Leading telecommunications provider, MTN Nigeria, has fully restored its network services in Kogi State after a two-week blackout that left residents and businesses without voice or data connectivity. The outage, which began on April 18, disrupted communications across several local government areas, affecting thousands of customers and local enterprises.
MTN attributed the service disruption to a critical infrastructure breach involving vandalism and power supply issues. In a statement released today, the company expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and assured customers of ongoing efforts to strengthen network resilience in the region.
“We understand how vital connectivity is, especially in emergencies and for economic activity,” said MTN’s Regional Technical Manager, Kabiru Ahmed. “Our engineers have worked around the clock to restore services, and we appreciate the patience and support of our customers throughout this period.”
During the blackout, residents were forced to seek alternative and often costly means of accessing the internet. Travellers passing through Lokoja reportedly offered mobile hotspot services to locals for as much as N1,000 per hour, highlighting the urgency of digital access and the economic implications of connectivity loss.
Local businesses, especially those relying on online platforms, mobile money, and digital communication, suffered setbacks due to the outage. Community leaders have called on telecommunications providers and government agencies to invest in securing infrastructure and expanding rural network coverage.