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Telecoms blackout imminent in Abuja, nine states as Kogi State shuts sites

TELECOMMUNICATIONS blackouts are expected in around ten states across Nigeria, according to telecoms operators.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) voiced alarm on Monday about telecommunications facilities being shut down in Kogi State as a result of conflicts over what it characterized as unusual taxes and levies imposed by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS).

The problem, according to ALTON, is anticipated to result in a total communications blackout in Kogi State, parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and a possible impact on service availability in Nassarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Niger States.

Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON’s chairman, and Gbolahan Awonuga, ALTON’s head of operations, said in a statement that the Kogi State Government has closed and sealed a number of critical telecommunications sites belonging to its members in an attempt to increase its Internally Generated Revenue IGR Collection.

According to the agency, KIRS secured an ex-parte court order on baseless allegations that operators were in default of tax payments to the state government.

“As a result of these actions by the state government, our members are unable to refuel power generators in these sites, a situation which has led to outage of over 70 sites including hub sites across parts of Kogi State. Now, with likely impact on the nine states surrounding Kogi (namely:- Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger States. These are States sharing borders with Kogi State), and Abuja the FCT inclusive,” Adebayo and Awonuga said in the statement.

“We are very concerned that this indiscriminate action has the potential of further leading to a total telecommunications outage in Kogi State with neighbouring states and parts of the Federal Capital Territory adversely impacted.”

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