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I write this post with a lot of pain in my network heart. How on earth will I be subscribed to a network provider that has made it impossible for me to load airtime on my mobile phone for about 10 days now. I use MTN - The largest mobile phone network provider in Nigeria and arguably the largest in Africa as well. MTN moved into Nigeria and started operations in 1999.

I got my first phone in 2003 and since I didn’t buy it myself, I didn’t have an opportunity to choose which network I’ll use. Anyway, I got stuck with MTN and since they were going about peddling themselves as “the best connection”, I saw no reason to change my network or be displeased with them. Over the years, I have had bitter and sweet experiences with them. Though, I have to say that there have been more bitter experiences than sweet ones.

I don’t know whether it’s because the parent company is in South Africa, but i noticed that regularly, they’d be the last network of the 4 existing GSM networks then to make available Value-Added Services to their customers. I have watched several editions of the Telecoms Parliament on TV where the Executive Vice Chairman, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe presided over proceedings that concerned making sure that network providers took responsibility for the problems associated with their networks with respect to complaints from customers or subscribers as the case may be. MTN would regularly give smart reasons as excuses or answers to why they were not performing up to expectation in several complaint cases brought against them. They’ll then promise enticing compensations while trying to save face before the whole nation on TV.

However, that isn’t my grouse at this time. My beef with MTN right now is that they have chosen to terrorise me and a number of other subscribers. Since last Tuesday, 16th September, 2007; I’ve been unable to load airtime on my phone. I’ve frustratingly tried time after time and all I get are replies that look like “Processing Error”, “Congestion, pls try later”, “We sincerely apologise for your inability to recharge, we are working on crediting your account with the pending voucher” and other nonsense. After my fingers started hurting me from trying to press in recharge numbers of different airtime categories I tried to load, I finally gave up and wondered when I’d get the correct info-”you have successfully load N…. into your account”.

Interestingly, 2 days ago I get a text on my phone in the morning that reads thus “Dear Customer, Your account has now been credited with the value of the recharge card you loaded on September 17. We apologize for the delay”. This was sent on the 21st of September, 4 days after I tried to load that particular airtime recharge voucher. I felt a little relieved that I could begin to load airtime again even though I wondered what took them so long, but Alas! they hadn’t stopped dealing with me……I haven’t been able to load airtime since then. MTN, please why are you terrorising me. Now, I’ve had to prospect for a new phone so I can get another network operator’s line. Of the 5 people who use MTN in my house 4 of us have this same problem. We’ve resorted to picking up GLO, Zain or even Etisalat lines to save us from further terrorism by MTN. If calling their customer service line (180) would have helped, we’d probably not have been as pissed, but you could try all you wanted, it’s either all their customer care lines are busy or they keep you on hold forever or it doesn’t even connect at all.

Let me say that I love my MTN line, i’ve loved it since I got it because the numbers are unique and everybody I’m close to knows me by that line. Some of my friends and loved ones can even call my number offhand because of its uniqueness. I don’t want to change my line. In fact, I don’t like keeping more than 1 line but MTN’s terrorist activities are forcing me to do otherwise. I heard they apologised on the radio yesterday. I’m wondering  why they didn’t and haven’t apologised through their network (on our phones) and why they haven’t thought to compensate the affected parties. Maybe because this is Nigeria. Maybe because they’ll naturally get away with almost anything in this country. Maybe because the regulatory agency (NCC) has only bark and no bite. Maybe because Nigerians fight shy of litigations. Maybe because maybe……

Until I see major improvements in this dismal in inhumane service being given to Nigerians by this service provider, I refuse to stop calling them the MEANEST TERRORIST NETWORK (MTN).