The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has raised alarm that the Federal Government has perfected plans to jam telecoms networks on Saturday and Sunday during the elections in Nigeria.
Fayose, one of the leaders of the opposition People Democratic Party raised the alarm via his Twitter handle @GovAyoFayose.
He said the jamming of telecoms networks will start from 5am on Saturday till 5pm on Sunday. Thus, making it impossible for the use of Internet and phone calls during the elections.
He also disclosed that the equipment for the sinister plot was imported from Isreal and was tested last week Thursday and Friday.
Fayose’s alarm is coming less than two weeks when the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in a statement denied the allegation that it has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to work with Internet Service Providers to shut down Internet access for the forthcoming elections to facilitate rigging.
The statement, which was signed by its spokesman, Danjuma Reuben urged the public to disregard the allegation, describing it as disinformation.
“We have no plan to shut down the Internet. In fact, the Internet and associated communication infrastructure are major components of the Critical National Information Infrastructure, which ONSA is mandated to ensure its security,” the statement reads.
It added that the Office in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government makes continuous efforts to protect them and improve service delivery to Nigerians, disclosing that every single national security platform in Nigeria rides on the Internet to function. “Shutting down the Internet is akin to shutting down national development and security,” it noted.
It also assured that the Office of the National Security Adviser remains committed to protecting the rights of the public to access information and Communications Technology facilities.