By Epiphanus Obia
MTN attracted nearly two-thirds of Nigerian mobile subscribers who switched network providers while retaining their phone numbers in the first quarter of 2026, as 9mobile (T2) recorded the highest customer losses through mobile number portability (MNP), according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC’s porting statistics show that 5,835 subscribers moved to new networks between January and March 2026. MTN received 3,849 of those customers, representing about 66% of all incoming ports during the quarter.
Airtel attracted 1,218 subscribers through porting, while Globacom gained 700. 9mobile received just 68 customers.
At the same time, 6,286 subscribers left their existing networks. 9mobile recorded the biggest customer exodus, with 3,221 subscribers porting out, more than half of all outgoing ports recorded during the quarter.
Globacom lost 1,399 subscribers through porting, Airtel recorded 872 outgoing ports, while MTN had the lowest among the four major operators at 794.
Overall, MTN recorded a net gain of 3,055 subscribers through porting during the quarter, followed by Airtel with a net gain of 346. Globacom posted a net loss of 699 subscribers, while 9mobile recorded the largest decline with a net loss of 3,153.
The latest figures also reinforce MTN’s dominance of Nigeria’s mobile market. As of April 2026, the operator had 96.39 million active GSM subscribers, representing 51.33% of the market, according to separate NCC subscriber statistics.
Airtel remained the country’s second-largest operator with 64.67 million subscribers and a market share of 34.44%, while Globacom had 23.18 million subscribers, representing 12.34% of the market. 9mobile accounted for 3.54 million subscribers, giving it a 1.88% market share.
Mobile number portability allows subscribers to change network providers without changing their phone numbers. The figures are often viewed as an indicator of customer preference because they reflect users who actively choose to leave one operator for another while keeping their existing numbers.