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Tag: cable

  • Multiple subsea cable cuts cripple internet services 

    Multiple subsea cable cuts cripple internet services 

    For hours yesterday, glitches triggered by multiple subsea cable cuts crippled internet connectivity in Nigeria, South Africa and other countries on the continent, it was learnt last night.

    The breaks, which occurred on MainOne, SAT 3, WACS and ACE, disrupted the operations of internet service providers and cloud service providers.

    In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Vodacom said: “Certain customers are currently experiencing intermittent connectivity issues due to multiple undersea cable failures affecting SA’s network providers, including us. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

    The outage also affected services such as Microsoft Azure and Office 365.

     In a news update, Microsoft said: “We have determined that multiple fibre cables on the West Coast of Africa — WACS, MainOne, SAT3, ACE — have been impacted which reduced total capacity supporting our regions in South Africa.

    “In addition to these cable impacts, the ongoing cable cuts in the Red Sea — EIG, Seacom, AAE-1 — are also impacting capacity on the East Coast of Africa. This combination of incidents has impacted all Africa capacity – including other cloud providers and public internet as well.”

    MTN also explaining the cause of the downtime in a statement, which reads: “We apologize for the challenges you may be experiencing with internet speed and accessing data services at the moment.

    “This is a result of damage to international undersea cables across East & West Africa. The repair process is ongoing to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Please look out for further updates.”

     Microsoft on Azure status said: “Starting at 10:30 UTC on 14 March 2024, customers using Azure Services in South Africa North and South Africa West may experience increased network latency or packet drops when accessing their resources.”

    A major internet provider for most Nigerian banks and internet providers – MainOne – also suffered a major fibre cut in Ghana. It knocked many major local banks offline, according to internal communication sent to their personnel.

    Customers battled to access their banking apps or use any Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service. Many of them confirmed their frustrations.  Sterling Bank informed its customers through a communication that some online banking activities have been “experiencing difficulties”.

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    Lemfi, an African remittance startup, has also informed customers that it is experiencing a downtime.

    A WhatsApp message to the Funke Opeke, was not responded to, but, someone familiar with the business said: “A technical team is actively working on a solution.”

    A statement from Seacom also said: “Traffic is currently being rerouted via alternate paths, with no current congestion. However, services towards Europe from Maputo and South Africa are at risk should the alternate paths fail.”

    The affected companies did not disclose the cause of the cable cuts.

    Yesterday outage come after subsea cable operator – Seacom – recently encountered a service-affecting outage on its cable system in the Red Sea.

    Last Friday, the company said it was waiting for permits to start repairing its broken submarine cable in the Red Sea.

    The South African internet connectivity provider, told its customers that it is experiencing a service-affecting outage via the West African Cable System, a submarine network.

    The outage went beyond the shores of Nigeria. Internet users in South African also experienced slow speeds and unresponsive internet. According to news24, Vodacom confirmed that multiple subsea cable failures between South Africa and Europe were impacting several network providers.

  • Jobless man pleads guilty to stealing cable, others

    An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, yesterday remanded in prison an unemployed man, Peter Sunday, 32, after he pleaded guilty to stealing a cable wire, chemical and a machine, all worth N93,000.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje said the defendant should be kept in Ikoyi Prison, pending sentence.

    Prosecuting Inspector Lucky Ihiehie had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 12 at Ajelogo, Mile 12, Ketu, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant stole two rolls of 2.5m wire valued at N25,000, a DR fix chemical (5 litres) valued at N45,000 and a cutting machine valued at N24,000, totalling N93,000.

    “The defendant was caught by a neighbour; alerted the complainant, Mr. Williams Bassey, who handed him over to the police for further questioning.”

    The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant had implored the court to temper justice with mercy, saying: “I feel the urge to steal whenever my head is hot.”

    The case was adjourned till April 29.

  • Cable vandal bags five-year jail term

    Efforts by the Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) to tackle electricity equipment vandalism have yielded result as a cable vandal has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour, without option of fine by a Magistrate’s Court in Iguobazuwa, Edo State.

    The convict, Abdullai Usman, male, aged 27 years, was caught on September 28, 2017, at Iguobazuwa trying to cart away vandalised conductor cables from Iguobazuwa/Okada 33KV Line, an act punishable under the Miscellaneous Offences Act M17 Vol 9 laws of the country.

    He was dragged before the Presiding Magistrate Joyce .O. Ejale (Mrs) where he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and malicious damage, though the terms will run concurrently.

    This conviction has further strengthened the BEDC’s commitment at fighting vandalism, energy theft and meter bypass, as the electricity supply industry grapples with other challenges.

  • SON bursts cable cloning syndicate

    SON bursts cable cloning syndicate

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has nabbed a syndicate specialised in cloning of certified made-in-Nigeria cables in Lagos.

    A statement from the office of SON Director-General Mr. Osita Aboloma said the syndicate operated from 5, Collins Street, opposite Akapo Street, Ojo Alaba, Lagos.

    The statement said the operation was carried out by a combined team of the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police attached to SON, operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos and officials of SON Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate.

