Anxiety, confusion over NCC’s shut down letter

A leaked letter allegedly from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directing all telecommunications providers to shut down services in Zamfara State from September 3 has generated anxiety and confusion within the industry.

Many Nigerians are also anxious following the refusal of the NCC to confirm the authenticity of the letter.

The letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of the telecoms companies, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation, said the decision to shut down facilities is “to enable relevant security agencies to carry out required activities towards addressing the security challenges in the State.”

However, attempts to confirm the authenticity of the letter from the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, failed.

He did not respond to inquiries up to the time of filing this report.

Other sources within the NCC top echelon simply refused comment on the matter.

The letter titled: “Re: Shutdown of all telecom sites in Zamfara State” was signed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

It reads: “The pervading security situation in Zamfara State has necessitated an immediate shut down of all telecom services in the state from today, September 3, 2021.”

Specifically, the letter sighted by our correspondent, which was addressed to the Chief Executive of Globacom networks, directed the operators “to shut down all sites in Zamfara State and any site(s) in neighbouring states that could provide telecommunications service in the State. The site shutdown is for two weeks (September 03-17, 2021) in the first instance. Your urgent action in this regard is required.”

While the directive was specific about Zamfara State, it made reference to any other facilities in any site(s) in neighbouring States that could provide telecommunications service in Zamfara, a development that has generated anxiety that States bordering Zamfara such as Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna could be affected by the directive.