Senior lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, has raised the alarm over telecommunication companies plotting with Nigerian authorities to limit internet access as citizens prepare for nationwide protests over economic hardships.

“For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking while some didn’t give any reason at all,” Mr Adegboruwa said on Sunday.

“This action is coming on the heels of the proposed struggle of the people against hunger, poverty, suffering and the suffocating economic policies of the Tinubu administration.”

In the statement, Mr Adegboruwa said moves by telcos to disconnect subscribers suggest plans to limit internet access to thwart August protests.

“From all indications, it would seem that the underlying target of the telecom companies is to limit the reach of their customers in order to restrict access and thus frustrate the protests,” Mr Adegboruwa said.

He urged the NCC “to look into this and come to the rescue of the subscribers.”

Mr Adegboruwa’s statement echoes complaints from several Nigerians, many who, on social media, said they have been denied internet access by their network provider. 

Omoyele Sowore, a vocal activist mobilising for the August 1 protests, on Sunday warned that the protests could start at telecoms companies’ offices should they continue to limit internet access to Nigeria ahead of the protests. 

During historic EndSARS, a protest led by youth over extortion and extrajudicial killings perpetuated by Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police, there was a telco network outage on the night Nigerian police opened live rounds on protesters at Lekki Toll gate.