Customers of telecom provider 9mobile are growing increasingly frustrated over ongoing service issues, including frequent network outages and difficulties porting to other networks.
For weeks, subscribers have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction, with many calling on regulators to step in. Some are even demanding compensation for the disruptions.
A major complaint is that users trying to switch to other service providers are unable to do so because 9mobile’s porting service is reportedly down.
One user, @suleman_Tanimu, tweeted:
“9mobile needs to at least make porting available so customers can switch. I’ve been trying to port to MTN for weeks, but customer care keeps saying 9mobile’s porting service isn’t working.”
Another user, @Ifoye, tagged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), saying:
“9mobile has been down in Ibadan for over two weeks with no fix in sight. Many customers can’t even port out, which is causing problems for people who rely on their numbers for banking and business transactions.”
Similarly, @DforDust complained:
“9mobile has been down for a whole month! No official statement, no updates. Do they know how many businesses are suffering because of this?”
9mobile Responds
In response to the backlash, a senior 9mobile executive told The Guardian that the company is aware of the issues and is working on a major infrastructure upgrade.
“We understand our customers’ frustration and ask for patience,” the executive said. “In the next two months, service should improve significantly.”
Once a major player in Nigeria’s telecom market, 9mobile has struggled in recent years, dropping from around 20 million subscribers to just 3.3 million as of January 2025.
While customers await improvements, many are left wondering if 9mobile can bounce back—or if it’s time to move on.
