Frustration Grows As 9Mobile Customers Face Weeks-Long Service Disruptions
Subscribers of 9Mobile, one of Nigeria’s major telecommunications providers, have been left stranded for over two weeks due to an unexplained network failure, leaving many unable to make calls, send text messages, or access the internet.
The outage, which has affected customers across multiple states, has thrown many into confusion, as 9Mobile has failed to provide a clear explanation or timeline for service restoration.
Complaints have flooded social media, with subscribers lamenting the disruption to their daily activities, including banking transactions and work-related communications.
Olayinka Emmanuel, a school instructor in Lagos and a decade-long 9Mobile subscriber, told FIJ that the network went down without warning and has remained inaccessible.
“Their network just goes off and stays that way for days. I can’t even receive OTPs for bank transactions, and reaching customer service has been futile,” he said.
Similarly, Funmisho Adebiyi, a nutritionist, revealed that he had to remove his 9Mobile SIM due to persistent failures. Another subscriber, Adebayo Pelumi, an engineering technician in Ogun State, said he could only get a signal in select parts of Lagos, making communication nearly impossible.
Sarah, a fashion designer in Minna, Niger State, disclosed that she was forced to change her registered banking number due to the outage.
“For over a month, there has been no signal. I can’t make transactions or receive SMS alerts,” she lamented.
Social media platforms have been flooded with complaints, with many questioning whether 9Mobile is on the verge of collapse.
One user on X wrote: “For over two weeks, my 9Mobile SIM has been showing ‘No Service’. I visited their office, and they claimed it’s a general issue, but how can a telecoms company be without service for this long?”
Another user, DaddyB, expressed frustration, stating: “I haven’t been able to do a welcome-back on my 9Mobile line for weeks. Meanwhile, they are still tweeting. Most useless network in the country.”
The outrage has sparked concerns about consumer protection, with many questioning why the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has yet to penalise the service provider for failing to deliver on its obligations.
In response to inquiries from FIJ, 9Mobile attributed the disruption to ongoing network upgrades and “unforeseen external challenges.”
However, the company failed to provide a specific timeline for resolution.
“We are in the process of making significant improvements to our network. Unfortunately, these upgrades, along with some unforeseen external challenges, have contributed to the issues some of our customers are facing. Although we are unable to give an exact timeline for service restoration, it remains our top priority,” 9Mobile stated.
The company further noted that it does not intentionally prevent subscribers from porting to other networks, clarifying that porting requires network availability, which is currently affected by the outage.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
