Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has accused mobile telecommunications companies of deliberately hindering Nigerians’ ability to communicate and mobilize ahead of a planned nationwide protest from August 1 to August 10, 2024.
Sowore’s claims come amidst widespread mobilization for the protest, which organizers say aims to address severe hunger and inflation affecting the country. The protest organizers have expressed frustration over the government’s handling of economic issues, urging citizens to join the demonstration against bad governance.
In a post on his X page on Monday, Sowore alleged that the ongoing fuel crisis in Nigeria was intentionally orchestrated to suppress the planned protest. He accused major telecom companies, including MTN Nigeria, Glo, and Airtel Nigeria, of targeting Nigerians to impede their communication efforts.
“FUEL CRISIS has been introduced to stifle Nigerians planning #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. TELCOS – @MTNNG, @GloWorld, @AirtelNigeria are deliberately targeting Nigerians to slow down their ability to communicate and mobilize,” Sowore wrote. “Nigerians are determined more than ever to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria during the #DaysOfRage #Nogoingback #RevolutionNow.”
The recent fuel scarcity, which has led to dry depots for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across major states, has exacerbated the situation. Long queues at fuel stations and the exploitation by black marketeers, who sell fuel at prices as high as N1,300 to N1,500 per liter, have added to the citizens’ woes.
Despite the challenges, Sowore asserted that Nigerians remain resolute in their determination to protest against the government’s policies and demand better governance.
