MTN Nigeria has announced that it will carry out a major network maintenance exercise this weekend, which will temporarily affect services in some parts of Adamawa, Borno, and Kano states. The telecoms company said the planned exercise is part of ongoing efforts to permanently restore a fiber infrastructure that was earlier damaged along the AFCOT–Bawo Village route in Adamawa State.
The company explained that the maintenance work will involve cutting over traffic to a newly installed fiber span. According to MTN, this measure is necessary to eliminate recurring damage, strengthen the system, and boost overall network stability in the region.
The exercise is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 24, 2025, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. During this two-hour period, customers in some parts of the three states should expect service interruptions. The outage will affect voice and data services across 101 sites, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and enterprise services.
Some of the affected Local Government Areas (LGAs) include Nasarawa in Kano State; Girei, Song, Mubi North, Hong, Gombi, Fufore, Mubi South, Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Chibok, and Yola North in Adamawa State; as well as Askira/Uba and Shani LGAs in Borno State.
MTN noted that the linear and unprotected nature of the damaged fiber route makes it impossible to complete the upgrade without temporary downtime. The company further stated that the work will be carried out during daylight hours for security reasons, considering the peculiar challenges in Nigeria’s Northeast.
In its statement, MTN assured customers that it regrets the inconvenience but stressed that the exercise is part of efforts to improve service quality. “MTN regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates the understanding of its valued customers as it works to improve service quality and reliability,” the company said.
The decision reflects MTN Nigeria’s broader push to strengthen its network investment across the country, particularly in areas where infrastructure remains fragile. In recent years, telecom operators have faced difficulties in the Northeast due to insecurity, vandalism, and harsh operating conditions. Fiber cuts, poor road access, and disruptions caused by unrest have often led to service outages, affecting both businesses and individuals.
By moving traffic to a new fiber span, MTN believes that it will reduce the chances of further disruptions along the route and ensure better service for its subscribers. This step also shows the operator’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy, which relies heavily on stable internet and mobile connectivity.
Nigeria remains MTN’s largest market in Africa, with tens of millions of subscribers depending on its services daily. Any disruption, even for a few hours, often impacts business operations, banking transactions, education, and other essential activities that now rely on digital services. This is why telecom operators like MTN continue to invest heavily in improving network resilience, even in areas where security and infrastructure challenges make operations more expensive and complex.
Analysts believe the move by MTN also underlines the need for greater collaboration between telecom companies and government agencies in protecting critical infrastructure in vulnerable regions. They argue that more investment in secured routes, redundancy systems, and stronger regulation of infrastructure sharing could reduce downtime in the future.
For customers in Adamawa, Borno, and Kano, Saturday’s disruption may be inconvenient, but MTN has assured that the work will lead to long-term benefits. Once completed, subscribers should expect more stable services, reduced network downtime, and better support for both individual and enterprise connectivity needs.
