The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Saturday, September 4, directed all telecommunications providers to shut down services in Zamfara State from September 3, 2021.
According to the NCC in a statement issued by its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, this became imperative to address rising insecurity in the State.
A letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of the telecoms companies noted that the decision is “to enable relevant security agencies to carry out required activities towards addressing the security challenges in the state.”
The NCC letter titled “Re: Shutdown of All Telecom Sites in Zamfara State” said, “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.”
In line with this requirement, NCC directed the operators “to shut down all sites in Zamfara State and any site(s) in neighbouring states that could provide telecommunications service in Zamfara State. The site shutdown is for two (2) weeks (September 03-17, 2021) in the first instance.”
While the directive was specific about Zamfara State, the reference to any other facilities in any site(s) in neighbouring states that could provide telecommunications service in Zamfara State, means that other states sharing boundaries with the state would be affected by the shutdown.
This decision is coming six months after the Federal Government declared Zamfara State a ‘no-fly zone’ and banned all mining activities in the state.
The state has been a hotbed of criminal attacks ranging from kidnapping and banditry.
Last week, the government shut down schools after the abduction of 73 students from a public school in the state.
The abduction occurred 11 days after students abducted from the College of Agriculture in Bakura, Zamfara, regained freedom.
The state governor Bello Matawalle also suspended the transportation of livestock beyond the state’s borders and ordered the closure of weekly markets across the state, while transportation of food items will be subject to verification.
