The House of Representatives on Wednesday threatened to issue arrest warrants against the chief executives of four telecommunications companies over their failure to honour invitations to explain persistent poor network services across the country.
Members of the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the quality of telecommunications services, chaired by Hon. Olumide Osoba, rejected an attempt by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to represent the affected companies through its chairman, Engineer Gbenga Adebayo.
Osoba directed the chief executives and other top management officials of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed operators to appear before the committee on November 4, 2026, or risk arrest warrants.
The ongoing investigation comes amid continuing complaints about the quality of telecommunications services.
The lawmakers had invited the operators on October 21, 2026, to explain persistent complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connectivity, failed airtime and data transactions, and inadequate network coverage. However, the companies reportedly delegated Adebayo to represent them, a move the committee considered unacceptable.
Moving a motion on the matter, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that the operators were individually licensed by the Federal Government and should be held directly accountable for the quality of services they provide to subscribers.
Umeha also faulted a letter reportedly written by ALTON questioning the committee’s authority to compel the operators to appear, insisting that the National Assembly’s investigative powers were constitutionally guaranteed.
“I was shocked with what I saw in the letter. I saw a situation where ALTON is saying that they are not bound to appear before this committee. They see their appearance as a privilege to this committee and not as a statutory obligation,” he said.
Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the lawmaker maintained that the National Assembly was empowered to investigate matters within its legislative competence, including the implementation of government policies affecting telecommunications services.
In its presentation before the ad hoc committee, a representative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that the commission had communicated the invitations directly to the chief executives.
Umeha said the operators had been given sufficient notice and another opportunity to appear after the committee had previously considered seeking arrest warrants against them.
Seconding the motion, the House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, also rejected ALTON’s attempt to represent the companies, arguing that subscribers dealt directly with individual service providers and expected each operator to account for its network performance.
Rotimi, who expressed concern over poor network coverage in parts of his constituency in Ekiti State, warned that the absence of mobile signals in some communities and along major roads posed serious security risks.
The Ekiti lawmaker alleged that two traditional rulers in his constituency had been killed in an ambush along a stretch of road where mobile network signals were unavailable for approximately 20 minutes.
Rotimi, who argued that connectivity gaps could prevent residents and travellers from contacting security agencies or seeking emergency assistance during attacks, criticised operators for concentrating infrastructure in commercially attractive locations while leaving rural communities and underserved areas with inadequate coverage.
The lawmakers further questioned Adebayo about a reported ₦8.46 billion fine imposed on Globacom, asking whether he could adequately address regulatory and operational issues concerning an individual company while appearing on behalf of the wider industry.
While ruling on the motion, the ad hoc committee resolved to adjourn until November 4, 2026, warning that failure to honour the invitation could trigger further legislative action.
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