Why Internet Was Disrupted During Protests – TELCOs

Nigerian telecom providers have attributed the country’s recent internet disruptions to cable cuts by hoodlums during the #EndBadGovernance protests.

This explanation comes after accusations from various organisations that some network providers deliberately interfered with the network to restrict coverage of the demonstrations.

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

He stated, “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.”

Awonuga mentioned that arrangements are being made with the National Security Adviser to the President (NSA) to give operators clearance to repair the damages. He also appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, as efforts are underway to restore the network soon.