According to the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), its members are not attempting to thwart the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations on August 1 by blocking subscribers’ connections or limiting their access to the internet.
The chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, stated on Sunday night that it was only a coincidence that some Nigerians were getting ready for the demonstration at the same time that telecom providers were cutting lines.
August 1st is anticipated to be the commencement of the #EndBadGovernance movement, which calls for the government to address the growing expense of living and the state of the economy.
Meanwhile, even after completing the NIN-SIM linkage, some subscribers have experienced their telcos blocking their lines.
Subscribers then began to complain that the telecoms were attempting to impede the planned demonstration by limiting citizens’ access to the internet.
The official trade association for all Nigerian telecoms and ancillary service providers is called ALTON. All of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications license holders are members of it, especially those that offer ancillary and other relevant value-added services in addition to voice and data telephony.
“I have received inquiries about this issue,” stated Mr. Adebayo. No group or organization is drawing boundaries as a result of the planned demonstration. The timing of the blocking of lines with the planning of a protest is coincidental. We are not involved in any way with the protest proceedings.
“Telecommunications companies offer non-discriminatory services as service providers.” We have clean hands. Visit your network service provider, and they will take care of your problem.
The National Association of Telecom Subscribers’ national president, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, stated that no one or any group was intended to be irritated by the line blocking.
A recent announcement regarding the matter was made, according to Mr. Ogunbanjo, but many subscribers chose not to follow it.
“The amount of NINs that are incorrectly completed is concerning, and when you question the people who are impacted, they will tell you that they completed their NIN registration at a kiosk or something similar.
Many people don’t go by their own names. Some people register for their NIN at fictitious centers. The main point is that incorrect registration was made. I beg everyone to take the appropriate action and visit authorized NIN centers,” Mr. Ogunbanjo remarked.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office should be visited by anyone whose NIN has not been properly registered, he continued.
In order to register the NIN, Mr. Ogunbanjo said individuals might also visit the headquarters of their local government.
Three stages of the disconnecting procedure were implemented starting in February. On February 28, 2024, the first phase took place, and on March 29, 2024, the second phase.
Telecommunications firms were instructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission to continue disconnecting phone lines that are not connected to NIN by July 31, 2024.
About 40 million lines that weren’t connected to NINs were blocked, according to the industry regulator during the first deadline of February 28, 2024.
