The Minister of Information, Communications, and Postal Services in Western Bahr el Ghazal State at the weekend disclosed that his ministry, in collaboration with telecommunication companies is working to construct 16 network towers in Wau, Jur River, and Raja counties starting next month.

Samuel Nicola said most of the areas where towers will be installed have no or poor telephone services.

“There are places that presented their complaints about communication network coverage. I contacted the Jur River County commissioner and he presented his list, George Tonga of Wau County presented his list and the Raja County commissioner said they have about five areas in need of telephone services.  Wau County will get five towers while Jur River County will get six and we distributed them based on complaints from the areas," he said. “In Jur River, we put Alel-thong first because the place lacks any telephone connectivity. Khorgana will be the first. In Raja, those of Abulu are crying so much about the lack of services and we prioritized the area."

According to Nicola, the plan was reached with network companies following an outcry by the local population over the lack of telephone networks in their areas. 

“We need to stand with our citizens in these areas because we have 46 payams and out of these, only 9 have communication networks,” he added.

Last month, residents of Alel-Thony Payam in Jur River County presented a petition to the state government calling for the provision of telephone services in their area.