Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has advised telecom consumers to ignore a false report of a shutdown of telecom and e-payment services during the 2023 elections .
The Commission further advised that the Nigerian public, consumers of telecommunications services, and all bank customers to ignore messages hinting at a network shutdown or disruption of services in the Nigerian telecom network.
NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, in a statement, dispelled the report and advised Nigerians to ignore such claims from unscrupulous elements.
The statement reads:
“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has been drawn to fraudulent and misleading information circulating in some social media platforms, insinuating there is a planned shutdown of all telecom networks and relevant ICT Units, including online transfer facilities of the banks, with effect from today, February 23, 2023.
“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 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.”
The NCC assured users of telecommunications and banking services utilizing network facilities of continued optimal service delivery.