The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has debunked rumours of a planned shutdown of all telecom networks and online bank transactions from Thursday as the country holds its much-talked-about presidential election on Saturday.
In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the commission described the claims — which have made rounds on social media platforms — as “fraudulent and misleading”.
“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 telecom network,” the statement reads in part.
“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 NCC further said it has received unequivocal assurances from all the service providers to ensure that all the network services are currently performing optimally, especially as the country heads to polls to elect a new president.
Amid the now-controversial currency redesign and attendant cash crisis, rumours of a shutdown of financial transactions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from February 23 to February 27 had earlier gone viral on WhatsApp. But the commission has since debunked those claims.
NCC and its preparations for the 2023 polls
Earlier this week, the NCC revealed a toll-free number that can help voters report any issues affecting them or others.
Per a statement signed by Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, hotline number 622 has been dedicated to supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its patriotic commitment towards the conduct of hitch-free elections in Nigeria.
The NCC explained that the toll-free number would allow Nigerians to call the commission to resolve issues that telcos providers can not. The NCC would then contact and convey all information to relevant agencies and authorities that would resolve it.
“The Toll-Free Number 622 is the second-level complaints centre through which consumers of telecommunications services are allowed to make calls directly to the Commission, to resolve issues concerning their telecommunications services which the service providers are unable to do,” part of the statement said.
