Banditry: Governor lifts ban on telecom services in Zamfara

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has lifted the ban on mobile telecommunication network in the state.

Matawalle made the announcement at the state congress of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gusau on Saturday.

Matawalle said the Nigerian Communication Communication (NCC) would release all the networks by Monday.

He said his administration was satisfied with the current security situation in the state.

Matawalle said that banditry and kidnapping had been substantially suppressed within the period of the telecom shutdown.

The governor added that security forces were still flushing out and arresting remnants of the bandits and their collaborators.

“I want to announce today that we have taken a decision to lift the ban on telecommunications in the state.

“God willing, as from next Monday, we shall have that effected.

“The decision was due to encouraging reports of successes achieved in the state from those stringent measures,” Matawalle said.

The NCC had on September 4 suspended telecommunication network in the state to block information flow between bandits, kidnappers and their collaborators in the state.

The NCC, however, lifted the suspension and restored network in Gusau, Zamfara capital on October 4 while 13 local government areas remained without the network.

Matawalle commended the residents for their resilience and patience during the three months of network suspension.

He urged people in the state to join the APC, adding that the restoration of the telecommunication network would assist the party in its membership registration drive.