The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced it will investigate Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (trading as 9mobile) over its alleged indebtedness to the tune of N1 billion.

This was disclosed in a statement from ARCON dated May 30, 2025.

The council stated that the investigation followed its receipt of two petitions against 9mobile, a member of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), relating to its alleged “long overdue indebtedness of one billion Naira (N1B) for advertising services.”

“The agencies owed are left in limbo,” the statement partly reads.

“ARCON will investigate the movement of the account from the agencies owed to the new agencies briefed to ascertain compliance with disengagement protocol as well as possible breach of ethical procedure,” the council added.

“ARCON will work with relevant anti-graft and other government agencies to ensure a detailed investigation is conducted and the debt resolved/paid.

“This is economic sabotage capable of inhibiting the Federal Government’s policy of inclusive industry growth and development of the Nigerian advertising industry,” the council stressed.

Over the past few years, customers of 9mobile have been experiencing service disruptions as the telco struggled to secure new investments to upgrade its network capacity.

Pursuant to the injection of capital, the new investor appointed a new Board for the company.

The impact of the new investment is still being awaited as 9mobile’s customers have yet to see improvements in the company’s service quality.