Following the blockade of telecommunication services in Zamfara State, Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state has denied plans to shut down mobile networks in the state.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, had directed all telecom operators to shut down their networks in Zamfara State.
Danbatta stated that this was necessary to enable security agents to carry out operations against bandit terrorists in the state.
However, there were unconfirmed reports that telecom operators would also shut down their networks in neighbouring states, including Kaduna.
But in a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, governor El-rufai stated that his administration has no intention to shut down telecoms service in the state.
The governor stated that he has not contacted the NCC to request a telecoms shut down and it has not in any way ordered a communications shutdown.
He, however, asked the residents of the state to ignore the fake news and go about their normal duties.
The statement reads: “The Kaduna state government has no plans to shutdown telecoms services. It has not made such a decision, neither has it announced any such plans.
“The Kaduna state government did not reach out to any federal agency to request a telecoms shut down and it has not in any way ordered or effected a communications shutdown.
“Residents of Kaduna state should ignore these rumours. It is fake news which some people are trying to pass off as genuine by placing KDSG logo on their false statements. It is simply not true.
“Citizens should ignore the fake news. There is no shutdown of telecoms services in Kaduna State. The Kaduna State Government is transparent about security matters.
“Were a telecoms shutdown deemed to be necessary, that decision would have been formally announced in a properly signed statement posted on official information handles.”
