MTN Nigeria’s network services experienced a slowdown on Thursday morning, coinciding with the commencement of nationwide protests against bad governance.
The disruption affected a substantial number of MTN’s subscribers, who expressed frustration and speculated about the cause of the slowdown on X (formerly Twitter).
MTN has not yet commented on the issue. However, the timing of the slowdown has raised speculation among users about a potential link to the government’s efforts to manage communication during the protests.
@Sunnyjoflife tweeted, “All of a sudden, MTN Network is not working properly on the 1st of August. These people know what they’re doing. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #EndBadGovernanceProtest.”
Opeolu_waa also reported issues, saying, “Suddenly, MTN’s network is bad on the day of the planned protest; you people know what you’re doing.”
Other users, including @Oghenerie, @OkekeMakuo1851, and @Maxvayshia, shared similar experiences, with some speculating that the network issues might be related to the government’s efforts to manage communication during the protests.
@Tarifubara noted that they had used the MTN network earlier in the day without issues, suggesting that the problems might be targeted.
MTNNG, the official Twitter handle of MTN Nigeria, was tagged in several of the tweets, with users calling for a swift resolution to the network issues.
On Sunday, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa cautioned telecom companies against attempting to stifle the upcoming demonstration against economic hardship by limiting internet access for Nigerians.
Adegboruwa warned that any attempts to restrict internet connectivity would be perceived as an infringement on citizens’ rights to free speech and assembly.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure uninterrupted internet access during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The protest is scheduled to continue until 10 August, as Nigerians demand action from the government to address the country’s economic woes.
The demonstration is a response to the escalating economic hardship faced by citizens, who are struggling with a high cost of living, widespread hunger, soaring unemployment rates, and limited access to quality education, among other pressing concerns.
(PUNCH)