By Adamu Muhd Usman
“The way we communicate with others and ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.”
— Tony Robbins
Kafin-Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State is one of the largest and most populous councils in the state, with a long history dating back to the old Kano State. It hosts two districts, is represented by two members in the Jigawa State House of Assembly, and is home to important institutions such as Sule Lamido University and the School of Remedial Studies. Yet, despite its size and strategic importance, the community has been left grappling with severe MTN network failures for close to a month.
Residents have endured persistent service disruptions, including the inability to make or receive calls, frequent call drops, poor internet connectivity, delayed or missing text messages, distorted audio quality, and, at times, total network outages lasting two to three hours.
One troubling consequence is that many residents have gone days—sometimes weeks—without receiving bank transaction alerts, exposing them to financial uncertainty and inconvenience. The silence from MTN has only deepened public frustration.
While some subscribers attribute the problem to negligence or lack of commitment, it is more likely the result of unresolved technical faults. What remains unacceptable, however, is MTN’s failure to communicate clearly with its customers. Despite repeated complaints and engagements by concerned residents, the company has neither fixed the problem nor issued an explanation or apology to the hundreds of thousands affected.
MTN’s responsibility should not stop at Nigeria’s major cities. As a leading telecommunications provider, it owes every community reliable service. Kafin-Hausa alone hosts more than 20 public primary and secondary schools, numerous private schools, and two tertiary institutions whose students and staff depend heavily on stable internet access for learning, research, and academic engagement.
The disruption has also affected healthcare delivery, business transactions, and everyday communication. In a digital age where connectivity underpins productivity, prolonged network failure translates directly into economic loss and social disruption. As Nat Turner aptly put it, “Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.”
Ironically, while Kafin-Hausa is served by other networks such as Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, it is MTN users who have borne the brunt of this ongoing disruption—turning what should be a basic service into a daily struggle.
We therefore call on MTN Nigeria to urgently restore, stabilise, and improve network services in Kafin-Hausa and other affected communities. Swift and transparent action is needed to end this hardship and rebuild public trust.
At this point, one must ask: can residents still believe in MTN’s slogan?
Is MTN truly “Everywhere You Go”?
Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State.
