Access Now and the global #KeepItOn coalition are dismayed by reports of ongoing internet disruptions in Nigeria’s Zamfara North and demand that authorities immediately restore access across the senatorial district.
According to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), internet connectivity has been disconnected on major telecommunication networks, including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, for the past three months. These disruptions have affected at least four local government areas in Zamfara state, including Birnin Magaji, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, and Zurmi. Neither the government nor the internet service providers (ISPs) have provided any official explanation regarding the shutdown. While the exact start date of the shutdown remains unclear, some residents have reported being unable to access the internet since late May 2025.
This is not the first time Nigerian authorities have restricted internet and telecommunication services. In September 2021, the government ordered ISPs to shut down telecommunications services, including phone and internet, across four northwest states —Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara — as part of its counter-terrorism operations. The shutdown, initially imposed for two weeks, was extended to 12 weeks. Although access was restored in most of the affected states, reports indicate that people in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state, have remained cut off since 2021 as a result of infrastructure damage and the unwillingness of telecom companies to return to the region. The measure failed to improve security and instead caused lasting disruption and harm to people’s daily lives and fundamental rights. Similarly, Nigerian authorities shut down digital communications platform X for seven months across the country in 2021, being the first nationwide disruption of the platform recorded.
Around the world, internet shutdowns have had devastating and lasting impacts on human rights and daily life. Zamfara is no exception. The shutdown has made it impossible for people to communicate with their loved ones, cut off access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and banking, while disrupting businesses and economic activity, further worsening people’s socio-economic conditions.
Internet shutdowns also violate provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria. The Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression and access to information in Article 39, which the internet is an enabler of. Nigeria is also party to several regional and international frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which guarantee the same rights. In terms of Principle 38(2) of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, “states shall not engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population”. The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to which Nigeria is subject, has also previously declared itself on the issue of internet shutdowns, declaring them unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.
We call on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide a timely explanation and full transparency about the ongoing shutdowns and to take urgent steps to restore complete and uninterrupted connectivity in Zamfara North and all affected regions. As the statutory regulator of the telecommunications industry, the NCC bears a clear legal mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 to promote and protect the interests of consumers, and guarantee the availability of quality communications services throughout Nigeria.
Telecommunications companies and ISPs operating in Nigeria — including MTN, Airtel, Glo, and all other ISPs have a responsibility under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to prevent or mitigate any potential human rights harms they may cause or contribute to, and to provide remedies for any harms when and if they occur.
The #KeepItOn coalition demands that the government and internet service providers in the region immediately take action to end the ongoing internet shutdown in the Zamfara area, restore full and open access to the internet, and refrain from imposing any future disruptions.
Signatories
- Access Now
- African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)
- Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)
- Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation (AODIRF)
- AfricTivistes
- Avocats Sans Frontières France
- Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE)
- Bloggers of Zambia
- Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
- Common Cause Zambia
- Computech Institute, Senegal
- FAIBATEK
- Females Technology Foundation-FTF
- Fundación Karisma
- IGBANET Association (Benin)
- Initiative for Embracing Humanity in Africa (IEHA)
- Innovation for Change (I4C) South Asia
- International Press Centre (IPC )
- International Press Institute
- Internet Protection Society (ex-Russia)
- Internet Sans Frontières
- JCA-NET(Japan)
- Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan Network
- Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
- Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
- Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
- PEN America
- Office of Civil Freedoms
- Organization of the Justice Campaign
- Réflexions Citoyennes pour l’Innovation et le Changement (Bénin)
- Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
- Ubunteam
- VPN Generator
- Women Empower and Mentor All CBO(WEmpower)
- Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
- Youth and Society (YAS)