There have been several complaints from telecommunications subscribers on social media about network outages since Thursday. Some subscribers have linked this to a government plan to disrupt the ongoing protests.
NetBlocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and internet governance, reported that MTN’s network connectivity had dropped by 40 percent, potentially limiting the visibility of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
However, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed that vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, including internet cables, occurred on Thursday, causing damage and affecting network performance.
ALTON Secretary General, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga said in a telephone interview: “Vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, including internet cables, was reported. This resulted in the network disruptions. There are a lot of cable cuts. Some individuals gained access to underground facilities and cut cables. It’s important to clarify that this is not a government attempt to sabotage the protests. The disruptions are solely due to cable cuts.”
ALTON assures the public that engineers are currently working to repair the damage and restore services as soon as possible. They are also working with the National Security Adviser to ensure the safety of engineers and technicians during repair work. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the network disruptions and appreciate your patience as we work to restore full service,” ALTON said.
Meanwhile, Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said in a television interview, “There is no instruction to tamper with the network. It is not sabotage.”
He further explained, ‘It is important to understand that when many people are not at work, internet traffic naturally increases. This can lead to network congestion, but I am not suggesting it is the sole cause of the disruptions. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the network congestion.”