    The syndicate specialised in importing unregistered and substandard cable brands like Verginity, New Age and Sunrise, which are then rerolled, rebranded and repackaged as certified made in Nigeria cables for sale.

    The statement added that about 2,647 rolls of cables were awaiting  cloning, while 22 bags, five cartons and 270 coils of already-cloned  ones and two re-rolling and rebranding equipment were seized from the premises.

    Two suspects were arrested at the scene and are helping the Police with investigations.

    The implications of the syndicates’ activities, according to the statement, include inadvertent purchase and use of substandard cables by unsuspecting consumers; de-marketing of certified made in Nigeria cables as a result; loss in sales and revenue by genuine local manufacturers of cables; reduction in capacity utilisation and attendant job losses.

    Abaloma urged Nigerians to continue to provide useful information to assist regulatory agencies serve them better in the overall interest of the nation and its people.

    “The suspects will be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015 on conclusion of investigation,”the statement added.

     

  • Police arrest cable vandals

    The FCT police command has arrested members of a syndicate that specialises in vandalising armoured cables.

    A statement by the command’s spokesperson, Anjuguri Manzah, said Nafiu Zayanu, Yushau Kabir, Iliasu Abubakar, Ashiru Sani, and Aliyu Usman were arrested on August 25 at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, while vandalising cables belonging to the Abuja Electrical Distribution Company (AEDC).

    The items recovered include 87 pieces of electrical cables, giant cutting machine, and a red-coloured Golf 3 (AH 972 KRV).

    Policemen attached to the command, on August 21, also intercepted hoodlums who were vandalising armoured cables at Maitama road by Yakubu Gowon House.

    The police said the suspects abandoned their operational car and the cables when they noticed police presence.

    Commissioner of Police Muhammad Mustafa, however, assured residents of proactive measures to secure and protect electrical installations and all critical infrastructures in the FCT.

    The Commissioner has  also ordered the transfer of the suspects and exhibits to the Command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CID) for discreet investigation that will lead to the arrest of their cohorts and possible prosecution.

  • Streetlight pole cable electrocutes three in Mile 12

    Three persons have been electrocuted by a streetlight cable in Mile 12 near Ketu, Lagos.

    The incident occurred around Kosofe Bus Stop when a wire snapped from the streetlight pole and fell on the railings used to barricade pedestrians from crossing the expressway.

    It was gathered that despite the barricade, some pedestrians still prefer to force their way through it, instead of taking the bridge at Mile 12 Market or the one at Ketu.

    The dead were said to have tried to climb the barricade and grabbed the pole to support themselves, oblivious of the danger.

    They were said to have been electrocuted on Saturday.

    The pole, The Nation learnt, had been removed by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives.

  • RRS nabs suspected streetlight cable thief

    RRS nabs suspected streetlight cable thief

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a vandal for allegedly digging up the armoured cable for the Ojota Street light and removing its silver protector.

    Obaji Christopher, 23, from Benue State, was caught last Saturday by RRS men on routine surveillance of Ojota loop, inward Ketu-Alapere Road around 11:20am while allegedly pulling out the cable.

    Obaji, who claimed to have arrived in Lagos two weeks ago, was said to have dug up the cable with hoe. He was said to be with an accomplice, who fled.

    In a statement yesterday, RRS said: “Early on Saturday morning, during our daily patrol routine, we saw the suspect where he was vandalising the armoured cable meant to electrify Lagos in Ojota.

    “The cable was buried after it was laid. We saw him and his accomplice digging up the cable. He was using hoe to bring the cable to the surface while his friend had on him a broken saw, cutting some part in the cable,” he said.

    The suspect, the RRS said, claimed that poverty led him into the act.

    It quoted Christopher as saying: “I just arrived in Lagos about two weeks ago. When I had nowhere to sleep, I started sleeping inside Ojota park. It was at this park that I met one guy, simply identified as Anago, who introduced me to this job.

    “Anago told me that if I was able to go for two to three operations, I will have enough money to take care of my present predicament. On this very day, we went together to Ojota for the operation. When we got there, both of us dug the ground where the cable was buried.

    “We had successfully pulled it out. But to my surprise, I didn’t know how my friend escaped from the scene. When I was about to be packing the cable into a sack, I saw policemen appeared. At this point, I didn’t know what to do again. That was how I was arrested”.

    Last April 2, the RRS arrested Lucky Udeagwu for allegedly stealing a 35-meter-long armoured cable meant for the Light up Lagos’ project in Ogudu.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent (SP) said the government would not tolerate vandalism and saboteurs.

    The suspect has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS’s) office in Ikeja.

     

  • RRS arrests Light up Lagos Project cable ‘thief’

    RRS arrests Light up Lagos Project cable ‘thief’

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly stealing a 35 meter-long armoured cable for the Light Up Lagos Project in Ogudu.

    Udeagwu, from Delta State, with two others, now at large, was seen on Saturday coming out of the bush around Ogudu Bus Stop by RRS operatives on routine surveillance at 3am carrying a big sack containing the armoured cable.

