• NCC keeps mum, service providers deny obstruction
• 9mobile blames fibre cuts • Protesters torch, loot NCC Kano facility
As the #EndBadGovernance protest lasted yesterday, Nigerians experienced partial Internet service with downtime noticed for the better part of day.The subscribers accused Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the telecoms operators of deliberately ensuring that telephony services, especially Internet access, were at their lowest ebb.
In fact, a report, which circulated online, claimed that the telecoms operators were directed by the NCC and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to restrict access, thereby hampering Internet speed across the country, to suppress information flow from the protesters to other Nigerians and the outside world.
Efforts to get the NCC comment on the issue proved abortive as the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, did not pick his calls and did not to respond to text messages as of press time.
But the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said nothing of such happened, stressing that the body had earlier told the public that the telecoms operators were neither barring telephony lines nor restricting service.
Adebayo said telecoms operators provided services on non-discriminatory basis, saying: “We are under obligation to provide services to subscribers at all time and in all places, irrespective of their beliefs.” He disclosed that there were reported cases of willful damages to some underground infrastructure in some parts of Lagos yesterday.
We don’t know, but we think it is willful, but we don’t know if there is any connection with the protest or not. This is because fibre cuts, vandalism happen almost every time. This is what we have seen today (yesterday).”
Amidst the downtime, some Nigerians managed to visit X to register their grievances.
“I just noticed that my MTN and Airtel networks are down for no reason. Is it just me,” asked @isaaczara. “Is it just me. My MTN network isn’t going,” Chisom Nwokwu tweeted on X. “Why is MTN network messy today of all days,” Lola Okunrin tweeted.
Chude Nnamdi@chude wrote: “MTN network is the government puppet.”
Collins@FCBCollins, wrote: “Just this morning, MTN Network and GLO network are not working, probably to hinder the protest.”
In a related development, 9mobile, whose customers have been experiencing zero network since last week, has apologised and claimed to had restored connectivity in most areas.
In a statement, yesterday, the telco explained that the recent service disruption in parts of the country was as result of multiple fibre cuts and damages to its network infrastructure in some parts of the country.
In Kano State, protesters looted a new Digital Park built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), carting away equipment, including computers and furniture.
Videos making the rounds on social media confirmed this. The video showed some protesters carrying computers and chairs from the yet to be commissioned park.
Commenting on the development, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the protesters also set the facility ablaze after looNCCting it. (Guardian)
