Telecommunications lies at the heart of Nigeria’s daily life, but critical threats such as vandalism, power instability and environmental challenges continue to jeopardise its impact, says Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria.
Speaking during an interactive session with fellows of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) in Lagos, Ibrahim emphasised the importance of connectivity in modern living, describing telecom engineers as playing a role akin to doctors and soldiers in providing critical services.
“Telecoms keep Nigeria running. People rely on connectivity for their daily lives, from small businesses selling online to emergency healthcare situations. Without it, the nation’s pulse is affected,” he said. “When a site goes down, it’s not just MTN that is affected, it’s millions of Nigerians who are cut off from essential services.”
Highlighting the technical complexities behind mobile networks, Ibrahim explained how seamless connectivity relies on phenomena such as “handover,” where a moving user’s signal transitions smoothly between base stations without interruption. Fibre cuts and vandalism, however, often disrupt this delicate process.
“In the past few weeks alone, we’ve recorded an average of 40 sites being vandalised daily in parts of the South East and South South,” he revealed. “Such incidents destabilise service delivery and can take entire communities offline.”
Power outages and environmental issues also weigh heavily on operations. Ibrahim cited the recent floods in Borno is 2024, which submerged over 20 sites. Other things that affect signal strength include strong building walls and water bodies that weaken signal strength.
To maintain network quality, MTN employs advanced measures such as routine drive tests to monitor drop call rates and optimise coverage. The company is also doing a proof of concept in using artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance and demand planning, enabling engineers to anticipate faults and deploy resources efficiently.
“These innovations help us respond faster and plan smarter, but the environment in which we operate remains tough,” he said.
Ibrahim appealed to Nigerians to see telecom infrastructure as a shared national resource that must be protected. “When people block access to a site or vandalise equipment, they’re not hurting MTN; they’re hurting their communities. Two brothers fighting over land shouldn’t lock up a telecom site. That site provides service to millions of people. The implications of such actions are far-reaching,” he cautioned.
Calling on the media to support advocacy efforts, Ibrahim said, “Help us educate Nigerians about the value of connectivity and the need to safeguard the infrastructure that makes it possible.”