    RRS Monitor, led by Inspector Bello Kabir, on patrol of Oworoshoki Expressway inward Alapere said:  “We saw Lucky and two other guys carrying a big sack coming towards Ogudu Bus Stop. Because it was a straight road, we could see them from afar. They dropped the bag at the Bus Stop as they sighted RRS vehicle and ran in different directions but we caught Lucky. We were suspicious that what could make them run when they saw us must be something criminal. We checked the bag and we saw a 35-meter long armoured cable. Beside the bag was a camouflage cap.

    “On the spot, we searched him. We found in his small bag, a screw driver, 10 spanners and a T-shirt. The 10 spanner is the size of the bolts covering the street lights in this area.”

    RRS quoted Lucky as saying: “I got to Ogudu Bus Stop around 3am on Saturday. It is true those boys watched the express before dropping the sack containing the cable. I wanted to get to Ikorodu early so that I can get site job. I saw those two boys brought that bag from a nearby bus stop and as soon as they saw the police, they ran and I followed them. Those working tools in my bag are what I use to service my generator. I am not one of those boys.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspect had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Ikeja.

  • Suspected cable thief electrocuted

    Suspected cable thief electrocuted

    A suspected thief was electrocuted last Sunday in Oke Ureje area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while allegedly stealing cable from a transformer located in the area.

    The area had been plunged into darkness after some unknown persons vandalised the transformer but the residents felt some sense of justice in the wake of electrocution of the suspect.

    Not a few residents gathered to catch a glimpse of the body of the late cable thief before it was later taken to the mortuary.

    The Chairman of the Ajegunle/Ureje Landlord Association, Alhaji Arijoyo Olowoyo, who spoke with reporters, said residents were shocked to see the lifeless body of the suspect.

    He said:  “It was just about 6.20 am today. We saw a ladder but didn’t see anyone on it. We moved closer to the transformer to see who could be working on the transformer and we were shocked to see the body of a strange man by the transformer. It was then we knew that the deceased must have been the thief who was electrocuted while stealing from the power equipment.”

    Another community leader, Prince Ojo Adewale (aka Ogo Oluwa), revealed that the community had been in blackout since December, 2014.

    He said efforts to get government and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to come to their aid has been futile.

    Adewale said:  “Since December 24, 2014, we haven’t had power in this community because the thieves have vandalised the transformer, carting away vital parts of it. They even pulled down the up-riser connected to it.

    “We have gone to the BEDC and asked them  to repair the transformer but they said we should off-set our huge debts first but these were individual debts of people owing power bills.

    “Now that this has happened, we want the government to assist us and prevent further damage to the power cables of our transformer. We promise to protect the transformer if the government helps us. ”

    BEDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kayode Ilori,  explained that the deceased must have started his evil business very early in the morning when there was no power on the up-riser.

    “But unfortunately for him and fortunately for us, power suddenly got to the cables and that must have electrocuted him”, he said.

    The BEDC spokesman, who debunked the speculation that most of those who vandalise power cables are from the power offices, said that residents must be at alert to challenge anyone they see at the transformer posing as an official of their firm and ascertain if indeed he has come from them.

    He promised that provided the people of the community are not owing huge debts of power bills, the damaged transformer would be fixed and power would be restored to the area in a few days’ time.

    Policemen from the Odo-Ado Police Station in the area, who had arrived the scene early enough when informed by the residents, disclosed that a cell phone and some electrical appliances were recovered from the deceased.

    They promised that investigations would be conducted with a view to finding out accomplices of the deceased. They later took the corpse and the ladder away from the scene in their van while the teeming crowd who had thronged the place rained curses on the deceased.

  • LAWMA official held for ‘stealing’ street light cable

    LAWMA official held for ‘stealing’ street light cable

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a member of a two-man syndicate which specialised in vandalising and stealing street light power cable.

    The suspect, Ibrahim Alli, 29, who claims he works with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), was caught by a RRS patrol team last Friday at Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    His accomplice, Yunusa fled.

    Police spokesman Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the arrest, said: “The policemen who were on routine patrol in the area, sighted the two men while in the act of vandalising the street light power cable, which had left the entire community in blackout. As the policemen were approaching, the two of them took to their heels, and immediately the operatives made a hot chase while one of the suspects was apprehended, the second suspect escaped.

    “The suspect  from his statement  said he and his colleague were in the habit of vandalising and stealing the power cable which always has adverse effect on the entire community by letting the area in total blackout on several times.”

    The suspect, who claims to be a native of Yola Local Government in Adamawa State, gave reason for his action, stating:

    “I am a staff of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) at Onipanu, but I was not contented with my meagre salary. And my friend, Yunusa, introduced this act of robbery to me. On the midnight, I and Yunusa went to Opebi in Lagos to steal street light cable. While I was arrested, Yunusa, who is my leader, escaped. It is him, Yunusa, who used to sell the cable and I don’t know the receiver. I only assist him in vandalising the cables. He only gives me N1,000 or N1,500 after the sales”, he said in his confessional statement to the Police.

    Police said the suspected has been charged to court.

    The exhibits recovered from him include vandalised electrical cable, shovel, LAWMA Identity Card bearing his name and one wristwatch.