Sowore Leads 'Occupy MTN' Protest Over 'Gbege' Telecom Services & Data Rip-Off

Fiery human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday led angry Nigerians in a protest against telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, accusing the company and other network providers of exploitation, poor service delivery, alleged data depletion, and high internet costs in the country. The protesters, who gathered in front of MTN’s head office in Maitama, Abuja, under the banner of “Occupy MTN,” said the action marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign aimed at demanding affordable and unlimited internet access for Nigerians. Sowore, a former presidential candidate, alleged that telecom operators in the country were exploiting subscribers through what he described as “unjustified data depletion and poor service quality.” He accused MTN of failing to provide value for money despite the high cost of data subscriptions, adding that many Nigerians spend huge sums on internet services that are exhausted within a short period. According to him, “This is just the beginning of the struggle until Nigerians begin to enjoy affordable and unlimited data services. If subscribers pay for a one-day plan, it should last for a whole day. If they pay for a monthly subscription, it should serve them for the entire month.” The activist also accused other telecom providers, including Globacom, Airtel, and 9Mobile, of similar practices and criticised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alleging that the regulatory body had failed to protect consumers’ interests. He added that internet services in Nigeria remain among the most expensive globally when compared with the quality of service provided. The activist stated that many businesses and individuals had suffered financial losses due to unstable internet services and rapid data depletion. Some of the protesters vowed to continue the campaign until telecom operators improve service quality, reduce costs, and introduce more consumer-friendly data plans. The protesters also called on the Nigerian government and the NCC to strengthen oversight of telecommunications companies and ensure that subscribers receive fair value for their money. Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), Rex Elanu, alleged that telecommunications companies were taking advantage of subscribers through what he described as “excessive charges, rapid data depletion, and poor network quality.” He said the government had allowed telecom operators to “defraud Nigerians,” despite the increasing dependence of citizens on internet services for communication, business, and daily activities. According to him, “Data has become a necessity for almost everyone. Nigerians depend on the internet for work, education, business, and communication, yet subscribers continue to experience poor services despite paying heavily for data subscriptions.” Elanu called on Nigerians to continue demanding accountability from service providers and government agencies, insisting that consumers deserve affordable and reliable telecommunications services. On her part, social media critic popularly known as Mama Pee condemned the poor data services and exploitative charges, warning that continued silence would worsen the hardship faced by citizens. She lamented the rising cost of internet data and the alleged poor quality of service being experienced by subscribers across the country. “The more Nigerians wait for the government to hold these companies accountable, the more the people will continue to suffer losses,” she said. She cited the case of a young Nigerian woman who allegedly lost a remote overseas job opportunity due to unstable internet connectivity. The activist described internet access as essential for survival in the modern economy, noting that many Nigerians now depend on digital platforms and social media for their businesses and livelihoods. “In a period when many people cannot afford physical shop rents, they now run businesses on Instagram and other online platforms. Yet, before you finish uploading content, huge volumes of data are already exhausted,” she said. She accused telecom operators of exploiting subscribers through high charges and poor service delivery, insisting that citizens must begin to speak up collectively. “This is a clarion call to every patriotic Nigerian. We must stand for ourselves because we are all we have,” she declared. The activist also warned that the demonstration was only the beginning, threatening a possible nationwide shutdown protest if telecom providers fail to improve service delivery and address subscribers’ complaints. “Today is just a warning call. The next protest may be a complete shutdown if nothing changes,” she warned. Armed policemen deployed from the Maitama Police station were on ground to maintain law and order.