Omoyele Sowore led a protest at MTN Nigeria's head office in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, accusing the telecom company of exploitation, poor service delivery, and rapid data depletion. The demonstration, dubbed "Occupy MTN," was joined by activists and citizens demanding affordable and unlimited internet access. Sowore, a former presidential candidate, claimed Nigerians pay high prices for data that often lasts less than a day despite being billed as daily or monthly plans. He said telecom operators provide poor value and called for immediate improvements in service quality and pricing.
Other telecom providers, including Globacom, Airtel, and 9Mobile, were also accused of similar practices. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was criticised for failing to protect consumer interests. Rex Elanu, National Publicity Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), said data has become a necessity for work, education, and business, yet Nigerians face excessive charges and unstable networks. He accused the government of allowing telecom firms to defraud citizens.
Social media critic Mama Pee condemned the high cost and poor quality of internet services. She cited a young woman who allegedly lost an overseas remote job due to unstable connectivity. Mama Pee warned that continued inaction would deepen citizens' hardship. Sowore stated the protest was the beginning of a broader campaign, threatening a nationwide shutdown if demands are not met.
Sowore demands affordable data while relying on internet-dependent platforms to sustain his activism. The same digital tools he criticises for being unreliable are central to the livelihoods he claims are being undermined. If remote work fails due to poor connectivity, the consequences fall hardest on young Nigerians without backup income. The protest highlights a dependency on services many cannot afford yet cannot live without.
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