Telecommunications companies in Nigeria have rejected claims that they are attempting to obstruct the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled for August 01-10, 2024.
The rebuttal follows accusations from prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa alleged that telecom operators are deliberately restricting network access in a bid to hinder the protest. He noted an increase in complaints about network disruptions as the protest date nears.
Adegboruwa stated, “Recently, there has been a troubling rise in disconnections by telecom companies, citing reasons such as unlinked National Identification Numbers (NIN) or failing to provide any explanation at all. This is occurring just as the people prepare to protest against hunger, poverty, suffering, and the restrictive economic policies of the Tinubu administration.”
He further claimed, “It appears that the true intention behind these actions is to limit the reach of customers and thus undermine the protests.”
Adegboruwa also criticized the telecom companies for allegedly breaching their contractual obligations with subscribers, arguing that any issues should be addressed with adequate notice and opportunities for correction.
In response, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, dismissed the allegations as unfounded. “This accusation is absurd,” Adebayo said. “Our commitment is to provide essential services at all times, and our contractual obligations prevent us from engaging in such actions. There is no benefit or motive for us to interfere with a political protest.”
Adebayo clarified that both supporters and opponents of the protest are among their subscribers. “As a neutral entity, we do not engage in the political preferences of our customers,” he added. “The deadline for SIM-NIN linkage is at the end of this month, and the network disruptions are due to the enforcement of this policy, not any attempt to disrupt the protest.”
The telecommunications companies have assured their customers of their commitment to uninterrupted service and have reiterated their apolitical stance in relation to the protest.
