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…Allegations of Economic Sabotage and Violation of Renewed Hope Agenda, Call for Presidential Intervention and Regulatory Action
BY ABU-SATAR HAMED
Nigerian telecommunication service subscribers have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they describe as persistent and worsening exploitation by telecom providers, especially MTN Nigeria.
According to them, these practices have left millions of users frustrated, helpless, and financially burdened.
A random investigation carried out by StarTrend International Magazine and its online platform across several states revealed a disturbing trend: subscribers are being systematically shortchanged through abrupt data depletion, disappearing SMS credits, and subpar service quality – all while facing high and rising charges.
From Abuja to Lagos, Owerri, Kano, Ibadan, Onitsha, Kaduna, Akure, Ilorin, and Abeokuta, many Nigerians interviewed said mobile data and telecom services have become essential for daily life – enabling education, commerce, and communication.
However, in Nigeria, they lamented, telecom services have turned into a source of financial exploitation for hardworking citizens.
Those interviewed expressed frustration over rapid data depletion – describing usage patterns that far exceed what they actually consumed, even during light browsing or messaging.
Many also complained that SMS messages often fail to deliver but are still charged, while network quality remains poor, with frequent call drops, slow internet speeds, and failed connections.
Compounding the situation, many subscribers noted that customer service lines are often difficult to reach, and when they do get through, support is unhelpful, leaving users with no recourse for redress.
Subscribers argue that these exploitative practices amount to economic sabotage and are in clear conflict with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes accountability, fairness, and economic relief for ordinary Nigerians.
In a passionate plea, the concerned citizens urged President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other relevant agencies to immediately investigate the growing complaints.
They also called for the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Telecom Consumer Rights to address the systemic abuse.
Among their demands are mandatory transparent usage reports from telecom companies; implementation of fair billing practices; enforcement of penalties for consumer abuse and non-compliance and setting and monitoring of network improvement benchmarks before any future tariff increases
“Nigerians are resilient,” the statement concluded, “but we are also deserving of fairness, quality service, and value for our hard-earned money. We count on President Tinubu’s leadership to end this digital exploitation and restore trust in the telecommunication industry.”
