MTN Nigeria Restores Network After Outage, Apologises To Subscribers

MTN Nigeria has apologised to subscribers following a network disruption on Thursday that affected calls, internet access and other services, saying it had restored normal operations.

The telecommunications operator announced the restoration on its official channels, apologising to affected customers and advising those still experiencing difficulties to restart their devices.

“Some customers experienced difficulty using our services,” the company said, adding that the issue had been resolved.

However, MTN did not disclose the cause of the disruption, its precise duration or the number of subscribers affected. It also did not indicate whether customers would receive compensation for the interruption.

Some subscribers on social media claimed the disruption lasted more than five hours, with complaints reported in Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Delta states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. The reported duration and geographical spread could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The outage has highlighted the reliance of households, businesses and financial service providers on telecommunications networks for communication, electronic payments, online banking and other digital activities.

It also raises questions about network resilience as operators expand infrastructure to meet growing demand for data and digital services. However, there is no confirmed evidence linking Thursday’s disruption to fibre-optic cable cuts, vandalism or power failure.

Similar disruptions have occurred in other African markets. In July 2026, MTN Uganda restored services following an outage attributed to a power disruption at one of its data centres, which affected voice, data and mobile money services.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ event in Lagos, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said improving network quality sustainably required a supportive investment environment and stronger protection of telecommunications infrastructure.

He said policy consistency, regulatory certainty, efficient right-of-way processes and reduced multiple taxation were necessary to encourage investment. He also warned that vandalism and infrastructure theft continued to undermine operators’ efforts to provide reliable services.

“Investment follows confidence, and confidence is built on policy consistency, regulatory certainty, infrastructure protection and transparent market information,” Adebayo said.

He cautioned against relying solely on sanctions to address poor service quality, noting that network performance was affected by unreliable electricity, fibre cuts caused by road construction, vandalism, theft, right-of-way delays and multiple taxation.

Adebayo said telecommunications operators, tower companies and other industry players invested approximately ₦2.13 trillion in capital expenditure in 2025, with a further ₦1.86 trillion planned for 2026 to expand infrastructure, modernise technology and improve service quality.

The figures highlight the scale of investment required to maintain and expand Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.

The disruption has also prompted calls on social media for greater transparency from telecom operators, including timely explanations of outages and measures to prevent their recurrence.

Although the restoration offers relief to affected subscribers, the cause of Thursday’s disruption remains undisclosed.