The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has dismissed media reports that the Federal Government through ONSA has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to work with internet service providers to shut down internet access during the election.
It reiterated that it was non-partisan and committed to ensuring that Nigerians freely exercise their civic rights during the forthcoming general elections also maintaining that it remained committed to protecting the rights of the public to access Information and Communication Technology facilities.
A statement issued by the spokesman of the ONSA, Mr Danjuma Reuben, on Friday, said; “The office wishes to advise the general public to disregard the allegation, which is a disinformation.
“This Office, wishes to state that the internet and associated communications infrastructure are major components of the Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, which ONSA is mandated to ensure its security.
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“Accordingly, the Office in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government makes continuous efforts to protect them and improve service delivery to Nigerians.
“Furthermore, every single national security platform in the country rides on the same internet to function.
“Therefore shutting down the internet is akin to shutting down national development and security.”
