Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
MTN Nigeria has confirmed a major network outage affecting subscribers in parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, with the telecommunications giant attributing the disruption to infrastructure-related challenges. The company issued a network outage alert to customers, stating that services may be temporarily unavailable in some areas due to ongoing network challenges.
In a notice posted on its official X handle, MTN said: "We're experiencing network challenges in some parts of Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states and our services may be temporarily unavailable as a result. Our engineers are working to restore services as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding."
The outage has dealt a severe blow to businesses, financial transactions, and daily communication across the affected states, with many residents reporting a complete inability to make calls, send messages, or access mobile data. In an era where mobile networks form the backbone of Nigeria's digital economy, the disruption has exposed the fragility of the country's telecommunications infrastructure. A key factor behind this latest disruption is fibre optic cable cuts. Telecom operators have repeatedly called for improved protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure to reduce the frequency and impact of network outages.
The problem is not new. In recent years, fibre cuts have become a recurring nightmare for Nigerian telecom operators. MTN Nigeria's Chief Executive Officer has previously revealed that Nigeria experiences more fibre cuts in a single day than Saudi Arabia records in an entire year, with cables frequently severed by road construction, excavation, and deliberate vandalism. Industry data shows that MTN experiences more than 6,000 fibre cuts annually, while Airtel reports an average of about 1,000. The cumulative effect is a constant erosion of service quality, with the Nigerian Communications Commission's uptime portal recording 245 major network outages across all operators in May 2026 alone.
The outage in the North-West is the latest in a series of disruptions that have plagued MTN's operations across the country. In April 2026, fibre cuts affected subscribers in Delta, Niger, Kano, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory. In August 2026, a total disruption of services brought communication to a standstill for millions of MTN subscribers in Jalingo, Taraba State. And in a separate development in June, a fibre cut in Abia, Benue, and Enugu states caused significant service disruptions.
The NCC has previously taken steps to address the impact of network outages on consumers, directing telecommunications operators to compensate customers affected by major network outages lasting more than 24 hours. The directive covers mobile network operators, internet service providers, and other licensees. It remains unclear whether the current outage will trigger compensation for affected subscribers.
MTN has assured customers that engineers are working to resolve the issue and restore normal services as soon as possible. However, the growing frequency of fibre cuts and network disruptions underscores a deeper challenge facing Nigeria's telecommunications sector: the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to vandalism, road construction, and excavation. Until the government and telecom operators find a sustainable solution to protect fibre optic cables, network outages may continue to be a recurring feature of Nigeria's digital landscape. For now, residents of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi can only wait and hope that MTN's engineers can restore services before the disruption causes further damage to businesses and daily life in the region.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments