Telecom
MTN Dismisses Data Theft Claims, Blames Network Challenges on Fibre Cuts, Vandalism
MTN Nigeria has dismissed allegations of internet data theft on its network, attributing rapid data depletion to users’ online activities and device configurations, while also blaming persistent network quality challenges on fibre cuts, vandalism, power failures and congestion.
MTN
The telecommunications company made the clarifications during an engagement with journalists and content creators in Lagos, where its engineers and technology experts addressed concerns about data consumption, billing practices and service quality.
Speaking at the session, MTN Nigeria’s Senior Manager for Core Network Implementation, Mr. Michael Ndukwe, said many subscribers misunderstand how internet data is consumed, particularly with the increasing adoption of 4G and 5G technologies.
“We usually hear the concern that MTN is stealing my data. I’m here to take you step by step through exactly how your data is used,” he said.
Ndukwe explained that data is not consumed when a mobile device merely connects to the network or undergoes authentication processes.
According to him, significant data usage only begins when users actively request online content such as videos, downloads or web pages.
He said the network first verifies that a subscriber is registered, has an active data bundle and is authorised to access internet services before establishing a session.
“Data is not taken from you without your action. When you stream, scroll, download or share, you are using data. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
Ndukwe noted that many subscribers compare current data consumption patterns with experiences on older 2G and 3G networks without considering the impact of faster technologies.
He explained that 4G and 5G networks are designed to support richer content and improved user experiences, resulting in higher data usage.
According to him, video streaming remains one of the biggest drivers of data consumption.
He said a 15-second TikTok video viewed in standard definition could consume between two and three megabytes of data, while the same clip watched in high definition could use up to 15 megabytes.
Ndukwe also identified auto-play features on social media platforms, hotspot sharing, cloud backups, software updates and connected devices as factors responsible for rapid depletion of data bundles.
“Even before you click a video, they keep changing. Those apps are already downloading content in the background so that there is no buffering,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. David Ogunshola of MTN’s Information Technology team said discrepancies between data usage records displayed on customer devices and those recorded by the network were normal.
According to him, devices typically track application-level usage, while network systems record the entire data session, including signalling and connectivity processes.
“The more sophisticated the device, the more it is optimised for quality. If you do not adjust those configurations, the device will always try to give you the best possible experience, and that comes with higher data usage,” Ogunshola said.
On service quality concerns, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Mr. Yahaya Ibrahim, attributed network disruptions to a combination of infrastructure challenges and environmental factors.
He explained that MTN’s network operates through interconnected layers, from base stations serving customers to transmission links and core network facilities that route traffic to the internet.
“Today, if you switch on your phone, your phone will try to locate the nearest station to it. And the station that has the best power to give you the best signal, your phone will latch on to that,” he said.
Ibrahim said network quality often deteriorates when sites become congested, experience power outages, run out of diesel or suffer equipment failures.
He identified fibre cuts, vandalism, sabotage and road construction activities as some of the major threats to network infrastructure.
“As we speak, we are having at least 35 to 40 fibre cuts a day because of our environment.
“Road construction, vandalisation, sabotage, these are things that really impact us,” he said.
The CTO disclosed that MTN recorded an average of two vandalised sites daily in 2025, with a total of 152 sites affected during the period.
According to him, generators, solar power systems, batteries and other critical telecommunications equipment were among assets targeted by vandals.
He explained that damage to a fibre route or hub site could disrupt connectivity across multiple communities because many network locations rely on shared transmission infrastructure.
Ibrahim said MTN had deployed personnel nationwide to patrol and monitor its facilities in an effort to reduce vandalism and protect network assets.
He urged Nigerians to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure, noting that attacks on such facilities affected entire communities and businesses that depend on reliable connectivity.
The MTN officials reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency in data billing and continued investment in network infrastructure to improve customer experience.
They said subscribers could also utilise tools such as the MyMTN application, data usage alerts and data management settings to monitor and control their consumption.
MTN has faced increasing complaints from customers over rapid data depletion, dropped calls, slow internet speeds and unstable connectivity, but the company insists that user behaviour, device settings and infrastructure-related challenges account for most of the concerns.
Telecommunications operators have called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to establish a clear regulatory framework for airtime and data credit services, warning that millions of Nigerians could face fresh disruptions if the agencies fail to coordinate their responsibilities.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON
This is coming on the heels of the Federal High Court judgment affirming the FCCPC’s authority to regulate consumer protection in the airtime and data credit market while preserving the NCC’s exclusive mandate over telecommunications licensing and technical regulation.
The ruling effectively clarified that both regulators have complementary roles rather than overlapping powers.
Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said the judgment should serve as the basis for stronger collaboration between the two regulators to avoid the regulatory uncertainty that earlier forced operators to suspend airtime and data credit services.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, said the industry was not disputing the authority of either regulator but was seeking a clearly defined operational framework before any further regulatory actions are taken.
“The court has done something important. It has confirmed the FCCPC’s authority and, in the same breath, affirmed that the NCC’s role is preserved. Concurrency means coexistence. The industry now expects both regulators to establish the coordination framework that the court’s reasoning requires,” Adebayo said.
He stressed that regulatory certainty had become critical because millions of Nigerians depend on airtime and data credit services for daily communication.
“Forty million Nigerians depend on these services. The court has made clear that both regulators have a role. The industry is asking them to define how that works before any action that could disrupt access again,” he stated.
Adebayo also urged both agencies to engage industry stakeholders before introducing measures capable of affecting consumer access to the services.
According to him, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) directive requiring Regulatory Impact Assessments before major policy changes should be observed to minimise unintended consequences on businesses and consumers.
The renewed call comes months after major mobile network operators temporarily suspended airtime and data borrowing services following the implementation of the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations, a development that affected millions of subscribers nationwide.
In its judgment, the Federal High Court held that while the FCCPC has powers over competition and consumer protection issues in the digital lending ecosystem, it cannot assume the NCC’s statutory responsibility for licensing telecommunications operators.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the two agencies must operate within their respective mandates, describing their relationship as one of “coexistence, not displacement.”
MTN Nigeria has warned customers to disregard fraudulent online posts claiming the telecom operator is offering “1 Month Free Data for Old Subscribers,” describing the promotion as fake and unauthorised.
In a statement shared on its X handle, the telco said the circulating promotion is not from MTN and is not affiliated with the company.
MTN urged customers not to click on the accompanying link in the online post or provide their phone numbers or personal information on any third-party website.
Customers are advised not to click on the link or provide their phone numbers or personal information on any third-party website.
“We will never require customers to submit their details on external platforms to claim data or any other reward,” MTN said.
The company added that all genuine promotions, products and services are announced only through its official communication channels.
“All authentic MTN promotions, products and services are communicated exclusively through our official channels, including www.mtn.ng, our verified social media pages and *180#,” the company said.
MTN also urged customers to remain vigilant against online scams designed to steal personal information, warning that fraudulent offers often impersonate trusted brands to deceive unsuspecting users.
“Don’t be the next victim!” the company said, reiterating that the purported “1 Month Free Data for Old Subscribers” offer is fake and not associated with MTN Nigeria.
National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has dismissed a Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by Pan African Towers Ltd. (PAT) in an employment dispute instituted by its former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Azeez Amida.
The court also awarded ₦500,000 in costs against the company after holding that the application lacked merit.
Justice Essien, who delivered the ruling on July 21 in Suit No. NICN/LA/143/2025: Mr. Azeez Amida v. Pan African Towers Limited, held that the substantive case concerning Amida’s alleged outstanding contractual entitlements under a Mutual Separation Agreement should proceed to hearing.
The ruling effectively rejected the company’s attempt to terminate the proceedings on jurisdictional grounds.
