Summoning chief executives of telecommunications companies will not fix poor network quality across the country, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) warned on Monday.
Instead, ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo called on the House of Representatives to confront deep-rooted structural and policy bottlenecks—such as fiber-optic vandalism, multiple taxation, and unreliable power—rather than resorting to sanctions or legislative summonses.
The statement follows the rejection by the House Ad Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Service Quality of Adebayo’s attempt to represent the operators at a recent hearing. The committee insisted that the CEOs of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications, and others must appear in person on November 4 or risk warrants of arrest.
Root Causes Behind Network Failures
Adebayo emphasized that lasting improvements in service quality require sustained capital investment, effective regulation, and an enabling operational environment. He listed the primary causes of ongoing service degradation as:
Fiber-Optic Cable Vandalism & Cuts: Severe physical damage to critical transport infrastructure.
Energy Deficits: Unreliable electricity supply, forcing continuous, costly reliance on diesel generators at base stations.
Arbitrary Right-of-Way (RoW) Fees & Multiple Taxes: Inconsistent state-level charges delaying infrastructure expansion.
Bureaucracy & Insecurity: Regulatory red tape and security threats targeting telecom installations.
”Sanctions alone cannot build fibre networks, provide electricity to base stations, prevent vandalism or facilitate access to infrastructure,” Adebayo stated. “My message to Nigerians is simple: we all want better service, but better service requires investment, and investment requires an enabling environment.”
Jurisdictional Friction & Constitutional Concerns
ALTON questioned the constitutional grounds of the summons under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the National Assembly should complement—rather than duplicate—the statutory duties of the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Adebayo revealed that a 2018 suit filed by ALTON at the Federal High Court seeking judicial interpretation of lawmakers’ oversight authority over telecom operators remains pending.
However, lawmakers defended the direct summons. House spokesman Akin Rotimi maintained that because consumers deal directly with individual telecom license holders, executives must personally answer for persistent dropped calls, slow internet speed, and failed transactions.
Regulatory Interventions So Far
According to the NCC, operators have already:
Compensated Over 75 Million Subscribers: Financial credits issued for service disruptions throughout 2026.
Executed 6,500+ Network Interventions: Technical repairs and upgrades deployed nationwide this year.
Despite these interventions, public frustration remains high, setting up a high-stakes showdown as the November 4 deadline for telecom CEOs to appear before lawmakers arrives.
