NCC queries MTN Nigeria on poor service

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has queried MTN Nigeria over its delivery of poor quality services in Lagos, Nigeria and its environs.

The commission had this week issued a query, signed by its Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Dr. Balarabe Sani, and Director of Legal Services, Josephine Amuwa demanding MTN to explain why it should not be sanctioned for the unbearable poor quality of services in Lagos.

The query stated that, “It has also been brought to our notice that the MTN Switch in Lagos is down and MTN has neither informed its subscribers, nor communicated this unfortunate development to the Commission as required.”

MTN was issued a 24-hour deadline to provide the commission with detailed report on these developments and efforts being made to urgently tackle the problem. The letter stated that failure to respond as directed might result in the Commission invoking its powers to sanction MTN appropriately.

Reacting to the query, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Funmilayo Omogbenigun explained that NCC’s letter was made in the context of just a service disruption that had occurred on the evening of 1st May 2012, which only a limited number of their customers experienced. She said it was caused by a power outage at their main switch in Lagos but was quickly rectified.

She indicated that the quality of service in the country was an industry-wide challenge, as it was caused by a combination of factors related to more demand than supply of telecommunications infrastructure and local environmental challenges.

Segun Adekoye