Jurisdictional Challenge Rejected
Pan African Towers had argued that the National Industrial Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the Mutual Separation Agreement executed between the parties required disputes to first pass through negotiation, mediation and arbitration before litigation could be initiated.
The company maintained that Mr. Amida failed to exhaust those contractual dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
However, Justice Essien rejected the argument after examining evidence presented by the claimant showing that several attempts had been made to activate the agreed dispute resolution process before legal proceedings commenced.
According to the court, documentary evidence showed that Mr. Amida, through his solicitors, issued correspondence and formal demand letters aimed at resolving the dispute amicably in line with the terms of the agreement.
The court found that rather than engaging with those efforts, Pan African Towers failed to meaningfully participate in the process and later sought to rely on the same contractual provisions to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
Evidence Considered by the Court
According to evidence presented by Mr. Amida’s legal team, the court considered correspondence involving senior officials of Pan African Towers and its investors.
Among the documents relied upon was a letter allegedly written by the Chairman of the Board of Pan African Towers and Partner at Development Partners International (DPI), Mr. Adefolarin Ogunsanya, rejecting the demand made by Mr. Amida’s legal representatives for an amicable resolution before litigation.
The claimant’s legal team also tendered multiple email communications allegedly sent from January 2025 to Verod Capital Management’s in-house legal counsel, Mr. Dipo Okuribido.
According to the claimant, those emails did not receive any response before the commencement of the suit.
Based on the evidence before it, the court held that the conduct of Pan African Towers was inconsistent with reliance on the contractual dispute resolution provisions.
Justice Essien ruled that the company had effectively waived its right to insist on arbitration after frustrating the preliminary dispute resolution process contemplated by the parties’ agreement.
The court consequently held that Pan African Towers could not rely on the arbitration clause to prevent the court from hearing the substantive claims.
Court Awards Costs
Having dismissed the Preliminary Objection, the National Industrial Court awarded costs of ₦500,000 against Pan African Towers.
The court described the objection as lacking merit.
Substantive Defence Yet to Be Filed
The ruling represents the first judicial determination in the employment dispute.
The claimant’s legal team noted that since the suit commenced, the principal response filed by Pan African Towers had been the Preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
According to the claimant, the company has yet to file a substantive defence addressing the merits of the claims relating to the alleged outstanding contractual entitlements.
With the dismissal of the jurisdictional challenge, the matter will now proceed to hearing on its merits.
The court adjourned the substantive suit until Jan. 12, 2027.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute arose following Mr. Amida’s departure from Pan African Towers after both parties executed a Mutual Separation Agreement.
According to the claimant, while the agreement governed the terms of his exit from the company, certain contractual entitlements remained unpaid.
His legal representatives said they initially sought to resolve the dispute through the mechanisms provided under the agreement by engaging the company through correspondence and formal demand letters.
When those efforts failed to produce a resolution, they commenced proceedings before the National Industrial Court seeking payment of the outstanding contractual entitlements.
Rather than filing a substantive defence to the claims, Pan African Towers challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that arbitration and other dispute resolution mechanisms had not been exhausted.
The National Industrial Court has now rejected that position.
Related Commercial Litigation
The employment proceedings are separate from ongoing commercial cases before the Federal High Court involving Mr. Amida, Development Partners International (DPI), Verod Capital Management and other parties.
Those proceedings relate to issues concerning the ownership of Pan African Towers and remain pending before the courts.
The National Industrial Court noted that those matters would be determined independently based on their respective facts, evidence and applicable legal principles.
Legal Team Reacts
Reacting to the ruling, representatives of Mr. Amida’s legal team welcomed the decision.
“The Court has affirmed an important principle of contractual dispute resolution.
“A party cannot frustrate the agreed process and later seek to rely on that same process to prevent a claim from being heard.
“We now look forward to presenting the substantive case before the Court,” the legal team said.
The lawyers acknowledged that Pan African Towers retained the right under Nigerian law to pursue any available appellate remedies but stated that they were fully prepared for the substantive hearing scheduled for January 2027.
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