Mobile service disruptions lasting several hours left subscribers in Lagos struggling to study, run businesses and stay in touch with family and friends.
The outage was also reported in Oyo, Rivers, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory. Some users said they could not access mobile data or other network services, forcing them to borrow hotspots or switch to alternative providers.
Kafayat Kokumo, a Mass Communication student, said the disruption began while she was trying to send a WhatsApp message as she worked on a research assignment due in less than 30 minutes. Switching her phone to airplane mode did not help, and she eventually connected through a friend’s hotspot.
Service returned after about an hour, she said, but the interruption left her worried about missing her deadline. Kokumo called for more dependable mobile services, noting that outages can affect people’s daily routines.
Memunat Olayemi Omidiya, a student who runs an online store in Abulegba, said she was unable to respond to customers after her data subscription expired and she could not purchase another one. She used her mother’s hotspot instead.
Omidiya said she first noticed the disruption at about 5 p.m. and that it continued until she went to bed after 11 p.m. She urged providers to take steps to prevent similar outages.
Digital marketer Joel Okikioluwa also struggled to get online. He said he was charged for a data purchase but had not received a refund by the time of the interview. Describing the experience as “horrible,” he called for improvements to network service.
For Lagos student Abdur-Rahman Awesu, the disruption lasted about six hours and affected his contact with friends and family. He relied on another network and said providers should strengthen their infrastructure and backup systems. He also called for timely updates to customers during outages.
Covenant Amaechi, a student living near First Gate in Ikorodu, said he was unable to communicate when he needed to. Although service eventually returned, he said the connection remained intermittent at times. He also urged providers to improve their customer care.
Another student, AbdulQayum Jakande of Surulere, said he lost mobile data access for more than four hours. He called for stronger network servers.
The subscribers’ experiences underscore how much people depend on reliable mobile services for education, communication and online businesses. They called on providers to improve network reliability and reduce the risk of future disruptions.
