By Bola Babarinde, South Africa
Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications revolution was once celebrated as one of Africa’s greatest economic success stories. Today, however, that same sector is gradually becoming a symbol of regulatory weakness, policy neglect, and ministerial underperformance under the administration of President . What began as a bold national reform is now drifting toward a credibility crisis, with millions of Nigerians bearing the consequences.
The birth of mobile telephony in Nigeria dates back to 2001 during the administration of President , when the government liberalized the telecommunications sector and auctioned GSM licenses. At the time, Nigeria was considered a difficult and uncertain investment destination. Infrastructure was weak, institutions struggled for efficiency, and investor confidence was fragile. Yet one company chose to take the risk. entered the Nigerian market with remarkable courage, investing heavily in a country many global investors avoided. While companies such as Vodafone hesitated, doubting Nigeria’s stability and long-term profitability, MTN’s success quickly proved that Nigeria’s vast population and entrepreneurial energy could sustain a telecommunications boom.
Other operators soon followed, expanding competition and transforming communication across the nation. Call costs reduced, millions gained access to mobile connectivity, businesses expanded, financial services evolved, and Nigeria stepped confidently into the digital age. Mobile phones became more than communication tools; they became economic lifelines powering commerce, banking, education, and social interaction.
Among the early entrants was , later rebranded as after ownership restructuring. Once promising, the network has since declined into what many subscribers now describe as operational paralysis. Across Nigeria, customers report dead networks, failed connections, unreachable lines, and prolonged service disruptions. However, the most troubling aspect is not merely poor service delivery but the inability of subscribers to migrate their numbers to functioning networks.
Mobile Number Portability was introduced to empower consumers with freedom of choice. Instead, thousands of Nigerians now appear trapped, unable to retain long-standing personal and business numbers while moving to reliable service providers. For entrepreneurs, professionals, and families whose identities and contacts are tied to these numbers, the impact has been severe. Businesses have lost clients, professionals have missed opportunities, and families have struggled to maintain essential communication channels. Many Nigerians now carry phones that cannot receive calls on numbers they have used for years, yet no decisive intervention appears forthcoming.
Beyond the 9mobile crisis lies an even broader and more alarming reality. Many data and internet service providers are increasingly accused by consumers of ripping Nigerians off through high tariffs paired with epileptic and unreliable services. Subscribers routinely pay for data that delivers slow speeds, unstable connections, and frequent outages, while complaint mechanisms remain weak and largely ineffective. Customers often feel powerless, with little or no practical recourse when service quality collapses. In a digital economy where internet access determines productivity, education, and financial inclusion, poor service delivery has become more than an inconvenience; it is an economic constraint affecting national growth.
This situation raises serious questions about regulatory oversight. The , established to protect consumers and ensure fair competition, appears unable or unwilling to enforce urgent corrective measures. Regulatory silence in the face of widespread consumer hardship weakens public confidence and suggests institutional complacency at a time when decisive action is required.
Equally troubling is the perceived inaction from the ministry responsible for communications oversight. Complaints continue to grow while leadership appears detached from the crisis. Nigerians increasingly view the situation not simply as corporate failure but as governmental indifference to consumer suffering.
This brings unavoidable scrutiny to the broader performance of the current administration. President Tinubu came into office promising reform, efficiency, and renewed hope, yet governance is ultimately measured by accountability and results. When ministries underperform without visible consequences, inefficiency risks becoming normalized within public administration. The Communications Ministry faces growing criticism for regulatory passivity, while the Energy Ministry continues to struggle with persistent electricity challenges despite repeated assurances of reform. These sectors are deeply interconnected. Electricity powers telecommunications infrastructure, and telecommunications power commerce and modern economic activity. Weak performance in both sectors simultaneously places additional strain on an already pressured economy.
What concerns many observers is not only policy failure but the absence of corrective leadership action. In functioning democracies, prolonged institutional failure often leads to cabinet reshuffles aimed at restoring public confidence and administrative effectiveness. In Nigeria, however, underperforming ministers often appear insulated from accountability, sending a troubling signal that performance may not be directly tied to responsibility.
As the telecommunications ecosystem weakens, it may be time to rethink participation in the sector. State and local governments should begin to explore structured involvement in telecommunications infrastructure and broadband expansion within their jurisdictions. Just as subnational governments invest in transport, markets, and power initiatives, strategic participation in telecom infrastructure could introduce competition, improve accountability, and expand access in underserved areas. Without broader institutional involvement, Nigeria risks an imminent telecommunications collapse that could reverse decades of digital progress.
The ongoing crisis surrounding 9mobile risks escalating beyond public frustration into legal confrontation. Consumers who have suffered financial and professional losses may eventually pursue legal action against both service providers and regulators for failing to protect their rights. Such developments could damage Nigeria’s investment reputation at a time when foreign capital and investor confidence are urgently needed.
Nigeria cannot afford to allow one failing operator to erode decades of progress achieved since the telecommunications reforms of the early 2000s. Nigerians deserve immediate transparency and decisive intervention. Government must clearly communicate the operational status of 9mobile, enforce consumer protection regulations, and guarantee seamless number portability for affected subscribers. Regulatory authority must not only exist on paper but be visibly exercised in defense of citizens.
Leadership ultimately requires accountability. When ministers fail to resolve crises within their mandates, leadership renewal becomes a responsibility rather than a punishment. Public office is a trust granted by citizens, not a permanent entitlement.
Nigeria’s telecommunications revolution once demonstrated what visionary policy and private investment could achieve together. Allowing regulatory complacency to reverse those gains would be a costly historical setback. The administration still has an opportunity to act decisively, restore confidence, and prevent what is increasingly becoming a national embarrassment. Nigerians are not asking for miracles; they are asking to be heard, informed, and protected by the institutions created to serve them.
