By Babs Oyetoro
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the suspension order on internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara state, and 13 local government areas of Katsina State with immediate effect.
It would be recalled that recently as part of the security measures put in place to check the menace of banditry in these areas the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered telecom operators to suspend all telecommunication networks in these affected areas.
But SERAP has viewed this stand of the government on this issue as an affront on the constitutional rights of the people in the affected areas therefore the body is calling on President Buhari to order the reversal of the order through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami
“The suspension of the internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara and Katsina states, without any legal justification, is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality. A suspension is a form of collective punishment of Nigerians resident in these states.”
According to SERAP, “While the authorities have a legal responsibility to protect, ensure and secure the rights to life and property, any such responsibility ought to be discharged in conformity with constitutional and international human rights standards.”
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He continued: Shutdowns generate a wide variety of harms to human rights, economic activity, public safety and emergency services that outweigh the purported benefits. The suspension has the potential to affect millions of internet and telecommunication users in these states, and those on the margins of society are most impacted by it.”
“The suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara and Katsina states fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.”
“The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of restrictions such as the telecoms blackout in these states, with the aim of ensuring that restrictions target a specific objective and do not unduly intrude upon human rights.”
“While ‘checking the activities of bandits/terrorists’ in these states could conceivably be viewed as justification for exceptional measures necessary to protect public order or national security, the authorities have so far failed to show how shutting down internet and telecommunication networks in the entire Zamfara State, and 13 local government areas of Katsina State is necessary to achieve the stated purposes.”
“The imposition of any restrictions should be guided by the objective of facilitating the right, rather than seeking unnecessary and disproportionate limitations on it.
“We would be grateful if the suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara and Katsina states is reversed within 7 days. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions in the public interest.”
