By Mass Communication Students, Grace Polytechnic, Omu-Eleni.
Residents of Omu-Eleni Community in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State have expressed deep frustration over the persistent poor telecommunication network affecting their daily lives, businesses, financial transactions, and communication.
This was revealed during a vox pop conducted by students of the Department of Mass Communication, Grace Polytechnic, Omu-Eleni, to gather firsthand opinions from members of the community on the growing network challenges.
Many residents lamented that the poor quality of service from major telecommunications providers, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, has become a major obstacle to economic and social activities within the community.
One of the respondents, Mr. Adetayo Adeyinka, described the situation as unbearable, explaining that several financial transactions he attempted throughout the previous day were either declined or delayed due to network failure.
According to him, even transactions that were eventually processed experienced significant delays before beneficiaries received them.
“Our community urgently needs improved network infrastructure. Telecommunications companies should install additional network masts because, at the moment, none of the available networks is reliable,” he said.
Another resident, Alhaja, noted that the problem became more severe during the week, affecting not only internet services but also voice calls and electronic banking.
She appealed to the telecommunications companies and relevant government agencies to install additional network masts to improve service delivery in the community.
Also speaking, Director, a resident and business operator, explained that he initially believed the issue was peculiar to Airtel until he discovered that subscribers on other networks, particularly MTN, were facing similar challenges.
He observed that network services often disappear completely for several hours, disrupting commercial activities, especially for Point of Sale (POS) operators whose businesses depend heavily on stable internet connectivity.
According to him, unstable network service has resulted in financial losses as customers are forced to seek alternative locations to complete transactions.
Another respondent, Ibrahim, disclosed that the network problem has persisted for between seven and eight months.
He expressed disappointment over the poor service despite subscribers paying regularly for airtime and data subscriptions.
“We are paying for services we are not enjoying. The companies should improve their infrastructure so that residents can receive value for their money,” he stated.
Similarly, Mr. Ajayi Ade Sola described both Glo and MTN services in the community as extremely poor.
He explained that despite having active data subscriptions and airtime, he often cannot browse the internet or make phone calls.
He recalled an occasion when he urgently needed to contact his brother for financial assistance but was unable to do so because of the network outage.
“I am appealing to the government and the network providers to come to our aid. Communication has become very difficult in this community,” he appealed.
Another resident, Mrs. Adeyiga Bose, also confirmed that Glo services are particularly poor in the area.
She joined other residents in appealing to both government authorities and telecommunications companies to urgently address the situation and restore reliable communication services.
The recurring complaints from residents indicate that poor telecommunication infrastructure is affecting virtually every aspect of life in Omu-Eleni, including education, business, healthcare access, emergency communication, and digital financial services.
Small-scale business owners, especially POS operators and traders who depend on electronic payments, appear to be among the worst affected by the prolonged service disruption.
Residents are therefore calling on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecommunications service providers, and relevant government authorities to urgently investigate the causes of the persistent network failure and provide lasting solutions through the installation of additional network masts and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.
The vox pop conducted by the students of the Department of Mass Communication, Grace Polytechnic, Omu-Eleni, highlights the growing concern of residents and underscores the urgent need for improved telecommunications services to support economic development and enhance the quality of life within the community.
