Telecommunications companies (telcos) have denied allegations of planning to frustrate the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled for August 1-10, 2024. They emphasized their commitment to providing uninterrupted services, as per their social and economic contract with customers.
The denial came in response to claims by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who alleged that telcos were restricting network access to hinder the protest. Adegboruwa stated, “For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for flimsy and untenable reasons.”
He suggested that the underlying aim was to limit customer reach and disrupt the protest against issues like hunger, poverty, and the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
However, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, dismissed these claims, saying, “We are in a social and economic contract with the people to provide services which are critical to their lives, at all times. That contract will not allow us to do such a thing.”
Adebayo clarified that the recent network restrictions were due to the deadline for SIM-NIN linkage, not an attempt to interfere with the protest. He added, “It will be unfair to attribute such disruptions to telcos interfering with the protest.”
The National Communications Commission (NCC) was urged to investigate the allegations to ensure that subscribers’ rights are protected.
