Nigerians Lashes Out On Telcos Over Refusal To Give End Of Year Gifts Amidst Huge Profit

Nigerian telecommunications subscribers have slammed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for their refusal to give gifts to appreciate their customers for the festive period.

Naija News gathered that some mobile subscribers were unhappy that despite all the profits racked in by telcos, they have refused to compensate customers with bonuses and gifts to mark this year’s festive celebration.

A cross-section of subscribers spoke to Daily Post and expressed their disappointment about the fact telcos in Nigeria take them for granted their customers.

It was learnt that telcos in the country including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, 9Mobile and Glo did not give any season compliment gifts or bonuses to their over 212.3 million active subscribers in Nigeria as of the time of filling this report.

Naija News reports that subscribers’ complaints follow a report that the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta revealed earlier this month (December) that active telecom subscribers in Nigeria increased from 400,000 in 2000 to 212.2 million in 2022.

Danbatta was reported to have said the growth margin represents a teledensity of 111% with basic internet subscriptions growing from zero to 152.7 million.

NCC in its 2020 Subscribers/Network Data report revealed that four major telecoms in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Glo Mobile, 9Mobile, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other telecoms operators made revenue of N2.88 trillion in 2020, up from N2.516 trillion recorded in 2019.

The telecoms sector is reported to have contributed over $70 billion to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Evidently, recently the MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, was quoted to have said “Growth was broad-based across our key revenue lines, such as voice, data, fintech and digital services,” while the company is said to have achieved an N269 billion gain in the first nine months of 2022.

This situation cuts across other telcom like 9Mobile, Airtel and Glo in the period.
However, a subscriber identified as Eze Ugochukwu told Daily Post that it is regrettable development and it’s unfortunate that such a nonchalant attitude can only happen in Nigeria.

Ugochukwu said, “If Nigeria were an advanced country like the USA, appreciating customers at the end of a business year is paramount and taken seriously.”

Another Subscriber, Musa Mohammed, a resident of Abuja, also said to Daily Post that based on his observations, most telcos are not accustomed to rewarding their Customers in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate, but I expect no reward from Nigerian Mobile Network Operators. They have not been able to give quality services. Is it a bonus they would give?” he stated.

Naija News understands that the Executive Secretary of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ajibola Olude, defended the telcos saying the MNOs may still have such plans to reward their customers before the year winds down.

Olude, however, submitted that it would be unreasonable to conclude that the MNOs failed to reward their customers, adding that telecoms may have the plan to reward customers by the first week of 2023.

He said, “The year has not ended; it will be wrong for anyone to assume that these MNOs are not appreciating their customers. They may plan for it by the end of the year or early 2023.”

Also reacting to the development was the President National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, (NATCOMS), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, who observed that apart from promos, MNOs should improve their quality of service.

He stated that “Airtel, MTN and Glo currently run promos that can equate bonuses; however, MNOs should work to improve the quality of services.”