to an industry association. They also challenged correspondence reportedly questioning the committee’s authority to summon the operators.
The investigation comes amid widespread complaints about unreliable signals, poor network coverage and service interruptions, which lawmakers say extend beyond inconvenience to concerns about public safety.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi highlighted connectivity gaps in parts of Ekiti State, including communities and major roads where mobile signals are unavailable. He warned that such gaps could leave residents and travellers unable to contact security agencies or seek urgent assistance during emergencies. He also alleged that two traditional rulers in his constituency were killed in an ambush along a road without network coverage.
The Nigerian Communications Commission had earlier disclosed that 75 million subscribers received airtime compensation in 2026 under its consumer compensation framework following poor service delivery.
The committee has directed the commission to ensure that the telecommunications companies’ chief executives comply with the summons.
The investigation is expected to examine the operators’ performance as pressure mounts for improved connectivity, stronger consumer protection and greater accountability in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
