Millions of telecommunications network subscribers were left frustrated and disconnected on Wednesday as a mysterious network glitch hit the country, coinciding with the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The outage, which began around 9 am, affected subscribers across various regions, including Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, with many reporting inability to make calls, send texts, or access the internet.
“I was trying to coordinate with my friends to meet up for the protest, but my phone was dead,” said protester, Amaka Okoye. “It was like the network was intentionally shut down.”
The glitch has sparked fears that the authorities may have intentionally disrupted the network to stifle communication among protesters. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, where government interference has been suspected.
Telco Network has attributed the outage to “technical difficulties,” but many subscribers remain skeptical. “This is not the first time we’ve experienced a glitch on a day of protest,” said subscriber, Tunde Oyedele. “It’s becoming a pattern.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has yet to commence to comment on the development.
Protesters have vowed to find alternative means of communication, ensuring their voices are heard. “We will not be silenced,” said protest organizer, Tope Fasua. “We’ll find ways to communicate and continue our fight for change.”