The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications providers in Zamfara State to shut down their services for two weeks as part of measures to tackle insecurity.
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 plagued by 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.
Also, 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.
Vice-chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, in a memo addressed to one of the telecoms providers, said the shutdown of the telecoms sites had become necessary due to the lingering insecurity in the state.
It read in part: “The pervading security situation in Zamfara has necessitated an immediate shutdown of all telecommunications services in the state from today, September 3, 2021. This is to enable relevant security agencies to carry out the required activities towards addressing the security challenge in the state.
“In line with this requirement, Globacom is hereby directed to shut down all sites in Zamfara State and any sites(s) in neighbouring states that could provide telecommunications services in Zamfara State. The site shut down is for two weeks from September 3 to September 17, 2021, in the first instance. Your urgent action in this regard is required.”
Report from Gusau, the state capital indicates that Globacom have complied with the directives with over 200 sites affected and people have to traveled to about one hundred kilometers from Zamfara state to neighbouring states to enable makes calls and access the internet services.
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