Sokoto lawmakers call in mobile phone and internet companies to address subpar connectivity issues

The Sokoto State House of Assembly adopted a motion on Wednesday, voicing concern about the persistent poor GSM and internet services across the state, and calling on telecommunications operators and regulators to take immediate action to improve service delivery.

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The motion was sponsored by Aminu Gidado, representing Sokoto South II on the All Progressives Congress ticket, and seconded by Shamsu Aliyu of the APC, Wurno, highlighting the growing frustration among residents over weak network coverage and frequent service disruptions.

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Aminu Gidado presented the motion during plenary, emphasizing the crucial role of telecommunications in modern life and the impact of poor service quality on the state's economy, affecting various sectors including commerce, education, and healthcare.

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Gidado stressed that telecommunications services have become essential for communication, banking, governance, security, and emergency response, yet network services in some parts of Sokoto State often remain unavailable for several hours or even an entire day.

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This prolonged unavailability of network services, Gidado noted, disconnects citizens from their families, businesses, government services, and emergency communication, causing significant inconvenience and hardship.

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The lawmaker pointed out that the persistent network failures have negatively impacted businesses, students, civil servants, security agencies, healthcare providers, and financial institutions, resulting in economic losses and untold hardship for residents who continue to pay substantial charges for unsatisfactory services.

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Following contributions from several lawmakers, the Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, put the motion to a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted, mandating the relevant committee to invite representatives of GSM service providers and regulatory agencies to explain the causes of the recurring network challenges.

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The Assembly also resolved to urge the Sokoto State Government to work closely with relevant federal agencies and telecommunications service providers to strengthen network infrastructure and improve the quality of GSM and internet services across the state.