Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has denied allegations that the federal government instructed telecommunication operators to disrupt network services amid protests. In an interview on Channels Television, Tijani stated that his office did not issue any such instructions.
Nigerians had reported experiencing poor internet connectivity across all service providers, sparking concerns that the government was intentionally stifling protesters. However, Tijani attributed the network issues to high internet traffic due to the large number of people online during the protests.
The minister emphasized the government’s role in investing in infrastructure to improve telecommunications and connectivity services. He highlighted the need for 125,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, with only 85,000 kilometers currently invested. Tijani noted that the government has prioritized this project, which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, but it will take time to complete.”