The telecom scene in Kogi State has taken a dramatic turn as Globacom and Airtel rush to capture over 1.5 million stranded subscribers following a court-ordered shutdown of MTN services in the region.
The crisis stems from a four-week-long standoff between MTN Nigeria and the Kogi State Government, resulting in a legal directive to seal off MTN’s operations in the state. At the centre of the dispute are the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA) and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), who accuse the telecom giant of breaching the state’s operational regulations.
“Until MTN complies with the state’s official operating guidelines, their offices and infrastructure will remain sealed,” said KUIMCA’s Director-General, Dr Taufiq Isa, during a joint press briefing with KGIRS Executive Chairman, Salihu Enehe.
Glo, Airtel Move Fast
With MTN off the grid, rivals wasted no time swooping in. Globacom and Airtel are now aggressively expanding their infrastructure across all 21 local government areas in Kogi. According to a local MTN technician, the network previously held more than half of the state’s estimated two million telecom users.
“Once the court ordered the shutdown, it was an open season for competitors,” the technician told media, requesting anonymity.
Street-level reports confirm ongoing fibre optic installations and 4G upgrades by Glo and Airtel. The companies are banking on enhanced speed and connectivity to sway former MTN users, particularly those who rely on real-time applications like gaming and video conferencing.
Race for Market Dominance
Long queues have become a regular sight at Glo and Airtel offices in Lokoja as residents scramble to buy new SIMs or reactivate dormant ones. The rise in demand has pushed both networks to recruit more technical staff and fast-track infrastructure projects.
Former MTN employee Azeez Sheriff sees the shift as a potentially permanent one. “If Glo and Airtel invest right and act fast, they might end up displacing MTN in the state altogether,” he said.
According to Lokoja-based journalist Reuben Akor, the once-MTN-dominated market is now balancing out. “In just two weeks, both Glo and Airtel have doubled their local customer base,” he noted.
For now, MTN employees across Kogi are left in limbo, facing job insecurity as negotiations stall. Ironically, while key decision-makers from both sides continue to enjoy uninterrupted service in Abuja and Lagos, ordinary Kogi residents suffer the fallout.
Some business owners have reportedly begun making routine trips to Abuja just to access reliable telecom services. Despite the mounting pressure, MTN has yet to concede to the state’s compliance demands.
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[…] Nigeria has reinstated network services across Kogi State following a two-week blackout that left users disconnected and scrambling for alternatives—especially in Lokoja, the state […]