By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has given major telecommunications operators in Nigeria seven days to explain the persistent deterioration in network quality, warning that chief executives who fail to appear before its investigative panel could face arrest summons.
The ultimatum was issued on Wednesday by the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the poor quality of telecommunications services in the country, following the failure of some invited operators, including MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications Ltd., to honour previous invitations.
The committee directed the chief executive officers of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Mafab Communications, alongside other affected service providers, to appear before it on October 28, 2026.
The lawmakers also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that all the operators comply with the invitation and submit relevant documents ahead of the hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun), said the investigation was aimed at identifying the factors responsible for recurring network failures and addressing the growing concerns of subscribers across the country.
Osoba noted that telecommunications services had become central to Nigeria’s economic activities, with businesses, financial institutions and individuals relying heavily on stable voice and internet services. He particularly cited Point of Sale transactions and other commercial activities that depend on reliable network connectivity.
He expressed displeasure over the repeated failure of invited company executives to appear before the committee, accusing them of undermining the investigation by offering excuses or sending lower-ranking officials in their place.
According to him, the committee expects the chief executives to appear personally because of their responsibility for the operations, performance and service delivery of their respective companies.
Also speaking, Hon. Ibe Osonwa criticised the operators for what he described as disregard for the legislature, despite the substantial revenue they generate from their operations in Nigeria.
Osonwa maintained that telecommunications companies benefiting from the Nigerian market must be prepared to account for the quality of services they provide, particularly when persistent service disruptions affect millions of subscribers and businesses.
The committee’s resolution followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Hon. Sunday Umeha and Hon. Afam Ogene, with the lawmakers insisting that the operators must provide explanations for the continued decline in service quality.
Osoba, in his ruling, reiterated that failure to honour the October 28 invitation could attract further legislative action, including a summons for arrest to compel the appearance of any defaulting chief executive.
The committee urged the NCC to ensure full compliance, stressing that the hearing would provide an opportunity for the operators to explain the challenges affecting their networks and account for measures being taken to improve service delivery.
