The demonstrators were heard chanting “MTN Ole!” as they demanded immediate action against what they described as exploitative pricing and poor service delivery.

They called on the telecommunications giant to urgently reduce charges and improve service quality across the country.

“We demand that MTN immediately stop all the exorbitant charges. We need quality service in the country,” one protester said.

Another added that many Nigerians were frustrated by cases of customers paying for data without receiving value for money.

In a related development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ruled out any plan for Nigeria to retaliate against South Africa despite ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

Akpabio made the clarification while responding to a proposal by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who suggested taking action against South African companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN and DSTV.

The Senate President stressed that diplomatic engagement remains the best approach, insisting that economic retaliation would not serve the national interest.

He said the Senate takes the reports of xenophobic attacks seriously and will address them with urgency.

The Senate has since resolved to set up a joint ad hoc committee of both chambers of the National Assembly to investigate the issue and engage South African authorities.

The committee, to be led by the National Assembly leadership, is expected to embark on a fact-finding mission to South Africa, including visits to the South African Parliament to formally express Nigeria’s concerns.

Lawmakers also plan to write to the Speaker of the South African Parliament and invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief them on the situation.

Additionally, the Senate endorsed a motion calling for a review of agreements reached in a 2019 bilateral meeting between Nigeria and South Africa, with a view to ensuring proper implementation.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Wednesday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain also renewed his criticism of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy system, describing it as what he called “an organised crime against the country.”

The former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election questioned the credibility of Nigeria’s reported fuel consumption figures, arguing that available evidence does not support the claims.

According to Obi, the subsidy framework has enabled widespread abuse and fraud, insisting that such practices would be completely eliminated under his leadership.

“Subsidy is organised crime and I won’t allow any form of criminality as the President of Nigeria. The amount of fuel they say we consume cannot be consumed by this country, there’s empirical evidence,” he said.

He further compared Nigeria’s fuel usage with Pakistan, noting that although both countries are similar in population size and infrastructure, Pakistan reportedly consumes significantly less fuel.

“We are about the same as Pakistan; they have more roads, and we probably have the same number of vehicles, or they have even more, yet their fuel consumption is a third of ours, so who is drinking the balance?” Obi asked.

Obi, alongside other major contenders in the 2023 presidential election, had earlier supported subsidy removal, describing it as unsustainable. President Bola Tinubu later announced the immediate removal of the subsidy upon assuming office on May 29, 2023.

The policy led to a sharp increase in fuel prices and transport costs nationwide, with Nigerians still feeling its economic impact.

Obi has, however, maintained that beyond subsidy removal, the government must fully investigate fuel consumption figures and address leakages within the system.

Speaking to BBC Sport on Wednesday, Taj addressed mounting diplomatic tensions and travel restrictions ahead of the competition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“Our host is FIFA, not Mr Trump or America,” Taj said, insisting that Iran qualified for the tournament and expects to participate under FIFA’s jurisdiction rather than political influence from Donald Trump or the US government.

The remarks come after reports that Iranian football officials were denied entry to a FIFA Congress in Canada due to alleged links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an organisation classified as a terrorist group by several countries.

Taj, who has previously confirmed his own past service in the IRGC, stated that Iran is demanding clear assurances that its delegation and national symbols will be respected during the World Cup.

“If they guarantee not to insult our military institutions and the IRGC, we’ll go,” he said regarding Iran’s participation and travel arrangements.

FIFA has already expressed regret over the visa dispute and invited Iranian officials to talks in Zurich as preparations continue. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that Iran remains scheduled to compete and will take part in the tournament as planned.

The controversy unfolds amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with US authorities maintaining that individuals linked to the IRGC will not be granted entry.

Iran, however, insists that football should remain separate from politics, stressing that its qualification must be honoured regardless of diplomatic disputes.

“We are going to the World Cup because we qualified,” Taj said, adding that while Iran may boycott the United States politically, it will not withdraw from the competition.