Would Jonathan shut down Nigerian Blackberry devices?

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

Earlier today (January 3, 2012), unconfirmed reports of the purported shut down of Nigerian Blackberry devices hit the social media community like a life-threatening bolt from the blues.

It hardly came as a surprise when many Nigerian spontaneously expressed their fears and worries over the report.

According to the report, a meeting was allegedly held in the early hours of January 3, 2012 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and CEOs of telecommunication companies in Nigeria including MTN. Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat amongst others.

The report clearly pointed out that the above named telecommunication companies and many others had all agreed to shut down their Blackberry services for two weeks owing to the rate of messages spreading over the networks to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Blackberry Services (BIS) on all networks will be suspended at 6:00 hours GMT (6am) on January 4, 2011,” the message read.

However, following the unguarded dissemination of this rumour, the NCC has officially urged Nigerians to disregard the message as there was no such meeting.

In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo, the NCC wrote:

“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to an information making the rounds that the NCC had at a meeting this morning agreed with CEOs of telecommunications networks to shut down Blackberry services in order to deny Nigerians the use of that very important social network.

The management hereby states categorically that there was never such a meeting held nor was there ever such a resolution to shut down Blackberry services. The public is pleased advised to disregard such information. The commission enjoins the network operators to continue to provide all telecommunication services including Blackberry services without fail.”