>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to ignore the information making the rounds on social media platforms that there is a planned shutdown of all telecoms networks and relevant ICT units with effect from Thursday, February 23, 2023.
This was contained in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, on Thursday.
“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has been drawn to fraudulent and misleading information circulating on some social media platforms, insinuating there is a planned shutdown of all telecoms networks and relevant ICT Units, including online transfer facilities of the banks, with effect from today, February 23, 2023.
“The Nigerian public, consumers of telecommunications services, and all bank customers are advised to ignore these or similar messages that insinuate deliberate network shutdown or disruption of services in the Nigerian telecoms network.
“These malicious and subversive messages originated and are being circulated by fraudsters and unscrupulous elements in the society with the intent to cause chaos and panic among the populace,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the commission has received unequivocal assurances from all the service providers to the effect that all the network services are currently in optimal performance, and will not witness any deliberate shutdown or disruptions, especially at this very crucial period of general elections in the country.
“Therefore, all users of telecommunications and banking services utilising network facilities are assured of continued optimal service delivery before, during, and after the general elections in Nigeria,” it added.