Network Disruption Due To Cable Cuts By Hoodlums – Operators

Nigerian telecom providers have made it clear that cable cuts by hoodlums of #EndBadGovernance Protests are to blame for the country’s network outages.

The explanation follows claims made by certain organisations that network providers, such as MTN Group Limited, interfered with the network to restrict coverage of the country’s #EndBad-Governance demonstrations.

Recall that NetBlocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cybersecurity and internet governance, revealed that a disruption to leading internet provider MTN in #Nigeria may limit the visibility of

#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.

To this end, a coalition, made up of about 37 organisations, had stated that they condemned the intentional disruption of access to the internet in Nigeria following protests that erupted in several states across the country on the 1st of August, 2024.

The coalition is made up of organisations like Accountability Lab Nigeria; Africa Cyber-security Alliance; Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI); African Academic Network on Internet Policy (AANOIP.ORG); African Centre for Media & Information Literacy  (AFRICMIL); Afroleadership Cameroon; BONews Service; Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative; Bridges and Hands Foundation; Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); FactCheck Africa Initiative; National Roundtable on Business and Human Rights and Paradigm Initiative, among others.

In a press statement, made available to LEA-DERSHIP, the coalition said, “We, the undersigned organisations, in the strongest terms possible, condemn the intentional disruption of access to the internet in Nigeria following protests that erupted in several states across the country on the 1st of August, 2024. This action constitutes an un-acceptable breach of established norms and standards under regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a State party and must be halted forthwith.

“A joint reading of investigative reports by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism fij.ng, Peoples Gazette, and individual measurements by netizens using internet measurement tools have revealed throttling of internet speed nationwide, aimed at slowing down information dissemination.

“The weaponisation of Internet disruptions and blocking or shutdowns during political unrest only exacerbates the underlying concerns of citizens. These shutdowns go against Chapter four of Nigeria’s Constitution that assures its citizens of their rights to freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association. At uncertain times such as this, it is important to keep all communication channels open without disrupting and impacting quality of access. This is necessary to ensure citizens are able to communicate seamlessly and access accurate information about the state of things.

“We call on relevant agencies of the government to respect citizens’ rights and immediately cease further disruptions of network services and attempts at future network shutdowns.

Meanwhile, operators have stated that the internet disruption is a result of cable cuts by hoodlums during the #EndBadGovernance Protests.

Speaking on behalf of operators in Nigeria, the executive secretary, Association of Licensed Tele-communications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbolahan Awonuga, told LEADERSHIP that the network outage was caused by demonstrators damaging some internet cables.

“There are a lot of cable cuts across Nigeria. Some of the protesters went into the manhole and cut the cables. The network disruption is not a matter of the government trying to sabotage the protest. It is as a result of the cable cut,” he explained.

He assured that operators are working to restore the network. “We are making arrangements with the National Security Adviser to the President (NSA) to give operators clearance to enable them to repair those damages,” he added.

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience as the network will be fully restored soon.