Nigerias leading telecommunications operator, MTN, is under fire for a sudden decline in internet and call service quality that coincided with nationwide protests against rising living costs. Many Nigerians suspect the timing of the service disruption is not coincidental, and that internet speeds were deliberately throttled to hinder communication and organisation among protestors.
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which began across the country on Thursday, were sparked by a combination of factors including inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and foreign exchange reforms. These policies have resulted in significant price increases for food and transportation, putting a strain on household budgets.
President Bola Tinubu, who took office last year after irregularities-marred elections, has faced criticism for his handling of the economy. The protests represent a growing public dissatisfaction with his administrations policies.
The protests have been met with varying degrees of force by security forces, leading to at least 9 deaths according to a rights group. Police also deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Abuja and Lagos, and restricted protests to specific locations away from central business districts.
Operators maintain they are working to resolve the issue. However, internet access monitoring agency NetBlocks reported a disruption to MTNs network, consequently affecting the visibility of the protests.
