Digital darkness has paralysed businesses in four Local Government Areas of Zamfara North.

The Guardian gathered that the business community in Zamfara North senatorial district has been experiencing digital darkness for some time now. They have also been pleading with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to intervene urgently.

The Publicity Secretary of Kaura Namoda Focus Forum (KNFF) and National Zonal Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone 1, Comrade Abdulrazaq Bello Kaura, pointed out that the people of the zone have written an open letter addressed to the commission.

“The situation has plunged them into digital darkness. Businesses are now moving with the lowest ebbs in the zone”, he added.

This medium reports that the zone comprises four local government areas, which include Birnin Magaji, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, and Zurmi, with a combined population of over 1.78 million.

The national zonal secretary also lamented that talented and innovative youths in the zone, who thrive on digital businesses and modern entrepreneurship, are now stranded and helpless.

“The senatorial district hosts the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, several educational institutions, and strategic commercial hubs like Shinkafi and Kasuwar Daji international markets,” he said.

“It attracts investors and traders from within Nigeria and abroad. Cutting off internet services in such an environment has paralysed businesses, disrupted education, and forced many young people into joblessness and migration, thereby creating fertile ground for insecurity and social unrest.”

Kaura also explained that idle youths easily become vulnerable to criminal recruitment, radicalisation, and other social vices when left without hope or meaningful engagement.

“Denying over 1.7 million people access to internet services, we risk compounding already fragile socio-economic and security challenges in Zamfara State,” he said.

Kaura also drew the attention of the NCC to its mandated role as outlined in the 2003 Act.

“The prolonged silence and inaction by telecom operators in Zamfara North constitute a breach of trust, a disregard for subscribers’ rights, and a violation of NCC’s service quality obligations’

“Subscribers deserve not only reliable services, but also timely information on any deliberate service disruption as a mark of respect for their rights and dignity,” he said.

The forum described Zamfara North senatorial district as one of the fastest-growing regions in Nigeria, with a projected population of over 1.78 million (2025).

“Our communities cannot afford to be left behind in the digital economy while the rest of the country advances. The major service providers in the Zone are MTN, Airtel, and Glo,” he said.