MTN Nigeria has begun distributing automatic airtime credits to subscribers as compensation for poor network quality. The operator, however, said, that the compensation was for poor network quality only, and not for data depletion.
The compensation are for network quality deficiencies recorded between February and April 2026 This followed directives by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) requiring operators to compensate subscribers affected by prolonged or repeated service failures.
MTN subscribers began receiving notifications of the compensation on Sunday, with credits varying significantly among customers. Screenshots shared by subscribers showed compensation ranging from as little as N20 to as much as N1,436.
However, the relatively small credits received by some customers have triggered questions over how compensation is calculated, who qualifies and whether the intervention addresses the wider consumer complaints confronting the telecom sector.
One subscriber who received N20 in compensation questioned the amount while also alleging that his mobile data had repeatedly been depleted without corresponding usage. MTN, in response, said the credit should not be interpreted as compensation for the subscriber’s data depletion complaint.
“The SMS notification relates to a Quality of Service compensation programme for service disruptions recorded between February and April 2026.
The N20 airtime credit was the approved compensation applied to eligible lines and should not be interpreted as compensation for any specific airtime or data depletion claim,” the operator said. The distinction is significant because data depletion has emerged as a separate and persistent source of consumer dissatisfaction in Nigeria’s telecommunications market.
