Matawalle directs restoration of telecom services in Gusau

Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara has directed the restoration of telephone network in Gusau, the state capital.

Network services had been cut off in the state since September as parts of measures to tackle banditry.

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But in a statement, Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, quoted Matawalle as saying network should be restored from Friday.

“The Governor has directed for the restoration of telecommunications services within the state Capital of Gusau only with effect from today, Friday, 1st October, 2021.”

“The restoration of the service at the state Capital becomes imperative following the tremendous success recorded in the fight against banditry in the state and to ease the hardship faced by both the private and public sectors of the state.

“Government finds it necessary to ease the tight measure after the recorded success desired of it which has no doubt destabilsed the syndicate of criminals terrosisibg the state leading to the successes recorded against them by the security operatives.

“Governor Matawalle promises that his administration will continue to monitor closely the unfolding developments and will announce further decisions of Government on measurs being taken appropriately.”

Life without telephone

Some residents of Zamfara had decried the hardship they faced as a result of network suspension.

In Gusau, residents reverted to letter writing as a medium of communication.

A lot of people also went back to the tradition of reading hard copies of newspapers and listening to transistor radio sets to get latest information.

Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Gumi, another resident, said, “We envisaged that the decision of government to shut down telecom operations in our state would bring succour to the masses because bandits and their informants use mobile phones to communicate and invade communities.

“As expected, the shutdown would have a significant effect on the common man as we got used to mobile phones for interaction. With the mobile phone, it is easy to look for somebody, but with the shutdown of telecommunication, it is now very difficult to relate with people who are not close to you.  I spent almost the whole day looking for my customer yesterday. No matter how hard you press to see some people, your efforts will be futile unless Allah destines otherwise.