REPS THREATEN ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST TELECOM CEOs OVER POOR NETWORK SERVICES

The House of Representatives has threatened to issue arrest warrants against chief executives of telecommunications companies who fail to appear before its committee investigating persistent poor network services across Nigeria. The warning followed the rejection of a proposal by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to send its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, to represent the companies during the investigation, the House committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, insisted that the chief executives and other relevant officials must personally explain the service challenges experienced by subscribers. The affected executives were directed to appear before the committee on November 4, 2026, the investigation comes amid widespread complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connections, inconsistent data services and poor network coverage in different parts of the country. Telecommunications services have become essential to everyday life in Nigeria. Individuals depend on mobile networks for communication, while businesses use them to receive payments, advertise products, coordinate deliveries and communicate with customers, students also rely on internet access for online learning, research, examination registration and educational resources. When network services deteriorate, the consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Poor connectivity can interrupt business activities, delay financial transactions and make digital services unreliable. By demanding the personal appearance of company executives, lawmakers are seeking direct explanations from those responsible for managing telecommunications operations, the investigation also raises questions about whether existing regulatory measures are sufficient to ensure that service providers meet subscribers’ expectations. Nigeria’s telecommunications industry serves millions of customers and supports a growing digital economy. However, maintaining reliable services requires substantial investment in network infrastructure, electricity, fibre-optic cables and telecommunications towers. Operators have also raised concerns about infrastructure costs, vandalism, rising demand for data and difficulties expanding coverage in some communities, these challenges can affect service delivery, but subscribers still expect reliable services that reasonably reflect the money they spend on airtime and data. The committee’s investigation could provide an opportunity to examine operators’ responsibilities, the role of regulators and the practical steps needed to improve network quality. November 4 is the key date for the affected executives to appear before the committee. If they attend, lawmakers will have an opportunity to question them about network failures, investment plans and measures being taken to address subscribers’ complaints, if they fail to comply, the committee has threatened further action, including arrest warrants. However, any enforcement action will depend on the applicable legal and parliamentary procedures, for millions of Nigerians who depend on mobile networks every day, the ultimate measure of the investigation will be whether it leads to better connectivity, more reliable internet access and improved accountability.