Nigerians May Get Relief As Senate Investigates Airtime Losses From Poor Network Services

Telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria may face increased scrutiny following the Senate’s decision to investigate complaints about subscribers losing airtime during failed calls, dropped connections and interrupted conversations.

The Senate has given its Committee on Communications four weeks to investigate the complaints, determine the financial losses suffered by consumers and recommend possible legislative measures to address the problem.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Senate President Godswill Akpabio issued the directive during Wednesday’s plenary session, instructing the committee to engage the minister responsible for telecommunications, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), network operators and other relevant stakeholders.

The investigation followed a motion sponsored by Senate Chief Whip Muhammed Monguno, representing Borno North, and seconded by Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North. Senator Lola Ashiru, representing Kwara South, presented the motion on behalf of Monguno.

While presenting the motion, Ashiru expressed concern over the difficulties millions of Nigerians experience when using telecommunications services, particularly failed calls, dropped connections and interrupted conversations despite airtime deductions from their accounts.

He explained that telecommunications services had become essential to everyday activities, including business transactions, educational activities and communication with government institutions.

According to the senator, subscribers are often forced to make repeated calls to complete conversations, resulting in additional expenses caused by network failures beyond their control.

Ashiru further warned that the financial consequences could be significant, particularly for traders, students and small business owners who depend heavily on reliable communication services.

Supporting the motion, Nwoko described the investigation as timely and necessary, noting that telecommunications challenges affect virtually every Nigerian.

He argued that consumers should not be charged for services they do not effectively receive and called on regulatory authorities to take urgent steps to protect subscribers.

Following deliberations, the Senate directed its Committee on Communications to investigate the complaints, engage telecommunications operators and the NCC, and determine appropriate measures to ensure consumers receive value for their money.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to guide possible regulatory or legislative interventions aimed at addressing persistent network problems and preventing subscribers from losing airtime over unsuccessful calls.