Jul, 9 2025
9mobile Customers in Limbo: Months Without Service
Imagine relying on your phone for work, family, or emergencies, only to find it stuck on “No service” for weeks on end. That’s the reality for thousands of 9mobile customers across Nigeria right now. The service issues, which first started in late 2024, have spiraled into a full-blown crisis by early 2025. Users report being completely cut off—they can’t make or receive calls, send texts, or use data. For many, even basic communication has become impossible, leaving them stranded and frustrated.
These service failures aren’t just technical glitches. They’ve hit both city dwellers and people in rural communities. Some Nigerian business owners have watched their income shrink as customers and suppliers can’t reach them. Parents worry about not being available for their children in emergencies. People can’t access bank alerts or mobile apps. For many, their SIM cards show nothing but endless 'emergency calls only' warnings. Offices in places like Kubwa and Abuja’s Central Area, usually buzzing with customers and staff, have fallen silent—no phones ringing, no network, no business.
Blocked From Switching: Users Call Out NCC and 9mobile
As if being stranded wasn’t enough, subscribers trying to escape the blackout hit another wall. Reports from affected users say 9mobile is blocking Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests, making it impossible for people to keep their numbers while switching to rival networks. Normally, porting gives customers the right to flee bad service without losing their identity. But 9mobile customers like Ifiok Samson accuse the company of deliberately locking them in. 'NCC needs to sanction 9mobile and let us port. The service has been awful since last year—and now, it’s just gone,' he said.
This isn’t a few angry tweets. People are swarming 9mobile’s offices, hoping for answers, but finding doors closed and staff powerless to help. Small business owners claim lost contracts and missed deadlines. Students complain about missing lectures and exam results. From Lagos to Abuja, stories keep piling up—each more desperate than the last.
So far, regulators at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) face mounting pressure. By law, providers must allow porting and deliver reliable service, but so far, subscribers say red tape and corporate silence are all they’ve received. Calls for official sanctions and immediate intervention grow louder every day as customers demand not just compensation but the basic right to communication. For now, those still holding 9mobile SIM cards watch their phones, waiting for a signal—or an answer that might finally come.