GSM Restored Back In Yobe State

Two months, after the Global Mobile Communication System (GSM) services were shutdown in the three North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, after a state of emergence was declared by President Goodluck Jonathan, services were yesterday restored in Yobe State.

The state of emergency was slammed on the three states on May 14, due to insecurity brought about by the Boko Haram insurgency.

This coincided with the announcement by the Borno State Government that it had given out scholarship to 50 children, whose parents were killed during the Boko Haram crisis that engulfed the state in the last three years.

Residents of Yobe State woke  Wednesday morning, to discover an epileptic MTN service in the state, while all other GSM networks were yet to be restored.

The restoration came one week, after the service was restored in neighbouring Adamawa State.

However, the Military Joint Task Force (JTF), in the state has commended residents for keeping faith with security agencies during the outage of GSM services in the state.

A statement by the military spokesman, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, enjoined residents to continue to contribute positively towards the enhancement of peace and security in the state. .

The statement read: “Law abiding citizens are enjoined to provide credible and timely information that will assist the JTF to protect lives and property. The following numbers could be used; 07065066662, 07065085459, 07065088065, 07065085988, 07065065333.”

At present, GSM services have been restored in Adamawa and Yobe States, while Borno State remained the only state still witnessing a shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who disclosed this on Tuesday night, while hosting the 50 orphans to the breaking of Ramadan fast, at Government House, Maiduguri, said the scholarship would be given to all regardless of religious lining, promising to host orphans from Christian homes to a dinner during the Christmas season.

Shettima told the orphans to regard him as their father, promising that he would do everything within his powers as governor of the state to ensure that they were comfortable and they do not encounter problems in their education.

He advised them to take education very seriously and be of good behaviour so that they could excel in life, while calling on government officials, wealthy residents and charity organisations to render help to the orphans.