PAUL UTEBOR
For millions of Nigerians, poor network service has become more than an everyday inconvenience; it has become a frightening reality with potentially life-or-death consequences and a silent killer.
Across the country, MTN users in Nigeria complain of dropped calls, failed text messages, delayed alerts, inaccessible mobile data and prolonged network outages despite paying for voice and internet services. In an era where a single phone call can summon an ambulance, alert family members during a medical emergency or connect someone to life-saving assistance, persistent network failures have continued to leave many Nigerians vulnerable.
Yet, despite years of complaints, many subscribers say there is little accountability. Consumers continue to purchase airtime and data while enduring unreliable service, often with no immediate explanation or compensation. For countless Nigerians, the fear is no longer just losing a business opportunity or missing an important message. It is the possibility that one failed call during an emergency could cost a life.
That fear has now been brought into sharp focus by the death of a Minna resident Mr. Nwatu, who was unable to obtain help after repeated attempts to contact his wife reportedly failed because of MTN network problems.
According to information obtained by this media house, Mr. Nwatu had attended church with his wife on Sunday before returning home alone at about 2 p.m., while his wife remained behind for a church women’s gathering with their two youngest children. Their eldest daughter, aged 13, was said to be away at boarding school in Lagos.
Shortly before arriving home, Mr. Nwatu reportedly began experiencing chest tightness, shortness of breath, a persistent ringing in his ears, and a severe headache.
After reaching home, he reportedly took paracetamol and attempted to rest. However, his condition deteriorated as he began struggling to breathe and found himself unable to stand.
It was learned that Mr. Nwatu repeatedly attempted to contact his wife through WhatsApp calls and regular phone calls but was unable to establish a connection. Messages he reportedly sent also failed to deliver despite having an active internet data subscription.
It was further revealed that he checked his mobile data balance, which reportedly showed more than 8GB remaining, but he still could not access the internet.
According to the account, Mr. Nwatu also owned another mobile phone connected to a different network provider, but the device’s battery had run flat, leaving him unable to use it.
Unable to reach anyone for assistance, he reportedly remained alone inside the house as his condition worsened.
The information further stated that the estate caretaker later visited the residence to deliver a message but received no response despite repeated knocking. Attempts to call Mr. Nwatu’s phone reportedly proved unsuccessful.
The caretaker subsequently contacted Mr. Nwatu’s wife, who reportedly became alarmed after discovering that both her husband’s phone lines were unreachable. Efforts to reach him through WhatsApp also reportedly failed.
Concerned, she contacted a neighbour, who reportedly went to the back of the house and called out to Mr. Nwatu through a window.
According to the report, the neighbour heard only a weak response from inside the house: “Please call my wife.”
The neighbour reportedly sought assistance from another resident before forcing open the front door. They found Mr. Nwatu lying on the bedroom floor, sweating heavily and struggling to breathe.
While arrangements were reportedly being made to transport him to a hospital, Mr. Nwatu informed those present that he had returned from church feeling unwell before collapsing after unsuccessfully trying to contact his wife.
Before he could be taken to hospital, however, he began convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
Mr. Nwatu lying on the bedroom floor convulsing in the image above
He was pronounced dead before medical help could arrive and was later moved to a mortuary.
In a similar incident, an Abuja Airport Road resident, Mr Paul Chukwunoso, recounted how poor MTN network service prevented him from responding promptly to a friend facing a life-threatening medical emergency. He said his friend, who had fallen seriously ill in the middle of the night, desperately needed someone to take him to the hospital. However, repeated attempts by both men to reach each other by phone were unsuccessful due to network problems. According to Mr Chukwunoso, his friend also sent him several messages seeking urgent assistance, but they were only delivered hours later, long after they had been sent. The images below show the message sent that delivered hours later due to a bad network from MTN.
Message he sent to Mr Paul when he could not reach him on the phone
The big unanswered question remains: when will Nigerians start getting compensated for bad services
