Concerns as 9mobile customers battle zero network for days

There are fresh concerns around the operations of 9mobile in the country as subscribers have been subjected to zero network service in the last few days.

Though, 9mobile had equally sent messages to subscribers discovered to have discrepancies in their SIM-NIN linkages, findings suggest that the lack of service signal may not be connected with the SIM-NIN issue.

Recall that earlier in the week, 9mobile was acquired by LH Telecoms with new management coming on board after years of slow growth amidst other challenges.

Industry sources said the no network issue might have to do with new management that has just come on board, carrying out audits, optimsation, among other technical reviews of the network.

“But still, that shouldn’t stop services. Maybe they want to surprise the industry with new and improved service since new management has come on board,” a source said.

Indeed, some subscribers experiencing the zero-signal said they never got any information that relates to them going for the SIM-NIN update.

“So, I am kind of shocked that in the last week, 9mobile service has gone south. I tried calling out, it will do as if it was connecting, only to bounce back and would not connect again,” said Toyin Adebisi, a 9mobile subscriber.
Another subscriber, Kayode Olawale said he had no issue with as regards SIM-NIN linkage, “because I have linked before now and certified okay. But in the last few days, no 9mobile signal on my phone. So, I am kind of worried… what is happening?”

Checks by The Guardian showed that as of the first quarter, 9mobile controlled 5.32 per cent of Nigeria’s $76 billion telecoms market in terms of penetration, while service customers hovered around 11 million from the about 20 million it had some few years back.

Efforts to get a response from 9mobile spokesperson, Chinesie Amanfo, proved abortive, as her line was not reachable. She equally didn’t respond to both text and WhatsApp messages sent to her telephone line as of press time.
Recall that the telecommunications firm announced the completion of an equity investment by LH Telecommunication Limited on Sunday.

The investment, which was approved by African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM), the senior lender to 9Mobile in May 2023 has resulted in a change in control of 9Mobile in favour of the new investor by the issuance of new shares amounting to 95.5 per cent of 9Mobile to the new investor in consideration for the injection of fresh capital into the company.

According to the statement announcing the acquisition, 9mobile said pursuant to the injection of capital, the new investor nominated the following persons to the board of directors of 9Mobile: Thomas Etuh as the Chairman of the Board. He is an accomplished and versatile entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in strategic sectors of the African economy, including agriculture, fertilizer production, mining, banking, telecommunications, power and aviation.

The board also nominated Nahim Abe Ibraheem, who has over 30 years of experience across finance, upstream and downstream oil trade, procurement, and manufacturing. He began his career at Orbit Communications in 1990 and founded Soveran Nigeria Limited, a specialty procurement and petroleum product distribution company, in 1995.

There is also Femi Edun, a financial services industry professional with over 35 years of experience across assurance, consulting, credit ratings and research, investment banking and proprietary investment, from a variety of roles in Akintola Williams & Co (now Deloitte), Price Waterhouse, (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), Agusto & Co. Limited, Nigeria’s first credit rating agency and Frontier Capital Limited.